I was sitting in church yesterday......I haven't gotten to be in church in a week due to the birth of my first grandbaby....I was receiving such blessings from my Heavenly Father, and I began to think...what if...????
What if....Christ had not loved us enough to die for us? What a horrible state we would be in....doomed for Hell....no hope. God loved each and every person who has ever lived, living now, and who is going to live on Earth. He loved us enough to send His only Son to die, so that we have eternal life. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That is a love beyond what our human minds can fathom!
What if......I hadn't been born in America, the land of the free, where men have given their lives so that we can have the freedom to worship and live for Jesus?? Better yet, I am so thankful to be born in the South, the Bible belt, where Christ is taught, where Christians live what they preach, and Jesus' love can shine! I am so thankful for parents who gave me a Godly heritage, and gave me the tools to be able to walk my own Christian pathway! "train up a chld in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
What if.....I didn't know Jesus as my personal Saviour....was deceived to believe in Budda or Muhammud? It is so scary to see how easily Satan deceives and blinds people. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
What if.....I hadn't chosen to stay with God and grown in grace and maturity when times get tough, when storms of life arise? This past spring, my 15 yr. old daughter, my baby, told me that she was going to have a baby. Talking about rocking your world...but praise God, I have Jesus Christ as my rock, my foundation! This was the roughest storm I have faced....but, because I chose to stay with God through it, He has overwhelmingly blessed us....way beyond measure!!!! It has been a trying time....I have gone through many emotions...and God has been along with me. I have a bracelet that says,"....it was then that I carried you...". I have worn that bracelet the whole time as a reminder to myself and others that Christ has not and will not forsake. I have witnessed family drawing closer through this. I have seen my daughter mature and become a wonderful mother. I have seen 2 families going through this...together, with no arguments, no anger....that's God! I have seen friends gather around me and pray a hedge around me. I have seen new friends walk into my life, just in time, to share their stories of how this very storm has been in their lives. I have seen God's mighty Hand reach out and make situations workout, and I have felt that same Hand gently grab my hand and comfort me. I have seen friends I thought would have been there for me, walk out of my life...whether it be due to judgement, lack of understanding....or whatever may be the cause......while it has hurt deeply, it has not made my faith wavor at all! In fact, there has been a peace....a grace that can only come from Him. I hold no ill feelings toward those who have chosen not to continue in my life, I love them and pray for them. Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Thank God I know that Friend...and better yet, He knows me!!!
What if.....I had chosen to walk out on my daughter when she told me that she was pregnant? Who knows where she would be right now, or even if my precious grandbaby would've survived! My goal through all of this, is for Christ's light to shine through all of this. I believe it has, and it is, and I cannot wait to see how God is going to use my daughter through her testimony! I can truly say that no matter what my 2 children do....I will not stop loving them.......this has really shown me that. My daughters are God's gift to me, and I am so blessed. It is so awesome to see their strong suits, as well as their weaknesses, and see how God works in their lives. What a pity it would be if I walked away and left all that, because I don't approve of a choice, or because of pride....because I allow Satan to guide my steps. I thank God, He has never left me nor forsaken me.....and I mess up everyday!! I fall everyday....and no matter what....He loves me and is there for me. How can I expect my Father to forgive me, if I hold a grudge, walk away, or don't forgive others?....He won't....the Bible says in Matthew 6:14,15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I tell you one thing, God has tenderized my heart even more through this...I am less likely to critize and throw judgement around.......I will not compromise on sin....it is still sin....but I look through that sin and see the person.
What if.....I let my pride get in the way of truly being a christian? Then I will surely fall. Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." It's not worth it....it's not worth being puffed up so much that you push those around you away. It's not worth being full of self righteousness, and ending up alone. Satan is more than happy to pat you on the back, provide you with just enough scriptures to make you feel you are 'in the right'....meanwhile, he is robbing you of the joy of your salvation.....the sweetness of His love.
What if......we let all that stuff go, and live....and love...and bask in His joy, His light, His love? We may not see eye to eye...and that's okay....it would be boring if we were carbon copies of each other! James 4:14, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It, is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Life is too short! I choose to love, and love others......I love my husband, my daughters, my granddaughter, my friends, my extended family.....and I chose to look at the positives and be happy and satisfied in His love! It is the most freeing thing I have ever experienced!! Thank you, Lord for your blessings on me....thank you for never giving up on me, thank you that I am never too old to grow in You! Thank you Lord for my dear family and friends who have stuck by my side.............I am a blessed, blessed woman!!....so undeserving............but sooo blessed!!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Discord
My church's Wednesday Bible Study is currently in Matthew chapter 5. We are going over the beautitudes. What a wonderful time of year to be studying this. Everyone wants to speak of thankfulness, and indeed we should, but I pray it is from the heart...and not just to do it because others are....or to try to 'out-do' others.
Discord seems to be on the rise. People are in disagreement about almost everything. Just look at our recent election. So many different views and opinions.
This past Wednesday evening, our pastor spoke on the spirit of sweet gentleness. Verse 5 says, "Blessed are the meek (kind, gentle, humble) for they shall inherit the earth." He brought out that we need to be compassionate...not cold hearted; caring...not critical; considerate... not condemning; cheerful..not full of contention. WOW!! Those 'c' words hold quite the punch! So many christians seem to forget about meekness. They may be 'kind' when it suits them....but are you genuinely kind? When someone does not share your point of view....are you meek....or do you bow up and let your opinion be known? It takes work at times to be compassionate......the lazy way out is to be cold hearted. If we curb our critical thoughts.....do we really care about what we are criticizing? Mom always told me it's hard to talk bad about someone or something that we are bathing in prayer.
So often we take the easy road and condemn someone's actions. "Well, let me tell you, my kids won't ever do that!" "They made their bed hard....now they can just lie in it!" "Well, I'm just done with them! Who needs them anyway???"..............really?....really? Oh my.....we speak of how glorious God is to us, how merciful, how gracious............and yet with that same mouth...it doesn't bother us to cut someone to the core, to walk away..........and yet we can say..."I'm in God's will"....are we?... are we really? Well, you don't know what he did to me.....you don't know what she said.........no....we may not know the full story....every detail...........but is your 'beatitudes' in check? How's all that coldness and attitude workin' for you?....really...........
Cheerfulness cannot hang around contention....ever tried it? Try to be all 'happy'....all 'cheery'....'oh, yes, everything is great!'...but underneath that fake smile, there is contention, roots of bitterness choking out the true joy of your salvation. You cannot be humble and haughty at the same time. You can not speak Godly sayings, quote scriptures, and say how awesome life is, meanwhile, cold-heartedness, critical spirit, condemning thoughts, and contention rules our mind and heart. Your words may sound good...but your actions are screaming the total opposite to others around you.....and you know what.............you end up alone....well except for your stubborn pride, lol.
I've been at several of those places at different times in my life....believe me....not a good place to be. God help me to keep a spirit of submission (verse 3..'blessed are the poor (humble) in spirit'..), a spirit of sorrow (verse 4..'blessed are they that mourn...'..), and a spirit of sweet gentleness (verse 5..'blessed are the meek (kind, gentle, humble)'..). I am so thankful that I truly can be thankful because so much bitterness and criticism and coldness is not in my heart. I am so thankful of the valleys in my life...they have made the mountain tops so much sweeter.
I never want to stop learning, never want to stop growing in Him. I am truly thankful for my church, my church family and my pastor who help me do both. I can't wait to get back next Wednesday and learn more about the beautitudes. I have read and studied them all my life...but I have never gotten to the point that I think I can't learn even more. I thank God for my family and my friends....I would not be where I am today without them. Thank you, Lord for the true joy that is overflowing in me!
Discord seems to be on the rise. People are in disagreement about almost everything. Just look at our recent election. So many different views and opinions.
This past Wednesday evening, our pastor spoke on the spirit of sweet gentleness. Verse 5 says, "Blessed are the meek (kind, gentle, humble) for they shall inherit the earth." He brought out that we need to be compassionate...not cold hearted; caring...not critical; considerate... not condemning; cheerful..not full of contention. WOW!! Those 'c' words hold quite the punch! So many christians seem to forget about meekness. They may be 'kind' when it suits them....but are you genuinely kind? When someone does not share your point of view....are you meek....or do you bow up and let your opinion be known? It takes work at times to be compassionate......the lazy way out is to be cold hearted. If we curb our critical thoughts.....do we really care about what we are criticizing? Mom always told me it's hard to talk bad about someone or something that we are bathing in prayer.
So often we take the easy road and condemn someone's actions. "Well, let me tell you, my kids won't ever do that!" "They made their bed hard....now they can just lie in it!" "Well, I'm just done with them! Who needs them anyway???"..............really?....really? Oh my.....we speak of how glorious God is to us, how merciful, how gracious............and yet with that same mouth...it doesn't bother us to cut someone to the core, to walk away..........and yet we can say..."I'm in God's will"....are we?... are we really? Well, you don't know what he did to me.....you don't know what she said.........no....we may not know the full story....every detail...........but is your 'beatitudes' in check? How's all that coldness and attitude workin' for you?....really...........
Cheerfulness cannot hang around contention....ever tried it? Try to be all 'happy'....all 'cheery'....'oh, yes, everything is great!'...but underneath that fake smile, there is contention, roots of bitterness choking out the true joy of your salvation. You cannot be humble and haughty at the same time. You can not speak Godly sayings, quote scriptures, and say how awesome life is, meanwhile, cold-heartedness, critical spirit, condemning thoughts, and contention rules our mind and heart. Your words may sound good...but your actions are screaming the total opposite to others around you.....and you know what.............you end up alone....well except for your stubborn pride, lol.
I've been at several of those places at different times in my life....believe me....not a good place to be. God help me to keep a spirit of submission (verse 3..'blessed are the poor (humble) in spirit'..), a spirit of sorrow (verse 4..'blessed are they that mourn...'..), and a spirit of sweet gentleness (verse 5..'blessed are the meek (kind, gentle, humble)'..). I am so thankful that I truly can be thankful because so much bitterness and criticism and coldness is not in my heart. I am so thankful of the valleys in my life...they have made the mountain tops so much sweeter.
I never want to stop learning, never want to stop growing in Him. I am truly thankful for my church, my church family and my pastor who help me do both. I can't wait to get back next Wednesday and learn more about the beautitudes. I have read and studied them all my life...but I have never gotten to the point that I think I can't learn even more. I thank God for my family and my friends....I would not be where I am today without them. Thank you, Lord for the true joy that is overflowing in me!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Aglets and Eyelets
Okay, picture this....lazy evening...sitting on the couch....husband asleep..............with TV remote in hand........and of course the station is on a show that I care nothing about!!! Got the visual?? The name of the show is, "How It's Made." I dare not wake the sleeping bear by trying to steal the remote....so I concede, and watch the show.
The topic was shoelaces. I must admit, I have never wondered how they are made...but....It was intriguing. I didn't realize how much work was involved. Watching those machines intertwine the threads in what reminded me of a maypole dance was impressive. The supervisor then began to show the 'most important' part, the aglet. The aglet is the plastic part at the end of the lace. His statement was, "The aglet is the most important part of the lace. Without the aglet, it is almost impossible to insert the laces through the eyelet of the shoe."
Well, that got me to thinking.....I can see all the facets of our lives as all the different colors of the thread, it is on the 'machine' of life, being tightly spun together. Each color has a purpose, each thread is needed. Not only is every thread needed...but each thread is also needed to be of good, consistant quality or the lace will fray. All those threads spun together is very pretty, but is basically useless without the aglet. I see the aglet as the example of salvation....all we have, all we are made of..each fiber, each thread, is incapsulated into the aglet...and now is given direction and the ability to truly work in the way it is intended.
You ever have a shoelace that has lost its aglet?....frustrating to say the least, isn't it? I have twisted the ends, wet them to try to mold them together better...trimmed the ends with scissors...and even taken a match to them to try to melt them together............nothing really works, does it? Such is life....we try to do things our way, try to push through life and hope to make it through........doesn't really work too well. But if we accept Christ into our hearts and let Him lead us, let Him be the 'most important part of our lace...our life," then everything flows much easier through the eyelet of life.
Lord, please help me to stay humble and not let the lace of my life 'fray' so that life becomes so hard and unable to manage. If the aglet falls off and the shoelace comes out, then it is unable to be put back in, and the shoe then flops around and is of no use. Something so small...an aglet....is not out there in the spotlight...but vitally needed. Jesus, you are that perfect gentleman...You often are standing somewhere in the shadows...but so vitally needed in our lives.
What are the conditions of the aglets in your life? Do you step on them without thought? Do you give them no thought, no consideration until they are damaged and now your shoe is not able to function?............funny how something so small can cause such thought, huh?
The topic was shoelaces. I must admit, I have never wondered how they are made...but....It was intriguing. I didn't realize how much work was involved. Watching those machines intertwine the threads in what reminded me of a maypole dance was impressive. The supervisor then began to show the 'most important' part, the aglet. The aglet is the plastic part at the end of the lace. His statement was, "The aglet is the most important part of the lace. Without the aglet, it is almost impossible to insert the laces through the eyelet of the shoe."
Well, that got me to thinking.....I can see all the facets of our lives as all the different colors of the thread, it is on the 'machine' of life, being tightly spun together. Each color has a purpose, each thread is needed. Not only is every thread needed...but each thread is also needed to be of good, consistant quality or the lace will fray. All those threads spun together is very pretty, but is basically useless without the aglet. I see the aglet as the example of salvation....all we have, all we are made of..each fiber, each thread, is incapsulated into the aglet...and now is given direction and the ability to truly work in the way it is intended.
You ever have a shoelace that has lost its aglet?....frustrating to say the least, isn't it? I have twisted the ends, wet them to try to mold them together better...trimmed the ends with scissors...and even taken a match to them to try to melt them together............nothing really works, does it? Such is life....we try to do things our way, try to push through life and hope to make it through........doesn't really work too well. But if we accept Christ into our hearts and let Him lead us, let Him be the 'most important part of our lace...our life," then everything flows much easier through the eyelet of life.
Lord, please help me to stay humble and not let the lace of my life 'fray' so that life becomes so hard and unable to manage. If the aglet falls off and the shoelace comes out, then it is unable to be put back in, and the shoe then flops around and is of no use. Something so small...an aglet....is not out there in the spotlight...but vitally needed. Jesus, you are that perfect gentleman...You often are standing somewhere in the shadows...but so vitally needed in our lives.
What are the conditions of the aglets in your life? Do you step on them without thought? Do you give them no thought, no consideration until they are damaged and now your shoe is not able to function?............funny how something so small can cause such thought, huh?
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Enjoying the Sandbar of Life
I was recently at the beach........ahhh........I would love to be there again. I just love sitting under an umbrella with a good book with my toes in the sand, and the waves crashing in the background. Anyway, at this particular place, as you walk into the ocean, it was so warm and nice....but it gradually got deeper. If you kept going, you eventually would reach a sandbar that once again would put your feet firmly on the ocean floor.
I must admit, it was a little scary to keep walking out into the deeper water, with the waves coming on strong, and get to the point to where you could not reach bottom. You had to do some actual swimming, and watch those waves closely, or you were going under! But, if you kept going, you would reach the sandbar, and could relax. There you are, out in the middle of the ocean! You can still see the beach, but you are far enough away as to not hear all the commotion of people playing, talking, radios booming....all you hear are the waves and the wind.
I began to watch a certain group of people near us. All of them were enjoying the sandbar, except one. He was disgruntled at the others. You see, he wouldn't chance going into the deeper water to get to the sandbar. He would watch the others having fun....and would be angry...because they were having fun. I felt sorry for him in one way...but wanted to tell him...oh come on.....you can take the chance....go to the sandbar!!
It reminded me of Jonah. He knew God was going to forgive Ninevah. Jonah didn't like them, and knew if he obeyed God, God would forgive....and he didn't want that. You all know the story....he ran.....God definitely got his attention....and then he obeyed, and the people of Ninevah were forgiven! After all Jonah had gone through...after all Jonah had been a witness to...and had a hand in...why in the world did he then go and pout? He was angry....God, well, had been God...and forgiven Ninevah....and Jonah didn't like it.
God even loved ole Jonah enough to grow a gourd so that Jonah would have shade while he pouted....still didn't help his attitude, did it? Jonah had more compassion over the death of that gourd then the souls in Ninevah.........what a miserable small minded world Jonah lived in. I'm sure Jonah had his good moments.........and God still used him.........but that didn't mean Jonah had a right attitude.
This guy at the beach was working hard to stay afloat in the deeper water, waves crashing over his head...getting out of breath...meanwhile his friends were enjoying life at the sandbar. I envisioned the ocean as the world....we all live in it....we were all in the water...waves were hitting all of us. Most of us chose to enjoy the sandbar....where we didn't have to work hard, we could relax more, and see more. Yes, the waves came in...but they were more manageable. Meanwhile, that one guy, while he was in the same water as us, was miserable.
Sometimes we wear ourselves out in life........and it may not be in sin...it may be while doing God's work. We are so stubborn and prideful, that we hold on and cater to our anger, that we can't enjoy our lives. We want things to go like we want them to...instead of truly trusting and following God. We stop looking through God's eyes....with a Godly heart. We would rather burn all of our energy in the deeper water, rather than swimming on out to the sandbar and letting God truly bless us.
One of my favorite quotes is, 'Your attitude determines your altitude with God.' We may be 'in God's will' to a certain point...and doing God's work, too. But if we really look closer....could God really be doing so much more, if we got our own selves out of the way? We can know all about God, and we can quote His Word all day, but that doesn't mean we are fully obeying Him.
As I kept watching this young man, I could see his heart harden. Well...dadgum it...if his friends weren't going to join him in the deeper water, then..poo on them! He turned his back and raised his nose and tried to prove he was having the better time. It was so sad, it was almost laughable! If he had just softened his heart....admitted what was really going on...maybe he was a little scared...maybe he didn't like swimming alone....whatever the reason....if he had just had the faith to swim on.....or humble enough to ask a friend to help him...then he could have enjoyed the sandbar too!
He can go back home and tell everyone he enjoyed the ocean...and I know he did to a certain point...but he could've had a much better time if he had only gotten to the sandbar. Please, Lord....don't let me be that way....I don't want to let my stubborn nature, my opinion, my pride prevent me from enjoying the life you truly intended me to have. I do not want You to have to grow a gourd to give me shade while I sit in my pride...my opinions...my 'self'....and stew! I want to enjoy the sandbars of my life....I want to enjoy my family and friends...and everyone you place in my life to the fullest extend that you intended for me! Not my will, oh Father...but yours! Thank you for my contrite heart, thank you for my humble spirit...may I NEVER fail to love!
I must admit, it was a little scary to keep walking out into the deeper water, with the waves coming on strong, and get to the point to where you could not reach bottom. You had to do some actual swimming, and watch those waves closely, or you were going under! But, if you kept going, you would reach the sandbar, and could relax. There you are, out in the middle of the ocean! You can still see the beach, but you are far enough away as to not hear all the commotion of people playing, talking, radios booming....all you hear are the waves and the wind.
I began to watch a certain group of people near us. All of them were enjoying the sandbar, except one. He was disgruntled at the others. You see, he wouldn't chance going into the deeper water to get to the sandbar. He would watch the others having fun....and would be angry...because they were having fun. I felt sorry for him in one way...but wanted to tell him...oh come on.....you can take the chance....go to the sandbar!!
It reminded me of Jonah. He knew God was going to forgive Ninevah. Jonah didn't like them, and knew if he obeyed God, God would forgive....and he didn't want that. You all know the story....he ran.....God definitely got his attention....and then he obeyed, and the people of Ninevah were forgiven! After all Jonah had gone through...after all Jonah had been a witness to...and had a hand in...why in the world did he then go and pout? He was angry....God, well, had been God...and forgiven Ninevah....and Jonah didn't like it.
God even loved ole Jonah enough to grow a gourd so that Jonah would have shade while he pouted....still didn't help his attitude, did it? Jonah had more compassion over the death of that gourd then the souls in Ninevah.........what a miserable small minded world Jonah lived in. I'm sure Jonah had his good moments.........and God still used him.........but that didn't mean Jonah had a right attitude.
This guy at the beach was working hard to stay afloat in the deeper water, waves crashing over his head...getting out of breath...meanwhile his friends were enjoying life at the sandbar. I envisioned the ocean as the world....we all live in it....we were all in the water...waves were hitting all of us. Most of us chose to enjoy the sandbar....where we didn't have to work hard, we could relax more, and see more. Yes, the waves came in...but they were more manageable. Meanwhile, that one guy, while he was in the same water as us, was miserable.
Sometimes we wear ourselves out in life........and it may not be in sin...it may be while doing God's work. We are so stubborn and prideful, that we hold on and cater to our anger, that we can't enjoy our lives. We want things to go like we want them to...instead of truly trusting and following God. We stop looking through God's eyes....with a Godly heart. We would rather burn all of our energy in the deeper water, rather than swimming on out to the sandbar and letting God truly bless us.
One of my favorite quotes is, 'Your attitude determines your altitude with God.' We may be 'in God's will' to a certain point...and doing God's work, too. But if we really look closer....could God really be doing so much more, if we got our own selves out of the way? We can know all about God, and we can quote His Word all day, but that doesn't mean we are fully obeying Him.
As I kept watching this young man, I could see his heart harden. Well...dadgum it...if his friends weren't going to join him in the deeper water, then..poo on them! He turned his back and raised his nose and tried to prove he was having the better time. It was so sad, it was almost laughable! If he had just softened his heart....admitted what was really going on...maybe he was a little scared...maybe he didn't like swimming alone....whatever the reason....if he had just had the faith to swim on.....or humble enough to ask a friend to help him...then he could have enjoyed the sandbar too!
He can go back home and tell everyone he enjoyed the ocean...and I know he did to a certain point...but he could've had a much better time if he had only gotten to the sandbar. Please, Lord....don't let me be that way....I don't want to let my stubborn nature, my opinion, my pride prevent me from enjoying the life you truly intended me to have. I do not want You to have to grow a gourd to give me shade while I sit in my pride...my opinions...my 'self'....and stew! I want to enjoy the sandbars of my life....I want to enjoy my family and friends...and everyone you place in my life to the fullest extend that you intended for me! Not my will, oh Father...but yours! Thank you for my contrite heart, thank you for my humble spirit...may I NEVER fail to love!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Learning Through The Storm
As Christians.....as humans, for that matter.....we go through storms of various shapes and sizes all of our lives. It is up to us on how we react to them, what we do while in them, and what we learn from them. Speaking from my past, I know I have done well through some....and no doubt, failed through some. But the one constant through them all has been Jesus! He loves us no matter how we react during the storms. But nothing pleases Him more than when we endure the storm through Him, by Him, and glorify Him.
Recently, I have been dealing with probably the greatest storm I have ever gone through in my entire life. I don't feel the need to share the details of this storm right now, but know that I would have never imagined that I would have to face it. Storms are put in our lives, one, because we are made of flesh, and things are going to happen....and two, storms keep us humble and remind us that we ARE flesh...and all things are done through Christ, and for His glory...and not our own! He is in control!
Through my soon to be 43 yrs of life, I have had my share of storms....as well as blessings. I have been saved for 35yrs of my life.....I've never one time regretted being saved nor have I ever been forsaken. It took some time and maturing, but I can say I have learned from past storms, and have gotten stronger.
This current storm has really taught me to lean on Him. This storm has separated the supposed to be friends from my true friends. While it is disheartening, it is a blessing to truly know who my friends are. And of course, the friend who sticketh closer than a brother has not let me down! Funny.....in a sad way.............it is some of my christian friends that want to keep the negativity of this storm swirling around me. As christians we are supposed to build our brothers and sisters up, and point the lost to Christ. Sadly, christians...or so called christians....tend to tear their fellow brothers and sisters down, judge them.....and live just like the lost!
It's easy to see the negative side of things. That seems to be our human nature. Something negative will definitely move around the rumor mill a whole lot faster than anything postive! Believe me, my family has been the talk of the town. Everyone loves to stare and whisper....and walk around me on eggshells. Satan would have me to stay focused on all of that. All the sad, bad, negative details that have happened. Where does that get me? How does that help me get closer to Christ?
Yes, this is a terrible storm. Yes, this was not God's perfect will.....it was His permissive will. Yes, I could wallow around in all the pity and sadness. But, I CHOOSE to allow Christ to shine through this storm! I want others to see how Christ has done a work through this. How He has made our mess a masterpiece for His glory! I will choose to look at the positives in this storm! We often see the dark clouds, the dark skies, the scary winds, the rough rain. We see the damage those things bring. But, the sun comes out and evaporates the rain waters, the sky gets bright and blue again. The grass, and flowers, and gardens flourish because the storm came through! The wind benefited the trees by shaking loose the limbs that needed to be pruned away.............the list of positives go on and on!
We keep a barrel to catch rain water here, so we can water our garden with it. That is a blessing! The storms come and fill that barrel. If that barrel is turned over, its just a waste. Its of no help. If we let our storms turn us sideways or turn us over........than what good will we be for Christ? When the storms come...be focused on Christ so that through that storm you can be a vessel to be used later on for Him!!!!!
So, the next time a storm hits you my friend..........CHOOSE to look at the positives in the storm, and as a result of the storm you will be stronger. Stay a vessel that God can use!!
Recently, I have been dealing with probably the greatest storm I have ever gone through in my entire life. I don't feel the need to share the details of this storm right now, but know that I would have never imagined that I would have to face it. Storms are put in our lives, one, because we are made of flesh, and things are going to happen....and two, storms keep us humble and remind us that we ARE flesh...and all things are done through Christ, and for His glory...and not our own! He is in control!
Through my soon to be 43 yrs of life, I have had my share of storms....as well as blessings. I have been saved for 35yrs of my life.....I've never one time regretted being saved nor have I ever been forsaken. It took some time and maturing, but I can say I have learned from past storms, and have gotten stronger.
This current storm has really taught me to lean on Him. This storm has separated the supposed to be friends from my true friends. While it is disheartening, it is a blessing to truly know who my friends are. And of course, the friend who sticketh closer than a brother has not let me down! Funny.....in a sad way.............it is some of my christian friends that want to keep the negativity of this storm swirling around me. As christians we are supposed to build our brothers and sisters up, and point the lost to Christ. Sadly, christians...or so called christians....tend to tear their fellow brothers and sisters down, judge them.....and live just like the lost!
It's easy to see the negative side of things. That seems to be our human nature. Something negative will definitely move around the rumor mill a whole lot faster than anything postive! Believe me, my family has been the talk of the town. Everyone loves to stare and whisper....and walk around me on eggshells. Satan would have me to stay focused on all of that. All the sad, bad, negative details that have happened. Where does that get me? How does that help me get closer to Christ?
Yes, this is a terrible storm. Yes, this was not God's perfect will.....it was His permissive will. Yes, I could wallow around in all the pity and sadness. But, I CHOOSE to allow Christ to shine through this storm! I want others to see how Christ has done a work through this. How He has made our mess a masterpiece for His glory! I will choose to look at the positives in this storm! We often see the dark clouds, the dark skies, the scary winds, the rough rain. We see the damage those things bring. But, the sun comes out and evaporates the rain waters, the sky gets bright and blue again. The grass, and flowers, and gardens flourish because the storm came through! The wind benefited the trees by shaking loose the limbs that needed to be pruned away.............the list of positives go on and on!
We keep a barrel to catch rain water here, so we can water our garden with it. That is a blessing! The storms come and fill that barrel. If that barrel is turned over, its just a waste. Its of no help. If we let our storms turn us sideways or turn us over........than what good will we be for Christ? When the storms come...be focused on Christ so that through that storm you can be a vessel to be used later on for Him!!!!!
So, the next time a storm hits you my friend..........CHOOSE to look at the positives in the storm, and as a result of the storm you will be stronger. Stay a vessel that God can use!!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
The Garden
As I look at my garden this morning...I can't help but picture a spiritual application. A storm blew in night before last. Lots of rain, wind, thunder and lightening. My garden looks good, but some of the corn was leaning over. A closer look showed no breaks in the stalks, some were just leaning over and bent. My thoughts began to take over.
My life is like that garden. I have to work hard and stay focused. If I don't, then weeds and pests can come in and reek havoc. If I keep it watered, then it will stay healthy and grow. If I am patient, it will produce wonderfully healthy food that not only will feed myself, but those around me as well. Storms will come....but if I planted correctly, the roots will hold.
The wind blew the corn over a couple nights ago. But as the sun came out, the corn began to stand back straight and tall. Some stayed a little leaned over, but it will still produce corn! And here I am day 2 after the storm...and the garden has grown...everything is greener....the garden is beautiful.
Sometimes we don't understand the reasons for the storms of life....sometimes we never know the reason....but, if we are rooted in His Word, keep focused on Him, diligently work, then when the storms of life come....we shall not be moved! The storm may bend us over, but as the Son comes out, we will straighten back up! Some storms may really work us over, and we may bear signs of that storm...we may always seem a little 'bent'. But, that doesn't mean our spiritual walk is over. Some of the most twisted, bent, stalks of corn produce the most and prettiest corn we have ever seen!!
Keep tending to that garden.....keep pulling the weeds, keep fertilizing, keep applying the dusts to keep pests away, keep watering.......there is a reward coming!!!! Not only will you reap what you sow and be blessed....but everyone around you will receive blessings as well!!
My life is like that garden. I have to work hard and stay focused. If I don't, then weeds and pests can come in and reek havoc. If I keep it watered, then it will stay healthy and grow. If I am patient, it will produce wonderfully healthy food that not only will feed myself, but those around me as well. Storms will come....but if I planted correctly, the roots will hold.
The wind blew the corn over a couple nights ago. But as the sun came out, the corn began to stand back straight and tall. Some stayed a little leaned over, but it will still produce corn! And here I am day 2 after the storm...and the garden has grown...everything is greener....the garden is beautiful.
Sometimes we don't understand the reasons for the storms of life....sometimes we never know the reason....but, if we are rooted in His Word, keep focused on Him, diligently work, then when the storms of life come....we shall not be moved! The storm may bend us over, but as the Son comes out, we will straighten back up! Some storms may really work us over, and we may bear signs of that storm...we may always seem a little 'bent'. But, that doesn't mean our spiritual walk is over. Some of the most twisted, bent, stalks of corn produce the most and prettiest corn we have ever seen!!
Keep tending to that garden.....keep pulling the weeds, keep fertilizing, keep applying the dusts to keep pests away, keep watering.......there is a reward coming!!!! Not only will you reap what you sow and be blessed....but everyone around you will receive blessings as well!!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Unseen Hand
Have you ever heard that old gospel song, "The Unseen Hand'? "There is an unseen hand to me, that leads through ways I cannot see. We're going through this world of woe, this hand still leads me as I go......I'm trusting to the unseen hand, that guides me through this weary land...and some sweet day, I'll reach that strain, still guided by the unseen hand....I long to see my Savior's face, and sing the story I've been saved by grace. And there upon that golden strain, I'll praise Him for his guiding hand.
Are you trusting that unseen hand? I praise God for that unseen hand. Let me tell you the latest story of that Unseen Hand in my life. Saturdays.......ahhh......thank God for Saturdays....no work, downtime, and time at home. This particular one started off cloudy, but unseasonable warm....about 2 weeks ago. I had gotten up, cleaned the house, and done laundry. My husband was in the barn doing some wood working. It was soon to rain, so I put on my running shoes and try to beat the rain. My oldest daughter was at work, and my youngest was chilled out on the sofa. I got back from my run, and started finishing supper..........some homemade beef stew. I looked out the window and the rain began to fall. I smiled and thanked God that He allowed me to get my run in, and get back home before it started.
Now, the stew was done except for simmering.........now it was time for a nice long shower. I was so looking forward to some pajama and beef stew time! I was in the bathroom, 'piddling' as we say it here in the south, lol........getting the right soap, checking to see if I need to pluck my eyebrows, etc. I was just about to start taking my clothes off, when in walks my husband. He looked in the mirror, and quietly says, "We need to go to the hospital." I looked at him, and as I was about to ask why, he took his hand down from his right cheek........my question was immediately answered. There was a gaping hole about 1 1/2 inches long, underneath his cheek bone running horizontally all the way to his ear! Blood was immediately gushing everywhere!
By the time we got to the hospital he had soaked 2 towels, and a camouflage jacket he had in the backseat of his truck, and it was still pouring! The next physician on duty to the ER was on his way, and he is a surgeon. He came in and sutured the artery that had been cut, almost in to....and then the fasia, and finally glued the outer skin. Possible nerve damage was a concern, but he looked better than he did earlier. After a liter of fluids pushed into his vein, and a bag of antibiotics...and 4 1/2 hours..........we were headed back home.
He awoke the next morning, swollen and in pain, but alive and well. He was numb around the cut and about 2 inches above it, and his right eyebrow doesn't move. Looking for the positive...his wrinkles were less noticeable on that side, lol......like he had half of a botox treatment!
I've got so much to thank God for.............you see, I could've very well have been made a widow that night..........but there was an unseen hand that was there! You see, moments earlier, I was thanking God that He took out time to hold back the rain so I wouldn't get wet while running. What I wasn't aware of, was that I was going to need dry clothes for the sudden trip to the ER! That unseen hand protected my husband through this accident, and did not let that tool hit him in the eye.....that would have taken his eye immediately! That unseen hand didn't let that hit knock him out. If it had, he would've laid on that concrete floor and bled to death. It was that unseen hand that let me be home when the accident occurred. It was that unseen hand that had that surgeon's shift to be right at the time that we would need him. It was that unseen hand that did not let him have total paralysis of the right side of his face. Even though he cannot move that right brow.........he's awfully cute when that left brow raises up by itself :).
I don't dwell for one second on why it happened........I thank God for that unseen hand that guided me..through ways I could not see. Oh........how can you not praise His name...........how can you not want to live for Him?? He answers those prayers I do pray...........and that unseen hand takes care of me when I don't even know I need to pray!!
And you OCD cleaners.....like I am, I will add this to the story...........God even helped my husband get into the house, through our beige carpeted bedroom without one drop of blood falling!! And, with our youngest daughter at home, she was able to have our bathroom sink, counter, and floor all cleaned up before we got back! Yes............I don't take anything my God does for granted!!
Oh I do long to to see my Savior's face and sing the story I've been saved by grace........and there upon that golden strain, I'll praise Him for His guiding hand!!
Are you trusting that unseen hand? I praise God for that unseen hand. Let me tell you the latest story of that Unseen Hand in my life. Saturdays.......ahhh......thank God for Saturdays....no work, downtime, and time at home. This particular one started off cloudy, but unseasonable warm....about 2 weeks ago. I had gotten up, cleaned the house, and done laundry. My husband was in the barn doing some wood working. It was soon to rain, so I put on my running shoes and try to beat the rain. My oldest daughter was at work, and my youngest was chilled out on the sofa. I got back from my run, and started finishing supper..........some homemade beef stew. I looked out the window and the rain began to fall. I smiled and thanked God that He allowed me to get my run in, and get back home before it started.
Now, the stew was done except for simmering.........now it was time for a nice long shower. I was so looking forward to some pajama and beef stew time! I was in the bathroom, 'piddling' as we say it here in the south, lol........getting the right soap, checking to see if I need to pluck my eyebrows, etc. I was just about to start taking my clothes off, when in walks my husband. He looked in the mirror, and quietly says, "We need to go to the hospital." I looked at him, and as I was about to ask why, he took his hand down from his right cheek........my question was immediately answered. There was a gaping hole about 1 1/2 inches long, underneath his cheek bone running horizontally all the way to his ear! Blood was immediately gushing everywhere!
By the time we got to the hospital he had soaked 2 towels, and a camouflage jacket he had in the backseat of his truck, and it was still pouring! The next physician on duty to the ER was on his way, and he is a surgeon. He came in and sutured the artery that had been cut, almost in to....and then the fasia, and finally glued the outer skin. Possible nerve damage was a concern, but he looked better than he did earlier. After a liter of fluids pushed into his vein, and a bag of antibiotics...and 4 1/2 hours..........we were headed back home.
He awoke the next morning, swollen and in pain, but alive and well. He was numb around the cut and about 2 inches above it, and his right eyebrow doesn't move. Looking for the positive...his wrinkles were less noticeable on that side, lol......like he had half of a botox treatment!
I've got so much to thank God for.............you see, I could've very well have been made a widow that night..........but there was an unseen hand that was there! You see, moments earlier, I was thanking God that He took out time to hold back the rain so I wouldn't get wet while running. What I wasn't aware of, was that I was going to need dry clothes for the sudden trip to the ER! That unseen hand protected my husband through this accident, and did not let that tool hit him in the eye.....that would have taken his eye immediately! That unseen hand didn't let that hit knock him out. If it had, he would've laid on that concrete floor and bled to death. It was that unseen hand that let me be home when the accident occurred. It was that unseen hand that had that surgeon's shift to be right at the time that we would need him. It was that unseen hand that did not let him have total paralysis of the right side of his face. Even though he cannot move that right brow.........he's awfully cute when that left brow raises up by itself :).
I don't dwell for one second on why it happened........I thank God for that unseen hand that guided me..through ways I could not see. Oh........how can you not praise His name...........how can you not want to live for Him?? He answers those prayers I do pray...........and that unseen hand takes care of me when I don't even know I need to pray!!
And you OCD cleaners.....like I am, I will add this to the story...........God even helped my husband get into the house, through our beige carpeted bedroom without one drop of blood falling!! And, with our youngest daughter at home, she was able to have our bathroom sink, counter, and floor all cleaned up before we got back! Yes............I don't take anything my God does for granted!!
Oh I do long to to see my Savior's face and sing the story I've been saved by grace........and there upon that golden strain, I'll praise Him for His guiding hand!!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Redeemed!
If you are a child of God, then by all means, you should know exactly what I mean when I say WE ARE REDEEMED! To redeem means to buy back or repurchase, to recover and free from bondage. Christ certainly gave redemption that day on that cruel cross. And Praise the Lord, it is for everyone!
Isaiah 43 verses 1-3 say this, "...Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have call thee by name, thou are mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.."
Read that passage several times and really let that sink in! We do not have to be afraid of anything...why....because He has redeemed us....He paid the price and freed us, and now we are one of His children!! That part alone is more than enough to Praise His name forever....but the writer continues.
Some people have this false idea that, if you are a christian...then life is just 'peachy'. All your worries and troubles are gone......sooo not true! The waters are symbolic of trials or troubles....and he doesn't say IF you pass through the waters............no.....he says WHEN you pass through the waters. You are going to face troubles and trials....but when you do....He says, I will be with you! What a wonderful, incomprehendable blessing......whatever troubles or trials we face....HE WILL BE THERE!
Again, if the scripture ended there, we could still spend an eternity just praising Him for that!....but the writer kept writing! He also said we will go through rivers. Sometimes our trials are like water.....scary, but small......and sometimes our trials are much bigger.....like rivers! Oh, I just love His response to this...'they shall not overflow thee;" What a definitive response....nothing meek or timid about that statement. THEY SHALL NOT OVERFLOW THEE! I don't know about you, but that makes me feel sooo safe and secure!
Oh my, when the waters come....He's there; when the rivers run, they can't overflow us. That is such a blessing, isn't it? But wait....the writer goes on......'when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned....' Oh what a Saviour!!!! Sometimes our trouble and trials are small like the water, He will be there; sometimes our trouble and trials are bigger, like the rivers, they can't overflow us..............oh but sometimes our trouble and trials are enormous...like fire.....but we shall not be burned!! Again, no wimpy statement there, not might not be, could not be....nope he says THOU SHALT NOT be burned!
And hold on to your seats.......if that's not good enough for you....He throws this in...'neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.' Are you getting it? Is it sinking in?? Kindle means to start a fire...cause to begin burning. Now are you getting it??? Okay, again, He doesn't say we might go through the fire...he said 'when thou walkest through the fire...' We are going to go through some big ole troubles and trials............but it's just a walk through...no ownership involved! And in passing through...we will NOT BE BURNED by it................Oh, I'm getting some happy bubbles here, lol.............and not only are we just passing through it and are NOT gonna get burned....but the flame CANNOT kindle upon us...............we can't get burned nor can we have a fire started on us....we cannot get burned....and we CANNOT BURN!!!! Oh my goodness......I have got to sit this computer down and do a happy dance.....right now!!! Thank you, Jesus.....thank you Jesus...thank you Jesus....thank you Jesus!!!
How is all of this possible?.....oh, because of the next statement found in verse 3....'For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.." What peace...what sweet peace. How personal too....He is the Lord...MY God.....He is MY Saviour!! Bless the Lord.....oh Bless the Lord!
So when my day has started off badly....woke up late, car won't start....can't find my purse, had a spat with my husband or my coworker....or traffic is horrific....what ever your 'waters' may be in life....He is there. When my kids are sick, and I don't know what to do to help them, when my bank account is empty and there is still 2 weeks left in the month, when my friend is diagnosed with a serious illness, when my marriage seems shaky.....when I am at the bank of my 'river' I'm don't have to fear....they will not overflow me. When my dad passes away, or my husband says he is leaving, or my child goes astray, or a friendship ends, when my job is gone, when my world is rocked to the core...........as I walk through my 'fire'......I can hold my head up high and know that I will not be burned..............and no matter if all I think and know looks like it is disappearing before my very eyes........I'm still not to fear.....that most heated fire CANNOT TOUCH ME...the worst of the worst of flames CANNOT KINDLE upon me. Because I AM is by my side!
Are you at your water, your river, your fire?............Hang on....don't give up and succomb to any of it.....He is with you, He will will be there, He will not let the waters overflow you, He will not let you be burned, nor let a fire start on you.....let Him be your Saviour!
Isaiah 43 verses 1-3 say this, "...Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have call thee by name, thou are mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.."
Read that passage several times and really let that sink in! We do not have to be afraid of anything...why....because He has redeemed us....He paid the price and freed us, and now we are one of His children!! That part alone is more than enough to Praise His name forever....but the writer continues.
Some people have this false idea that, if you are a christian...then life is just 'peachy'. All your worries and troubles are gone......sooo not true! The waters are symbolic of trials or troubles....and he doesn't say IF you pass through the waters............no.....he says WHEN you pass through the waters. You are going to face troubles and trials....but when you do....He says, I will be with you! What a wonderful, incomprehendable blessing......whatever troubles or trials we face....HE WILL BE THERE!
Again, if the scripture ended there, we could still spend an eternity just praising Him for that!....but the writer kept writing! He also said we will go through rivers. Sometimes our trials are like water.....scary, but small......and sometimes our trials are much bigger.....like rivers! Oh, I just love His response to this...'they shall not overflow thee;" What a definitive response....nothing meek or timid about that statement. THEY SHALL NOT OVERFLOW THEE! I don't know about you, but that makes me feel sooo safe and secure!
Oh my, when the waters come....He's there; when the rivers run, they can't overflow us. That is such a blessing, isn't it? But wait....the writer goes on......'when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned....' Oh what a Saviour!!!! Sometimes our trouble and trials are small like the water, He will be there; sometimes our trouble and trials are bigger, like the rivers, they can't overflow us..............oh but sometimes our trouble and trials are enormous...like fire.....but we shall not be burned!! Again, no wimpy statement there, not might not be, could not be....nope he says THOU SHALT NOT be burned!
And hold on to your seats.......if that's not good enough for you....He throws this in...'neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.' Are you getting it? Is it sinking in?? Kindle means to start a fire...cause to begin burning. Now are you getting it??? Okay, again, He doesn't say we might go through the fire...he said 'when thou walkest through the fire...' We are going to go through some big ole troubles and trials............but it's just a walk through...no ownership involved! And in passing through...we will NOT BE BURNED by it................Oh, I'm getting some happy bubbles here, lol.............and not only are we just passing through it and are NOT gonna get burned....but the flame CANNOT kindle upon us...............we can't get burned nor can we have a fire started on us....we cannot get burned....and we CANNOT BURN!!!! Oh my goodness......I have got to sit this computer down and do a happy dance.....right now!!! Thank you, Jesus.....thank you Jesus...thank you Jesus....thank you Jesus!!!
How is all of this possible?.....oh, because of the next statement found in verse 3....'For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.." What peace...what sweet peace. How personal too....He is the Lord...MY God.....He is MY Saviour!! Bless the Lord.....oh Bless the Lord!
So when my day has started off badly....woke up late, car won't start....can't find my purse, had a spat with my husband or my coworker....or traffic is horrific....what ever your 'waters' may be in life....He is there. When my kids are sick, and I don't know what to do to help them, when my bank account is empty and there is still 2 weeks left in the month, when my friend is diagnosed with a serious illness, when my marriage seems shaky.....when I am at the bank of my 'river' I'm don't have to fear....they will not overflow me. When my dad passes away, or my husband says he is leaving, or my child goes astray, or a friendship ends, when my job is gone, when my world is rocked to the core...........as I walk through my 'fire'......I can hold my head up high and know that I will not be burned..............and no matter if all I think and know looks like it is disappearing before my very eyes........I'm still not to fear.....that most heated fire CANNOT TOUCH ME...the worst of the worst of flames CANNOT KINDLE upon me. Because I AM is by my side!
Are you at your water, your river, your fire?............Hang on....don't give up and succomb to any of it.....He is with you, He will will be there, He will not let the waters overflow you, He will not let you be burned, nor let a fire start on you.....let Him be your Saviour!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Bridges
The water company is working on the waterlines where I live. They are putting down bigger pipes so that our water pressure, which is already good, even better. They had to cut a big ditch through a main road, that is very well traveled by everyone in this community. One night, when I was coming home, as I turned down the road, the car coming my way quickly flashed their headlights at me. THANK YOU.....because they saved my car! The water company had filled that huge ditch with gravel at the end of the work day............it had settled and SUNK in! It left a deep rut that could total your car! The water company quickly came back out and place 2 thick, huge pieces of metal over the gaping hole!
Well, after driving nervously slow over those sheets of metal, I was so thankful that they formed a bridge that safely got me over to the other side!................and, that got me thinking........bridge....hmmmm..........the dictionary defines a bridge as, 'a structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier.' Awesome!.....why?? Because that also got me thinking.....the cross............Jesus gave His life on a structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier! His cross was the bridge that allowed WHOSOEVER to be able to gain salvation through the blood of God's Son!
Now, I just love driving over those sheets of metal.....because they remind me of what a blessing a bridge can be......thank you, Jesus for building a bridge so that a wretch such as I can be eternally saved!
Well, after driving nervously slow over those sheets of metal, I was so thankful that they formed a bridge that safely got me over to the other side!................and, that got me thinking........bridge....hmmmm..........the dictionary defines a bridge as, 'a structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier.' Awesome!.....why?? Because that also got me thinking.....the cross............Jesus gave His life on a structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier! His cross was the bridge that allowed WHOSOEVER to be able to gain salvation through the blood of God's Son!
Now, I just love driving over those sheets of metal.....because they remind me of what a blessing a bridge can be......thank you, Jesus for building a bridge so that a wretch such as I can be eternally saved!
Stand Still
Sitting on the bleachers at a high school basketball game....I began to think of a devotion that I had just read. In Exodus 14............The Lord was about to perform an awesome miracle for the children of Israel. Moses was taking them down to the Red Sea to escape the Egyptians. In verse 13 Moses said, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day; ye shall see them again no more for ever. Verse 14, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." We know how the story goes....Moses led the children of Israel across on dry land, and then God let the waters roll back, drowning the Egyptians.....the chilren of Israel were out of bondage!
Okay, now you are asking..........how does a basketball game work into this story? Well....you see, we were at another school's gym....and one of our players couldn't seem to keep her feet still.....and each time she was called for traveling.....the announcer took great pride in LOUDLY announcing in that 'announcers' voice...."TOOOOO MANY STTEEEPPPSSSS!!!" Talk about annoying, lol! I remember in my days of cheering my team on, we would gladly chant, "You walked, you walked...you traveled and got caught!!" Anyway, this poor kid was getting down on herself. After about the third time being called for traveling.......the coach yelled, "STAND STILL!"
You could see that she finally seemed to catch on to the coach's advise, because she planted those feet when the ball was in her hands, she either carefully pivoted....or she solidly passed the ball. She could've kept on doing what she had been, and no doubt would've been put on the bench. She wouldn't have been able to be a part of the team, and in a game that ultimately ended in a sweet victory for our team!
Same with the children of Israel.........if they hadn't stood still and saw the salvation of the Lord, if they hadn't held their peace and let the Lord fight for them.........what a mess they would've been in! What wonderful words Moses spoke...Stand Still! How many times do we think we know what is best in a situation we are in? If we try to do it on our own....what a mess we end up in...but, if we Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, let Him fight for us, and hold our peace.....oh what a victorious, sweet ending!!
Our precious little player, that, for a while, kept driving us crazy by causing that announcer to keep yelling, 'Tooo many steps!", was humble and listened to her coach, and because of that, gained a victorious result!
The next time you are faced with the Red Sea in front of you, and the Egyptian army coming down on you from behind..............Stand Still!!!! 'The Lord SHALL fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.'.............and in the basketball player's case........you won't have to hear those obnoxious words, "TOOOO MANY STEPS!" LOL
Okay, now you are asking..........how does a basketball game work into this story? Well....you see, we were at another school's gym....and one of our players couldn't seem to keep her feet still.....and each time she was called for traveling.....the announcer took great pride in LOUDLY announcing in that 'announcers' voice...."TOOOOO MANY STTEEEPPPSSSS!!!" Talk about annoying, lol! I remember in my days of cheering my team on, we would gladly chant, "You walked, you walked...you traveled and got caught!!" Anyway, this poor kid was getting down on herself. After about the third time being called for traveling.......the coach yelled, "STAND STILL!"
You could see that she finally seemed to catch on to the coach's advise, because she planted those feet when the ball was in her hands, she either carefully pivoted....or she solidly passed the ball. She could've kept on doing what she had been, and no doubt would've been put on the bench. She wouldn't have been able to be a part of the team, and in a game that ultimately ended in a sweet victory for our team!
Same with the children of Israel.........if they hadn't stood still and saw the salvation of the Lord, if they hadn't held their peace and let the Lord fight for them.........what a mess they would've been in! What wonderful words Moses spoke...Stand Still! How many times do we think we know what is best in a situation we are in? If we try to do it on our own....what a mess we end up in...but, if we Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, let Him fight for us, and hold our peace.....oh what a victorious, sweet ending!!
Our precious little player, that, for a while, kept driving us crazy by causing that announcer to keep yelling, 'Tooo many steps!", was humble and listened to her coach, and because of that, gained a victorious result!
The next time you are faced with the Red Sea in front of you, and the Egyptian army coming down on you from behind..............Stand Still!!!! 'The Lord SHALL fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.'.............and in the basketball player's case........you won't have to hear those obnoxious words, "TOOOO MANY STEPS!" LOL
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Actions.............they really do speak louder than words. We have heard this statement all of our lives, but have we really listened to it? The dictionary tells me that the word action means the process or condition of moving as opposed to rest....the doing of something. I love that last statement.....the DOING OF SOMETHING. What was it that Jesus told his earthly parents when they had lost him, and turned back to find him teaching in the temple?.....He stated, "..wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? He was 'doing' what God had told him to do. He was....IN ACTION!
How many times do we say that we are going to do something....but then never get around to doing it? I'm reminded of a verse in Galations 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" Running is definitely an action. I love to exercise, but I can tell you that all day.....it wouldn't change a thing, and I would never get into shape unless I actually got up and exercised. I can tell you that when I don't run for a little while, when I finally do get out there.....it hurts....it definitely shows that I haven't put my 'running' into action.
We often tell our loved ones that we love them, we tell them how we feel about them.....and we should.......but do those words ever turn into action? John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Wow..........now that's putting words into action! He gave all He had for each and everyone of us........His love in perfect action!
Flip the coin...........what if the action is..........nothing.......no words.......The action of doing nothing can speak loudly as well. How do you feel when someone you think loves you doesn't seem to have time for you, doesn't call or text you to see how you are doing....never seems to have time for you? I'm so thankful that God's Word tells me that He will never leave me nor forsake me......and He puts those words into action every single day! Friends and family may fail us, but He 'sticketh closer than a brother'.
Now, I also know that words can hurt, and can cut so deeply too. There are times I have said things that I wish I could take back....but I can't. Thank God that his mercy and grace are never ending! We must be mindful of our words as well as our actions. When our actions mimick our words.......a complete story unfolds. Case in point.....I had an issue come up in my life. I shared it with a dear friend. She listened intently to me....told me she loved me and that she was praying for me. Those 'words' were a great comfort to me...but she went further........she put those sweet words into action. She kept in contact with me, calling, texting, coming by.......she was concerned and she showed it. She did little things....that she will never know how much it helped. I know that she cares.....because she put it into action! Her actions matched her words! If she had told me she loved me and was praying....but then never mentioned anything else, never asked...then her actions would have been loudly telling me.....she didn't care!
Are your actions matching your words? Do you tell God that you love Him, adore Him....and yet you don't read His Word, or spend time in prayer......don't go to church.....don't tell others about Him? Do you tell that spouse, or child, or friend that you love them, but your actions aren't showing them? We are human, and we are all guilty of this. My prayer is that the words that come out of my mouth are in a spirit of love and meekness, understanding and patience......and that my actions then back them up. God please help me not to spew ugly, angry words....and then my actions follow............and God, help me not to have any words...followed by apathy...giving nothing to those around me. God help me to be more Christ-like..........that is my desire.
How many times do we say that we are going to do something....but then never get around to doing it? I'm reminded of a verse in Galations 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" Running is definitely an action. I love to exercise, but I can tell you that all day.....it wouldn't change a thing, and I would never get into shape unless I actually got up and exercised. I can tell you that when I don't run for a little while, when I finally do get out there.....it hurts....it definitely shows that I haven't put my 'running' into action.
We often tell our loved ones that we love them, we tell them how we feel about them.....and we should.......but do those words ever turn into action? John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Wow..........now that's putting words into action! He gave all He had for each and everyone of us........His love in perfect action!
Flip the coin...........what if the action is..........nothing.......no words.......The action of doing nothing can speak loudly as well. How do you feel when someone you think loves you doesn't seem to have time for you, doesn't call or text you to see how you are doing....never seems to have time for you? I'm so thankful that God's Word tells me that He will never leave me nor forsake me......and He puts those words into action every single day! Friends and family may fail us, but He 'sticketh closer than a brother'.
Now, I also know that words can hurt, and can cut so deeply too. There are times I have said things that I wish I could take back....but I can't. Thank God that his mercy and grace are never ending! We must be mindful of our words as well as our actions. When our actions mimick our words.......a complete story unfolds. Case in point.....I had an issue come up in my life. I shared it with a dear friend. She listened intently to me....told me she loved me and that she was praying for me. Those 'words' were a great comfort to me...but she went further........she put those sweet words into action. She kept in contact with me, calling, texting, coming by.......she was concerned and she showed it. She did little things....that she will never know how much it helped. I know that she cares.....because she put it into action! Her actions matched her words! If she had told me she loved me and was praying....but then never mentioned anything else, never asked...then her actions would have been loudly telling me.....she didn't care!
Are your actions matching your words? Do you tell God that you love Him, adore Him....and yet you don't read His Word, or spend time in prayer......don't go to church.....don't tell others about Him? Do you tell that spouse, or child, or friend that you love them, but your actions aren't showing them? We are human, and we are all guilty of this. My prayer is that the words that come out of my mouth are in a spirit of love and meekness, understanding and patience......and that my actions then back them up. God please help me not to spew ugly, angry words....and then my actions follow............and God, help me not to have any words...followed by apathy...giving nothing to those around me. God help me to be more Christ-like..........that is my desire.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Straight Way
Matthew 7: 13, 14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Luke 13: 24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Why is it that we often take 'the long way' to get to things? On our way to my youngest daughter's basketball game tonight, my husband asked me, "Which way do you think is the shortest way to get there?" I told him I wasn't sure, so he continued on.......the longer way. Why?.....well, I thought about it, and the only thing I can think of is this: the shorter way consisted of applying the brakes and turning right........the longer way, went further down the road, with a more gentle turn......less work.....at the time. Both ways got us to the same exact place.............but, the longer way got us there just as the game had started..........
This got me thinking............how often do we do this in our spiritual lives? We are headed where we need to go...but when God speaks to us and says, "Hey, turn this way." We hesitate, and keep going the other way....because it requires less effort at the time. Only to have to go down winding roads, burn more gas, and waste more time later on. If we had turned when God wanted us to, we could have reaped the reward much sooner....and with more 'gas' in our tanks, less 'mileage' on our cars.....and less tired.
I was driving my youngest daughter to her boyfriend's house the other day......the area he lives in, there are about 4 different ways you can get there.....depending on where you are coming from. She laughed, telling me that when her sister takes her, she goes the same way every time, no matter where she is coming from. I asked her why...........and she said....."because this is the way dad showed me the first time I came". Lol............she wasted time and gas by going that way....but she didn't want to try the other ways.
Now I totally, understand this, how often do we do the same thing, the same way, everytime...just because we are familiar with that path and fear the unknown too much to try a different way? Yes, she still got to her destination..........but again, the gas and mileage she wasted. God so often tries to help us reach our goals sooner, if we will just walk in faith with Him.
I want to stay in His Word, and stay on my knees every day so that when God speaks, when He directs my paths, I will be ready to make that turn that will save time and gas in my spiritual walk. 'Where He leads me....I will follow...........where He leads me I will follow.....where He leads me I will follow...I'll go with Him, with Him ALL THE WAY!
Luke 13: 24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Why is it that we often take 'the long way' to get to things? On our way to my youngest daughter's basketball game tonight, my husband asked me, "Which way do you think is the shortest way to get there?" I told him I wasn't sure, so he continued on.......the longer way. Why?.....well, I thought about it, and the only thing I can think of is this: the shorter way consisted of applying the brakes and turning right........the longer way, went further down the road, with a more gentle turn......less work.....at the time. Both ways got us to the same exact place.............but, the longer way got us there just as the game had started..........
This got me thinking............how often do we do this in our spiritual lives? We are headed where we need to go...but when God speaks to us and says, "Hey, turn this way." We hesitate, and keep going the other way....because it requires less effort at the time. Only to have to go down winding roads, burn more gas, and waste more time later on. If we had turned when God wanted us to, we could have reaped the reward much sooner....and with more 'gas' in our tanks, less 'mileage' on our cars.....and less tired.
I was driving my youngest daughter to her boyfriend's house the other day......the area he lives in, there are about 4 different ways you can get there.....depending on where you are coming from. She laughed, telling me that when her sister takes her, she goes the same way every time, no matter where she is coming from. I asked her why...........and she said....."because this is the way dad showed me the first time I came". Lol............she wasted time and gas by going that way....but she didn't want to try the other ways.
Now I totally, understand this, how often do we do the same thing, the same way, everytime...just because we are familiar with that path and fear the unknown too much to try a different way? Yes, she still got to her destination..........but again, the gas and mileage she wasted. God so often tries to help us reach our goals sooner, if we will just walk in faith with Him.
I want to stay in His Word, and stay on my knees every day so that when God speaks, when He directs my paths, I will be ready to make that turn that will save time and gas in my spiritual walk. 'Where He leads me....I will follow...........where He leads me I will follow.....where He leads me I will follow...I'll go with Him, with Him ALL THE WAY!
It's Just A Quarter
A man was walking down the road one day, and something caught his eye. He bent down and picked it up...what could it be? He knew it was a coin but due to all the dirt and grime, he couldn't tell anything more. He held it in the palm of his hand and walked on his way.
When he got home he took the coin and began to rub it and clean it. Once all the dirt was gone, he could now see that it was a quarter. After careful examination, he began to smile and joy filled his heart. He was so proud that he carefully put the quarter on his shelf and admired it.
It's just a quarter.......what's the big deal?? Well you see, years before, this man worked at the U.S. mint. He was very knowledgeable about coins. As he cleaned the coin, he saw the date. He soon realized that this very coin was one of the coins that he had made when he first started working there. What is worth only 25 cents to anyone else....is priceless to him. He made this coin and sent it out into the world....and years later, he had found it again!
Now, let's put it into a spiritual sense.........God made each and everyone of us, and then, being the gentleman He is, sent us into the world. We entered this world and got all the dirt and grime of this world all over us. Many walk by and see us as nothing.....no value to anyone. But one glorious day....God came by our way, reached down....way down......picked us up out of the miry clay of this world, put us in the palm of His hand, cleaned us up.....and now looks at us with love and pride. What once was lost, now is found! We are priceless to our Lord and Savior!!
When he got home he took the coin and began to rub it and clean it. Once all the dirt was gone, he could now see that it was a quarter. After careful examination, he began to smile and joy filled his heart. He was so proud that he carefully put the quarter on his shelf and admired it.
It's just a quarter.......what's the big deal?? Well you see, years before, this man worked at the U.S. mint. He was very knowledgeable about coins. As he cleaned the coin, he saw the date. He soon realized that this very coin was one of the coins that he had made when he first started working there. What is worth only 25 cents to anyone else....is priceless to him. He made this coin and sent it out into the world....and years later, he had found it again!
Now, let's put it into a spiritual sense.........God made each and everyone of us, and then, being the gentleman He is, sent us into the world. We entered this world and got all the dirt and grime of this world all over us. Many walk by and see us as nothing.....no value to anyone. But one glorious day....God came by our way, reached down....way down......picked us up out of the miry clay of this world, put us in the palm of His hand, cleaned us up.....and now looks at us with love and pride. What once was lost, now is found! We are priceless to our Lord and Savior!!
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