Following My King

Love, What Is It?

2012-02-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

“For God so loved the world,

He gave his only begotten son,

that whosoever believes in Him

shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 (KJV)

As we prepare to celebrate St. Valentines Day tomorrow, do we ever wonder what we mean by love? Hollywood has given us certain ideas about it over the decades. Too bad their interpretation is usually flawed.

When I was in high school, the youth advisors at my church gave a program on the different meanings of love. The Greek language had four different words that, when translated, meant love.

First they had Philios, which was a love between kinsmen. We get the name Philadelphia- the city of brotherly love, - from this word. Another word the Greeks used was Eros, meaning the love between a man and a woman-romantic love. Yet another term familiar to the Greeks was agape, wanting the best for another person, unconditional unselfish love. The closest modern day example we have of this is the love between friends or between those who share the same faith. Storge is the form of love seen between family members.

Sometimes, we humans mess things up. We actually can ‘get it wrong.’ Recently, I heard a youth service message on love. The speaker had done excellent research on the subject. His title for his talk was “Love- feeling or commitment.” He guided us through the Greek terminology and explored the Biblical book, Son of Solomon. He concluded saying that love was both a feeling-which can be fleeting and a commitment-which brings permanence to a relationship. Our youth speaker got it right.

We have hymns and praise songs that speak of God’s love for us. Such Love, Love Divine All Love Excelling, Jesus Loves The Little Children, Jesus Loves Me, His Stubborn Love, all speak of the degree to which God cares for us and wants what’s best for us.

God loves us so that He gave us His Son to be with us for a while. He also gave up His Son to death on a cross- a death only reserved for the vilest of criminals- so that you and I could be with Him in heaven at the end of or days here on earth.

Romantic love is nice. We enjoy the time with our spouses. Family love is the glue that allows us to be together, a cohesive unit. Brotherly love helps us live in harmony in this world. God’s grace for us is the dearest form of love we can experience.

God’s Everlasting Love

2012-02-10T19:23:00.001-05:00

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

God never falls out of love with us. He lovingly knit us together (Psalm 139) in our mothers’ wombs. He made us exactly as He wants us to be.

He knows in advance what we will do and say in our lives. (That’s scary. That means He knows when I will loose control and say something He won’t like.)

He rejoices when we rejoice. He laughs when we react to a funny joke or circumstance. God also cries when we find ourselves sad. A friend from high school recently posted to our class’s Facebook page that her husband had died. All those who responded shared her grief and told her they would pray for her.

God hears us when we cry out to Him in our times of loss. He loves us but sometimes has to do some things that hurt us at that time. We have to understand that God has everything under His control even the things that seem hard for us. What He does for us He does out of His great never-ending love for us.

Our Father listens when we talk to Him. He lets us know when He comes near. When we have concerns about our lives or the lives of those close to us, He is there to help us view the options. He guides us through the times of self-doubt and allows us to understand Him and ourselves better.

He does these things and many more for you and me because He loves us forever.

Honor God with the First Fruits

2012-02-08T00:00:00.001-05:00

“Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of your God.” Exodus 34: 26

As a young adult, I heard tithing explained in a way that demonstrated how this verse was carried out. A farmer took his wagon to the field at harvest time. He divided the bed of the wagon by separating a section one-tenth the size of the bed. As the workers harvested the crop- be it corn, wheat, or apples. The best of the crop would be placed in the area separate from the larger part of the wagon. Those things picked and placed in the smaller area became the Lord’s.

Have we ever thought about what all God gives us? All he asks in return is one-tenth of what we have.

When I became convicted about my need to tithe, I worked where my pay days were every two weeks and came at or near the beginning of the week. When I sat down to pay bills, I established the habit of writing my tithe check first.

When we took travel vacations, I wasn’t employed at that time What ever spending money I was given, I tithed also. These exercises taught me several lessons. I learned to obey God about giving back to Him, and to appreciate what He had given me. Both of these things seem to have brought honor to God.

Toward the end of December, I received word that I had made a mistake in my checking account. This affected two of my checks I had written. Because of this error and the charges I accrued, I had an interesting January. I lived like a miser. During the month I received two reimbursements for items I had purchased; one had a sad side to it. A company that I had ordered a tee shirt went out of business. This caused the group I bought the shirt from to issue refunds to all who had paid for one.

God has been with me through this time. Because of the experience, I have started keeping a better track of my funds. I evaluate my purchases closer (Do I really need that right now?)

Our local newspaper has decided to “offer” subscriptions to its online daily editions. I have to consider how this could impact my funds. And two women at our church are presenting a Financial Peace University class for about three months. Somehow they have a reduced rate for those who attend. The younger of the two women is the granddaughter of a personal friend. I want to attend but there again; I want to honor the Lord with my decision.

Honor God with Our Mouths.

2012-02-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

Photo found on Bing

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation

of my heart be pleasing in your sight.”

Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”

Matthew 12: 34 (NIV)

I confess I used to have a very bad habit; I was careless with my speech. I went through a time of when, if I didn’t say those words, I thought them.

One day at work, I met a woman whose habit caused me to think about how she sounded, how I might sound. She would say those words that took God’s name in vain. She even used that one word that no one likes to hear. A little bit later she talked about going to church. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t the way we were to talk. We have to be mindful of God’s Word on this issue.

When I decided I wanted to write. I purchased a second hand electric typewriter. It wore out and my husband bought me a new electronic one for one of my birthdays. It had correction tape and neat ways to make the font bold. Also, I could set my line spacing. The ribbon was in a cartridge, which meant no more nasty fingers after changing it. But, there was one issue I had with this machine.

The ribbon cartridge and the correction tape spool would not go in place for me, causing the typewriter not to function. I sometimes have a short temper. Dealing with anything that doesn’t work brings it out of me. I yelled, screamed, and said all sorts of bad words. Our son came to my rescue. He showed me how the cartridge and the spool had to click in place before the mechanism will work.

I realized that I had been very careless with my words. “What if the Lord would have come at that moment?” Later, I shared my experience with a lady from our church. She understood why I felt so guilty about my behavior. I asked her if I could call her when I would need to change the cartridge and the spool and ask her to pray for me. She consented to this arrangement. And, yes, I did just that.

When I find myself out of sorts with what has been placed in front of me, I have to take a deep breath, whisper a prayer, and relax before I can fulfill the task I have been called to do. Following this practice has saved me grief and helped me as I try to honor God.

Honor God with Our Hearts and Minds

2012-02-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

Honor God and He will honor us. Bing image

“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”
Matthew 12: 34

Do the words of hymns or praise choruses play over and over in your mind? When I have these experiences, I know I am blessed.

When I have the ‘winter blues’, I find myself without a lot of energy. A recent week told me this was where I was at in my life. All my energy since Christmas seemed to take a vacation.

On that Friday, after taking a mid-morning nap, I started sorting laundry. I had prayed and had devotions before I chose to pile down on the couch and rest. As I started to sort the whites, a tune came into my heart. It was to one of the praise songs we sang at church the previous Sunday. I thought, “I wish I could remember the words.” Then the words of the chorus came to me, “Sing praise, sing praise,” I immediately felt my spirits lift.

Several years ago, I remember telling a friend that I felt close to God when this song-fest would happen. I always feel my spirits pick up when I have a praise song or a hymn run through my mind.

Because I felt I was struggling, I did what I felt I needed to do and prayed and read my Bible. I received a blessing by honoring Him even when I didn’t feel like it.

I have since realized that we truly can honor God with what we keep in our minds.

The scripture I chose to begin this essay with is one that convicted me of that occasional verbal slip of the tongue I used to have. Our former church also taught me not to used ‘minced oaths.’ Our drama ministry performed a short play about this subject. One of the women in the play told me later that because of the skit, which I had written, she had stopped using one of the expressions she had been using. Don’t you think we all should be more mindful of God and how He views our habits?

Honor God with Our Choices. Part Two

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Choose this day whom you will serve.

As for me and my house,

we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24: 15 (NIV)

As we go through life we make choices- how we will live, what we believe, with whom we will hang out, how we will dress, how we will make our living, and where we will live. Joshua spoke to the people of Israel. He explicitly told them where He stood. He was going to follow the Lord.

In 21st Century life, we see people being exploited because of their gender, abused because of their age, and mistreated because of some assumptions made by others. We see businesses ignoring the needs of their employees for the sake of the profit margin.

The banking world caused such a blow to the real estate market that we see homes sitting empty for years. We see corporations build new stores, leaving the former locations empty to deteriorate to the place that any future owners would have to expend large amounts of money that either come off their taxes or that expense gets passed onto the consumers who frequent that new business.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to weigh our personal beliefs against what we see in our world. Does how we transact business reflect God in our dealings with others? Is God honored with what we say or do? Should we evaluate how we respond to those who wait on us? Could we do better in certain areas of our communication with people? Are we truly striving to bring others to Christ by our witness?

Honor God with Our Choices.Part One

2012-01-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

“This day, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against

you that I have set before you life and earth, blessings and curses.

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”

Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)

Moses had called the people together and spoke. God had commanded Moses to

make a covenant with the Israelites beside the one God had made with them at Horeb.

This new pact was an extension of the covenant God had sworn to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses told the Israelites of the disastrous outcome if they went on doing things with a “my way” frame of mind. Toward the end of his oratory, Moses tells them that he has shown them what would happen if they choose to go their own way, mock God, and live for themselves. He reminds them that he showed them both the good that comes from obeying God and the evil from disobeying Him by not honoring the covenant. Moses further tells them to “Choose life.”

At the time I first found this scripture, I was confused by a circumstance in my husband’s life. This escalating situation caused me to be depressed. It colored our family life and, I believe, caused problems for our son.

I sat in our living room one night reading my Bible. For some reason, I was in the Old Testament and found myself in Deuteronomy. When I read the words, “Choose life” I felt relief. I had not known this feeling before. I learned to affirm others.

I’d like to tell you all that because of my choice to affirm life that our problem went away. It did but sometimes it reappears for brief moments. In spite of all the hardships we have faced, God has blessed our family in special ways.

Prayer:

Dear God:

I give thanks to You for Your Word. I praise You for the fact you gave me the insight and the courage to put Your Word and instruction first in my life. I will always remember to give You the credit and the praise for what happens in my life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN

Thoughts on Neediness

2012-01-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

We all need the love of Jesus.

“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.” 1 Samuel 2:8 (NIV)

As a teen I heard the term “needy” used to describe those who were without certain basic material belongings. Reflecting on those years, I only heard the word used in November and December.

As a young adult, I attended a Women’s Missionary Group that visited the county ‘poor farm’ from time to time. The group decided to visit at a time of the year other than Christmas. While I understood the thinking, it became clearer when one of the administrators of the children’s home down the road the road from where we lived told me that the residents there ‘got Christmased to death.’ By this, he meant that every civic group in the area visited during the Christmas season.

As a regular attendee of a growing church, I noticed the prayer sheet given out twice a week-on Wednesdays as well as Sundays. The names are those of members, constituents, and their friends. These people are from all age groups and all walks of life. The one thing binding these names together is their need for prayer.

We all are a needy people. Whether it is a healing touch from God, His guidance through a circumstance in our lives, or His presence in our lives, we all need the Lord.

Have you ever been in a public place and watched people as they pass by? Studied their faces, their stance, how they walk? Spoken to them? Listened to them as they conversed with others? Sent up a silent pray for these people? I should do this more than I do. I will start as a part of my goals for 2012.

Sometimes we learn more about people by watching them than by talking with them. How they behave in certain situations, how they respond to others. Do they show respect? We can learn things about people that are things we have to learn to live with and work around.

Prayer and Anxieties

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

“Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Phil. 4:6

Paul presents an antidote to worry. Why don’t we follow it? Is it that we don’t believe God’s Word?

Time and again, someone has asked friends of mine to pray for a special need. Some of these requests include: the search for a bone marrow donor, a change of program format for a ministry of the church, guidance for a family situation that caused deep hurt, the healing for a son, the healing for a friend or a family member, or consolation after the loss of a loved one.

I once heard that when we worry we cause ourselves to erode from the inside out. This analogy continued to remind me of a tin can. It begins to rust because of its contents. The chemical reaction between what’s inside the can and the metal itself brings about weakness in the can and that vessel can no longer do what it was designed to do.

When we worry about something, a situation in our lives, a circumstance in a friend or loved one’s family, or an issue in our community or society, we set ourselves up for ulcers, digestive conditions, forms of arthritis-like symptoms, and other disorders.

When we pray about a need, we receive a peace or we feel the need to pray fervently and wait for God to work. We turn these vexations over to God who has all things under His control.

I had to learn this lesson in my adult lifetime. Have you had experiences where you kept something bottled up inside of you and didn’t turn it over to God?

What To Do With Our Burdens

2012-01-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

Casting for fish. Bing

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty had of God,

that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)

When we have a burden, a concern, or a worry, we have certain options we can pursue. We can fret and stew about it; that can lead us to getting physically sick or we can give it to God and let Him take care of our need.

God allows us the choice. When we choose to ‘stuff’ our problems, we eventually get a lot of issues on our hearts. The modern psychologists refer to this as having a lot of ‘baggage.’ When I first heard this term, I thought of a person carrying a full suitcase on his or her back. This imaginary person, bent from the waist, couldn’t move with ease. That person carried the weight of all his misdeeds and hurts in such a way he couldn’t see the road ahead.

Our scripture today tells us when we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up. Our being free of the burden might not come as soon as we want. It comes ‘in due time’, when God chooses to intervene and remove that concern from our hearts.

Casting all your cares, I like this phrase. Being married to a man who used to fish, I get a mental image of a person stretching his or her arm over their head and letting the reel release the line as far away as possible. In the spiritual sense, I hear Peter telling his readers to hurl those woes onto the Lord God and not pick them back up again.

While it is sometimes difficult to leave our requests with Jesus, when we learn to do this we grow in our faith.

Walk In Obedience

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

Walking and Obeying. Bing

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you heard from the beginning, his command is that we walk in love.” 2 John 5-6 (NIV)

John returns to the command given by the Lord Himself. We are to love one another. He explains when we are to accomplish this we obey God and His commands.

As we go through 2012, we need to remember that we are commanded to love one another as God loves us. What does this mean to us? God loves us as we are, He loves us not because we will do great things but because of we belong to Him.

I saw her when she was in the hospital. She was a relative but we had different lives. She told me she didn’t approve of the way either of her children lived their lives but they were her kids. As she said it I felt scolded but later I realized she wasn’t defending them but loved them because they were hers. She made no pretense about trying to justify the behavior of her children, she loved them anyway. That day, I saw how unconditional love worked.

Recently, I saw unconditional love displayed by an older couple. They had had been victimized by a younger member of their family. My friend spoke of their concern about this young relative being placed with hardened criminals while being retained by the authorities. I took the time to tell my friend that she had reminded me what unconditional love looks like.

Sometimes we follow God’s guidance and others treat us shabbily. When this happens, we still have to follow His direction and obey His words.

Do Not Dwell On The Past

2012-01-18T10:21:00.001-05:00

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing.”
Isaiah 43: 18-19a (NIV)

We hear people say, “Live in the moment.” Usually, the person behind this phrase is advising us to focus on issues that affect our lives today, not something that happened 20, 30, or 40 years ago.

God tells the people to not relive in their minds the past of their nation. He had just told them to forget what happened to them in their past. Warren Wiersbe, a Christian writer gave me a very good usage of the word forget. The passage was Philippians 3:12-14. In this passage Paul tells us “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on. . . .” Mr. Wiersbe wrote that the meaning here of ‘forgetting’ is not to remove from our minds. Rather it is that we no longer allow the things of the past control us.

I believe we can apply the same usage to this passage as well.

One time, back in the early 1980’s, I witnessed a situation that caused a church to fire a choir director. The church was within its rights. This circumstance should not have happened among Christians. Eight years later, I saw this person at a church league athletic event, acting as a referee. I found myself remembering what had happened earlier. I shared this at a Wednesday night Prayer Meeting at the church I belonged to. One of the Lay Ministers reminded me, “God doesn’t remember eight years ago, why should we?”

I learned a lesson that night. I had to accept that that person may have sought God’s forgiveness. I had to forgive that person as well.

God tells people in exile He is doing a new thing. He makes a way for the Israelites where there wasn’t one before.

When we find ourselves under a burden, we need to ask God to make a new way out of the circumstance or, to put it another way, to allow good to come out of the bad situation.

A New Way

2012-01-16T00:00:00.002-05:00

Look forward to the future, "Veil of Forgetfulness"
Bing

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you
not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams
in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

The Lord God speaks to His prophet Isaiah. He also speaks to us. We have times when people’s actions and words tend to get us down. During this time of a new year, we should practice forgetting all the hurts we have endured in our pasts.

“Forget? I can’t forget what they did to me.” How many times have we said that in our lives? I once read a thought about the word ‘forget’ as used in scripture. Warren Wiersbe wrote in a Bible study on Philippians words that I still have in my heart. The passage was Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to take hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Mr. Wiersbe wrote that the word ‘forget’ did not mean to banish from our minds. Rather, the meaning was that we no longer allowed things to control us. I found this perspective to free me from some harsh things that happened to me in my past.

When we dwell on events that happened a long time ago, we permit those feelings and those difficult words to color our outlook on life. I have read where a woman who goes through the horror of violation develops wariness about men. A friend of mine was a victim of her stepfather’s misguided passion. She still has protective habits that date back to her adolescent years, even though she has had a good adult life.

Our dwelling on things in our pasts tends to make us sick. We develop ulcers and nerve problems because we can’t lay things to rest. An extreme example of this is the PTSD condition of some soldiers or of someone who has witnesses a horrific crime.

God makes things new and easier for us. Each day is new, we can begin again.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

Prayer:

Dear God,

As we go through this time of making changes for this another year, let us remember to give the hurts and heartaches of our pasts over to You. We will do this willingly and wait for You to act on them in our behalf. In the name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN

Walk In Love

2012-01-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

"Walking", Bing

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command

but one we have had from the beginning.

I ask that we love one another.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.

As you heard from the beginning, his command is that we walk in love.”

2 John 5-6 (NIV)

John returns to the command given by the Lord Himself. We are to love one another. He explains when we are to accomplish this we obey God and His commands.

As we go through 2012, we need to remember that we are commanded to love one another as God loves us. What does this mean to us? God loves us as we are, He loves us not because we will do great things but because of we belong to Him.

I saw her when she was in the hospital. She was a relative but we had different lives. She told me she didn’t approve of the way either of her children lived their lives but they were her kids. As she said it I felt scolded but later I realized she wasn’t defending them but loved them because they were hers. She made no pretense about trying to justify the behavior of her children, she loved them anyway. That day, I saw how unconditional love worked.

Recently, I saw unconditional love displayed by an older couple. They had had been victimized by a younger member of their family. My friend spoke of their concern about this young relative being placed with hardened criminals while being retained by the authorities. I took the time to tell my friend that she had reminded me what unconditional love looks like.

“A New Command”

2012-01-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

“A new command I give you: Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another

John 13: 34-35 (NIV)

Jesus has just told the disciples that he will not be with them much longer. Simon Peter is distraught by the news.

Our Lord tells the disciples He is giving them a new way to look at each other. He tells them to ‘love one another.’ Jesus must have thought it important because He tells them three times.

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus serves the disciples in a humbling way-He washed their feet. After he finishes, Our Lord tells them they should do for another as He has done for them.

Another example of God’s love is the familiar passage, John 3:16. God gave something precious to us and for us because He loved us so much.

We are to do love others as Christ has loved us.

In our 21st Century world, we still read of our need to extend grace and mercy to those we meet. How do we manage to show God’s love to those around us? We do deeds of kindness when we see a need. We honor people’s positions and try not to betray another’s trust or cause a friend to do so, either. We respect boundaries others have set.

People watch what we do. Even those closest to us-our neighbors, those with whom we do business, and our family members monitor and evaluate our behavior. I once had to tell a lady she had mistakenly paid me for a story that was a simple e-mail forward. As we ended the conversation, she thanked me for my honesty and then added, “I would have expected nothing less from you.”

I once gave a negative verbal reference on a friend who used my name on a job application. My thinking was she was not right for the job. She had too many personal issues in her life.The hiring lady wanted to hire her very much. The lady called the other reference, a relative of my friend for whom she had worked. In a matter of minutes my phone rang and my friend wanted to know when she offended me. She ended the conversation with, “If that is Christianity, then I want no part of it.” I called the hiring lady and let her know what had transpired. Because of what she did, I lost a friend. I also learned a lesson about life. We can do what we think God would want us to and still have to face issues because of our actions. But we must love others as God loved us.

New In Attitude

2012-01-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

"The Thinker" by Rodin, Bing Pictures

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires,
to be made new in the attitude of your minds. And to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

“It’s all in how you think about it.” “It’s all in how you look at it.” These are expressions we hear about the weather, being too hot or cold. My husband and our son have this phrase when I complain about the winter weather. It goes something like this, “It’s (insert appropriate month); it’s supposed to be cold.” When it’s July and August, they have a summer version of it.

When we, as Christians, hear about an event or a behavior that is less than appropriate we need to remember this passage and ask God to help us look at it through eyes He gives us. Our newspapers are full of stories about man’s atrocities to man. Most of these happenings are too vile to be discussed on a Christian blog. One of the ones I heard about recently was first mentioned on a newscast my husband caught. The segment ended with a statement to the effect of, “There is a part of this story that is too gross to talk about when children might be watching.”

We have to ask God to guide us through these times and allow our thinking to reflect Him.

It's My Turn to Be "It."

2012-01-08T00:00:00.001-05:00

Dawn, over at http://beneaththesurface-dawn.blogspot.com/has tagged me to share eleven things about me that you think you would like to know. (Maybe you wouldn't,'cause if you did, you wouldn't like me anymore.) Here goes:

                 #1. I am one that likes the quiet of the early morning.

                  #2. I have a few very close friends. One I was acquaited with in high school. We don't tell people how long ago. We recently told someone we had been friends "forever." She used to babysit our son. She's interested in his well-being. Another one and her husband have always been there for me when I have had some rough times. (And, yes, I have had them.)

                    #3. I am very sensitive about certain aspects of God's calling me away from certain issues in life. There are conversations I chose not to enter into with people. It saves me from having to apologize to God for my behavior.

                    #4. I am a mystery movie buff. I like to watch reruns of certain movies to see what I missed the last time I saw it. We watched "Rear Window" several times before I realized that the story took place in about a week.

                     #5. I color my hair. I do this because Hubby doesn't like seeing my 'silver threads.' I also have red highlights. My stylist grew up across the street from us. I have know her almost "forever."

                    #6. I enjoy writing the short plays for our church's drama ministry. Right now, I am working on the Easter drama. The head of our Drama Ministry and I met with our pastor today to show him what I have come up with for Resurrection Sunday. He paid us a nice compliment. He said we have an outstanding drama ministry.

                    #7. My husband and I have been married a little over 43 years. No, he didn't rob the cradle. Even after all these years,I sometimes find that he still does things that amaze me.

                    #8. I have dealt with depression off and on all my life. I had to give up a job in the 1980's in order to try to deal with certain issues in my life and my marriage. God was there for me and He still is.

                     #9. We have one son, whom we love very much. He moved 600 miles away from us because he found work. (Couldn't find anything here.) I didn't realize how much I missed him until Thanksgiving Day.

                      #10. I love words. My favorite subjects in high school were English and History. But when I went to college, I couldn't write the way the professors wanted. If I would have transferred to another school, I would have had to retake four semesters of English, Rhetoric, or Composition.

                      #11. Stress literally makes me sick. Sometimes, I can't leave our house for fear I have an episode.

Dawn Asked Me These

1. The first three things you do in the morning

                  Read my Bible, Have Devotions, Consult my list for the days activities.

2. When was the last time you exercised and what did you do?
                   The day after Christmas,I started cleaning house. I hurt that night like I'd run a marathon.

3. One thing you will do (or try) this year that you have never done before?
                     Maintain a 'company ready' house.( Long story.)

4. If money were no object what is the one thing you would buy for yourself?
                     A more modern home.

5. If you could go anywhere in the world to explore and visit, where would it be?
                      Germany, or the United Kingdom, especially Ireland.

6. You can interview 3 people (they have to be living) - who are they?
                       Jan Karon, Beverly Lewis, Max Lucado

7. Describe yourself in 7 words or less.
                        Deep Thinking, Concerned for others, Joyful.

8. Favorite fruit?
                        Cherry,Bing Cherries. (We have a memory about them.)

9. One historical person you want to talk to who is not alive.
                          Mother Theresa or Corrie Ten Boom ( I know, I can't count.)

10. Your favorite movie?
                           Sleepless in Seattle- a good story and a minimum of foul language words.

11. What is the best book you would recommend for 2012
                            The Bible, the best book for any year.

Now I get to choose some others to tell about themselves. I choose any of you who read my blog.

Give us eleven things we don't already know about yourself and answer the eleven questions I received from Dawn.

The Word God Gave Me For 2012

2012-01-07T00:00:00.002-05:00

Several of my blogging friends have written lately about the word that God has impressed upon them for the new year. It has taken me a while to sort through my thoughts and search my heart to arrive at one special word for me for this year.

When I had what could have been a major problem several years ago, I kept hearing this word in my mind as I tried to work. I later ran across a scripture that told me to take heed and follow the advice of the wisest man on the earth. Here's what he said.

"TRUST in the Lord your God and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Several years ago, I came up with an acrostic for this word.

Totally

Relying

Upon the

Savior's

Timing

We all know that God's ways are not our ways. We also know His timing is not our timing. I have been concerned about my management of time. I have decided to plan my days with God being in control. I have spent the past few days making a list of the things I would like to accomplish in my house. The things I don't get to become a priority item for the next day.

I believe God will guide me through all that comes my way in 2012; all I have to do is TRUST Him.

It’s What Counts

2012-01-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

"Sunrise" from Bing

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;what counts is a new creation.”
Galatians 6:15 (NIV)

As modern day people we sometimes get caught up in externals. We also get onto labels-denominational, racial, political, or financial.

Paul says the only thing that counts is ‘a new creation.’ I often wonder how our world would be different if we used this as a standard rather than a person’s external or tangible qualities.

I try to look at people through God’s eyes but it’s not always easy. When I find myself getting upset with a person, I try to remember God loves him or her as He loves me.

Even when we don’t see it, we have to remember that God is at work making each of us into a new creation.

Recently, I had to begin a new habit. Once I started working on it, my attitude about things seemed to change. I began to feel better about certain issues that had brought me down. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed the change, but I have and I know God has. I intend to keep this previously buried change working in my life. With His help, I know I can.

“New Way Of Life”

2012-01-04T00:00:00.001-05:00

May we all have a child's spirit .

“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law
so that we may serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”
Romans 7:6 (NIV)

When we find Christ and allow Him to enter our hearts, we undergo a conversion. Our values become different. We give up attributes that displeases Him-we no longer complain about things. We watch our language-even those minced oaths. We don’t have the same pastimes we had. We don’t frequent places that we know He wouldn’t approve of.

We know we are being watched as we transact business. People compare how we treat others. Do we step up to the plate and pitch in when we hear of someone who needs help? A friend asked me to substitute as a helper in the Weekday Religious Education class at our church. The public schools in our community and their fourth grade teachers have the option of allowing their students released time to be taken to a local church near their schools and receive religious instruction. She knows that I have a difficult time with children. On my first day, with the exception of one small bobble, I think I did well. I came away from that class with a deeper appreciation of our associate pastor. She kept order and quickly dealt with the problems that seemed to arise.

When we face struggles, we try not to complain about them. We pray; we read our Bibles, we fellowship with those who also believe in Jesus. We strive to truly live for God because we do have a new life-a new spirit about ourselves. We love God.

The New Has Come

2012-01-02T09:20:00.001-05:00

In memory and honor of a friend who now lives in Heaven.

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.Though we once regarded Christ this way, we no longer do so. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NIV)

Paul writes to the believers in Corinth. He addresses the presence of false teachers in the church.

In the highlighted passage, Paul instructs them that they are to view no one from a worldly stance. Believers are not to look at people as the world does. Here in the United States, our legal system operates under the idea that a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty. As I read this passage, we are to see a person as God sees them.

Paul then makes a startling statement. If anyone-a thief, a murder, one who abused the elderly or small children- comes to Christ, that person is a new person. A person described as new is changed on the inside, having a new heart.

God does the transforming; He does it because of His grace. Grace is defined as unmerited favor. We don’t deserve anything God gives us. What we do deserve is spiritual death and a place in Hades.

Praise God, He gives us a new heart, a new outlook, and a new destination for our souls.

Dear God:

Thank You for giving us new hearts and making us new people when we accepted You Son Jesus into our lives. In His name, I pray, AMEN.

The Resurrection and the Life

2011-12-23T00:01:00.001-05:00

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?’” John 11: 26-27 (NIV)

Jesus is in Lazarus’ home. Lazarus has died; his sisters are in mourning. The Master comforts the sisters.

The Lord says something to Martha that she doesn’t fully understand. Her brother will rise again. She knows Lazarus will rise ‘in the resurrection at the last day.’

Jesus then explains that He Himself is that resurrection. He further states that any who believe in Him will live, although that person will die a physical death. He explains that ‘whoever lives and believes in Him will never die.’

What does this mean to us who live in this 21st Century world? I see several thoughts in this passage:

● “He who believes in me”- Belief carries with it the factors of trust and faith.

● “. . . will live,”-Those who believe will become spiritual beings. The will live with God in heaven.

● “. . . even though he dies;” The person, in order to gain the resurrected body suitable for heaven, must go through a separation of his or her physical body.

● “. . . and whoever lives and believes in me” Anyone who abides in Christ. All who live for Him and trust Him.

● “. . . will never die.” Those who live for Jesus will never die. The will live with God forever.

Jesus then asks a question- one that is as pertinent to us as it was in the first Century, “Do you believe this?” As I read this inquiry, I see the emphasis can go on three different words. “Do you believe this?” This reading points to us as individuals, and makes this personal. “Do you believe this?” An interpretation of the action we chose to take or what we do with the information. “Do you believe this?” The meaning here seems to direct us to the facts of who Jesus is. As I understand the question, we have to deal with each meaning before we can experience spiritual growth. What do you think?

The Alpha and The Omega

2011-12-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

“‘Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me,

and I will give to everyone according to what he has done

. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the Last.”’

Revelation 22:12-13 (NIV)

Jesus Christ tells His children that:

●He is coming soon to right the wrongs of the world.

●He will reward those who wait for Him according to their faith and holiness.

●He has the authority to do these things because He is the author and finisher of the faith.

What does this mean for us who live in the 21st Century? Jesus is coming again to rescue His followers and to establish His kingdom on Earth. He will judge and reward those who have proven faithful.

Jesus came to earth to teach us about God. He willingly gave His life to pardon us from sin. Christ will return to live with us, forever.

Dear Jesus:

You came to sojourn with us on earth two thousand years ago, for this we thank You. You set aside Your will for that of the Father’s, for this we are most appreciative. You promised us You would return to earth and live with us forever. For these deeds, we give humble thanks. In Your name, we pray. AMEN

The Word, God

2011-12-19T00:01:00.002-05:00

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.”

John 1:1 (NIV)

“In the beginning was the Word,”

By the time of John’s writing of his gospel account of Jesus’ life, the church had experience a large influx of Greek people who actually outnumbered the Jewish Christians.

John chose to begin his account by explaining who Jesus was. He began with the concept the people new to Christianity could understand- in the Greek language words were important.

John reflects on Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” By doing this he establishes that the word existed before God created the world.

“ . .the Word was with God,”

John boils down the intimate relationship Jesus and God had into five words. They were extremely close. We can barely describe this relationship. Matthew Henry states that Jesus coexisted with God.

Let me try to describe this connection between Jesus and God by drawing a parallel.

We all know of married couples who truly function as a team-they do most of their activities together. People who know them speak of them as a pair. This closeness of a man and his wife is a miniature picture of the relationship between Jesus and God.

“. . . and the Word was God.”

When we see Jesus, we see someone whose nature reflects God’s perfect being. The Son of God came to earth to allow us to know His Father’s love and nature to prepare you and me to live for Him during our time here. By living for Him here, we learn how to live with Him in heaven.

In our 21st Century world, people have forgotten about God and His Son. Their behavior has become unspeakable. In our state we read of events and circumstances that, even 20 years ago, would make us sick.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior, let us approach Him with humble hearts, give Him the concerns of our hearts, and ask Him to guide us through these fallen times. Let us also search His Word for answers to how to prepare ourselves for what will come next.

Jesus-The Bread of Life

2011-12-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

“I am the bread of life. He whom comes to me

will never go hungry and he who

believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:35 (NIV)

In our society, bread is considered the staff of life. In our family eateries, each meal is served with dinner rolls, biscuits, or quick breads. Even the Italian restaurants and pizza franchises offer bread sticks. Bread seems to be essential to our physical well being. In our scripture passage, Jesus identifies Himself as ‘the bread of life. ‘He further states, ‘He who comes to me will never go hungry . . . .’ Here Christ speaks of spiritual well-being.

In order to keep our spirit from being hungry, we have to ‘feed’ it with God’s word. We have times of basking in His presence and receiving His love.

When we feed upon His Word, we come away filled with His love and with thanksgiving of who He is and, then, for what He does.

As we bask in His presence, we experience Him in a way that we can’t easily describe. We feel peace invade our souls. We can almost hear Him speak to our hearts. Our hearts are warmed.

Because we receive His love, He commands us to share that love with those we meet. Recently hubby and I had a day that, in his words, “We brought cheer to three lonely people today, the lady on the restaurant, our friend Bob, and our neighbor, Earl.”

Dear Lord Jesus:

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You guiding us through each day. Thank You for giving us spiritual nourishment that sustains us when we are down-hearted. We give you the glory. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

Arvella’s In Heaven

2011-12-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

One of my dearest friends, Martha, lost her stepmother recently. Arvella G. left this world of pain after living here for 100 years.

Her family knew her demise was coming. She experienced heart problems this fall. The only way I can explain how lovely this woman was and how much she meant to her family is to share some stories about her.

When she married Martha’s dad-a widower with three grown children, she became grandma to the grandchildren at that time and to those that came later. Even in telling her own grandchildren, Martha said, “Grandma has died.”

When David, Martha’s husband, suffered a massive heart attack, Arvella graciously let me come to her home to find out how he was progressing. We talked about my family and Martha’s daughter’s and their children. I believe I was there over an hour.

Last December, I went to the area Healthcare Campus where Arvella had chosen to move four and a half years earlier. My reason for being there was to purchase some of the calendars they had made for a community project. She was sitting in the lobby. She smiled the same sweet smile as she had done since I had met her back in the 1970s. We talked about the usual things-how were my son and husband doing, how was I doing? She somehow got the idea that I was ‘so busy’ with things.

I met Tom, one of her nephews, and Judy, his wife, and family when my son and I started going to another church in 1981. I gave Judy our address. She told me, “I know right where that is. Tom’s aunt lives in that area.” I didn’t know until one of Tom’s uncles died that Tom’s aunt was Arvella.

When our son graduated from high school, Martha’s younger daughter, Sheila, was in his class. I remember Martha and David, her dad and Arvella sat behind us at the service.

It was always a joy to see her and hear of her activities. She used to go to the grocery store on Thursdays. One time I saw her there. She smiled and greeted me. We talked briefly. Her disposition always made me feel good.

All those who had the opportunity to know her received a special reward. The family received a very definite blessing.

At her funeral, one of the pastors told of her activities while she resided at the assisted living facility. She belonged to the Red Hat Society. She learned sign language and took Spanish 101. She posed for a picture for a community calendar the healthcare campus published.

She will be missed, but she hasn’t really left us. She lives in our hearts. Everyone who knew her has a couple of stories to share about her.

Those who went to the cemetery were invited to take a flower from the arrangements with them. I selected a rose that was just beginning to open. It graced my coffee table for almost two weeks.

Shepherd

2011-12-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

“For the lamb at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;

He will lead them to springs of living water.

Rev 7:17 (NIV)

“‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep

and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me

and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep.’”

John 10:14-15(NIV)

The Pharisees listen as Jesus explains His role while one earth. He has a God-mandated position. He likens Himself to a shepherd.

A shepherd has the responsibility of the care, well being and protection of the sheep. The shepherd knows each of the sheep in his charge. The animals know him as well. They know his voice (John 10:4).

Jesus, just like a shepherd, chooses to guide us to through trauma into rest and recovery. He watches over us, provides our daily needs and keeps us from harm.

In our daily lives we have times when we know Jesus watches over us and the ones we love. He does it in many ways, small and large. We have traveled and returned safely from our journey. He has healed us from injury. He wraps his arms of love around us when we have fear.

Jesus knows each of His followers. We, as believers, recognize His presence and see His hand in events in our lives.

Dear Jesus:

Thank You for your watch care over us. We believe You are always near to us and guide us even though, at times, we don’t realize it. For these signs of Your love, we give You glory and honor. In the name of Jesus, we pray, AMEN

Jesus-The Light of the World

2011-12-09T11:12:00.001-05:00

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 (NIV)

Our neighbor has a security light that comes on when someone gets to a certain spot on his driveway. Several years ago, it came on and scared some police officers when they received a call about a strange recurring sound that came from the yard. While it startled the two police investigators and any others who venture there, it brought peace to our neighbors.

We read in our Bibles that Jesus identifies himself as ‘The Light of the World.’ By shedding light into our lives, He calls attention to our sins, protects us from harm, and guides us through murky times.

Whenever I feel I have an issue working on my spirit, I can go to Jesus and express my feelings. If I feel the need, He even allows me to vent. He shows me what I need to do in order to advance beyond the depression, the anger or the frustration I may have, all because of His light.

He took my sin upon Himself when He willingly gave His life for me. He forgave me just as He did the repentant thief.

Dear Jesus:

Thank you for shedding your light upon my dark world. Back then, I felt as though I wasn’t worth anything; it was as if I had no real earthly friends. There was an issue in our home that needed Your light and You resolved that circumstance. I give you the praise for that. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN

Jesus

2011-12-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

I felt out of kilter with my devotional life recently. I remembered the names of Jesus I had chosen for my blog topics for this Advent season. I found myself thinking of ways to describe Him to others. Here’s what I put together. I pray you will enjoy them.

Jesus, You are Awesome

Jesus, You are Beautiful

Jesus, You are Close to us

Jesus, You are Delightful

Jesus, You are Eternal

Jesus, You are Faithful

Jesus, You are Glorified

Jesus, You are Holy

Jesus, You are Immanuel

Jesus, You are Jehovah

Jesus, You are King

Jesus, You are Lovely

Jesus, You are Mighty

Jesus, You are Near

Jesus, You are Omnipotent

Jesus, You are Powerful

Jesus, You are Quietly at work

Jesus, You are Righteous

Jesus, You are Steadfast

Jesus, You are Truth

Jesus, You are Unfailing

Jesus, You are Victorious

Jesus, You are Wondrous

Jesus, You are Extraordinary

Jesus, You are Yahweh

Jesus, You are Zealous

His Name Is Immanuel-God With Us

2011-12-05T10:59:00.001-05:00

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had

The Holy Family

said through the prophet: ‘the virgin will be with

child and will give birth and they will call him

Immanuel- which means, ‘God with us.’”

Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

One of the first things I ask when I hear of a baby going to be born is if the parents-to-be have thought of any names. Names are usually chosen with great care. If a name or the set of initials carry a negative idea or profane idea, most parents won’t consider it.

Our names last our whole lives. We might have a shortened form of our given name that we or others use. On the occasion of a hospital admission our given name will be used unless the nursing staff asks what we go by. When we reach a certain point in life we become known to our health insurance providers by our first name, no matter what we have gone by in our life

When the angel visited Joseph and told him not to be afraid to accept Mary as his wife, the visitor told him to ‘give him the name Jesus’. Now this is not just the whim of the angel. The Lord God had spoken through Isaiah and gave this name to His emissary He will send to earth.

"God with us”-what does that mean? A family I know has gone through a difficult time for just over a year now. God has been beside then each day since this circumstance entered their lives.

“God with us”- an elderly friend of mine has dealt with a ‘backset’ in her health. A mutual friend got the lady into her doctor. The doctor tweaked the lady’s meds. She started feeling better in two days time.

“God with us”-We received a phone call one Sunday afternoon that took us to the hospital bedside of my husband’s sister. They had to transfer her to a hospital that specialized in trauma care. Eleven days later, we watched her as she was transferred to her heavenly home.

“God with us” This past winter, our son expanded his job search. He started applying for government jobs. He was offered a job in a town six hundred miles and three states away. His plan was to fly out there, look for an apartment and return and get what he needed for an apartment. He planned for a two day trip to do this. We had a horrendous winter storm come through the Midwest. Airports closed, the interstate closed in the state lying to the east of his destination. He had to make plane, motel and rental car reservations three times. Our son did get to his new town. He did get those things he needed for his apartment. God allowed him to make that trip safely both times.

Happy Thanksgiving To You; Unplugging

2011-11-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

I wish you and your families all a Happy Thanksgiving. Here at our house, we won't be doing anything holiday style until next weekend. Our son will be home next Friday. We will have Thanksgiving, Christmas and celebrate Son's birthday in three days time. We can't wait to see himwidth

Me and Hubby and Son

Because I have tons of things to do beforehand and then, I don't want to miss visiting with him, I am unplugging from my blog for the next ten days.

What Are You Thankful For?

2011-11-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

During the first winter in New World, each adult person had a daily ration of five kernels of corn. God supplied help through the friendly Indians of the area who taught them how to grow their food for their families.

One of the most impressive evening church services I remember was the service the night before Thanksgiving fifteen years ago. Someone handed each of us a small plastic bag with five kernels of corn inside. We entered a darkened sanctuary and took our seats. The pastor had a large candle holder with a tall lit candle. The two together looked at least a foot and a half tall.

Then he told the story of the significance of the five pieces of corn we had been given. Pastor then told us we would each get an opportunity to share, to name five things we were thankful for. The only one allowed to speak was the one who had the candle. He passed the candle to someone in the front pew

At this time each year, I remember that service and the exercise we did. I also remember five things I am thankful for. I’m sure you each have your own list of thing but here’s mine:

1. My Salvation- a gift from God.

2. The talent and gifts God has given me-I appreciate that He has chosen me to do these things.

3. My Husband and My Son-God has given me 43 years with the same man. He gave us a great son.

4. My Friendships both online and in life- I once read that we can never have too many friends. I appreciate each of the ones I have.

5. The gift of Laughter- being able to laugh about something makes life more bearable and a whole lot more fun.

Thank You, Lord for Everything.

What Has God Done For Us?

2011-11-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

Flowers outside our church's office

● He saved us from eternal damnation. We all know that none of us deserve to go to heaven because we are all sinners. God allowed His Son, Jesus, to go to the cross and shed His blood for our salvation. Because of Calvary we have the promise of eternal life with Him.

● He heals us from diseases. God has given scientists the skill to develop

vaccines- Polio, Measles, Mumps. Jonas Salk perfected the first vaccine to combat polio. He saved untold numbers of children from the devastation of living with a degree of paralysis, being confined to an iron lung or even from dying.

● He gives knowledge to doctors to treat different diseases. In the early 1960’s, President and Mrs. Kennedy had a son born who lived a very short time. By 1980, the condition that took their son was treatable.

● He gave us ways to contain germs. In the Old Testament, we read about the way to deal with mold.

● He protects us from harm. He guides us through scary times that come our way.

● Guides us through difficult issues. His Word tells us how to live and keep ourselves from being discouraged. The apostle Paul tells us we are conquerors.

Give thanks for even the small things.

SEEK FIRST

2011-11-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you.”

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Jesus spoke to the people on the mountain top. He told them how to insure their relationship with God in order to be victorious over worry.

He also speaks to us about this ‘joy stealer’ of modern life. We have certain issues in these times that cause us to become anxious-stretching our income to allow us to get through until the next paycheck, maintaining peace with those who chose not to understand our way of living, and raising our children or grandchildren.

Jesus tells the crowd to search for God’s rule and a strong relationship with Him. We develop this tie with Him through receiving His salvation and learning to trust Him.

In today’s world, we hunt for a lifestyle that satisfies. But we have to realize that life isn’t always about us. Once we learn that, we can refrain from the angst of our time.

As we learn of Jesus, we discover we can trust Him for every aspect of our lives. He tells the crowd and us to turn to Him first when difficulties confront us.

When we seek Him first, we are telling Jesus that we know He has the answer, and we trust Him for the outcome. By seeking the Lord first don’t we give Him praise and thanks that we know He is there for us, no matter the challenge?

Telling About Myself

2011-11-17T13:24:00.000-05:00

My blogging friend, Rhonda, over at The Natives are Getting Restless, awarded me the Tell Me About Yourself award. She requested I share some facts about myself. I usually find this difficult. But these are some of the things that make me who I am.

Seven things about myself:

1.) I am an only child. When people find that out, I say one of two things. Either I say something like “Yes, I am one of those spoiled onlys.” But, I really wasn’t spoiled, just well loved. (The other thing I might say.) Just for the record, my dad was technically an only child as well. (But, he was raised with some cousins.) So, that means, I am an only; was brought up by an only and reared an only.

2.) I have a collection of china mugs from the places we have traveled to. In the past few years, our son has added to it. I even have one from Austria that Hubby gave a friend money to bring it back to me when she accompanied her neighbor on a trip.

My collection on display for others to enjoy.

3.) I love mysteries, reading them and watching them on TV. Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock, Ben Matlock, and Jessica Fletcher are some of my favorites.

4.) The police shows get my attention. It fascinates me to see how they ‘follow the evidence’ and find the perpetrator and a lot of times it’s not who I thought.

5.) I enjoy spending time with close friends. Sometimes my spending time may be just a telephone conversation. I am currently working in Children’s Ministries at our yoked churches. My part in this project is to portray Mary’s neighbor in Nazareth in a skit. This neighbor doesn’t believe that Jesus is who He is.

6.) Because of a caffeine sensitivity, I have to forego coffee, real tea, any cola, Barques Root Beer, anything with caffeine. I do like Dad’s, A&W, and Mug root beers. I also like lemonade, hot spiced cider and herbal tea. My current choice of candy is Lindor white chocolate truffles. Hubby has forbidden them in our house until Christmas-they are too good and too much of a temptation.

7.) I like to watch old movies, especially those I have seen before. I watch them to see if I can learn something different about the story or how the writers and directors have created it. Last night, we watched a movie from 1942. It was interesting seeing Carol Lombard, Jack Benny and a young Robert Stack play their roles.

I pass this award on to these wonderful blog writers.

1.) Dawn @ Beneath The Surface Dawn writes spiritual truths in a way that brings God’s Word to enlighten me in new ways.

2.) Glenda @Journey to Publication: I admire Glenda for her transparency. I know she is sincere in her thoughts.

What Makes Us Want To Give Thanks?

2011-11-14T16:27:00.001-05:00

God acts in our behalf. What He does takes a worry from us. He answers our prayers. We all know that God can respond to our petitions in one of three ways. He can say, ‘Yes’ and grant what we ask for. Or he replies, ‘No’ and deny our request. Sometimes, his answer is ‘Not now.’

When our son was in Kindergarten, all they toys he wanted for Christmas were things that he was too young to have. Now, as parents, Hubby and I chose more age appropriate items. Son didn’t say anything to us about why he didn’t get what he asked for. He did ask his grandmother about it. (She had him on a fairly regular basis.) She told him that he might have been too young for what he wanted. The next fall, Hubby surprised Son with one of the toys he had wanted and explained that, yes, he was too young for it the previous Christmas and we didn’t want to see him get hurt by it.

There are times when God doesn’t answer in the way or ways we ask; He chooses to let His will be done as He sees fit. All these actions merit our thanks because He protects us and acts in our best interest.

Let’s reflect on our requests that God said “Not now” about.

Did God eventually honor those requests?

Did we find ourselves growing closer to Him at any time while we waited?

Was it an experience we gave thanks for?

How Should We Give Thanks Part 2?

2011-11-11T10:15:00.001-05:00

Trees at our local state park.

Be thankful to Him and bless His name. Psalm 100:4b (NKJV)

Wholeheartedly, we can tell whether or not a person means what they say. God also knows when we go through the motions and say words He and others expect to hear from us.

I once spent a quantity of time making a scroll of thanks for a gentleman in a former church I attended. I had enlisted help from my step-father to make stained wooden handles for the scroll. I asked a friend’s daughter to color the pictures I had cut out of coloring books of a particular well-known Muppet. I asked the church people to sign the paper just anywhere. My plan was to put a cut out image above each name. I let his wife know of this project. When I delivered it to their home and gave it to him. He didn’t really respond the way I had thought he would. His wife thanked me for all the work I did and also apologized for her husbands seeming lack of appreciation.

The next Sunday, the man told me he was touched by the scroll. He also told me that due to his medical condition, his doctor had advised him not to get overexcited. I understood what he told me.

Sometimes, we have to be subdued in giving thanks to God. The important thing is THAT we give thanks.

Pleasantly, When I was in college one of the girls in my sorority used a phrase I was unfamiliar with, “left-handed compliment.” I took it to mean a phrase that appeared to not be a compliment but actually was. I believe we sometime give reverse praise. We thank God because we know we have to but, deep down, we feel we didn’t get what we requested. This sounds like, “Thank You, God, but I wanted this to happen, not what came about. Why didn’t I get what I asked?”

Do we sometimes thank God and not really mean it?

Do we grumble as we give thanks to God?

Can we do better about our attitude about what He does for us?

How Should We Give Thanks?

2011-11-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Now, our God, we give you thanks,

and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:13 (NIV)

Freely, when a friend tells me of God’s answers prayer, I respond with “Praise the Lord” or “Praise God.” If it is an answer that is a positive answer, say God finding a bone marrow match for a leukemia patient, I almost shout my response. If He relieves a person from suffering by taking him or her, I am a lot more subdued, almost quiet, in my response but I eventually give praise. Let’s not hang back.

Have you ever heard a Christian speak his mind on a subject dear to his or her heart, one where he or she felt they and their cohorts had received a raw deal? Then have you heard that same Christian speak of having the experience of encountering the person who has caused that somewhat harsh attitude. I recently heard a Christian man speak of running into a person who has caused a lot of cities to look at a phase of their lives differently. The man I heard was apologetic about his previous thoughts of the actions that he has had to live with and work under and his attitude.

Eagerly, let’s not wait to give our thanks to God. The praises should be the first thing that comes out of our mouths. Our praises should be for what God has done. Sometimes we look at the person for whom He has done a particular deed. We might harbor strong feelings against him or her. We might resent that person receiving that blessing from God because we might ‘know something’ about him or her. When we choose not to give praise to God, we have a problem.

I once worked with woman who was slightly younger than I. We had grown up in the same town. We’d get to cutting up about something. She’d say something I’d find humorous; I’d respond with a cute remark. She’d look at me and say, “Right on time.” Our thanks to God should be given in a timely manner.

God, Please Guide Us

2011-11-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

“In Your unfailing love You will lead the people

you have redeemed. In Your strength you will guide

them to your Holy dwelling.” Exodus 15:13 (NIV)

Tomorrow, cities in our state go to the polls and choose who we want to lead us through the office of Mayor and the City Council. As I see it, the job of Mayor can be a highly stressful and intimidating one. While we should be thankful for living in a land where we have the privilege to have a say in this process, we need to remember that our leaders need God’s guidance while they serve us.

In four states, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia, the voters will cast ballots for their choice of state legislators. In Ohio, they will vote on three state, six county and at least six Cincinnati City issues.

Prayer:
Please, Father, guide us as we go through our days. Tomorrow is Election Day, a day set aside for the citizens of our nation to chose who will represent us, make our laws, and keep us safe from crime.

We have heard from all those seeking office about their qualifications and why they will do a good job in the office they wish to hold. We also had to listen to several of them bring up their opponent’s past voting record and their pursuits while not in the public forum.

I ask you to guide us, your children, as we chose those who will lead us at each through these economically difficult times.

We love You, Lord. We want what You want for each of us and for our land.

In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Another Annoucement

2011-11-05T12:50:00.001-04:00

As I write for God, I want to find different avenues to spread His word and His kingdom to a hurting world.
I'm blessed to announce that Following My King has been accepted for inclusion at the Fellowship of Devotional Bloggers.

The owner of the site,DevotionalChristian.com, also has a site dedicated to children's ministries,http://ministry-to-children.com/ The children's ministy site is 100% free.

How Do We Thank God?

2011-11-04T00:01:00.001-04:00

Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving

and into his courts with praise.

Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)

Often I wonder if we give thanks to God in ways acceptable to Him. Do we say thank you to Him as we prepare to do or say something else?

You know the scene, “Thank you, God for the nice day-Oops, gotta be somewhere in three minutes.

Sometimes, we say the words but don’t mean it in our hearts. We see others do this in our world, but might we also do it to God? Our words are what we believe God wants us to say but inside we aren’t thrilled with the outcome. We shouldn’t have even tried to voice out ‘phony’ thanks because God already knows what we really think. Our thankfulness is supposed to be an overflow of what’s in our heart.

We don’t mean to be unthankful. Our schedules get too busy. We forget we have to rest, to eat or take care of ourselves. Some of us bring this busyness upon ourselves because we don’t establish priorities in our lives.

Two of my closest friends have chosen to make their families especially their husbands a priority in their plans. In each instance the husband has had health crises that could have taken them from this earth. Both these women are thankful for their husband’s recovery; they show their thankfulness by their obedience to God.

Several years ago, a dear Christian lady had to become almost homebound herself because her husband had a severe stroke. She also had her own health issues to deal with during this time. She moved herself and her husband back to their home state in order to be near her brothers. This was hard on her but she felt it was what she needed to do. She got better care for him after they moved. God was in this. She also displayed thankfulness to God by being obedient.

Are We Truly Thankful?

2011-11-02T09:36:00.002-04:00

For the bounty which are to receive, we thank you, Oh God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

We sometimes accept a gift from God and just keep on going. When we do this we grieve His Spirit. After we know Him through worship, our desire is to please Him.

Parents teach young children by modeling the practice of saying ‘Thank you’ to them and to each other. When the parents know the child has learned to respond with the right words, they start the process over with the phrase, ‘You’re welcome.’ About the same time, when someone gives the child something, the parents remind the child to thank the person by asking, “What do you say?”

When our son was a toddler, Hubby took him to a local racetrack to watch the qualifications for an annual event. They were sitting in the grandstand behind a couple of women. The two made over our son. One asked to give him a cookie. Hubby gave the okay and our little guy took it and said, “Thank you; I welcome.” The woman who offered it said, “Yes, honey, you sure are.”

We should give thanks for the small things, as well as the large things God does for us. Our thanks should come as soon as we recognize that God has done something for us.

Are we thankful for the small things?

Do we thank God for the rainy, damp and dismal days?

Do we thank Him when we feel discouraged?

____________________________________________

For another's thoughts on Thanksgiving go to Beneath The Surface:Breath Of Faith

A Special Request for Prayer

2011-10-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

One of the ladies at church has a son who will receive a bone marrow transplant next month. He has been ill since his senior year of high school. He is 25 years old. His name is Clint Sheward and he has a rare form of Leukemia. He will be undergoing preparation for the transplant starting the Thursday before Thanksgiving, November 17. His mother told m e she thought the actual transplant would take place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, November 29. All medical procedures have been/ will be done at the Cleveland Clinic. It is a miracle that they found a donor. His sister wasn’t a match and they had to go to the marrow registry in order to find one. My request is that you pray for Clint and his family. He and his mother will be away from home for at least three months. Also please pray for the donor and his family as well.

Acting Up In Church became very interested in this young man when Lora, his mother and a friend of hers came into the Sanctuary to pray at the altar one Saturday in early September. At that time they didn't have a donor. His sister wasn't a match. Lora couldn't be a match because she had Cancer herself, a few years ago. We prayed with her and her friend.

Some of Clint's friends put together a benefit fundraiser to help the family with expenses. Two and a half weeks ago that event took place. They had a motorcycle ride, a chili lunch, later they had a euchre tournament, and a band. Throughout the whole day they had items( about a dozen gifts) on display for a raffle. They also had a 50/50 raffle, actually they had two drawings on this. Seven of us from Acting Up had lunch more or less together that day. (One man came late and some of us stayed and sat with him while he ate.)

Lora and her family would appreciate any prayers they might receive about this procedure and the pre transplant time as well as the post transplant time.

The Holy Spirit Poured Out

2011-10-24T00:01:00.001-04:00

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,

but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing

of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured

out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:5 (NIV)

We didn’t do anything to deserve our salvation. God extended it to us because of His great love for each of us. It is only when we realize this fact that we begin to appreciate the work God did through Jesus Christ.

God accomplishes this transforming of our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. He changes us into the person He can use for His purposes.

In 1985, I had a heavy burden in my heart. This issue caused me to have a degree of depression. I decided I needed to find another place to worship God. I did research on different churches near our home. I visited one located a half-mile from where we live. The people took me into their hearts. I learned of God’s love anew. I learned about the Holy Spirit.

My husband found the Lord because people of the church prayed for us. They accepted him just like they had accepted me and our son. God and His Holy Spirit guided me through several tough times while we were a part of that church. They were patient with me when I had a backset. At that time people would ask me how I was and all I could reply was, “Thank You” It was a verbal short-hand that sent a coded message. When I said it, I meant I couldn’t talk about it either because we didn’t have time or I was really having a hard time and felt they would be brought down by what I would tell them.

Although we attend another church where several of the members have come from our former church, I still feel close to God because of my discovering His Holy Spirit almost 30 years ago. I am grateful to God and His Holy Spirit for the changes in my life.

Dear God:

Thank You for seeing in me something that You could develop and then use me to work for You. Thank You for the guidance, wisdom and love that Your Spirit has been able to grant me.

By His Power

2011-10-21T00:01:00.003-04:00

“‘Not my might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’”

says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6(NIV)

What does it take to survive in difficult times? The world says a person has to be physically strong; it also leads us to believe that we need to be rich-at least well-heeled. When I was in junior high school, we read about how people reacted to the crash of the stock market in 1929. That scene came to my mind on September 11, 2001. In 1929 the people seemed to not have any hope. In 2001, the people were trying to reach safety.

God tells us that we can accomplish things of lasting value only when we have His Spirit. What can we do to receive it? We can ask for Him to send His Spirit to us.

Once we receive God’s Holy Spirit, He becomes boss over our lives. At the bottom of the church bulletins in our yoked ministry churches, the following sentence is printed: “This service is subject to change by direction of the Holy Spirit.” We have seen this happen several times.

I once heard a pastor’s wife ask us what our world would look like if we listened to and obeyed the Holy Spirit in our daily living. Would any of us be able to commit to something so bold? One of the classic Christian books of all times, “In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do” by Charles M. Sheldon, deals with this issue of allowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit rule our lives.

Can you remember a time when you didn’t listen to or obey God’s Holy Spirit? I know I can. All we can do when we realize what we have done is to prayerfully ask for forgiveness and He will.

Dear Lord:

Please help us to sort out our lives and live for You with the help of the Holy Spirit. Help us to remain true to Your teachings and model our beliefs and Your ways before others. We will give You the praise. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN

The Counselor Testifies

2011-10-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

I'm Waiting for a breakthrough.

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you

from the Father, the Spirit of Truth goes out from the Father,

he will testify about me.” John 15:26 (NIV)

These words of Jesus explain the purpose of the Counselor. We learned, in John 14:16-18, He comes because Jesus sends Him. This Counselor comes to bear witness about Jesus.

The third person of the Trinity does the work of sustaining us of in our Christian walk while we are in this world.

When God speaks to us, it is through this Spirit of Truth. This Spirit guides us through each of our days, speaks to our hearts, and comforts us when we need Him.

Our Father told us through Moses that he would never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8) He promised Joshua to always be there for him (Joshua 1:5), as Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

I recently learned something about myself. I am not proud of this. I know this fact came to me from God. Before, when I looked at this particular situation, I made excuses for my lack of activity in this one area of life. I have to work on this. I believe that with God’s help I can correct this shortcoming. But, I know I have to do my part in making the change.

The Holy Spirit Empowers

2011-10-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

God speaks and the Holy Spirit comes to Jesus after he was baptized.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you and you will be my witnesses

in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Several years ago, a man at our former church used this verse as a way to instill interest in missions in our youth. He equated Jerusalem to our city, our neighborhood, or our part of town. He likened Judea and Samaria to our state or our region. He explained the phrase, ‘to the ends of the earth.’ as the work done worldwide.

Recently, as I prepared to work on this blog entry, I paused at the phrase, in all Judea and Samaria. “In Samaria?” I thought. That’s the region Jesus and all the Jews tried to bypass in their travels. The Jewish people believed they were the ‘chosen ones of God.’ Yes, they were and still are. But in Biblical times, they acted haughty about it. They considered the Samaritans inferior because some of ‘their’ people intermarried with inhabitants of that region.

The first Century Christians received the promised Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Because of this they were able to carry the message of God to all they met. From the world they experienced persecution. Because they had the Helper promised by Jesus Christ, their numbers grew.

*Is there a Samaria in our lives?

*Is there something we don’t believe we can do for the LORD?

*Is it something we don’t feel equipped to do?

*Or is it something that scares us when we think about it?

I believe, if we were honest, we would all say, “Yes.” I learned we can trust God’s Holy Spirit to lead us through these feelings of fear into a place where we can work for Him and help enlarge His Kingdom.

Dear Lord: We look to You for guidance. We lean on You for strength. Please help us as we decide on how to approach our personal Samaria, whether physical, mental or emotional. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

The Holy Spirit Constrains

2011-10-14T00:01:00.002-04:00

God can close the door on our dreams,
if those things are not in His plans for us.

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout

the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been

kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word

in the province of Asia.” Acts 16: 6-7 (NIV)

From time to time in my Christian walk, I have wanted to do something that I couldn’t.

*Maybe the time wasn’t right.

*I wasn’t really gifted in that area.

*God had other plans for me.

Reflecting on a few of those times, I realize if I had been allowed to do them, I would have been grieving the Holy Spirit. My life would not be what it is today.

It seems Paul and his companions had wanted to go into Asia. But God closed the door on their plan.

Several years ago, a close friend asked me to pray about the possibility of her and another lady starting a business together. I took the need before God; I prayed several weeks for this. I asked my friend about their decision. She told me, “It’s not going to happen.” I felt led to not pursue the topic. My friend had received her answer.

Since that time, this friend has had several illnesses in her family. For over a year now, she has watched over her sister who had two strokes and is in a nursing home. In years past, her husband went through two medical crises. Her sister’s late husband developed Cancer twice.

Several years ago, she worked for a small business in our area of town. The owner suffered a stroke. My friend, with the help of her husband, and another employee ran that business until their boss and his wife could get back to the running of it.

God had other plans for her. Had she started that business as she thought, she wouldn’t have been able to be there for her family.

In everything she does, she stands for God. Even though He constrained her that many years ago, Holy Spirit works through her.

John Speaks Of The Holy Spirit

2011-10-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

John Baptizing Jesus.

“I baptize you with water for repentance,

but after me will come one who is more

powerful than I, whose sandals I am not

fit to carry. He will baptize you with the

Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Matthew 3:11 (NIV)

John the Baptist spoke to the crowd of Pharisees and Sadducees. His words prophesied the importance of the One who would come after him, the Christ.

He tells those listening that Jesus is more powerful than he. John speaks for us all in this statement. We can not compare ourselves to Christ at all. We belong to Him because of His grace.

More importantly, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to guide our lives until He comes again to rule the earth.

Jesus told the disciples He would send a Counselor to them. (John 16:7) He continues by speaking of what this Counselor will do. (John 16:13)

How often have we not allowed the Spirit of Truth to work out things in our lives?

When have we not followed His leading?

Why are we so disobedient?

What can we do to correct this pattern in our lives?

Dear God:

Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit into our lives. Please forgive us when we don’t heed Him. We ask that You guide us to a better knowledge of Your Spirit in order that others may see You in us. We give you all the praise. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

Evidence Of The Holy Spirit

2011-10-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

A kind, strong, helping hand

“Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to the spirit.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound,

but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:6, 8 (NIV)

Just as we don’t see the actual wind but the effects of it, we don’t see the Holy Spirit. We experience His working.

We notice a person’s peaceful demeanor when we are around them. They share in another’s joy. We see their loving concern when they inquire about someone’s need or that person’s health.

They wait patiently for answers to prayer and outcomes in their lives and in the lives of others.

The person who possesses the Holy Spirit displays gentleness and is faithful to his or her word. He or she always uses kind words when speaking of others.When that person is dealing with difficult issues in his or her life, he or she has their emotions under control.

All these qualities we see in others’ life are only present because of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. When someone possesses these qualities, they don’t have to say they are a Christian. Their attitude and conduct speaks for them.

Dear God:

Thank You for placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Thank You for letting Him change us into who You want us to be. Please guide us as we walk the Christian path that we may do all things to please You. In the name of Christ, we pray. AMEN

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

2011-10-07T00:01:00.001-04:00

God's Spiritual Gifts for His people

“All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit,

and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” 1 Corinthians 12: 11 (NIV)

Read 1 Corinthians 12

The Apostle Paul explains to us the qualities, or assets, the Holy Spirit gives to individuals in a body of believers. In this chapter he describes various strengths needed by churches in order to build God’s Kingdom.

From time to time, I have read about or heard of a group or an individual holding teaching seminar on asking for a certain Spiritual gift.This passage tells me God has a different approach. I once sat in a worship service where the person in charge started to delve into this topic. Two of us had to remind the man that it was the Holy Spirit’s decision as to who received what gift. The man never spoke of that subject again.

While it is true that every believer receives one Spiritual gift, a believer can receive several but no one receives all of them. If a person has several gifts, those gifts are termed a ‘gift mix.’

At different times in my Christian walk, I have taken a ‘Spiritual Gifts Survey’. The one I was most familiar with was a study book that had descriptions of each gift and how they could be used in God’s Kingdom. The material cautioned us on how to recognize if we were abusing the gifts. I believe Zondervan published it. I researched this and found information on their website.

After we took the survey, our scores were compiled. Our three highest scores were our working gifts, our next three highest- our waiting gifts, the scores left were not our gifts.

In my experience of taking this survey I have learned: 1) The gifts usually hold true. The gifts we have in 2011 will be evident in 2012 and beyond. 2) Those waiting gifts are qualities that we can develop into working gifts. 3) Other people confirm our gifts.

The purpose The Holy Spirit has for giving us these gifts is to build God’s Kingdom. We should all be working toward enlarging it.

“God-Breathed”

2011-10-05T00:01:00.001-04:00

God's Inspired Word

“The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man

became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

When I read this passage, I feel humble. God created mankind from dust. But man was still without that ‘something’, that extra spark. The final step in the process came when God breathed His breath into man. Man then became a vital being.

Without God, we are nothing. Having His breathe in us gives us a very special life.

●Elihu, one of Job’s friends realized this. “The Spirit of God made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33: 4

Whenever we think of the Bible, we reflect on the thought that God breathed His breath into the many persons who penned the different stories of His Book; we call it His inspired Word.

●The prophet Ezekiel wrote of having the hand of the Lord on him, being placed in a valley, and seeing a field of bones. The Lord asked him a very basic question, “Son of man, can these bones live? Ezekiel answered, “O, Sovereign Lord, You alone know.” {Ezekiel 37:3}

God then told His spokesman to ‘Prophesy to the bones.’ {Ezekiel 37:4} They responded by joining together. Tendons and skin appeared.

The Lord then had Ezekiel ‘prophesy to the breath.’ {Ezekiel 37:9a} The spokesman called on the breath to ‘come from the four winds.’ {Ezekiel 37:9b}

The bones stood up before Ezekiel, God told his prophet that the bones were the

Nation Israel. {Ezekiel 37:11} It seems that Israel had kept telling the Lord ‘our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’

God told them He would restore their nation to where they had been spiritually.

He would do it in such a way that they would know it was from Him. {Ezekiel 37:14}

Are we, individually or as a nation, a valley of dry bones?

Have we lost our hope?

Will we again have God breathe into our souls?

Dear Lord:

Only You know if we have become ‘dry bones.’ It is only through You that we can regain life. We ask You breathe into us the breath of life. Allow us to be used of You for Your purposes. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

The Spirit of Truth

2011-10-03T10:36:00.001-04:00

Jesus teaching the Disciples

“And I will ask the Father and He will send you another

Counselor to be with you forever-The Spirit of Truth

. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him

nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and

will be in you.” John 14: 16-17

I get excited when I read this passage.

Sometimes life gets to be so humdrum. I waken; I rise; I might get a little housework done; then Hubby and I go out for a while. When we return I may have to run to CVS or to the grocery store. Interwoven in between all these mundane chores I find time to write or do research. In the evening, I might have a meeting or church. If I’m home I watch television. I sometimes forget that God is there working in my behalf. But these words of Jesus tell me something more.

“. . . I will ask the Father . . .” The Son of God thinks so much of you and me that He goes before His Father, the Creator of the universe, and presents our needs.

“. . . and He will send you another Counselor . . .” Our God permits someone else to enter our messed up world to guide us through these days.

“. . . to be with you forever-The Spirit of Truth” This Counselor will be with us at all times, will never leave us. He has a name; Jesus calls Him The Spirit of Truth. His name tells me He comes from God.

“The world can not accept Him . . .” Even in the 1st Century A. D., God knew the world would reject Him. It had already rejected the prophets and other representatives He sent.

“. . . it neither sees Him nor knows Him.” We hear people say our world is imperfect. This is true but the description that best states its condition is that our world is fallen. As a child, I heard the adage, “Seeing is believing.” As I grow spiritually, I have come to realize that “Believing is seeing.” When we believe that Jesus is with us, we see Him working in the lives of people.

“But you know him,” Jesus reminds His disciples, then and now, that they (we) know and accept the Counselor and, whenever we need it, we have access to Him.

“. . . for he lives with you and will be in you.” Do we realize that God’s Holy Spirit dwells within us? On days that I don’t feel well or I have times of stress, I don’t always respond to circumstances as if God’s Spirit resided in me or in a way He would want me to. But God always instructs me and I am willing to learn how to rely on Him and His Holy Spirit.

Here are a few other verses about The Spirit of Truth:

“When the Counselor comes, whom I send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.” John 15:26

“The Spirit of Truth will guide you (us) into all truth and will speak only of what He hears and will tell you (us) what is yet to come.” John 16:13.

“He will bring glory to Me by taking what is Mine and making it known to you.” John 16:14 (NKJV)

The work of the HS is to communicate and impart truth to those who receive Him. (Paraphrased from the writing of R. A. Torrey)

Dear God:

We thank You for your great love for us. It is because of that love that you granted Jesus’ request for a Counselor to come and be in us to guide us through our days. We give thanks for Your Word that we can learn of You and Your Son. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

Pride, Disgrace, vs. Humility, Wisdom

2011-09-28T19:58:00.001-04:00

Humble Ourselves Before God

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

We humans have a condition that gets us into trouble quicker than we ever think. The condition is called pride. The symptoms are inflated ego, ‘I’ problems, and an enlarged sense of self-importance.

A person sins and when he or she is confronted by godly superiors, that person says he or she didn’t do anything wrong. Or a person gets caught, receives guidance to pursue counseling, but states he or she hasn’t done one thing wrong. Both of these scenarios are examples of pride. Prideful people eventually get into trouble with other people and with the Lord.

God honors humility, the quality that allows believers to put others before themselves, He grants us wisdom as we learn who we are in the scheme of things.

When God asked Solomon what his wish was for, it wasn’t riches, long life or death of his enemies, Solomon responded by asking “for a wise and discerning heart . . . and to distinguish from right and wrong.” “I will give you a wise and discerning heart so there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” “Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-both riches and honor-so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 1 Kings 3: 9-13

Solomon forgot his part of the covenant, he forgot to obey God. But he still had wisdom, after he humbled himself.

As we mature in the Lord, we learn we don’t have to lose our tempers when things go wrong. We find we can reason issues out with those who have caused us concern. I’m thankful that I am still teachable about the ways of God and how He wants me to conduct myself.

Guidance for the Humble

2011-09-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

God's Guidance through the storm

“He guides the humble in what is

right and teaches them his way.”

Psalm 25:9 (NIV)

Our Heavenly Father leads us if we approach Him humbly. He takes us by the hand and shows us the way through our lives and those crises that come upon us.

These difficult times could be personal in nature: health issues-physical, emotional, and mental; financial setbacks, family issues. God will guide us through anything we have that would wear us down.

While He guides us through these pitfalls, He teaches us how we should deal with such issues. God does this out of the grace and mercy He has for each of His children.

He teaches us in ways we will remember. Either God will lead us through the battle and maybe leave us unscarred or He might allow us to be left with a wound that will cause us to remember how He brought us through or the Lord will allow us to watch the event unfold from a safe distance.

God teaches us, His children, something every day, through each valley we go through, because He loves us and cares about us. Let us all come before His throne with humility and seek the guidance we need.

I recently had a physical-one that was to be an introduction to my new health coverage. One Friday, I received statements telling me what had been paid and what I may still owe. A quick tally of the outstanding amounts yielded a total that I found daunting. I made a phone call to the insurance to find out one particular claim turned into the insurance was denied. I had called just after the office that could help me had closed.

Monday morning, I called the insurance again to find out why the one particular claim had been denied. I notified my doctor’s office and received an 800 number to call the billing department, who listened and gave me another 800 number for the lab that submitted the claim. It seems my secondary insurance paid a portion of the claim after discounting the claim amount.

Tuesday, I called the doctor’s office and asked to speak to the same lady I dealt with the day before. I told her what I discovered and we finished the conversation. Later, the lady called me, she told me the claim that had been denied would be resubmitted and then she mentioned another claim on my account would also be resubmitted.

At no time in this series of phone calls did I feel it necessary to raise my voice-something unusual for me. I was stern but controlled. Maybe, just maybe, I have learned humility.

Humble, Gentle, Patient

2011-09-23T00:01:00.001-04:00

Fruit of the Spirit

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,

bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

We can’t turn on and off humility and gentleness as we do a water spigot. We shouldn’t choose to be humble one day and haughty the next.

Gentleness should be worn every day. Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, we belong to God at all times. We are to model Him before those in our lives.

When we feel ourselves getting worked up over an issue, we have to ask ourselves if God would be angry over the situation. If He would, then we should carefully conduct ourselves according to His instruction and guidance.

When we exercise patience, we tell those around us that we still love them-in spite of the circumstances.

I, for one, need to work on this in one area of my life.

A Humbling Thought

2011-09-21T19:15:00.002-04:00

God's Calming Watchfulness

Sunday, March 13, 2011, as I was getting ready for church, my mind kept focusing on the items I had that the people in the northern part of Japan no longer had.

Things like hot water, water coming from a faucet, clean drinking water, electricity, heat, food, clean clothes, transportation, and housing came to mind. Items we usually take for granted or don’t even think about.

The next day, I thought of hair brushes, toothbrushes, drinking glasses, plates, silverware, blankets, telephones, cell phones, computers, grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, and newspapers.

Several years ago I wrote about how blessed we were if we had the basics. At that time I made a replica of a solar cooking stove to as a visual aid for a mission project for Haiti. The women there cooked on a small structure made from cardboard and covered with aluminum foil.

As people living in the 21st Century, we have to be more mindful of the basic items needed for living. Our church participated in putting together hygiene kits for the arm of our denomination that reaches out to those in disaster-torn areas. Most of us may never have to go through something like the earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear catastrophe but we should have the tenderness of heart to find a way to help, in a small way, to alleviate the need. Our community gathered at our church for Chicken Noodle dinner and a concert on the late afternoon and evening of Palm Sunday with the proceeds going to help alleviate the needs in Japan.

Humble Ourselves

2011-09-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

“If my people, who are called by my name

will humble themselves and pray. . . .”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

“If my people . . .”God speaks through Solomon, the wisest man in the world, to communicate to us what we must do in order for us to find resolution to our nation’s problems.

“. . . who are called by my name . . .” God further defines about whom he speaks. He calls for the church-going Christians to listen. The Lord has a message for us. That’s right He’s talking about us, you and me.

“. . . will humble themselves . . .” What do we have to do to do this? Might we have to put into practice the words of Paul in Philippians 2: 2-4? According to Paul, we are to put the needs of others before our own. If we look at the passage from 2 Chronicles, we see that God tells us to humble ourselves before we begin to pray. God expects us to push our wants and needs aside and focus on Him.

I have had times when I start to pray and all I can do is sit and listen. During these times, I feel His presence with me. We receive His blessings when we empty our minds of ourselves and wait for God’ presence to enfold us.

“. . . and pray . . . .” Our God, the creator of the universe wants us to talk to Him. I can’t imagine a more humbling thought. He wants to hear from us; God, from whom all blessing flow, waits to hear from little you and me.

It is my desire to see this scripture verse lived out. I want to apply these words of God to my heart and see the promised outcome that He will “hear from heaven” and heal our land.

Taking a Break

2011-09-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

For the first time since I started this blog, I am going to unplug from blogging for two weeks.

        * I have been taking an online class and I need to focus on the information I have received.

        *Also, I am trying to do some research on a topic for this blog for the month of October.

        *My house needs some TLC.
        * I want to get my writing room in better shape.
       * Our son is wanting to come home for Thanksgiving and I need to spruce things up for that.

I believe God is in this. I have to obey. Please keep me in your prayers.

In Perfect Peace

2011-08-31T00:01:00.001-04:00

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind

is steadfast because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa 26:3 (KJV)

As we go through life, we have times of uncertainty, uneasiness, and depression. We begin to feel that we are alone in our walk with God.

It is when we find ourselves feeling as though we have been painted into a corner that we find out certain things about life. We realize what’s important. We discover Who can help us and wants to help us. We learn exactly how precious relationships are to us.

When we proceed through a time of difficulty or an illness, our own or that of a family member, we can get through it if we keep our eyes on the Lord.

People have been striving for peace since God cast Adam and Eve out of Eden. When mankind forges a peace with each other, the world greets is with favor but it is always short lived.

From time to time in my generation, there have been movements promoting peace. They fade from the forefront of the scene whenever an act of war occurs. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus. When He comes again to Earth; we will have lasting peace because He is the Prince of Peace.

God’s Peace

2011-08-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

“The Lord gives strength to his people;

the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

Psalms 29:11 (NIV)

This verse describes what I believe has happened in my one friend’s life. God has made her strong. She and her sister were in worship service two days after being told she had Cancer. She smiled and responded when I reached across my pew to shake hands with her sister and her.

As I made my way back to my seat at the end of the time of greeting one another, I stopped to give her a hug. (Yes, we hug at my church.) She told me she would know more sometime the upcoming week.

As the congregation began a time of intercessory prayer, another friend came across the back of the Sanctuary, sat down beside this lady and held her hand. I reached around in back me to join in prayer for the one who faces this fearful diagnosis.

As I reflect on that day’s service, I am reminded of the peace she had in her smile and her eyes- a peace that only comes from the Lord.

I believe my friend is at peace with all this. I know she believes we serve an awesome God.

______

Glenna H, who received this diagnosis, went to be with the Lord on August 11, 2011. She received divine healing-the best healing. My tribute to her is posted on .August 18, 2011

Perfect Peace

2011-08-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

God’s peace-the serenity we experience when we know He is in control- is

difficult to comprehend until we fully trust in Him.

Even when we know God is in charge, we have times where events of life press in on us. Sometimes these stressors come in waves. A friend of mine recently said, “If it’s not one thing, it’s three.” I knew exactly what she meant.

We all have had times when everything looked bleak without any let up in sight. When this happens, we have the choice of complaining about our ‘lot in life’ or we can turn to God and give the situation to Him.

Several years ago I had to step in and take care of my dad’s affairs. This would, again, preclude me from having extra time to work in the church we were in and any writing I had started doing again. As Hubby and I were driving back to Dad’s home from a business meeting, I looked up to heaven and said, “Lord, this is my life.” I wanted God to help me to do what He wanted in order to make this situation align with His plan for my life.

The next few years were not especially easy. But God was there for me even when the times were tough. At times, I felt I was doing this with no help from anyone.

When we received word that Dad had died in his sleep, God was there for us. The Lord took care of the ‘iffy’ things and kept us close to Him. He allowed me to heal from all the hurts and pain caused by the difference in how Dad and I looked at life.

Without God and His peace, I wouldn’t have been able to heal from all we had to go through.

Peace, Our Aim

2011-08-24T00:01:00.002-04:00

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what

leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

Romans 14:19 (NIV)

We live in a time of uneasiness. People can’t seem to get along with one another. Everyone feels like they have to walk gingerly around the ones who used to mean the most to them.

Hubby made an observation about people recently. We were eating out. He had noticed some customers getting up and going to their servers to give them their tip. He asked one of the women about it and what he surmised. The woman told him he was right.

If a tip was left on the table, tucked under the edge of a plate as customary, someone else would take the money, not the one who had assisted the diners.

We should all be mindful of the needs of others. A gratuity is given for good service. It helps the receiving person feel he or she has done a good job for those they have served.

Sometimes we hear of situations that distress people. The stories of comments made between generations that cause hurt to one of the particulars. People need to learn how to build up each other. We seem to forget that other people have emotions that can be easily damaged.

Paul tells us we need to try to go out of our way to find a peaceful course through life. What can we do to practice peace in our days?

If we happen to come upon a quarrel between a couple of people, we should pray very quickly to discern if we should ‘join in’. If we get the message we aren’t to say anything, then we should do as God has led.

If we see something going on in our neighborhood that is positive, such as a house being painted, and it looks nice, why not take the time to walk over and say something about it to the owner? It may make him or her feel that his efforts have been worthwhile.

People who work as volunteers in nonprofit organizations do so because they feel a need to serve God and their communities. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could hear how their efforts have helped a child, an adult, or a family through a difficult time?

Peace Beyond Understanding

2011-08-22T00:01:00.001-04:00

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Phil. 4:7 (NIV)

We often desire peace, an elusive quality of life whenever we feel wrung out and frustrated by events that impact us in negative ways. What we have to realize is these times of stress may be God’s way of allowing us to grow closer to Him.

As we mature in the faith, we find ourselves not as prone to reacting to the elements designed to cause us uneasiness. This is a process and those around us might not understand what is happening in our lives.

God protects us as we live our daily lives and strengthens our hearts and minds

●How does he accomplish this? God speaks to us through His Word and the lives of others. The stories of the heroes of faith can guide us through times of uncertainty. The poetry of the Psalm provides us with comfort and wisdom. The stories of the ministry of Jesus lead us to a fuller understanding of Him and why He came to earth. The writings of Paul further explain the enigmatic parts of the Christian life.

●Why does God bother with us? Overall, we waffle back and forth between what He wants and what we want. Even when we sin, all we have to do is ask and He forgives. He created us. He nurtures us each day. He does this because He loves us and wants what is best for us.

●When does He guard our hearts? When we ask for His help, God acts according to our needs and protects us as we encounter life’s problems and the losses we sometimes endure. He speaks to us through the scriptures and as answers to our prayers. We receive thoughts and comfort that give us understanding from friends in the form of cards,phone calls, visits, or emails.

Kept in Perfect Peace

2011-08-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose

mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

Perfect peace is peace God gives. When I was in college there was a saying that went something like this: “If you can keep your head when all around have lost theirs, you just don’t know the situation.” Looking back on those days the saying was not grounded in faith. It was the 1960s.the thought probably grew out of the attitude of the times.

, While we are on this earth, we will not ever be free from turmoil in our lives but we have a Lord that takes away the pain and confusion.

“Steadfast” is an old word that reminds us of being steady in our beliefs. We have to keep our eyes and our minds on Jesus in order to acquire His peace.

“trusts” places reliance upon another. In our Christian walk, we have to learn to rely on Jesus. As Christ’s children, we discover that we can’t handle anything in our lives without His guidance,

“in him” Our dependence can’t be in our own strength, on things we have, on our resources, our knowledge, or our connections. We have to look to Jesus Christ to guide us through each day of our lives.

Glenna H.-Divinely Healed

2011-08-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

Our church has been blessed by having Glenna as a part of “Acting Up In Church”, it’s drama ministry. She contributed to the group with ideas and her willingness to help out where she could.

This past February, our son was relocating to another state. When we had a planning meeting in early January, I told the group that he was looking for work in other regions and I might need some help, if Hubby and I might be needed to help him. As it worked out, I directed the February skit. I asked Glenna to co-direct with me because, as things happened, our son did relocate that month. She was invaluable.

She did some research for our fundraiser, “Acts n Snacks”. She worked near a food service outlet that the ministry leaders had as possible avenues for getting our snacks and. Another time, she handed me some notes she took after she had heard something on the radio. She thought it would make a great skit and had me write it.

The drama ministry will not forget her. We will be performing the short play she inspired in September. There are other ways the troupe will remember her in the future.

She learned to crochet and to knit by attending the church’s craft club. She had some yarn with her one day. I commented on the fact that the color was my favorite-teal. A few weeks later, she handed me a gift wrapped package. When I got home I opened it, inside was a teal broomstick lace scarf that she had made. I intend to wear it to her services later today.

As the church family was going through paying their respects to Bob E.’s family (see 8/13 entry), we received word that Glenna developed a complication from a surgical procedure she had undergone that morning. A short while after I received word of the added problem, I called to tell a friend I was going to be gone for a while and she could reach me on my cell phone. My friend was in tears. “Glenna didn’t make it.”

As I look back on her brief illness, four weeks since the diagnosis of Lung Cancer, I remember wondering how she would withstand the treatments. I reflected on my step-mother and what the treatment doctor told her. I also remembered a neighbor of a friend who had taken treatment in the 1980s and how, ten years later, she had gone through some serious illnesses that some thought stemmed from her receiving too much of the element in her treatment.

God spared Glenna from the possible sickness that can come with the treatments.

We don’t always understand why He chooses to take someone from us but He has his reasons. We have to remember God sees the big picture while we see a small segment, maybe just a pixel.

Everyone who had the privilege of knowing her has their own ‘Glenna story’ to remember her by. She was such an addition to any group she was in.

Yes, we will all miss Glenna. She loved the Lord. I’m sure she is sitting at Jesus’ feet and telling Him about each person in her life.

She has joined that great cloud of witnesses and will be watching over us. And when our time comes to enter Heaven, she will be there, arms wide open, to welcome each one of us.

Filled With Peace

2011-08-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

In our world today, we feel a lack of peace. We see and hear about the crime rate and atrocities done to one another. Vandalism, theft, and forgery arise in our world. In a given eight year period the population of women in prison had risen 61 % in my home state. The two main causes for this rise in number were theft and forgery.

Women who wouldn’t have thought of taking some thing that wasn’t theirs suddenly find themselves without jobs or any prospect of finding new ones. They run out of unemployment benefits but they still have expenses-utilities, rent or mortgage payments, grocery bills. They may have children to support.

We can only see what’s in front of us. We need to learn to communicate with God and ask us how to guide people who find themselves suddenly without the means of supporting their families. When we work together to help them through these times of panic and desperation, we allow God to become a reality to them, filling them with peace about who they are.

Bond of Peace

2011-08-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”

Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

As children of God, we strive to seek tranquility in our lives. Every area of our life-home, workplace, and our business relationships- is to bring comfort to those we encounter.

Given the state of the world, we may find this difficult to do. We get hit from every side by events and happenings that the devil plans to undermine our beliefs and our faith in our way of life.

Paul tells us to strive to maintain the integrity of the Holy Spirit through the meeting of minds and hearts to find ways to live in peace. Matthew Henry says the bond of peace is like twigs bound together for strength. We would have this power in our lives if we sought to approach the world and those in it with meekness. Possessing a visible sign of serenity gives evidence of the presence of oneness with the Holy Spirit.

How can we achieve this kind of solidarity of the Spirit?

* By allowing God to control our lives, our thoughts, and our actions.

* By seeking His guidance when we have trials or problems.

* By trusting Him implicitly-without question.

* By obeying Him when He speaks to us.

Bob E.-Gone on Ahead

2011-08-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

I received the call Sunday evening. Bob E. had suffered a heart attack and died a few hours earlier. He and his wife were the church custodians. They had been youth leaders in another church we belonged to. People never spoke of Bob without speaking of his wife, Joyce. They have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.

Because of the suddenness of Bob’s departure from us, we are all in shock. Men who had been in the youth group several years ago have called their family members to find out what had happened. Our son received an email from one of his high school youth group friends who relocated to Houston Texas, making sure he knew.

The words don’t come easily. We all have received another lesson in how quickly life can change. Life is precious. As people of a faith community we believe from a spiritual standpoint Bob was ready to go. We are thankful he didn’t suffer.

Peace with God

2011-08-12T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Romans 5:1 (NIV)

When we invite Jesus to come into our lives, He blots out our sins and cleanses our heart. He looks at each of us ‘just-as-if-I’d’ not sinned. We place our faith in Him and grow closer to Him.

We gain peace with God. After we learn that the state of our hearts is due to our new relationship, we relax and let Him lead us. The Lord begins to have control over our hearts, minds, and tongues.

We receive peace through Jesus. This tranquility keeps us safe through the hardships of our earthly life.

No matter what the world throws at us, if we ask God to help us, we can experience a new found serenity. If we allow this, our new poise becomes our new persona.

When I was a young teenager, I got a new dress-store bought. My mother used to sew most of my clothes. But this dress was different. I wanted to show it off. I remember putting it on and walking across the alley to a neighbor’s house. This couple had grandsons a little younger than I. When she came to their back door I told her I wanted to show her my new dress. We talked a bit and I returned home. When my mother came home from work and asked me what I had done that day, I told her. She shook her head and told me it wasn’t ladylike to draw attention to ourselves in that way.

I later learned it’s not Christ like to bandy about what God has done to make us more like Him. It’s not for us to say, “Look at me, I’m a Christian.” Rather, it is our job to display those qualities He plants in our hearts.

The Balm of Peace

2011-08-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’

Luke 8:48 (NIV)

The woman followed the Master as he walked through the crowd. She desired to be healed of her long standing ailment.

“If, I can touch the edge of His garment, I will be healed,” she thought as she inched her way toward Jesus.

He knew instantly that someone had touched Him. All the people around Him denied doing it. Peter tried to explain about the crowd.

At last, the woman spoke to Jesus and explained what she had experienced for twelve years.

The Lord told her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’ What did Jesus mean by telling her to go in peace?

● Don’t worry. Don’t feel guilty about interrupting my trek through the city. God was at work when my healing powers went from me to you.

● Don’t be overly concerned. There will be those who doubt your healing. Remember, our talk and focus on that. Those who disbelieve cause distraction and bring down others who have been healed. Your faith has healed you.

We will have times when God, will instruct us to exercise our faith. Be it a physical healing, an emotional healing, a job, or the mending of a relationship or a marriage, faith is a factor in how we handle the outcome.

It is our aim to enjoy serenity in our loves. Jesus tells the healed woman to go and live in peace.

Where is the Peace?

2011-08-08T00:01:00.001-04:00

Sometimes in our Christian walk, we receive news that saddens us and causes us to pause and go back to the basics of our faith.

The middle of July, I lived the scene described above. A lady from our church was told, as she was being released from a hospital, that she had Cancer.

In times like this, all we can do is pray for the person. But we don’t always know how. Do we pray for that person to get well? Do we pray for divine healing, that God do his miracle for that person in Heaven? Do we ask the Lord how to pray?

In January, 2009, another friend had a complication from surgery. We prayed for her to be healed but to be able to remain with us. Several of us told God we knew we were selfish in our prayers. That friend is still with us. It was God’s decision to honor our prayers. We constantly keep in mind that, while we prayed, He could have chosen not to answer our prayer as we asked.

Peace returns to us as we pray, read scripture and reflect on His goodness to those who trust Him. After a good night’s rest and a session of reading scriptural reminders that God will help our friend through what lay ahead of her, I can focus on Him and know he is there for her and her family.

He Gives Peace

2011-08-05T00:01:00.003-04:00

“Peace I give you, my peace,

not as the world gives.”

John 14:27 (NIV)

The words of Jesus always bring us great comfort. What does our Lord say to us here? He offers us peace. Who doesn’t want to be free of stress, heartache, and grief?

He goes further and tells us He isn’t talking about the short term armistice the world offers. Our Savior speaks of lasting permanent peace only found by those who submit to His Lordship.

How can we find this peace? We surrender our hearts and minds to Jesus daily. Things that distract us from our relationship with Him can enter our hearts each day. We have to be alert to the possibility of the enemy finding a toehold and using that one little thought to wreak havoc with our hearts.

How can His peace spread? We have to model it.

●We need to learn to choose our words carefully during our times of anger. Yes, because we are still human, times will come when anger enters our hearts. (Be angry but sin not. Ephesians 4:26a; Psalm 4:4)

●When these times happen we have to deal with the issue quickly. (Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26b)

●We should learn to respond gracefully to all comments directed at us, as an effort to not allow anger to escalate. (A soft answer turns away wrath. Proverbs 15:1)

As I composed this essay, I have learned about myself and how I can do better about modeling Jesus before others, especially those close to me. My desire is that each of us can apply this message to our hearts and allow Jesus to work through us.

___________________________
I don't usually do this but my friend Karen Lange at Write Now blog is having a giveaway to celebrate having 300 followers. Click on the link and read about the book she will give one of her friends. Pssst, she said she might throw in some chocolate to go with the book.

The Blessing of Peace

2011-08-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

“The Lord gives strength to his people;

the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

Psalms 29:11(NIV)

Have you ever received a gift that was very precious to you? I’m sure, we all have. For me, it was a dozen long stemmed roses from my husband for one of our anniversaries. What made it special was he had them sent to my work. This was a display of his love for me. Some of my coworkers teased me about it but the night custodian commented about them being “a gift from someone who was really in love.”

God, also, is very much in love with His children. He shows that love in many ways. He blesses us with gifts.

One of those gifts is peace. When we worry about particular issues we become bothered, upset, and even angry. Certain ones of us can become physically ill because of our having to confront these issues.

A friend of mine is dealing with Lung Cancer; she has heard the phrase ‘both lungs involved’, the word inoperable. She appears to have found peace with the thought that she has only a limited time left. While hearing these words and phrases cause most people anguish, she has her routine under control. She manages to remain calm and to smile. When we allow ourselves to approach God’s throne and give our problem over to the Lord, a refreshing feeling washes over our hearts. We call it peace.

Prince of Peace

2011-08-01T10:33:00.000-04:00

“For to us a child is born, to us a child is given,

and the government shall be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government

and peace there will be no end.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

Isaiah prophesied about the coming Christ. He told the people of Judah that the Messiah would come as a child and that God would willingly give it to them and, by extension, to us.

The child would be called by various names. I am intrigued about Jesus’ title, Prince of Peace.

Prince-a male child of royal parentage.

Peace- harmony; concord.

Isaiah seemed to save this title for the Messiah for last because God may have wanted his people to remember this part of the child’s character. What would our world today look like if we followed Jesus and his pursuit of peace? Here are a few of my thoughts.

1.) We would have no times of inner stress over interpersonal relationships. (personal peace)

2.) There would be no times of harsh feelings between individuals. (interpersonal peace)

3.) People groups would not harangue over differences of viewpoint. (political peace)

4.) Nations would not feel the need to destroy one another. (world peace)

I know my list sounds a bit naïve, given the stance of our world in my lifetime. But when Jesus becomes in control of each heart all these thoughts will become reality.

When Jesus Christ comes again we will have peace on earth. He is the Prince of Peace.

Perfect Praise

2011-07-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

Perfect Praise

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.”

Psalm 119:164

We are not confined to praising our God just in the mornings or evenings. The scripture verse tells us we can praise Him when we are led to. The words say, “Seven times a day.” Let’s remember that seven is a perfect number.

When we take the time to praise our Lord, we are giving Him glory and honor due Him. Our praises place our hearts and souls at His feet and we give honor to Him for who He is as well as what He has done for us.

Not all times for praising the Lord are joyous; sometimes we have to look for the smallest glimmer of light to praise Him for. I have a friend whose sister has been a resident of a nursing home for close to a year. We know God is at work in this circumstance and we give praise for His deeds in the sister’s life.

Some of our praises are that God will bring us through a trial or a trouble. The news is bad but we can enter God’s presence and give it to Him. We give thanks for Him being there with us as we go through the steps to come out from under the burden we carry.

Across our side yard sits an empty house. At one time, this house had a very cute interior. The last family that lived there let it go back. It has sat empty for three years. Last summer, the yard was neglected and weeds took over. This year, there is a for sale sign in the yard. From time to time, I find myself praying for God to find the right family to live there. I need to praise Him in advance for working this out.

Praise Often

2011-07-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.” Psalm 119:164 (NIV)

We are not confined to praising our God just in the mornings or evenings. The scripture verse tells us we can praise Him when we are led to. The words say, “Seven times a day.” Let’s remember that seven is a perfect number.

When we take the time to praise our Lord, we are giving Him glory and honor due Him. Our praises place our hearts and souls at His feet and we give honor to Him for who He is as well as what He has done for us.

Not all times for praising the Lord are joyous; sometimes we have to look for the smallest glimmer of light to praise Him for. A family I know is awaiting the result of a tragic situation that occurred last winter. I praise the Lord for their standing by one their family members during the months since that tragic day.

Some of our praises are that God will bring us through a trial or a trouble. The news is bad but we can enter God’s presence and give it to Him. We give thanks for Him being there with us as we go through the steps to come out from under the burden we carry.

There are times in our lives we have to praise God for things that are personal, these acts He does that no one else knows about. But, the important stance we should take is to praise the Lord when we feel the Holy Spirit’s urge.

Praise Throughout the Day

2011-07-25T00:01:00.001-04:00

“May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.”

Psalm 72:15 (NIV)

“Whisper a prayer in the morning.

Whisper a prayer at noon.

Whisper a prayer in the evening.

‘Twill keep your heart in tune.”

As I found the scripture for this entry, this campfire song from my youth returned to my mind. Its message is more than a nice little rhyme. We can stay in tune with God when we take time to pray as we see our days unfold.

Most of the times I am out since my prayer walk through our city’s business district and the near west side; I feel the need to pray for our businesses and the neighborhoods where we live. I give praise for the presence of the majority of the businesses. I ask God to find new tenants for the vacant commercial buildings. I noticed a beauty shop down the street has a sign ad for Vacation Bible School at a church on the west side town. I thank Him for the person who placed the sign. I thank Him for His leading the residents who keep their yard mowed and for those who are improving their homes. I ask Him to find the right people to live in the vacant houses.

Our street is a main route to the hospital. When I hear sirens coming toward us, I ask God to be with the people involved in the event that caused the ambulance run.

I believe if people who call themselves Christians will send up prayers of praise, intercession, and thanksgiving throughout the day that our world will be a better place.

Praise With One Another

2011-07-22T00:01:00.001-04:00

One of my cousins and me at Cracker Barrel

“I will extol the Lord at all times;

His praise will always be on my lips.

My soul will boast in the Lord;

Let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the Lord with me;

Let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:1-3

God deserves our highest praise. We can praise him for the tiniest thing in our lives. For some of us, we can praise Him for the ability to get out of bed in the morning. I praise God whenever I can hold a small child.

Sometimes our praise is about the work God is doing although we can’t see it yet. Yes, we can give thanks for work He is yet to do.

In conversation with friends, we can praise the Lord with them when God blesses them. When we realize He has bestowed a gift upon us, we can share that kindness to others and give praise with our friends.

When we take the time to praise God, we magnify what the Lord has done for His children. Those who are ill or spiritually impoverished will hear and learn of His goodness. Then, they will join us in rejoicing.

Let us all honor God by raising Him up before our nations as one people-His people.

We Praise Him

2011-07-20T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

O Lord our God, as for all this abundance you have provided for

building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand

and all of it belongs to you.”

1 Chronicles 29:13, 16 (NIV)

King David prayed to God, giving thanks for what He gave to build the Temple. He led those in attendance in praising God for His abundantly providing the needed supplies and furnishings for the edifice for worshipping Him. He verbalizes that all the things the people have given have come from God.

In my living room sits a wooden bookcase with doors. Our brother-in-law told me I could have it when he found out we planned to move into our home. When hubby refinished it, he chose to put Plexiglas instead of glass like it had originally. He didn’t want our son to fall into it and get hurt. I don’t believe anyone would know the ‘glass’ was a man-made product. As I wrote this, I realized that glass, while being fashioned by man, has natural elements from the earth in its makeup. I’m not sure of the ingredients in Plexiglas but, I believe, there could be some natural ingredients in it.

When we start up our computers, do we think of the elements of nature that man has harnessed in order for us to use our modern wonders?

Do we praise Him for the knowledge He has given our doctors and nurses, our pastors, our missionaries?

Can we think of anything in our lives that doesn’t ultimately come from God? Please think on this question for a minute or two before you answer.

Praise in Tough Times

2011-07-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

Do we have times when we find we have to praise God although the times are tough? I received a phone call from my friend who lives in Virginia; she has lost a nephew to Cancer. She also has a brother who, depending on the state of his lungs, may be having open heart surgery this week.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there be no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

Habakkuk prayed that he would rejoice in the Lord under the most devastating times. How many of us could pray that prayer? I know my friend would have a hard time with it.

Could we imagine what our land would look like if we had no fruit trees budding? In the Midwest we would have no cherries, apples, or peaches.

My husband grew up in a farming community. What would it look like if the soy beans, wheat, and corn didn’t germinate? I believe it would look pretty bleak-for the farmers and for the consumers.

We know some young people who have raised sheep as a part of their 4H projects. Every year the county fair has an auction of the animals the youth have tended. But what if there were no animals- sheep, cows, swine or chickens?

Habakkuk painted a bleak forlorn picture of Judah. His thinking is that if all the things deemed vital to their well being no longer existed, he would still feel bound to give thanks to God.

Under those circumstances what would Habakkuk, or even we, find in our lives under for which we could praise God?

1.) God is present with us in such difficult times.

2.) He will guide us through travails such as drought and loss of income.

3.) He will fellowship with us as we pray to Him.

4.) Our Lord will encourage us as we worship Him.

Dear God:

Please allow us to praise You whatever our circumstances in life. We ask You to accept our thanks for Your presence as we go through tough times. Please show us how to continue to praise You in the hard times. We will give You thanks for everything You have done for us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN.

Praise When It’s Hard

2011-07-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and

singing hymns to God, and other prisoners were listening to them.”

Acts 16:25 (NIV)

Can you imagine two men, confined to stocks, sitting around praying to God and singing hymns? This is an anomaly of human behavior. We gripe about having to wait in line at the ATM. We carry on about the restaurant with the golden arches not having our order filled fast enough. We grouse about having our plans changed in order to suit some else’s schedule.

These two men were in prison because Paul had used the power of God to have a demon leave a slave girl. The girl’s employers didn’t like the lost revenue. They stirred up the crowd. The people fought with him and Silas. The magistrates had them beaten- even flogged. And they could still praise God?

The book of Acts was written about AD 66 or 68. We live in a different world, twenty centuries later. In our civilized world, we don’t hear of floggings very often. Some of our people shed tears when they get a minor cut.

Who do you think was the orchestrator of this praise fest? I believe it was God. Yes, Paul and Silas were the ones visibly singing and praying. God was there also, first to tell the duo to pray and sing and then to receive the praise from them.

The jailer saw the aftermath and was going to take his own life. Paul told him it wasn’t necessary because all the prisoners were still there. The jailer and his entire household became saved because of Paul and Silas’ praising in unusual circumstances.

Don’t you think we should try giving prayers and praise in the hard times as well as well as when it’s easy?

Announcement, Annnouncement

2011-07-14T17:46:00.000-04:00

Can we have a blast of the Shofar? Or a drum roll? How about a bit of excitement. 'Cause I have an announcement to make.

I have been accepted as a weekly columnist on a website called

"Live as if" http://www.liveasif.org/

I am going to write under my real name, Cecelia Lester. I named my column "God's Words For Us." I plan on publishing new articles on Fridays.

Praise Should Be Joyous

2011-07-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

Praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his act of power;

Praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

Praise him with the harp and lyre,

Praise him with tambourine and dancing,

Praise him with the strings and flute,

Praise him with the clash of cymbals,

Praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 (NIV)

Praise should be joyful. In the closing chapter of Psalm we read of places we should praise God-in the sanctuary. The writer tells us why we need to do this-His surpassing greatness. He also instructs us how we can give God His glory- with several musical instruments.

In the mid 1970s I returned to work. My place of employment was at a now closed Army base. At different times while I worked there, the Army band would set up in the lower hall of our building and go through a small program. I remember when I worked on the third floor of the building, hearing the sound waft through the air, enticing us to use our break time to come listen. The music filled the area and cheered up those who listened.

Praise fills the sanctuary in God’s house. It allows those who hear the praises to join with those who share their warm news.

God doesn’t limit who can praise Him. The closing verse of this book tells us we all have the capacity to praise our Father.

If we don’t feel we have anything to praise God for, just look around and see what He has given us. Has He done something for a friend or a neighbor? Has He blessed you with special news? Has he opened your eyes to new understanding of His Word?

Praise His Holiness

2011-07-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

“Let them praise your great and awesome name- he is holy.”

Psalm 99:3 (NIV)

I recently watched a movie that was popular in our past. For the purposes of this entry, it shall be nameless. I have closed captioning on my television. As I watched and listened I found the language to be salty. Some of the words were vulgar. One particular term was only used in part but the innuendo was there. One of the characters took God’s name in vain or swore every other sentence.

I had seen this movie back when it was in the theaters in the late 1970’s. In a movie house, I might not have caught the words. I also saw it several times as our son grew up, minus the close captioning.

When did our society give approval of misusing the Lord’s name? Why do we Christians accept it?

Our drama ministry had a skit about our relegating His name to swear words. One of our drama people had written a skit set in a restaurant about the words people-Christians-use in public. The leader of our group asked me to expand on the topic and depict several areas of life where we fall short in this department.

Our pastor had earlier voiced concern about the subject and suggested we dramatize it. When I thought I was finished with the script, I made an appointment and took it to him. He had one change. He wanted a character to actually say the Lord’s name in an expressive, yet offensive way.

I actually thought about stating a disclaimer about the dialogue. In a recent drama meeting, one of the women said, because of that play, she stopped saying one of her pet exclamations.

What would it take for our society to return to praising God’s name instead of cursing with it? Or is it too late?

Life-long Praise

2011-07-08T08:24:00.001-04:00

“Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”

Psalm 146:1-2 (NIV)

The psalmist pledges to sing praises to his God as long as he lives. What would it look like if 21st Century people chose to praise the Lord for the rest of their lives?

God would become more real in their lives; those around them could see Him reflected in the actions done in His name.

People wouldn’t have nearly as much depression or frustration; they would be cordial to one another. They would understand and respect others who are going through difficulties. We would have a lot fewer dysfunctional families. There would be a whole lot less bickering.

Nations would have better relations between themselves. They could sit down in peace and solve the issues they may have with one another.

Wouldn’t we have a better world if we all committed to praising God in the life we have left here on earth?

Declaring Praises

2011-07-06T00:01:00.002-04:00

“I will declare your name to my brothers;

In the congregation I will praise you.”

Psalm 22:22 (NIV)

Our times of private deliverance may help a Christian brother or sister if they knew you had a problem that God handled.

In our church we have a time set aside for praises. Some times we have several people stand and give thanks and praise to God. A couple of times in my life, I had to write down the people’s names and a few words of their praises. During these times I didn’t feel God cared about me or He wasn’t helping me with what I wanted Him to.

He had a lesson for me to learn. I got the message and pulled myself away from that ‘pity party’ and realized that I had to find something to praise God for each day. I started keeping a list of praises at the back of my prayer list. Some days I might have one. Other days, I might have multiple praises.

Praising God exalts Him, empowers us, and encourages others.

Praise For Our Nation

2011-07-04T00:01:00.005-04:00

Today is our nation’s 235th birthday. This is a long time for any form of government. We should be thankful that God has allowed us to enjoy the freedoms we have.

We are blessed to live in a nation where we can speak our hearts to our elected officials. Early this spring the former mayor of our city walked across the street and talked to me while he was campaigning. He has chosen to seek the mayor’s office again.

At the time he visited my doorstep, we hadn’t had our primary election, so he was running for his party’s spot on the ticket for the general election. I found myself conversing about what was wrong with our city. This was about two months after our son had moved out of state because he found work. I realize now that I felt I could say what I said because of our freedom of speech.

Our nation believes in freedom of religion. We live in a land where there is no state religion. The framers of the Constitution remembered of the trials and persecution they or their forebears endured because they chose to worship God in the ways they believed were right, even when these ways were not sanctioned by the governing heads of state in Europe.

We live in a land of freedom of opportunity. Young people, no matter their gender, can plan to further their education and enter the business word. I have several friends who have, over the years, owned their own business. These are small businesses but they are viable. Older people can retrain for types of work other than what they have done in the past.

We need to take a look around and notice the good things about the United States of America. Then we should get on our knees, literally if we can, and give praise to God for our nation-‘the land of the free and the home of the brave.’

I thought you'd like to see this article. I am partial. It is my church. The flags on the ourside of the church take my breath away whenever they do this. I tried getting pictures this spring but couldn't get it right.

http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1435409412/Church-s-cross-shines-through-U-S-flag

A Reason to Praise

2011-07-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully

made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

God put His character in each of us. Inside our hearts he tucked in a bit of Himself. When we ask Jesus to control our lives, we allow that small bit of godliness to grow.

David knew he belonged to the Lord. He realized God had made him perfect in His sight. The King of Israel found in this act of God reason to praise Him.

God made our son perfect in His sight. We went through seven surgeries in 13 ½ years, all but two being orthopedic in nature. To this day, he wears a brace on one leg. At one time in his life, he would have been considered multiply handicapped. But I could praise God for the neat things about our gift from Him.

My grandfather told my dad that our son was respectful toward older people. I never knew grandpa to pass out compliments like that before. Dad told hubby and he passed it on to me. Hubby told my dad that it was something I had taught our child. Sometimes, that boy taught me.

I worked one summer at the General Conference of the denomination I was in. My job was to coordinate the daycare. The preschool and the school age children’s programs were in the same school building. One of the school age boys was a Down syndrome child. He was a joy to listen to and to watch. A couple of months later, I saw an article in our denominational magazine, the young boy’s mother wrote about God’s gift to her and her husband. She talked about what her special son had taught her about life. She gave praise for the opportunity to learn from their son.

When I first wrote this, I had five days before I have a physical examination. I don’t look forward to these appointments. Our doctor has all these tests, listed on her computer, planned for me; they are. When I searched for a wallpaper calendar for June for my desktop, I was drawn to one that had the scripture I chose for this entry. How neat is that? Do you think God is trying to tell me something?

As I prepare to post this, I received test results back that the labs she had done came back negative. The following week, I received a letter in the mail from a gastroenterology group. Our doctor had referred me to them for one of those tests. I face that preparation and procedure next week. I am not looking forward to it, but I have to do it. I have a family history that says I have to have it done.

I can praise the Lord for our having a conscientious doctor. I can praise the Lord for giving the medical community the knowledge and training to be able to have this procedure available. I can praise Him for giving me the health I have.

Contentment: An Ingredient of Peace

2011-06-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

. . . for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances . . .

I have learned the secret of being content in every situation.

Phil 4:11b, 12b (NIV)

PAUL AND CONTENTMENT

Paul wrote to the people at Philippi an important fact of his life. He was content with who he was and what he did. When we focus on his letter to the Philippians, we need to remember he wrote these words from prison. This fact underscores the idea that our state of contentment doesn’t come from this world. It comes from God.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win he prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. (Philippians 3:1214.)

In Be Joyful, his Bible Study on the book of Philippians, theologian Warren Wiersbe explained that while we may have things of our past come to mind, we don’t have to be controlled by them. Jesus told us we could rely on him “For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matt 11.29) We all need to turn our burdens and cares over to Him each day because, when we do, He makes them His and we no longer have to worry about them.

It is important for every child of God to find contentment and peace in his or her heart. Personal peace is the foundation of interpersonal peace. In turn this leads to peace between nations, which leads to peace in the world. But, we won’t have true, lasting peace until Jesus comes to reign.

When we find contentment, we no longer have the anxiety we experienced in our earlier days. Didn’t Jesus tell us that each day brings new worries to be dealt with? (Matt.6:34)

We no longer murmur or grumble as we once did. (1 Cor. 10:10) Greed no longer has hold of us. (Heb 13:5)

As we progress in our Christian walk, we become aware of our unworthiness. Jacob recognized his failings as a brother and had to confess his sin to God. (Gen 32:9-13) We realize God is the only one we can trust. (Heb 3:17-19)

WHAT IS CONTENTMENT?

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines contentment as: “the acceptance of circumstances without grumbling.” Why do we grumble? Is it because we expect more from our lives? Do we expect more from those around us? Do we want things from God that we shouldn’t have? Do we feel others owe us something that we really don’t deserve?

Pure Joy?

2011-06-24T00:01:00.003-04:00

The following comes from thoughts from my devotional time.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance.

perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything” James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Lord, I understand the message from James when I keep in mind the end of this passage. Father, at what point do we consider a trial a ‘pure joy’?

As I look back into my history, I find each time I faced a trial; I was busy as I tried to get through the circumstance. Was I wrong when I dealt with the things at hand as I waited for You to bring the issue in front of me to a resolution?

Did I know in my heart You had allowed the situation to come into my life? Or did I secretly grumble about having to step outside my comfort zone? Did I openly gripe to a friend about the fact I had to go through whatever it was? Whatever I did, You heard me.

Once my crisis comes to its end, I realize that I possess a different stance. What might have bothered me prior to the episode has made me see that issue for what it was-a sign of my weakness, a blind spot, or a shortcoming that I needed to deal with.

Each time I learn what God is teaching me and remember it; I find I am better equipped to understand what He wants to do in my life.

I’ve come to the conclusion that, yes, I can look at my trials as His way of instilling maturity in my life when the crisis begins. This outlook has come to me through introspection and experiences He has given me.

The joy will come when I see how He will continue to mould me into the person He wants me to be. I will see these hard times as times of learning and times of growth.

Searching for Joy

2011-06-22T00:01:00.001-04:00

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who

endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow

weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

From time to time I hear news that tends to get me down. On a recent day, I received two pieces of information that caused my mood meter to take a nosedive.

Two of my friends and their husbands are going through trials involving a health issue that their adult children have to deal with.

At this time I can’t give particulars on these needs because one of those youngish children is still in the discovery stage- nothing definite, just a scary symptom. The other family is dealing with the possibility of their loved one going through a very difficult path of dealing with disease.

Compounding these people’s traumas is the one family has already lost a member to this disease. The mother still has times of grieving for the child lost several years ago. My other friends are already dealing with this disease present in one of the older family members.

I know God is in control and can take care of anything He allows to enter our lives. Sometimes, I forget this and for a while I let the stressor work on me. I can’t do this; it’s not good for my emotional make up. I could get physically ill myself if I would let these issues get to me.

I have to give these trials over to God and let Him handle the situation. I have to study my Bible and pray about the issue and maybe even study a few hymns to find the joy I need to stay on track with Jesus.

God’s Kindnesses Lead to Joy

2011-06-20T00:01:00.001-04:00

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)

As I wrote the following thoughts, I sat in my living room joyful for the cool breeze coming through our living room window. I heard birdsong in the air.

A few days ago,I noticed that the birds’ singing always precedes a bright sunny day. This morning I realize that the gentle stirring of the breeze and the birdsong are kindnesses from God.

God displays his kindness in many other ways. He answers our prayers, comforts us when we hurt-physically, and emotionally. He guides us through times of doubting and distress. He brings people into our lives to help us see Him in their lives. He forgives us when we do wrong. For all these kindnesses He extends to me, I thank Him with joy in my heart.

Singing and Joy

2011-06-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

“The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will

overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 51:11 (NIV)

The Lord redeems His children. They return from bondage to sin and enter God’s realm. Those He brings back are joyful, so much they sing. They choose to look to Him and away from sin and its accompanying sorrow. The draw of evil quickly dissipates, taking sorrow and sighing with it.

We see this happen when a sinner repents and begins to trust the Lord for everything that comes into his or her life. Our Biblical forefathers and the heroes of the faith learned to surrender all to God. What do we have to give to the Lord, in order to fully belong to Him?

. I see this scripture in two lights. First is our need to be in prayer for all who fall away and for those at risk of forsaking God. Second is the realization that t

Sadness into Joy

2011-06-15T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Psalm 51:8, 12 (NIV)

King David felt sorrow for his sins. He asked God to forgive him. The repentant king wanted to be able to fellowship with the Father again. David pleaded to be reinstated as a child of God.

If we are honest, we know we all have times when we have gone against God’s ways and done what we wanted. When I look back on my life, I see times when I chose to do a task my way rather than His. Because of my stubborn heart the outcome wasn’t what I intended.

Had I consulted God on a more regular basis, I might have received guidance and been stronger in my faith as a teen and as a coed. Had I listened when others spoke about certain cultural issues, I would have been better able to withstand some stresses in my young adult life.

I thank God for bringing me to the place where the only way I could look was up. Although I have had some difficult times in life, He allowed me to receive His love and guidance to grow into who I am today.

Joy and the Holy Spirit

2011-06-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.

Gal 5:2223 (NIV)

The apostle Paul writes to the believers in Galatia about the qualities possessed by one who has the Holy Spirit in his or her life.

The second on listed is JOY. Several years ago, I had a co-worker and friend tell me she thought I was a joyless Christian. She was correct because I had a lot of pent up feelings about conditions surrounding my life, things I didn’t know how to deal with. But, at that time, I didn’t know how to respond to her appraisal.

The path Jesus took me down for me to find joy in my heart led through very complex scenery. The issues that affected me were not necessarily mine to claim; I had to learn to separate the problems of family members from myself.

Making this time in my life more complex was the health issues of a couple of elderly relatives, the betrayal of another elderly relative, the continued health condition of our son, and a few other things.

I read a book I had owned for years, IN HIS STEPS, by Charles Sheldon. I read this in preparation for Vacation Bible School. As a result, I eventually started looking for another church. I found one that allowed me to experience the Holy Spirit and to find joy. In finding the Holy Spirit, I found I could relax and allow God to guide me into a closer walk with Him. I am thankful my friend planted a seed when she shared with me her observation about me. I am also thankful to God for making me who I am this day.

Joy In Giving

2011-06-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and

their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”

2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV

The apostle Paul speaks of the gift the Macedonian churches gave to support his ministry. The people were facing times of uncertainty, but they had JOY. This elation of their spirit overflowed and people caught it and chose to share with Paul and his fellow missionaries. Paul appreciated the monetary gifts because they were sacrificial in nature.

When we choose to donate time, funds, or talent and that action comes at a cost beyond the gift, that decision and the gift become special. As we work for the Lord, we find joy that guides us as we do His Will.

As we hear of opportunities to work for God we have to seek His guidance to discover where He wants us to serve Him. Whatever way He leads us to help; when we do this we find immeasurable joy in our lives.

Heavenly Joy

2011-06-08T00:01:00.001-04:00

“And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders

and goes home. In the same way, I tell you, there will be

more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over

the ninety-nine who do not need to repent

Luke 15:5, 10. (NIV)

The parable of the lost sheep speaks to our hearts as we see people won to Christ. God accepts us with joy. He’s thrilled to rescue us from our life of sin. The angels join in with exuberance when one caught in sin turns away and asks Jesus into his or her heart.

This joy the angels have is greater than what they feel for those who already belong to God, They really get excited because another soul has been redeemed from the enemy and the kingdom of God has grown.

As God’s children, we are to witness to those around us who have fallen in sin. We are to live our lives in such a way that they see God and His work in our lives. Our lives are to make people of the world want what we have-Christ in our hearts- for themselves.

God Surprises Us With Joy

2011-06-06T00:01:00.002-04:00

“for his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5 (NIV)

When we sin, God notices our transgression. He finds a way to show us where we fail Him. After we repent, our Father guides and protects us as we live for Him.,

While we work for, fellowship with, and follow our Lord, God grants us favor. He allows us to enjoy certain blessings, reserved for His children.

Hubby and I recently enjoyed one of those blessings-I sometimes call them ‘God moments’. We chose to go out for lunch at a buffet place on the far side of town.

As we sat there eating and talking, he looked up and asked me, “Is that who I think it is?”

“It’s Connie’s sister, Judy.” Connie and Judy and their two sisters were close friends of Hubby’s late sister, Martha. Hubby and Judy had graduated from high school together.

He went and spoke to Jill. She got out of line and came over to me and gave me a big hug. We talked and, a little later, here came Candy. She asked about our extended family. I told them about Son moving out of state and about his new job.

As we left the restaurant, we passed by their table. I jokingly went up to Judy and said something cute.

I told Connie that we were due to have some sad times soon. Martha’s birthday was coming in five days. I even went so far as to say, “We’ll all have a month of it.” She nodded.

I call this meeting a ‘God moment’ because they thought a lot of Martha and miss her almost as much as we do. He ordained this meeting and gave us His love and comfort in an otherwise humdrum day.

I will remember the joy I felt that day for a long time.

Our Strength, Our Fortress, Our Refuge

2011-06-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

“O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress. . .”

Jer. 16:19a (NIV)

Jeremiah used three different words to speak of God’s protection over himself. Do we understand the Father’s different roles in our times of need?

The prophet sees God as his strength. When we experience weakness as we face something that causes fear, we can call upon the Lord to help us through and be victorious over those issues that cause us pain and uncertainty.

Jeremiah sees the Father as his fortress. When enemies come at us, we can run to Him and seek protection from whatever puts us in harm’s way. All we have to do is call His name and He will wrap His arms of safety around us.

The son of Hilkiah refers to the Lord God as his refuge. A refuge is a haven of peace we seek out when something about daily life gets us down. It could be just our taking a walk or even a nap and finding we are refreshed afterward. Or a nice chat with a friend about nothing in particular-just catching up about your days activities.

God protects us according to what we need. He keeps us safe from the events of life as He sees our desire or even our longing.

Sometimes, we have to accept the condition that life throws at us and give that circumstance to God to let Him do with it what He will. Several times in my life I have had to do this. God was with me during those times. I still had some difficult moments but He sustained me. By being there as my strength, He brought me joy.