Friday, November 9, 2012

Blessed with God’s Presence


Count Your Blessings Month
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“It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.”

With that same spirit of faith we also believe

and therefore speak, because we know the one who

raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus

and present us with you in his presence.”

2 Corinthians 4:13-14(NIV)

 

We have times when we feel God’s presence with us. In times of intense sadness, of loss,

of great trial, He lets us become aware of His presence.

In 1998, my stepmother spent the spring and summer in and out of the hospital. Three times we received calls to go to the hospital because her condition had worsened. On Labor Day we took her to the hospital and heard a doctor tell us she might need to go to a nursing home to receive therapy to build up her strength. Three weeks and two days later, we lost her. As I went through the days after her death, I felt the prayers of my church family. Because of their prayers, I felt God’s presence.

I often experience times when a chorus comes to mind and stays with me a while. As I compose these words, I was led to check our mail box. I saw it was raining. As I sorted through the junk mail, I had a tune start to echo in my head. At first, I didn’t have anything but the tune. Then a few words came. But I feel blessed by the Lord when I have these moments.

Have you felt God’s presence in your daily life?

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Each Day is a Blessing.


Count Your Blessings Month

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“Therefore we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away,

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

2 Corinthians 4:16

 

Each day we are relatively healthy and pain free is a blessing. Because I have some arthritis and fibromyalgia, I notice changes in the weather. I have learned to take these conditions in stride.

All I have to do when I notice some inflammation is remember my Sunday school teacher. Several years ago, he had an accident at his place of business. He came through that event without losing his right leg but he carries metal pins and rods down its full length. His wife told me one of his doctors said he’d “become very good at forecasting the weather.”

One of my friends is a quadriplegic. When I worked my last job, each morning I’d pass his street and say a prayer for him and his mother. One fall the muscles in my legs were inflamed so much I actually hurt from hips to ankles. This particular morning, I prayed my usual sentence prayer for them as I went past. All of a sudden, my eyes filled up; I could barely see. Here I was feeling sorry for myself because of some pain when neither one of them ever complained about anything.

I view each day as a blessing from God. If I have a problem, I know He will help me through it. If I receive a blessing, I try to thank Him for that day and that special blessing.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Heaven Changes Everything Book Review



 

Todd and Sonja Burpo have written a devotional-reader containing inspirational thoughts aligned with sections of their first book, Heaven Is For Real. 

Each short chapter begins with an excerpt from Heaven Is for Real.then either Todd or Sonja expands on that excerpt. They wrap up each chapter by presenting a question or a thought to the readers and including a scripture verse.

 This book gave me a view of a family and their life after a medical involving their small child.

 What I read challenged, inspired and enlightened me. The Burpos gave me opportunity to think about the reality of heaven. I knew it existed but this book presented a few concepts I had not thought about before. The authors held my attention; Instead of pacing myself and taking a few days to study this book. I found myself starting it one day and finishing it the next.

 The Burpos present the devotional readings in a very casual, conversational way. They tell of the prayers that went up for their son and how one nurse decided “there [is]a God because this is a miracle.” At the end of each reading is a verse or passage of scripture that magnifies the topic of that section.
 
Iwould recommend this book to those who work with children, young parents serious in their faith, and children’s ministers.


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     I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through its Booksneeze program in return for a honest appraisal of this book.

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