Let's get this straight from the beginning, I am not a runner. I tried it once and my knees became so sore that I could hardly make it up a flight of stairs. Yet, God asks us to run the race. How do you do that? I recently saw a video on YouTube that showed me how the race is run.
I doubt that there are many people that haven't heard the story of the Hoyt family. Their son has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound. He and his father have been in many races and have drawn the attention of the world. The love and devotion shown to his son is beyond what is ever asked of a parent.
I see this as a picture of how the race is won with God's help. You see, I am that wheelchair bound boy. I am helpless without God to run the race with me. He carries me when I can't walk. He pulls me along during the hard times and He will rejoice with me when I finish the race. Praise God that none of us has to run the race of life alone. What love, what devotion, what a God!
Please excuse the quality of the video. I think you will see that the content is well worth the effort. It's kleenex time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFVGdZOhlL0
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Retaining Wall
I am an avid HGTV viewer. I have learned so many things by watching all of the programs. I am amazed at what they can do with a room or the exterior of the house. It spurs me on, much to the chagrin of my husband, to redo rooms and outside gardens.
One of the projects that I never paid much attention to was retaining walls. Retaining walls are built to do just that, hold back an embankment. We have one made out of railroad ties in our back yard that was built before we moved in (very popular a few years ago). Today, retaining walls are works of art heralding back to the ancient Romans that constructed fantastic edifices that are still around today.
The hallmark of the retaining wall is the foundation. In order to have a wall that won't fall over in time, from the weight of the dirt behind it, is a level and firm foundation. If this step is done in the wrong way or short cuts taken, the wall will not do its job and, overtime, will collapse. Once the foundation is established, the blocks can be put one on top of the other till the desired height is attained.
What is your firm foundation? Do you build your hopes and dreams on what the world gives or do you build on a foundation that is true, level, and will hold up? My foundation is Jesus Christ. He alone is the foundation that will stand the test of time, not collapse, and will always remain a thing of beauty. When the weight of the world's sins were place on His shoulders, He did not collapse under the strain. When the world mocks Him and people turn from Him, He does not fall apart. What encouragement that gives me to know that no matter what I ask of Him, no matter the burdens I lay at His feet, He will continue to be my foundation so I can withstand the pressure of the world. He is the foundation on which my hope is built.
One of the projects that I never paid much attention to was retaining walls. Retaining walls are built to do just that, hold back an embankment. We have one made out of railroad ties in our back yard that was built before we moved in (very popular a few years ago). Today, retaining walls are works of art heralding back to the ancient Romans that constructed fantastic edifices that are still around today.
The hallmark of the retaining wall is the foundation. In order to have a wall that won't fall over in time, from the weight of the dirt behind it, is a level and firm foundation. If this step is done in the wrong way or short cuts taken, the wall will not do its job and, overtime, will collapse. Once the foundation is established, the blocks can be put one on top of the other till the desired height is attained.
What is your firm foundation? Do you build your hopes and dreams on what the world gives or do you build on a foundation that is true, level, and will hold up? My foundation is Jesus Christ. He alone is the foundation that will stand the test of time, not collapse, and will always remain a thing of beauty. When the weight of the world's sins were place on His shoulders, He did not collapse under the strain. When the world mocks Him and people turn from Him, He does not fall apart. What encouragement that gives me to know that no matter what I ask of Him, no matter the burdens I lay at His feet, He will continue to be my foundation so I can withstand the pressure of the world. He is the foundation on which my hope is built.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Contrasts
Have you ever noticed how God always presents contrasts? I'm looking at the beautiful Fall landscape out of my window and marvel at how wonderful it is. Then, I think of the coming winter with cold weather, sleet, snow and ice. I know that some think winter is wonderful but I don't happen to be one of those. So the beauty of fall is contrasted with the harshness of winter. Along comes Spring and the flowers, budding trees, and warmer weather. But this is in contrast to the very warm summer, humidity, and sunburns.
I suppose that it is in these contrasts that we can see God's hand at work. We are to be satisfied in all situations whether they are ones of our choosing or not. We have the joy of a birth in the family and then mourn in the death of one. We rejoice in a new job and then suffer in the loss of one. Sometimes it is difficult to deal with the contrasts.
In I John, the contrast of living in the light or living in darkness is a serious topic because this contrast deals with our spiritual walk with the Lord and where we will spend eternity. At least with the seasonal changes, we can still look ahead to a time when we will be relieved of a season with which we are not comfortable. Walking in darkness is another story. For that person, unless he is seeking God, there is no hope of a future respite. Those who walk in darkness look at the seasonal contrasts as just that. Those who are in the light see those same seasons as gifts from God and the splendor of His hand in creating them. In situational contrasts, we, who are in the light, trust God and find hope in knowing that He is in control.
So...enjoy the Fall. Take a walk and marvel at God's creation and know that sometimes a contrast can be good.
I suppose that it is in these contrasts that we can see God's hand at work. We are to be satisfied in all situations whether they are ones of our choosing or not. We have the joy of a birth in the family and then mourn in the death of one. We rejoice in a new job and then suffer in the loss of one. Sometimes it is difficult to deal with the contrasts.
In I John, the contrast of living in the light or living in darkness is a serious topic because this contrast deals with our spiritual walk with the Lord and where we will spend eternity. At least with the seasonal changes, we can still look ahead to a time when we will be relieved of a season with which we are not comfortable. Walking in darkness is another story. For that person, unless he is seeking God, there is no hope of a future respite. Those who walk in darkness look at the seasonal contrasts as just that. Those who are in the light see those same seasons as gifts from God and the splendor of His hand in creating them. In situational contrasts, we, who are in the light, trust God and find hope in knowing that He is in control.
So...enjoy the Fall. Take a walk and marvel at God's creation and know that sometimes a contrast can be good.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
A Slap in the Face
I can remember the day as if it was yesterday. I was at work at the hospital when my supervisor came up to me and told me that my girlfriend, on the floor below, needed me. At first I had no idea what she was talking about. She then told me that word had just come that her brother had been killed in Vietnam. I was stunned. I couldn't say anything. It was the biggest slap in the face that I had ever experienced. The days that followed felt like they weren't real, like they were something off TV.
A couple of weeks ago, after a bridal shower for my nephew and his bride, my sister-in-law, who wasn't feeling well all day, had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). She had received the diagnosis last January but never told us till now. I was stunned. Another slap in the face that left me speechless.
I ask myself, "Why do these things have to happen? It just doesn't seem fair". I used to watch Touched by an Angel and there was a statement that has stuck with me, "life isn't fair, but God is". We only experience some of what can happen. We have no idea of the things that could have happened that God put a stop to. God is sovereign and if we submit our lives to Him, then we can expect that there will be times when we don't understand. We have to trust that He knows what is best and only wants the good things for us. There is more at stake than our physical bodies, we cannot throw up our hands and turn from Him because of life's tragedies. The greatest loss would be our salvation and that is a slap in the face that I do not want to experience.
A couple of weeks ago, after a bridal shower for my nephew and his bride, my sister-in-law, who wasn't feeling well all day, had been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). She had received the diagnosis last January but never told us till now. I was stunned. Another slap in the face that left me speechless.
I ask myself, "Why do these things have to happen? It just doesn't seem fair". I used to watch Touched by an Angel and there was a statement that has stuck with me, "life isn't fair, but God is". We only experience some of what can happen. We have no idea of the things that could have happened that God put a stop to. God is sovereign and if we submit our lives to Him, then we can expect that there will be times when we don't understand. We have to trust that He knows what is best and only wants the good things for us. There is more at stake than our physical bodies, we cannot throw up our hands and turn from Him because of life's tragedies. The greatest loss would be our salvation and that is a slap in the face that I do not want to experience.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Let's Wave the Flag
I was watching an old episode of "Little House on the Prairie" where a man and his family( from Russia) had just lost the farm he had bought only 4 months before. He later found out that there were 7 years of unpaid property taxes. Because he could not pay what was owed, he lost the farm. Instead of being upset and ranting and raving about his situation he still found praise for the nation that he now called home. He said that this country was the best in the world. Of course, he felt bad about losing the farm but he said that here he could always start over and succeed.
This program really moved me to tears. How many times have we heard how lousy our nation is? Well...to those who feel this way or are discouraged, this IS the greatest nation in the world. How many countries have people waiting in line to come to this country and hope to become citizens? To have people desperate enough to sneak in illegally? How many countries have the healthcare system we have where other nationalities come here for treatment because they are on waiting lists at home? How many other countries allow their people to stand up in a town hall meeting with their elected officials and confront their policies? How many countries allow the freedom of religion we have here?
Yes, I'm proud of my country! I'm so sorry that our president feels that he has to apologize for that on which we stand; one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. There isn't another place on the planet that I would want to live. Stuart Barney, a former citizen of the United Kingdom and Fox News commentator, said that our nation is the last nation that has not succumbed to socialism and he regrets seeing where we are being lead. I have heard the fear in people's voices that have emigrated to our country and who left their totalitarian and socialist countries to escape to a free society and the opportunity to start over.
If we truly believe that God is in control, then we have to trust that all this turmoil with the economy and healthcare debate is for a reason. We have to admit that in the past there has been a general malaise in our nation regarding politics and the belief that there is a God who is blessing our nation beyond what it deserves. The time has come to seek God and return to our roots. I believe that the tribulation that we are experiencing now may be God calling us back to a right relationship with Him. Who can one turn to when his government is letting him down? Only to the One who can bring real change.
So...let's wave the flag today, question what we believe, and look to God for the answers.
This program really moved me to tears. How many times have we heard how lousy our nation is? Well...to those who feel this way or are discouraged, this IS the greatest nation in the world. How many countries have people waiting in line to come to this country and hope to become citizens? To have people desperate enough to sneak in illegally? How many countries have the healthcare system we have where other nationalities come here for treatment because they are on waiting lists at home? How many other countries allow their people to stand up in a town hall meeting with their elected officials and confront their policies? How many countries allow the freedom of religion we have here?
Yes, I'm proud of my country! I'm so sorry that our president feels that he has to apologize for that on which we stand; one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. There isn't another place on the planet that I would want to live. Stuart Barney, a former citizen of the United Kingdom and Fox News commentator, said that our nation is the last nation that has not succumbed to socialism and he regrets seeing where we are being lead. I have heard the fear in people's voices that have emigrated to our country and who left their totalitarian and socialist countries to escape to a free society and the opportunity to start over.
If we truly believe that God is in control, then we have to trust that all this turmoil with the economy and healthcare debate is for a reason. We have to admit that in the past there has been a general malaise in our nation regarding politics and the belief that there is a God who is blessing our nation beyond what it deserves. The time has come to seek God and return to our roots. I believe that the tribulation that we are experiencing now may be God calling us back to a right relationship with Him. Who can one turn to when his government is letting him down? Only to the One who can bring real change.
So...let's wave the flag today, question what we believe, and look to God for the answers.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
A Lost Life
I'm sure that if you had heard, read, or seen any more stories about Michael Jackson, you (like me) would have torn your hair out. I don't want to take away from his showmanship. There is no doubt that he was a fantastic performer. I really like his music. That being said, he led a lost life and it doesn't seem as though there was anyone there to show him the way. As I watched the programs about his life, my heart went out to him. An accused child molester? Yes. Maybe if there was someone in his life who could have told him about a Father who loved him more than anything (at least more than his earthly father), he could have found some self worth. As it was, he died trying to fill his life with fame and fortune, won and lost.
There have been other lost lives, Heath Ledger, Anna Nichole Smith, and various other performers lost to the
"high life". The frustrating question for me is wondering if they ever had anyone share the Lord with them. To, at least, give them the chance to accept or reject.
Are there any lost lives in your family or acquaintances? We all have them. I once did sewing for a store and the woman who gave out the projects was living a lost life. I always thought I should say something to her but I never did. She moved out of state and later succumbed to brain cancer. I felt bad that I had let the chance to share slip by.
What we all need to do is come to the place where we say that we are NOT ashamed of the gospel and not allow a lost life to go on without being given the chance to hear the gospel. A lost life can be found.
There have been other lost lives, Heath Ledger, Anna Nichole Smith, and various other performers lost to the
"high life". The frustrating question for me is wondering if they ever had anyone share the Lord with them. To, at least, give them the chance to accept or reject.
Are there any lost lives in your family or acquaintances? We all have them. I once did sewing for a store and the woman who gave out the projects was living a lost life. I always thought I should say something to her but I never did. She moved out of state and later succumbed to brain cancer. I felt bad that I had let the chance to share slip by.
What we all need to do is come to the place where we say that we are NOT ashamed of the gospel and not allow a lost life to go on without being given the chance to hear the gospel. A lost life can be found.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Stench
Stench....even the sound of that word gives me the creeps. I never knew the true meaning of the word until my husband and I returned from being out of town. Maybe I should start at the beginning....
While out of town with my husband on business, I made one of my usual phone calls home to make sure that everything was going alright. When my son answered he told me that a skunk must have gotten into the garage because he could smell it. I asked him how long he had been noticing the smell and he told me that it had been two days. TWO DAYS? He then proceeded to tell me that he really smelled it when our dog came into his room. I immediately knew the problem, our dog must have cornered a skunk and got sprayed. Think about it....this had been going on for TWO DAYS! Skunk spray is like an oil and resists being washed out without some special care. My son said he had no idea what to do about cleaning the dog. I told my computer smart son that he should find out on the internet (duh!). He and his friend found a recipe for cleaning the dog and went to the local dog wash at midnight. Needless to say, the dog was improved (not totally gone) but the house continued to smell.
We are now at the point where we come home from the trip. We opened the door and....YUCK! We hurriedly ran into our bedroom and shut the door. It was all for naught since we had to come out eventually. It was a stench that hung around for a long time (at least to me). It goes away eventually but during the time...oh my!
In the Old Testament, God comments on the aroma of the sacrifice. He called it a "pleasing" aroma. Why? Because the sacrifice was done in the correct way. When we offer God our sacrifice (whatever that may be, be it time, money, serving, etc.) do we do it in a way that will bring a pleasing aroma to God? Do we grudgingly give of our time, money, service, etc.? Are you sending up a pleasing aroma to God or is it a stench in His nostrils? Knowing how bad a "stench" can be, it is vital that we joyfully and willingly give God the best sacrifice and done in the right way. In order for me to remove the stench from the house, I burned candles, sprayed, and aired out the house. In order for us to remove the stench from God's nostrils, we need to ask for forgiveness for our attitude and for giving a poor sacrifice. After all, God gave us a way to remove the stench from our lives when He gave His Son. May all your (and my) sacrifices be a pleasing aroma to our Lord.
While out of town with my husband on business, I made one of my usual phone calls home to make sure that everything was going alright. When my son answered he told me that a skunk must have gotten into the garage because he could smell it. I asked him how long he had been noticing the smell and he told me that it had been two days. TWO DAYS? He then proceeded to tell me that he really smelled it when our dog came into his room. I immediately knew the problem, our dog must have cornered a skunk and got sprayed. Think about it....this had been going on for TWO DAYS! Skunk spray is like an oil and resists being washed out without some special care. My son said he had no idea what to do about cleaning the dog. I told my computer smart son that he should find out on the internet (duh!). He and his friend found a recipe for cleaning the dog and went to the local dog wash at midnight. Needless to say, the dog was improved (not totally gone) but the house continued to smell.
We are now at the point where we come home from the trip. We opened the door and....YUCK! We hurriedly ran into our bedroom and shut the door. It was all for naught since we had to come out eventually. It was a stench that hung around for a long time (at least to me). It goes away eventually but during the time...oh my!
In the Old Testament, God comments on the aroma of the sacrifice. He called it a "pleasing" aroma. Why? Because the sacrifice was done in the correct way. When we offer God our sacrifice (whatever that may be, be it time, money, serving, etc.) do we do it in a way that will bring a pleasing aroma to God? Do we grudgingly give of our time, money, service, etc.? Are you sending up a pleasing aroma to God or is it a stench in His nostrils? Knowing how bad a "stench" can be, it is vital that we joyfully and willingly give God the best sacrifice and done in the right way. In order for me to remove the stench from the house, I burned candles, sprayed, and aired out the house. In order for us to remove the stench from God's nostrils, we need to ask for forgiveness for our attitude and for giving a poor sacrifice. After all, God gave us a way to remove the stench from our lives when He gave His Son. May all your (and my) sacrifices be a pleasing aroma to our Lord.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Summer
I love summer. This summer, however, has been disappointing because of the cool weather. These cool summer days have me asking, "Global warming?" But that is a topic for another time.
Why is it that summer seems so short? I have heard that what makes a day, week, month, year or season seem so short is the amount of things we have to do during that time. When we are bored, the days seem to drag by. Once in a while, I would love to be able to spend a day in a good book and just sit back and take my mind to foreign lands, adventures, mystery and suspense. But, unfortunately, I have a job to do (custom sewing) and just when I think I can take a rest, more orders come. Don't get me wrong, with so many people out of work, I'm grateful for the opportunity to make money. As with all things, when you have the money you don't have the time to do projects around the house and when you have the time, you don't have the money. I guess that no matter what position I'm in, I will just have to be content.
I have found that vacations can be just as hectic as staying home; same tune, different dance. This year we went to Branson, MO. We went to see some shows and took it easy. I had the chance to actually read and finish a book! Now that's a vacation for me. But now that I'm home, I have been inundated with work. I guess that idle hands are the devils playground (or so I've heard).
So summer is speeding by. Soon it will be Fall. I actually heard an advertisement on TV last night for back to school stuff! I noted that in some of the stores, they're stocking up school supplies. Yikes! Didn't the kids just get out of school? Summer is speeding by and the media is taking it away! So...enjoy what's left of your summer, spend time getting to know your children again (not the terrors that you have to prod to do homework), and realize that time spent relaxing and pondering God's wonderful creation is time well spent. Maybe, if we take time to be still, summer will slow down.
Why is it that summer seems so short? I have heard that what makes a day, week, month, year or season seem so short is the amount of things we have to do during that time. When we are bored, the days seem to drag by. Once in a while, I would love to be able to spend a day in a good book and just sit back and take my mind to foreign lands, adventures, mystery and suspense. But, unfortunately, I have a job to do (custom sewing) and just when I think I can take a rest, more orders come. Don't get me wrong, with so many people out of work, I'm grateful for the opportunity to make money. As with all things, when you have the money you don't have the time to do projects around the house and when you have the time, you don't have the money. I guess that no matter what position I'm in, I will just have to be content.
I have found that vacations can be just as hectic as staying home; same tune, different dance. This year we went to Branson, MO. We went to see some shows and took it easy. I had the chance to actually read and finish a book! Now that's a vacation for me. But now that I'm home, I have been inundated with work. I guess that idle hands are the devils playground (or so I've heard).
So summer is speeding by. Soon it will be Fall. I actually heard an advertisement on TV last night for back to school stuff! I noted that in some of the stores, they're stocking up school supplies. Yikes! Didn't the kids just get out of school? Summer is speeding by and the media is taking it away! So...enjoy what's left of your summer, spend time getting to know your children again (not the terrors that you have to prod to do homework), and realize that time spent relaxing and pondering God's wonderful creation is time well spent. Maybe, if we take time to be still, summer will slow down.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Is a Christian Apolitical?
In a comment left on one of my blogs I was asked how I could be a Christian and yet speak out against President Obama. At first it bothered me but after processing the comment I came to one conclusion, yes I can speak out against the policies that are clearly against God's policies. I'm not a racist or bigot because I speak out against the downward spiral that our nation is taking. It is, however, my responsibility to stand up for what the Bible says and the way we should be living our lives, not a government mandate.
I am appalled when there are those from our nation that have the audacity to " put down" our country on foreign soil. This is the best nation on earth and I am proud (despite what Michelle Obama has said) of it. I am also proud of the office of the President of the United States. If President Obama were to be treated disrespectfully when on foreign soil (as what happen to the former president) I would be one of the first to stand up for him. But...I have the freedom and the right to speak out against his policies. One is known by their actions. I don't need to know President Obama personally to know that he is on the edge concerning his christian views because of his actions in the role government is taking in our lives. This is my right as a citizen and a christian.
God brings kings and rulers into positions of authority to serve His will but nowhere does the Bible say that we can't speak out. If only the christians of the 1930s would have spoken out about the dispicable things that Hitler was doing to the Jews, maybe he wouldn't have gained so much power. We cannot, as christians, stand by and watch our nation erode away morally and spiritually by going along with policies that God despises. Our nation, and complecent christians, will one day face judgment for where we are going. So...should a Christian be apolitical? I think not.
I am appalled when there are those from our nation that have the audacity to " put down" our country on foreign soil. This is the best nation on earth and I am proud (despite what Michelle Obama has said) of it. I am also proud of the office of the President of the United States. If President Obama were to be treated disrespectfully when on foreign soil (as what happen to the former president) I would be one of the first to stand up for him. But...I have the freedom and the right to speak out against his policies. One is known by their actions. I don't need to know President Obama personally to know that he is on the edge concerning his christian views because of his actions in the role government is taking in our lives. This is my right as a citizen and a christian.
God brings kings and rulers into positions of authority to serve His will but nowhere does the Bible say that we can't speak out. If only the christians of the 1930s would have spoken out about the dispicable things that Hitler was doing to the Jews, maybe he wouldn't have gained so much power. We cannot, as christians, stand by and watch our nation erode away morally and spiritually by going along with policies that God despises. Our nation, and complecent christians, will one day face judgment for where we are going. So...should a Christian be apolitical? I think not.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Pattern for Living
I learned how to sew in an 8th grade home economics class. We each had to make a shirt waist dress to wear for a fashion show of nothing but those dresses. Imagine. In high school, I made some of my clothes and did some minimal sewing while in college. I would always follow the pattern to the "T" so I wouldn't make a mistake. It wasn't until years later that I started to do custom sewing for money.
Custom sewing is a far cry from the shirt waist dress pattern on which I learned to sew. Many times I receive a picture that a client has found in a magazine or one that the decorator has designed for which I have to actually make a pattern. I have many "sewing for the home" books that do help but sometimes I have to step out in faith that what I am making will be what everyone wants. Praying always helps.
How many times do we try to live our lives without a pattern attempting to make one of our own trusting that things will go well? If you're like me, and I'm sure there are others, it's all too often. God gave us the pattern for our lives in His Word, the Bible. Now, we may have the pattern in front of us but decide that the directions don't need to be followed and think our way is better. That kind of thinking is what gets us in a mess. The seams of our life just aren't matching and the garment that we thought we were making is all off kilter. How easy it would have been if we had just followed the directions. Well...we can read the directions but until we proceed in making the garment, we have no idea of how valuable they are. Reading the directions in the Bible help us to prepare for our ministry in the world. We know which parts of the pattern fit together and are able to do the job we are asked to do. In the long run, the finished garment is our own salvation and reward for paying attention to the directions.
Custom sewing is a far cry from the shirt waist dress pattern on which I learned to sew. Many times I receive a picture that a client has found in a magazine or one that the decorator has designed for which I have to actually make a pattern. I have many "sewing for the home" books that do help but sometimes I have to step out in faith that what I am making will be what everyone wants. Praying always helps.
How many times do we try to live our lives without a pattern attempting to make one of our own trusting that things will go well? If you're like me, and I'm sure there are others, it's all too often. God gave us the pattern for our lives in His Word, the Bible. Now, we may have the pattern in front of us but decide that the directions don't need to be followed and think our way is better. That kind of thinking is what gets us in a mess. The seams of our life just aren't matching and the garment that we thought we were making is all off kilter. How easy it would have been if we had just followed the directions. Well...we can read the directions but until we proceed in making the garment, we have no idea of how valuable they are. Reading the directions in the Bible help us to prepare for our ministry in the world. We know which parts of the pattern fit together and are able to do the job we are asked to do. In the long run, the finished garment is our own salvation and reward for paying attention to the directions.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Isn't it amazing how fast our shrubs grow once the weather gets warm? It's a blessing and a curse. A blessing because new growth shows that the plant is healthy but a curse because, left unattended, they can become overgrown and unsightly. So now we have to get down to work and work hard cutting back and pruning until the shrubs are returned to their former manageable and beautiful shape.
As we go through life, we continue to grow in God's word. We serve in our church, attend Bible studies, and try to live our lives the way we can please God. That's the blessing of life. But there are times that we need to be pruned and brought back to a right relationship with God. It's not easy to go through the pruning. We face hardships, pain and sorrow. Sometimes we feel like we have been pruned from God rather than by God. But take heart, once the dead wood of our lives is taken away and we have been returned to our "beautiful shape" we will be stronger in our faith and closer to God.
So the next time you are out trimming the bushes, remember that God is constantly pruning your heart because He cares that much about you.
As we go through life, we continue to grow in God's word. We serve in our church, attend Bible studies, and try to live our lives the way we can please God. That's the blessing of life. But there are times that we need to be pruned and brought back to a right relationship with God. It's not easy to go through the pruning. We face hardships, pain and sorrow. Sometimes we feel like we have been pruned from God rather than by God. But take heart, once the dead wood of our lives is taken away and we have been returned to our "beautiful shape" we will be stronger in our faith and closer to God.
So the next time you are out trimming the bushes, remember that God is constantly pruning your heart because He cares that much about you.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I'm Going Home
I was on my internet Christian faith board and one of the posters said that she would be gone for a while since she was “going home”. This poster is married with children but going home to her meant going home to her parents. Isn’t it strange that when we think of home, we often think of mom, dad, and the security of their love? It’s like giving you a warm fuzzy hug.
When Christ spoke of home, He was talking about going home to His Father as well. He is now preparing a place for us to reside when we go to live with Him. When you think of heaven, do you think of it as a place of refuge, a place of love or do you fear that home? The Bible talks about heaven as a place of perfect peace and love without any worries or sorrow. Now that’s the kind of place I want to call home!
Sometimes, when we think of dying, we hate to think that we will have to leave our earthly home. In actuality, this place that we think of as “home” is not the home we should desire. I know there are many who think of their earthly home as a place of bitterness and grief but take heart. In I Peter 2:11, we are referred to as strangers and aliens in this world. An alien is a sojourner, one who is not affiliated with the world but just passing through. If we understand that what we call “home” only is a temporary dwelling place, then our heavenly and eternal home becomes all the more desirable. I know that when the Lord calls my name that I will be “going home” and will rejoice in being there!
When Christ spoke of home, He was talking about going home to His Father as well. He is now preparing a place for us to reside when we go to live with Him. When you think of heaven, do you think of it as a place of refuge, a place of love or do you fear that home? The Bible talks about heaven as a place of perfect peace and love without any worries or sorrow. Now that’s the kind of place I want to call home!
Sometimes, when we think of dying, we hate to think that we will have to leave our earthly home. In actuality, this place that we think of as “home” is not the home we should desire. I know there are many who think of their earthly home as a place of bitterness and grief but take heart. In I Peter 2:11, we are referred to as strangers and aliens in this world. An alien is a sojourner, one who is not affiliated with the world but just passing through. If we understand that what we call “home” only is a temporary dwelling place, then our heavenly and eternal home becomes all the more desirable. I know that when the Lord calls my name that I will be “going home” and will rejoice in being there!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Starting to Blog
Blogging...now there's a concept. It sounds like something someone would do in the privacy of their own bedroom. I start this site with palpitations and a not too sure idea of what I'm going to do now that it's started. Having never been at a loss for words, it was suggested that I try this new form of expression known as blogging.
Isn't it this way with every new endeavor? We start out and then find ourselves in a quagmire. I don't know about you, but prayer is something that always seems to come second. Only when I'm in the middle of the quagmire do I call out to the One who I should have consulted before starting. God is only a prayer away, up all hours of the day or night, and is always ready to respond. If only my self sufficiency would give way and allow me to admit that I can't do everything on my own. Thank you God that You see me as a work in progress and that I'm still worth Your consideration.
Isn't it this way with every new endeavor? We start out and then find ourselves in a quagmire. I don't know about you, but prayer is something that always seems to come second. Only when I'm in the middle of the quagmire do I call out to the One who I should have consulted before starting. God is only a prayer away, up all hours of the day or night, and is always ready to respond. If only my self sufficiency would give way and allow me to admit that I can't do everything on my own. Thank you God that You see me as a work in progress and that I'm still worth Your consideration.
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