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Today I spent a glorious afternoon at the beach for the first time since last summer. As I walked down to the beach, I was immediately struck with wonder as I gazed out upon the vastness of the ocean. It was breathtaking!
As my feet felt the smoothness of the sand beneath them and my eyes drank in the waves, I thought about the second day of creation when the hand of God formed the oceans. How in the world did He do it? I stood transfixed with my gaze upon the endless expanse of the waters and wondered how many gallons must there be out there? Again, I thought, how in the world did God create the oceans?
All I know is this....the peace, the beauty, the power and the sheer vastness of the ocean was at the mighty hand of God Himself. He created all things and they were all created for HIS glory.
Today, as I stood watching the water, I could hear the waves praising the God who created them! As I stood and listened, I too joined in praise to my God...the Author and Creator of all things! I pray that it was a sweet sound to the heart of God as He listened to two of His creations praising His holy name.
Job.......a man who walked through incredible trials, lost all his thousands of animals, his many servants, his house and all of his children. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering this "blameless, upright, God fearing man" endured.
If you read the book of Job, you will hear one of the most heart wrenching stories of loss. Job lost everything he owned and all of his children and yet, we read in Job 1:20-22, how he responded to his loss......
"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God."
OH MY GOODNESS.........THIS is how he responded to all of this devastation! He fell to the ground and worshiped the God he loved, lived for and believed in. He knew already that there was more to life than just the one we spend on this earth. He knew he had an eternal home in heaven and even through this unbelieveable tragedy, Job did not deny Christ.
Job makes an exceptionally powerful statement in chapter 2:10b when he said the following....."Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"
Job had perfect understanding that we must accept the good along with the bad in our lives. God is in control of it all. God allowed all of the above things to happen to Job. He did not instigate them, but He did allow them. In the end, God doubled his wealth and his possessions and gave him more children. Chapter 41 verse 12 says..."The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning...."
There is much more to this story and many lessons to be learned within this story. Tonight, I encourage you to remember that God IS in control of everything in this world. We often do not understand why we are going through the things we are, but we CAN be assured that God IS in control.
Remember.....when tested and stripped of almost everything......
JOB FELL TO THE GROUND AND WORSHIPED! His reaction is a lesson for us all.
Each year for 3 years in a row, sparrows have chosen my patio to be their nesting grounds. If you know me, then you know that it thrills my little heart to have NEW LIFE just steps away from my french doors!
On one of my first trips to Honduras years ago, I bought a cloth bag, that coincidentally, has birds all over it! Three years ago, I hung it out back on a clothes rack with the top open. Much to my surprise, that very first year, I watched as a pair of sparrows carefully chose their materials, and build their nest in my bag. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy watching the eggs hatch and the babies grow, but my grandkids loved it too!
Once again this year, my sparrow family has returned to raise their little ones in my Honduras bag! This year, there are 4 little faces in the nest that open wide their little mouths as I look down into the bag!
Who knows why they keep choosing to come back to start their babies out on my patio, but I LOVE IT! I'm honored that they feel safe out there and would bless me with their presence! Each little life is valuable to me, as crazy as that may sound to you, the reader.
Luke 12:6 says, "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God."
I like that............just to think that my little sparrows on my patio are extremely insignificant and forgotten to most people, but not to me AND NOT TO GOD! He says they are not forgotten before Him! I sure do like that. My God cares about those little birds......MAN.....I really like that!!!!
For an animal freak like me.......all I know to say is.......WAY TO GO GOD!!!
Today, my 5 year old grandson wanted to show me how he was learning to read three letter words. I was amazed at how he was sounding out the first, second and third letters to then be able to say the word. With each word he sounded out, I would carry on about how good a job he was doing and then I would playfully bump him on the shoulder and make him laugh.
As this pattern repeated itself over and over, he got sillier and sillier! The giggling was wonderful! The three of us just died laughing at how funny he was being as he sounded out a word but then called it something completely different. I know it doesn't sound funny now, but it sure was then.
Giggling is one of God's sweetest little unwrapped presents that He's given us. A simple little giggle can brighten a day, change your attitude, lift others up around you and can definitely be contagious!!
Even little ones can laugh at themselves....shouldn't we learn by their example? I know life is tough, life is crazy and problems are many in this world....but remember....one little giggle can change your day!
The thrill of a project as I knit it begins to reach a crescendo as I move into the final rows. Pride begins to fill my heart and a great sense of accomplishment overwhelms me.
Then.........I begin looking back at my stitches before I complete the final work. YIKES!!!!! There, right in the middle of my project, is a BIG mistake!!!
Dread strikes my heart.....frustration......anger.....how could I have been so blind to have not seen the error BEFORE I got so far along in the project???? Now I have to tear it all out to before the point where the error occured and start again. It's so time consuming to pull all my work out and begin again!
Fixing mistakes in a knitting project is one thing. But how about fixing mistakes in our daily lives? I've made many in my life...more than I care to admit. But the day I gave my life to Christ, He wiped away all my mistakes, forgave me of them and made my heart clean again! He didn't make me go back and work hard long hours to fix my mistakes. He died on the cross for me because there was nothing I could have done to fix those mistakes myself. He was the one who sacrificed for me. There was no need for me to sacrifice, He'd already done that for me.
When I think of what I have to sacrifice to fix a knitting mistake compared to what Jesus had to sacrifice to fix ALL my mistakes.....it's all put into perspective. Those knitting mistakes don't bother me too much anymore.
Thanks God....you do everything perfectly. My knitting leaves a lot to be desired...but the way you knit everything together in this world is simply amazing!
Home sweet home.....
No doubt, some of our homes are "sweeter" than others and I don't mean have more sugar in them either! Some people live in shacks, some in middle class homes and others live in castles. All across this globe, we see people at different places on the finanical ladder.
I'm not a real smart woman, but this I do know....
"I'll take a shack on THE ROCK over a castle in the sand" any day of the week. Casting Crowns penned these lines in 2003 in their song American Dream. These words have weighed heavy on my mind as I look around and see so many people so interested in having a castle but forgetting the God who gives us all the ability to afford that castle. If having a castle means living without Christ, then you can have it!
I'm thankful for my little "Shack on THE ROCK." It's not much, but it's built on the Rock of Jesus Christ and I'd rather be living in my shack than be living in a fabulous castle that's built on sinking sand.
Thanks God for my home...it isn't much...but it's built on YOU...that makes it more valuable than gold!
Today, I went back to the 'Y' after almost 2 weeks away. I was out of town for a week, then just couldn't seem to get back in the swing until today. It just about killed me to go back. I couldn't even do the weight on the machines that I had taken 4 months to finally work up to and couldn't even finish the reps I usually do. I felt WEAK and out of sorts and literally, gave up and headed to the car.
As I drove away, I thought about how sometimes, this story can apply to our walk with Christ. If you ever miss two weeks of church in a row, it gets harder and harder to go back and when you finally do go, you realize how WEAK you had become when you leave. As you walk out of the service, you are quickly made aware that you have allowed your faith to WEAKEN and your spirt to be dampened. It happens quickly and it happens before you know it.
I nearly had that overwhelming feeling as I walked out of the gym today that it just wasn't worth going back. I gained 5 pounds while I was gone and had worked nearly a month to get 4 pounds off before I left! UGHHHH! Now, after being gone 2 weeks, I'm weak and back out of shape AGAIN!!
But, perserverance is the name of the game. IF I give up....what's ahead for me??? Health that will continue to fail, bones that will weaken and weight that will continue to creep even higher.
It's the same story with my faith. IF I lay it down and give up because I don't see God doing what I think He should do or I'm not seeing answers to my prayers, what's ahead for me???? I already know the answer to that question. There's "nothing" ahead for me friend. Nothing. There's no hope, no peace and no joy.
I can give up if I choose or I can continue to walk in my faith and grow stronger just like I can continue to walk into my gym and continue to get stronger.
It's my choice. If you know me, you know I HATE choices! But in these two issues....I have but one choice and I've already made them!
I'm gonna keep walking in my faith and I'm gonna keep walking in the gym door!
Will my husbands job remain stable? Will my health deteriorate more in the coming year? Will my son come to know and live for Christ before I breathe my last breath? Will my grandchildren all live for Jesus one day? Will I honor God in all I do today? Will I tame my tongue to only speak words of peace and love? Will I sleep well tonight? Will I get the flu that everyone is getting? Will I have a flat tire on the interstate tomorrow? Will I live 20 more years or will I die soon? Will I leave a legacy of Jesus? Will I make my husband happy in the years to come? Will I please my friends? Will I let someone down who's counting on me? Will I have enough money to pay our bills?
So MUCH to be ANXIOUS about and those questions barely scratch the surface on what goes on in our minds each and every day. Some of us walk through every hour of every day being anxious about something. But just how much of what we're being ANXIOUS about can we ever or did we ever change? Not one thing!
Where is God in all of these things that we are so ANXIOUS about? What have we done? Tucked Him away in a drawer for safe keeping only to be taken out in the most extreme cases???
What's wrong with us that we so easily forget what our Lord said...
"Do not be ANXIOUS about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which surrounds all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Phillipians 4:6-7
DID YOU HEAR THAT??? DID YOU HEAR THE HOPE IN THOSE VERSES??? IF we want PEACE in our lives....then we'd be wise to stop being ANXIOUS about every little and every big thing in our lives. Being ANXIOUS never changes our circumstance nor the outcome of it. Constantly, I too, must give my concerns and burdens back to Jesus, sometimes every minute of every day. But I'm learning and I'm working on not being ANXIOUS.
How about you? It's time to stop being ANXIOUS, don't you think?
Tonight, as the Word of God was preached by a visiting evangelist, I watched as the its' power fell across the sanctuary. It never ceases to amaze me at how when the simplicity of the Gospel is preached, it has the POWER to directly pierce the hearts of man.
I had the priviledge to speak with one young lady who came forward. What an honor to tell of the greatness of God...to tell of His power....to tell of His faithfulness...to tell what He's done for me personally and for ALL of us!
The Word of God has POWER and tonight, I had the honor of watching its' POWER move amoung our midst.
The Bible....the inspired words of our God given so long ago, continue to pierce the hearts of men. I'm so thankful that The Word never fails and never returns void.
Thank you God...thank you God...thank you God...for the love stories that you left us. Thousands of years later, they continue to have the POWER to change lives in all who will listen.
"Lord, thank you tonight for "the unexpected." Thank you that in the midst of tears, you bring unexpected joy. It is in YOU Lord that I place my trust, my joy and my hope. Although I do not understand all that surrounds me, I thank you for those unexpected glimmers of joy. You are a good God. I can praise you in the midst of the storm because of who you are. Thank you tonight Lord...I love you with every fiber of my being."
There are billions of faces all over the world...but these are some that are precious to me. First you'll see little Addie who is 6 months old. She is also in the bottom picture with her momma Christine and brothers Jake, Braeden and Kellan. The second picture is of my sister's son Terry, his wife Debbie and their little girl Hannah. Next is my sister Lou and her husband Terry, holding Hannah. Last is Lou's daughter Christine with her four named above.
It's nice to see them and have a peek at their world here in Pittsburgh, PA. Terry and Lou are just as proud of their grandchildren as all of we grandparents are.......BUT OF COURSE....Yaya and Poppa's grandkids are the best! (I know, I know....we grandparents ALL say that)
Although I love these faces here, I sure do miss the faces back at home that are the dearest to me. Yaya will be home soon!. I love and miss your hugs, sloppy kisses, hearing my named called by your sweet little voices, holding you, playing with you and just being in your presence. You make my life full and I am blessed.
Hebrews 13:2 says..."Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing, some have unwittingly entertained angels."
As I sat in the airport across from my gate today, I watched as many travelers filed into line to board the plane. The plane was overbooked and many were standing by hoping for a no-show. Spring breakers were everywhere and there were lots of people sitting and standing. I continued to watch as the Zones were called and the last person boarded. A call came over the intercom that the door would be shut in 2 minutes....FINAL BOARDING CALL the woman said.
I watched as she called several more people up who were thankful that there were some no-shows. And then the door to the walk through was closed. The flight was full. A couple more minutes later, an elderly lady came running as quickly as her short stocky legs would carry her. Her arms were full and her face froze as she realized the gate had been closed. She immediately panicked and began running back and forth between the closed gate door and the check-in counter. She was frantic. She raced back and forth and began calling to the plane to come back. In desperation, she ran back to the closed gate door, began banging on it and started yelling...HELP ME! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! At that she began to cry. I looked around this huge area with at least 100 people watching her and NO ONE did anything. Not one single person attempted to console her. I jumped out of my chair and went to her. Tears were running down her cheeks as I just simply said...."Is there anything I can do to help you?" Frantically, she began telling me she had gotten sick to her stomach and could not come out of the bathroom to let them know she was coming. She had tried twice to leave the bathroom, but quickly had to return because of being sick at her stomach. "I tried to get here...I tried to get here....What am I going to do? My luggage is on that flight."
There wasn't really anything I could do to change that situation and I knew that. But what I did try to do was calm her and let her know that it would be alright and I would help her if she needed help. She was inconsolable but I did the best I could.
As I walked away from her, my heart just broke for her. As I walked to my seat I asked the Lord to help her get on the next fight, somehow, and get to her destination. By the time I sat back down, I glanced back in her direction and she was gone. My eyes scoured the room and she was nowhere to be seen. I sat there and wondered where in the world could she have gone to that fast? She simply was nowhere in sight.
And then, this verse came to my mind. "Lord, I thought....did I just entertain an angel? Was that a test Lord? Did I pass Lord God? Did you send her to see what YOUR children would do?" All these questions ran through my mind in a flurry.
You know, truly, we do not ever know when God has placed an angel in our path. I suppose that's why this verse starts with...
DO NOT FORGET! He's even reminding us of the importance of an unselfish act of kindness to a stranger.
I'm thankful for my encounter today. It reminded me how crucial it is, for we Christians, to show forth HIS light everywhere we go. I was the only one in a room full of people who tried to help this lady. There will be many times in our lives that we will stand alone for Him IF we choose to do so.
Next time a stranger needs a little kindness....remember this verse....you may be entertaining an angel from God!!
As I throw all the last minute STUFF into my suitcase in preparation for a week in Pennsylvania, those 4 words have been going through my mind. Darrel has asked me several times if "I'm ready to go" and I have made the statement several times myself.
Ready to go.......Ready to go......Sure, I'm ready to go on my trip....BUT....
Are YOU ready to go???
Yep, I'm talking about a trip alright, but not one that you will ever come back from. Can you say you're ready to leave this earth if you died today? Do you know, that you know, that you know that your home would be in heaven after death?
As I prepare to leave Florida and fly to Pennsylvania, the Lord reminded me today that yes...."I'm Ready To Go." Should He call me home while I'm gone, I KNOW where I'm going and it's to a much better place and "I'm Ready To Go" whenever He calls me home.
Whoever you are that reads this, my prayer is that YOU are Ready To Go also...not just on a trip where you have to pack a suitcase either. Life is short and time is flying by.
Lord bless whomever reads my ramblings and I pray that YOU can say "I'm Ready To Go."
"You too, be READY; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." Luke 12:40
I wonder as I sit here, how many of us have had a Prodigal Son in their family. It seems as though everyone I talk to and ask to pray for my oldest son, also has a son who is running from God. We see it everywhere....as our pastor said today..."Why do you seek the living among the dead?" So many searching, but they are all seeking among the dead things of this world...those things which will never bring hope, healing, happiness, peace and salvation.
Day by day, they search for peace among "dead things". They look daily in a constant quest for that something that they have not yet found. As each day dawns, they seek love as though their lives depended on it. They have fooled their own selves into believing that just around the corner, THIS TIME, is that which they have been looking for. When it's not, they convince themselves once again, that if they just search a little longer, they'll find their answer. The cycle continues month after month, year after year.
But they search in vain.
When will they come home? When will they get so hungry for the Truth, that they stop looking among the dead things of this world? When?
I do not have the answer for this question. I pray daily for my son's soul and the souls of so many who are wandering through this life without purpose, other than the purpose of pleasing self. I will wait patiently for the day that I hear my son say these words.....
"But when I came to my senses..."
I wait for the day that I can see my son off in the distance coming home. Not just to his earthly home, but his heavenly home on high. I wait and while I wait, I pray for it is all I know to do.
As I read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-24, I am encouraged. After this son spent all his money on loose living he found himself broke and hungry. He would have gladly eaten with the pigs. But then, we see him "come to his senses..." This is my favorite line in the story. He had finally realized his sin and he came home to the father that he had wronged, looking for forgiveness!!!
Dear Ones, together we will pray and wait for our loved ones to come back home. I will not give up, give in or throw in the towel. I will continue to trust God with my son. I look forward to the day that I hear my son say those words...
And I trust God that one day, he WILL.
Jesus said He'd come back in 3 days after His death and He did! What hope would we have if He hadn't? What joy could there be if He hadn't? What would life be like if we had no promise of a home in heaven?
How grateful I am that my sin debt was paid over 2000 years ago! On the cross of Calvary, my Savior suffered unspeakable agony. He carried the very cross He was nailed to and He endured suffering that we shall never know. He was spit upon, beaten and mocked. His blood ran down that cross to cleanse me from the filth of my sin!
Dear Ones....He did it for YOU....for ME....for the billions of us that inhabit this planet. He would have suffered this horrendous pain even if there'd only been one of us.
Such great love I cannot understand nor can I even comprehend. BUT...I believe it, every single word of what the Bible tells me took place on that day, I believe. What my Jesus did for me AND for you, is incredible. I can never repay Him for His sacrifice for me but because it DID happen, we have HOPE!
One day I will see Him face-to-face and on that day, I shall thank Him for giving everything for such a worm as I.
HE IS RISEN...HALLELUJAH...THE TOMB WAS EMPTY and HE HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE!!
Are you one of those types of people who just seem to refuse to learn "certain" lessons? Let me explain what I mean by "certain" types of lessons.
Seems like when there's physical pain involved in a lesson I've learned, I seem to remember the pain well. I will NEVER EVER pour gasoline on yard trash and then light it with a match. I learned the hard way by being badly burned and will never do that again.
It seems that "emotional" type lessons are much harder to learn. Now maybe that's just for me, but I can honestly say that I am proof positive of this truth.
Several months ago, Darrel finally gave in to my pleadings and said yes to allowing me to get a Golden Retriever. If you read my blog enough, you'll probably remember the pictures I posted of her and the joy I had when I brought her home. BUT....the joy faded as the weeks wore on and I realized that she was just TOO much for me to handle and care for. Darrel had tried to tell me over and over and over again that it would be too much for me, but my "dog lover" emotional heart would not hear the truth. He learily finally gave in to me. Now I wish he hadn't.
When will I learn? Why didn't I listen to him? He tried to tell me but I just KNEW he was wrong and that I could do it. But he was right.
The pain of him being right AGAIN was bad enough but then I had to look him in the face and tell him he was right! Then the worst part of it....I had to give her away. Not because he made me but because I knew it was the best thing to do. She was too strong for me and just too much dog for me.
Why don't I learn? Will THIS be the time I'll learn my lesson? I most certainly hope so. I'd like to say that I do believe I finally get it.
Isn't this a perfect picture of most all of us? Many of us are often found making the same mistakes over and over again and we keep ourselves in an emotional turmoil because we never seem to learn.
For me, it is time to STOP being so stubborn, so stupid actually. It's pretty painful to keep making the same mistakes over and over.
"Lord, help me to be wiser. Help me to face my downfalls and my weaknesses and get beyond them, once and for all. Help me be willing to admit that I am often wrong. I need a lot of work Lord, start NOW...I'm ready to LEARN!!"
"The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you." Deut.33:27
MAN.....THAT IS GOOD STUFF!!! HIS ARMS ARE "UNDER" ME!!!
Let that thought sink in a minute....His ARMS are UNDER you! What an assurance to anyone who is struggling....and who isn't?
His arms will catch me when I fall....His arms will support me when I'm weary....His arms will carry me when I can no longer walk....His arms will always be UNDER me, undergirding me! WHEW!!! HALLEJUJAH! THANK YOU FATHER GOD!
Today, remember that HIS mighty arms are UNDER you. It doesn't matter what you are going through, He is supporting you. Let Him carry you, He is much stronger than you. Rest in those arms of His. Remember, HE is your refuge. RUN to Him and let Him hold you.
"Oh God, there are so many who are tired and feel as though they cannot go on another step. Thank you for those mighty arms that you have so lovingly placed under us. You are our strength Lord Jesus. You are our refuge. Carry those who are hurting and give them peace."
I'm probably one of millions who have been pondering the thought of "DOING WITHOUT" lately. As I've watched many on tv loose their homes and end up in tent shelters, it's made me think more and more about what we "CAN" live without.
To have been married for 37 years, we don't have a lot, at least according to many standards. But we have the Lord, we have each other, we have our children and grandchildren, we have food enough to eat and thanks to a very frugal husband, we have hardly any bills. We are blessed. Millions tonight are loosing the homes they raised their children in. They have no where to go and don't know where their next meal is going to come from. All the while, I sit in my home with virtually no threat of loosing it and realize I have so much more than so very many.
We are an extremely materialistic society. Our "stuff" makes us feel good and makes us feel as though we've made it. Our "stuff" fills up the empty places within us, makes us feel of value and brings us a sense of accomplishment in our lives.
But our "stuff" has absolutely nothing to do with what is really important in life. What happened to playing hide-n-go-seek after dinner at night, sitting out in lawn chairs talking to your neighbors, catching lightening bugs, picnics with your family right in your own backyard, playing board games and spending time talking to each other! We have become so busy making money, buying stuff and then taking care of all the stuff we're buying that we don't even have time for each other anymore.
In my opinion, DOING WITHOUT sounds a whole lot more appealing than what I see happening around us everywhere. If we each truly looked around our homes, we would realize that most of what we own we could definitely live without.
It's time....it's time for us to realize that less is still way more than what we need and that a little is better than a lot. This is a time to stop hoarding, start giving and get rid of things we do not need or can't afford.
DOING WITHOUT is smart and something in this day and time that we should be proud of. There is much we can do without and still live perfectly and happily ever after. We all need to learn to live with less and realize the sweetness in that simplicity.
What an honor to witness the hand of God today.
I was priviledged to see the heart of God at work when I watched one who had very little, open up their heart and give from the abundance of it, rather than their wallet. You see, their wallet doesn't hold very much but their heart seems to.
A great need of someone else was brought to their attention. After hearing their story, this person showed an amazing example of SELFLESS LOVE as they did what they could to be a blessing to another one whose need was great also.
"I've been there" ......."I've walked the same pain"........"I've felt the same way"......"I cannot do much, but I know what I can do and I will do what I am able"............these were all words that were spoken by the giver today.
SELFLESS LOVE.........love that gives until it hurts and then digs a little deeper still.
I'm so thankful that I was able to witness this act of kindness and SELFLESS LOVE. It was a God moment and I'm so thankful He allowed me to see HIM through this act. Help me God to give from my abundance AND in my poverty.
What act of SELFLESS LOVE can you exhibit today?
"And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.
Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." Mark 12:41-45
From the moment I stepped out of our van this morning, I felt it. What did I feel? The presence of the Holy Spirit! From my SS class on into the first service, the Holy Spirit was at work.
As I listened to Dale bring the message I was moved more than ever in my life before about the legacy I will leave behind for my children, grandchildren and all those grandchildren I will never meet on this side of heaven. The Holy Spirit began RAINING down as Dale spoke and I was struck with the immensity of my responsibility as a mother and grandmother. What sort of legacy am I leaving? I think about this daily but today, more than ever before.
The Holy Spirit continued to RAIN down on us in our evening service. As each song was sung, the Spirit of our Living God spoke to our hearts and RAINED His mercy and His great love down on us. I was drenched in His goodness and drawn into His arms as we, the worshippers of Jesus Christ, were RAINED down upon! Oh what a treasure....Oh what sweetness as Summer closed the service out with "My Redeemer Lives." As Holy Spirit RAIN began to fall....I was standing in my Saviors arms, exalting His name, face to face, with the One who died for me. Time and space seemed to stand still as I stood in worship to my King! I was being RAINED upon!
Holy Spirit RAIN down.....RAIN down on us until we are soaked in you. Fill us until we can no longer feel ourselves, but only YOU inside of us.
RAIN down on us....RAIN DOWN Holy Spirit!
"By FAITH Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive an inheritance; and he went out not knowing where he was going."
Hebrews 11:8
Hebrews chapter 11 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. Nearly every time I read it in its' entirety, I am in tears.
FAITH....great FAITH.....unshakable FAITH......that's the kind of FAITH that these heroes of FAITH had. I am moved by their committment to what they believed in. When I read that Abraham went out by FAITH but didn't even know where he was going...I am in awe!
How many times in my own life has God spoken to me but because He didn't give me clear direction, I stood still. Abraham didn't wait to hear God tell him where he was to go.....he just started going!
These great heroes were stoned, beaten, tempted, sawn in two and put to death. They hid out in caves and holes and wandered in deserts and mountains and did not even receive what they had been promised!
Now THIS, dear ones, is GREAT FAITH! This chapter holds much encouragement for we as Christians. These were regular men and women, nothing particularly special about them just like us. The only difference is they STOOD WITHOUT WAVERING ONE INCH in the face of adversity, pain, suffering and lonliness and they moved when God said MOVE!
Oh God....my FAITH is in you! YOU are what I long for....YOU are what I hope for....YOU are my everything....YOU LORD ARE ALL I NEED.
My FAITH is in YOU LORD!
What??? You might say. Surely it must be something that is difficult and hard to understand. Surely it must be something that would require physical strength, mental abundance or something such as that......right???
WRONG!!!
I CAN'T MASTER GUITAR HERO!!!!
I can't even finish not ONE song on EASY mode!!! Pathetic!
Tonight, we hung out with several of our grandchildren while Butch & Kay were gone. After burgers and dogs on the grill, they pulled out Wii Guitar Hero and began to play. Well....I use the word "play" loosely! You talk about funny! If video had been taken of Darrel and I attempting to play, it would have been worth thousands on America's Funniest Videos! We laughed our tails off at each other and naturally, the kids loved it!
There are many things I can do fairly well at 55 years of age but playing this simple game is NOT one of them!
What happens to us as we age? There seems to be a disconnect between our fingers and our brains! It was so hard for me to move my fingers as quickly as my brain was TRYING to tell them to move! Somehow, I just couldn't handle the two together without looking ridiculous. Let's just say there was LOTS of laughter and most of it was aimed toward Poppa and I!!
Ah well. I can either give up or keep trying. I WILL keep trying until I finally get through one whole song without being stopped.
What a great way to spend a Friday night..... with grandkids, grilled burgers and Guitar Hero! It doesn't get much better for us OLD fogeys! The time is NOW to let go, allow yourself to look silly with your grandchildren and just enjoy life! They'll love you more for it!
Anyone for a game of Guitar Hero? It's a sure bet you'll win if you play me!!
As I write this, I can hear the thunder rolling way off in the distance. Every time I hear it, the same memory fills my heart. No....it's not a childhood fear of storms. It's quite the opposite.
When I was just a little kid our first house had an attached garage. It was there that I fell in love with thunder. You see when storms started to approach, my dad would beckon me into the garage. We'd pull the garage door up and out would come the lawn chairs. We would sit and listen as the storm approached and count in between each roll of thunder to see how many miles away it was. As we sat and listened, in between you might hear us sing a song or two but you'd certainly hear lots of laughter.
I'm so glad that my father helped to teach me the wonder of a storm. I'm thankful that he helped me not to fear much of anything but chose to show me the beauty in all things AND people, for that matter.
My entire life I have adored nature, from a thunderstorm to every living creature that moves upon this wonderful planet.
Thanks for another great memory dad. Because of you, I'll always love thunderstorms.
When pain is all you feel...
When heartache seems to be the only feeling you are aware of...
When loneliness encompasses you and closes in on you...
When you are deserted and forgotten....
When your tears have filled up buckets...
When hope seems non-existant....
When joy is long forgotten...
When trials are all you seem to know...
When you are at the end of your rope....
Remember this...
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."
1 Corinthians 9:24
RUN....RUN....RUN.....RUN....RUN....RUN....RUN...RUN FOR THE PRIZE OF CHRIST JESUS!
The prize for your faithfulness is CHRIST JESUS!!
Continue on in your journey putting one foot in front of the other. Our God, who is mighty and powerful and who died just for YOU...will carry you when you can no longer walk. His arms are strong...His heart yearns for you to lean on Him...
PRESS ON DEAR ONE....PRESS ON!
