We put ornaments on the Christmas tree in front of our picture window this morning. Then we took pictures of all of our handiwork of today and past days. Here is a preview. Our newest addition is a silver tinsel tree, with blue bulbs.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Decorating our home
We put ornaments on the Christmas tree in front of our picture window this morning. Then we took pictures of all of our handiwork of today and past days. Here is a preview. Our newest addition is a silver tinsel tree, with blue bulbs.
Is it?
All of life
the life we live
the circumstances,
events surrounding
day to day.
What
have we
accomplished
if
the end result
brings
only further pain?
Further distance
from...
Where
are you
What
is more
important
most important
in all of life
Is it you
Is it God
Is it you
in relation
to God
Is it?
"Is anything worth more than your soul?" - Matthew 16:26b
the life we live
the circumstances,
events surrounding
day to day.
What
have we
accomplished
if
the end result
brings
only further pain?
Further distance
from...
Where
are you
What
is more
important
most important
in all of life
Is it you
Is it God
Is it you
in relation
to God
Is it?
"Is anything worth more than your soul?" - Matthew 16:26b
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thought for this moment:
Contentment is not getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have.
An aha! moment
Today's devotional was from Genesis 4 verses 1-16, and I finally understood what verse 3 says.
In the New King James version, verse 3: "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord." (section of verse 4): "Abel brought firstlings of his flock..."
In the New Living Translation, verse 3: "At harvest time Cain brought to the Lord a gift of his farm produce." (section of verse 4): Abel brought "several choice lambs from the best of his flock."
The difference is in that little word "an or a." Abel gave from his best, the cream of the crop. Cain was not particular, he didn't care, his thinking was to bring any thing and pass it off as something excellent. It was second best.
By giving less than our best we do not honor God and we do not live by God's principles. We live by our own. We think that our way is always the best way and God should accept that.
And when God does not, what happens?! We react, negatively ... such as in anger. When we can't have our own way and we don't bring our anger under control, sin is the result. In the case of Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, and his younger brother, Abel, it brought about death, because Cain killed Abel.
Every action we take has its consequences. If we want to live in God's will, we must walk in fellowship and obedience to Him.
Even when we fall short, God comes to our aid. We give second best, yet we still want Him to protect us. God always gives second chances repeatedly. Always wants what is best for us. Always there showing us the way to go.
How many chances will He give before there are no more? When will we see the error of our ways? When will we give our very very best to the Lord? What is your answer?
In the New King James version, verse 3: "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord." (section of verse 4): "Abel brought firstlings of his flock..."
In the New Living Translation, verse 3: "At harvest time Cain brought to the Lord a gift of his farm produce." (section of verse 4): Abel brought "several choice lambs from the best of his flock."
The difference is in that little word "an or a." Abel gave from his best, the cream of the crop. Cain was not particular, he didn't care, his thinking was to bring any thing and pass it off as something excellent. It was second best.
By giving less than our best we do not honor God and we do not live by God's principles. We live by our own. We think that our way is always the best way and God should accept that.
And when God does not, what happens?! We react, negatively ... such as in anger. When we can't have our own way and we don't bring our anger under control, sin is the result. In the case of Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, and his younger brother, Abel, it brought about death, because Cain killed Abel.
Every action we take has its consequences. If we want to live in God's will, we must walk in fellowship and obedience to Him.
Even when we fall short, God comes to our aid. We give second best, yet we still want Him to protect us. God always gives second chances repeatedly. Always wants what is best for us. Always there showing us the way to go.
How many chances will He give before there are no more? When will we see the error of our ways? When will we give our very very best to the Lord? What is your answer?
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Day...
More than a day of feasting and watching Macy's parade and televised football games, although that seems to be the norm. When I was growing up watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade while others prepared the meal was standard. I imagine it still is. Our family was small; we never watched the football games, although sometimes we played board games after dinner, like checkers or Scrabble. Sometimes we took a nap; we were so full and tired after eating all that good, rich food. My mom always fixed scalloped oysters. Ugh! I do not like oysters, but I sure do like the flavor of them. I haven't had any for many years. Why would I fix something I would never eat?! Not even for the memories.
Thanksgiving Day...
More than being appreciative for the abundance you have. I don't know how appreciative I was when I was growing up. My mom was the primary caregiver, breadwinner in our family. My dad left us when I was 8, my grandpa died when I was 10. Yep, my mom provided the food on the table, the clothes on our back, necessary supplies for school, transportation. I'm sure I was not near as appreciative as I am now, looking back.
Thanksgiving Day...
More than one day.
Psalm 100:3a: "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves."
God created us; creates us still. God enables our lives to come together for His purpose.
Thanksgiving is being grateful for everything ...
for all you have,
for all you have not.
I am most thankful for the relationship I have with my Lord, for my husband Jimmy, for children, which for me are pets ... BeeJay, our bunny.
Thank You Lord Jesus
More than a day of feasting and watching Macy's parade and televised football games, although that seems to be the norm. When I was growing up watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade while others prepared the meal was standard. I imagine it still is. Our family was small; we never watched the football games, although sometimes we played board games after dinner, like checkers or Scrabble. Sometimes we took a nap; we were so full and tired after eating all that good, rich food. My mom always fixed scalloped oysters. Ugh! I do not like oysters, but I sure do like the flavor of them. I haven't had any for many years. Why would I fix something I would never eat?! Not even for the memories.
Thanksgiving Day...
More than being appreciative for the abundance you have. I don't know how appreciative I was when I was growing up. My mom was the primary caregiver, breadwinner in our family. My dad left us when I was 8, my grandpa died when I was 10. Yep, my mom provided the food on the table, the clothes on our back, necessary supplies for school, transportation. I'm sure I was not near as appreciative as I am now, looking back.
Thanksgiving Day...
More than one day.
Psalm 100:3a: "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves."
God created us; creates us still. God enables our lives to come together for His purpose.
Thanksgiving is being grateful for everything ...
for all you have,
for all you have not.
I am most thankful for the relationship I have with my Lord, for my husband Jimmy, for children, which for me are pets ... BeeJay, our bunny.
Thank You Lord Jesus
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The choice is ours ... along with the consequences
In the beginning, when God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from Adam's rib, choices were given - instructions to follow or not.
Adam and Eve both chose not to obey God's instructions, which were according to Genesis 2:15-17: "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. But the Lord God gave him this warning: 'You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die.' "
In the days of Adam and Eve it was God's original plan for mankind to live forever, to never die, to enjoy fellowship with him, but the one stipulation was to be obedient to Him.
God formed all creatures, not just humans. Most all creatures originally were peaceful, no fighting for territorial rights, etc., like the world we currently live in. But there was one that was different - the serpent, or snake, also created by God, was more cunning than any other. And so he questioned the woman, causing her to think and ponder what would be so wrong about taking fruit from the tree of knowledge, what would be wrong with knowing everything God knew.
In Genesis 3:3b, God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.
The serpent convinced the woman she would not die. (Genesis 3:4-6)
The blame game began when after eating they were filled with shame, suddenly realizing what they had done. And when the Lord sought them, Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent.
The serpent was sentenced by God to groveling, crawling along on its belly, not standing upright. He would forever be cursed - he became known as the devil or Satan.
Eve was sentenced to pain and suffering in childbirth.
The ground would no longer be lush and fertile; man would struggle continually to make a living from it.
Genesis 3:19 says: "All your life you will sweat to produce food until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return."
Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and sentenced to live in the world we know today.
Because of their disobedience to God, they became separated from God and a loving relationship with Him. Because of what they did, the rest of mankind was cursed as well. It was not God's fault they viewed his instructions for living with disdain and took their own path. It is not God's fault for the choices we make today. We were/are born to die. We (our physical bodies) would no longer live forever. Pain, disease, illness are part of this life and take its toll. We have brought about our own demise and continue to do so.
Our spiritual lives are something else.
Even with our mistakes, God still loved us and loves us still. God created mankind, which was His desire. He created you. You are not an accident. He knew you would be born; He knew the circumstances that would surround your birth and still He wanted you to be born. He loves you. You are precious to Him.
Choices still exist. We can know God. We can have a relationship with Him. Each one of us can choose to be obedient to Him or not. We can accept His son, His only son - as our personal Lord and Savior. We can have that one-on-one fellowship with God (that Adam and Eve had in the very beginning) through God's son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's son and He is also Mary's son. God impregnated Mary. It's a miracle birth. All birth is a miracle. Jesus was born to die, but not in the same way we are. He was born to die; He became the sacrifice (Romans 8:3) for my sins, your sins, the sins of mankind, the sins acquired because of choices made by Adam and Eve.
Jesus went obediently to the cross at Calvary. He died, He was buried. And after three days, He arose, and after 40 days, He returned to His father in heaven. And as believers we await His return, His Second Coming.
With Jesus' death God provided the gift of forgiveness, and although we could not live forever in our physical bodies, we could spiritually have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Romans 8:10 says: "Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God."
Because of the original sin and the physical ailments and limitations that come our way, we as Christ's followers or Christians look forward to being released from our pain and suffering. (Romans 8:21-23)
The gift is offered to all.
We can each choose to accept Jesus did this for me. We can choose to live our lives based on how He lived his. Or we can choose not to. Whatever we do, we each face the consequences for our individual actions. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..." God gives us free will, the choice to make our own decisions.
Adam and Eve both chose not to obey God's instructions, which were according to Genesis 2:15-17: "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. But the Lord God gave him this warning: 'You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die.' "
In the days of Adam and Eve it was God's original plan for mankind to live forever, to never die, to enjoy fellowship with him, but the one stipulation was to be obedient to Him.
God formed all creatures, not just humans. Most all creatures originally were peaceful, no fighting for territorial rights, etc., like the world we currently live in. But there was one that was different - the serpent, or snake, also created by God, was more cunning than any other. And so he questioned the woman, causing her to think and ponder what would be so wrong about taking fruit from the tree of knowledge, what would be wrong with knowing everything God knew.
In Genesis 3:3b, God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.
The serpent convinced the woman she would not die. (Genesis 3:4-6)
The blame game began when after eating they were filled with shame, suddenly realizing what they had done. And when the Lord sought them, Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent.
The serpent was sentenced by God to groveling, crawling along on its belly, not standing upright. He would forever be cursed - he became known as the devil or Satan.
Eve was sentenced to pain and suffering in childbirth.
The ground would no longer be lush and fertile; man would struggle continually to make a living from it.
Genesis 3:19 says: "All your life you will sweat to produce food until your dying day. Then you will return to the ground from which you came. For you were made from dust, and to the dust you will return."
Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden and sentenced to live in the world we know today.
Because of their disobedience to God, they became separated from God and a loving relationship with Him. Because of what they did, the rest of mankind was cursed as well. It was not God's fault they viewed his instructions for living with disdain and took their own path. It is not God's fault for the choices we make today. We were/are born to die. We (our physical bodies) would no longer live forever. Pain, disease, illness are part of this life and take its toll. We have brought about our own demise and continue to do so.
Our spiritual lives are something else.
Even with our mistakes, God still loved us and loves us still. God created mankind, which was His desire. He created you. You are not an accident. He knew you would be born; He knew the circumstances that would surround your birth and still He wanted you to be born. He loves you. You are precious to Him.
Choices still exist. We can know God. We can have a relationship with Him. Each one of us can choose to be obedient to Him or not. We can accept His son, His only son - as our personal Lord and Savior. We can have that one-on-one fellowship with God (that Adam and Eve had in the very beginning) through God's son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's son and He is also Mary's son. God impregnated Mary. It's a miracle birth. All birth is a miracle. Jesus was born to die, but not in the same way we are. He was born to die; He became the sacrifice (Romans 8:3) for my sins, your sins, the sins of mankind, the sins acquired because of choices made by Adam and Eve.
Jesus went obediently to the cross at Calvary. He died, He was buried. And after three days, He arose, and after 40 days, He returned to His father in heaven. And as believers we await His return, His Second Coming.
With Jesus' death God provided the gift of forgiveness, and although we could not live forever in our physical bodies, we could spiritually have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Romans 8:10 says: "Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God."
Because of the original sin and the physical ailments and limitations that come our way, we as Christ's followers or Christians look forward to being released from our pain and suffering. (Romans 8:21-23)
The gift is offered to all.
We can each choose to accept Jesus did this for me. We can choose to live our lives based on how He lived his. Or we can choose not to. Whatever we do, we each face the consequences for our individual actions. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..." God gives us free will, the choice to make our own decisions.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Hold my hand
God...
Hold my hand.
Keep me from stumbling
from falling
from spiraling
downward
to Satan's grasp.
Do not let me
think
the wicked
have it all.
For they do not.
Life is more than
prosperity...
more than
poverty
Life is
You.
They don't have You.
You Lord
are more
powerful
than Satan.
God...
Hold my hand.
"Nevertheless I am continually with you; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory."- Psalm 73:23-24
Hold my hand.
Keep me from stumbling
from falling
from spiraling
downward
to Satan's grasp.
Do not let me
think
the wicked
have it all.
For they do not.
Life is more than
prosperity...
more than
poverty
Life is
You.
They don't have You.
You Lord
are more
powerful
than Satan.
God...
Hold my hand.
"Nevertheless I am continually with you; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory."- Psalm 73:23-24
Saturday, November 22, 2008
If we ... then we must
If we profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, then we must live as He did. He teaches us to love one another -- that's everyone. The person, not necessary what they do, what they might stand for. He loves us -- enough to die for each and everyone of us.
He died for all. All of us are sinners. Some are set free, some remain choked in their chains. How do you become free you may ask.
You believe Jesus died for you. You believe Jesus is the son of God and son of Man (Mary). That He lived and died for the sins of mankind and was buried and on the third day rose again. That after 40 days He returned to heaven and sent in his place the Holy Spirit to live within each of us until His second coming. This gift of salvation is offered to each person -- past, present and future.
I accepted His gift at age 31. Some are much younger or older.
The gift is free. It is our misconceptions that cause us to think the gift has strings attached -- that we are required to give up things in our lives. There are no requirements... not really. But our desires do change if we truly have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.
~~~~~~~
Christians we must not determine our personal preferences are more important than Jesus.
~~~~~~~
How can we profess to be His if we do not follow His example?
In John 13:34-35, Jesus says: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
I John 4:15: "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God."
and verse 20: "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
He died for all. All of us are sinners. Some are set free, some remain choked in their chains. How do you become free you may ask.
You believe Jesus died for you. You believe Jesus is the son of God and son of Man (Mary). That He lived and died for the sins of mankind and was buried and on the third day rose again. That after 40 days He returned to heaven and sent in his place the Holy Spirit to live within each of us until His second coming. This gift of salvation is offered to each person -- past, present and future.
I accepted His gift at age 31. Some are much younger or older.
The gift is free. It is our misconceptions that cause us to think the gift has strings attached -- that we are required to give up things in our lives. There are no requirements... not really. But our desires do change if we truly have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.
~~~~~~~
Christians we must not determine our personal preferences are more important than Jesus.
~~~~~~~
How can we profess to be His if we do not follow His example?
In John 13:34-35, Jesus says: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
I John 4:15: "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God."
and verse 20: "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
Friday, November 21, 2008
And the point being...?
The journeys we take. Sometimes I think its pointless to write if I have nothing outstanding to say. But then whose to say what or what is not outstanding? It's downright cold today. 10 degrees early this morning; who knows what it was when I took the 10-minute walk to the chiropractor and then the bank. I certainly didn't saunter. It was good exercise though and a cup of hot tea warmed me up after I returned home.
For Thanksgiving being so late in the month, you'd think I'd have time to get things done. Sad to say that is not the case. Some things are getting done, just not as speedily as I would like. We started decorating for Christmas this past week. We've been listening to Christmas music for going on two weeks. Usually by now we'd have a final draft of our Christmas letter. We don't have any kind of draft at present ... except a cold one (ha!)
It's a good thing shopping can be accomplished online. If the internet wasn't available (like in past times), I'd be defending myself against all sorts of traffic ... on the highways and in the malls, just everywhere. I'm relatively sure I would accomplish way less than I am now.
C'est la vie.
For Thanksgiving being so late in the month, you'd think I'd have time to get things done. Sad to say that is not the case. Some things are getting done, just not as speedily as I would like. We started decorating for Christmas this past week. We've been listening to Christmas music for going on two weeks. Usually by now we'd have a final draft of our Christmas letter. We don't have any kind of draft at present ... except a cold one (ha!)
It's a good thing shopping can be accomplished online. If the internet wasn't available (like in past times), I'd be defending myself against all sorts of traffic ... on the highways and in the malls, just everywhere. I'm relatively sure I would accomplish way less than I am now.
C'est la vie.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Time
Time is fleeting. Wish we could capture time, like the late Jim Croce wrote in the song Time in a Bottle.
I've been going through my journals of the past year so we can put together our Christmas letter. It is depressing. Of course I started with June because I couldn't immediately locate January. I should have looked harder. However January wouldn't necessarily have been any better. One disaster after another.
What made me decide to write something now was a note I made on July 8 that I thought I would share. Comments in parenthesis are additional thoughts:
"How would I live if I were alone, if Jimmy had gone on to be with you Lord? How would I live? What would be my desires - who would I listen to, who would I follow? Would I remain faithful to you o Lord? Would I follow my own path? Would I fall into a deep depression? Would I move away from here - this house, this town, my job? What would I do?
I'm not ready to find out Lord, not yet. (and still not yet. Would we ever be ready?)
Be with my beloved Jimmy, wrap him up in your arms, give him rest, comfort in the midst of all this stress.
(Continue to be with him, and I'd appreciate it ever so much if you would wrap me up too, give me rest and comfort.) We don't understand why this happened; (why, time and again) only that you have a reason for it. You are all knowing, all powerful. Help us to be, to continue to remain faithful to you and your promises, to rely on you for all, for everything, to thank you every step of the way. (Thank you for reminding me of your ever present presence.)
I've been going through my journals of the past year so we can put together our Christmas letter. It is depressing. Of course I started with June because I couldn't immediately locate January. I should have looked harder. However January wouldn't necessarily have been any better. One disaster after another.
What made me decide to write something now was a note I made on July 8 that I thought I would share. Comments in parenthesis are additional thoughts:
"How would I live if I were alone, if Jimmy had gone on to be with you Lord? How would I live? What would be my desires - who would I listen to, who would I follow? Would I remain faithful to you o Lord? Would I follow my own path? Would I fall into a deep depression? Would I move away from here - this house, this town, my job? What would I do?
I'm not ready to find out Lord, not yet. (and still not yet. Would we ever be ready?)
Be with my beloved Jimmy, wrap him up in your arms, give him rest, comfort in the midst of all this stress.
(Continue to be with him, and I'd appreciate it ever so much if you would wrap me up too, give me rest and comfort.) We don't understand why this happened; (why, time and again) only that you have a reason for it. You are all knowing, all powerful. Help us to be, to continue to remain faithful to you and your promises, to rely on you for all, for everything, to thank you every step of the way. (Thank you for reminding me of your ever present presence.)
Never too old, never too young ... to dream
This past weekend we attended the annual state Baptist Convention of Iowa in Des Moines. Outgoing BCI president Robert "Bob" Stout, pastor of Quimby Baptist Church in Quimby, a small burg in Cherokee County, gave the message Friday night from Joshua 14: 6-13. He spoke of dreams, setting goals and perseverance.
How big are our dreams? he asked.
"You're never too old to dream, never too old to reach out to a new adventure, and never too young either," Stout said.
Dreams keep us going I sometimes think. Dreams are colorful, beautiful places or accomplishments.
God never drops dreams in our laps. That would be too easy. We have to go to battle, fight for that dream. Roll up your sleeves, sweat and strain for it. We have to be willing to accomplish God's will for us. Face the giants. It's hard work, but is it not worth it?
Who, what are the giants?
Remember, age doesn't matter to God. But you do.
How big are our dreams? he asked.
"You're never too old to dream, never too old to reach out to a new adventure, and never too young either," Stout said.
Dreams keep us going I sometimes think. Dreams are colorful, beautiful places or accomplishments.
God never drops dreams in our laps. That would be too easy. We have to go to battle, fight for that dream. Roll up your sleeves, sweat and strain for it. We have to be willing to accomplish God's will for us. Face the giants. It's hard work, but is it not worth it?
Who, what are the giants?
- Of opposition
- Of failure -- need to get ready for failure, but don't give up. Need to stay focused on what God has called you to do or be
- Of laziness -- or procrastination. It's easier to be content with where you are, but to reach that dream, you must be willing to pay the price and fight. Face the giants.
Remember, age doesn't matter to God. But you do.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Rewards
"My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." - Revelation 22:12
Oh how easy it is for one to think it says we get to heaven by our works. But it does not say that. Not at all. Revelation tells about the end times, about the New Jerusalem, Jesus' Second Coming, His return to gather up those who have already died and those of us "left behind" - His followers still alive here on earth.
The rewards He gives are given to His followers based on their works -- their obedience to His commandments.
If you have not accepted the Son of God as your personal Lord and Savior no amount of work for Him will get you even inside His gates.
Don't be fooled.
Oh how easy it is for one to think it says we get to heaven by our works. But it does not say that. Not at all. Revelation tells about the end times, about the New Jerusalem, Jesus' Second Coming, His return to gather up those who have already died and those of us "left behind" - His followers still alive here on earth.
The rewards He gives are given to His followers based on their works -- their obedience to His commandments.
If you have not accepted the Son of God as your personal Lord and Savior no amount of work for Him will get you even inside His gates.
Don't be fooled.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Beware!
Today's devotional reading took me to Philippians 3. In the margins I have written "what we are on the outside doesn't always tell us what's inside. Labels don't make a person a believer in Christ." How true that is. You may say you are a Christian, you may be considered a Christian by those around you, but to really be one is something else.
Philippians 3:2-3 says "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
In Old Testament days, "dogs" were what the Jews called Gentiles - i.e., everyone who was not Jewish. Here in Philippians Paul is saying "dogs" are those who strive to steal away the true beliefs of Christians. Those "who do evil" try to add something to faith as the way of salvation.
Faith is believing without seeing. Faith does not need appendages.
Jesus died for each and everyone of us individually. Faith is when we accept His death, burial and resurrection and believe it was and is for me.
Believing that requirements are necessary because someone said so is in direct opposition to the True Gospel. The True Gospel is that of Jesus Christ. There is no other. You who don't think Jesus matters may find out too too late just how much He does matter.
What we are labeled by others is not always a true description of who and what we are. It is merely often their singular belief. We should not fall prey to another.
Verse 3 paraphrased says, "We worship God in the Spirit, not the flesh, and rejoice in Christ Jesus." It is a matter of the heart. When we worship in the flesh, we are doing our own thing. We are not one with God the Father and Christ the Son.
Where are you?
Philippians 3:2-3 says "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
In Old Testament days, "dogs" were what the Jews called Gentiles - i.e., everyone who was not Jewish. Here in Philippians Paul is saying "dogs" are those who strive to steal away the true beliefs of Christians. Those "who do evil" try to add something to faith as the way of salvation.
Faith is believing without seeing. Faith does not need appendages.
Jesus died for each and everyone of us individually. Faith is when we accept His death, burial and resurrection and believe it was and is for me.
Believing that requirements are necessary because someone said so is in direct opposition to the True Gospel. The True Gospel is that of Jesus Christ. There is no other. You who don't think Jesus matters may find out too too late just how much He does matter.
What we are labeled by others is not always a true description of who and what we are. It is merely often their singular belief. We should not fall prey to another.
Verse 3 paraphrased says, "We worship God in the Spirit, not the flesh, and rejoice in Christ Jesus." It is a matter of the heart. When we worship in the flesh, we are doing our own thing. We are not one with God the Father and Christ the Son.
Where are you?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Loved ones
Our memories
of
loved ones
keep them
close
and
alive
within us.
So many
gone
on
to be
with the Lord.
But
not all.
There
are others
who
have just
died...
No relationship
with
Jesus,
No
saving
knowledge
of their
lostness.
Thus,
they are
imprisoned
in the vastness
of hell.
of
loved ones
keep them
close
and
alive
within us.
So many
gone
on
to be
with the Lord.
But
not all.
There
are others
who
have just
died...
No relationship
with
Jesus,
No
saving
knowledge
of their
lostness.
Thus,
they are
imprisoned
in the vastness
of hell.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Abide in Him
"As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." -- John 15:9
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." -- John 15:5
The Lord wants us to bear fruit. To do so, we must abide, dwell with Him, i.e., obey His commandments, study His word, meditate on all He says, listen intently, think on His goodness.
When we dwell on self, we cannot be fruitful. We are not abiding with Jesus, but rather ourselves.
S - Selfish ambition, selfish desires
E - Egotistical, ego-centered
L - Lacking wisdom
F - Foolish thinking
Help me Lord to remember to remember Your Truths.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." -- John 15:5
The Lord wants us to bear fruit. To do so, we must abide, dwell with Him, i.e., obey His commandments, study His word, meditate on all He says, listen intently, think on His goodness.
When we dwell on self, we cannot be fruitful. We are not abiding with Jesus, but rather ourselves.
S - Selfish ambition, selfish desires
E - Egotistical, ego-centered
L - Lacking wisdom
F - Foolish thinking
Help me Lord to remember to remember Your Truths.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Do not succumb
Proverbs 25:11: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."
Do not succumb to the lowly
depths of self
It brings on depression
It takes your mind
places you should not be
It eats at you
Destroys
Do not succumb
Remember God's truths
Dwell on God's goodness,
God's love
For You
Do not succumb to the lowly
depths of self
It brings on depression
It takes your mind
places you should not be
It eats at you
Destroys
Do not succumb
Remember God's truths
Dwell on God's goodness,
God's love
For You
Journeying onward
God is our provider
Our care giver
All we receive is from Him
It is easy to get caught up
in
To partake
of
All that those
on the other side
(those without Jesus)
have or do
Yes, it is easy.
But not right
Not ethical
or moral
Not God's preferred way.
When we rely
totally on the Lord Jesus
When we obey
His commands for our lives
When we are one with Him
the outside world falls away
When our minds
dwell
on His word alone
We never go
We never stray
or rarely do we
We come back,
return to the fold
faster and faster.
But all struggle
Believers in Christ
struggle
It's just that we know.
We have Jesus in our hearts.
We know.
Learning and growing
It doesn't matter our age
Maturity in years
doesn't necessarily mean
we have it figured out.
We have a longer time
to get it figured out
But that doesn't mean we do.
As believers in Christ
It is when we
have gone home
our eternal home in heaven
to be with our beloved Jesus
that we truly
have it figured out.
Until then,
we journey onward.
Striving to do the Lord's bidding
Striving to be more like Him.
Our care giver
All we receive is from Him
It is easy to get caught up
in
To partake
of
All that those
on the other side
(those without Jesus)
have or do
Yes, it is easy.
But not right
Not ethical
or moral
Not God's preferred way.
When we rely
totally on the Lord Jesus
When we obey
His commands for our lives
When we are one with Him
the outside world falls away
When our minds
dwell
on His word alone
We never go
We never stray
or rarely do we
We come back,
return to the fold
faster and faster.
But all struggle
Believers in Christ
struggle
It's just that we know.
We have Jesus in our hearts.
We know.
Learning and growing
It doesn't matter our age
Maturity in years
doesn't necessarily mean
we have it figured out.
We have a longer time
to get it figured out
But that doesn't mean we do.
As believers in Christ
It is when we
have gone home
our eternal home in heaven
to be with our beloved Jesus
that we truly
have it figured out.
Until then,
we journey onward.
Striving to do the Lord's bidding
Striving to be more like Him.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Are you sure Lord?
Are you sure Lord I am okay?
I am where I am to be for this moment?
Probably not.
Always seeming to be unsure.
Always it seems
I look to what others see in me
and wonder if what they see is real
is what you Lord desire them to see
I fear I am not.
Not even among friends
or those I think are friends
do I feel secure in that friendship
Fearful
I should not care
I imagine
I should just move on.
Rely totally on you.
Perhaps I am not
I never feel good enough
I'm not good enough
I will never be good enough
But friendship is important is it not?
Tell me Lord what I should do.
I feel sometimes no matter what I do, it's not right.
How should I
How do I
rise above
all that I feel
all the remorse
and sadness I feel
It isn't where I want
to be.
How Lord
How
I don't know how.
.... I can choose
to dwell
on negative thoughts
or I can choose to dwell
on Godly thoughts.
The choice is always
ours alone to make.
I am because of God
because of who God is
and what He is
No matter how strong
another thinks he is
God is stronger
God is more powerful.
God is mightier
God is.
And because of God
I am
Not because of me
But because of Him
who is greater
than I will ever be.
That doesn't make me a failure
God doesn't make failures.
Only in our own minds,
when we dwell there
and become distraught,
disillusioned within
we think we are a failure
But not to God
To Him we are a work in proress.
Today's devotional
Flawed and Frail
reminds me
The Lord is not
looking for superheros
but rather those who are
frail and flawed.
That I am.
Through our frailness
and our flawedness
The Lord brings about strength and grace
Be willing
Be available
God will work in you
Through you
To reach another.
I am where I am to be for this moment?
Probably not.
Always seeming to be unsure.
Always it seems
I look to what others see in me
and wonder if what they see is real
is what you Lord desire them to see
I fear I am not.
Not even among friends
or those I think are friends
do I feel secure in that friendship
Fearful
I should not care
I imagine
I should just move on.
Rely totally on you.
Perhaps I am not
I never feel good enough
I'm not good enough
I will never be good enough
But friendship is important is it not?
Tell me Lord what I should do.
I feel sometimes no matter what I do, it's not right.
How should I
How do I
rise above
all that I feel
all the remorse
and sadness I feel
It isn't where I want
to be.
How Lord
How
I don't know how.
.... I can choose
to dwell
on negative thoughts
or I can choose to dwell
on Godly thoughts.
The choice is always
ours alone to make.
I am because of God
because of who God is
and what He is
No matter how strong
another thinks he is
God is stronger
God is more powerful.
God is mightier
God is.
And because of God
I am
Not because of me
But because of Him
who is greater
than I will ever be.
That doesn't make me a failure
God doesn't make failures.
Only in our own minds,
when we dwell there
and become distraught,
disillusioned within
we think we are a failure
But not to God
To Him we are a work in proress.
Today's devotional
Flawed and Frail
reminds me
The Lord is not
looking for superheros
but rather those who are
frail and flawed.
That I am.
Through our frailness
and our flawedness
The Lord brings about strength and grace
Be willing
Be available
God will work in you
Through you
To reach another.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Lord is in charge
Barack Obama won the privilege to be the next president of the United States. He is the first black to achieve this honor.
Being president is an honor and a privilege. It involves a lot of work and long days and nights. It is not a job to be taken lightly.
I have heard many things, read many things about Obama. Rush called him sarcastically the "Messiah." But of course he is not the Messiah. There is only one who is. Jesus Christ, the true one, the only one.
Thinking, I am reminded, the Lord is in charge. The Lord will rule. He is the Almighty King. He is the True King.
Morality may have been (and still is) of little importance to the majority of peoples in this country, the United States, but it is greatly important to God and should be as well with His people. We can not bow down to another god. We are to honor the king, i.e. the president. Pay him what is due him, but nothing more. Like Jesus says to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:21, "Render (or pay) therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
In 1 Peter 2:17, God's people are admonished to "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." We are to conduct ourselves honorably, be obedient to the Lord's commands, yet submit to man's ordinances for the Lord's sake. Read what verses 11 through 16 say: "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--- as free, not using your liberty as a cloak for vice (or wickedness), but as servants of God."
Proverbs 24:16 and 19-22 tell us not to fret or worry because of the wickedness. That's kind of hard to follow, because there is the chance we ourselves might fall into that trap. "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out. My son fear the Lord and the King; Do not associate with those given to charge; For their calamity will rise suddenly..."
Look to the Lord. We are always to look to Him for our everything. In good times and in bad times, in feast or famine, in war and peace. Just like it says in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 -- To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace."
God said so. That makes it so. He is in charge. He knows what is going on. His purpose will be accomplished. Verse 17: "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked..."
We need to be mindful of Daniel's response after God revealed to him Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Daniel 2:19-22 says: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him."
I pray I and you will be obedient to the Lord in all things.
Being president is an honor and a privilege. It involves a lot of work and long days and nights. It is not a job to be taken lightly.
I have heard many things, read many things about Obama. Rush called him sarcastically the "Messiah." But of course he is not the Messiah. There is only one who is. Jesus Christ, the true one, the only one.
Thinking, I am reminded, the Lord is in charge. The Lord will rule. He is the Almighty King. He is the True King.
Morality may have been (and still is) of little importance to the majority of peoples in this country, the United States, but it is greatly important to God and should be as well with His people. We can not bow down to another god. We are to honor the king, i.e. the president. Pay him what is due him, but nothing more. Like Jesus says to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:21, "Render (or pay) therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
In 1 Peter 2:17, God's people are admonished to "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." We are to conduct ourselves honorably, be obedient to the Lord's commands, yet submit to man's ordinances for the Lord's sake. Read what verses 11 through 16 say: "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--- as free, not using your liberty as a cloak for vice (or wickedness), but as servants of God."
Proverbs 24:16 and 19-22 tell us not to fret or worry because of the wickedness. That's kind of hard to follow, because there is the chance we ourselves might fall into that trap. "For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out. My son fear the Lord and the King; Do not associate with those given to charge; For their calamity will rise suddenly..."
Look to the Lord. We are always to look to Him for our everything. In good times and in bad times, in feast or famine, in war and peace. Just like it says in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 -- To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace."
God said so. That makes it so. He is in charge. He knows what is going on. His purpose will be accomplished. Verse 17: "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked..."
We need to be mindful of Daniel's response after God revealed to him Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Daniel 2:19-22 says: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him."
I pray I and you will be obedient to the Lord in all things.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Appearances
It appears Barack Obama will be our next president. Not my choice. But God is still in control. God's purpose will be fulfilled. Whatever it is. Only He knows. Not any one of us. We must continue to look up. We must continue to be obedient to Him. We must be diligent in prayer. It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ that we win.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Me oh My
My legs itch.
My selfishness gets the best of me at times
My plans go awry
Me
Me
Me
My feelings
My loss
My dreams
My everything
What does God think of me?
Where am I
Is He happy with me?
Can He see my love for Him?
Is He ashamed of me
Does He consider me an evil doer
a foolish woman
a prayer warrior?
Is God pleased with my attempts to honor Him?
Does God consider me
His daughter?
Or am I alone
Should I withdraw into myself
Should I hide
Should I withdraw from activities
No one sees
No one responds
My fears
My concerns
My desires
What does God see in me?
Where am I
Am I sunshine
or clouds of gray
Am I caring
Or do I care less
Do you Lord see my love for others
Or have I betrayed you
What does God think of me
Am I growing
or am I stagnant
Is this all selfishness
to write so much
about nothing
Am I nothing
Who am I Lord
Where am I
Am I in the midst
of others with greater
I know where you are Lord
I talk to you daily
I read your holy Word
I think about what you
have to say to me
You are here, right here,
in my heart.
But where am I Lord?
Who will answer?
Ed Ames once sang a song, "Who will answer?"
Who am I Lord
Where am I
Am I where you want me to be
Are you pleased with me
Do I bring you any joy
or only anguish
It's not all about me.
But always there is a me.
The body of me make up mankind.
Woe is me
My selfishness gets the best of me at times
My plans go awry
Me
Me
Me
My feelings
My loss
My dreams
My everything
What does God think of me?
Where am I
Is He happy with me?
Can He see my love for Him?
Is He ashamed of me
Does He consider me an evil doer
a foolish woman
a prayer warrior?
Is God pleased with my attempts to honor Him?
Does God consider me
His daughter?
Or am I alone
Should I withdraw into myself
Should I hide
Should I withdraw from activities
No one sees
No one responds
My fears
My concerns
My desires
What does God see in me?
Where am I
Am I sunshine
or clouds of gray
Am I caring
Or do I care less
Do you Lord see my love for others
Or have I betrayed you
What does God think of me
Am I growing
or am I stagnant
Is this all selfishness
to write so much
about nothing
Am I nothing
Who am I Lord
Where am I
Am I in the midst
of others with greater
I know where you are Lord
I talk to you daily
I read your holy Word
I think about what you
have to say to me
You are here, right here,
in my heart.
But where am I Lord?
Who will answer?
Ed Ames once sang a song, "Who will answer?"
Who am I Lord
Where am I
Am I where you want me to be
Are you pleased with me
Do I bring you any joy
or only anguish
It's not all about me.
But always there is a me.
The body of me make up mankind.
Woe is me
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