Saturday, May 27, 2006
Thankful To Be Thankful
As children we are taught so many things that our heavenly Father re-teaches us. Being thankful is I suppose a matter of choice. Yet it is also the most freeing thing I have found to do. I constantly have the salvation granted me through the LORD Jesus Christ to be thankful for. Yet only when I am "just" thankful do I really have it's benefits. For when I try to earn it or give it a little glory of my own, I destroy it's message and become a stumbling block. When I accept there is nothing I can do to make this gift better by anything I do , I live life as Jesus meant for me to do. For Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life and no one comes to the Father but through Him. His gift of salvation cost Him everything yet He wants me to pay nothing for it. The more I give into accepting that, the more free I am to give all I have. Not because I have to but because it is all His. He is not wanting me to be some kind of sacrifice in return for His gift He gives to us. Nor does He want us to prove to Him that we love Him by what we give. We do not ask Him to prove Himself to us and He does not ask us to prove ourselves to Him. We are as , He is . Thankful.
Matt 11:25-30 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so. Father:for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whosoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me:for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matt 11:25-30 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so. Father:for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whosoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me:for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
I'VE GOT A MANSION JUST OVER THE HILL TOPS
My wonder years were during a time of radical change for the Christian life style. Just shortly after the Azuza Street Revival many Christians became hungry for more. The family that raised me really wanted to be Christians. Their hunger was evident in their choice of churches they attended. Being a Christian was serious business to them and the words of change still ring in my ears.
"Don't be satisfied with this pie in the sky, attitude," he said. "God has a lot He wants to do for you now. He does not intend for you to wait for every blessing when you get to heaven."
His words brought a lot of hope to people. My mom was born right at the end of the era we know as the great Depression. As you also know , even though the U.S.A. came out of it economically, many folks did not come out of it mentally. They still needed to not use their good stuff until their other stuff had really gotten worn out. Grandma's kept presents back for the days they really would need them.
It was like this mental battle had to be won in the church. You can have blessings now ! You don't have to wait, was like a teaching people had to recondition their thinking to accept.
As good as it was to encourage people to become new wine skins so that they could become filled with new wine, many lost what had held their fathers through that great depression.
"Restore unto me the JOY OF THY SALVATION," the psalmist sings.
Jesus seeing Himself as Salvation for every seed of Adam, endured the cross ,for the joy set before Him.
Just like salvation, the joy that goes with it is a free gift. An emotion will be produced by what you think about. Knowing that the Lord is willing to fill me with His Holy Spirit every morning is more than wonderful ! Knowing that I have Jesus' saving grace that assures me a place in heaven for all eternity is joy unspeakable !
"Don't be satisfied with this pie in the sky, attitude," he said. "God has a lot He wants to do for you now. He does not intend for you to wait for every blessing when you get to heaven."
His words brought a lot of hope to people. My mom was born right at the end of the era we know as the great Depression. As you also know , even though the U.S.A. came out of it economically, many folks did not come out of it mentally. They still needed to not use their good stuff until their other stuff had really gotten worn out. Grandma's kept presents back for the days they really would need them.
It was like this mental battle had to be won in the church. You can have blessings now ! You don't have to wait, was like a teaching people had to recondition their thinking to accept.
As good as it was to encourage people to become new wine skins so that they could become filled with new wine, many lost what had held their fathers through that great depression.
"Restore unto me the JOY OF THY SALVATION," the psalmist sings.
Jesus seeing Himself as Salvation for every seed of Adam, endured the cross ,for the joy set before Him.
Just like salvation, the joy that goes with it is a free gift. An emotion will be produced by what you think about. Knowing that the Lord is willing to fill me with His Holy Spirit every morning is more than wonderful ! Knowing that I have Jesus' saving grace that assures me a place in heaven for all eternity is joy unspeakable !
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Being Here
Where Here is ,is not as important as Being Here. Instead of always wanting to be somewhere else but being content to be here. Here is where He, my Lord has led me . Here is where He is. Here is where He feeds me. Here is where I know He cares for me. Here is where I can trust Him to take care of tomorrows cares. Here is where I find Him. He is not over there. Here is where I occupy . Here is where I wait on Him. Here is where He is. I Praise the LORD for leading me Here !
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Being Able To Ask For All Things
A friend shared evidence again, our God is a good God , full of grace and mercy. Her son who attends college had a huge math assignment that kept him up until 6:00 in the morning . Then his regular day filled with classes, a visit from his family and an evening out to eat dinner with them. At 10:00 p.m. my friend realized her son had four big projects to prepare for and little time for rest if all were to get done. She asked him if he would like her to pray, and he said yes. Every little thing she asked for was granted for her son. All of the work he needed to do was accomplished by 5:30 a.m. He was able to pass his math test at 8:30 a.m. with 100 %. He was able to get a transparency paper needed for an assignment in time to finish his power point presentation. A phone call at noon confirmed all was going well so far, he had a speech to give at 2:00 but had terrible pain in his mouth. A bad tooth had really given him problems and he was in pain every time he opened his mouth. Mom promised to pray again. Later the report was during the speech his mouth did not hurt at all but did begin to hurt again after he returned to the dorm room. This mom's testimony so encouraged me to not look at what could have been or should of been but to approach God when your child needs help and ask the Father for help. He sure answered her prayers. Praise be to God.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Watching Her Grow
Our Lord gave my daughter a most amazing gift. I still marvel at how He did it. I clean houses and there is one house that my 16 yr old helps me with . This was agreed upon with the client. One thing I have always felt was important was that I do not ask to change clients days and times too often. So when one client wanted a shift of a week , it meant asking three others, (small apartments) to shift a week. So I said, no. I will just skip your turn instead. Do you know , apartment one called and said, could I please skip a week. So I still had 2 apartments. Then apartment two called and said, it really would be impossible for me to come this time. So the client with the bigger house got her wish and I took my daughter and decided to call the last apartment and tell her I and my daughter would be coming this time. As it turned out this was an answer to prayer for this elderly lady. She was so glad for my daughter to be there and would she want to give her dog a bath while I cleaned ? So now she wants me to bring my daughter every time and my daughter will benefit a little extra spending money for bathing her dog. In 26 years of cleaning I have never seen 3 clients want their days changed so that it benefited all three. I should not marvel but do give a testimony to the good blessing that has come to my daughter and this elderly lady . Praise be to Our Lord.
