Psalm 34:8 - "O taste and see that the Lord is good: happy are those who take refuge in him.
Today's Upper Room devotional inspired me. It was titled Christmas Card Snow. I have always loved snow. While most people pray it doesn't snow, I pray it will.
Snow causes inconvenience, everything slows down, even comes to a complete stop. People living in my area don't see much snow and certainly don't know how to drive on slick roads. It causes electricity to go off, etc. So I do understand their concern and desire that we don't have snow.
To me, snow is a very peaceful scene. It glistens and sparkles covering everything with a beautiful blanket. IT makes me think how awesome God is. All of His creation is filled with beauty.
Weather is part of God's creation. Just as a sunny day makes me feel peaceful, and warm, a snowy day makes me feel blanketed in God's loving arms.
As I grow older, I have gained a better appreciation of God's beauty all around me. On my spiritual walk I have discovered how wonderful and awesome God is and how much God loves me. Just as snow blankets the earth, God showers me with His love. I am so thankful for God's love, mercy and tenderness that he showers down on me. I will always be amazed by His goodness.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Big things Come in Small Packages
Psalm 115: 13 - "The Lord will bless everyone who honors him, the great and the small alike."
I was always small for my age and looked younger than I was. When I graduated from high school I was 5'. Now at 68 years I probably have shrunk some.
I always wished I could be tall, like a model and compete in beauty pageants. It just wasn't meant to be.
In the fall of 1966 we went to a family reunion on my husband's side of the family. It was very cold and we took the kids to the Oklahoma City Zoo. I was expecting our third child, Jon Michael. Back then Tent Coats were popular and of course I was wearing one. When I stepped up to the ticket window I was asked if I was 12 years old or not. I guess I looked like a kid to them.
My mom and dad always told me big things come in little packages. I believed that to mean I might be short, and look younger than I was, but still I could accomplished as much as a tall person. To hold my head high and reach for the stars.
In spite of size a small person can be what God created them to be. All of us, every person, regardless of importance, ability, or achievement can be filled with God's spirit and share all the beauty and flavor of Christ.
As we come into a deep relationship with Christ, we can be filled with all the fullness of God. Then we are equipped to show God to others.
It is the heart that matters. Not size. A heart that loves big!
I was always small for my age and looked younger than I was. When I graduated from high school I was 5'. Now at 68 years I probably have shrunk some.
I always wished I could be tall, like a model and compete in beauty pageants. It just wasn't meant to be.
In the fall of 1966 we went to a family reunion on my husband's side of the family. It was very cold and we took the kids to the Oklahoma City Zoo. I was expecting our third child, Jon Michael. Back then Tent Coats were popular and of course I was wearing one. When I stepped up to the ticket window I was asked if I was 12 years old or not. I guess I looked like a kid to them.
My mom and dad always told me big things come in little packages. I believed that to mean I might be short, and look younger than I was, but still I could accomplished as much as a tall person. To hold my head high and reach for the stars.
In spite of size a small person can be what God created them to be. All of us, every person, regardless of importance, ability, or achievement can be filled with God's spirit and share all the beauty and flavor of Christ.
As we come into a deep relationship with Christ, we can be filled with all the fullness of God. Then we are equipped to show God to others.
It is the heart that matters. Not size. A heart that loves big!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Open Doors / Closed Doors
Revelation 3: 7 - "What (the Lord) opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no can open."
All through life's journey doors open and doors close. Have you ever wondered why?
When a door would shut - an opportunity was lost, my mother would tell me God will open another door for you.
As I reflect over my life I have come to realize that the open and closed doors were God's way of keeping me on the right path. After all God has the bigger picture, He is in control.
It is human nature to have negative feelings when doors close. We think that opened door was just what we needed to make our lives better.
Remember Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
You can have peace and assurance, knowing that your future is secure in God's hands, even when you cannot see an open door.
All through life's journey doors open and doors close. Have you ever wondered why?
When a door would shut - an opportunity was lost, my mother would tell me God will open another door for you.
As I reflect over my life I have come to realize that the open and closed doors were God's way of keeping me on the right path. After all God has the bigger picture, He is in control.
It is human nature to have negative feelings when doors close. We think that opened door was just what we needed to make our lives better.
Remember Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
You can have peace and assurance, knowing that your future is secure in God's hands, even when you cannot see an open door.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Righteousness
Psalm 119: 137 - "Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right."
Do you think being called Righteous is a compliment?
Today society thinks of a righteous person as boring, not in touch with real life, not merciful.
The Biblical idea of righteousness is very different. IT speaks of an attractive, inner goodness that you can count on because it involved justice and fairness.
Truly righteous people are deeply good in a beautiful, alluring way. They are people we can admire and respect. They are faithful and true. They keep their promises even when it is difficult to do so. Righteous is a central attribute of God. God is good!
Righteousness: not pride but mercy, not about rigidity but stability, not temporary and fleeting but sure and everlasting.
Sometimes it is hard to trust in God's righteousness when life is tough and challenging. To trust in God's righteousness is a lifelong walk. Give God a chance to shower you with the joy and strength that comes from God's eternal love and righteousness.
"As you go through your day call to mind often God's promise to care for you in all things." Upper Room Discipline
Do you think being called Righteous is a compliment?
Today society thinks of a righteous person as boring, not in touch with real life, not merciful.
The Biblical idea of righteousness is very different. IT speaks of an attractive, inner goodness that you can count on because it involved justice and fairness.
Truly righteous people are deeply good in a beautiful, alluring way. They are people we can admire and respect. They are faithful and true. They keep their promises even when it is difficult to do so. Righteous is a central attribute of God. God is good!
Righteousness: not pride but mercy, not about rigidity but stability, not temporary and fleeting but sure and everlasting.
Sometimes it is hard to trust in God's righteousness when life is tough and challenging. To trust in God's righteousness is a lifelong walk. Give God a chance to shower you with the joy and strength that comes from God's eternal love and righteousness.
"As you go through your day call to mind often God's promise to care for you in all things." Upper Room Discipline
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
God is Always With You
Romans 8: 39 - "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Practice of the Presence of God - What does it mean to practice the presence of God? Where do you practice the presence?
To practice the presence of God, is the conscious awareness of God living in you. God is not just out there somewhere, instead get the realization of your oneness, to know that you exist in God - I am in God and God is in me. Presence - means present here and now.
To practice that presence, you must turn from the outer sense of separation to an inner realization of oneness, of wholeness. You are alive, and alert, guided and directed, free, whole and fulfilled in the presence.
Wherever you are, whatever you do, God is always with you. God doesn't will bad things to happen. Scripture says, "Behold I have loved thee with an everlasting love." God is a constant support of love and light and guidance forever within you that functions just as constantly as the force of gravity.
Take time in the early morning or the last thing before you go to sleep at night to just get still and feel the presence of God.
Practice of the Presence of God - What does it mean to practice the presence of God? Where do you practice the presence?
To practice the presence of God, is the conscious awareness of God living in you. God is not just out there somewhere, instead get the realization of your oneness, to know that you exist in God - I am in God and God is in me. Presence - means present here and now.
To practice that presence, you must turn from the outer sense of separation to an inner realization of oneness, of wholeness. You are alive, and alert, guided and directed, free, whole and fulfilled in the presence.
Wherever you are, whatever you do, God is always with you. God doesn't will bad things to happen. Scripture says, "Behold I have loved thee with an everlasting love." God is a constant support of love and light and guidance forever within you that functions just as constantly as the force of gravity.
Take time in the early morning or the last thing before you go to sleep at night to just get still and feel the presence of God.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Spiritual Growth
1 Corinthians 3: 7 - "Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Farming is a continuous process. The farmer prepares the ground, plants the seed, harvest the seed, and prepares the ground for the next planting season.
Not matter how much preparation the farmer does there are many variables that affect the growth of the seeds: insects, hail damage, rainfall. No matter now much hard work the farmer does, he cannot make the plants sprout and grow. Only God can do that.
Spiritual growth is similar. Just as God cannot produce a crop for a farmer who does not plant and tend his field, God cannot grow fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we do not do our part.
You ask what is my part? Your part is consistent attention to spiritual practices: Bible study, prayer, worship, putting God first in your life, caring for those in need.
It takes time to grow spiritually so you can maximize your growth by paying attention every day to the details that are your responsibility. God has given you tools to use so you can grow in spiritual maturity.
Farming is a continuous process. The farmer prepares the ground, plants the seed, harvest the seed, and prepares the ground for the next planting season.
Not matter how much preparation the farmer does there are many variables that affect the growth of the seeds: insects, hail damage, rainfall. No matter now much hard work the farmer does, he cannot make the plants sprout and grow. Only God can do that.
Spiritual growth is similar. Just as God cannot produce a crop for a farmer who does not plant and tend his field, God cannot grow fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we do not do our part.
You ask what is my part? Your part is consistent attention to spiritual practices: Bible study, prayer, worship, putting God first in your life, caring for those in need.
It takes time to grow spiritually so you can maximize your growth by paying attention every day to the details that are your responsibility. God has given you tools to use so you can grow in spiritual maturity.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Ebenezer
1 Samuel 7:12 - Samuel took a stone and set it up. . . ."He named it Ebenezer saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."
Ebenezer - a kind of memorial made of stones; it symbolizes God's help and guidance.
It is good to look back and think about all the times God has guided you along your journey. The people he placed in your lives, the experiences that you have encountered, the injustices that have surrounded you, the answered prayers. God is always there loving you and taking care of you. We too, can have an ebenezer.
Ebenezer - a kind of memorial made of stones; it symbolizes God's help and guidance.
It is good to look back and think about all the times God has guided you along your journey. The people he placed in your lives, the experiences that you have encountered, the injustices that have surrounded you, the answered prayers. God is always there loving you and taking care of you. We too, can have an ebenezer.
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