a time of joy, a time of giving. there is more joy in the giving than in the receiving but for me this christmas i was brought to tears by receiving a gift of a sheep from the world vision christmas catalogue that was given in my name.
one is blessed to give such a gift, another is blessed to receive the gift in their name, and the receiver is blessed with a gift that continues to multiply with meat, milk, wool and income.
thank you my friend. i love you too.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
bone marrow transplants
have you ever considered being a donor? i had thought about this years ago but when i heard about how painful it was i changed my mind. i am afraid of needles & pain so it was out of the question.
recently i was told i was going to have a bone marrow biopsy. i read about it on-line, saw the horse needle they use & thought it was going to be really painful. i wasn't concerned about the reason to have the biopsy but i'm thinking about this huge freaking needle & my low pain tolerance. i asked friends for prayer. as usual God was amazing.
yesterday i'm lying there waiting for the pain to come when the doc says she's done. she said it would hurt when the freezing came out. i went shopping for 3 1/2 hours right after. i vegged in front of the tube last night waiting for the pain to come. it never did.
checked out the national marrow donor program - bone marrow transplants have helped save over 25,000 lives. you can help. all it takes initially is a blood test to see if you are a match. maybe most people aren't but one person may be able to save someone's life by donating their marrow. maybe that one person is you.
recently i was told i was going to have a bone marrow biopsy. i read about it on-line, saw the horse needle they use & thought it was going to be really painful. i wasn't concerned about the reason to have the biopsy but i'm thinking about this huge freaking needle & my low pain tolerance. i asked friends for prayer. as usual God was amazing.
yesterday i'm lying there waiting for the pain to come when the doc says she's done. she said it would hurt when the freezing came out. i went shopping for 3 1/2 hours right after. i vegged in front of the tube last night waiting for the pain to come. it never did.
checked out the national marrow donor program - bone marrow transplants have helped save over 25,000 lives. you can help. all it takes initially is a blood test to see if you are a match. maybe most people aren't but one person may be able to save someone's life by donating their marrow. maybe that one person is you.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
what is christmas?
it's a celebration of the greatest joy, the deepest peace and the richest love the heart can ever know - Jesus.
May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. and as Jesus has poured Himself out as an offering and a blessing to us, may He pour us out as a blessing to others.
May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. and as Jesus has poured Himself out as an offering and a blessing to us, may He pour us out as a blessing to others.
life is not fair
how many times have you said that's not fair. i can think of many times in my life when i thought things weren't fair. i could make a list of things that i thought were not fair. i'm sure most of you could too.
odb dec 2 - We are not the arbiters of fairness. God is, and He knows far more than we do about His plans and purposes. The question isn’t about fairness. In the end, it’s about trust in a faithful God who knows what He is doing. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice” (Deut. 32:4). Life will never look fair. But when we trust God, we always know that He is faithful.
we question why God would allow something terrible to happen. we rail at God for what we deem are injustices. this isn't a perfect world and He tells us that over and over in the bible. but He is a perfect God and He is always faithful and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.
odb dec 2 - We are not the arbiters of fairness. God is, and He knows far more than we do about His plans and purposes. The question isn’t about fairness. In the end, it’s about trust in a faithful God who knows what He is doing. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice” (Deut. 32:4). Life will never look fair. But when we trust God, we always know that He is faithful.
we question why God would allow something terrible to happen. we rail at God for what we deem are injustices. this isn't a perfect world and He tells us that over and over in the bible. but He is a perfect God and He is always faithful and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.
life and death
i know of a lady that passed away recently from a long battle with cancer. she spoke of her illness as a win / win situation. win - she is restored to good health and to her family. win - she enters paradise. wow! i think that is so cool.
i know of another person dying of cancer and he has a completely different outlook. he hasn't accepted that he won't be going home and that he only has weeks to live.
both christians yet with very different outlooks on life.
odb - dec 4 The specter of death is faced by every human being. Yet, whether we face that reality with fear or with confidence is not dependent on having a good outlook or a positive attitude. The way we face death depends completely on whether or not we have a personal relationship with Jesus, who gave Himself to die so that death itself could be abolished. Paul wrote to Timothy that our Savior was the One who “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). The result is that even in the most disturbing times of life, we never need to be scared to death. We can live confidently and filled with hope, because Jesus conquered death.
if that's how we face death should we not face life the same way. if we have a deeply, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ we do not fear, we have hope. if we don't we need to spend more time with Him.
i know of another person dying of cancer and he has a completely different outlook. he hasn't accepted that he won't be going home and that he only has weeks to live.
both christians yet with very different outlooks on life.
odb - dec 4 The specter of death is faced by every human being. Yet, whether we face that reality with fear or with confidence is not dependent on having a good outlook or a positive attitude. The way we face death depends completely on whether or not we have a personal relationship with Jesus, who gave Himself to die so that death itself could be abolished. Paul wrote to Timothy that our Savior was the One who “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). The result is that even in the most disturbing times of life, we never need to be scared to death. We can live confidently and filled with hope, because Jesus conquered death.
if that's how we face death should we not face life the same way. if we have a deeply, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ we do not fear, we have hope. if we don't we need to spend more time with Him.
"the battle is far from won."
how dare they! how dare they compare the famines and diseases that are ravaging most of the world with some overly priced clothing line that is being copied and marketed at a more affordable price.
taken from the globe & mail dec 7. my comments in caps.
When you start messing with my brand, it's time to mobilize... THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY
Do they know it's counterfeit? DO WE CARE? Just as famine and disease ravage the Third World, a devastating clothing condition plagues Canada. According to the folks at urban-wear brand Sean John, knock-off goods are flooding the market, AFFORDABLE PRICES FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER harming legitimate manufacturers and retailers. In a passionately worded release, the apparel company created by hip-hop icon Sean Combs stressed that the biggest victims in the garb scam are the consumers -- salt-of-the-earth Canadians who deserve to "spend their hard-earned money on brands they like and trust." Brands such as Sean John, for instance.
In a cause that bizarrely recalls pop musician Bob Geldof's effort to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief in 1984 GREAT CAUSE, Canadian hip-hop artists are involving themselves in a campaign to halt the trade of bogus tracksuits WANT TO STAND BEHIND A CAUSE - TRY WORLD HUNGER. The catch phrase of the effort is "Don't Buy a Lie," and the whole idea is to raise awareness of the senseless travesty of fake threads. HOW ABOUT THE SENSELESS TRAVESTY THAT WE ALLOW MILLIONS TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT SICK AND HUNGRY.
So, as in 1984, where the likes of Bono, Boy George and David Bowie huddled around studio microphones to sing Do They Know It's Christmas, at http://www.dontbuyalie.com there's a shot of Juno-winning rapper Kardinal Offishall in a recording studio, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the battle cry. Millionaire basketball player Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors is also involved.
Canadian authorities are taking steps to halt the counterfeiting, yet, according to the release, "the battle is far from won."
overheard 35 years ago in sears ladies fitting room. mom is buying teenage daughter a new pair of jeans. while daughter is in change room mom is bringing in various pairs for daughter to try on. daughter is bemoaning the jeans mom is bringing - "i can't wear these - they're not brand names" i felt sorry for the mom who was voicing her concern over the high cost of the more expensive brand names.
THEY ARE RIGHT - the battle is far from won when we who have much are so concerned about 'getting ours' and ignore those who have nothing.
taken from the globe & mail dec 7. my comments in caps.
When you start messing with my brand, it's time to mobilize... THIS MAKES ME SO ANGRY
Do they know it's counterfeit? DO WE CARE? Just as famine and disease ravage the Third World, a devastating clothing condition plagues Canada. According to the folks at urban-wear brand Sean John, knock-off goods are flooding the market, AFFORDABLE PRICES FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER harming legitimate manufacturers and retailers. In a passionately worded release, the apparel company created by hip-hop icon Sean Combs stressed that the biggest victims in the garb scam are the consumers -- salt-of-the-earth Canadians who deserve to "spend their hard-earned money on brands they like and trust." Brands such as Sean John, for instance.
In a cause that bizarrely recalls pop musician Bob Geldof's effort to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief in 1984 GREAT CAUSE, Canadian hip-hop artists are involving themselves in a campaign to halt the trade of bogus tracksuits WANT TO STAND BEHIND A CAUSE - TRY WORLD HUNGER. The catch phrase of the effort is "Don't Buy a Lie," and the whole idea is to raise awareness of the senseless travesty of fake threads. HOW ABOUT THE SENSELESS TRAVESTY THAT WE ALLOW MILLIONS TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT SICK AND HUNGRY.
So, as in 1984, where the likes of Bono, Boy George and David Bowie huddled around studio microphones to sing Do They Know It's Christmas, at http://www.dontbuyalie.com there's a shot of Juno-winning rapper Kardinal Offishall in a recording studio, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the battle cry. Millionaire basketball player Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors is also involved.
Canadian authorities are taking steps to halt the counterfeiting, yet, according to the release, "the battle is far from won."
overheard 35 years ago in sears ladies fitting room. mom is buying teenage daughter a new pair of jeans. while daughter is in change room mom is bringing in various pairs for daughter to try on. daughter is bemoaning the jeans mom is bringing - "i can't wear these - they're not brand names" i felt sorry for the mom who was voicing her concern over the high cost of the more expensive brand names.
THEY ARE RIGHT - the battle is far from won when we who have much are so concerned about 'getting ours' and ignore those who have nothing.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
God uses angels
or miracles to help us find our way, provide for our needs, or to encourage us.
what an encouragement to hear these stories. things are rough and you're struggling with whatever and maybe you wonder - is God really listening? will He really be there when i need him?
He is listening and He will be there when you need Him.
wow! what an awesoome God we serve.
what an encouragement to hear these stories. things are rough and you're struggling with whatever and maybe you wonder - is God really listening? will He really be there when i need him?
He is listening and He will be there when you need Him.
wow! what an awesoome God we serve.
footprints
another co-worker told us this story today. there is a drop-in centre for homeless youth in abbotsford where they can get something to eat, shower, do laundry, etc.
2 weeks ago when it had snowed a man found a youth standing out on the street in the cold @ 2:30 am. he told him he had to come in out of the cold and took him to cyrus centre. at 2:30 this youth is banging on the door and when the door was opened he told them he had to find God. the youth talked to the person at the door for a moment, explained that the man had brought him there and when they turned to talk to the older man he was nowhere to be found and there were only 1 set of footprints in the snow.
2 weeks ago when it had snowed a man found a youth standing out on the street in the cold @ 2:30 am. he told him he had to come in out of the cold and took him to cyrus centre. at 2:30 this youth is banging on the door and when the door was opened he told them he had to find God. the youth talked to the person at the door for a moment, explained that the man had brought him there and when they turned to talk to the older man he was nowhere to be found and there were only 1 set of footprints in the snow.
God is there when you need Him
the same friend told me that her dad (or uncle?) was travelling through the desert and was almost out of gas. there was nothing in sight for miles but when they crested a hill they saw a gas station. they filled up, talked to the owner for a bit and headed down the road. they returned the exact same way however the gas station they had stopped at previously was no where to be found.
He will provide what you need when you need it. no more, no less.
He will provide what you need when you need it. no more, no less.
is God listening?
a friend wrote this today.
This is just a little encouragement on the Lords Goodness.
For those of you who do not know, without a healing from the Lord, my brother Mick is dying in the surrey cancer ward.
He is a Christian as is my whole family. There has been so much prayer on his behalf and for this we are so thankful.
As he has progressively gotten worse and the pain is uncontrollable even with the morphine, you begin to wonder in our human minds, if the Lord is hearing.
Yesterday we had an uplifting refreshing encouragement from the Lord.
We have a friend who is a trucker. He is a wonderful man but what you would call a typical trucker. He does dearly love the Lord, but does not get to church very often because of the long haul and varied schedule.
He was driving last week thru Oregon, which he has done often over the last many years. This time he noticed a restaurant on the side of the road that was called “Heaven on Earth”. He was curious so went in and ordered lunch. Just as he got his lunch, a woman came along with a bowl of soup and asked if she could sit with him. They discussed the hymns that were playing on the radio, and then she said to him “you need to go to the hospital and pray for your friend Mick”.
He was blown away and asked excuse me? She said you have a friend in the hospital named Mick right? You need to go pray for him.
He stated the obvious, I am just a trucker. She said you need to be obedient and not a Moses who told the Lord he was not worthy.
It took him 10 days round trip but yesterday he went to the hospital and with the nurses still working on Mick, and Mom and Dad and my sister in the room he told them the story and then just said a simple prayer for Mick.
Mom and Dad were so encouraged as well as his wife.
Dad said that no matter what happens, the Lord let us know that he hears and knows Mick’s name. What an incredible encouragement.
God is so good!
Isn’t it great to serve such an all loving God!
my friend also mentioned that this trucker who has been on this same route for many years had never noticed this restaurant before.
This is just a little encouragement on the Lords Goodness.
For those of you who do not know, without a healing from the Lord, my brother Mick is dying in the surrey cancer ward.
He is a Christian as is my whole family. There has been so much prayer on his behalf and for this we are so thankful.
As he has progressively gotten worse and the pain is uncontrollable even with the morphine, you begin to wonder in our human minds, if the Lord is hearing.
Yesterday we had an uplifting refreshing encouragement from the Lord.
We have a friend who is a trucker. He is a wonderful man but what you would call a typical trucker. He does dearly love the Lord, but does not get to church very often because of the long haul and varied schedule.
He was driving last week thru Oregon, which he has done often over the last many years. This time he noticed a restaurant on the side of the road that was called “Heaven on Earth”. He was curious so went in and ordered lunch. Just as he got his lunch, a woman came along with a bowl of soup and asked if she could sit with him. They discussed the hymns that were playing on the radio, and then she said to him “you need to go to the hospital and pray for your friend Mick”.
He was blown away and asked excuse me? She said you have a friend in the hospital named Mick right? You need to go pray for him.
He stated the obvious, I am just a trucker. She said you need to be obedient and not a Moses who told the Lord he was not worthy.
It took him 10 days round trip but yesterday he went to the hospital and with the nurses still working on Mick, and Mom and Dad and my sister in the room he told them the story and then just said a simple prayer for Mick.
Mom and Dad were so encouraged as well as his wife.
Dad said that no matter what happens, the Lord let us know that he hears and knows Mick’s name. What an incredible encouragement.
God is so good!
Isn’t it great to serve such an all loving God!
my friend also mentioned that this trucker who has been on this same route for many years had never noticed this restaurant before.
christmas giving
when i was 15 i met of family of 32 kids on christmas eve. there were no singles, only twins & triplets. at night the older kids all gatherered at the family home to go to church at midnight. the younger kids that slept 3 in a bed stacked on triple high bunkbeds got up at midnight to open their one present. their eyes were huge with joy to receive their one gift. i will never forget that awesome sight. then years later as my own young grandchildren said after opening 20 to 25 presents - is that all? are there any more? i will never forget that either.
we can give our kids too much and when we do they don't appreciate what they get.
as you sit in front of your cozy, warm fire consider giving to someone who is sleeping under an overpass. there but by the grace of God go you or i. as you think about gorging yourself on turkey and christmas baking consider giving to the hungry. as you are shopping for friends and family why not pick up something for someone that otherwise won't get anything this christmas.
God has blessed you with enough food to eat, clean water to drink & warm shelter. we can all do more, we can all give more, we can all share.
please - find it in your heart to share this christmas. you too can make a difference.
and as you consider this, consider sponsoring a child. not only do you support a child, you support their whole family, their whole village. make it a gift that will last a lifetime.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
we can give our kids too much and when we do they don't appreciate what they get.
as you sit in front of your cozy, warm fire consider giving to someone who is sleeping under an overpass. there but by the grace of God go you or i. as you think about gorging yourself on turkey and christmas baking consider giving to the hungry. as you are shopping for friends and family why not pick up something for someone that otherwise won't get anything this christmas.
God has blessed you with enough food to eat, clean water to drink & warm shelter. we can all do more, we can all give more, we can all share.
please - find it in your heart to share this christmas. you too can make a difference.
and as you consider this, consider sponsoring a child. not only do you support a child, you support their whole family, their whole village. make it a gift that will last a lifetime.
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
God loves a cheerful giver
The richest 2 per cent of adults own more than half the world’s wealth, according to the most comprehensive study of personal assets.
according to The World Distribution of Household Wealth report the average wealth in the US was $143,727 a person in 2000, and in Japan, $180,837.
In India the figure was $1,100, in Indonesia per capita wealth was $1,400, and in Zimbabwe, $1,465. The Democratic Republic of Congo came last with $180. aren't you glad you don't live in the congo.
whether you have a 6 or a 4 figure income God blesses a cheerful giver. i have seen 4 figure income people give more generously than a 5 or 6 figure income person. and i know tight-fisted millionaires.
what are you? there will always be people in more need than yourself. people in north america spend more and more on family & friends at christmas. instead of spoiling your kids & giving them 20 presents, to hear them say "is that all" or "are there more" why don't you give a gift to someone who would otherwise have no gifts at christmas.
Jesus said 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
according to The World Distribution of Household Wealth report the average wealth in the US was $143,727 a person in 2000, and in Japan, $180,837.
In India the figure was $1,100, in Indonesia per capita wealth was $1,400, and in Zimbabwe, $1,465. The Democratic Republic of Congo came last with $180. aren't you glad you don't live in the congo.
whether you have a 6 or a 4 figure income God blesses a cheerful giver. i have seen 4 figure income people give more generously than a 5 or 6 figure income person. and i know tight-fisted millionaires.
what are you? there will always be people in more need than yourself. people in north america spend more and more on family & friends at christmas. instead of spoiling your kids & giving them 20 presents, to hear them say "is that all" or "are there more" why don't you give a gift to someone who would otherwise have no gifts at christmas.
Jesus said 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
6.5 million +++++
people are dying of starvation and victoria's secret special tonight advertises a bra that -
"Not that mere mortals could ever afford the tricked-out "products" on haute display. "The Hearts on Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra," for example, would cost you $6.5 million (U.S.), if you were allowed to buy one. And get this: more than one million Swarovski crystals were used to glamourize the lascivious creations."
i hope their ratings are an absolute disaster. this kind of stuff makes me so angry when i think of all the people that don't have enough food to eat, clean water to drink, clothes to keep warm, shelter to keep warm & dry. it makes me so angry it brings tears to my eyes.
"Not that mere mortals could ever afford the tricked-out "products" on haute display. "The Hearts on Fire Diamond Fantasy Bra," for example, would cost you $6.5 million (U.S.), if you were allowed to buy one. And get this: more than one million Swarovski crystals were used to glamourize the lascivious creations."
i hope their ratings are an absolute disaster. this kind of stuff makes me so angry when i think of all the people that don't have enough food to eat, clean water to drink, clothes to keep warm, shelter to keep warm & dry. it makes me so angry it brings tears to my eyes.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
nbc @ northview
wow! it was very cool! several friends from new heights were also there enjoying the performance. if you've never seen it before it's well worth the $10. there are still some tickets available if you're thinking of going. the performances are thursdays & fridays @ 7pm & saturdays & sundays @ 3:30 and 7pm. even the kids loved it & at intermission you get a variety of delicious treats & drinks.
i'd never seen it before but i think it will become a tradition.
i'd never seen it before but i think it will become a tradition.
Monday, November 27, 2006
how to solicit prayer
recently i sent a powerpoint email to a couple of friends i hadn't seen in awhile to let them know i was thinking of them. the response was like night and day. one a christian friend i care deeply about, another a secular friend i have known for 28 years.
one said thank you it was beautiful. the other said i don't believe in that crap you do & to delete them from my list of contacts. two completely different responses from them and in me. that response really hurt. the pp included a beautiful song by nana mouskouri. it may have sounded christian to her but because it was in french i had no idea what the words were & doubt my friend knew them. the written words were just telling a friend i was thinking of them, nothing about christianity. it's not the first secular friend that i've lost since becoming a christian simply because they don't believe in 'that crap i do'. i don't mean to be offensive. unless it means to defend the name of Christ and then by His love exhibited in me.
so my friend's name has been added to my list of people i pray for daily. who would've thought. obviously i hadn't. but as Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. i wonder what she'd say if she knew i was praying for her every day. she might have a few other choice words to say to me.
so if you need prayer - ask for it. or persecute (?) someone. it just dawned on me that one of the other people i pray for daily is another old friend that has said not nice things about me being a christian.
if they only knew. hm - i wonder who must have been praying for me.
one said thank you it was beautiful. the other said i don't believe in that crap you do & to delete them from my list of contacts. two completely different responses from them and in me. that response really hurt. the pp included a beautiful song by nana mouskouri. it may have sounded christian to her but because it was in french i had no idea what the words were & doubt my friend knew them. the written words were just telling a friend i was thinking of them, nothing about christianity. it's not the first secular friend that i've lost since becoming a christian simply because they don't believe in 'that crap i do'. i don't mean to be offensive. unless it means to defend the name of Christ and then by His love exhibited in me.
so my friend's name has been added to my list of people i pray for daily. who would've thought. obviously i hadn't. but as Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. i wonder what she'd say if she knew i was praying for her every day. she might have a few other choice words to say to me.
so if you need prayer - ask for it. or persecute (?) someone. it just dawned on me that one of the other people i pray for daily is another old friend that has said not nice things about me being a christian.
if they only knew. hm - i wonder who must have been praying for me.
the immensity of God
Andromeda galaxy - The diffuse light from Andromeda is caused by the hundreds of billions of stars that compose it.
Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
unreal! and andromeda is just one galaxy & it is so distant it takes about two million years for light to reach us from there. check out the following website if you want to learn more about the immensity of God as it relates to His creation. it's absolutely mindblowing. http://www.seds.org/messier/galaxy.html
i just keep reading psalm 147:4 again and i'm stunned. really read it - He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. read about galaxies, it's just too immense to write about here, and consider the immensity of God. we are so nothing and yet He loves us SO much.
WOW!!! talk about amazing love.
white - a symbol of purity
Isaiah 1:18 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. this is susan's verse for the week and rather appropriate for today i think considering there is 14" of snow outside.
yesterday morning as i was heading over to mission to go to church i was moved by the beauty of the snow covering the earth. it was like the world had been washed clean and white and was pure. then the ugliness and blackness of reality of this sinful world crept back in.
yesterday morning as i was heading over to mission to go to church i was moved by the beauty of the snow covering the earth. it was like the world had been washed clean and white and was pure. then the ugliness and blackness of reality of this sinful world crept back in.
no work today
i'm not used to this - taking a day off cuz it snowed. working for the rcmp i never got a day off because of snow. if i couldn't make it in they would come and get me. this morning i went to work later than usual only to find the gates locked. i guess i'll try again tomorrow.
this really burns my butt
Guanacacaste to Receive $2 Billion in Tourism Projects
The northwestern Guanacaste province is likely to receive more than $2 billion in tourism projects during the next three years, thanks to 35 projects including hotels and luxury residences in the works, according to the weekly El Financiero.
Additionally, during the next 20 years, at least 28 hotels and 9,700 homes are expected to go up in Guanacaste, many of which are marketed toward retired U.S. citizens.
Investors in these projects are mostly from the United States, but they also come from Costa Rica, Germany, South Africa, Japan, Mexico and Italy, El Financiero reported.
At least 347 hotels to have a total of 6,724 rooms are under construction this year in Guanacaste, marking 66% growth over construction in the region last year. Chains including Four Seasons, Holiday Inn, JW Marriot and Hyatt are among those building.
Guanacaste is the Costa Rican province showing the most tourism development. Attractions include its beaches, national parks and the Daniel Oduber International Airport in the city of Liberia.
the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. when i went to spanish school for 3 weeks last year while living in costa rica all 3 of my teachers, one of them a pastor, all of them very intelligent people, denied that there was poverty in costa rica.
i couldn't believe it. were we living in the same country? how could they not have noticed it?
then i talked to a friend that works for vision mundial (world vision). she said that the government is so hand in hand with the tourism board to promote costa rica as a tourism destination they avoid mentioning the poverty.
sure the ticos will benefit from the tourism, they will get jobs where they will be treated like second class citizens in their own country. although the beach is public property one posh resort that i saw blocked off the road to prevent the locals from the neighbouring village getting to the beach area.
i get so angry that the rich keep getting richer, spending millions of dollars on extravagant weddings, on gowns that they'll wear once, on homes that could house entire villages, on feasts that could feed an entire country. it wouldn't bother me if people cared as much for the welfare of others as they do for themselves.
i know it's to 'protect' us, but when according to food safe, food has to be thrown out simply because it has been out and is left over. there were times in costa rica where we all dipped our fingers into the same bowl and ate with our fingers. i have to admit it caused me to pause but my hunger overcame my concern as i know it would the many children dying of starvation.
The northwestern Guanacaste province is likely to receive more than $2 billion in tourism projects during the next three years, thanks to 35 projects including hotels and luxury residences in the works, according to the weekly El Financiero.
Additionally, during the next 20 years, at least 28 hotels and 9,700 homes are expected to go up in Guanacaste, many of which are marketed toward retired U.S. citizens.
Investors in these projects are mostly from the United States, but they also come from Costa Rica, Germany, South Africa, Japan, Mexico and Italy, El Financiero reported.
At least 347 hotels to have a total of 6,724 rooms are under construction this year in Guanacaste, marking 66% growth over construction in the region last year. Chains including Four Seasons, Holiday Inn, JW Marriot and Hyatt are among those building.
Guanacaste is the Costa Rican province showing the most tourism development. Attractions include its beaches, national parks and the Daniel Oduber International Airport in the city of Liberia.
the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. when i went to spanish school for 3 weeks last year while living in costa rica all 3 of my teachers, one of them a pastor, all of them very intelligent people, denied that there was poverty in costa rica.
i couldn't believe it. were we living in the same country? how could they not have noticed it?
then i talked to a friend that works for vision mundial (world vision). she said that the government is so hand in hand with the tourism board to promote costa rica as a tourism destination they avoid mentioning the poverty.
sure the ticos will benefit from the tourism, they will get jobs where they will be treated like second class citizens in their own country. although the beach is public property one posh resort that i saw blocked off the road to prevent the locals from the neighbouring village getting to the beach area.
i get so angry that the rich keep getting richer, spending millions of dollars on extravagant weddings, on gowns that they'll wear once, on homes that could house entire villages, on feasts that could feed an entire country. it wouldn't bother me if people cared as much for the welfare of others as they do for themselves.
i know it's to 'protect' us, but when according to food safe, food has to be thrown out simply because it has been out and is left over. there were times in costa rica where we all dipped our fingers into the same bowl and ate with our fingers. i have to admit it caused me to pause but my hunger overcame my concern as i know it would the many children dying of starvation.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
the prayer of jabez
..."Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory!...." - 1 Chronicles 4:10
He is mentioned only once in a brief description in the Old Testament, yet what he says and what his life bespeaks could fill volumes. He was a man whom God saw as worthy of a request that had significant consequences for him and his family. His name was Jabez. Here is how the Scripture describes him:
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
When you think of territory, you probably think of land or some area in which you have dominion. Jesus often spoke about giving responsibility based on what we do with the little things first. Jabez must have been a very responsible person. God describes him as honorable. Jabez must have understood what it really means to be blessed by God. He was a man who knew what it meant to press into God and ask for God's favor with passion. God saw the heart of this man and gave him his request. His borders were enlarged! He lived a life free from pain. Imagine that!
The only reason God will enlarge a person's territory is that He knows that person will use it responsibly. He will steward what is given in light of God's Kingdom. God truly wants to increase our territory to have greater influence in the world around us. That territory can mean personal influence and/or physical territories.
It is rare to have a life without pain. Pain is often necessary to mold us and shape us. This is the only exception I have seen in Scripture. Jabez must have been quite a man with incredible integrity and purity of heart.
Are you this kind of person? Can God enlarge your territory and entrust you to use it for His purposes? Ask God today to enlarge your territory. Ask Him to make you the kind of man or woman who is worthy of such trust.
He is mentioned only once in a brief description in the Old Testament, yet what he says and what his life bespeaks could fill volumes. He was a man whom God saw as worthy of a request that had significant consequences for him and his family. His name was Jabez. Here is how the Scripture describes him:
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
When you think of territory, you probably think of land or some area in which you have dominion. Jesus often spoke about giving responsibility based on what we do with the little things first. Jabez must have been a very responsible person. God describes him as honorable. Jabez must have understood what it really means to be blessed by God. He was a man who knew what it meant to press into God and ask for God's favor with passion. God saw the heart of this man and gave him his request. His borders were enlarged! He lived a life free from pain. Imagine that!
The only reason God will enlarge a person's territory is that He knows that person will use it responsibly. He will steward what is given in light of God's Kingdom. God truly wants to increase our territory to have greater influence in the world around us. That territory can mean personal influence and/or physical territories.
It is rare to have a life without pain. Pain is often necessary to mold us and shape us. This is the only exception I have seen in Scripture. Jabez must have been quite a man with incredible integrity and purity of heart.
Are you this kind of person? Can God enlarge your territory and entrust you to use it for His purposes? Ask God today to enlarge your territory. Ask Him to make you the kind of man or woman who is worthy of such trust.
Friday, November 24, 2006
november 23 - 15 years ago
i was living in hell on earth. after living with depression off and on for many years my marriage had dissolved. i was living on sleeping pills, tranquilizers, antidepressants, booze, coffee & cheese. the police came to arrest me under the mental health act because the shrink i was seeing thought i was a threat to myself. she was right. emotionally and mentally i had already died, i just needed to finish the job.
then God sent an angel to save me. my precious granddaughter was born on this date and she was the most beautiful baby i had ever seen. she has asked wasn't my own daughter the most beautiful. she was but i was so hurting and in such pain and great need when my granddaughter was born it was like she was an angel that God had sent to me. she took my focus off myself. my daughter was living in edmonton and i had gone there for my granddaughter's birth. when she came home for christmas my family told her not to leave, that my granddaughter was the only thing keeping me alive.
looking back i am amazed at how much God loves us and at what lengths He goes to to get our attention. He knew i was going to dissolve into a basket case and He provided a bright light in an otherwise pitch black darkness.
they had to go back to edmonton finally at which point i descended into the blackest hole of my life. that was hell on earth. i can't imagine the eternal hell being worse than that. i came to in hospital one day wondering where i was and how i'd got there. God just kept picking me out of these situations i was getting myself into.
it's amazing how faithful God is. when He knows you're gonna be His kid how He watches over you and keeps you safe even when you do the dumbest things. it still took me another 7 years to clue in and He was there watching over me all the time, even though i continued to do dumb things. i was and am and will always be blown away by how very much He loves me. and how awesome He is. and how faithful He is.
i can remember november 23 15 years ago as if i am living it right now. and yet i can't remember what i did yesterday. the weird thing is that i remember it so clearly when i was taking mind numbing drugs and now i don't take anything and can't remember anything. i guess that's a result of taking mind numbing drugs. they finally work.
anyway Father thank You for that precious gift you gave 15 years ago. she still is and will always be a very special angel.
then God sent an angel to save me. my precious granddaughter was born on this date and she was the most beautiful baby i had ever seen. she has asked wasn't my own daughter the most beautiful. she was but i was so hurting and in such pain and great need when my granddaughter was born it was like she was an angel that God had sent to me. she took my focus off myself. my daughter was living in edmonton and i had gone there for my granddaughter's birth. when she came home for christmas my family told her not to leave, that my granddaughter was the only thing keeping me alive.
looking back i am amazed at how much God loves us and at what lengths He goes to to get our attention. He knew i was going to dissolve into a basket case and He provided a bright light in an otherwise pitch black darkness.
they had to go back to edmonton finally at which point i descended into the blackest hole of my life. that was hell on earth. i can't imagine the eternal hell being worse than that. i came to in hospital one day wondering where i was and how i'd got there. God just kept picking me out of these situations i was getting myself into.
it's amazing how faithful God is. when He knows you're gonna be His kid how He watches over you and keeps you safe even when you do the dumbest things. it still took me another 7 years to clue in and He was there watching over me all the time, even though i continued to do dumb things. i was and am and will always be blown away by how very much He loves me. and how awesome He is. and how faithful He is.
i can remember november 23 15 years ago as if i am living it right now. and yet i can't remember what i did yesterday. the weird thing is that i remember it so clearly when i was taking mind numbing drugs and now i don't take anything and can't remember anything. i guess that's a result of taking mind numbing drugs. they finally work.
anyway Father thank You for that precious gift you gave 15 years ago. she still is and will always be a very special angel.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Different parts and different hearts
Why do we all have different passions? So everything that’s supposed to get done will get done.
Sometimes we get overwhelmed because we are constantly exposed to people with various passions for service, and when they represent their cause, they are so committed to that which has captured them that we feel guilty for not sharing their zeal. We seem indifferent in comparison.
When I was in college, we had chapel every day and almost every day we heard a message from someone who had a passion for some particular ministry. They were usually in some way recruiting us for service, whether it was in missions or in the church, or in society, or among the poor. It was overwhelming, and often frustrating, because everyone made every concern sound like the only thing any caring person would support.
The same thing happens in our churches. Sometimes we feel guilt because we don’t have the same passion as the last person who talked about missions, or abortion, or the homeless, or marriage, or singleness, or men’s ministry, or AIDS prevention, or prisons, or evangelism, or the military. What we forget is that there are so many needs because there are so many of us to meet them. We aren’t supposed to get our bell rung by every appeal that comes by. We are a body made up of different parts and different hearts; we don’t have to all be moved by the same issues and needs.
This is where the concept and the practical nature of spiritual gifts come in. There are a variety of gifts and there are a variety of ministries, but the same Lord working in all and through all. No one has to do everything; no one can. It is up to us to find out where we fit and what God put us here to do. Soon you will be just as passionate about something because it’s your thing. This is the way it’s supposed to be. We only get frustrated when we forget this and try and take on everything, or get so overwhelmed that we take on nothing at all.
All of this should just make us marvel at the wisdom of God even more. He’s designed us all with different abilities and different interests so that we are not only good at what we do, we do not have to be frustrated or depressed over what we aren’t good at. When we all do our part in the Body of Christ, everyone gets a job, everyone gets honored, and everyone is important. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
by John Fischer
Sometimes we get overwhelmed because we are constantly exposed to people with various passions for service, and when they represent their cause, they are so committed to that which has captured them that we feel guilty for not sharing their zeal. We seem indifferent in comparison.
When I was in college, we had chapel every day and almost every day we heard a message from someone who had a passion for some particular ministry. They were usually in some way recruiting us for service, whether it was in missions or in the church, or in society, or among the poor. It was overwhelming, and often frustrating, because everyone made every concern sound like the only thing any caring person would support.
The same thing happens in our churches. Sometimes we feel guilt because we don’t have the same passion as the last person who talked about missions, or abortion, or the homeless, or marriage, or singleness, or men’s ministry, or AIDS prevention, or prisons, or evangelism, or the military. What we forget is that there are so many needs because there are so many of us to meet them. We aren’t supposed to get our bell rung by every appeal that comes by. We are a body made up of different parts and different hearts; we don’t have to all be moved by the same issues and needs.
This is where the concept and the practical nature of spiritual gifts come in. There are a variety of gifts and there are a variety of ministries, but the same Lord working in all and through all. No one has to do everything; no one can. It is up to us to find out where we fit and what God put us here to do. Soon you will be just as passionate about something because it’s your thing. This is the way it’s supposed to be. We only get frustrated when we forget this and try and take on everything, or get so overwhelmed that we take on nothing at all.
All of this should just make us marvel at the wisdom of God even more. He’s designed us all with different abilities and different interests so that we are not only good at what we do, we do not have to be frustrated or depressed over what we aren’t good at. When we all do our part in the Body of Christ, everyone gets a job, everyone gets honored, and everyone is important. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.
by John Fischer
... God's calling your name, are you listening?
A lot of Christians are going to get to heaven and find out that God offered so much more than they experienced. Steve Brown
this is SO true. i see so many people that claim to be christians but i don't see any joy in their lives.
i feel so blessed and i have such joy and i wonder 'why me'
the only thing i ever wanted in life was to be loved. my father died before i was born. the year i was born my mother's husband, father & grandmother all died. for me it was like she never recovered from her grief and didn't know how to love me.
i was 12 when i ran away from home the first time. i didn't have a great young life but although there were a lot of struggles i'd have to say it was pretty good for the most part. there was emotional, physical, verbal & sexual abuse but i don't know too many families that haven't experienced that so i'd have to say all in all i had a pretty normal childhood.
to say that that was a normal childhood sure makes it sounds like we live in a pretty sick world. and the older i get the sicker this world seems to be. i had a couple of marriages, normal; several relationships looking for love, also normal?
i didn't find true love until i became a christian. i still wanted to be in a relationship. but i think it's being single that has brought me closer to God. i am alone and it is in being alone that i have so much more time to spend with God than a married person would have.
i don't have very good people skills so i don't have a lot of friends. so again i am alone a lot. but i am never alone. God is always here with me. i spend time with Him and it is in spending my time with Him that i find my joy. married people and people with lots of friends spend their time with their spouses and their friends. people spend their time with family or friends or doing activities but how many people actually spend their time with God.
don't pity me. believe me i've done enough of that mayself in the past. but consider this - whoever you are spending your time with is who you are developing a relationship with.
if you are bemoaning your singleness you aren't drawing any closer to the lover of your soul. if you are spending all your time with family and friends when are you spending time with God.
ask anyone that knows me - i always wanted to be married, to be in relationship, to be loved. now i'm not so sure about being married. i am in relationship now and i am deeply loved. and i love deeply.
last night i thought i wanted to write something that would be read after i died. i wanted to have the last say. i wanted to say something that was bold. i wanted to say something to people that i was never able to say while i was alive.
so many so called christians have absolutely no idea about what it is to truly be a christian. they spend time in God's house one hour a week, sunday christians and have no idea what joy is waiting for them if they would actually take the time to spend time with God.
God really is offering so much more than they are experiencing but they won't know it until they change their life. don't know how? can't do it? how many times does God have to tell you 'ask, seek, knock' He's just waiting for you to ask Him.
the bible is truly THE guide to life, abundant, joyful, blessed life. why struggle with day to day living waiting to enjoy life, love and joy when you get to heaven. sure daily life can be a struggle but if you are truly, madly, deeply, in love with God He carries you through all that.
prayer - is your prayer time 2 minutes or 2 hours. you get what you give. are you praising God and thanking Him and praying for others? or is it all about you?
bible reading - you've just finished reading the bible for the first time. you've been a christian for 10 years and it's taken you this long? it truly is the living Word of God. start each january and read the bible each year - you'll be surprised at knowing that you've read the same things several times before but all of a sudden you finally understand it. you want answers - God's given us all the answers we'll need this side of heaven.
giving - i think this is the hardest part of being a christian. God blesses us but we hoard it. God says we need to be good stewards of His money. it is HIS money you know. you wouldn't have the job without Him. you wouldn't have the income without Him. everything we have is from Him. what is a good steward? someone that puts their money in the bank to save it for a rainy day? well we've had a lot of rainy days lately. are you content? are you joyful? or is a good steward someone that gives it back to God for His joy, His purpose? ever since becoming a christian i wondered about being a good steward. i used to be so far in debt i thought i'd never see daylight. then i lived on a small pension for almost 2 years without a job and although i don't have a dime in savings, now, excluding my mortgage, i have no debt, i am joyful and content beyond my imaginings.
do not worry - that is a command, but does anyone listen? how much of your day do you spend worrying? are you worried about finances? are you worried about health? worrying about anything is going to affect your health and quite likely your relationships.
trust - worrying about anything is saying you don't trust God to take care of you. if you are saying you don't trust God to take care of you how do you think that is going to affect your relationship with Him? He promises to always be with us. He promises to give us what we need. don't be anxious wondering when or how God will give us what we need. just trust. He says He will and He will. He will provide for what we need WHEN we need it and not before. He will comfort us when we mourn. He will give us peace when we need it. He will protect us.
i think romans 8:28 is my favourite verse "that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" whether in sickness or in health i believe this. we may not understand how death or disease is His working for our good but consider how He did not spare His own Son because He loves us so much. how many of you love your child so much that you would gladly give your life for theirs. how many people unselfishly have given their lives for a friend. or as i think of the martyrs who have died so that others might live to know Christ. or as jim elliot said when asked if they would protect themselves against the waodani indians in ecuador 'they are not ready for heaven, we are'
are you ready for heaven? are you going to get there and be blown away by all the blessings you missed out on while here.
one way God blesses us is giving us spiritual gifts. learn what they are and how you can use them. if you are serving in the areas of your giftedness you will be blessed and know God's joy.
don't do something just because you can. don't do something just because it's a paycheque. find out your gifts, discover your passions and work out of those and you'll be amazed at the difference between working for a living and living for God. the first is a day to day grind, tiresome, weary, an endless rut. but the second is a joy, almost that you would do it without pay, tireless, something to look forward to.
i wish there was something i could say to people that they would know / have the same joy i have.
so many singles that don't have the joy of an intimate relationship with the one perfect love that's just longing for a relationship with them. so many married people that don't have that joy.
i know some pretty awesome people that have been christians for a long time and they don't have joy. why am i so blessed? someone very close to me has been a christian for about 30 years but i don't ever recall seeing joy. has she forgotten her first love? she worries about money, health, doesn't show love or forgiveness. i wonder if because she is lukewarm, neither hot nor cold will she be spit out (rev 3:16).
i think i'd have to describe myself as a needy person. maybe because i am i spend so much time with God. i've always thought i was able and capable of taking care of myself. i was a survivor. the only one thing i ever wanted i couldn't have. i, like most little girls i imagine, dreamed of once upon a time living happily ever after. i kissed a lot of toads looking for my prince.
and then i found a King. and in Him the one, true, perfect love i had been searching for all my life.
so as a needy person i have come to the right place. He fulfills my every need. He is the lover of my soul, i hunger for Him and He fills me up. my joy and my life are complete in Him. sometimes i ache i long so much to be with Him. and when i have hurt Him i am completely heartbroken and desperate to be reconciled to Him. i am desperately, madly, deeply in love with Him and i submit to Him in anything and everything. whatever He calls me to i willingly do.
are you still searching for your prince / princess? surrender to the King of Glory and know the joy of His deep intimate love that He's just waiting to lavish on you.
as one friend told me just before i went to costa rica - i was just transferring my needs to something else. that i was running away and would never find what i was looking for. but i have found what i was looking for and more.
do you hunger for something more? do you think this is just a fairy tale? an impossible dream?
it isn't. God is alive and real and waiting for you to come to Him. i wish there was something i could say that would convince people of their need for God but i know there isn't. we can only let the Glory of God shine His light in us as a beacon to light the way for others to follow.
is your cup full, half full or half empty? let the abundant joy of God in your life spill over into the lives of others.
don't wait to get to heaven to experience the incredible joy of God's pleasure. enjoy heaven on earth, right here, right now. He's calling your name, are you listening?
this is SO true. i see so many people that claim to be christians but i don't see any joy in their lives.
i feel so blessed and i have such joy and i wonder 'why me'
the only thing i ever wanted in life was to be loved. my father died before i was born. the year i was born my mother's husband, father & grandmother all died. for me it was like she never recovered from her grief and didn't know how to love me.
i was 12 when i ran away from home the first time. i didn't have a great young life but although there were a lot of struggles i'd have to say it was pretty good for the most part. there was emotional, physical, verbal & sexual abuse but i don't know too many families that haven't experienced that so i'd have to say all in all i had a pretty normal childhood.
to say that that was a normal childhood sure makes it sounds like we live in a pretty sick world. and the older i get the sicker this world seems to be. i had a couple of marriages, normal; several relationships looking for love, also normal?
i didn't find true love until i became a christian. i still wanted to be in a relationship. but i think it's being single that has brought me closer to God. i am alone and it is in being alone that i have so much more time to spend with God than a married person would have.
i don't have very good people skills so i don't have a lot of friends. so again i am alone a lot. but i am never alone. God is always here with me. i spend time with Him and it is in spending my time with Him that i find my joy. married people and people with lots of friends spend their time with their spouses and their friends. people spend their time with family or friends or doing activities but how many people actually spend their time with God.
don't pity me. believe me i've done enough of that mayself in the past. but consider this - whoever you are spending your time with is who you are developing a relationship with.
if you are bemoaning your singleness you aren't drawing any closer to the lover of your soul. if you are spending all your time with family and friends when are you spending time with God.
ask anyone that knows me - i always wanted to be married, to be in relationship, to be loved. now i'm not so sure about being married. i am in relationship now and i am deeply loved. and i love deeply.
last night i thought i wanted to write something that would be read after i died. i wanted to have the last say. i wanted to say something that was bold. i wanted to say something to people that i was never able to say while i was alive.
so many so called christians have absolutely no idea about what it is to truly be a christian. they spend time in God's house one hour a week, sunday christians and have no idea what joy is waiting for them if they would actually take the time to spend time with God.
God really is offering so much more than they are experiencing but they won't know it until they change their life. don't know how? can't do it? how many times does God have to tell you 'ask, seek, knock' He's just waiting for you to ask Him.
the bible is truly THE guide to life, abundant, joyful, blessed life. why struggle with day to day living waiting to enjoy life, love and joy when you get to heaven. sure daily life can be a struggle but if you are truly, madly, deeply, in love with God He carries you through all that.
prayer - is your prayer time 2 minutes or 2 hours. you get what you give. are you praising God and thanking Him and praying for others? or is it all about you?
bible reading - you've just finished reading the bible for the first time. you've been a christian for 10 years and it's taken you this long? it truly is the living Word of God. start each january and read the bible each year - you'll be surprised at knowing that you've read the same things several times before but all of a sudden you finally understand it. you want answers - God's given us all the answers we'll need this side of heaven.
giving - i think this is the hardest part of being a christian. God blesses us but we hoard it. God says we need to be good stewards of His money. it is HIS money you know. you wouldn't have the job without Him. you wouldn't have the income without Him. everything we have is from Him. what is a good steward? someone that puts their money in the bank to save it for a rainy day? well we've had a lot of rainy days lately. are you content? are you joyful? or is a good steward someone that gives it back to God for His joy, His purpose? ever since becoming a christian i wondered about being a good steward. i used to be so far in debt i thought i'd never see daylight. then i lived on a small pension for almost 2 years without a job and although i don't have a dime in savings, now, excluding my mortgage, i have no debt, i am joyful and content beyond my imaginings.
do not worry - that is a command, but does anyone listen? how much of your day do you spend worrying? are you worried about finances? are you worried about health? worrying about anything is going to affect your health and quite likely your relationships.
trust - worrying about anything is saying you don't trust God to take care of you. if you are saying you don't trust God to take care of you how do you think that is going to affect your relationship with Him? He promises to always be with us. He promises to give us what we need. don't be anxious wondering when or how God will give us what we need. just trust. He says He will and He will. He will provide for what we need WHEN we need it and not before. He will comfort us when we mourn. He will give us peace when we need it. He will protect us.
i think romans 8:28 is my favourite verse "that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" whether in sickness or in health i believe this. we may not understand how death or disease is His working for our good but consider how He did not spare His own Son because He loves us so much. how many of you love your child so much that you would gladly give your life for theirs. how many people unselfishly have given their lives for a friend. or as i think of the martyrs who have died so that others might live to know Christ. or as jim elliot said when asked if they would protect themselves against the waodani indians in ecuador 'they are not ready for heaven, we are'
are you ready for heaven? are you going to get there and be blown away by all the blessings you missed out on while here.
one way God blesses us is giving us spiritual gifts. learn what they are and how you can use them. if you are serving in the areas of your giftedness you will be blessed and know God's joy.
don't do something just because you can. don't do something just because it's a paycheque. find out your gifts, discover your passions and work out of those and you'll be amazed at the difference between working for a living and living for God. the first is a day to day grind, tiresome, weary, an endless rut. but the second is a joy, almost that you would do it without pay, tireless, something to look forward to.
i wish there was something i could say to people that they would know / have the same joy i have.
so many singles that don't have the joy of an intimate relationship with the one perfect love that's just longing for a relationship with them. so many married people that don't have that joy.
i know some pretty awesome people that have been christians for a long time and they don't have joy. why am i so blessed? someone very close to me has been a christian for about 30 years but i don't ever recall seeing joy. has she forgotten her first love? she worries about money, health, doesn't show love or forgiveness. i wonder if because she is lukewarm, neither hot nor cold will she be spit out (rev 3:16).
i think i'd have to describe myself as a needy person. maybe because i am i spend so much time with God. i've always thought i was able and capable of taking care of myself. i was a survivor. the only one thing i ever wanted i couldn't have. i, like most little girls i imagine, dreamed of once upon a time living happily ever after. i kissed a lot of toads looking for my prince.
and then i found a King. and in Him the one, true, perfect love i had been searching for all my life.
so as a needy person i have come to the right place. He fulfills my every need. He is the lover of my soul, i hunger for Him and He fills me up. my joy and my life are complete in Him. sometimes i ache i long so much to be with Him. and when i have hurt Him i am completely heartbroken and desperate to be reconciled to Him. i am desperately, madly, deeply in love with Him and i submit to Him in anything and everything. whatever He calls me to i willingly do.
are you still searching for your prince / princess? surrender to the King of Glory and know the joy of His deep intimate love that He's just waiting to lavish on you.
as one friend told me just before i went to costa rica - i was just transferring my needs to something else. that i was running away and would never find what i was looking for. but i have found what i was looking for and more.
do you hunger for something more? do you think this is just a fairy tale? an impossible dream?
it isn't. God is alive and real and waiting for you to come to Him. i wish there was something i could say that would convince people of their need for God but i know there isn't. we can only let the Glory of God shine His light in us as a beacon to light the way for others to follow.
is your cup full, half full or half empty? let the abundant joy of God in your life spill over into the lives of others.
don't wait to get to heaven to experience the incredible joy of God's pleasure. enjoy heaven on earth, right here, right now. He's calling your name, are you listening?
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
the worst places to be a kid
Each year, the United Nations ranks more than 175 countries according to health, education, and standard of living. Known as the Human Development Index, the annual list provides statistics about life around the world.
the index is at http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/ human development indicators pages 219 to 220
Norway, Sweden, Australia, and Canada topped the list with their high standards of living, long life expectancies, and low infant mortality rates. At the bottom of the list, however, are a number of countries where it is much more difficult for children.
The Worst of the Worst
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has an infant mortality rate of 166 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average life expectancy in Sierra Leone is a mere 34 years.
Considered to be the world's least-developed nation, more than half of Sierra Leone's population of 5.3 million lives in extreme poverty. The country's decade-long civil war ended in 2002, but the problems that caused the war—poverty, tribal rivalry, the illicit diamond trade, and government corruption—are ongoing. World Vision began working in Sierra Leone in 1978.
Niger
In Niger, the infant mortality rate is 154 deaths per 1,000 live births. A child growing up there can expect to live only 46 years on average.
This arid country of 12.9 million is the world's poorest country and its second-least developed. Drought and hunger affect the population of subsistence farmers almost annually. Literacy rates are low and disease is widespread. World Vision has been working in Niger since 1973.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has an infant mortality rate of 107 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average life expectancy in Burkina Faso is only 46 years.
Landlocked in west Africa, this small country of 13.8 million has suffered recurring droughts and military coups. Allegations of human rights violations and involvement in the diamond smuggling trade have dogged the country for decades.
Mali
In Mali, the infant mortality rate is 122 deaths per 1,000 live births. A child growing up there can expect to live only 49 years on average.
A relatively peaceful, democratic country of 13.8 million, Mali's poor rainfall, recurrent droughts, and degradation of natural resources have contributed to the decline of food production. Approximately 80 per cent of Malians work in agriculture, yet less than four percent of the land is arable. World Vision has worked in Mali since 1975.
famines, droughts, plagues, wars. you read about them in the bible. these poorest of the poor nations live them daily, yearly, their entire lives.
and we in canada rank 5th in the world for quality of life. too many of us enjoy this 'quality' of life, completely ignoring the poor that God commanded us to clothe and feed and care for.
the index is at http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/ human development indicators pages 219 to 220
Norway, Sweden, Australia, and Canada topped the list with their high standards of living, long life expectancies, and low infant mortality rates. At the bottom of the list, however, are a number of countries where it is much more difficult for children.
The Worst of the Worst
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone has an infant mortality rate of 166 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average life expectancy in Sierra Leone is a mere 34 years.
Considered to be the world's least-developed nation, more than half of Sierra Leone's population of 5.3 million lives in extreme poverty. The country's decade-long civil war ended in 2002, but the problems that caused the war—poverty, tribal rivalry, the illicit diamond trade, and government corruption—are ongoing. World Vision began working in Sierra Leone in 1978.
Niger
In Niger, the infant mortality rate is 154 deaths per 1,000 live births. A child growing up there can expect to live only 46 years on average.
This arid country of 12.9 million is the world's poorest country and its second-least developed. Drought and hunger affect the population of subsistence farmers almost annually. Literacy rates are low and disease is widespread. World Vision has been working in Niger since 1973.
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has an infant mortality rate of 107 deaths per 1,000 live births. The average life expectancy in Burkina Faso is only 46 years.
Landlocked in west Africa, this small country of 13.8 million has suffered recurring droughts and military coups. Allegations of human rights violations and involvement in the diamond smuggling trade have dogged the country for decades.
Mali
In Mali, the infant mortality rate is 122 deaths per 1,000 live births. A child growing up there can expect to live only 49 years on average.
A relatively peaceful, democratic country of 13.8 million, Mali's poor rainfall, recurrent droughts, and degradation of natural resources have contributed to the decline of food production. Approximately 80 per cent of Malians work in agriculture, yet less than four percent of the land is arable. World Vision has worked in Mali since 1975.
famines, droughts, plagues, wars. you read about them in the bible. these poorest of the poor nations live them daily, yearly, their entire lives.
and we in canada rank 5th in the world for quality of life. too many of us enjoy this 'quality' of life, completely ignoring the poor that God commanded us to clothe and feed and care for.
i have more than enough
i'm sitting here in my pj's and sweater, wrapped in a blanket to keep warm but i'm so cold. i have a thermostat 3 feet away that says it's 23 degrees yet it feels like it's 3 degrees. last night i had planned to go to bible study but after being outside in the cold i was so drained & my energy sapped just trying to get warm, i didn't go. as i'm sitting here inside my nice warm shelter i'm thinking of all those that don't have shelter, that don't have warm blankets, or jackets, people living outside on the streets of my city and people on the other side of the world. i'm thinking of people that are going to go through this winter with not enough food to eat, not enough clothes or blankets or heat sources to keep them warm. i can't imagine it. i'm sitting inside a warm place of shelter and i'm so cold it hurts. you might think - it's 5 am, go back to bed fool and get warm and quit complaining but i can't. i need to think of how very much i have. i need to think of how very little the rest of the world has. i need to think how i can make a difference. i need to think how i can support agencies who can make a difference.
if you have a nice warm place to live, if you have enough food to eat, if you have more than a couple pairs of shoes, a couple of sweaters, a couple of pairs of pants, you have enough. and more than most of the rest of the world.
if you have a nice warm place to live, if you have enough food to eat, if you have more than a couple pairs of shoes, a couple of sweaters, a couple of pairs of pants, you have enough. and more than most of the rest of the world.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
God's discipline
as a child my mother would beat us with a straight razor strap or have us cut down willow branches and whip us with them. now as i am praying & reading a devotional talking about God's correction i think of the difference between God's discipline and my mother's. with enough force a willow whip cuts into the skin and can be pretty painful. however it is nothing compared to the pain i feel when i have sinned and feel separated from God. i thank God for His correction. there are times when i feel the separation. i don't know why, i can't think of what i've done or how i've sinned but i know that i have that i would feel that pain of separation. i am thankful for the Holy Spirit who convicts my heart and tells me what i've done that was against God, as it is only through repentance that i am restored to a right relationship with Him. without Him you may as well rip out my heart.
Friday, October 20, 2006
pumpkins
Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for the entire world to see.
This was passed on to me from another pumpkin. Now, it is your turn to pass it to a pumpkin. I liked this enough to send it to all the pumpkins in my patch.
Happy Fall!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
prayer
it took a very long time before i was ever able to pray in our small group bible study. these are women i have met with weekly for years and i am comfortable in their presence. it is quite another matter to pray in other small groups that i am now involved in. i am very self-conscience of sounding stupid or tripping over my words.
a couple of months ago God put it on my heart to pray for Unreached People Groups of the world - http://www.joshuaproject.net/ethne.php?es=1
i never knew how to pray or what to pray for but as they have specific prayer requests each day i could just read the prayers. since i started doing this it has grown in me and become alive, not just something i read off the page anymore.
2 weeks ago at the perspectives class the speaker said that he is in bed every nght at 10:00. he is african and is in the habit of praying every morning for a couple of hours.
i used to pray at night. watch a movie til 11:00 then pray for awhile. i slept crappy and woke up tired. the past couple of nights i have gone to bed at 10 and woken up just after 5. i have better sleep so i don't wake up tired and i start the day with an hour & 1/2 of prayer. what a way to start the day. i had been reading my bible first thing in the am and only saying a few short prayers.
years ago in costa rica susan gave me a note saying that God had called me to costa rica to be a prayer warrior. knowing my inability (fear of) to speak a prayer out loud i thought she must be kidding.
reading the prayer requests every day for the nations of the world it is becoming easier, more natural. speaking prayers from the heart rather than just reading them off the page.
if you feel inadequate as a pray-er check out that website. start reading the specific prayer requests for the upg's of the world. not only will it will increase the number of people praying for the nations, prayer will become easier and more natural.
a couple of months ago God put it on my heart to pray for Unreached People Groups of the world - http://www.joshuaproject.net/ethne.php?es=1
i never knew how to pray or what to pray for but as they have specific prayer requests each day i could just read the prayers. since i started doing this it has grown in me and become alive, not just something i read off the page anymore.
2 weeks ago at the perspectives class the speaker said that he is in bed every nght at 10:00. he is african and is in the habit of praying every morning for a couple of hours.
i used to pray at night. watch a movie til 11:00 then pray for awhile. i slept crappy and woke up tired. the past couple of nights i have gone to bed at 10 and woken up just after 5. i have better sleep so i don't wake up tired and i start the day with an hour & 1/2 of prayer. what a way to start the day. i had been reading my bible first thing in the am and only saying a few short prayers.
years ago in costa rica susan gave me a note saying that God had called me to costa rica to be a prayer warrior. knowing my inability (fear of) to speak a prayer out loud i thought she must be kidding.
reading the prayer requests every day for the nations of the world it is becoming easier, more natural. speaking prayers from the heart rather than just reading them off the page.
if you feel inadequate as a pray-er check out that website. start reading the specific prayer requests for the upg's of the world. not only will it will increase the number of people praying for the nations, prayer will become easier and more natural.
Monday, October 16, 2006
witness
a witness is what you ARE far more than it is something that you DO. God arranges for His servants to display what they declare. by public testimony in the face of hostility, ordinary people accomplish far more than merely affirming the truth of Christ. witnesses establish the value of following Christ. their persuasive power is not only because their words match their life - their words and their life match those of Christ Himself. it is as if Christ Himself stands to testify before the world.
mandate
to live under mandate is to be entrusted with a task of lasting significance. mandates are not commands. by direct commands we assign small errands or daily chores. a mandate, on the other hand, releases authority and responsibility to pursue endeavors of historic importance. God has entrusted to Christ, and with Him to the church, a mandate to fulfill His purpose for all of history.
Monday, October 09, 2006
missions
i really like the course i'm taking on wednesday nights. it's about God's purpose. i didn't realize until i started this course how important missions are. people wonder when Jesus will return. God tells us in so many places in the bible that Jesus won't come again until there are people from every nation, tongue, tribe, and language in His family. God wants ALL people to come to Him and until there are people from every culture in His family Jesus won't return.
Mark 16:15 Jesus said "go into all the world and preach the goods news to ALL CREATION"
Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem, and in all judea and samaria and to the ENDS OF THE EARTH.
Matt 28:19 there go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Rev 5:9 You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain and with Your blood You purchased men for God from EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.
Daniel 7:14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; ALL PEOPLES, NATIONS AND MEN OF EVERY LANGUAGE worshiped Him.
it is written throughout the bible, from genesis to revelation, that God's wants a multicultural family.
this month is the month of ramadan which is a month of prayer for muslims. christians needs to be praying for muslims, buddhists, atheists, sikhs, hindus, etc. all people of every nation that they would be coming to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Jesus loves everyone and if we christians are to win people to Christ we have to be like Christ and love everyone too.
God's put it on my heart to pray for all the unreached people of the world. this is the great commission, to reach the lost for Christ. what are you doing about it? we can't all go but we can all pray.
missions are great, whether they are local or international, if we are doing good works for the less fortunate people of the world, but they mean nothing if we are not telling them about Jesus.
Mark 16:15 Jesus said "go into all the world and preach the goods news to ALL CREATION"
Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem, and in all judea and samaria and to the ENDS OF THE EARTH.
Matt 28:19 there go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Rev 5:9 You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain and with Your blood You purchased men for God from EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.
Daniel 7:14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; ALL PEOPLES, NATIONS AND MEN OF EVERY LANGUAGE worshiped Him.
it is written throughout the bible, from genesis to revelation, that God's wants a multicultural family.
this month is the month of ramadan which is a month of prayer for muslims. christians needs to be praying for muslims, buddhists, atheists, sikhs, hindus, etc. all people of every nation that they would be coming to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Jesus loves everyone and if we christians are to win people to Christ we have to be like Christ and love everyone too.
God's put it on my heart to pray for all the unreached people of the world. this is the great commission, to reach the lost for Christ. what are you doing about it? we can't all go but we can all pray.
missions are great, whether they are local or international, if we are doing good works for the less fortunate people of the world, but they mean nothing if we are not telling them about Jesus.
Friday, October 06, 2006
visiting my past
today i returned to the orphanage i lived in when i was a kid. it was turned into a church 25 years ago and is now in the process of being restored as a heritage building.
it was an emotional time as memories flooded back. they were not happy memories and the tears flowed freely. when my brother and sister and i arrived we were all taken to different rooms. i went to the nursery and they went to the girls and boys dorms. it was maybe a year or more before i graduated to the dorm and was in the same room as my sister.
today the nursery is a bright, sunny room. i only remember it as a very dark, fearful and lonely place.
the dorms are now the sanctuary. what was once a place of torment for me is now a place of worship.
it was here that my nightly terrors began. every night for years i was chased by a spider that was as big as a house and i was the size of the head of a pin. the nightmares continued years later even when i had left the orphanage. i was ridiculed, shamed and humiliated on a daily basis.
i'm not sure why i decided to go today. my sister has returned a couple times over the years. until today i had never returned nor wanted to.
in the past year i have become more aware of my timidity. today as two of the church ladies prayed for me one said she could feel my gentle spirit. as a witness for Christ i want to be bold but i haven't been.
if i have a prayer request i will not speak it as it usually means i will have to pray for someone else. i will take a prayer request home with me and pray there but not in a group. i can talk to God for hours but to pray in public - forget it. it took me a very long time to feel comfortable in praying in my bible study group. now i am involved in other groups and i am silent there.
when i finally went home to live with my mother she told me many times that i wasn't good enough. and they definitely told me that in the orphanage.
i toured the whole building, upstairs and the basement. i didn't even remember there was an upstairs or a basement. although i may have blocked out some of the memories as the worst of them were at the forefront.
today my memory is of a beautiful, warm, homey room. it's where the pastor counsels people. it's what i want to remember.
it was an emotional time as memories flooded back. they were not happy memories and the tears flowed freely. when my brother and sister and i arrived we were all taken to different rooms. i went to the nursery and they went to the girls and boys dorms. it was maybe a year or more before i graduated to the dorm and was in the same room as my sister.
today the nursery is a bright, sunny room. i only remember it as a very dark, fearful and lonely place.
the dorms are now the sanctuary. what was once a place of torment for me is now a place of worship.
it was here that my nightly terrors began. every night for years i was chased by a spider that was as big as a house and i was the size of the head of a pin. the nightmares continued years later even when i had left the orphanage. i was ridiculed, shamed and humiliated on a daily basis.
i'm not sure why i decided to go today. my sister has returned a couple times over the years. until today i had never returned nor wanted to.
in the past year i have become more aware of my timidity. today as two of the church ladies prayed for me one said she could feel my gentle spirit. as a witness for Christ i want to be bold but i haven't been.
if i have a prayer request i will not speak it as it usually means i will have to pray for someone else. i will take a prayer request home with me and pray there but not in a group. i can talk to God for hours but to pray in public - forget it. it took me a very long time to feel comfortable in praying in my bible study group. now i am involved in other groups and i am silent there.
when i finally went home to live with my mother she told me many times that i wasn't good enough. and they definitely told me that in the orphanage.
i toured the whole building, upstairs and the basement. i didn't even remember there was an upstairs or a basement. although i may have blocked out some of the memories as the worst of them were at the forefront.
today my memory is of a beautiful, warm, homey room. it's where the pastor counsels people. it's what i want to remember.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Hope
God has called us to live our lives as a bold act of hope. to hope is not merely to wish for small improvements of personal circumstances. hope expects all things, large or little, to be overwhelmed and filled with the immense glory of Christ. thus, true hope pursues global glory and total triumph over evil. lives of hope can face great evil with relentless courage , since there is no telling how soon God will break through with ultimate victory.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
when do you feel God's pleasure?
just finished reading the cure for the common life, living in your sweet spot. by max lucado. good read.
i had been making notes on it and one of the things i wrote was 'when do you feel God's pleasure?' i thought at some point i would figure that out and answer the question. i did - yesterday after helping to make and serve lunch at a luncheon for seniors. i was reminded of feeling God's pleasure when i was picking up garbage after serving lunch at union gospel mission. i was reminded of feeling God's pleasure when i was serving food to a house full of drug addicted, alcoholic street people. so much so that tears were streaming down my face. this was a big thing that 3 years before i couldn't have imagined doing.
when do you feel God's pleasure?
recently in one of my devotionals i read something about a young woman that had been an athlete in school, she had excelled at playing a variety of sports and just naturally assumed that was her calling in life and expected that would be the key to her future. she was quite surprised to find that although sports was something she enjoyed and was very good at, it wasn't her sweet spot. it wasn't when she felt God's pleasure.
for as much as i love my job, it's not when i feel God's pleasure. we have been given spiritual gifts and i expect that when we are using our gifts that that is when we feel God's pleasure. are you using your spiritual gifts?
where is your sweet spot?
i don't know if this is so much about using my spiritual gift of service or just the fact that Jesus came to serve others and to be an example that we can show God's love by serving others.
whatever they are, if you are using your spiritual gifts, you will feel God's pleasure.
if you aren't you don't know what you're missing. you have been blessed with certain gifts and when you use them you are a blessing to others.
i had been making notes on it and one of the things i wrote was 'when do you feel God's pleasure?' i thought at some point i would figure that out and answer the question. i did - yesterday after helping to make and serve lunch at a luncheon for seniors. i was reminded of feeling God's pleasure when i was picking up garbage after serving lunch at union gospel mission. i was reminded of feeling God's pleasure when i was serving food to a house full of drug addicted, alcoholic street people. so much so that tears were streaming down my face. this was a big thing that 3 years before i couldn't have imagined doing.
when do you feel God's pleasure?
recently in one of my devotionals i read something about a young woman that had been an athlete in school, she had excelled at playing a variety of sports and just naturally assumed that was her calling in life and expected that would be the key to her future. she was quite surprised to find that although sports was something she enjoyed and was very good at, it wasn't her sweet spot. it wasn't when she felt God's pleasure.
for as much as i love my job, it's not when i feel God's pleasure. we have been given spiritual gifts and i expect that when we are using our gifts that that is when we feel God's pleasure. are you using your spiritual gifts?
where is your sweet spot?
i don't know if this is so much about using my spiritual gift of service or just the fact that Jesus came to serve others and to be an example that we can show God's love by serving others.
whatever they are, if you are using your spiritual gifts, you will feel God's pleasure.
if you aren't you don't know what you're missing. you have been blessed with certain gifts and when you use them you are a blessing to others.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
clergy appreciation month
October is 'Clergy Appreciation Month'
Several years ago, Focus on the Family began leading an effort for each October to be “Clergy Appreciation Month.”
Material currently on the FOTF website indicates that Clergy Appreciation Month is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and multiple blessings provided by these special people.
It is typically scheduled in October, but can be held at any time that is convenient for the church and the community. It is also important to remember that appreciation, affirmation and prayer support of our spiritual leaders is appropriate throughout the entire year.
Why is CAM necessary?
The nature of the service provided by pastors and their families is unique. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments--the spiritual well-being of His flock. When a pastor becomes ineffective, the very souls of his or her parishioners are endangered. When eternity is in the balance, we should all be concerned.
Pastors and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward.
Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out.
That's why God has instructed us to recognize His servants.
"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Timothy 5:17).
The good news is that we can make a difference! Clergy Appreciation Month is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with the positive affirmation they need.
What can we do? Here are two ways to help your pastors and their families feel appreciated:
· Figure out what you can do personally to recognize and honor these leaders. A simple card, an invitation to lunch, a promise to pray for them or an offer to babysit, wash a car or mow a lawn make wonderful statements.
· Share the concept of CAM with others in your congregation and challenge them to join you in some kind of formal planning. You might consider a special service of affirmation, a potluck event or planting a tree in their honor. The sky is the limit!
To help you in this process, Focus on the Family has developed a number of resources which are available at http://parsonage.org/cam/index.cfm.
copied from a blog by Terry White
http://fgbc-world.blogspot.com/2006/09/october-is-clergy-appreciation-month.html
Several years ago, Focus on the Family began leading an effort for each October to be “Clergy Appreciation Month.”
Material currently on the FOTF website indicates that Clergy Appreciation Month is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and multiple blessings provided by these special people.
It is typically scheduled in October, but can be held at any time that is convenient for the church and the community. It is also important to remember that appreciation, affirmation and prayer support of our spiritual leaders is appropriate throughout the entire year.
Why is CAM necessary?
The nature of the service provided by pastors and their families is unique. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments--the spiritual well-being of His flock. When a pastor becomes ineffective, the very souls of his or her parishioners are endangered. When eternity is in the balance, we should all be concerned.
Pastors and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward.
Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out.
That's why God has instructed us to recognize His servants.
"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Timothy 5:17).
The good news is that we can make a difference! Clergy Appreciation Month is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with the positive affirmation they need.
What can we do? Here are two ways to help your pastors and their families feel appreciated:
· Figure out what you can do personally to recognize and honor these leaders. A simple card, an invitation to lunch, a promise to pray for them or an offer to babysit, wash a car or mow a lawn make wonderful statements.
· Share the concept of CAM with others in your congregation and challenge them to join you in some kind of formal planning. You might consider a special service of affirmation, a potluck event or planting a tree in their honor. The sky is the limit!
To help you in this process, Focus on the Family has developed a number of resources which are available at http://parsonage.org/cam/index.cfm.
copied from a blog by Terry White
http://fgbc-world.blogspot.com/2006/09/october-is-clergy-appreciation-month.html
A Divided House
"But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against
itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will
not stand.'" Matthew 12:25
"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Mark 3:25
"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: 'Any kingdom divided against itself
will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.'" Luke 11:17
A house can be a family, a church body, or a country. Did you know that in the
Civil war, more than 364,000 persons died in battle? That is way more than the
total casualties from all other wars combined, that our country has been in
(except WWII)! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COINED THE PHRASE 'CIVIL' WAR. THERE IS NOTHING CIVIL ABOUT WAR.
If there is strife, contention, discord, etc., then the house is divided. It is
not of one accord. If arguments, stony silences, yelling, screaming, hitting,
grudges, resentments, unforgiveness, or misunderstandings are present, there is
division.
The house may hold its own and function enough to get by. But there is no
healthy living, no peace, and no joy. And there is no outreach; it remains
self-serving and self-sustaining.
Sometimes things have to be like this for awhile, until they can get better. But
as they say, "If nothing changes nothing changes." If things don't eventually
improve, and unity manifest, there is no fruit (like peace, or joy).
This subject is important enough that the Holy Spirit impressed the gospel
writers to include it in three of the four Gospels. We not only want to stand,
we want to grow, and spread out. We want to bear fruit- lots of good fruit. We
want to share the Good News with a dark and hurting world dying to hear that
Good News.
We need the love of God in our hearts. We need to look at Jesus, through
absorbing the Word. We need the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit.
Fortunately for us, all of these are available, anytime we turn around to the
Lord and ask for His help.
Unity, not division. It's God's plan. That's good news.
Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we praise you today, and we ask for Your
divine help to achieve true unity in all of our houses. In the name, and through
the blood, of Jesus. Amen.
itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will
not stand.'" Matthew 12:25
"If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Mark 3:25
"Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: 'Any kingdom divided against itself
will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.'" Luke 11:17
A house can be a family, a church body, or a country. Did you know that in the
Civil war, more than 364,000 persons died in battle? That is way more than the
total casualties from all other wars combined, that our country has been in
(except WWII)! WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COINED THE PHRASE 'CIVIL' WAR. THERE IS NOTHING CIVIL ABOUT WAR.
If there is strife, contention, discord, etc., then the house is divided. It is
not of one accord. If arguments, stony silences, yelling, screaming, hitting,
grudges, resentments, unforgiveness, or misunderstandings are present, there is
division.
The house may hold its own and function enough to get by. But there is no
healthy living, no peace, and no joy. And there is no outreach; it remains
self-serving and self-sustaining.
Sometimes things have to be like this for awhile, until they can get better. But
as they say, "If nothing changes nothing changes." If things don't eventually
improve, and unity manifest, there is no fruit (like peace, or joy).
This subject is important enough that the Holy Spirit impressed the gospel
writers to include it in three of the four Gospels. We not only want to stand,
we want to grow, and spread out. We want to bear fruit- lots of good fruit. We
want to share the Good News with a dark and hurting world dying to hear that
Good News.
We need the love of God in our hearts. We need to look at Jesus, through
absorbing the Word. We need the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit.
Fortunately for us, all of these are available, anytime we turn around to the
Lord and ask for His help.
Unity, not division. It's God's plan. That's good news.
Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we praise you today, and we ask for Your
divine help to achieve true unity in all of our houses. In the name, and through
the blood, of Jesus. Amen.
doing good things vs doing God things
this was what i did in costa rica. after God said 'but only for 1 year' and i stayed 15 months. i was doing what i thought were good things but if God considered it an abomination because i had stayed 3 months longer than He said i could that might explain why things felt different. i was doing the same things but in my time which was more than the time God had given me to do them in. i didn't feel like i had a purpose to be there anymore.
There are good things we can do, but only God-things we should do. Those activities not born out of the Spirit will result in wood, hay, and stubble. What seems good in our eyes may be an abomination in God's eyes. For instance, if you decide to build an orphanage but God has never directed you to do so, then God will not see that work as good; it was born out of your own strength, even though it was a "good work."
The most difficult challenge a Christian workplace believer will ever have is to know what things to be involved in and what things not to be involved in. Many workplace believers have a great ability to see opportunity. What appears to be a "slam dunk" may come back to haunt us if God never ordains us to enter that arena.
There are many good things we can be involved with. However, there are God-things we are supposed to be involved with. Uzzah was a good man in David's sight. It was a time of celebration, and David and the people were transporting the ark of God. However, the ark hit a bump, and Uzzah reached for the ark to hold it steady. He touched the ark, and he immediately died. David became very upset with God about this situation; he questioned whether he could serve God.
God's ways are not our ways. The most important quality God desires to develop in us is our dependence on Him and Him alone. When we begin to make decisions based on reason and analysis instead of the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit, we get into trouble with God. David later learned the importance of this principle in his own life. This encounter was one of the stepping-stones in his pilgrimage. David was an extraordinary entrepreneur. He ran the nation very successfully, but he, like each of us, had to learn the difference between "good things" and "God-things."
Are you involved in anything in which God has not directed you to be involved? Do you seek God about every decision, every action before you take it? This is where God wants you and me to be. Ask Him to show you how to walk with Him in this way.
ok i just sent some emails to get involved in something new. i didn't talk to God specifically about this exact thing right before i sent the emails but this morning i talked to Him at length about wanting to 'do' more. asking Him what i could do. then i got an email about getting involved in something & i signed up right away. i don't think i actually thought of Him before i sent the emails but after reading the above devotional i thought it must be God inspired because it sort of involves public speaking which i am absolutely terrified of.
There are good things we can do, but only God-things we should do. Those activities not born out of the Spirit will result in wood, hay, and stubble. What seems good in our eyes may be an abomination in God's eyes. For instance, if you decide to build an orphanage but God has never directed you to do so, then God will not see that work as good; it was born out of your own strength, even though it was a "good work."
The most difficult challenge a Christian workplace believer will ever have is to know what things to be involved in and what things not to be involved in. Many workplace believers have a great ability to see opportunity. What appears to be a "slam dunk" may come back to haunt us if God never ordains us to enter that arena.
There are many good things we can be involved with. However, there are God-things we are supposed to be involved with. Uzzah was a good man in David's sight. It was a time of celebration, and David and the people were transporting the ark of God. However, the ark hit a bump, and Uzzah reached for the ark to hold it steady. He touched the ark, and he immediately died. David became very upset with God about this situation; he questioned whether he could serve God.
God's ways are not our ways. The most important quality God desires to develop in us is our dependence on Him and Him alone. When we begin to make decisions based on reason and analysis instead of the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit, we get into trouble with God. David later learned the importance of this principle in his own life. This encounter was one of the stepping-stones in his pilgrimage. David was an extraordinary entrepreneur. He ran the nation very successfully, but he, like each of us, had to learn the difference between "good things" and "God-things."
Are you involved in anything in which God has not directed you to be involved? Do you seek God about every decision, every action before you take it? This is where God wants you and me to be. Ask Him to show you how to walk with Him in this way.
ok i just sent some emails to get involved in something new. i didn't talk to God specifically about this exact thing right before i sent the emails but this morning i talked to Him at length about wanting to 'do' more. asking Him what i could do. then i got an email about getting involved in something & i signed up right away. i don't think i actually thought of Him before i sent the emails but after reading the above devotional i thought it must be God inspired because it sort of involves public speaking which i am absolutely terrified of.
Passion
passion is the heart set free to pursue that which is truly worthy. those who set their hearts on that which is most worthy - the glory of God - live with joy-filled abandon. their hearts are both seized and satisfied with the ambition for Jesus to be ardently worshiped. that love comes to dominate and integrate all other desires so as to live in the freedom of single-minded purpose.
Purpose
we were made to live for purpose. God Himself lives for purpose. the way to live with significance is to devote your life to a purpose that is larger than your life.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
pride
i started my new job this week. it's great, i love it - the work, the people. God had given me amazing peace after my initial panic attack at being called for an interview. the peace continued with me before, during and after the interview. i've never experienced that before. i didn't even ask how much i'd make. i definitely hadn't experienced anything like that before. i didn't worry whether or not i would get the job. it was all in God's hands, He had led me to it so i knew that whatever the wage was it would be enough, and although i didn't know that i'd get the job, i knew that God was in control for whatever the outcome would be.
what i didn't like was last weekend when i was telling people about it. i was excited and happy to be telling people about it but found that pride crept in as i told people about where i would be working.
i had to take this test and a couple of questions asked about how you would feel if you met someone important, would you be nervous or excited. i believe we are all created equal so i don't think i would care about anyone's status. saying that i wonder how i let pride creep in about the job. in each job we are to work at it as if we are working for God, not man, not status.
i offended myself, forgive me if i offended you.
what i didn't like was last weekend when i was telling people about it. i was excited and happy to be telling people about it but found that pride crept in as i told people about where i would be working.
i had to take this test and a couple of questions asked about how you would feel if you met someone important, would you be nervous or excited. i believe we are all created equal so i don't think i would care about anyone's status. saying that i wonder how i let pride creep in about the job. in each job we are to work at it as if we are working for God, not man, not status.
i offended myself, forgive me if i offended you.
if i knew...
my paternal grandma always used to say - never go to bed angry.
always tell someone you love that you love them. don't let hurt or angry feelings hold you back. you never know if you'll get another chance to say i'm sorry or i love you.
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,!
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will l always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn! 't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out t o be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
always tell someone you love that you love them. don't let hurt or angry feelings hold you back. you never know if you'll get another chance to say i'm sorry or i love you.
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,!
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will l always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn! 't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out t o be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
restoration
Restoring relationships is an important part of having them. As imperfect people, you can count on the fact that we will let each other down. That’s why truthfulness and forgiveness are an essential part of our life together.
It’s a commentary on our fast-paced mobile lifestyles that it often takes a death to bring family and friends together. At a memorial service I attended once for the wife of a worship leader who had served three churches in three different parts of the country, friends from all three areas came, at no small personal expense, to show their love and support. The huge turnout was, as much as anything, a testimony to this couple’s deep commitment to the people they had served, and it was an opportunity for many to remember a courageous woman and give something back to her husband and children.
It was also a time for me to be reunited with old friends who had been much more in my life when I lived closer to them. One in particular had some hard words for me. Some time ago he sent me an e-mail that had gone into considerable detail about changes in his life – personal things he was going through – and I had never answered it or even acknowledged receiving it. This had hurt him deeply and I could tell as he confessed to me his hurt and anger that he had built up a lot of resentment toward me. But at the same time, I could sense a big weight come off his shoulders as he conveyed his true feelings to me. By facing me honestly, he was rescuing what was valuable about our relationship and setting both of us free.
He could have been superficially nice to me at the memorial service and continued on in his resentment and anger, and I would have never known. I couldn’t have even asked his forgiveness if I hadn’t known I had hurt him. But by being honest and confrontational, he gave the Lord the opportunity to heal and restore. God can do wonders in our relationships as long as we face each other and tell the truth.
Jesus once said that if you bring an offering to the Lord and you are aware of something wrong in one of your relationships, you should set your offering aside and go get things straightened out with your brother or sister, then come back and worship. (Matthew 5:23-24) How we live in relationship with each other in the Body of Christ needs our attention, even before our worship. God is basically saying that we can’t be in fellowship with him and knowingly out of fellowship with each other. My friend did the right thing and we are both the better for it. (pdl)
It’s a commentary on our fast-paced mobile lifestyles that it often takes a death to bring family and friends together. At a memorial service I attended once for the wife of a worship leader who had served three churches in three different parts of the country, friends from all three areas came, at no small personal expense, to show their love and support. The huge turnout was, as much as anything, a testimony to this couple’s deep commitment to the people they had served, and it was an opportunity for many to remember a courageous woman and give something back to her husband and children.
It was also a time for me to be reunited with old friends who had been much more in my life when I lived closer to them. One in particular had some hard words for me. Some time ago he sent me an e-mail that had gone into considerable detail about changes in his life – personal things he was going through – and I had never answered it or even acknowledged receiving it. This had hurt him deeply and I could tell as he confessed to me his hurt and anger that he had built up a lot of resentment toward me. But at the same time, I could sense a big weight come off his shoulders as he conveyed his true feelings to me. By facing me honestly, he was rescuing what was valuable about our relationship and setting both of us free.
He could have been superficially nice to me at the memorial service and continued on in his resentment and anger, and I would have never known. I couldn’t have even asked his forgiveness if I hadn’t known I had hurt him. But by being honest and confrontational, he gave the Lord the opportunity to heal and restore. God can do wonders in our relationships as long as we face each other and tell the truth.
Jesus once said that if you bring an offering to the Lord and you are aware of something wrong in one of your relationships, you should set your offering aside and go get things straightened out with your brother or sister, then come back and worship. (Matthew 5:23-24) How we live in relationship with each other in the Body of Christ needs our attention, even before our worship. God is basically saying that we can’t be in fellowship with him and knowingly out of fellowship with each other. My friend did the right thing and we are both the better for it. (pdl)
Sunday, September 10, 2006
tonights baptism
wow! so many people making a public declaration that they love God. of course not all of these people were getting baptized, maybe 20, the rest were family and friends wanting to share in their joy.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
I AM THANKFUL...
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.
SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID. (thanks angel)
Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.
SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID. (thanks angel)
Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
meeting Jesus
as i thought about having surgery i thought of being under anaesthesia and of meeting Jesus. what a flood of tears at the thought of the joy of meeting Him. reaching out my hand to Him. omg. the joy was indescribable. why would a person want to come back.
as i walked in the omi graveyard with my grandchildren last sunday they were asking about death. we talked about death and heaven and hell. i told them death was not something to fear if you knew you were going to heaven. when it was impersonal it was ok to talk about it. when i said that i wasn't afraid of dying because i knew i would see Jesus it became personal for them and they didn't want to talk about it anymore.
i'm glad the choice is not in my hands. my hearts breaks at the evil in this world but it also breaks at the thought of my grandchildren's heartache at losing someone else they love.
as i walked in the omi graveyard with my grandchildren last sunday they were asking about death. we talked about death and heaven and hell. i told them death was not something to fear if you knew you were going to heaven. when it was impersonal it was ok to talk about it. when i said that i wasn't afraid of dying because i knew i would see Jesus it became personal for them and they didn't want to talk about it anymore.
i'm glad the choice is not in my hands. my hearts breaks at the evil in this world but it also breaks at the thought of my grandchildren's heartache at losing someone else they love.
bible study...
as opposed to bible reading. it's interesting to note how different people see different things. what i learn from reading the bible and what another person learns. when many people are sharing their points of view scripture literally takes on new meaning. for each chapter we find 5 things that are relevant to today and each person says what they feel is the key verse and their favourite verse.
i've always just read the bible, i've never taken it apart, verse by verse, and studied it. it's cool. what a wonderful guide book.
although if you were only studying 1 chapter a week it would take 22.87 years to study the whole bible.
i've always just read the bible, i've never taken it apart, verse by verse, and studied it. it's cool. what a wonderful guide book.
although if you were only studying 1 chapter a week it would take 22.87 years to study the whole bible.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
what a perfect morning
i'm outside watering the garden, in the cool of the morning as the sun is making it's way up in the sky, picking the ripe cherry tomatoes, having the perfect cup of coffee.
we are so blessed in this part of the world. we can sit outside without fear of bombs dropping all around us. or soldiers running around raping and burning and pillaging. or a hurricane or tsunami wiping us out. for most of us, we have enough food to eat and clean water to drink.
we are so blessed. thank you Lord.
we are so blessed in this part of the world. we can sit outside without fear of bombs dropping all around us. or soldiers running around raping and burning and pillaging. or a hurricane or tsunami wiping us out. for most of us, we have enough food to eat and clean water to drink.
we are so blessed. thank you Lord.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Using Your Spiritual Gifts
Ephesians 4:11-13
Any person who claims to know Christ as Savior has a responsibility. They’re to use his or her God-given talents and gifts for His glory. Serving the Lord is not a suggestion but a command. To maximize our success as servants, the very same Spirit who gives us our spiritual gift helps us put it to use. When the motivation to reach our full potential for the Lord is mixed with the desire to use a spiritual gift, we become a powerful force in God’s kingdom.
We are His workmanship, specifically created to honor Him with good works. (Ephesians 2:10) What a waste if we’re too lazy to discover what special ability He has given us. Service for God takes place with endless variety. Different believers will use their various gifts in unique ways. And, no one is limited to serving in a church. We can walk out into secular culture and find thousands of ways to apply our combination of skill and gifting.
Some opportunities will fit us perfectly, while others will be more suited for another servant. Our inborn talents and abilities supplement our spiritual gift and may help us find our calling. The most obvious place to begin exercising our gift is in an area that interests us.
Whether your service involves sweeping floors or coaching soccer at your children’s school, the Holy Spirit will use your spiritual gift to spread the Gospel and bring glory to God. But the benefits also extend to believers. The people who enjoy life most are those who obey the call to serve and make their life count for the Lord.
(In Touch)
Any person who claims to know Christ as Savior has a responsibility. They’re to use his or her God-given talents and gifts for His glory. Serving the Lord is not a suggestion but a command. To maximize our success as servants, the very same Spirit who gives us our spiritual gift helps us put it to use. When the motivation to reach our full potential for the Lord is mixed with the desire to use a spiritual gift, we become a powerful force in God’s kingdom.
We are His workmanship, specifically created to honor Him with good works. (Ephesians 2:10) What a waste if we’re too lazy to discover what special ability He has given us. Service for God takes place with endless variety. Different believers will use their various gifts in unique ways. And, no one is limited to serving in a church. We can walk out into secular culture and find thousands of ways to apply our combination of skill and gifting.
Some opportunities will fit us perfectly, while others will be more suited for another servant. Our inborn talents and abilities supplement our spiritual gift and may help us find our calling. The most obvious place to begin exercising our gift is in an area that interests us.
Whether your service involves sweeping floors or coaching soccer at your children’s school, the Holy Spirit will use your spiritual gift to spread the Gospel and bring glory to God. But the benefits also extend to believers. The people who enjoy life most are those who obey the call to serve and make their life count for the Lord.
(In Touch)
Thursday, August 31, 2006
forgiveness
Is there anyone you need to seek forgiveness from? Acknowledging our sin is the first step. Humbling ourselves and taking actions to restore is the next step.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
singles bible study
last night we studied gen 24. everyone read 5 verses & at the end we had to say what it meant to us, which was our favourite verse and what we thought was the key message.
verses 12 - 14, specifically 'then he prayed... let her be the one YOU have chosen...' were key for me. my translation - seek God first and let His will be done.
almost everyone thought 7 & 67 were the key verses. i wonder about it - why my key was so different than everyone else's and most of them agreed with each other.
i have made so many wrong choices in my life. now i would pray 'God if You do have someone for me - let him be the one YOU have chosen' and if there is no one then i thank God for my singleness.
verses 12 - 14, specifically 'then he prayed... let her be the one YOU have chosen...' were key for me. my translation - seek God first and let His will be done.
almost everyone thought 7 & 67 were the key verses. i wonder about it - why my key was so different than everyone else's and most of them agreed with each other.
i have made so many wrong choices in my life. now i would pray 'God if You do have someone for me - let him be the one YOU have chosen' and if there is no one then i thank God for my singleness.
yup i'm bored
i made a rude noise about a nerd once on the first day of grade 10 math and got kicked out for the entire year.
now i wish i was one.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
job interview
maybe the reason i stayed at the same job for so many years was that i was terrified of having to go through the job interview process.
last week i had a medical procedure done and i was so unbelievably calm and peaceful. the doctor told me all the things that could go wrong and i told him that i trusted in God. i wasn't afraid even though i had just told the doctor i was terrified of needles. there was no freezing and i could feel all the probing but i thought of my eyes, how they were gently closed and not clenched together. i thought of my heart, how it just kept beating, ever so softly and quietly. there was no panic, no fear and unbelievably no pain. it was so totally a God thing.
i applied for another job and yesterday i got an email saying they would contact me to schedule an interview - and the panic set in. i liked my old job and i was good at it. i used to have confidence in my abilities. i don't any more. now there's just fear. fear of the job interview and fear that i wouldn't be able to do the job if i got it.
then i saw this on a devotional this morning. ...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
i know that. and i trust in that. and i'm thankful that God always sends me little reminders just when i need to hear them. He is so amazing.
last week i had a medical procedure done and i was so unbelievably calm and peaceful. the doctor told me all the things that could go wrong and i told him that i trusted in God. i wasn't afraid even though i had just told the doctor i was terrified of needles. there was no freezing and i could feel all the probing but i thought of my eyes, how they were gently closed and not clenched together. i thought of my heart, how it just kept beating, ever so softly and quietly. there was no panic, no fear and unbelievably no pain. it was so totally a God thing.
i applied for another job and yesterday i got an email saying they would contact me to schedule an interview - and the panic set in. i liked my old job and i was good at it. i used to have confidence in my abilities. i don't any more. now there's just fear. fear of the job interview and fear that i wouldn't be able to do the job if i got it.
then i saw this on a devotional this morning. ...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
i know that. and i trust in that. and i'm thankful that God always sends me little reminders just when i need to hear them. He is so amazing.
Monday, August 28, 2006
great expectations!!
great effort. great results.
the bible says we don't have because we don't ask. what if we ask and we don't have. God says yes, no or wait.
but what if when we ask we don't really believe. if we believe God is great then we should have great expectations. if we don't have great expectations are we then believing that God is not really all that great. how small do you think God is? no great expectations. or how awesome and mighty and great do you think God is? then have great expectations. throughout history people have worshiped little gods, man made gods, that were worthless, useless, incapable of anything. but we serve an amazing, awesome, powerful, glorious God. He is capable of anything and everything.
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
nothing is impossible for God.
the bible says we don't have because we don't ask. what if we ask and we don't have. God says yes, no or wait.
but what if when we ask we don't really believe. if we believe God is great then we should have great expectations. if we don't have great expectations are we then believing that God is not really all that great. how small do you think God is? no great expectations. or how awesome and mighty and great do you think God is? then have great expectations. throughout history people have worshiped little gods, man made gods, that were worthless, useless, incapable of anything. but we serve an amazing, awesome, powerful, glorious God. He is capable of anything and everything.
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
nothing is impossible for God.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
i love you so much i would die for you.
how many people would say or do that for you - how many people would you do that for.
After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the disciples. His first words to them were, "Peace be with you!" The word grace means "unmerited favor." When someone loves you unconditionally, without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in your life. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead, they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.
Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service. Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.
Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their lives-and yours.
After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the disciples. His first words to them were, "Peace be with you!" The word grace means "unmerited favor." When someone loves you unconditionally, without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in your life. Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand. Instead, they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.
Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service. Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.
Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their lives-and yours.
Dear Ethne06 Prayer Friends:
This just in from outreach team in Mongolia:
“We have just returned from the countryside. We had tremendous time of outreach ... amazing stories to tell once we are home. Dad [God] did awesome works. One hundred fifty seven joined the family [became believers] and fourteen received healing. Fish are jumping in the boat!”
This has been Ethnê Harvest-Linked Prayer Strategy initiative’s month of prayer for the least-reached peoples of Northeast Asia, which includes Mongolia!! How exciting to hear God is hearing and responding!!
Blessings,
Rev. Liz Adleta
Executive Director
how awesome!!! if you are joining in this prayer initiative - thanks. if you are not - why not? you don't have to be a prayer warrior or intercessor. i'm not. this is just something God has put on my heart. and the power of prayer is an awesome thing. just think of what we could accomplish if we all prayed. God is so amazing - He answers the cries of the faithful.
“We have just returned from the countryside. We had tremendous time of outreach ... amazing stories to tell once we are home. Dad [God] did awesome works. One hundred fifty seven joined the family [became believers] and fourteen received healing. Fish are jumping in the boat!”
This has been Ethnê Harvest-Linked Prayer Strategy initiative’s month of prayer for the least-reached peoples of Northeast Asia, which includes Mongolia!! How exciting to hear God is hearing and responding!!
Blessings,
Rev. Liz Adleta
Executive Director
how awesome!!! if you are joining in this prayer initiative - thanks. if you are not - why not? you don't have to be a prayer warrior or intercessor. i'm not. this is just something God has put on my heart. and the power of prayer is an awesome thing. just think of what we could accomplish if we all prayed. God is so amazing - He answers the cries of the faithful.
the list goes on and on
God, I want to take time to remember all the things You have done for me through the years. Oh, there are so many things. You have carried me through dark valleys of the shadow of death. You have rejoiced with me on the mountaintops. You have held my hand and helped me take a leap into unknown waters. You have applied healing balm to my hurts and warm sunshine on my soul. You have given me precious friends who have stood the test of time...and more. You have given me a loving family to grow with and be with. You have increased my territory spiritually and physically. You have picked me up when I have stumbled and nearly hit the ground. You have provided for me when I did not know where my provisions would come from. You have surrounded me with prayers and support of the family of God in time of need. You have shown me miracles and blessed my soul. You have given me desires of my heart--desires that were in line with Your will and Word. You have given me the privilege of helping advance Your kingdom through the gifts, talents, and resources You have entrusted to me. You have always patiently been there for me. You have felt my cries, laughed at my silliness, and gently guided me back onto the right paths. You have loved me with an everlasting love. I could go on and on. God I am thankful for You and all You've done and all You will do in my life. I love You and appreciate You and want to shout "how great is my God!" With loving thanks, in Jesus' name, amen. (tgif)
i give thanks when i think of all God has done in my life and like this prayer - i could go on and on.
it's not when i 'nearly hit the ground' - i fell head first and hit the ground hard and He was there to pick me up.
i give thanks when i think of all God has done in my life and like this prayer - i could go on and on.
it's not when i 'nearly hit the ground' - i fell head first and hit the ground hard and He was there to pick me up.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
perspectives
2000 years before Christ, God gave abraham the promise that in his seed, all nations of the world would be blessed. 2000 years ago Jesus came to the earth to die for the world. now here we are 2000 years later. is there a connection between abraham's promise, the Messiah's coming and what is happening in our world today? this exciting 14 week course will present the biblical, historical, cultural and strategic aspects of fulfilling the great commission. it begins september 13th in chilliwack. you can check it out on-line at:
http://www3.telus.net/cwmbc/ - the local website
http://www.perspectivescanada.org/default.aspx - the home page for perspectives canada
if anyone is interested in going please let me know. maybe we could share the driving.
http://www3.telus.net/cwmbc/ - the local website
http://www.perspectivescanada.org/default.aspx - the home page for perspectives canada
if anyone is interested in going please let me know. maybe we could share the driving.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
bigchurch.com - on-line personals
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Saturday, August 12, 2006
workplace ministry
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24
it seems almost every devotional i've read lately refers to our work being our ministry. i wonder why that is.
i know in the two month job i just finished i frequently had to remind myself of this scripture. at times it was very frustrating and it was at these times that i told myself to work at it with all my heart as if i was working for Jesus. my circumstances didn't change but my attitude did.
if you are dissatisfied in your job you have two options; you can quit, this is most likely not a practical solution, or you can choose to work at it with all your heart as if you are working for Jesus. since everything you have is ultimately from God anyway you really are working for Him. and if you treat your job like God is your boss think of the possibilities. if you thought you were working for God every day wouldn't your attitude change.
if you think you can't do it try it. you'll be pleasantly surprised.
and that's just you. you may not be able to change anyone but if your attitude changes others may change how they respond to you.
reminds me of a camp song, this little light of mine, i'm gonna let it shine...
if you see Jesus in your work, others may see Jesus in you. and isn't that the whole point.
it seems almost every devotional i've read lately refers to our work being our ministry. i wonder why that is.
i know in the two month job i just finished i frequently had to remind myself of this scripture. at times it was very frustrating and it was at these times that i told myself to work at it with all my heart as if i was working for Jesus. my circumstances didn't change but my attitude did.
if you are dissatisfied in your job you have two options; you can quit, this is most likely not a practical solution, or you can choose to work at it with all your heart as if you are working for Jesus. since everything you have is ultimately from God anyway you really are working for Him. and if you treat your job like God is your boss think of the possibilities. if you thought you were working for God every day wouldn't your attitude change.
if you think you can't do it try it. you'll be pleasantly surprised.
and that's just you. you may not be able to change anyone but if your attitude changes others may change how they respond to you.
reminds me of a camp song, this little light of mine, i'm gonna let it shine...
if you see Jesus in your work, others may see Jesus in you. and isn't that the whole point.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
The Causes of Failure
Whenever we act without God's complete blessing on our activity, we can expect God to thwart our plans.
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. - Joshua 7:13b
The first battle for the people of Israel traveling from Egypt was at Jericho, once they crossed the Jordan River. God had given them a great victory at Jericho, and Joshua was now ready to move to their next battle at Ai. After they spied out the enemy camp, they determined they needed only a few thousand men to gain victory. They went up against Ai only to fail miserably. They lost 32 men in a battle that should have been an easy victory, but instead they were forced to retreat. Joshua was devastated. "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)
In this case, the people fell short because they failed to uphold the standard God had set for them. God had told them not to take any plunder from their first battle. However, Achan hid some forbidden treasures, and God was now judging the entire nation for one man's sin.
Whenever we act without God's complete blessing on our activity, we can expect God to thwart our plans. God's word to Joshua was that he could not stand against his enemies as long as there was disobedience among his troops.
Whenever we launch a business endeavor, we should make sure there are no unclean things in our dealings that would allow us to be vulnerable to a failed effort: unpaid vendors, disgruntled employees who were not treated fairly, lawsuits, dishonesty. Many of these things can hinder God from blessing our enterprises. These things can remove the shield of protection from our workplace, which God wants to bless, but cannot because He is committed to upholding righteousness. His name is blemished when unrighteousness is allowed to permeate our lives.
Is the Lord able to bless your enterprises today? If not, you may need to go back and clean up a few things before He can do so. Take whatever steps are needed to ensure the blessing of God today.
just every day life in general - if we are living in disobedience to God how can we expect His blessing.
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. - Joshua 7:13b
The first battle for the people of Israel traveling from Egypt was at Jericho, once they crossed the Jordan River. God had given them a great victory at Jericho, and Joshua was now ready to move to their next battle at Ai. After they spied out the enemy camp, they determined they needed only a few thousand men to gain victory. They went up against Ai only to fail miserably. They lost 32 men in a battle that should have been an easy victory, but instead they were forced to retreat. Joshua was devastated. "Ah, Sovereign Lord, why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?" (Josh. 7:7a)
In this case, the people fell short because they failed to uphold the standard God had set for them. God had told them not to take any plunder from their first battle. However, Achan hid some forbidden treasures, and God was now judging the entire nation for one man's sin.
Whenever we act without God's complete blessing on our activity, we can expect God to thwart our plans. God's word to Joshua was that he could not stand against his enemies as long as there was disobedience among his troops.
Whenever we launch a business endeavor, we should make sure there are no unclean things in our dealings that would allow us to be vulnerable to a failed effort: unpaid vendors, disgruntled employees who were not treated fairly, lawsuits, dishonesty. Many of these things can hinder God from blessing our enterprises. These things can remove the shield of protection from our workplace, which God wants to bless, but cannot because He is committed to upholding righteousness. His name is blemished when unrighteousness is allowed to permeate our lives.
Is the Lord able to bless your enterprises today? If not, you may need to go back and clean up a few things before He can do so. Take whatever steps are needed to ensure the blessing of God today.
just every day life in general - if we are living in disobedience to God how can we expect His blessing.
Monday, August 07, 2006
wasps
a couple of weeks ago i was stung by a wasp as i grabbed the arm of my lounger. it stung, i was ticked so i killed it. a couple of them had come out from under the arm and i wondered if they were nesting in the shade of the chaise lounge. 2 days ago i laid in the sun for awhile and the whole time there were wasps buzzing around me and landing on me.
i wondered if they had built a nest under the lounger and when i turned it over discovered that they had. not being afraid of wasps i wondered what i should do and decided to check the internet to see what they eat.
turns out they eat spiders, ants and bees among other things. well since i have had to pollinate my zucchinis by hand because there were no bees around to do the job i considered that if i destroyed the nest the bees would come back to do the job.
but then i considered how i am terrified of spiders and what the consequence would be if i destroyed the nest. guess what - the nest stays.
God's purpose or mine
when i have told some people about how costa rica feels like home and my heart is still there they say i should just go and continue doing what i was doing when i was there.
knowing God gives meaning to life, and obeying God gives purpose to life. (odb)
God said "but only for 1 year" when i went to costa rica. i stayed longer. when i was staying longer than the 12 months i was not being obedient to God. i was not serving His purpose. i was not living for Him, i was living for myself. completely disobedient to what He had specifically told me.
there are other mission trips i want to go on but don't feel that God is calling me anywhere right now. if i went on a mission trip when i was not called by God would it be fruitful or would my plans be thwarted?
God blesses our obedience. why would anyone presume that He would bless our disobedience.
as christians we are not here for our own purpose at all - we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same. we do not know what God's compelling purpose is, but whatever happens, we must maintain our relationship with Him. we must never allow anything to damage our relationshp with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again.
God's purpose is never the same as man's purpose. (mufhh)
thank God that Jesus Christ was not disobedient or where in hell would we all be.
knowing God gives meaning to life, and obeying God gives purpose to life. (odb)
God said "but only for 1 year" when i went to costa rica. i stayed longer. when i was staying longer than the 12 months i was not being obedient to God. i was not serving His purpose. i was not living for Him, i was living for myself. completely disobedient to what He had specifically told me.
there are other mission trips i want to go on but don't feel that God is calling me anywhere right now. if i went on a mission trip when i was not called by God would it be fruitful or would my plans be thwarted?
God blesses our obedience. why would anyone presume that He would bless our disobedience.
as christians we are not here for our own purpose at all - we are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same. we do not know what God's compelling purpose is, but whatever happens, we must maintain our relationship with Him. we must never allow anything to damage our relationshp with God, but if something does damage it, we must take the time to make it right again.
God's purpose is never the same as man's purpose. (mufhh)
thank God that Jesus Christ was not disobedient or where in hell would we all be.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
cry out to Jesus
To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
by third day
for whatever you need - cry out to Jesus
got an email from a friend today who had told me a few months ago that they wanted to commit suicide. it was telling me they had come from one of the lowest points in their life and now know more joy today. that's what happens when you cry out to Jesus. what an awesome answer to prayer.
prayer does work - you just have to... cry out to Jesus.
what an awesome God. thank You Lord.
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
by third day
for whatever you need - cry out to Jesus
got an email from a friend today who had told me a few months ago that they wanted to commit suicide. it was telling me they had come from one of the lowest points in their life and now know more joy today. that's what happens when you cry out to Jesus. what an awesome answer to prayer.
prayer does work - you just have to... cry out to Jesus.
what an awesome God. thank You Lord.
are there any futbol fans out there?
real madrid is coming to seattle next wednesday. i would love to go to the game but don't want to go by myself. the cheap seats are $30, providing there are any left, plus $ for gas and dinner. the game starts at 8 pm. without having to drive in rush hour traffic it would probably be beter to go in the afternoon and you probably wouldn't get home til 1 am.
if you're interested please let me know asap in order to get tickets.
if you're interested please let me know asap in order to get tickets.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
surrender - at any cost
The Door of Full Surrender
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. - Job 23:10
I was recently sitting with the leader of a workplace organization as he described a question he poses to workplace believers. "What if there were two doors to choose from; behind one door was the complete will of God for your life and behind the other door was how life could be according to your own preference. Which door would you choose?" The struggle for most lies in the desire to follow God completely and the fear of what might be behind the door of full surrender. Most of us desire to follow God, but few of us will do it at any cost. We do not really believe that God loves us to the degree that we are willing to give Him complete permission to do as He wills in us.
If we desire to fully walk with Christ, there is a cost. We may give intellectual assent and go along with His principles and do fine; however, if we are fully given over to Him and His will for our life, it will be a life that will have adversity. The Bible is clear that humans do not achieve greatness without having their sinful will broken. This process is designed to create a nature change in each of us, not just a habit change. The Bible calls it circumcision. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal.
If God has plans to greatly use you in the lives of others, you can expect your trials to be even greater than those of others. Why? Because, like Joseph who went through greater trials than most patriarchs, your calling may have such responsibility that God cannot afford to entrust it to you without ensuring your complete faithfulness to the call. He has much invested in you on behalf of others. He may want to speak through your life to a greater degree than through another. The events of your life would become the frame for the message He wants to speak through you.
Do not fear the path that God may lead you on. Embrace it. For God may bring you down a path in your life to ensure the reward of your inheritance. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Cor. 4:17)
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. - Job 23:10
I was recently sitting with the leader of a workplace organization as he described a question he poses to workplace believers. "What if there were two doors to choose from; behind one door was the complete will of God for your life and behind the other door was how life could be according to your own preference. Which door would you choose?" The struggle for most lies in the desire to follow God completely and the fear of what might be behind the door of full surrender. Most of us desire to follow God, but few of us will do it at any cost. We do not really believe that God loves us to the degree that we are willing to give Him complete permission to do as He wills in us.
If we desire to fully walk with Christ, there is a cost. We may give intellectual assent and go along with His principles and do fine; however, if we are fully given over to Him and His will for our life, it will be a life that will have adversity. The Bible is clear that humans do not achieve greatness without having their sinful will broken. This process is designed to create a nature change in each of us, not just a habit change. The Bible calls it circumcision. Circumcision is painful, bloody, and personal.
If God has plans to greatly use you in the lives of others, you can expect your trials to be even greater than those of others. Why? Because, like Joseph who went through greater trials than most patriarchs, your calling may have such responsibility that God cannot afford to entrust it to you without ensuring your complete faithfulness to the call. He has much invested in you on behalf of others. He may want to speak through your life to a greater degree than through another. The events of your life would become the frame for the message He wants to speak through you.
Do not fear the path that God may lead you on. Embrace it. For God may bring you down a path in your life to ensure the reward of your inheritance. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Cor. 4:17)
Monday, July 31, 2006
amazing love
my life just wasn't working. didn't know why, couldn't figure it out. every relationship i had failed. went through my entire life trying to find somebody to love me. someone who would love me and not leave me. someone who, when they said they loved me, wouldn't hurt me.
my grandmothers loved me. to them i was precious. one grandmother even used to call me precious.
then one day i realized i was precious to Someone else. my Creator, He who created the heavens and the earth thought i was precious. one day He even told me. unbelievable that He could love me. and yet He does. even after everything i've ever done. He loves me, He won't leave me and He won't hurt me.
everything i did or tried to do to make people love me and nothing worked.
everything i did or tried to do - should have turned Him off but instead He forgave me. i did things to try and earn peoples love. they didn't work. then i discovered there is nothing i can do to earn His love.
how amazing is that.
my grandmothers loved me. to them i was precious. one grandmother even used to call me precious.
then one day i realized i was precious to Someone else. my Creator, He who created the heavens and the earth thought i was precious. one day He even told me. unbelievable that He could love me. and yet He does. even after everything i've ever done. He loves me, He won't leave me and He won't hurt me.
everything i did or tried to do to make people love me and nothing worked.
everything i did or tried to do - should have turned Him off but instead He forgave me. i did things to try and earn peoples love. they didn't work. then i discovered there is nothing i can do to earn His love.
how amazing is that.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
are you satisfied?
there is only one Being who can completely satisfy to the depth of the hurting human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
my utmost.
my utmost.
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