Monday, January 9, 2012

WHO AM I

Acts 17:29 NAS
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

WHO am I.....who AM I....who am I? It's all on the emphasis. Cecil Murphey asked the same question in his December newsletter. I had been thinking along this line for quite some time myself. Sorry Cec I need to add to your answers.

I am a wife, a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, daughter, and I am also me. The me who is asking the question. Yes I know I am a child of God, His daughter, and that He loves me, but who am I? I believe most people have asked themselves the same question at some time in their life too.

Wife-I am the one who lifts my husband to God every day in prayer. Stand by his side when he is sick and rejoice when well. Keep his home comfortable, cook his meals, run his errands, and soothe his brow.

Mother-lift them in prayer every day, kiss the boo boo's, play dolls or ball with them, drive them to games, dances, movies, or friend's homes. Be there to listen when they are hurting and share their victories. Guide them with their choices.

Daughter-praise my parents for a job well done. Respect them for who they are whether I agree with them or not. Lift them in prayer every day.

And now I'm back to my first question. Who am I? I've changed through the years but I'm still me. I'm still searching for what I want as a person. Sometimes feeling like I'm the shadow for everyone else, but I'm confident I'm still a child of God. I am His daughter.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for letting me be Your daughter. I am a sinner and not worthy but through Your Grace I know I will live with You and Your Son Jesus Christ throughout eternity. Praise God. Amen.

Monday, January 2, 2012

A New Year, A New You

Genesis 1:1 NIV
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

It's a new year and time to bring out the read my Bible through each day for the year. It's all laid out for me, 365 days, a couple of chapters a day, and at the end of the year I've read it all.

When we sit down to read we start from the beginning of the book and read it through to the end. We begin a project by looking at the directions and follow it through until we have a finished product.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He spoke and each day there was something new. Light, darkness, separated the water from the dry land. Created vegetation, animals, and then man. Then on the seventh day God rested.

God has always desired to fellowship with man and still wants that today. Today is a new day, a new year, and time to take the first step to fellowship with God the Father. My Father in Heaven, with whom I want to spent eternity.

He is waiting for you too. It's not hard, all you have to do is ask His forgiveness and accept His love and mercy. By grace through faith are you saved to live with God forever and ever.

Dear Father in Heaven please forgive me for my sins. My desire is to live with You and Your Son Jesus who died on the cross for me. I want Jesus to live in my heart forever. Amen.

Monday, December 19, 2011

CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP OF GREATER SAN ANTONIO

This month you may go to the following web site and read a devotional a day for the entire month. May God bless you and have a Blessed Christmas and New Year.

www.cwgsa.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

BREATHLESS

Genesis 1:10 (NAS)
And God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.

It's that time of the year again we go hustling and bustling around trying to do everything at once. Shopping, cleaning, Christmas cards, and the lists go on. We find ourselves running so fast it leaves us breathless.

I was thinking about that this morning. Breathless........ It brought other thoughts to mind. I went on a camping trip with a friend many years ago. We headed north towards Nelson, BC. As we climbed the mountains I leaned my head back and marveled at the sight. It seemed like the mountains reached to the heavens. Majestic, standing so tall, covered with pine trees. It was, in a sense, breathless.

My mother and I took a trip along the Washington coast one day. We stopped and got out of the car at one of the roadside rests. The ocean looked like glass in the distance as small waves crashed on shore. There was silence except for the waves. Driftwood lay along the beach. A picture of tranquility. Breathless.

Still on another trip to Riudoso, NM my husband and I sat on the front porch and listened as the wind blew through the tall pines. Occasionally a squirel scurried from tree to tree looking for pine nuts. It was so quiet except for a bird now and then calling for his mate. Breathless.

I thought about Mary and Joseph when Jesus was born. Holding her tiny baby in her arms and knowing He was God's son, she must have felt breathless.

I feel breathless at times knowing I am a child of God. He loves me and forgives my sins. By grace through faith I am saved. Praise God.

Dear Father thank you for Your precious Son Jesus who was born and then died for my sins. Thank you for Your sacrifice. I am breathless. Amen.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

THE BIG BANG

Genesis 1: 14 (NAS)
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years.

It's that time of the year again. Holidays and more holidays. It starts with harvest festivals, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and then New Years. One big party after another. The scurrying here and there, buying gifts, putting gifts on lay away, decorating, and it goes on and on.

I think it's time we slow down and reflect on what is the true meaning of why we have holidays. In the beginning there was God and God alone. He created the earth, stars, planets, moon, trees, lakes, oceans, and whew, man and woman!

I'd like to think with a clap of His hands the heavens exploded into tiny particals to become the stars throughout the universe. Sort of like the big bang theory! Endless. With His hands He molded the planet we call earth into a big ball and spoke the words for trees, flowers, birds, animals, lakes, and oceans. When He was finished He sat back and marveled at His work. So beautiful was His workmanship that He wanted someone there to share the beauty with. Therefore He created man, and woman for the man.

Remember I said I'd like to think this is the way it happened but we know from the Bible that He spoke and it was. We know also that He created man from dust and woman from the rib of the man.

To complete His work He promised a savior, the Messiah. The Messiah, Jesus, will come to save each one of us from our sin. That we must keep vigil and watch for His coming.

I think at times I've been caught up in the hipe of television, ads in the media, and the stores wanting to get the jump on the holidays. It seems to start earlier and earlier each year. We've pushed aside the true meaning of the holidays.

Harvest fest was a time of getting together after the farmers brought their crops in. Work had been completed, they were ready for the winter. The pilgrims were grateful to God for seeing them through their first winter in America. They celebrated together with the friendly Indians and had a feast. Christmas, Christ's birth. Fulfilling the promise God made to His people. The Messiah. And then New Years. A new beginning. Make promises to yourself and others on how you were going to make this next year a better one.

What all of this means is that God gave us our beautiful world to live in. The stars, moon, trees, flowers, etc., and His son. His son that would die on the cross for our sins and then rise again. A promise that He would return and take His children to reign on high with Him. Praise God.

Thank you Lord for all the stars in the heavens, the moon and planets to marvel at when I look into the sky. But most of all thank you for Your son, Jesus, who died for me and the promise of His return. Thank you. Amen.

Friday, November 18, 2011

His Time Is Near

Song Of Solomon 2:8 (NAS)
Listen! My beloved! Behold, he is coming, climbing on the mountains, leaping on the hills!

I opened my Bible this morning and this is where it lay. At one time I highlighted this verse. The book of Solomon is a love song depicting the wooing and wedding of a shepherdess. But it also pictures Israel as God's bride and the Church as the bride of Christ.

As I read it I thought of what was going on in the world today. Listen.....everyone who can hear. God is calling you to take head. Listen to your heart as He speaks to you. Listen to the warnings that are written in His Word of all that will happen before Jesus return.

My Beloved. You are His beloved. He created you. He wants to have fellowship with you. He loves you pure and simple. It doesn't get any plainer than this.

Behold, he is coming. It is written in His Word Jesus was born, died on the cross, and will come again to take His children home. Home to reign with Him on high.

Climbing on the mountains. He is waiting for you to accept Him. He knocks, speaks to your heart, and waits for you to respond. Do not wait too long.

Leaping on the hills. He rejoices and the angels sing with resounding song when you accept His love. He waits with great anticipation to be able to talk with you, to sing with you, and to guide you throughout your daily journey. Let Him direct you. You cannot do it alone. He never wanted you to do it on your own. He is your sheild, protector, comforter.

Heavenly Father I come to you today and ask you to guide each one of us as we go through the day. Keep our eyes on You. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Monday, October 17, 2011

RUNNING AWAY

Hebrews 11:34 (NAS)
From weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

Our seventeen year old granddaughter came for a visit recently. Because of military moves they haven't lived close to us to be able to establish a relationship. From all accounts she is a very good girl, polite, helpful, but very shy. Almost to the point of wanting to hide from people, not wanting to say anything in case she offends someone.

In a lot of ways she reminds me of myself at that age. I never raised my hand in class, even if I knew the answer to the question. I didn't want to draw attention to me. I ran away, not wanting any confrontations.

I took speech in my junior year and when it was my turn to get up in front of the class my hands got sweaty. I wobbled down the isle to the front of the class, all the while I could feel my face starting to turn red. I turned, looked at my classmates, and started to talk, but all that was audible was small squeeks and whispers. Then I told a joke I heard my mother tell one of her friends and I ran for my seat in the back of the class. No one laughed. I never wanted to do that again in my life.

When it was time for me to find a summer job I made my girlfriend go with me to all the stores to fill out the applications. I was terrified I would say the wrong things and get laughed at.

I'm not going to say I outgrew being shy because I still would rather sit in the back of a group. The only thing different now is that I have someone I can go to for strength and support. He never leaves me.

He is my Savior Christ Jesus. I gave my life to Him when I was sixteen but through my growning up years I did my own thing. Oh I said my prayers, gave thanks, and went through the motions. Not until I went through a nasty divorce did I realize how much strength I had, and how many times Jesus held me in His arms keeping me safe.

Every day is a struggle even though Jesus is in my life. The evil one will never leave me alone. The only difference now is that through Jesus I can fight the temptations that come my way.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for Your Son Jesus who never leaves me. Amen.