Ecclesiastes 3:17 NAS
God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.
The other day as I was sitting in the car waiting for my grandson's gymnastics class to finish I watched as a woman walked in front of me. Her hair was pinned on top of her head with stringy wisps blowing about her face. A dirty dress with a torn thin sweater covered her body and a large shopping bag hung on her shoulder.
I watched her as she went to the end of the building and disappeared around the corner. In the back of my mind I thought what is that kind of woman doing in this neighborhood? Before I could react to that statement I was hit with the realization I just judged that lady. What do I really know about her?
How many times have you done the same thing without realizing that you were judge and jury of someone? We do not know what is going on in another person's life. If we would think about it each one of us is guilty of keeping things to ourselves. We do not want to burden others with our problems. So we let our problems grow and grow until they are out of control.
Perhaps that person lost his job, his house, then his family. He has been beaten down by life and doesn't know how to pull himself up and go on. A kind word, a prayer, or even a simple phrase in passing such as "how are you today" would mean everything to them. To them it may mean someone cares.
Those that have a church home and family share their concerns, needs, and pray together. But there are a lot of people that do not have that. They are the ones wandering, looking, and missing the love of Jesus. We, I, am to share His love by that kind word or deed.
Dear Father guide me each day to utter a kind word or do something for a stranger that would make a difference in their life. To show Your love through me. Amen.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
PEARL OF GREAT VALUE
Matthew 13: 45-46 NAS
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Years ago one of my sisters bought our mother a necklace of fine pearls. My sister told me that Mom often said she would like to have a set of pearls, so she saved her money for a long time in order to buy them. When Mom showed them to me I saw the light in her eyes as she ran her fingers across each pearl. Mom had never had such a finer piece of jewelry.
Recently I was watching television where they showed people diving for pearls, surfacing and diving once more to bring even more pearls to place in their buckets. They were opened and the tissues were searched. More than a ton were searched in order to find at least 3 to 4 quality pearls.
To God each one of us is a pearl of great value. Like the pearl, He shapes and molds us every time we are in His word.
In God's eyes we are not only beautiful on the outside but just as beautiful on the inside. I Peter 3:4 says let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
Remember each morning when you arise and each evening when you retire. You are a fine pearl.
Dear Father thank you for making me Your pearl. Amen.
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Years ago one of my sisters bought our mother a necklace of fine pearls. My sister told me that Mom often said she would like to have a set of pearls, so she saved her money for a long time in order to buy them. When Mom showed them to me I saw the light in her eyes as she ran her fingers across each pearl. Mom had never had such a finer piece of jewelry.
Recently I was watching television where they showed people diving for pearls, surfacing and diving once more to bring even more pearls to place in their buckets. They were opened and the tissues were searched. More than a ton were searched in order to find at least 3 to 4 quality pearls.
To God each one of us is a pearl of great value. Like the pearl, He shapes and molds us every time we are in His word.
In God's eyes we are not only beautiful on the outside but just as beautiful on the inside. I Peter 3:4 says let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
Remember each morning when you arise and each evening when you retire. You are a fine pearl.
Dear Father thank you for making me Your pearl. Amen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
WARRIOR
Isiah 42:13 NAS
The Lord will go forth like a warrior. He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.
I've been working on a book about the Black Hawk War and had to look for information on the ship that carried the Sauk Fox Indians from Bad Axe, Wisconson to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. The ship's name was Warrior.
Warrior, war, fighting for a cause. Fighting to prove a point. Fighting just to be fighting. David, Samson, Saul, Joshua, Ahab, and Gideon were great warriors. David, a boy warrior who defeated the enemy. Gideon developed the guerilla warfare. Ahab was a warrior as well as a diplomat. Samson may have caused bedlam on occasions but he slew many Philistines.
We, as children of God, are to have the heart of a warrior. Fight the battle, spread His word. Marilyn McCoo has a song "Warrior For The Lord". A warrior for the Lord, march forward, fight the injustices in the world.
Be a prayer warrior, meaning pray without ceasing. Pray for the homeless, famines, pray for your neighbor, and the many disasters all over the world. Pray and keep praying.
Dear Heavenly Father comfort those that have lost their homes, their jobs, everything in the many tornados and floods recently. Give them strength to go on and look upward to You for their guidance. I pray these things in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.
The Lord will go forth like a warrior. He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.
I've been working on a book about the Black Hawk War and had to look for information on the ship that carried the Sauk Fox Indians from Bad Axe, Wisconson to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. The ship's name was Warrior.
Warrior, war, fighting for a cause. Fighting to prove a point. Fighting just to be fighting. David, Samson, Saul, Joshua, Ahab, and Gideon were great warriors. David, a boy warrior who defeated the enemy. Gideon developed the guerilla warfare. Ahab was a warrior as well as a diplomat. Samson may have caused bedlam on occasions but he slew many Philistines.
We, as children of God, are to have the heart of a warrior. Fight the battle, spread His word. Marilyn McCoo has a song "Warrior For The Lord". A warrior for the Lord, march forward, fight the injustices in the world.
Be a prayer warrior, meaning pray without ceasing. Pray for the homeless, famines, pray for your neighbor, and the many disasters all over the world. Pray and keep praying.
Dear Heavenly Father comfort those that have lost their homes, their jobs, everything in the many tornados and floods recently. Give them strength to go on and look upward to You for their guidance. I pray these things in Jesus Holy Name. Amen.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
BIBLE SCHOOL
Deuteronomy 31:12
Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, in order that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
Recently I spotted a church sign that said we are never through with Bible school. I thought about that for only a moment and had to agree. We are never through with Bible school, Sunday school, VBS, or dicipleship training.
When I was young I went to Sunday school and learned about Jonah and the whale, how Jesus fed many people, Jesus healing the sick, and the story of Noah and the big flood. The older I got the more in depth the stories were.
Now that I'm an adult I have found that there is more to the story. Not only did Noah and his family survive the flood, but he did so because he loved God and obeyed Him. God showed Noah His love for being righteous.
Jonah tried to run from God. After being thrown into the sea, swallowed by a whale, and finally praying to God to save him, he experienced God's love and saving grace.
When Jesus fed the five thousand a young boy gladly gave Him his lunch. He wasn't sure what Jesus could do with just five loaves of bread and two fish but he willingly gave it to Jesus. A miracle was performed that day by feeding everyone until they were full and the left over food filled twelve baskets.
God still performs miracles today. All one has to have is faith, faith and pray. Pray believing that your prayer will be answered. My God is a loving God who wants what is best for His children. We, you and I, are God's children. How blessed we are.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you for calling me Your child. Amen.
Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, in order that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
Recently I spotted a church sign that said we are never through with Bible school. I thought about that for only a moment and had to agree. We are never through with Bible school, Sunday school, VBS, or dicipleship training.
When I was young I went to Sunday school and learned about Jonah and the whale, how Jesus fed many people, Jesus healing the sick, and the story of Noah and the big flood. The older I got the more in depth the stories were.
Now that I'm an adult I have found that there is more to the story. Not only did Noah and his family survive the flood, but he did so because he loved God and obeyed Him. God showed Noah His love for being righteous.
Jonah tried to run from God. After being thrown into the sea, swallowed by a whale, and finally praying to God to save him, he experienced God's love and saving grace.
When Jesus fed the five thousand a young boy gladly gave Him his lunch. He wasn't sure what Jesus could do with just five loaves of bread and two fish but he willingly gave it to Jesus. A miracle was performed that day by feeding everyone until they were full and the left over food filled twelve baskets.
God still performs miracles today. All one has to have is faith, faith and pray. Pray believing that your prayer will be answered. My God is a loving God who wants what is best for His children. We, you and I, are God's children. How blessed we are.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you for calling me Your child. Amen.
KNOWING THE LIMITS
Numbers 14:18 NIV
The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.
As I type this verse it gives me cold chills. To think my God will punish my children's children because of my sins. I have heard this before, read it before, but really reading it now as I type it, brings home how severe my sins will effect my heirs.
Growing up I was a good child. Most of the time I did what I was told, picked up my clothes, vacuumed the house, watched my siblings, did my homework, and came home on time. Oh yes, I always told my mother where I was going. You say I led a very boring life, but I didn't think so. At least not then.
I married at a young age and started having babies right away. Don't get me wrong, I love my children, but sometimes I felt like I was chained to the everyday grind of spit up, throw up, diapers, cooking, and cleaning. At seventeen this was not what I had envisioned for myself.
My husband on the other hand went to work everyday, weekends he went fishing or hunting, and most of the time met his friends at the bar for a few drinks. For job purposes he'd say.
I'd day dream about going to a bar to meet girlfriends. I wondered what it would feel like. Hunting and fishing wasn't on my menu, although I did accompany my husband a couple of times.
After fourteen years of marriage we divorced. Now it was my turn to do what I wanted to do. I started meeting my friends at bars to dance and have a couple of drinks. This got old quickly.
I found out quickly drinking dulls your mind and limitations. The same people frequented the bars, always on the look out for something, not even knowing what they were looking for. This was not for me, not my lifestyle. I started going back to church and Sunday school. My life looked better.
I know my God is a loving God, I have confessed my sins, and repented from my wild bar days. They were wild to me anyway. I trust God, have faith, and pray my sins will not go to hard on my children and their children.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you. Thank you for being a loving God. Amen.
The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.
As I type this verse it gives me cold chills. To think my God will punish my children's children because of my sins. I have heard this before, read it before, but really reading it now as I type it, brings home how severe my sins will effect my heirs.
Growing up I was a good child. Most of the time I did what I was told, picked up my clothes, vacuumed the house, watched my siblings, did my homework, and came home on time. Oh yes, I always told my mother where I was going. You say I led a very boring life, but I didn't think so. At least not then.
I married at a young age and started having babies right away. Don't get me wrong, I love my children, but sometimes I felt like I was chained to the everyday grind of spit up, throw up, diapers, cooking, and cleaning. At seventeen this was not what I had envisioned for myself.
My husband on the other hand went to work everyday, weekends he went fishing or hunting, and most of the time met his friends at the bar for a few drinks. For job purposes he'd say.
I'd day dream about going to a bar to meet girlfriends. I wondered what it would feel like. Hunting and fishing wasn't on my menu, although I did accompany my husband a couple of times.
After fourteen years of marriage we divorced. Now it was my turn to do what I wanted to do. I started meeting my friends at bars to dance and have a couple of drinks. This got old quickly.
I found out quickly drinking dulls your mind and limitations. The same people frequented the bars, always on the look out for something, not even knowing what they were looking for. This was not for me, not my lifestyle. I started going back to church and Sunday school. My life looked better.
I know my God is a loving God, I have confessed my sins, and repented from my wild bar days. They were wild to me anyway. I trust God, have faith, and pray my sins will not go to hard on my children and their children.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you. Thank you for being a loving God. Amen.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
GREAT LIFE
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NIV)
Not too long ago, while talking to my eight year old grandson, he told me they were going to have a play day at school. They were going to have water splash, eat pizza, have a roller coaster, just everything grandma.
I said "You're going to be out of school pretty soon, I guess this is the end of year party?"
His reply was, "Oh yes, grandma, then I'm going to the pool, Sea World, Six Flags, Schliterbahn, and then I'm going to Disney World at Christmas."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "You're going to have a busy summer."
"Yes grandma, I have a great life!"
How many times have we told ourselves we have a great life? We think about all our possessions, how much money is in our bank account, and the vacations we take. We are the spoiled children of God. We have a good life. Most of us have good health, loving spouses, a roof over our heads, money to pay our bills, and we have friends that are there to lift us up in prayer when we are down.
But how many think about our lives, really think about the lives that God gave us? He gave us life to follow Him. To share His word, and stand in glory with Him. Lead others to His wonderous love, everlasting life, mercy, and grace. God's grace. He loved us so much that He gave His only son to die for our lives. How much more can we do for Him. Spread the word. His word.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you for giving Your son for my sins and my life. I will forever be in Your debt. I will never be able to do enough for You. Thank you. Amen.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NIV)
Not too long ago, while talking to my eight year old grandson, he told me they were going to have a play day at school. They were going to have water splash, eat pizza, have a roller coaster, just everything grandma.
I said "You're going to be out of school pretty soon, I guess this is the end of year party?"
His reply was, "Oh yes, grandma, then I'm going to the pool, Sea World, Six Flags, Schliterbahn, and then I'm going to Disney World at Christmas."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "You're going to have a busy summer."
"Yes grandma, I have a great life!"
How many times have we told ourselves we have a great life? We think about all our possessions, how much money is in our bank account, and the vacations we take. We are the spoiled children of God. We have a good life. Most of us have good health, loving spouses, a roof over our heads, money to pay our bills, and we have friends that are there to lift us up in prayer when we are down.
But how many think about our lives, really think about the lives that God gave us? He gave us life to follow Him. To share His word, and stand in glory with Him. Lead others to His wonderous love, everlasting life, mercy, and grace. God's grace. He loved us so much that He gave His only son to die for our lives. How much more can we do for Him. Spread the word. His word.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you for giving Your son for my sins and my life. I will forever be in Your debt. I will never be able to do enough for You. Thank you. Amen.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
BIBLE SCHOOL
Deuteronomy 31:12
Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, in order that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
Recently I spotted a church sign that said we are never through with Bible school. I thought about that for only a moment and had to agree with the sign. We are never through with Bible school, Sunday school, VBS, or dicipleship training.
When I was young I went to Sunday school and learned about Jonah and the whale, how Jesus fed many people, Jesus healing the sick, and the story of Noah and the big flood. The older I got the more in depth the stories were.
Now that I'm an adult I have found that there is more to the story. Not only did Noah and his family survive the flood, but he did so because he loved God and obeyed Him. God showed Noah His love for being righteous.
Jonah tried to run from God. After being thrown into the sea, swallowed by a whale, and finally praying to God to save him, he experienced God's love and saving grace.
When Jesus fed the five thousand a young boy gladly gave Him his lunch. He wasn't sure what Jesus could do with just five loaves of bread and two fish but he willingly gave it to Jesus. A miracle was performed that day by feeding everyone until they were full and the left over food filled twelve baskets.
God still performs miracles today. All one has to have is faith, faith and pray. Pray believing that your prayer will be answered. My God is a loving God who wants what is best for His children. We, you and I, are God's children. How blessed we are.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you for calling me Your child. Amen.
Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, in order that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
Recently I spotted a church sign that said we are never through with Bible school. I thought about that for only a moment and had to agree with the sign. We are never through with Bible school, Sunday school, VBS, or dicipleship training.
When I was young I went to Sunday school and learned about Jonah and the whale, how Jesus fed many people, Jesus healing the sick, and the story of Noah and the big flood. The older I got the more in depth the stories were.
Now that I'm an adult I have found that there is more to the story. Not only did Noah and his family survive the flood, but he did so because he loved God and obeyed Him. God showed Noah His love for being righteous.
Jonah tried to run from God. After being thrown into the sea, swallowed by a whale, and finally praying to God to save him, he experienced God's love and saving grace.
When Jesus fed the five thousand a young boy gladly gave Him his lunch. He wasn't sure what Jesus could do with just five loaves of bread and two fish but he willingly gave it to Jesus. A miracle was performed that day by feeding everyone until they were full and the left over food filled twelve baskets.
God still performs miracles today. All one has to have is faith, faith and pray. Pray believing that your prayer will be answered. My God is a loving God who wants what is best for His children. We, you and I, are God's children. How blessed we are.
Dear Father in Heaven thank you for calling me Your child. Amen.
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