Raise Him Up, Won’t You?

If this song doesn’t make you stand up and sing, raise your hands toward heaven, cry, feel the presence of the Holy Spirit fill you to overflowing, or all of these all at once . . . just play it all over again!  This is my totally favorite song ever EVER!!!!!

I am the bread of life

Promises, Promises!

Corrie Ten Boom
Let God’s promises shine on your problems.

Problems are temporary, but God’s love and His promises?  They shine FOREVER! 

David Must Have Been Crazy!

Seems to me that, like David, most of us are facing giants these days.  Like David, we seem to be urged to wrap ourselves in the protection that this world offers.  How’s that working for you? 

1 Samuel 17:37

³⁷The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”   Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

 

If you’ve read the other verses from this chapter, you know tiny David was given so much of this world’s protection against his giant that he could scarcely move, much less do the Lord’s will.  So, the question becomes, when we like David face a giant and cannot do His will armed as this world provides, what do we do?  What David did!

1 Samuel 17:45

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

When we arm ourselves with our trust in the Lord, we need not cover ourselves with pounds and pounds of steel and with machine guns and the like.  He has got us covered as nothing in this world ever could. 

Where the Lord guides, He provides. 

What Is the REAL Point of Prayer?

“Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can’t imagine.”
 
~ Kathleen Norris

MAD About Joy???

Your outlook affects your outcome.

– John Paul Warren –

 

Is there anyone out there who can argue with the words quoted here from Warren?  Surely not, however it is equally true that most of us do not live by this same wisdom.  Okay, not every moment of every day, but admit it.  When you express a “fine, I give up” mentality, you bring your own day down AND the day of all who are near you as well. 

Reflect Joy!

Did you know that the word joy appears in the Bible 187 times?   Clearly, dear Christians, there is a message to us in this fact alone.  Joy changes things.  Joy comes from deep within and it is not dependant on circumstance – it CREATES circumstance!  How?  Where does this joy come from?  Here is my source, and yours as well if you choose:

Nehemiah 8:10

 ¹⁰Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

 

Safe!!!

It’s about more than just a baseball game!

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25

 

EXCUSE ME????

I am researching a writing project and just used a search engine to pull up sites connected to the keywords “reflect Jesus.”  As those of us who use search engines know, the first few hits are generally the ones that these services intend to be the most appropriate for our needs. 

One of the first hits related to “reflect Jesus” was an ad for a new outfit of clothes.  I didn’t go to that site. 

Reflect Jesus . . . excuse me?   It’s not about fashion.

 

Does Anybody Care Anymore?

Perhaps the world little notes nor long remembers individual acts of kindness — but people do.

– Herm Albright –

 

This quote is at once both inspiring and troubling.  Imagine, if you will what life would be like it we truly did focus all we do on it achieving world-wide notice?  We have become a society which largely focuses on the big picture, large profits, fancy cars, the right neighborhoods, the fancy job titles, the fat paychecks, designer labels, and the list goes on and on . . .  when we have these things, LOTS of people notice.  We smile.  We feel proud.  When we do not have these things, we strive for them, we covet them.  We even get angry and blame others for our “bad luck.”  This made me think a bit. 

In the last few days:

• A friend, hearing my rake handle broke, said “here, I had an extra . . . don’t buy one.” 

 

• Knowing I suffer from allergies, another friend came over and spent his entire Saturday morning helping me with yard work.

 

• Knowing I am seeking provision, a friend called and said “hey, did you see that . . . are hiring?  It’s not listed in the help wanted so you might not have seen it.”

 

• I was tired as I walked into the school where I teach a writing class in an afterschool program a couple of hours a week.  I wasn’t motivated to be there.  As soon as I got there, a small child ran over and hugged me.

 

• A friend who is a very busy man realized I’d not emailed or text messaged him much recently and contacted me just to make sure everything was okay with me. 

Know what? That is just a small part of the kindnesses shown me in the last few days.  Not one of them will get someone a job promotion, put them on the front page of the news paper, or make the evening news.  Each one of them, however, brought me joy.  

There are so many simple things we can do not because we have to but simply to be kind.  A smile, a hug, an invitation to have a cup of tea, a pot of soup for a sick friend . . . none of these are difficult.  They will be remembered.  Best part?  When somebody asks “does anybody care anymore?” the answer will be YES!

Do You Know Him?

This link was shared with me by a priest friend of mine and I thought it was great.  Note, it is both audio and video – if you are at work, be aware of this. 

So You Know Him?

Live Deep – Where His Peace Lies

Colossians 3:15

 ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Psalm 34:14

¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
   seek peace and pursue it.

 

 

Hebrews 12:14

 

 ¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.