Tuesday, July 29, 2014
The black truck
The black truck was supposed to help us get out of debt and make life a little simpler....seems the black truck also came with a black cloud. So far the silly thing has cost us 3 times the amount per month that we were making a payment on. Talk about busting a person's balloon. We are currently also still having problems with said truck. The saga has rocked on now for about 8 months. Once one thing is fixed, another problem presents itself. Through all the frustrations of this truck I am reminded that I too am a lot like the black truck. I also sometimes feel like I have a rain cloud over my head. Once one thing lines out another duck goes running off in another direction. Going through the emotions of the heartache of the truck you start to think just sell it! But then there is the lingering thought, well if this will line out, I will keep it. Then something else goes wrong and you can't sell it until it is fixed and then you are left with so much money in the silly thing that you will never get it back out, but ahh to be done with the dumb thing. Hard to have faith in a truck that keeps giving you grief. But isn't that what Jesus does for us? We present problem after problem to him and he always fixes us. He is the master mechanic! I am so thankful that he hasn't sold me off or traded me in. He lovingly opens the hood of my heart, takes a look around, finds, and fixes the problem. Thank you, Lord for never losing faith in us and our little black rain clouds.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
This I Know
Jesus loves Me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.
I am sure we all know this song and have know it since we were small children. Funny thing is until recently....okay today! I still sang and viewed this song as I did when I was a child. But today, I sit here and I am humming along and suddenly realize what it means to be loved by Jesus. Wow! Let's dissect this song....
Jesus love me...ME!! He loves me!
How do I know this?
For the Bible tells me so....God's love letter to us.
Little ones to Him belong. As a child the picture of Jesus with all the small children around Him is what came to my mind when singing this. I am not sure if I saw this in a book while singing it or what, but it is what has always come to my mind. Today, I realize I am still a little one. I may not be a small child anymore, but I am still a child of God. I am the daughter of the King! How amazing!
They are weak, but He is strong. Again, I always thought of weak like a child, no physical strength. As I look at it now, I have a greater physical strength than a child, but I am still very weak in the spiritual realm. Thank you Jesus for your strength to carry me through my weakness!
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong.
I am sure we all know this song and have know it since we were small children. Funny thing is until recently....okay today! I still sang and viewed this song as I did when I was a child. But today, I sit here and I am humming along and suddenly realize what it means to be loved by Jesus. Wow! Let's dissect this song....
Jesus love me...ME!! He loves me!
How do I know this?
For the Bible tells me so....God's love letter to us.
Little ones to Him belong. As a child the picture of Jesus with all the small children around Him is what came to my mind when singing this. I am not sure if I saw this in a book while singing it or what, but it is what has always come to my mind. Today, I realize I am still a little one. I may not be a small child anymore, but I am still a child of God. I am the daughter of the King! How amazing!
They are weak, but He is strong. Again, I always thought of weak like a child, no physical strength. As I look at it now, I have a greater physical strength than a child, but I am still very weak in the spiritual realm. Thank you Jesus for your strength to carry me through my weakness!
Climb the tree
Luke 19:3-4 "And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way."
In studying these verses I see a couple of things.
1. Zaccheus was seeking Jesus. Am I seeking Jesus?
2. He couldn't get to Jesus for the press. I imagine a swarm of people all around him pushing and pulling and nudging. I imagine he felt like a pinball in the crowd. I often feel this way in the world. I am trying to find Jesus but among the crowd of the world and all of its thoughts and ideas pushing and pulling and yelling at me, it is hard to find Him.
3. Because Zacchues couldn't find Jesus, he ran....he didn't walk or skip or mosey on down...no, he ran! That tells me he is urgently seeking Jesus.
4. He climbed a tree. Now, as a kid this is a pretty routine task and even then it can be challenging. But as an adult! And a sycamore tree at that. Now I am not sure if their sycamores are the same as ours but if so...wow! That is a tall tree. I am thinking those are going to be some sore muscles on the morning. But Zaccheus thought it was worth it to see Jesus. Do we think it is worth it? Are we willing to do a little climbing to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world so that we can fix our eyes on Jesus?
In studying these verses I see a couple of things.
1. Zaccheus was seeking Jesus. Am I seeking Jesus?
2. He couldn't get to Jesus for the press. I imagine a swarm of people all around him pushing and pulling and nudging. I imagine he felt like a pinball in the crowd. I often feel this way in the world. I am trying to find Jesus but among the crowd of the world and all of its thoughts and ideas pushing and pulling and yelling at me, it is hard to find Him.
3. Because Zacchues couldn't find Jesus, he ran....he didn't walk or skip or mosey on down...no, he ran! That tells me he is urgently seeking Jesus.
4. He climbed a tree. Now, as a kid this is a pretty routine task and even then it can be challenging. But as an adult! And a sycamore tree at that. Now I am not sure if their sycamores are the same as ours but if so...wow! That is a tall tree. I am thinking those are going to be some sore muscles on the morning. But Zaccheus thought it was worth it to see Jesus. Do we think it is worth it? Are we willing to do a little climbing to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world so that we can fix our eyes on Jesus?
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Leaving a Legacy
I attended my Great Aunt's funeral a few weeks ago, and she was indeed a great, Aunt! She was so loving and kind and always had a smile on her face. You couldn't help but feel love and comfort when you were around her. At her funeral her kindness and love was still present in those she has left behind. Everyone there described her with the same words of kind, loving, tender, sweet, joyful, and most importantly, God Fearing. Wow! What a legacy! It really made me sit and think...would others say such nice things about me? Am I portraying the love of Jesus to others? Am I fearing God in the proper manner? I am reminded of the song Legacy by Nicole Nordeman.
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
Blessed Your Name apologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.
Thank you, Aunt Ruby, for leaving such a wonderful legacy that challenges us to follow in your steps!
I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
Blessed Your Name apologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.
Thank you, Aunt Ruby, for leaving such a wonderful legacy that challenges us to follow in your steps!
Re-Focusing
God has been revealing so much to me over the last few weeks. I am so grateful for his mercy. Due to a large hiccup in life, I have really been evaluating my spiritual life. I am realizing that I have definitely not been where God wants me to be. I am not fully sure where He wants me, but I do know I am getting closer.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Wow! What amazing and true words. I have been guilty of being distracted by the world. I thought I was doing well because I do not usually conform to the "trendiness" of the world. I don't watch the reality shows, I don't have to have the latest and greatest of things, I don't desire a huge house with all the glitter and sparkle. I mostly just wanted my little family in relatively nice home, with a decent vehicle to get me from point A to B safely, and a relatively peaceful life. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, but I have realized that I wanted family just a little too much. Due to living a law enforcement lifestyle, family time is often limited. Because of this lack of time, whatever it took to have family time is what I went with. If that meant missing church or not visiting with other friends or family, so be it. My immediate family, mostly my husband, came first no matter what. Essentially I was living to please my husband, placing my family above God..idolizing them.
The devil is crafty like that. He doesn't always use "sex, drugs and rock and roll" to corrupt us. No, the devil sneaks in and takes the good things that God has given to us for enjoyment, then he twists them and tries to use them against us. Family in and of itself is a good thing. God wants us to love and enjoy our families, but I was holding on a little too tightly.
God has definitely gotten my attention. When you reach a point in life where God is all you have....you realize that God is all you need.
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ my rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
For another resource on this subject see http://www.intouch.org/Content/27938/LP100418.pdf
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Wow! What amazing and true words. I have been guilty of being distracted by the world. I thought I was doing well because I do not usually conform to the "trendiness" of the world. I don't watch the reality shows, I don't have to have the latest and greatest of things, I don't desire a huge house with all the glitter and sparkle. I mostly just wanted my little family in relatively nice home, with a decent vehicle to get me from point A to B safely, and a relatively peaceful life. None of these things are bad in and of themselves, but I have realized that I wanted family just a little too much. Due to living a law enforcement lifestyle, family time is often limited. Because of this lack of time, whatever it took to have family time is what I went with. If that meant missing church or not visiting with other friends or family, so be it. My immediate family, mostly my husband, came first no matter what. Essentially I was living to please my husband, placing my family above God..idolizing them.
The devil is crafty like that. He doesn't always use "sex, drugs and rock and roll" to corrupt us. No, the devil sneaks in and takes the good things that God has given to us for enjoyment, then he twists them and tries to use them against us. Family in and of itself is a good thing. God wants us to love and enjoy our families, but I was holding on a little too tightly.
God has definitely gotten my attention. When you reach a point in life where God is all you have....you realize that God is all you need.
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ my rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
For another resource on this subject see http://www.intouch.org/Content/27938/LP100418.pdf
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