The Lord Of All lords

Psalm 136:3(MSG)
Thank the Lord of all lords.  His love never quits.

I saw a bumper sticker this morning while I was driving my son to his job.  It read:  Loving Kindness Is My Religion.  That made me sad and I have been thinking about this most of the day.  I noticed that the driver looked very tired as she stared ahead with her elbow resting on the edge of the window.  I wondered if she had completely worn herself out trying to work for His love or for the approval of others.  At first the statement sounded kind of ok....you know...helping people, that must be good, right?  But then when I pair it with today's verse, I recognize that a statement like this really diminishes what Christ did for me on the cross.  I realize that in this chapter, Psalm 136, God is listing the ways that He has shown His love to us.  Right here at the top of the list rests the number one act that reveals that amazing love....and we can't earn it....it's a gift!

John 3:16-18(MSG)
"This is how much God loved the world:  He gave His son, His one and only Son.  And this is why:  so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him anyone can have a whole and lasting life.  God didn't go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was.  He came to help, to put the world right again.  Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted;  anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it.  And why?  Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.

Our acts of kindness are not the way to eternal life....they are the evidence of Him living in us.  Our belief and faith in Christ is the only way to an abundant life here on earth and an everlasting spot in heaven.  I guess if I were to put a bumper sticker on my car it might read:   Loving Kindness Is My Response 

I am thanking God right now....as the verse says....for His incredible gift of His son and our Lord!!  I am also praying that the sweet lady in that car today might know how much Christ loves her and find rest and peace in Him, not in her works.

This is my daughter kindly feeding "Anna-Belle" a sweet blade of grass.

Making Somethin' Out Of Nothin'

Psalm 139:15(MSG)
You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;  You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

It's a great day around the house today.  You know....one of those days where you are not on any one's schedule but your own.  Nowhere to be and no pressing things that need to be done.....except laundry, of course....but that is always needing to be done, right?  In my continued endeavor to eat heart healthy and lower that cholesterol level, I decided to make some oat bran muffins.  My Northern Sis gave me a great recipe for them when I was there a few weeks ago, so I decided this was a good time to make a batch.

I got out the dish and started gathering the ingredients.  Staring into the empty bowl, I began thinking about today's verse.  Nothing but air in that bowl and I get to decide what to put in it.  All of the ingredients that the recipe called for were healthy of course....that's why it comes up bein' a good choice for those of us that are watching what's going down the hatch.  I threw it all in, stirred it up, and poured the batter into the muffin tin.  Ten minutes later~"wala"~(this word is not in the dictionary by the way)....presto....yummy oat bran muffins!!  Yay. 

Funny thing though....all the muffins looked different.  Some had more raisins....some had less.  Some muffins were kinda flat on top...some were puffy.  Some muffins were a golden brown....others a little darker.  But, guess what?!  They all tasted the same!  All those good ingredients mixed together and baked at just the right temperature, made a marvelous product!  And healthy too....you have to love that!


Fruitful....for the Kingdom.



Yeap...those muffins are alot like us.  God took absolutely nothing and created something complicated and beautiful in His image.  We all look different, but we each one are designed to be healthy and fruitful for His kingdom.  What I do with that information is my choice to make.  Hmmmm......changes how I look at the day...that's for sure!

Lord,

Thank You for making each one of us so uniquely.  I know that sometimes it's hard for us to see our own strengths.  For whatever reason, it is often easier for me to identify my weaknesses.  Help me today to see those areas in my life that are gifts from You, and help me to use them accordingly!

In Jesus name....
Amen

The Trapper

Proverbs 6:5 (MSG)
Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper!

They parked their cars and began filing in.  Some of them were quick and sure footed and others were slow and steady.  A few had canes and still one other was ushered in by wheelchair.....but they came.....they most certainly came.  As I handed out the programs, each of them smiled and seemed thrilled to have the chance to peek into the life of their sweet grandchildren.  Just the mere mention of their little one's (or in some cases...older one's) name and their face would light up with enough glowing power to fill an auditorium!!  What a privilege to be a part of such a special day...........

Today was Grandparents Day at my
daughter's school.  It is one day set aside each year to honor and serve our children's grandparents.  What a pleasure to greet each of them as they arrived.  As one beautiful elderly woman came in the door of the school, we wanted to take a picture of her.  She truly was beautiful in every way, as you could sense her gentle spirit flowing freely in just the little time we talked. 

I asked this beautiful lady if it would be alright to snap a picture of her.  She quickly had this to say....."Oh no~no pictures!!  I look in the mirror and that person looking back at me is not the young person that I still feel like on the inside."  We went on to talk some more, and I discovered that she remains the same youthful spirit on the inside, but is frustrated with the "old person" that stares back at her every morning in her mirror.  You see where my thoughts are going now, don't you?  No?  Well....keep reading....

This amazing woman has been trapped by the "trapper".....of age.  Even more intriguing to me, is that we will all eventually be caught by the trapper of age...some of us sooner than others....as I can relate with some of this already....I am sighing.... 

Now, having said that, there is more than one "trapper" out there.  You might feel trapped in a relationship, a career, a habit....the list goes on and on.  The powerful answer on 'how to get out of the trap' is written down right here in this verse!!  The solution is to MOVE!  For the deer it is to run.  For the bird it is to fly.

For the elderly, the solution is to love, pray, and be a part of their children and grandchildren's life.....just like this special grandparent was doing today.  In a failing marriage?  Run to a Christian Marriage Counselor and seek help in restoring your lives.  (If physical abuse and safety are a concern for you, however, please seek help by clicking here.)  In a job you are not satisfied with?  Explore your options and the gifting that God has given you and follow your open doors, after prayer.  Chained to an unhealthy habit?  Admit it to yourself, then a trusted friend, and then commit to getting the help you need to break the cycle.   

Being "trapped" is not a good feeling.  I guess the point of this verse, in my mind, is that I'm not really trapped, I just feel like I am.  Thankfully, I do not have to act on my feelings, but on my convictions.  When I take a good honest look at my situation and pray about it, I begin to see clearly through God's perspective the changes that I need and CAN make through the power of our ressurected Savior!

Leaving you with a scripture that I read during my time with Him this morning~

I Corinthians 15:34(MSG)
Think straight.  Awaken to the holiness of life.  No more playing fast and loose with resurrection facts.  Ignorance of God is a luxury you can't afford in times like these.