May you walk in Son shine and be encouraged through the trials of life as a wife, mother and woman of faith. May laughter fill your days, courage strengthen your soul and His love light your way. May God be ever present and invited into your journey. May I refresh your spirit and cause your heart to smile.
by Rocky Henriques The Timothy Report www.timothyreport.com
Someone long ago wrote of sitting by a fire. The writer imagined the noises which came from the wood as it burned were imprisoned songs, finally brought to freedom by the flames.
The birds had sung while sitting on the branches of the tree. The wind had pushed its way through, making its own music. The rain had written a melody which sank deep into its roots. A child had played and sang in its shade. All these notes soaked into the wood, hidden away in the trunk.
They were hidden away until the flames set them free one evening chilly enough to warrant an open fire.
As the years pass, our spirits take in many different melodies of life. They may become trapped, hidden away by busyness, by apathy, by ignorance. The flames of adversity can serve as a wonderful tool in the Hands of God, releasing the music inside of us.
We don't have to just "pass through" life; we can gather songs along the way, storing them up for the day when we will need to hear them most.
"Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you." Proverbs 20:22b
To quote Oz Hillman, “The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually.”
I have found that to be true and the Bible continues to be my blueprint for living.
“Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13/CEV Ever have those moments when you feel yourself shouting, Ok, I’m NOT tense….. just terribly, terribly alert.
Many years ago I came across a method of having a hissy fit or dealing with a downward mood swing that avoided the usual freak out or self-imposed exile to the couch with a pint of ice cream, chocolate sauce and a delivered pizza. If any of us are alive today we have negative events occurring that can have disastrous consequences for our physical health. So much of how we feel is determined by how we think and what we believe. God’s Word tells us to “be careful how we think, our lives are shaped by our thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (NCV). With that Scripture in mind we must deal with the daily bombardment of negativity.
It’s good for our physical health to be pro active with our mental and spiritual health. This is a two-fold method called release/relax.
Phase 1: If one is encountering a pile-up of negative episodes one should go to their bedroom and fetch their favorite sleeping pillow. Walk silently through the house to the garage. If someone asks you a question along the way – don’t say a word just give them The Look. (Oh… you know the look… The one that has everyone within a five mile radius roll their eyes and step back from you) Continue on your route to the garage and get into the back seat of your car. Place the pillow on the seat then lean over - press your face directly into the center of the pillow and scream at the top of your lungs. Make it your personal policy never to be sad, angry, emotionally upset or screaming into your pillow for more than 10 minutes. Instant replay: Never more than 10 minutes! Never!
Pick up your pillow, get out of the car, walk back to your bedroom and place the pillow back on your bed. Take three deep cleansing breaths to re-oxygenate your body and proceed to phase 2. You could go without phase 2 but it would be like baking a cake and not frosting it. Frosting is my favorite part of a cake and phase 2 is my favorite part of getting a handle on my life when it seems to be a slippery slope.
Phase 2 is simply popping in a Praise & Worship CD and letting the praise music surround you. It’s like turning on a light. It engulfs you, comforts you and lifts your spirit to joy.
A pearl to string: There are many times that I didn’t feel like singing along to praise music so I let it sing to me. It’s like allowing the Holy Spirit to stand in the gap and sing praises to God for me. Bless my soul it never fails - Joy is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ. You can close your eyes and feel the Lord singing to you. “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
A pearl to string: Friend & Pastor James Ryle is guest author today. I love how he hears God's way and hope it blesses you as much as me. http://jamesryle.blogspot.com/
But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Luke 22:60-61).
For the general populace there are seven birds that are readily recognizable by their song: 1) the goose that honks, 2) the duck that quacks, 3) the chicken that clucks, 4) the dove that coos, 5) the owl that hoots, 6) the crow that caws, and 7) the rooster that crows. Each of these are so distinct that the moment one hears them, right away we know what kind of bird it is.
Other birds are a bit more indiscernible to the untrained ear. The whistle of a robin may not be all that different from a bluejay, or a cardinal. The chirp of a sparrow and of a wren are very much alike indeed. And who knows what kind of bird that is we all hear in the Tarzan movies? You know, the one that squeals somewhere in the jungle during the night, and sends shivers down your spine.
Interesting, don't you think, that Jesus would choose a rooster to bring Simon Peter to his senses during that dark night of betrayal and denial? When we say someone is cocky, we are comparing them to the rooster. A person who "struts their stuff" is kin to the barnyard fowl. It seems that the rooster is forever associated with prideful boasting since the night Peter denied the Lord.
But, beyond this, the rooster also symbolizes two other things for us today.
First, he is the herald of a new dawn. When the rooster crows it means only one thing; a new day is at hand. So, while Peter would be stung by the sound that jolted his mind back to the words of the Lord, the sting also carried promise of a new day -- a fresh chance to walk with Him whose mercies are new every morning.
Second, the rooster was for Simon Peter a messenger with a personal word from God. No doubt many heard the rooster crow that morning, but nobody heard what Peter heard. For in the routine sounds of the ordinary he discovered the God who speaks through donkeys and roosters. And from that day forward, Peter would never be able to hear a rooster again without thinking of this one moment in his life.
A moment of devastating failure......and of great forgiveness. A moment of death and resurrection; certainly for Jesus -- but also for Peter.
Blue Door photo by Sandrine Father, I adore You Lay my life before You How I love You
Jesus, I adore You Lay my life before You How I love You
Spirit, I adore You Lay my life before You How I love You
(Repeat as many times as needed)
This photo fascinates me – draws me in – comforts me. At first glance the beautiful blue doors do not appear to have a handle. On closer inspection I do see the latch and key hole. But my first thoughts were this is a door at which I must knock – I cannot just walk in. Do I want to get in? Or do I want whoever is inside to come out? I see no hinges so it must open inward. How inviting. I love the curves above that arch around the door. They are both gracious and sensitive while being bold and strong. The triangle enclosed trefoil symbolizes God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit to me. I don’t think that representation is assigned – it’s just what I think of when I see a trefoil. The stone is old, pitted, crumbling in spots, cracked and weathered representing a long life time of experience. Some good - some not so good. There were times I’d looked for God, knocked on some doors but didn’t understand why He would not answer. Ever happened to you? Your prayers don’t seem to be answered? What I discovered is today’s pearl.
A pearl to string: It’s easier to find God when you quit looking for Him on your terms. In fact start letting go of your terms and He’ll find you. And Jesus says; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”.Revelation 3:20 NKJV Joy in Son shine, Lyndi
Eight-year-old Susie came home from school and informed her mother that today in class they had learned how to make babies. The mother, rather shaken by the development, called the teacher to complain.
After listening to the mother complain for a few minutes, the teacher responded, "Did you ask her to explain how it is done?"
"No," said the mother.
"Then ask her and call me back," replied the teacher.
"So how DO you make babies?" the mother asked her daughter.
Susie responded, "You drop the 'y' and add 'ies.'"
Oh boy! That Mom had to be red faced – I wonder if she called the teacher back? I won’t label all women but I know I personally have a tendency to lean towards the emotional side of life’s happenings. Facts just mess up a good emotional outburst as demonstrated by the little story. Of course getting the wrong facts can do almost as much damage. For example: The obituaries in the newspaper prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that people die in alphabetical order. Pretty silly but the culture can become askew from the truth rapidly with all that is thrown at us daily.
Another rush to judgment is what some folks believe about the Bible without ever reading it. I can testify to that: as a young adult (wish I could say child – sigh) I envisioned the birth of Christ just like the beautiful Christmas cards that are produced yearly. Imagine my surprise while traveling in Israel to find it was a nasty, dirty, dingy – completely ugly place where our beautiful Savior was born. Oh I read the accounts in the Gospels but chose to not see the truth. The world’s way was prettier but it isn’t the real beauty.
A pearl to string: The real beauty is: Christ was born to demonstrate for us the ways of our Father and to pay in full for the wages of sin through His shed blood. Sin is falling short of the glory of God. You don’t want to get good at it. I fall short of the glory of God many times through each day – I need a Savior and I thank God He loves me enough that He sent one. We all have the freedom of choice to believe and receive eternal life. Romans 6:23, Romans 3:22-25, 1 Peter 2:24
Right click on Scripture verse and click on open to take you directly to the Scripture verse in e-Bible
238 is my lucky number and in Act 2:38 you’ll find the perfect gift, You are loved, Lyndi
PS: I usually don’t do a PS but this just came across the news: All reports are in...life is now officially unfair. Now you know but please don't put a question mark where God puts a period.
Preparing for a family vacation, Kathy and Matt explained to their young children that they would be sitting in the car for a very long time. The kids were told they would not be arriving at their destination until after dark, and were warned not to keep saying, "Are we there yet?"
After a few minutes of peaceful driving, four year old Rachel perked up, "Is it dark yet?"
Ya know ……. we kind of do that to the Lord. We earnestly pray for something very serious but wait with child like impatience.
So with that thought in mind Father God……… I’d just like to thank you right now! I want to thank you for who You are. I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking YOU, God...You haven't given up on me.
If you spend your life being thankful and being of service to others you will truly be, “A well watered garden.” (Isaiah 58:10-11)
A pearl to string: It’s not dark yet! You still have time to thank Him.
"A page of history is worth a volume of logic." --Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War.
What kind of men were they? Here are some examples.
Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis, had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. The owner urged General George Washington to open fire. His home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his grist mill were laid waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.
How Does This Apply to Our Lives?
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. Men and their families who had security and material possessions, but who valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight and unwavering, they pledged:
"For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
Do you have the same resolve to stand up for your beliefs? Many Christian men and women do. The March-April 1997 issue of Light, a publication of the Southern Baptist Convention, contains this sentence:"More people have died for their faith in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined." That sentence is in a review of In the Lion's Den, a book that details international persecution and martyrdom of Christians. Yes, evangelicals laying down their lives in places like China or Sudan for Jesus Christ.
This one page about American history, and that one sentence about the sacrifices of fellow Christians, should help us overcome any fears or hesitation about standing up for righteousness, and for our Lord.
In your own way, do what God expects and follow these examples. Great will be your reward.
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost ... As grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would NOT pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student, Ryan Brown, walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. Achoo... He sneezed!!! From the group of graduates a handful stood to say: "GOD BLESS YOU... Ryan Brown smiled, nodded and walked of the stage. The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
(It happened the 20th of May 2001 during the commencement exercises at Washington Community High School in Washington, Illinois)
A pearl to string: In Genesis 22, God made a promised to Abraham, saying, "In thy seed shall all the generations of the earth be blessed." Christ is that seed of Abraham, Paul says in the third chapter of Galatians. You can’t stop God’s blessing – the law can try – but creativity is God’s middle name.
You are dearly loved, God Bless You, Lyndi
Happy, Happy Graduation for all those celebrating this joyous milestone.
I read a parable recently that bothered me when I read it the first time. It is a story that was reportedly told by Buddha:
A traveler, fleeing a tiger who was chasing him, ran till he came to the edge of a cliff. There he caught hold of a thick vine, and swung himself over the edge.
Above him the tiger snarled. Below him he heard another snarl, and behold, there was another tiger, peering up at him. The vine suspended him midway between two tigers.
Two mice, a white mouse and a black mouse, began to gnaw at the vine. He could see they were quickly eating it through. Then in front of him on the cliff side he saw a luscious bunch of grapes. Holding onto the vine with one hand, he reached and picked a grape with the other. How delicious!That's the end of the parable.
That's it??? If you're like me, you want to know how the story ends. Does the man get eaten by one of the tigers? Does he manage to find a way of escape? We don't know. And how can a man possibly stop to enjoy eating a grape while in the midst of such a crisis???
I can't tell you for sure what the parable was intended to teach, but after giving it considerable thought, here's the lesson that I gained from it. We are sometimes so focused on wanting to know what's going to happen in the future that we fail to enjoy what we have right here, right now.
What is the doctor going to find when I go in for these tests? How can I possibly meet the deadline my boss has given me since I have more work to do than I can possibly get done? How will my wife react when I talk to her about the need to go see a counselor to deal with the deep-rooted problems we're having? How am I going to pay the bills that are due next week when there's not enough money in the bank to cover them? How should I react to the racial prejudice that's causing students to say ugly things to me at school?
None of those things are unimportant (nor are the countless other trials and difficulties you could add to that list from your own experience); some may even be life-threatening But today, all day long, I am surrounded by countless blessings from God -- a beautiful sunrise, the changing autumn leaves, a child's kiss, a bunch of grapes, a warm bed, hot water, and the list goes on and on.
Is it possible to focus on the blessings at hand even when we are surrounded by difficulties and we don't know how the story will turn out? For a child of God, it is not only possible, it is essential that we learn to do so.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:11-12)
Are you surrounded by tigers today? Take a moment to enjoy the grape that God has placed right in front of you.
It’s one of my favorite movies from the 50’s and one that influenced my young life. I grew up in Hollywood (the industry not the city) and my Dad was a writer. Being exposed to that make believe life style definitely played a role in the wrong notions I gained about life. But the pearl I gleaned from that movie still holds true today.
The movie takes place in a small lakeside town, millionaire playboy (isn’t that an old fashion word) Bob Merrick recklessly crashes his speedboat, and after the town's only resuscitator is requisitioned to save his life, hospital head Dr. Wayne Phillips suffers a heart attack and dies without the machine. Hours later, Wayne's wife of six months, Helen Phillips is horrified to learn that the notoriously rude and irresponsible Merrick has been saved instead of her husband Wayne. Guilt ridden and filled with fascination for the widow Merrick's persistence causes another tragedy, and he must remake his life, including going back to medical school, in an attempt to make amends and win the widow’s love.
It was a love story with many obstacles to overcome but what caught my heart was the description of the man, Dr Wayne Phillips, who died early on in the movie. How he lived the magnificent obsession that grew from his philanthropy and works of great generosity in private and without compensation. I was absolutely mesmerized during the scene in the movie between Dr. Phillips’ close friend, Edward Randolph, and reckless Bob Merrick:
Edward Randolph:Once you find the way, you'll be bound. It will obsess you. But believe me, it will be a magnificent obsession. Dr. Bob Merrick: [of a plan to do anonymous good works] Well, if it's as simple as all that, why, I'll certainly give it a chance. Edward Randolph:Now wait, Merrick! Don't try to use this unless you're ready for it! You can't just try this out for a week like a new car, you know! And if you think you can feather your own nest with it, just forget it. Besides, this is dangerous stuff. One of the first men who used it went to the Cross at the age of thirty-three...
A pearl to string: Jesus compassion was not for His personal glory and I doubt that it was ever done to please some private internal emotion. I wanted to be just like Jesus where compassion would inspire me to act in the best interest and for the greater good of those in need, without calling attention to myself or listing my sacrifices. Although raising a family and being married to a high achieving famous person I have fallen to the temptation a time or 100 to do the very thing I did not want to do: Listing to people with skin on – forgive me Lord.
Matthew 6:1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven”. New Living Translation “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding”. The Message Translation
Loving God and tender Shepherd, use me each day to be a blessing to someone in need. We are in His compassionate care, Lyndi
A Life This is the day that the Lord has made; it belongs to Him and not the devil. I have been made a joint heir with Jesus Christ, therefore this day belongs to me, and not the devil. I rejoice in this day, because God made it for me. God has already given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. Everything I need for this day has been provided. I speak to this day and command the blessing of God to be released into my life.
Ps 118:24, Gal 4:7, 2 Pe 1:3
A Vision I'm a dreamer and God is giving me the desires of my heart. As I delight myself in Him and commit my plans to Him, God will bring it to pass. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond what I ask or think. Jesus said, if I can believe, nothing will be impossible to me. Jesus said to ask, that my joy might be full.
Ps 37:4,5, Eph 3:20, Matt 17:20, John 16:24
A Direction Those that are joined to the Lord are one spirit. My spirit is the candle of the Lord and God is speaking revelation to me through His Word and by His Spirit made one with my spirit. I have an unction from the Holy One and I know all things. The peace of God in my heart keeps me from making wrong decisions. Christ is made unto me wisdom.
1 Cor 6:17, Prov 20:27, 1 John 2:20, Col 3:15, 1 Cor 1:30
A Hope to Overcoming I am more than a conqueror through Christ who always leads me in His victory". I am more than equal to the task that God has set before me. Every place where the sole of my foot shall tread today, God has already given me. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. I am an overcomer. I have overcome my adversary by the Blood of the Lamb . Death and life is in the power of the tongue and I have chosen life. I'm a winner. I'm born of the incorruptible seed of God, and I have received power from the Holy Ghost. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in me and is energizing, motivating, empowering and equipping me for total victory today.
I speak it with assurance knowing that it is God's Word and it will come to pass. Jesus said, "he who believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says". I shall have what I say. I believe, therefore I receive. I speak the same thing as God, and His Word coming out of my mouth shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish the purpose for which I sent it. IN JESUS NAME, IT SHALL BE DONE!
Rom 8:37, 2 Cor 2:14, Josh 1:3, I John 4:4, Rev 12:11, Prov 18:21, 1 Pet 1:23, Acts 1:8, Rom 8:11, Mark 11:23, Is 55:11.
Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride and ending with a 262 mile marathon along the coast of the Big Island.
1989 Ironman World Championship with Dick & Rick Hoyt.
In Psalm 40 verse 4 God planted the secret for each Father to be most excellent. “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust”.
We celebrate all our Dad’s for they are irreplaceable in our hearts and to our lives and we thank God for each one of you.
When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, "What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping. And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?" And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy. The angel shook her head sadly and said, "Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on ponytails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats." And God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup a child's face."
And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders. The angel nearly had a heart attack. "Boy, this is the end of the week, all right," she clucked. "Do you realize you just made a father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?" And God smiled and said, "A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."
God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?" And God smiled and said, "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross or scare off mice at the summer cabin or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."
God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words but a firm, authoritive voice and eyes that saw everything but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the angel and said, "Now, are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?"
The angel shutteth up. By Erma Bombeck A pearl to string: Father God, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless those fathers who have taken upon themselves, the responsibility of parenting. Bless those who have lost a spouse to death ... or divorce who are parenting their children alone. Bless those men who grew up without an earth father to emulate. Strengthen them all by your love that they may be and become the loving, caring persons they are meant to be. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen and amen.
Fathers young, fathers old may you all walk in Son shine, Lyndi
I got to go to our grandson’s baseball game the other day. Baseball games – I think I’ve attended maybe seven million of them in my life time. I’m really not fond of baseball ….. watching white paint dry on a wall produces the same thrill for me. What is baseball? So you want me to explain it to you with all my vast experience of attending seven millions games?
OK… it’s a game played by two teams, one out the other in. The one that's in, sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count.
When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out.
When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out.
The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in. No wonder I get so much joy out of watching this game!
A pearl to string: My joy comes from watching the ones I love and watching all those who love them watch them. It plumps a grandma’s heart with joy just watching the skills and performances of our grandchildren as they participate in a play or a choir, gymnastics, football, basketball, soccer or baseball. But the bee knees is when I get to watch my children watching their children with such love and pride. Wow! That brings tears of pure joy.
These precious little image bearers are a gift from God, beloved by their parents and the crown of grandparents. The Lord longs to builds beautiful families. As parents walk in integrity their children are blessed after them and parents become the glory of their children. (Psalm 127:3, Proverbs 17: 6, Psalm 127:1, Proverbs 20:7)
‘Watching’ is a gift from God, May your hearts by thrilled by your ‘watching’ too. You are loved, Lyndi
"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herd" (Proverbs 27:23).
When we signed on for this blessing we were thinking small – really cute and small. We really didn’t grasp lifetime in our twenties. Nor did any of us intend to have problems. We were going to love our children and raise them in the Lord and enjoy a long and fruitful life. There’s the key – fruitful! Who knew that nuts were a fruit? And we, cool as we were, would turn into a nut case over clean hands & fingernails, brushed teeth, and toys & clothes picked up. Who knew we would absolutely insist that our sons would use soap AND WATER for their showers and that our daughters would limit their showers to 5 minutes. Paleeze! How could anyone predict that? When we held our little bundles of joy in our arms for the first time how could we imagine turning over the keys to the car? Or what we were going to do when they didn’t make curfew? We could never imagine our pride as we watched our child graduate from high school. Nor could we imagine the pain as we drove them off to college. Or the large departure of funds! Oh my!
Many of us expected to live that perfect timeline of life events adding marriages, grandchildren and family gatherings. What none of us could anticipate were the devastating life events that some families go through in this lifetime and how we as mothers would feel that pain deep in the crevasses of our soul. The actual source of a devastating life events are as varied in number as the stars in the sky. What is constant is the pain in a mother’s heart. It’s not exactly a describable noun but a growing through experience.
A dear friend just experienced the loss of her 23 year old second born son. It was not just the unexpected death but the personal struggles he valiantly battled in his young life that broke this mother’s heart. I can only imagine the pain and I cry too but through life experiences I’ve learned that the loss of a child is not something you heal from. Through the grace of God the pain becomes less loud in your heart over time.
In my mind the loss of a child would be the most difficult and yes I would be comforted knowing my child was with Jesus. If I cut my finger nearly through but there was immediate medical help would that lessen the initial pain? No it would not but knowing Jesus, our immediate help, lessens the pain of the future. We can never measure someone else’s pain not even if we experience the exact same thing. Actually that is quite impossible since we are all individuals with different life prints. We can however carry one another’s burdens.
A pearl to string: God’s Word tell us in Galatians 6-2 to bear one another’s burdens (help each other along this life road) and in first Thessalonians 5:11 to continue to encourage one another and build each other up. We were created to need one another and not go through this life alone. John Milton said: Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named not good.
Go love on someone who has suffered a loss in their life. They need your sweetness and the fragrance of the Lord. Lyndi
We applaud our men and women who serve for freedom so gallantly. Our prayers, our admiration and gratitude are never-ending. Our hearts break each time a life falls in service to their country and to their families go our deepest sympathies and a prayer for God to sweetly bless them for their painful sacrifice of their loved one. May God bless and watch over one and all.
The "Sons in Service" flag was used during World War I and World War II. Each family was entitled to hang a small Son In Service flag in their window, the blue star in the center of the red-bordered white rectangle signified a family member in active service. The star was replaced (or covered) with a gold star if the family member died in action. The organization "Gold Star Mothers", women who had lost sons in the war became active in those years.
A Star in the Window
A man was walking along with his grandson when his grandson asked "Why do all these homes have stars in the windows?" The grandfather explained to the son what the star symbolized.
They walked along and every time they passed a home with a star in the window the boy would smile and clap his hands together. Then the boy pointed up to the sky and pointed to a star.
"Look," he said. "God must have given his son too!"
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"Yahshua, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen and amen."
Holy Fast Food The first picture was staged with white beads (3/16 of an inch in diameter) upon the dew in grass. It gives you an idea of what manna would look like. When the manna would fall it would be very deep similar looking to the second picture.
The first morning that God gave the children of Israel bread, they did not know what it was. It was something they had never seen before. It was like a coriander seed, which is 3/16 of an inch in diameter. It was the color of white as the color of bdellium. Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines bdellium as "a gum or resin, a precious stone, or a pearl". When they saw it, they said "What is it?" They called the bread, manna. The Hebrew word, manna, means "What is it?"
It’s pretty shocking when you lose your salaried job. That happened to us last week. It makes you want to go”Oh Manna what is this?” After walking around in a daze believing we had to sell everything in order to survive over the long haul my thoughts turned to manna. Ok, I’m strange but God isn’t and He is who I look to in good times and bad times. When the shock wears off you realize that you are not up against anything but as always in God’s care. Prayer keeps our eyes on the Lord and just like the Israelites we receive manna (food from God) for the decisions to be made each day. Trying to figure it all out might get you stinky worms in your brain or something. Well, that happened to the Israelites who took more manna than they needed.
Remember, everything you need for the circumstance you find yourself in is already present in Me. I am your ever present help in time of trouble Psalm 46:1
Pearl to string: I always figured we were to keep our eyes upon Jesus cuz like Peter if we knew we were walking on water we would drowned.
Don’t let life aweigh you down, You are loved, Lyndi
Well, I thought about you sitting in your very own Lamborghini for your birthday! Does that count?
Possibly not!
In a remote village in Central America the word got out among the peoples of the region that one of the American missionaries that had served this country for many years was about to return to the US to live out the remaining years of her life.
The nationals desired to honor her for her years of service with a public time of appreciation. News of the event went to all parts of the country in which the missionary was known to the people. One very old and very poor man walked to the ceremony over mountainous terrain for 4 days to bring his gift to the missionary.
The gift consisted of 2 coconuts, but it was all the man had. The missionary recognized the man as coming from the remote village in the mountains.
"Brother, I cannot believe that you would walk so far to present me with this gift," said the missionary to the man.
His response? "Long walk part of gift." - Author Unknown
A pearl to string: Having just experienced a wonderful Mother’s day I’m thinking a long walk together is part of the gift that God has given me. A long walk with my parents, my brothers, my sister, my Coach Wonderful, my children, my daughter’s in law, my grandchildren, my husband’s family, my friends and with my Savior Jesus. The thought does count but the long walk together is the real gift that blesses me.
Joshua 1.9………. "Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." JOY
Did you know? You are someone else’s treasure And you are loved, Lyndi
Losing self: It started to happen gradually¦ One day I was walking my son Mike to school. I was holding his hand and we were about to cross the street when the crossing guard said to him, “Who is that with you, young fella?”“Nobody,”he shrugged. Nobody? The crossing guard and I laughed. My son was only 5, but as we crossed the street I thought, “Oh my goodness, nobody?”
After years of mulling over in my mind my ‘nobody-ness’ I had this brilliant idea to trap all four kids in the car and as we went for a nice long drive I would tell them how cool their Mom was before she got married and had four kids. About half an hour into the plan I noticed the oldest had slumped into slumber in the front seat. I checked the rear view mirror and sure enough #2 son – fast asleep and my angel daughter? Sleeping beauty! The baby was awake but he doesn’t understand English – he’s only 3 months. He is smiling – gas I guess. Will they ever know how cool Mom used to be?
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
A pearl to string:The Invisible Mother
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, ’Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness.It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving,’ My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand-bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home.
And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you’re gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Author Invisible
To all my fellow cathedral builders - I see you You are loved, Lyndi
Something remarkable happened in a college softball game last Saturday in Ellensburg, Wash. At least, I am conditioned to think it was remarkable, since it involved an act of sportsmanship, with two players helping an injured opponent complete the home run she had just slugged.
Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon being carried around the bases by Central Washington’s Liz Wallace, left, and Mallory Holtman.
Why this generous act should seem so unusual probably stems from the normal range of bulked-up baseball players, police-blotter football players, diving soccer and hockey players and other high-profile professionals.
The moment of grace came after Sara Tucholsky, a diminutive senior for Western Oregon, hit what looked like a three-run homer against Central Washington. Never in her 21 years had Tucholsky propelled a ball over a fence, so she did not have her home run trot in order, gazing in awe, missing first base. When she turned back to touch the bag, her right knee buckled, and she went down, crying and crawling back to first base.
Pam Knox, the Western Oregon coach, made sure no teammates touched Tucholsky, which would have automatically made her unable to advance. The umpires ruled that if Tucholsky could not make it around the bases, two runs would score but she would be credited with only a single. (“She’ll kill me if I take it away from her,” Knox thought.)
Then Mallory Holtman, the powerful first baseman for Central Washington, said words that brought a chill to everybody who heard them:
“Excuse me, would it be O.K. if we carried her around and she touched each bag?”
The umpires huddled and said it would be legal, so Holtman and the Central Washington shortstop, Liz Wallace, lifted Tucholsky, hands crossed under her, and carried her to second base, and gently lowered her so she could touch the base. Then Holtman and Wallace started to giggle, and so did Tucholsky, through her tears, and the three of them continued this odd procession to third base and home to a standing ovation.
“Everybody was crying,” Knox recalled on Tuesday. “It was an away game, and our four fans were crying. We couldn’t hit after that.”
The extra run made it easier for Western Oregon to win the second game, 4-2, and sweep the doubleheader. More important, all involved realized they had taken part in an event they would always remember. (Credit where credit is due: I heard about this incident via Jared Max on WCBS-AM news radio Tuesday morning and later I found a nice article by Graham Hays on ESPN.com before making my own calls.)
The question is, where did it come from, this impulsive gesture by Mallory Holtman?
“She hit it over the fence,” Holtman said Tuesday. “She deserved it. Anybody would have done it. I just beat them to it.” She said she had been taught by her coach, Gary Frederick, that “winning is not everything.”
Is there something intrinsic to women’s sports that caused this generosity? Holtman, nearly 23, did not think so. “Not many people are ever in that position,” she said. “I would hope that our baseball players would do it.”
Knox, the Western Oregon coach, said the act “came from character.”
“They’re playing for a coach who instills it,” she said.
Knox said she absolutely would not say this demonstrated some major difference between women’s and men’s sports: “As coaches, we are so competitive, we forget this stuff. By God, I would hope I would have done the same thing.”
Would the Oakland A’s have carried a sore-legged Kirk Gibson around the bases to complete his two-run homer that gave the Dodgers a 5-4 comeback victory in the opening game of the 1988 World Series? My guess is that if Gibson had crumpled in the dirt, Tony La Russa (or Billy Martin or Leo Durocher or Earl Weaver or just about any manager) would have said, “Let him lie there.” But let’s grant that those stakes are much higher.
We’ve all seen sportsmanship at a high level. Golf depends upon personal adherence to the rules. In tennis a player occasionally yields a point — not usually at a crucial moment — producing a sweet little patter of applause.
In 1999, Arsène Wenger, the French coach of Arsenal of the English Premier League, insisted upon a replay of a cup match after a young Arsenal player had unwittingly set up a goal in violation of the unwritten code when an opponent is injured. So maybe sportsmanship is universal, out there, needing to be cultivated.
“It’s amazing what they did,” Tucholsky said of the Central Washington players Tuesday, while facing what she assumes will be the first surgery of her 21 years for what is suspected to be a torn ligament.
“Mallory didn’t know it was my first home run,” said Tucholsky, whose college career will end with a .153 batting average and exactly one home run. “It just says a lot about them.”
Tucholsky was too immobile to join the handshake line at the end of the game Saturday, but her family has been in touch with Holtman, photographs have been exchanged, the two teams are wrapped in a bond of good feeling we can only wish did not seem so singular, so remarkable.
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
Be still, and know that I am God Psalm 46:10/NLT. With the surge of activity for the end of the school year upon us that could be a timely verse though not in time for the mouthy lion. There is a story I came across, reportedly from the writings of Rabbi Kushner, about a group of tourists who went on a safari in Africa and hired several native porters to carry their supplies for them. After three days, the porters announced they would have to stop and rest for a day. When the tourists inquired as to why (they did not appear to be tired) the porters confirmed that fatigue was not the reason: “but we have walked too far too fast and now we must wait for our souls to catch up to us."
The soul is the part of us that longs for God—that tells us how spiritually hungry we are. It’s also the part that reminds us of the truth. For David, the psalmist, his soul was like his inner compass that told him the right way to go. He often had to stop and listen to his soul. Over and over again, his soul is thirsty (Psalm 107:9), it longs for God (Psalm 143:6), his soul cries out for salvation (Psalm 199:81), and it recognizes the truth about himself—that he is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). If we don’t listen to our souls we become spiritually disconnected. It’s impossible to know God and not connect to your own soul but every once in a while we need a Soul Catch-up Day.“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23) but as Charles Spurgeon rightly noted “so are His stops”. Teachers, Professors, students and parents it may be time to take a stop. Is there some matter plaguing you today--an issue, an obstacle, a problem that stands in your path? Wait on the Lord to give your soul a chance to catch up and in His time, He will clear the way for you to see your way through.
A pearl to string: Luis Palau said, “God is not disillusioned with us. He never had any illusions to begin with”. Remember you are loved.
Know that the God who holds the universe is the God who is holding you, Lyndi
From Pastor Dudley C Rutherford, Romancing Royalty - comes a pearl worth passing on to all. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” -- which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
I have heard many preachers explain that at this moment, God was turning His back on His only Son. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me explain. Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher if you will. Rabbis often taught by the method of “rimitzing”. Rimitz is a way of “alluding to” or “referring to”. For example, if I said to you, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” then you, as the listener, would know I was referring to John 3:16.
Likewise, on the cross, when Jesus the rabbi said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” every Jewish person listening knew that Jesus was saying, “Hey folks, one thousand year ago, David predicted all of this would happen. It might look bad, but this has been the plan all along. You see this is not a cry of defeat. It is a cry of victory. God had planned from the beginning of time that I would suffer and die by the cruel torture of the cross.” Read Psalm 22 and you will understand this was all part of the plan of God, that Jesus would indeed by atonement for our sins and be the Blessed Messiah. If you don’t have your Bible’s with you Psalm 22 it’s a click away at: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+22
A pearl to string: There is much vying for our attention these days. TMI…… How does a person stay grounded, level headed and warm hearted? With a popular talk show hostess creating her own religion and so many buying into what sounds good to them we as a society are moving away from the truth of the gospel. Jesus is the only ONE who died for our sin and rose from the dead so we might have eternal life with God the Father. Everything else is either a philosophy, a human with no deity, or a physical inanimate object - none of which created you nor can they save you from death and the fires of hell. There is only ONE God. There is only ONE Savior. There is only ONE way. Oh, am I rimitzing?
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me". John 14:6
Lessons from the Geese, was written in 1972 by Dr Robert McNeish of Baltimore. Dr McNeish, for many years a science teacher before he became involved in school administration, had been intrigued with observing geese for years and first wrote the piece for a sermon he delivered in his church.
In Christian application there are 5 distinct lessons to learn from the Geese.
Lesson #1 Cooperation. A flock of geese is like a team. Flying together creates an uplift, a surge that carries the whole farther than its individual parts could go by themselves. Solomon illustrates this principle in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. When a group or team cooperates, it can achieve great things.
Lesson #2
Unity. Going it alone—being independent of the flock—leads to falling behind. What happens when a goose falls out of formation and cannot or will not reform? If the flock can fly 71% farther as a group, then the lone goose is left behind.
Notice Ephesians 4:3-4, 14-16 (Phillips): Make it your aim to be at one in the Spirit, and you will be bound together in peace. There is one Body and one Spirit, just as it was to one hope that you were called. . . .We are not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching, and of the jockeying of men who are expert in the crafty presentation of lies. But we are meant to speak the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ, the head. For it is from the head that the whole body, as a harmonious structure knit together by the joints with which it is provided, grows by the proper functioning of individual parts, and so builds itself up in love.
We continue to see brethren sidetracked by "crafty presentation." When this happens, and they remove themselves from the flock, this "chance wind of teaching" adds drag and resistance, and suddenly, they find themselves alone.
Anyone who has played team sports knows that the individual must subordinate his desires to those of the team. His goal may be to have the highest scoring average, but that may not help the team to win the championship. Likewise, a church member may think he has discovered the secret to a doctrinal question that no one else has found. But what does he do if others fail to recognize his brilliance? If he pulls out of formation, he may still make it south for the winter, or more likely, he will find himself wintering on a frozen lake in Minnesota! To do its work most fully and successfully, the body of Christ must "fly" together.
Lesson #3
Leadership. Throughout the Bible we see God providing fresh leadership to preside over His people. When Moses' work had been completed, Joshua was trained and ready to take over. Elisha picked up the mantle that had fallen from Elijah's shoulders. When it became clear that Jesus' ministry had begun, John the Baptist humbly said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). But sometimes a leader's power goes to his head, and he swerves off course. If a flock of Canada geese leaves the Hudson Bay area headed south for Lake Lanier, Georgia, and the lead bird makes a hard left over Toronto, well, the flock is off course! They will end up in Lake Ontario instead!
In love for us, God has never failed to provide leadership for His people because our chances of attaining our goal on our own are nil. When God told the children of Israel that they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years (Numbers 14:33), some of them decided to strike out on their own (verse 40). Moses warned them that God was not with them, yet they tried to enter the Promised Land anyway. The Amalekites and the Canaanites mercilessly cut them down (verses 41, 44-45). It is a tragic but pointed object lesson. Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:1,"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." There is nothing wrong with following a person who faithfully follows Christ's lead. At some time soon, we hope and pray that God brings us together again to follow the leader He has prepared for us.
Lesson #4
Encouragement. To lead any endeavor, especially a scattered church, requires huge amounts of effort. To break the trail for others, to be the lead bird, is to be a target, and that can be stressful and wearying. The leader does not always know what is going on among the membership, how they feel or what questions or misconceptions they may have. Too many times all the shepherd hears is the grumbling of the vocal few.
Through our prayers and kind words we can give strength to those up ahead of us. A minister hears many tales of woe, complaints and arguments, but a sincere thank you or gesture of support sometimes makes it all worthwhile. Counseling, preparing messages, traveling and speaking are not easy to do, so any amount of holding up a minister's hands is greatly appreciated and benefits the entire congregation (Exodus 17:8-13).
This need to encourage also applies to our brethren. Health issues have put me on the bench so to speak. But I can still encourage all those around me. In the parallel sports metaphor, being part of a team sometimes means we are watching from the bench. We still participate, however, by giving encouragement, by rooting for our teammates who are on the court. Many a winning team has heaped credit on their "sixth man" or "twelfth man," the fans who cheered from the sidelines and boosted the team's efforts during critical moments of the game.
Paul writes, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), and"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Now more than ever, we all need the encouragement only our fellows in the flock can give.
Lesson #5
Family. The church, God's flock, is composed of His called children, thus it is a family. He expects us to extend the same care to each other as we would any member of our physical families. Our Savior—our Elder Brother—sets the example: For it was fitting for Him [the Father], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He [Christ] is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." . . . And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." . . . Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:10-13, 17-18)
The apostle James writes that we have the same responsibility toward each other: "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20). Peter says,"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (I Peter 4:8). Jude shows two opposite approaches to this problem: "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh" (Jude 22-23).
These are just other ways of saying we must help a brother who has dropped out of formation (see Luke 15:4-7). We should never abandon a sick or wounded brother (see Luke 10:25-37). As long as there is hope, we should be there to help.
At some point, though, it may become clear that the family member is "dead." He no longer responds to any help or encouragement from the church. If this happens, we must figuratively leave him behind. Paul says, "Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (I Corinthians 5:5). At that point, it is best to let him go his own way, and we must rejoin the flock without him.
"Lessons from the Geese" is a beautiful analogy for any Christian, but especially poignant for this end-time church. Imagine if the church of God behaved like a flock of geese, flying in perfect formation, cooperating as a team, unified behind godly leadership, constantly encouraging those around us, and helping our brothers and sisters in the faith. Those who practice these things will reach the flock's destination, the Kingdom of God!
It seems that Elijah was traveling the countryside with a rabbi when they happened upon a dilapidated lean-to owned by a poor man and his ailing wife. Outside the shack was a skinny cow whose ribs were poking through its hide. The couple let Elijah and guest to spend the night with them, offering them the best of their cupboard: a cake of bread, some butter and milk. During the night, suddenly and sadly, a wall collapsed in the poor couple’s humble cottage but Elijah had no miracle for them, despite their hospitality.
Later that day they happened upon a very rich man who entertained them and allowed them to spend the night. The evening’s fare he spread before them included rich, fat morsels and a feast fit for kings. What a bounty! The next morning, a wall also fell in the rich man’s house and Elijah immediately performed a miracle and restored the wall.
As the two travelers continued their journey together the rabbi could not wait to ask the burning question: why would you restore that rich man’s wall and let the poor couple suffer their fate without intervening?
Elijah said, “Ah sir, the Lord showed me the poor man’s wife was going to die the next day and I interceded for her and she was healed. She and her husband are so grateful to God for His overshadowing miracle they will gladly rebuild the wall together out of joy of being restored to each other.”
“As for the rich man,” Elijah continued, “he is so bound to his greed. He is held captive to it. Behind his wall is a pot of gold and because I performed such a miracle for him, he will never know it, never touch it, and never be bound to it.”
Ravi ended the parable by saying that we have many questions as to why this wall fell and that wall stayed up, why this one was left in rubble and the next is miraculously restored. His point was, quite obviously, God has a perspective on all things we do not have and He sees the end from the beginning. He can also see through the wall that looms large and unexplained before us and He holds our tomorrow in His great big Hands. We bow to the supreme great God who will answer our questions one day but we would be well served to remember that our time is but a “speck in a sea of eternity.”
A pearl to string:“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the glory of kings to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2)
“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:11-13)
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God…”(Deuteronomy 29:29) He knows your secret ~ turn and run to Him ~ He gave His life for you ~ Know you are loved, Lyndi
Coach Wonderful calls me a competitor because I finish what I start no matter the cost of time or effort. I don’t think that’s competitive – God just made me that way. He probably made Pit Bulls right before me and it was residue or something. Sometimes that competitive thing can drive me crazy. For a woman who can barely breathe and walk at the same time just being in the game looks pretty thrilling. Seems to me winning grows a big head but losing grows character. Of course one does not want to be a character so winning most of the time is more balanced. Ok, women’s thoughts – who can make sense of them but sports fans and their changeable ways drive me to distraction. How cool is it when 80,000 fans go nuts over a great play but so cold when they boo the same player anytime they do not perform to perfection.
Sports figures drop like flies from grace because people are fickle. Fans are so willing to be loyal to the athlete who makes them feel good and fulfills their expectations, yet turn on that same person with a vengeance if all does not go well. It’s the ole switch-a-roo and it happened in the Bible too.
Remember when a great multitude of people in Jerusalem shouted joyously as Jesus rode into their city riding a donkey (Matthew 21:6-11)? Interesting isn’t it that just days later, probably some of those same people were in the crowd calling for Jesus’ crucifixion (27:20-23). One day they worshiped Him, but a few days later they didn’t want Him around anymore. They didn’t just want Him to go away they wanted to kill Him.
A pearl to string: The bible tells us that in the last days hearts will grow cold. (Matthew 24:4-14) So we need to stoke up the fires of our faith, be strong in the Lord and avoid being caught in the ole switch-a-roo. For it is infinitely wiser to converge with His will rather than compete with it.
May each of us be able to say: “He died for me so I can live for Him”. You are so loved, Lyndi
It was a rainy and humid Sunday night in Waco as two Baylor freshmen, Marc and Blair, discussed what the preacher had talked about that morning. The preacher told of the awesome gifts that God has for everyone. They each the same thing on their mind that night. Marc told Blair about the greatest gift that God had ever given him…..
Growing up as a McCartney you learn one thing quick, Jesus Christ is Lord! As a kid I can remember going to hear all kinds of different Christian singer and speakers, and reading the Bible together as a family every single night. I was taught at a very young age that Jesus is Lord, and there is no compromising that fact. However, the greatest teaching came in my relationship with my parents. First of all, my mother is amazing! All of my close friends would tell you that she is the heart and soul of our family and they are right. She’s like an offensive linemen, never getting the credit that she deserves. My Mom has taught me many things, but the greatest lessons come by the way that she lives her life. Some words that come to mind about my Mom are humorous, loyal, and compassionate. My Mon’s humor has always shined through, whether it’s the sill way that she can make us all laugh or the kid in her that will let her seven year old son go to Taco Bell for his Fist Communion breakfast (by the way Mom, Taco Bell is still my favorite). Her loyalty has always been an inspiration to me. I can remember the time when she scolded and grounded my brothers because they didn’t go to one of my soccer games. She got her point across, because some of my greatest memories growing up have been to have Mike at my junior high football games, or Tom driving all the way to Pueblo to watch me in the State Championship. She also displayed her loyalty in the way that she stuck by my Dad no matter what was going on. I’ll never forget waiting for Dad after his football games. I think my favorite part of the games was to see Mom and Dad hug afterwards. My Mom is definitely compassionate. I’ll always remember the cake she made me when I didn’t make the little league all-star team, and how the whole family came out to my last game and told me that “I was their little all-star”.
My Dad is the greatest Christian man that I know. If the Bible was written today there is no doubt in my mind that there would be a book called, “Coach Mac”, I can remember going to two-a-days to watch my Dad’s to watch my Dad’s team practice and walking to lunch with him after practice. People would always want to walk with us, and when they did my Dad would never fail to share the Gospel with them. There are certain images that I have of my Dad that will always be with me. I remember his prayer list and how he would read it even when he was driving. I remember waking up each morning to the sight of my Dad in the living room reading the Bible. I also cannot recall a day in my life that Dad didn’t tell Mom how beautiful she looked, his example has taught me to bring Robin to splendor. I remember Halloween morning 1992, when we were about to play Nebraska in Lincoln for the Big Eight Championship and a shot at the National Title. Tom and Kristy and I were there for the game and instead of getting ready for one of the most important games of his life, he called a family meeting. He told Tom and I that the McCartney men needed to do a better job at showing Mom and Kristy how valuable they were to us. I was an incredible moment as we began to hug on and cry with each other. You see our Dad taught us long ago that it was okay to cry.
One thing about my Mom and Dad is that they are a great team. When we lost to Miami in 1993 we were all devastated and I was particularly upset. However, instead of feeling sorry for ourselves my parents called some of their friends over and we praised Jesus together for hours. It was a moving time when I was able to tell my Mom and Dad how much I love them, but words could never describe my feelings for them.
Hey Blair, everyone knows that the greatest gift that God ever gave us was his son. He gave me something different though, he gave me Jesus through my Mom and Dad. I don’t know why God decided to bless me so much with the parents that he gave me, but I honestly feel like the luckiest, most loved person in the world” After Blair told Marc about his parents the two knelt down together to praise God. Marc prayed and thanked his savior for the greatest gift of all, his Mom and Dad.
