Pain Summons His Grace

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground ----it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.


A Pearl to String: For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer.

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Leaning into His love,
Lyndi

Persevering through the seasons

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

A pearl to string: Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come sometime. "Therefore, beloved, do not lose heart. Though these jars of clay are wasting away outwardly, inwardly Christ is renewing us day by day. These pressuring, perplexing, persecuting, knock down times, are but light and momentary and they are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Let us keep our eyes fixed not on the present happenings which are so visible to us, but upon the eternal, which is not seen by the earthly eye, but through eyes of faith". Paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Aspire to Inspire Before You Expire.
Live Simply. Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.
Leave the Rest to God.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keep You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going.

Know you are loved,
Lyndi

http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/theseasonsoflife.htm

SEARCH FOR AN HONEST MAN

I love this story which reportedly came from Sports Illustrated: The game was played in Wellington, Florida. In it, a seven-year-old first baseman, Tanner Munsey, fielded a ground ball and tried to tag a runner going from first to second base.

The umpire, Laura Benson, called the runner out, but young Tanner immediately ran to her side and said, "Ma'am, I didn't tag the runner." Umpire Benson reversed herself, sent the runner to second base, and Tanner's coach gave him the game ball for his honesty.

Two weeks later, Laura Benson was again the umpire and Tanner was playing shortstop when a similar play occurred. This time Benson ruled that Tanner had missed the tag on a runner going to third base, and she called the runner safe. Tanner looked at Benson and without saying a word, tossed the ball to the catcher and returned to his position.

Benson sensed something was wrong. "Did you tag the runner?" She asked Tanner.

His reply: "Yes."

Benson then called the runner out. The opposing coaches protested until she explained what had happened two weeks earlier. "If a kid is that honest," she said, "I have to give it to him."

It may be that no Christian characteristic has suffered more in our society than honesty. It's lacking in the workplace, it's lacking in many of our marriages, it's lacking in our government, and sometimes it's even lacking in our churches. Like Diogenes of ancient Greece, we sometimes feel the urge to take our lantern and begin our search for an honest man.

There is something about Christians that should stand out like a neon sign on a dark night. Jesus wants his people to be known as a people of truth. We should establish a reputation, like Tanner, for speaking the truth even when it would benefit us to do otherwise. Then, and only then, will those around us trust what we say without hesitation, without wondering whether we really mean what we say or not.

"Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25)


Alan Smith

Trying Times

These are trying times. There are so many willing & able bodied people out of work. Jobs are scarce. Finances both personal & institutional are unstable. people are losing their homes, selling their possessions, running up credit cards and doing anything they can think of to survive. Even if you are doing ok it wreaks havoc with your nerves knowing so many are struggling and in crisis. That’s how it is right now and we have to live through it.

Remember this?
Mr. trouble never hangs around,
When he hears this Mighty sound,
Here I come to save the day!

Reaching into the closet for my Don Quixote stick and my hero suit –
Oh rats the closet shrank my hero suit. OK, which one of you dogs chewed up this stick? What is a body to do? Where does a body turn? First, don’t believe in a cartoon! Oh, puh-leeez people you need a place to turn that is safe, unchanging and rock solid. You need a Savior that would die for you: A person who could calm your fears & doubt. One who could end envy, jealousy, anger or rage. And indubitably wipe out guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, addiction & infirmity.

A pearl to string: Who could that be? Lucky for you I know! God reigns in all those places and He sent His Son Jesus so we might live here on earth in His grace and be with our Father for all eternity. Oh yes, it’s quite true. The Bible will tell you so.

John 10:9 “Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (Food for his soul in all circumstances). “This is my Father's will: That everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day." John 6:40

Oh my beloved friends this is the eternal, unchangeable will of God. Find hope and peace in this truth for these trying times and all of your times.

Rekindle the joy in your heart
You are loved,
Lyndi

Closed Doors

This is a classic devotional without a known author and a great reminder that if I’m looking at life from my perspective alone I am not seeing the bigger picture or the work of God in my life.

We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong door, we would never find the right door.

God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the open door and you walk right into your blessing.

The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but instead of praising him for the closed door (which keeps us out of trouble); we get upset because we "judge by the appearances."

You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord, how could You have done this to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him?

If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves: it might be another job, it might be school.

If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let it go).

One time, a person had a bank they had been in business with for many years tell them "No!" to a $10,000 loan. The Lord put in their spirit to call another bank. That bank gave them $40,000 at a lower interest rate than the first bank was offering.

A pearl to string: We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging by appearances. Be grateful for the many times our Father has closed doors to us just to open them in the most unexpected places. The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the right" ...sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for you.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him - and He will direct your paths". Proverbs 3:5-6

Know that God never sleeps
And know too that you are loved,
Lyndi