Lessons from the Geese

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!

A Parable by Ravi Zacharias

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

The ole Switch-A-Roo

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

God’s Greatest Gift by Marc McCartney 1994

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.

http://www.faithpluslife.blogspot.com/

“Parents are the pride of their children” by Kristy McCartney 1994

“Parents are the pride of their children”
Proverbs 17:6

Mom and Dad, you are worthy of honor and praise for the love, commitment, and selflessness you have shown me. I am thankful you were married, had me, and stayed together through all the hard times. Your love and commitment to each other has enriched my life and the lives of my children. I thank you for giving your lives to Christ and sharing His love with me. For this I am eternally grateful. As a family we have had many good times. These are some of the memories I cherish:

FCA camps, bowl games, vacations in Florida at the McCartney’s trailer, help with science projects, extra gifts at Christmas time, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Mac, Mom sponge painting the walls, Dad making us clean the garage, doing yard work, hugging and loving me when I didn’t make cheerleader, playing telephone, Mom making our Halloween costume (and dressing up too), how special you made our birthdays, visiting Dad at practice, playing pin ball at Dad’s office, all those Girl Scout meetings, getting lost at camp, our trip to the mountains with Mom’s family, fighting in the car on road trips, Dad threatening to pull the car over, the millions of football, basketball, and baseball games, beating Notre Dame (twice!), reading the Bible before bed. There are so many memories we have made. Thank you for all of them.

Mom, as you look back on your life, it might not have gone the way you had planned. But I want you to know you have raised a daughter who thinks the world of you. l You are so beautiful to me. You are elegant, graceful, and classy (it shows in everything you do). You are supportive, loving, kind, generous, forgiving, patient, funny, and incredibly talented. I am in awe of your writing abilities. You have been through so much pain in your life, yet, you find a way to be positive and forgiving. I admire that and long to be like you. You are a role model for me as a Christian woman and mother. You have sacrificed so many things for me. I appreciate each and every one of those sacrifices with all of my heart. You have been my best friend through many tough times, never judging me, only loving and accepting me. I trust you with my deepest thoughts, fears, and joys. I am so proud that you are my Mother. I thank you, I honor you and I love you Mom.

Dad, I don’t think you realize how much I admire and respect you. When I have trouble with something and need help, I think of you. You have so much wisdom. You speak with such passion and conviction and you live that way too. Your discipline has not gone unnoticed. You had an impact on me. You are someone I look up to and strive to be like in many ways. You are a man of God, and I am proud to call you my Father. You have no idea what joy and excitement it brings me to hear you speak. At Promise Keepers ’94, I was so excited to hear you speak I could hardly contain myself. I search the radio for your speeches. For all of the speeches I have been to, from Buff Belles to Phoenix ’90, I am so proud of you. You instilled in all of us the need for God in our lives, the importance of Church every Sunday, and reading the Word daily. I am thankful for those vital truths you have given me.
Father, I thank you, I honor you and I love you Dad.

I love you Mom and Dad
Kristy

Footprints to Follow by Tom McCartney 1994

Two sets of footprints represent the good times. One set of footprints represents the tough times. The Lord says where there is one set of footprints; those are the times that I carried you. Mom and Dad, thank you for the footprints that you have left, the Lord has blessed the two of you and your children follow in your footprints.

Dad, you raised our family to seek the Lord. Thank you for all those nights we turned off The television and you read from the Bible. Thank you for all those mornings you prayed over each of us, and thank you for never missing church on Sunday, and always including us to say the Rosary with you in the car.

Mom, your treasure on earth was your family. The Lord blessed you with many talents:
Playing the piano, playing the guitar, teaching, singing and writing. However, the gift you choose as a career, was loving your family. Thank you For the sacrifices you have made to be with your Family and the footprints that you have left.

Mom and Dad, thank you for modeling to your family the key to living, which is giving. Mom, I remember when I was a teenager and you asked me if I was going to Marc’s baseball game, and I said “no”. You told me how you had brought Marc to all of my games and how much it would mean to him if I came to his game. Mom, thank you for going to my games and thank you for teaching me, by example, how to give to others. Dad, I recall times when family members and you were in a disagreement. Before too long, I always remember seeing you go first to the family member and ask for their forgiveness. Dad, forgiving and giving equals living and you and mom make a great team.

John 4:38 “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Mom and Dad you are leaving a legacy behind you. Thank you for building our home on a strong foundation. I thought about separate tributes for each of you, but the two of you have never been separate. I love you both and I ask for your forgiveness. Mom you once told me that I didn’t have a clue and you were right. I have taken my loved ones for granted. Why do we take our loved ones for granted? I believe it is because the two of you have always been there for me and both of you have been servants to me. Forgive me, because I have not been a servant back to you. Mom, I have always wanted to marry someone like you and the Lord has blessed me. Dad, I have always wanted to be just like you.

Thank you for your footprints.
I love you both,
Thomas Chase.

A TRIBUTE to Mom and Dad by Mike McCartney 1994

Mom and Dad, my life is richer because you have given so much to me. Together, you have taught me love, honor, respect, responsibility, devotion discipline, ethics, morals and commitment. I’ve learned from your words and I’ve learned from your actions. You provided a safe and Godly environment to grow up in. There are so many great memories that I have of growing up. I want to share them here with you so that you will always know my appreciation for you.

Mom, you are the most tender, loving person I know. You make everyone feel so comfortable, never judging anyone. Your caring nature is obvious to anyone who knows you, not to mention your devotion to our family. I love you and hold you in the highest regard.

Mom, the most special times I’ve shared with you have been our 3 driving trips, especially the one to North Carolina. Yes it was the longest, yet it also gave us the most timed to talk, It was such a great honor to hear of your past, your dreams, your struggles, and your love for Dad and the family. At the conclusion of the drive to Kansas, saying good-bye was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

As I reminisce about growing up, so many moments come to mind. I want to thank you for attending every Little League baseball and basketball game, even when they started in the early hours. Thanks for believing that every injury was legitimate, despite 16 broken fingers. Your tenderness and affection when I was sick and the way you, rubbed my stomach and special memories. You taught me how to drive a stick shift. You demonstrated the importance of tithing by giving me a dollar for church when I was young. Two other memories truly stand out and are of such significance to me. Your devotion to Dad, and knowing that Jenni was the one from the onset, welcoming and loving her into our family.

Dad, you are a man of tremendous integrity, principle and character. I admire the work ethic and discipline in your life. Everything you ever get involved in seems to be great or turn great. You have so many talents and are unquestionably the greatest source for me to turn to for advice. You taught me how to be gracious in defeat and humble in victory. (You had much more practice at humbleness) I am grateful that I always knew of your great love and affection for Mom and you children. I love and respect you very much.

Dad, Saturday’s when you were a basketball coach were very special days. We would start out at the donut shop before practice. Shooting hoops and being around the players were great times. I still remember you trying to teach me what double dribble meant. Following practice, we would often head to Miller’s Bar for the best burgers in town. I also remember state playoff games at the Silverdome, watching Mark “The Bird” Fidrych pitch, and chapel services at Tiger Stadium. Lunch at the Michigan training table, sideline passes, making sure I got into the locker room after the Rose Bowl win, and all of your stirring pre-game talks (I’ll never forget the 15 rounds at Oklahoma) are great memories. I loved being a “coaches’ kid”, even if it meant getting booed in the sixth grade upon returning from the Rose Bowl. Thanks for the sex talk driving to Indiana, I remember marveling at your words as we constructed the best poem for Tommy Hearns.

Mom and Dad, you have added so much to my life, yet the greatest gift you have given to me was showing me the door to eternal life. Dad, thanks for leading the family in daily devotions and teaching us about the love of Christ. Mom, thanks for your example of servant hood. I thank you both for praying over me and illustrating God’s love daily. I have learned so much from each of you and strive to be more like you. Dad, you’re my example of being a Godly man at home and at work. And Mom, if I could be as selfless as you, I would truly be fortunate, as well as those around me. I have been blessed beyond measure and owe it to the two of you. Mom and Dad, I love honor and thank you.
Mike

Resurrection Glow

In the Gospel of John (20:7) we read: "But the burial napkin (kerchief) which had been around Jesus' head, was not lying with the other linen cloths, but was folded up (wrapped round and round) in a place by itself." -Amplified Bible

Note that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Is that important? You'd better believe it! Is that significant? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.

In the Jewish society of that age the folded napkin was in a way a form of coded communication between the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done".

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"

A pearl to string: HE "IS" COMING BACK... HALLELUJAH!

Let yourself glow in the Resurrection,
You are so loved,
Lyndi

(Note: With most historical custom there is a margin of dispute. With this retelling of old Jewish custom in service I found much to support it as well as much that disputes it. Nevertheless, Jesus is coming back!)

He Gave His Life

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending school in Utah. Brother Christianson taught at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's class. Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over. One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?" Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do." Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?" Steve said, "I do about 200 every night." "200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?" Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time." "Do you think you could?" Again asked Brother Christianson. "Well, I can try," said Steve. "Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," Brother Christianson said. Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it." Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited - it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend. Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?" Cynthia said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a donut?" Joe said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a donut?" Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?" Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them." Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then." Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!" Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk. Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Jenny said, "No." Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved. Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?" Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You can do them any way that you want." And Bro. Christianson went on. A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."
Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him." Steve said, "Yes, let him come in." Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?" "Yes." "Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down. Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut? Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you." Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?" Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson, can I help him?" Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor. Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten." (Author unknown)

A pearl to string: For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins.
Then, in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us!
2 Corinthians 5:21/LB

May Son shine and Joy fill your life
because of Resurrection Sunday,
Lyndi

His Pleasure

The Flying Scotsman - Eric Liddell
Paris 1924 Scottish Olympian
Remember the movie “Chariots of Fire”? It’s an inspiring old movie to rent and watch with the family on these cold Colorado winter nights. The 1981 film is a story of two men who run...not to run...but to prove something to the world. They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals...except their honor. With wings on their heels and hope in their hearts they run each chasing their dreams of glory. A line in the movie and I assume from the Scottish athlete Eric Liddell’s life caught my ear. His sister did not want him to run in the race, she wanted him to set aside the running and give himself fully to missionary work. His response to her pleading, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” What joy to feel God’s pleasure.

I have often heard people say after giving of themselves to someone in need, “it made me feel so good to help”. That is feeling God’s pleasure. “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:40/NLT

String a pearl: God has made a time and seasons for all the gifts He deposited into your life journey. A study of Ecclesiastes uncovers the assembly of aptitude possibilities. With each God blessed gift, talent, and ability in your life He seals a transparent blessing that flows out in many directions. There are eyes on you, watching you to see how you meet the challenges and joys in your day. Those eyes are in your children, your family members, your friends and even strangers. Without ever being consciously aware you are blessing others everywhere you turn. When you smile, when you listen or when you pray there are eyes watching. When you send that football spiraling into the air, shoot a basket, swing a bat, dribble the soccer ball down the field, or do a double stag jump on Beam – people are watching and your gifts are blessing. Your singing, paintings, writing ability, organizational skills, mathematical wits, creativity ….. even your driving! Absolutely everything under the sun.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”
~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

And Lord let me do it all for You,
Be in His pleasure,
Lyndi

My Lucky Number 238

I’m coming up on my 65th birthday this week. Funny, when I started dreaming of life I never actually dreamed of this moment in time. Thanks to Medicare and all the mailings that arrive for this mile stone moment in life I’ve been thinking of this for months. Feeling a slight disconnect to my youth as our grandchildren gaze upon family photos from the 70’s & 80”s and recognize everyone but grandma and the dog. The dog died people but that’s me and I’m still here. I gathered photos of myself at all ages. Laying them side by side it’s rather startling. I wound up selecting a few from my childhood then adding one from each decade. Suddenly life was pretty short. If, in a perfect world, one had 10 decades to live I’ve already used 6½ of them. It’s too late for a do over and frankly I don’t have the energy. It just might be prudent to enjoy what God has given me and stop fighting so hard to improve it. How did those 900 year old people in Biblical days deal with the crinkled, brown speckled, parched skin look? Oh, pardon me, I digress.

This is about my lucky number 238. Odd I know but it happens to be my address from when I was a kid. I use to think of the bad things that happened to me when I was a kid and feel sorry for myself. Poor little thing I would think. A couple of decades ago a pastor friend encouraged me to see my pain through God’s eyes. I began to realize all the trials and any suffering was in fact my strength. Endurance and perseverance built into me by God. Only God can see a whole life and only God can build a ship that will survive the stormy seas of life. God built me after he created me in my mother’s womb. So now I look back at my start in life and see the goodness of the Lord. I see the numbers on my house and it reads 238 – pretty lucky huh? I have a Scripture verse that reveals the truth of my lucky number and a fun little story to showcase that truth.

An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled,”STOP! Acts 2:38!"

The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell Scripture at you." "Scripture?" replied the burglar. "She said she had an Ax and Two 38's!"

A pearl to string: Remember knowing Scripture can save your life in more ways than one!!! Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38 Turn your love away from the wiles of this world and……

Turn your heart toward Jesus,
He’s got a gift for you.
Lyndi





A life of one woman~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1946 @3 .......................... ........................1949 @6

1956 @13 ..........................................1959 @16

1961 @18 ............................... 1962 @19

1964 @21 .......................................... 1973 @30

1974 @31...............................1984 @41

1996 @53 ...........................2006 @63 ....................... 2008 @65

Begat love……

By Hugh Macleod
Stormhock label designs: gapingvoid.com

"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!"
Isaiah 65:24/New Living Translation

How many times has that happened to you? I’m thinking it happens all the time but goes unrecognized much of the time. Think about when your kids were toddlers, for some of you that is now. As parents we would go before, to the side of, or behind our little one to clear the path and make it safe for them to explore their world. I believe that’s how God works in our lives. Just like our little people do not see what we do for them. We as adults do not see the many times nothing happens, when God goes before us, to the side of us or behind us to clear our path and make it safe for us to live in this world. Our lives are the reflection, or should be, of how God loves us.

I’m also thinking the reason we have arms is to reach out to others and give them the love of God through the love He gives us. He uses our arms to feed the hungry and clothe the poor as well as to bind the wounds of the body and brokenness of a heart.

We have ears to listen to one another as God listens to us. He listens through our hurts and our fears. He listens through our frustration and anger. He has an ear for all our nit-picking and complaining.

Our eyes are not just for seeing the needs so we might attend to them – I think they are a place from which God can weep for the sorrows of this world.

And that mouth we have? Not many people walking around without one but not near enough people using them to encourage and exhort, to approve of and accept, to honor and respect.

A pearl to string: It doesn’t matter what kind of love I think on – I can’t seem to write about it without first seeing it through the love of God. The attributes of love are the attributes of God. "No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us". 1 John 4:12/New Living Translation

It was in the beginning that God begat love,
Lyndi

All God’s Children

For the month of February I wanted to focus on love. First, I focused on the greatest love of all – God’s love for us. Second, I turn to love in marriage but it became more about how to be love and dying to self. With that in mind I’m expecting an interesting journey as I set out to think on the love we have for our children. Oh it’s big isn’t it? The love we have for our children. It really doesn’t matter whether you are gazing upon a small child, a teen or a grown adult your parent heart just swells with love pride – it’s really indescribable.

I’m reminded of a story some years ago, on a hot summer day in Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother, in the house and looking out the window, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go." What a beautiful picture pops up in my mind of the determination of a Mother’s love. www.TruthorFiction.com cannot authenticate this story but in the Bible the truth is found. Romans 8:38 tells us that ‘nothing can separate us from the love of God’

A pearl to string: We all have scars, not from an alligator perhaps, but from pain that stomped through our past. Some of those scars are deep and gnarly and some have very long stems of regret. Some of the wounds that lace our past, dear hearts, are because God refused to let go. When you couldn’t hold on to God – He was holding on to you. We are all His children. God wants to do more than love us. John 3:16 tells us He sent His Son to die for our sins so that whosoever believes will not perish but spend all eternity with the Father.

We keep our children in our hearts yet God has a bigger plan for His children.

Believing in everlasting Son shine,
Lyndi

IN MEMORY

Of Charles Aubrey Amado
June 9, 1981-February 10,2008



Three friends died in Grapevine Texas
Cory Pratt - Aubrey Amado - Justin Cartwright

Life is kind of like the ocean,
You can see how it starts, but not the way it ends.

We little knew that morning
God was going to call your name,
In Life we loved you dearly
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you
You did not go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
You left us beautiful memories
Your love is still our guide,
And although we cannot see you
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one
The chain will link again.

Blessings and grace to the Moms & Dads, family and friends
especially Kristy Amado
http://www.yourcachevalley.com/members/myfriesians

You Gotta Have Heart

Love is such an odd thing. We all want it and we all want to give it. Somehow the confusion begins right at that juncture. Our common human characteristic is our need to count in someone else’s life. At least one other person needs us, we tell ourselves, when we feel least able to accept life’s demands. How alike we all are. The paradox is that our own need for love is lessened when we bestow it on others. Choosing to offer love, rather than look for it, will influence every experience we have. Give it away and it returns. So we eventually learn that love isn’t about what “I” can get. True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. Author Unknown

Most people want to find true love, a mate to share their life with – ah….. Then comes marriage! Now there’s a blast from 45 years of experience. In the early going the 'my way' thing turns into the battle of the egotists and it's an I for an I. Through the struggles and the joys, the hurts and the healings, and the tug a wars and the victories Coach Wonderful and I know marriage brings you closer to the Lord. But the key to a long love life is dying to yourself – actually it is the key to much of what we do here on earth. Dying to yourself is like a God directed prescribed burn. It clears out the underbrush of self and improves the hungering and thirsting of your soul while strengthening temptation deliverance and seriously reducing the noxious weeds of daily life. It never gets easier to die to yourself and there always seems to be another deeper layer of pride with which one has to deal. But it is the most direct path to love.

A pearl to string: Growing and learning to love God seems to be the most beautiful way to love others from my 65 years of life perspective. Benjamin Franklin (another old dude) said, “Loving others promises me the love I desire. But I can’t expect it if I don’t give it first.”

My friend, your love has made me happy and has greatly encouraged me.
It has also cheered the hearts of God’s people.
Philemon 1:7/CEV

You gotta have heart to love others and you gotta have love to have heart.
You gotta have God to have love because God is love.

Getting me out of the way and
Loving in Son shine – Happy Valentine’s Day,
Lyndi

The Greatest Love of All

It’s February – the Love Month and I think I’d like to focus on love all month long.

There are those among us that would say, “Forget love; I’d rather fall in chocolate”. Believe it or not the Bible has a warning for that way of thinking: When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down; eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick ~ Proverbs 25:16/MSG. I know I could hunt down some deep wisdom in that Scripture and I may come back to it but for now I’m looking for the Greatest Love of All.

Henry Ward Beecher said, "I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love”.

So, my question would be, how does anyone know how to love until they begin to know God? Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

The Greek language had three words for love. First there was "Eros," from which we get "erotic." This was, of course a purely selfish love. Then there was "Phileo" (Philadelphia), or "brotherly love" This is the love of one family member for another. But the Bible reveals a deeper love – the depth and breadth of God’s love. "Agape" is a giving love, entirely unselfish. Agape describe the love God has for us. As the song; "The Love of God" says:

Were with ink the oceans filled
And were the skies of parchment made
And every blade of grass a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.

We are of great value both because of our creation and also because of the price paid for our redemption. There is an old story which illustrates this aptly.

A Young boy made a beautiful toy sailboat and took it to a lake to sail, but a gust of wind blew the boat out into the lake. The boat was lost. Several weeks later, the boy saw his sailboat in the window of a toy store. When he asked for his boat, the store owner said, "I own the sailboat now. If you want it you will have to buy it back." The boy sold all he had to buy back his boat. After paying the store owner, the boy took his boat to his heart and said, "Little boat, you are twice mine, I made you, and now I bought you."

A pearl to string: Like that little boat, we are twice the Lord's - He made us, and Christ bought us back by paying the price for our sin with his own blood.

I’m going with Samuel Rutherford’s thoughts on God: “Since He hath looked upon me my heart is not my own. He hath run away to heaven with it”.

Captured by His love,
Lyndi

Foozle Life

When you are working hard, living a good life cuz you are a good person and you are independently standing on your own two feet, making your own decisions, living off your own power, intelligence, wisdom and personal moral standard. That is the Foozle Life. Many of us try that society trained Foozle Life and many come to know that without God our own perceived goodness gets beaten down, loses meaning, direction and power. We were created by God to be in relationship with Him.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 (New King James Version)

Found a little mathematical formula to demonstrate what equals 100% in life.

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

If: H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K 8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%
And: K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E 11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But: A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E 1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D 12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you to 100%, which is man’s world, the Foozle Life. It's the Love of God that will put you over the top and that’s where God lives!

A pearl to string: It’s not about how well you do or how hard you work. Have you ever noticed when you are in the picture your view of the whole picture is limited? If you step away from the picture and view the whole picture you gain a clear perspective. Go ahead and look at your favorite family photo. Got it in front of you? Look at yourself! Remember when that shot was snapped? You were smiling at the camera, what kind of perspective is that? But as you gaze at the photo now – it’s all before you, wow, there is so much to see. Look at all those beautiful people in your family. We need our creator to fulfill the purpose of our creation.

God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT)

Running into the arms of Jesus,
Lyndi

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Paper written by

Derek McCartney 07

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had been graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

In 1954, Martin Luther King accepted the pastoral of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.

In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail", a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream", he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.



Devotional from Our Daily Bread
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

In late January 1956, during the tense days of the Montgomery Boycott, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could not sleep. A threatening phone call had terrified him. So he prayed, “I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now, I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage. Now, I am afraid. . . . The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. . . . I can’t face it alone.”
Dr. King later wrote, “At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I never experienced Him before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying, ‘Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.’ Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.”
The rest is history. Dr. King wanted to see people of all colors free of the damage done by racism and prejudice.
If we face opposition when we’re trying to do what’s right, we too must cry out to the Lord. He alone is our “rock of refuge, a fortress of defense” (Ps. 31:2). He is our reliable source of strength and protection. —David C. Egner

What's in a Name?

A treasure hunt reveals a gem. This is the coolest thing. In the depths of God's Word tucked away in the names of a man and his six sons a long time friend uncovers a pip of a find. Enjoy!

Guest Author
By James Ryle
http://jamesryle.blogspot.com/
(Pastor and friend from days of yore)

"And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah." (Ezra 10:26 KJV)

This verse is buried twenty-six lines deep in the midst of a long list of laborious names. Very few people would even bother reading it. I guess I'm one of those few. You can see that seven names are listed; a father and his six sons. However, nothing is said about them -- who they were, what they did, how their lives mattered. Nothing. Just their names. But names are important. A name defines you, and a good name is to be desired above great riches.

So I did a curious thing with this verse of scripture. Using the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, the Easton Bible Dictionary, and the Hitchcock Bible Names Dictionary, I looked up the meaning of each of these names and what I uncovered is worthy of your consideration.

Elam --a secret hidden by distance in the highlands
Mattaniah -- the gift of hope from the Lord; the hope laid up in heaven
Zechariah -- The renowned Lord has remembered
Jehiel -- God's life will be seen in me
Abdi -- serviceable, servant of the Lord
Jeremoth -- elevations; uplifted beyond the fear of death
Eliah -- The Mighty God, the Lord who works in wonder and power

Putting the meaning of these several names together in one continuous thought produced the following treasure:

"There was a secret hidden in the heavens, far away from the sight of man. It was a gift of hope, laid up in heaven for us by the Lord. At the perfect moment, in the fullness of time, the Lord remembered the gift and brought it forth for us to have and to behold. Because of this His name is now renowned throughout the whole earth. His life has now been made manifest in and through us, making us useful unto every good word and work, and lifting us far above the power of sin and death. He is the mighty God, who works wonders of love by His great power."

Next time your whizzing through the Bible on your way to a place called Hurry Up and Get Here, take a break. Slow down and read with an inquisitive mind, a curious soul, and an investigative hunger. You might just stumble upon a buried treasure or two.

FOLLOW?

We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz….. Because, because, because, because, becaaaaaaaaause! Because of the wonderful things he does. Yikes! Don’t follow him!

A teenage girl got lost in her car in a snow storm. She remembered what her dad had once told her: "If you ever get stuck in a snow storm, wait for a snow plow and follow it."

Lo and behold, a snow plow came by, so she started to follow it. She followed the plow for about forty five minutes. Finally the driver of the truck got out and asked her what she was doing. She explained that her dad had told her if she ever got stuck in the snow, to follow a plow. The driver nodded and said, "Well, I'm done with the Wal-Mart parking lot, now you can follow me over to K-Mart."

Do listen to your Dad. There's nothing wrong with following others as long as you know that they are headed in the right direction. Even the apostle Paul was careful to limit those who sought to follow him: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
(I Corinthians 11:1, NIV).

String a pearl: Movies & TV shows are entertainment not intended as a life map. Emulating performer’s rogue lifestyle would be craziness. Following a snow plow blindly may have minor consequences, but following someone blindly in the realm of religion can have serious (and eternal) consequences. Be careful who you follow! When my brothers and sister and I were growing up our Dad use to tell us, “Do what I say, not what I do”. We people are fallible, even those who love the Lord. Don’t follow those who love the Lord….. Follow who they follow.



In His footsteps,
Lyndi

Wounded in the midst of joy

Our grandson #17 left hand corner

Have you ever been caught up in an exciting moment when out of the blue comes a blow that downs your spirit? Of course you have. It’s a rather common human experience. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered”. (Hebrews 5:8, NLT) It’s also a common human experience to get lost in happy. Lost in the sense there are no thoughts of God or His love for you in what you are experiencing.

We’ve just returned home from a trip to New Orleans to be with our grandson TC. His team, the LSU Tiger’s, played victoriously to become college football’s 2007 National Champions. Wow! It was a tremendously electrifying and joy provoking fun time. Simultaneously it was a humbling experience knowing so many others had worked long and hard for the same title. How can any of us not thank God for these exciting moments in our lives? The ugly truth is many in that stadium having as much fun as we did forgot about God completely. Players, coaches, fans alike lost in happy! I’m sure that grieved the heart of God. Like so much of life there is always the flip side and there were also players, coaches and fans whose joy and thankful hearts gave praises to God.

About 20 years ago I saw a pattern developing in my life that made me very unhappy. In times of trouble I would run to the Lord for comfort and help. Yep, I did that real good but in the good times I didn’t see me being very thankful for all the rich blessings. The ugly truth is I was lost in happy. If you see it in your life it’s a great invitation from the Lord to DP. Drop and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you into a grateful heart for who Jesus is to you in good times and in those tough times. I prayed that and it changed my spiritual life.

Along with four other players our grandson started off his first bowl experience quarantined to his hotel room for a mystery illness. Many of you prayed and all the sick ones got well rapidly. Thank you for your healing prayers. Then came the “wound in the midst of joy” for a group of players. The “what” isn’t as important as the “how” one responds. What a blessing it was for our family to be able to speak into the hurt with our grandson. The goal of our heavenly Father is to develop us; it would be naïve and unscriptural to think this would be done without suffering. The prayer I prayed so many years ago has kept me watchful for the pearls God gives us through our suffering, just as He did in the life of His Son. The good news is that we don’t have to be nailed to a cross; Jesus did that for us.

A pearl to string: You cannot control what other people say or do. So when you are wounded in the midst of joy you only have the power, with the grace of God, to choose your action. Do not allow satan to steal your joy. "Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." (John 3:6, NLT)

Giving great thanks to the Lord,
Geaux Tigers, by the grace of God in your hard work and dedication
You are the Champions!
'Waaahhh-hoooooo!!!!',
Lyndi

Hurt?

>>>><<<<

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Were you hurt in 2007? Or did you carry hurt into 2007? Still got it? Doesn’t that hurt feel heavy? Do not underestimate the insidious, destructive effect that unresolved hurt and anger can have on every aspect of your life. It’s like poison that swallows you. It doesn’t do anything good to your face either. Hurt shows no matter how big that smile might be.

Everyone has been wronged, offended, and sinned against at some point in life. How are we to respond when such offenses occur? Reading in The Word of God we understand that we are to forgive. Of course that can be easier said than done. (My personal little prayer, “Lord, please forgive them while I grow to”) Ephesians 4:32 declares, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Similarly, Colossians 3:13 proclaims, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Is it possible to truly forgive all transgressions?
How do you forgive someone who physically abused you when you were a child?
How do you forgive someone who raped you or a family member?
How do you forgive someone who spread vicious and humiliating lies about you?
How do you forgive parents who put their own needs and egos way ahead of your basic emotional needs as a child?
How do you forgive a parent who left you when you were young?
How do you forgive someone who has sucked the joy out of your life through his or her negative, hypocritical, phony, lazy, selfish, and ill-tempered behavior over 20 years of marriage?
How do you forgive attacks on your children?
How do you forgive the unforgivable?

Maybe, sometimes, the hurt is so bad that the quality of your health and life will suffer for the rest of your life because you will always harbor some anger for the people who hurt you.

“When you haven't forgiven those who've hurt you, you turn your back against your future. When you do forgive, you start walking forward”. Tyler Perry

String a pearl: Why do we forgive? Because we have been forgiven! It was revelation for me years ago in the midst of a tumultuous struggle when God made a clear impression on my heart. Jesus not only died for my sins but for those who have sinned against me.
Wait a minute! Stop the music! It doesn’t get any bigger than that. Jesus died for that person that sinned against me! There’s nothing more I can do…………….. but forgive.

Forgiveness is the perfume that the trampled flower
Casts back upon the foot that crushed it

God makes everything but unbreakable hearts.
Lord let me be the fragrance of Your love
Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:10

Happy New Year
Lyndi

TWO THOUSAND EIGHT

Dear God, It is a new year on this earth. I want to begin the year with praise and thankfulness to you. I want to recommit myself to you; to do your good will; to follow your word and the guidance of your Holy Spirit. I want to draw closer to you in word, thought, and deed. I want to have an attitude of gratitude, a smile on my face and in my voice, and energy to do whatever task or ministry you want me to do. Please continue to provide my every need, as only you can do. Please bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Please give me wisdom, knowledge, desire, and power to go forth and live for you to make a difference in the lives of those around me and to glorify you. Please bless my coming and my going and open my mouth to speak words of truth and love. Thank you, God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen and amen.