John 1:9-10 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into the Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him and yet the world didn't even notice. (The Message)
The Message starts by saying 'There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light, but he was there to show the way to the Light.
When I read verse 9, I envision a theater. A theater, void of actors, with only a bright spotlight shining down onto the stage floor, a huge circle right smack in the middle and when an actor comes onto the stage, he knows to go into the light if he wants everyone to see him.
Our lives are like a stage with God as our spotlight. We have a choice of either going into the light or staying in the dark on the sidelines.
Think of it this way. When a play is over and the spotlight is turned off, the theater is dark and empty. There is nothing.
Yet God's spotlight never will go out and our lives will never be dark and empty. Let's follow John's lead and find the light and have everything.
Nancy
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Matthew 1-28
The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus, his birth, his life, his death and his resurrection.
I was just listening to the song, 'Still Her Little Child' sung by Ray Boltz and I mean really listening, not just hearing it. For me, it's a very, very moving and powerful song.
It begins:
She (Mary) laid him in a manager
The angels called him Savior
The wise men gave him treasures
The shepherds bowed before him
He grew in strength and wisdom
He spoke, the people listened
He healed the lame and dying
The people turned against him
They shouted crucify him
They nailed him to the cross
She (Mary) held his broken body
After each of these events, the words 'he was still her little child' followed. I've never really thought of Mary while learning about the life of Jesus. What she must have been feeling inside knowing what he was going through. It makes me cry just thinking how she must have felt and I can't imagine what it was like for her.
I know I ache when my children or grandchildren are hurting or sick. I want to take their pain away, take it on myself, make it better and I can't. Any more than Mary could take Jesus' pain away from him.
Remember Mary and think about how it might have been for her to watch 'her little child' grow up and become The Christ.
Nancy
I was just listening to the song, 'Still Her Little Child' sung by Ray Boltz and I mean really listening, not just hearing it. For me, it's a very, very moving and powerful song.
It begins:
She (Mary) laid him in a manager
The angels called him Savior
The wise men gave him treasures
The shepherds bowed before him
He grew in strength and wisdom
He spoke, the people listened
He healed the lame and dying
The people turned against him
They shouted crucify him
They nailed him to the cross
She (Mary) held his broken body
After each of these events, the words 'he was still her little child' followed. I've never really thought of Mary while learning about the life of Jesus. What she must have been feeling inside knowing what he was going through. It makes me cry just thinking how she must have felt and I can't imagine what it was like for her.
I know I ache when my children or grandchildren are hurting or sick. I want to take their pain away, take it on myself, make it better and I can't. Any more than Mary could take Jesus' pain away from him.
Remember Mary and think about how it might have been for her to watch 'her little child' grow up and become The Christ.
Nancy
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Psalm 147:16-17
Psalm 147:16-17 He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, He broadcasts hail like birdseed--who can survive winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter--suddenly it's spring. (The Message)
Snow. It seems we've had a lot of snow within the past week, somewhere around 14 inches, and more on the way. Picture God standing in the clouds spreading the snow like white fleece and the hail like birdseed. Then in one breath, it can be over.
David was on his way to New Jersey Monday and while driving on the highway in Connecticut, a sheet of ice and snow came off someone's car in front of him and slammed into his windshield and roof. He managed to keep his car under control and pull off the road and call the insurance company. $1,400 worth of damage done. The car is sitting in Connecticut waiting for a new
windshield and roof repairs. David has a rental car and now has to make an extra trip down there when the car is fixed.
Winter can be brutal - icy road conditions, shoveling and accidents. I think winter is a good reminder of who is in charge and who controls nature. Things like the early darkness, the snow, the ice and the freezing temperatures all demonstrate to me what power God has.
But winter can be fun - snowmobiling, skiing, skating, sledding and building snowmen. By getting outside, we can see the beautiful snow on the trees, the way each crystal glistens in the sun or watch icicles form off the roof or the quietness in the woods with just the crunching of the snow under your boots. Those are examples of God's power as well. His quiet power.
Psalm 147 in The message ends with - Hallelujah!
Nancy
Snow. It seems we've had a lot of snow within the past week, somewhere around 14 inches, and more on the way. Picture God standing in the clouds spreading the snow like white fleece and the hail like birdseed. Then in one breath, it can be over.
David was on his way to New Jersey Monday and while driving on the highway in Connecticut, a sheet of ice and snow came off someone's car in front of him and slammed into his windshield and roof. He managed to keep his car under control and pull off the road and call the insurance company. $1,400 worth of damage done. The car is sitting in Connecticut waiting for a new
windshield and roof repairs. David has a rental car and now has to make an extra trip down there when the car is fixed.
Winter can be brutal - icy road conditions, shoveling and accidents. I think winter is a good reminder of who is in charge and who controls nature. Things like the early darkness, the snow, the ice and the freezing temperatures all demonstrate to me what power God has.
But winter can be fun - snowmobiling, skiing, skating, sledding and building snowmen. By getting outside, we can see the beautiful snow on the trees, the way each crystal glistens in the sun or watch icicles form off the roof or the quietness in the woods with just the crunching of the snow under your boots. Those are examples of God's power as well. His quiet power.
Psalm 147 in The message ends with - Hallelujah!
Nancy
Monday, December 17, 2007
Hubcaps in View
Years ago, I had a car called an Austin America. It was similar to the Morris and was manufactured by the British Leyland Company in England. I just found out that August 14, 2007 was the 45th anniversary of the 1100 line. What great fun I had with that car. It maneuvered easily into parking spaces (even fits sideways when picked up) and around town. One of the drawbacks was highway driving. It just couldn't take it. The America discontinued production in 1971.
Do you remember the movie "Christmas Vacation" with Chevy Chase? In one scene he went to pass someone and ended up under the trucks body and he had to debate how to get out safely and of course, like any movie, he did. Well, my Austin could have fit as well, it was that small.
I remember driving once to Warwick, RI to attend a track meet that my friends brother was in and on the highway two 18 wheelers came along side us. They thought it funny to hem us in and of course we thought that too. Looking out the side windows, all we could see were hub caps and we never thought of the larger picture of what could happen if we lost control or they blew a tire.
I see how those big trucks were in charge as they kept me in my lane until they decided to move away.
This story made me think of how God is in charge. God surrounds us completely and until he makes a decision about where we go, we're going to stay in the same lane. The 18 wheelers driving next to me was dangerous, but God's driving next to me means safety and I like the security of knowing that God is in charge.
Nancy
Do you remember the movie "Christmas Vacation" with Chevy Chase? In one scene he went to pass someone and ended up under the trucks body and he had to debate how to get out safely and of course, like any movie, he did. Well, my Austin could have fit as well, it was that small.
I remember driving once to Warwick, RI to attend a track meet that my friends brother was in and on the highway two 18 wheelers came along side us. They thought it funny to hem us in and of course we thought that too. Looking out the side windows, all we could see were hub caps and we never thought of the larger picture of what could happen if we lost control or they blew a tire.
I see how those big trucks were in charge as they kept me in my lane until they decided to move away.
This story made me think of how God is in charge. God surrounds us completely and until he makes a decision about where we go, we're going to stay in the same lane. The 18 wheelers driving next to me was dangerous, but God's driving next to me means safety and I like the security of knowing that God is in charge.
Nancy
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Matthew 2:11
Matthew 2:11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. (The Message)
The wise men came to Jerusalem in search of the newborn King of the Jews. They had seen a star in the eastern sky and wanted to worship him. King Herod was terrified to think there would be another king besides him. And under false pretenses, (I want to worship him too!) he got the wise men to tell him where and when the star had appeared, wanted them to go find this baby and come back and tell him.
As the wise men traveled, the star again appeared and showed them exactly where the baby was. But in a dream, they were told not to go back and tell Herod, so they left and went back home via another road.
At our church birthday party for Jesus last Sunday, our church wise men came and gave our children gifts, each gift had the child's name on it and was special for them. Kai and Cody chewed on their board books, Jacob enjoyed looking at his book and the bigger kids got a manger craft to glue together. Each gift telling the Christmas story.
Think about the wise men and their journey. They had seen the light (hope), his star in the east. It took time (about 2 years) to find the baby and when they did, The Message says they were overcome, kneeled and worshipped him. Then after, gave him their gifts.
That's what they did. That what they gave to Jesus. So what can we do? What can we give Jesus? First we look for the light (HOPE) and it might take TIME to find him, but when we do, WOW! Drop to your knees WORSHIP.
Nancy
The wise men came to Jerusalem in search of the newborn King of the Jews. They had seen a star in the eastern sky and wanted to worship him. King Herod was terrified to think there would be another king besides him. And under false pretenses, (I want to worship him too!) he got the wise men to tell him where and when the star had appeared, wanted them to go find this baby and come back and tell him.
As the wise men traveled, the star again appeared and showed them exactly where the baby was. But in a dream, they were told not to go back and tell Herod, so they left and went back home via another road.
At our church birthday party for Jesus last Sunday, our church wise men came and gave our children gifts, each gift had the child's name on it and was special for them. Kai and Cody chewed on their board books, Jacob enjoyed looking at his book and the bigger kids got a manger craft to glue together. Each gift telling the Christmas story.
Think about the wise men and their journey. They had seen the light (hope), his star in the east. It took time (about 2 years) to find the baby and when they did, The Message says they were overcome, kneeled and worshipped him. Then after, gave him their gifts.
That's what they did. That what they gave to Jesus. So what can we do? What can we give Jesus? First we look for the light (HOPE) and it might take TIME to find him, but when we do, WOW! Drop to your knees WORSHIP.
Nancy
Sunday, December 9, 2007
John 1:9-10
John 1:9-10 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into the Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him and yet the world didn't even notice. (The Message)
The Message starts by saying 'There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light, but he was there to show the way to the Light.
When I read verse 9, I envision a theater. A theater, void of actors, with only a bright spotlight shining down onto the stage floor, a huge circle right smack in the middle and when an actor comes onto the stage, he knows to go into the light if he wants everyone to see him.
Our lives are like a stage with God as our spotlight. We have a choice of either going into the light or staying in the dark on the sidelines.
Think of it this way. When a play is over and the spotlight is turned off, the theater is dark and empty. There is nothing.
Yet God's spotlight never will go out and our lives will never be dark and empty. Let's follow John's lead and find the light and have everything.
Nancy
The Message starts by saying 'There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light, but he was there to show the way to the Light.
When I read verse 9, I envision a theater. A theater, void of actors, with only a bright spotlight shining down onto the stage floor, a huge circle right smack in the middle and when an actor comes onto the stage, he knows to go into the light if he wants everyone to see him.
Our lives are like a stage with God as our spotlight. We have a choice of either going into the light or staying in the dark on the sidelines.
Think of it this way. When a play is over and the spotlight is turned off, the theater is dark and empty. There is nothing.
Yet God's spotlight never will go out and our lives will never be dark and empty. Let's follow John's lead and find the light and have everything.
Nancy
Friday, December 7, 2007
John 6:35
John 6:35 Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever." (The Message)
When we think of bread, we think of peanut butter and jelly between two pieces of bread. Be it white bread, rye bread, you name it bread, it isn't really a necessity in our lives, but bread was in the day of Jesus. No bread, no life.
The Lord's Prayer says, 'Give us this day our daily bread.' That's the kind of bread we need every day. We need Jesus bread. He is our sustainer of life. He is our bread.
Especially this time of year, I think about the types of foods I consume each day. Foods that aren't good for me nutritionally, foods that only fill a void for a little while or foods can make me angry later because I ate too much of it or because I feel sick after eating it. Not a good feeling at
all.
Then there is the food (the bread) of Christ. I crave that kind of food. I want to have that hunger inside me satiated and I know only Christ can do that. I pray that (as The Message says) I can align myself with Jesus in the way that he wants me to. I don't want to be hungry or thirsty anymore.
Nancy
When we think of bread, we think of peanut butter and jelly between two pieces of bread. Be it white bread, rye bread, you name it bread, it isn't really a necessity in our lives, but bread was in the day of Jesus. No bread, no life.
The Lord's Prayer says, 'Give us this day our daily bread.' That's the kind of bread we need every day. We need Jesus bread. He is our sustainer of life. He is our bread.
Especially this time of year, I think about the types of foods I consume each day. Foods that aren't good for me nutritionally, foods that only fill a void for a little while or foods can make me angry later because I ate too much of it or because I feel sick after eating it. Not a good feeling at
all.
Then there is the food (the bread) of Christ. I crave that kind of food. I want to have that hunger inside me satiated and I know only Christ can do that. I pray that (as The Message says) I can align myself with Jesus in the way that he wants me to. I don't want to be hungry or thirsty anymore.
Nancy
Monday, December 3, 2007
Proverbs 30:32-33
Proverbs 30:32-33 If you're dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, don't be surprised if someone bloodies your nose. Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights. (The Message)
Well, this sounds like it could be an example of road rage. You are driving down the highway, exceeding the speed limit, you're running late and you end up behind a 'slow' driver. You know you are not going to make it to your destination on time and this guy is making you angry, so you do stupid things like ride his bumper, lay on the horn or give him a certain 'rude gesture'.
You never know what can happen when you choose to do that. You don't know the person's state of mind or what he is capable of doing. In other words, it's not a smart move on your part.
I remember once my grandfather was at a red light and the minute the light turned green, the guy behind him started tooting like mad. My grandfather wasn't one jump because someone wanted him to, so he got out of his car and went up to the other driver to ask what he wanted. We all know the guy didn't want anything, he wanted my grandfather to move quicker than he was.
Needless to say, the light went through another cycle before anyone could move on. The situation could have turned into someone very serious. But back then, you were pretty sure of getting back into your own car safely. Not anymore, times have changed.
And like the Proverb says - churned milk turns into butter and riled emotions turn into fist fights. We need to keep our tempers under control, not cause irritation to others and not create a situation that could turn violent, otherwise, don't be surprised at what might happen.
Nancy
Well, this sounds like it could be an example of road rage. You are driving down the highway, exceeding the speed limit, you're running late and you end up behind a 'slow' driver. You know you are not going to make it to your destination on time and this guy is making you angry, so you do stupid things like ride his bumper, lay on the horn or give him a certain 'rude gesture'.
You never know what can happen when you choose to do that. You don't know the person's state of mind or what he is capable of doing. In other words, it's not a smart move on your part.
I remember once my grandfather was at a red light and the minute the light turned green, the guy behind him started tooting like mad. My grandfather wasn't one jump because someone wanted him to, so he got out of his car and went up to the other driver to ask what he wanted. We all know the guy didn't want anything, he wanted my grandfather to move quicker than he was.
Needless to say, the light went through another cycle before anyone could move on. The situation could have turned into someone very serious. But back then, you were pretty sure of getting back into your own car safely. Not anymore, times have changed.
And like the Proverb says - churned milk turns into butter and riled emotions turn into fist fights. We need to keep our tempers under control, not cause irritation to others and not create a situation that could turn violent, otherwise, don't be surprised at what might happen.
Nancy
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
1 John 1:1-2
1 John 1: 1-2 From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in--we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! (The Message)
As I read this tonight, the words - 'saw it with our own eyes' and 'appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen' - shot out at me like I was the target of God's awesomeness.
After I've dropped Nicholas off at home after school, I have to go West on I-393 to get to my house. And every night about 4 PM (when the sun is setting) there is a spectacular show in the sky. For example, tonight, the clouds were very large, dark and ominous looking, full of wind. Behind the clouds, the sun's fiery reddish/orange color was peaking like a flame over the top of each one of them, just showing a little bit and amongst all that, a clear blue sky. And through the middle of that blue sky, flew a jet leaving a white streak behind it.
Verses 3 & 4 says, 'We saw it, we heard it and now we're telling you so you can experience with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this too. Your joy will double our joy!" (The Message)
It's hard to describe what I saw in words, but I know only God could have created that and no one else. I also have a motive in writing about this - so you can check it out sometime and hopefully what you see will go deep inside of you.
And verse 2 ends with 'And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.'
Well, the infinite Life of God took shape before me tonight.
Nancy
As I read this tonight, the words - 'saw it with our own eyes' and 'appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen' - shot out at me like I was the target of God's awesomeness.
After I've dropped Nicholas off at home after school, I have to go West on I-393 to get to my house. And every night about 4 PM (when the sun is setting) there is a spectacular show in the sky. For example, tonight, the clouds were very large, dark and ominous looking, full of wind. Behind the clouds, the sun's fiery reddish/orange color was peaking like a flame over the top of each one of them, just showing a little bit and amongst all that, a clear blue sky. And through the middle of that blue sky, flew a jet leaving a white streak behind it.
Verses 3 & 4 says, 'We saw it, we heard it and now we're telling you so you can experience with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this too. Your joy will double our joy!" (The Message)
It's hard to describe what I saw in words, but I know only God could have created that and no one else. I also have a motive in writing about this - so you can check it out sometime and hopefully what you see will go deep inside of you.
And verse 2 ends with 'And now we're telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.'
Well, the infinite Life of God took shape before me tonight.
Nancy
Saturday, November 24, 2007
2 Corinthians 1:4
2 Corinthians 1:4 He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. (The Message)
The title of chapters 1 & 2 in The Message says it all in two words - THE RESCUE.
As a parent, grandparent and former caregiver of children, I have dealt with many different situations where the children had to be 'rescued'. From holding them when they fell or helping them work through their fears by listening to them or when their feelings were hurt, trying to show them how to handle those emotions. And by showing compassion and being there for them when they needed me, said to that child,'you are special and I love you.'
Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. wrote a poem ins 1972 entitled, 'Children Learn What They Live'. There are 19 lines that start with 'If children live with'______and then ends with 'they learn to'_______. I believe everyone should read this at least once as it can open a person's eyes and maybe change their ways of thinking.
When we are struggling and need to be 'rescued', we can turn to God to hold us until we are better and to help us through our fears and emotions. He is always here and always shows compassion and, for me, that translates into, 'you are special and I love you'.
As we go through hard times, God tells us to lean on him. And when 'we live with the security' from God 'we learn to have faith'. That faith in him prepares us to, as the Scripture says, be alongside someone else who is going through hard times as God was with us.
Nancy
The title of chapters 1 & 2 in The Message says it all in two words - THE RESCUE.
As a parent, grandparent and former caregiver of children, I have dealt with many different situations where the children had to be 'rescued'. From holding them when they fell or helping them work through their fears by listening to them or when their feelings were hurt, trying to show them how to handle those emotions. And by showing compassion and being there for them when they needed me, said to that child,'you are special and I love you.'
Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. wrote a poem ins 1972 entitled, 'Children Learn What They Live'. There are 19 lines that start with 'If children live with'______and then ends with 'they learn to'_______. I believe everyone should read this at least once as it can open a person's eyes and maybe change their ways of thinking.
When we are struggling and need to be 'rescued', we can turn to God to hold us until we are better and to help us through our fears and emotions. He is always here and always shows compassion and, for me, that translates into, 'you are special and I love you'.
As we go through hard times, God tells us to lean on him. And when 'we live with the security' from God 'we learn to have faith'. That faith in him prepares us to, as the Scripture says, be alongside someone else who is going through hard times as God was with us.
Nancy
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Psalm 19:9
Psalm 19:9 God's reputation is twenty-four carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. (The Message)
What is a reputation? One dictionary says it's the generally accepted estimation of somebody as having particular qualities or attributes.
What is Twenty-four carat gold? The best gold. 100% pure and fine.
What is a lifetime guarantee? Something guaranteed for our entire lives.
And lastly, what is the nth degree? A degree without any limits that can be measured or realized.
Picture a 24 carat gold ring, perfect in every way. It has the best qualities and will never fail to meet our expectations right down to the itty bitty detail.
Now picture God. He is perfect and with all the pure. He is one who will never fail us and who comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Nancy
What is a reputation? One dictionary says it's the generally accepted estimation of somebody as having particular qualities or attributes.
What is Twenty-four carat gold? The best gold. 100% pure and fine.
What is a lifetime guarantee? Something guaranteed for our entire lives.
And lastly, what is the nth degree? A degree without any limits that can be measured or realized.
Picture a 24 carat gold ring, perfect in every way. It has the best qualities and will never fail to meet our expectations right down to the itty bitty detail.
Now picture God. He is perfect and with all the pure. He is one who will never fail us and who comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Nancy
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Psalm 78:2-4
Psalm 78:2-4 I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths. Stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee..We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation. (The Message)
My grandmother had all kinds of sayings and used them frequently. Things like 'a watched pot never boils' - 'hot will cool if greedy will wait' - red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky the morning, sailors take warning' just to name a few. And she would tell me stories about her brothers and sisters and her life growing up in Auburn, NH and she showed me all her black and white photos.
All the stories she told of her life in the early 1900s made her childhood come alive and the stories of those deceased relatives in her albums made them seem real, as if I knew them.
Laura can remember my grandmother only a little as she was 3 yrs old when Great Grammie died. Laura loved Twinkies and my grandmother always had them in her breadbox, especially for Laura. When Laura would ask if she had any Twinkies, my grandmother would repeat with a smile, "Do I have any Twinkies?" Laura could never understand why Great Grammie asked her the question back because Great Grammie always had Twinkies. But it was one of those sayings that left Laura with the memory of Twinkies and Great Grammie.
My girls grew up hearing me say, "you know what my grandmother used to say?" and they knew what it would be based on what they were doing. They have those Great Grammie sayings and memories, through me.
Psalm 78:2-4 wants us to tell our stories to our children and our grandchildren. Often, we don't think our stories are significant enough to share, but if you look at the small "Twinkie" story, it something that will stay with Laura forever, it helps her never to forget her Great Grammie.
Nancy
My grandmother had all kinds of sayings and used them frequently. Things like 'a watched pot never boils' - 'hot will cool if greedy will wait' - red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky the morning, sailors take warning' just to name a few. And she would tell me stories about her brothers and sisters and her life growing up in Auburn, NH and she showed me all her black and white photos.
All the stories she told of her life in the early 1900s made her childhood come alive and the stories of those deceased relatives in her albums made them seem real, as if I knew them.
Laura can remember my grandmother only a little as she was 3 yrs old when Great Grammie died. Laura loved Twinkies and my grandmother always had them in her breadbox, especially for Laura. When Laura would ask if she had any Twinkies, my grandmother would repeat with a smile, "Do I have any Twinkies?" Laura could never understand why Great Grammie asked her the question back because Great Grammie always had Twinkies. But it was one of those sayings that left Laura with the memory of Twinkies and Great Grammie.
My girls grew up hearing me say, "you know what my grandmother used to say?" and they knew what it would be based on what they were doing. They have those Great Grammie sayings and memories, through me.
Psalm 78:2-4 wants us to tell our stories to our children and our grandchildren. Often, we don't think our stories are significant enough to share, but if you look at the small "Twinkie" story, it something that will stay with Laura forever, it helps her never to forget her Great Grammie.
Nancy
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Ephesians 2:1
Ephesians 2:1 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. (The Message)
This verse made me think of the words - mired and stagnant. Mire can mean not only a thick slimy mud to get stuck in, but also can be an oppressive situation that is difficult to escape from. And stagnant means not flowing or moving, no making progress or not active.
Think about a stagnant pond and how the grey and murky muck changes the color and consistency of the water. What happened to the pond, why isn't it a good color and why isn't the water flowing? Is it dead water?
These ponds can be like our lives where we often get stuck in the nooks and crannies of living and stop moving or if we do move, it's our way.
I love to listen to Bon Jovi and especially the song "It's My Life". Part of it says, "It's my life, it's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever, I just want to live while I'm alive." Like Frankie said, "I did it my way."
When I look at the words of that song, it makes me see that even if my life is mine, it really isn't. It's true I'm not going to live forever (on earth) and I really do want to live it while I'm alive. And as tempting as it is to live it 'my way', I know I must live it 'God's way'.
So I'm trying to tie my thoughts together - mired, stagnant and my way (the worlds way). If we let God, he will take our stagnant lives from the mire and get us moving into the clean and clear running water and there we can live our life, while alive, his way.
Nancy
This verse made me think of the words - mired and stagnant. Mire can mean not only a thick slimy mud to get stuck in, but also can be an oppressive situation that is difficult to escape from. And stagnant means not flowing or moving, no making progress or not active.
Think about a stagnant pond and how the grey and murky muck changes the color and consistency of the water. What happened to the pond, why isn't it a good color and why isn't the water flowing? Is it dead water?
These ponds can be like our lives where we often get stuck in the nooks and crannies of living and stop moving or if we do move, it's our way.
I love to listen to Bon Jovi and especially the song "It's My Life". Part of it says, "It's my life, it's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever, I just want to live while I'm alive." Like Frankie said, "I did it my way."
When I look at the words of that song, it makes me see that even if my life is mine, it really isn't. It's true I'm not going to live forever (on earth) and I really do want to live it while I'm alive. And as tempting as it is to live it 'my way', I know I must live it 'God's way'.
So I'm trying to tie my thoughts together - mired, stagnant and my way (the worlds way). If we let God, he will take our stagnant lives from the mire and get us moving into the clean and clear running water and there we can live our life, while alive, his way.
Nancy
Thursday, November 15, 2007
2 Peter 3:10-13
2 Peter 3:10-13 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day--but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. (The Message)
Did you ever hear the story of "Chicken Little"?
One day Chicken Little was walking through the woods and when an acorn fell on her head. She thought for sure the sky was falling and wanted to tell the king. On her way to the palace, she met Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky and Turkey Lurkey and told them. They then decided they had to tell the king as well. But on their way, they ran into Foxy Loxy and told him the story and where they were going.
Foxy Loxy wanted to know how they knew the sky was falling. Chicken Little said, 'I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears and part of it fell on my head.' Foxy Loxy then told the group he knew a shortcut to the palace and to follow him. But he instead led them to his hole with plans to eat them. And then what happened? One version says, the king gave Chicken Little an umbrella to carry when she walked in the woods, so when an acorn fell on her, she wouldn't mind, she wouldn't notice it at all. Where did we just hear that? 2 Peter 3:10-13
God tells us judgment day will come and the sky will fall in. It's not to scare us and create panic, but to make us aware that it will happen and to give us time to make the changes in our lives he wants us to do.
Lets be on guard and not let anyone (Foxy Loxy-lawless & loose-talking teachers) come between us and our King.
Nancy
Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day--but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. (The Message)
Did you ever hear the story of "Chicken Little"?
One day Chicken Little was walking through the woods and when an acorn fell on her head. She thought for sure the sky was falling and wanted to tell the king. On her way to the palace, she met Henny Penny, Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky and Turkey Lurkey and told them. They then decided they had to tell the king as well. But on their way, they ran into Foxy Loxy and told him the story and where they were going.
Foxy Loxy wanted to know how they knew the sky was falling. Chicken Little said, 'I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears and part of it fell on my head.' Foxy Loxy then told the group he knew a shortcut to the palace and to follow him. But he instead led them to his hole with plans to eat them. And then what happened? One version says, the king gave Chicken Little an umbrella to carry when she walked in the woods, so when an acorn fell on her, she wouldn't mind, she wouldn't notice it at all. Where did we just hear that? 2 Peter 3:10-13
God tells us judgment day will come and the sky will fall in. It's not to scare us and create panic, but to make us aware that it will happen and to give us time to make the changes in our lives he wants us to do.
Lets be on guard and not let anyone (Foxy Loxy-lawless & loose-talking teachers) come between us and our King.
Nancy
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Making Your World Bigger
I have a tendency to keep to myself and stay in my own little world. I learned early that it was safer and easier, or so I thought. If I didn't get to close to people, I couldn't get hurt and if I kept to myself I didn't have to deal with their problems. I was also taught things like "blood is thicker than water" (friends are not important), "charity starts at home" and "you worry about you"( who cares about anyone else).
Reaching out to people and getting to know them and letting them get to know you can be very scary and difficult, but remaining isolated is extremely lonely and destructive. I believe being a loner contributed to my divorce with my first husband. I was afraid to tell anyone I was having problems and I refused to get help. The attitude that I didn't need anyone led to suicidal fantasies, a psychiatrist, medication and a divorce.
I'm not where I should be, but I'm not where I was. It takes practice to trust and love others, but with faith in Christ and support in a Christian community, it gets easier. Reaching out, helping others, and letting them help you is actually very rewarding.
This poem, taken from The Magnificat, reminds me that to love is God's command and our blessing.
Prayer to Grow in Love
Beloved, let us love: for love is of God;
In God alone love has its true abode.
Beloved, let us love: for those who love,
They only are his children from above.
Beloved, let us love: for love is rest,
And those who do not love cannot be blessed.
Beloved, let us love: for love is light,
And those who do not love still live in night.
Beloved, let us love: for only thus
Shall we see God, the Lord, who first loved us.
Suzanne
Reaching out to people and getting to know them and letting them get to know you can be very scary and difficult, but remaining isolated is extremely lonely and destructive. I believe being a loner contributed to my divorce with my first husband. I was afraid to tell anyone I was having problems and I refused to get help. The attitude that I didn't need anyone led to suicidal fantasies, a psychiatrist, medication and a divorce.
I'm not where I should be, but I'm not where I was. It takes practice to trust and love others, but with faith in Christ and support in a Christian community, it gets easier. Reaching out, helping others, and letting them help you is actually very rewarding.
This poem, taken from The Magnificat, reminds me that to love is God's command and our blessing.
Prayer to Grow in Love
Beloved, let us love: for love is of God;
In God alone love has its true abode.
Beloved, let us love: for those who love,
They only are his children from above.
Beloved, let us love: for love is rest,
And those who do not love cannot be blessed.
Beloved, let us love: for love is light,
And those who do not love still live in night.
Beloved, let us love: for only thus
Shall we see God, the Lord, who first loved us.
Suzanne
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
John 17:10
John 17:10 Everything mine is yours, and yours mine. (The Message)
Jesus was praying for his followers when he said those words. The same concept goes for us - everything we have belongs to Christ and everything he has belongs to us. Sharing.
Two year olds do not share willingly as a rule. I have noticed Jacob and Natalee using the word 'mine' a lot lately. No one taught them to say it or how to use it, they just know. They also can be rather territorial when it comes to 'their' things (rain boots, special animals etc). Then again, sometimes one of them will find the other's cup or animal and give it to the other using the words, 'here you go' and sometimes it can even be one of their own crackers they share with the other.
Teaching a two year old to share isn't easy. It's a job where you have to be consistent, patient and willing to spend the time. But when I see these babies sharing on their own, I find it amazing to watch because I see they really care for each other.
Sharing isn't just with inanimate objects either. Sharing is also the giving of yourself. Once when we were traveling in Florida, we came upon a young man who had been hit by a car while he was crossing a major road on his bike. His body was covered with a blanket and only his feet were showing. As we were driving by, Rebecca wanted to stop and pray for him. She was only 12 or 13 and I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if it was appropriate to stop and pray or if it was, would they let us. We decided not to even try to stop because of the traffic, police, fire and rescue, but would pray for him when we got back to the in laws. It gave us a little more time to think about how we should pray because we knew this boy was dead and his parents
had no idea of what they were going to be told.
Sometimes we have to learn to share (us or our things) the way two year olds do and need to be reminded over and over again. Jesus gave himself to us and died on the cross for us. Don't you find it amazing that he gave up his life so we could be saved? The ultimate sacrifice.
What can we give to him?
Nancy
Jesus was praying for his followers when he said those words. The same concept goes for us - everything we have belongs to Christ and everything he has belongs to us. Sharing.
Two year olds do not share willingly as a rule. I have noticed Jacob and Natalee using the word 'mine' a lot lately. No one taught them to say it or how to use it, they just know. They also can be rather territorial when it comes to 'their' things (rain boots, special animals etc). Then again, sometimes one of them will find the other's cup or animal and give it to the other using the words, 'here you go' and sometimes it can even be one of their own crackers they share with the other.
Teaching a two year old to share isn't easy. It's a job where you have to be consistent, patient and willing to spend the time. But when I see these babies sharing on their own, I find it amazing to watch because I see they really care for each other.
Sharing isn't just with inanimate objects either. Sharing is also the giving of yourself. Once when we were traveling in Florida, we came upon a young man who had been hit by a car while he was crossing a major road on his bike. His body was covered with a blanket and only his feet were showing. As we were driving by, Rebecca wanted to stop and pray for him. She was only 12 or 13 and I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if it was appropriate to stop and pray or if it was, would they let us. We decided not to even try to stop because of the traffic, police, fire and rescue, but would pray for him when we got back to the in laws. It gave us a little more time to think about how we should pray because we knew this boy was dead and his parents
had no idea of what they were going to be told.
Sometimes we have to learn to share (us or our things) the way two year olds do and need to be reminded over and over again. Jesus gave himself to us and died on the cross for us. Don't you find it amazing that he gave up his life so we could be saved? The ultimate sacrifice.
What can we give to him?
Nancy
Monday, November 12, 2007
2 Corinthians 6:3-10
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly....
in hard times, tough times, bad times;
when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;
with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;
when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;
when we're praised and when we are blamed; slandered and honored; true to our work, through distrusted;
ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;
immersed in tears, yet always fill with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. (The Message)
In this passage, Paul is concerned that he live an exemplary life as he doesn't want the ministry discredited (NIV)
I sometimes struggle keeping my toes pointed in God's direction and not giving in to the world when I feel overwhelmed by anything or everything. What would that say about my faith if I gave in or didn't turn to God or to my Godly friends for help? It would show that I'm no different than an unbeliever.
We have to understand that whatever we (Christians) are going through, people are watching to see how we handle things and if we are act like who we proclaim to be.
I read somewhere that we may be the only Bible some people will ever read.
What a responsibility that is for us..
Nancy
in hard times, tough times, bad times;
when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;
with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;
when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;
when we're praised and when we are blamed; slandered and honored; true to our work, through distrusted;
ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;
immersed in tears, yet always fill with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. (The Message)
In this passage, Paul is concerned that he live an exemplary life as he doesn't want the ministry discredited (NIV)
I sometimes struggle keeping my toes pointed in God's direction and not giving in to the world when I feel overwhelmed by anything or everything. What would that say about my faith if I gave in or didn't turn to God or to my Godly friends for help? It would show that I'm no different than an unbeliever.
We have to understand that whatever we (Christians) are going through, people are watching to see how we handle things and if we are act like who we proclaim to be.
I read somewhere that we may be the only Bible some people will ever read.
What a responsibility that is for us..
Nancy
Lessons We've Learned So You Don't Have To!
Good morning friends,
With the new job I've had to let the kids prove themselves a bit more. Bow's school calendar is different from Pembroke's so this past week found them home for two mornings without me. A few rules to adhere to and they did fine ( no cooking, no junk tv shows). Yesterday the boys stayed home from church to keep Rachel company (something viral's got her feeling under the weather). I came home, acknowledged their success staying alone and wistfully announced that they were growing up and needing me less and less - of course hoping for some pity hugs and kisses. Alas no. One of them simply stated, "Yep we probably are."
Well today Gavin needed me. Out of a sound sleep, about an hour earlier than I wanted to be needed, he needed me.
"Mom, I kind of need your help. I was near the toilet and taking out my retainer and it fell in."
There are a few things I can move really fast for. A coughing baby in the middle of the night, a loud sound in the room where the kids are playing, the noise of a really fast descent down the stairs. This is a new one to add to the list.
I was hoping for a freshly flushed bowl. Negative. He's had the retainer for a week. If I couldn't retrieve it I could count on another $310 for a new retainer and whatever the plumber would charge me once it messed up our plumbing system.
I chose my weapons carefully. The plastic refillable toilet cleaner brush handle and my other hand. I knew the importance of getting this on the first try or it might slide irretrievably back into Toilet World. Suffice to say I got it on the first try and spent the next 10 minutes with my hands and the retainer in the sink scrubbing everything to prove my knowledge of surgical aseptic technique.
I Googled "how to clean retainer after it's been in a toilet". with no success. Don't tell me this is the first time it's happened,
Once the orthodontist office opened I called. "My son dropped his retainer in the toilet. How do I clean it?"
"Wait just a minute...." I was on hold for more than a minute. Don't tell me this is the first time it's happened. When she came back on the line she said " you can soak it in diluted bleach and then put it in a cup of water with an effervescent tablet for fifteen minutes and scrub it with a toothbrush. So right after I go through my wardrobe to pick out what I'll wear for the Mom of The Year award that my kid better nominate me for I'll be off to Rite-Aid to pick up some cleaning supplies.
But hey, they still need me!!!
Have a good week,
Carol
With the new job I've had to let the kids prove themselves a bit more. Bow's school calendar is different from Pembroke's so this past week found them home for two mornings without me. A few rules to adhere to and they did fine ( no cooking, no junk tv shows). Yesterday the boys stayed home from church to keep Rachel company (something viral's got her feeling under the weather). I came home, acknowledged their success staying alone and wistfully announced that they were growing up and needing me less and less - of course hoping for some pity hugs and kisses. Alas no. One of them simply stated, "Yep we probably are."
Well today Gavin needed me. Out of a sound sleep, about an hour earlier than I wanted to be needed, he needed me.
"Mom, I kind of need your help. I was near the toilet and taking out my retainer and it fell in."
There are a few things I can move really fast for. A coughing baby in the middle of the night, a loud sound in the room where the kids are playing, the noise of a really fast descent down the stairs. This is a new one to add to the list.
I was hoping for a freshly flushed bowl. Negative. He's had the retainer for a week. If I couldn't retrieve it I could count on another $310 for a new retainer and whatever the plumber would charge me once it messed up our plumbing system.
I chose my weapons carefully. The plastic refillable toilet cleaner brush handle and my other hand. I knew the importance of getting this on the first try or it might slide irretrievably back into Toilet World. Suffice to say I got it on the first try and spent the next 10 minutes with my hands and the retainer in the sink scrubbing everything to prove my knowledge of surgical aseptic technique.
I Googled "how to clean retainer after it's been in a toilet". with no success. Don't tell me this is the first time it's happened,
Once the orthodontist office opened I called. "My son dropped his retainer in the toilet. How do I clean it?"
"Wait just a minute...." I was on hold for more than a minute. Don't tell me this is the first time it's happened. When she came back on the line she said " you can soak it in diluted bleach and then put it in a cup of water with an effervescent tablet for fifteen minutes and scrub it with a toothbrush. So right after I go through my wardrobe to pick out what I'll wear for the Mom of The Year award that my kid better nominate me for I'll be off to Rite-Aid to pick up some cleaning supplies.
But hey, they still need me!!!
Have a good week,
Carol
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Isaiah 1:18
Isaiah 1:18 "Come, sit down. Let's argue this out." This is God's Message. "If your sins are blood red, they'll be snow-white. If they're red like crimson, they'll be like wool. (The Message)
According to a resource, blood red (scarlet) and crimson are shades of red made from the crushed body of an insect. And at that time in history it was the most securely fixed dye known and no launderer could remove it from the cloth.
We now buy dye in little boxes at the grocery store or if we really get into dyeing, we can order dye from various companies on the internet. One company I found sells 16 different types of dyes. Each one a little different. It depends what type of fabric you have or the type of application you will use. You can paint dye on, tub dye, microwave dye or stencil, spray and
squirt dye on. I never realized there was so many ways of dyeing items.
I dyed an article of cloth in my washing machine before and learned the hard way, not all the dye comes out in the final rinse. The article I dyed came out great, just the color I wanted, perfect!! However, because I didn't re-rinse (a 2nd time) the washer after I finished dyeing, my next regular white wash load also came out a little colored. Not so perfect!!
Isaiah is telling us that our sins are like a dye, a stain. And unlike dyes that are permanently ingrained into a product, our sins aren't permanently ingrained in us. God can remove the stain (sin) in one washing. It's gone.
Nancy
According to a resource, blood red (scarlet) and crimson are shades of red made from the crushed body of an insect. And at that time in history it was the most securely fixed dye known and no launderer could remove it from the cloth.
We now buy dye in little boxes at the grocery store or if we really get into dyeing, we can order dye from various companies on the internet. One company I found sells 16 different types of dyes. Each one a little different. It depends what type of fabric you have or the type of application you will use. You can paint dye on, tub dye, microwave dye or stencil, spray and
squirt dye on. I never realized there was so many ways of dyeing items.
I dyed an article of cloth in my washing machine before and learned the hard way, not all the dye comes out in the final rinse. The article I dyed came out great, just the color I wanted, perfect!! However, because I didn't re-rinse (a 2nd time) the washer after I finished dyeing, my next regular white wash load also came out a little colored. Not so perfect!!
Isaiah is telling us that our sins are like a dye, a stain. And unlike dyes that are permanently ingrained into a product, our sins aren't permanently ingrained in us. God can remove the stain (sin) in one washing. It's gone.
Nancy
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Job 39:1-2
Job 39:1-2 "Do you know the month when mountain goats give birth? Have you ever watched a doe bear her fawn? Do you know how many months she is pregnant? Do you know the season of her delivery, when she crouches down and drops her offspring? (The Message)
In Chapters 38 & 39 Job is confronted by God and used creation to show Job his sovereignty, his power and his loving care. He asked questions like - 'who do you think did this? - how do the animals know when to? - are you the one who? - was it through your know how? - did you create him?
I chose verses 1-2 in chapter 39 because it made me think of Nicole, one of the kids in the Bow Clovers 4-H club. Nicole and her family raised goats and showed them every year at the Hopkinton State Fair. Their goats were Toggenburgs (Swiss dairy goats) and are credited as being the oldest known dairy goat breed. These goats are friendly, loving (as a goat can be) and
enjoy people.
Nicole and my daughter, Laura, were great friends and spent a lot of time together. Every March/April when the goats were ready to deliver, Laura and Nicole would spend all of their free time at the barn, never knowing the exact time these kids would come. The baby monitor was on in the house and everybody had one ear on that monitor. No one slept much waiting for the sounds of birth and when it came, everyone, including Laura, would go down to the barn to watch and assist if needed. Even though the family knew which time of year these kids were to be born, only God knew the exact moment.
Job was hurting, he was suffering and didn't see things clearly. He felt alone and had trouble remembering that God was in control of every part of his life and so by God asking Job all those questions, it got him to stop and say "Yes, God is in charge and then he decided he talked too much and was ready to listen. He had to admit that God could do anything and everything, that nothing and no one could upset God's plans. (The Message)
It's the same for us. God is in charge of life. He's in charge of when a goat kid is born, of when a storm comes, of when leaves change - everything.
Nancy
In Chapters 38 & 39 Job is confronted by God and used creation to show Job his sovereignty, his power and his loving care. He asked questions like - 'who do you think did this? - how do the animals know when to? - are you the one who? - was it through your know how? - did you create him?
I chose verses 1-2 in chapter 39 because it made me think of Nicole, one of the kids in the Bow Clovers 4-H club. Nicole and her family raised goats and showed them every year at the Hopkinton State Fair. Their goats were Toggenburgs (Swiss dairy goats) and are credited as being the oldest known dairy goat breed. These goats are friendly, loving (as a goat can be) and
enjoy people.
Nicole and my daughter, Laura, were great friends and spent a lot of time together. Every March/April when the goats were ready to deliver, Laura and Nicole would spend all of their free time at the barn, never knowing the exact time these kids would come. The baby monitor was on in the house and everybody had one ear on that monitor. No one slept much waiting for the sounds of birth and when it came, everyone, including Laura, would go down to the barn to watch and assist if needed. Even though the family knew which time of year these kids were to be born, only God knew the exact moment.
Job was hurting, he was suffering and didn't see things clearly. He felt alone and had trouble remembering that God was in control of every part of his life and so by God asking Job all those questions, it got him to stop and say "Yes, God is in charge and then he decided he talked too much and was ready to listen. He had to admit that God could do anything and everything, that nothing and no one could upset God's plans. (The Message)
It's the same for us. God is in charge of life. He's in charge of when a goat kid is born, of when a storm comes, of when leaves change - everything.
Nancy
Monday, November 5, 2007
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. (The Message)
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), a Scottish minister and teacher was converted to Christianity during his teen years under Charles Spurgeon and went on to study theology at Dunoon College. He wrote a book called "My Utmost For His Highest".
In his book, there is a passage that says, "There are spots (in our lives) that faith has not worked in us as yet."
I thought I had me together and never thought about my not trusting God enough until 5 years ago when he started to test me. It's not fun to be tested and it's not fun to be pushed to what you think is your limit and it can make you either run to God or from God. So you have that issue on top of everything else and believe me, at those times, it's not as easy a decision as you think and I believe it is easier to run from God than to him. It takes courage and strength to keep the faith and to stay focused on his Word. God has provided me friends/family to stay by my side and they constantly remind me that God is with me and won't leave me, ever.
It's hard to be pushed and I can be stubborn at times, but the Scripture says God won't let us be pushed beyond our limits. So when I get to what I think is the end of my limit (as I have many times and still do), I have to trust that God will intervene and bring me safely past that point and he does that by providing me with strong Christian people to lean on. It's an ongoing process for me, but God won't give up.
Life is difficult and God will continually stretch our faith, but never beyond what he knows we can handle. I pray I can continue to endure God's testing and eventually pass it and then be strong for the next test.
Nancy
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), a Scottish minister and teacher was converted to Christianity during his teen years under Charles Spurgeon and went on to study theology at Dunoon College. He wrote a book called "My Utmost For His Highest".
In his book, there is a passage that says, "There are spots (in our lives) that faith has not worked in us as yet."
I thought I had me together and never thought about my not trusting God enough until 5 years ago when he started to test me. It's not fun to be tested and it's not fun to be pushed to what you think is your limit and it can make you either run to God or from God. So you have that issue on top of everything else and believe me, at those times, it's not as easy a decision as you think and I believe it is easier to run from God than to him. It takes courage and strength to keep the faith and to stay focused on his Word. God has provided me friends/family to stay by my side and they constantly remind me that God is with me and won't leave me, ever.
It's hard to be pushed and I can be stubborn at times, but the Scripture says God won't let us be pushed beyond our limits. So when I get to what I think is the end of my limit (as I have many times and still do), I have to trust that God will intervene and bring me safely past that point and he does that by providing me with strong Christian people to lean on. It's an ongoing process for me, but God won't give up.
Life is difficult and God will continually stretch our faith, but never beyond what he knows we can handle. I pray I can continue to endure God's testing and eventually pass it and then be strong for the next test.
Nancy
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Proverbs 19:4
Proverbs 19:4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague. (The Message)
I remember a young friend of Laura's who struggled in keeping her friends and thought if she gave the kids little presents they would like her better. And for the most part they did, not because of who she was, but because of the presents she gave them. She didn't understand she was buying their friendship and it appeared to them she had money to burn, so why not be a friend.
My town has more than it's share of rich people who have the big houses, big SUV's, designer clothes and have pretty much anything they want when they want it. But we also have people on the welfare system. Ones who qualify for food stamps, free school lunches, Medicaid and who get the bags of groceries at Thanksgiving.
Growing up I heard hear things like: put in a pool, you will have more friends than you ever knew you had or how many relatives/friends (for those who travel to FL during the winter months) show up and want to spend a week or two with you. Are they the same friends you'd have if you didn't have the FL place or the pool?
Are there any differences in them as people? In some aspects there are. The outsides are different-period. We are all people, children of God and he loves us equally. Wealthy people aren't any better or worse than poor people to God and shouldn't be to us either.
Too bad we sometimes can't see others for who they are instead of what they have. The nicest people I meet are the normal, every day, down to earth, run of the mill Joes. They don't try to buy my friendship or impress me with their homes or their clothes. They like me for who I am and I like them for who they are. I used to tell my girls - it's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside (meaning the heart).
Let's think of that the next time someone who hasn't or looks like they don't have much wants to spend time or talk with us. Don't ignore them and love them as a brother or sister.
Nancy
I remember a young friend of Laura's who struggled in keeping her friends and thought if she gave the kids little presents they would like her better. And for the most part they did, not because of who she was, but because of the presents she gave them. She didn't understand she was buying their friendship and it appeared to them she had money to burn, so why not be a friend.
My town has more than it's share of rich people who have the big houses, big SUV's, designer clothes and have pretty much anything they want when they want it. But we also have people on the welfare system. Ones who qualify for food stamps, free school lunches, Medicaid and who get the bags of groceries at Thanksgiving.
Growing up I heard hear things like: put in a pool, you will have more friends than you ever knew you had or how many relatives/friends (for those who travel to FL during the winter months) show up and want to spend a week or two with you. Are they the same friends you'd have if you didn't have the FL place or the pool?
Are there any differences in them as people? In some aspects there are. The outsides are different-period. We are all people, children of God and he loves us equally. Wealthy people aren't any better or worse than poor people to God and shouldn't be to us either.
Too bad we sometimes can't see others for who they are instead of what they have. The nicest people I meet are the normal, every day, down to earth, run of the mill Joes. They don't try to buy my friendship or impress me with their homes or their clothes. They like me for who I am and I like them for who they are. I used to tell my girls - it's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside (meaning the heart).
Let's think of that the next time someone who hasn't or looks like they don't have much wants to spend time or talk with us. Don't ignore them and love them as a brother or sister.
Nancy
Friday, November 2, 2007
Isaiah 50:10
Isaiah 50:10 For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: trust in God. Lean on your God! (The Message)
When we are sick, we need to trust people to help us. We look to our doctors for help, look to our friends, look to our families, we often everywhere else before God. Yes, those people are important and yes, we need them in our lives everyday, but before trusting people, we must first trust God.
In my sickness, I have found that trusting people is not always a smart move. They can act like they care, but in reality, they don't and they will just tell you things so to get you through something.
For the past year, I had what I thought was a good doctor. He told me last summer, "I won't give up on you, you are a challenge and we will continue until something works." And I believed him, I trusted him and I took him at his word. Last week he gave up on me. With just a few words from him, any hope I had went and so now I'm on my own, again, doctor wise.
Thankfully, not everyone is like that. I have a couple of close friends with whom I can say anything, anytime to. They will listen and not judge me and have been with me since the beginning. They continually pray for me, they would come to my side right now, if I needed them, and I trust them with everything I have. I often wonder why I haven't lost my trust in them, but I firmly believe it's because they are gifts God sent to me.
I am embarrassed most of the time because of my emotions and thinking. My emotions tell me to drop out of things, they tell me to stop participating, they tell me to run, they tell me a lot of things. And like the Isaiah verse, I don't know where I'm going or when or how or if.
But God's Word encourages me to keep going and I know I have to stay focused on him and never stop trusting him. That's where my special friends, my angels from God, come in. They help me to stay focused and encourage me not to stop trusting God and they don't care that I sometimes lose sight of that and they continue to be here for me and for that I thank God with all my heart.
Nancy
When we are sick, we need to trust people to help us. We look to our doctors for help, look to our friends, look to our families, we often everywhere else before God. Yes, those people are important and yes, we need them in our lives everyday, but before trusting people, we must first trust God.
In my sickness, I have found that trusting people is not always a smart move. They can act like they care, but in reality, they don't and they will just tell you things so to get you through something.
For the past year, I had what I thought was a good doctor. He told me last summer, "I won't give up on you, you are a challenge and we will continue until something works." And I believed him, I trusted him and I took him at his word. Last week he gave up on me. With just a few words from him, any hope I had went and so now I'm on my own, again, doctor wise.
Thankfully, not everyone is like that. I have a couple of close friends with whom I can say anything, anytime to. They will listen and not judge me and have been with me since the beginning. They continually pray for me, they would come to my side right now, if I needed them, and I trust them with everything I have. I often wonder why I haven't lost my trust in them, but I firmly believe it's because they are gifts God sent to me.
I am embarrassed most of the time because of my emotions and thinking. My emotions tell me to drop out of things, they tell me to stop participating, they tell me to run, they tell me a lot of things. And like the Isaiah verse, I don't know where I'm going or when or how or if.
But God's Word encourages me to keep going and I know I have to stay focused on him and never stop trusting him. That's where my special friends, my angels from God, come in. They help me to stay focused and encourage me not to stop trusting God and they don't care that I sometimes lose sight of that and they continue to be here for me and for that I thank God with all my heart.
Nancy
Monday, October 29, 2007
Psalm 129:6; 1 Peter 1:24-25
Psalm 129:6
Let them be like grass in shallow ground that withers before the harvest. (The Message)
1 Peter 1:24-25 The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever. (The Message)
Somewhere up in the 4 ft range over our garage doors, we have a small beam sticking out about 3 ft and for the last few years a small tree has been growing out of it. Every year it's a little taller and gets green leaves and like all the trees now, the leaves have fallen off. And each Spring I wonder if the tree is going to be alive and how much longer it will live because there is only so much nutrient in that beam vs the deep soil.
For me Psalm 129:6 is saying without roots, grass growing in shallow ground can wither especially during times of drought and for us without God, we can wither during times of trouble.
Then 1 Peter 1:24-25 talks about grass dying and flowers drooping at the end of the summer season and how short their lives are. Again early death.
So how short are our lives on earth? Can we stay upright during storms like a tree? Can we live without water and food? Do we want to die/wither/droop like flowers and grass?
Like the roots for trees. No roots-no staying upright in storms, no nutrients or water-no life. Or a very short one. God is our roots. He can keep our feet planted squarely in the ground which gives us the opportunity to grow every day. Our lives are short on here earth, so let's not be like my little tree growing from the beam. Let's not live in such a way that we can't grow. God's Word (NIV) stands forever. So let's choose the roots that will feed and strengthen our lives. That little tree doesn't have a choice of how or where it lives, but we do.
Nancy
Let them be like grass in shallow ground that withers before the harvest. (The Message)
1 Peter 1:24-25 The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever. (The Message)
Somewhere up in the 4 ft range over our garage doors, we have a small beam sticking out about 3 ft and for the last few years a small tree has been growing out of it. Every year it's a little taller and gets green leaves and like all the trees now, the leaves have fallen off. And each Spring I wonder if the tree is going to be alive and how much longer it will live because there is only so much nutrient in that beam vs the deep soil.
For me Psalm 129:6 is saying without roots, grass growing in shallow ground can wither especially during times of drought and for us without God, we can wither during times of trouble.
Then 1 Peter 1:24-25 talks about grass dying and flowers drooping at the end of the summer season and how short their lives are. Again early death.
So how short are our lives on earth? Can we stay upright during storms like a tree? Can we live without water and food? Do we want to die/wither/droop like flowers and grass?
Like the roots for trees. No roots-no staying upright in storms, no nutrients or water-no life. Or a very short one. God is our roots. He can keep our feet planted squarely in the ground which gives us the opportunity to grow every day. Our lives are short on here earth, so let's not be like my little tree growing from the beam. Let's not live in such a way that we can't grow. God's Word (NIV) stands forever. So let's choose the roots that will feed and strengthen our lives. That little tree doesn't have a choice of how or where it lives, but we do.
Nancy
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Hebrews 4:12-13
Hebrews 4:12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it--no matter what. (The Message)
My mother graduated from the Margaret Pillsbury School of Nursing in the late 40s and as you are going through nursing school, you spend time working in the hospital in various areas, it could be maternity, pediatrics or surgery etc. My mother really enjoyed working the OR best (operating room) and loved observing and aiding the surgeon as he used his skills to repair internal body parts on patients.
The surgeon would use a sharp scalpel and cut through skin and muscle to get to the right body part. What would happen if his scalpel wasn't sharp? Could he perform the surgery if it wasn't?
Gods Word is sharper than the surgeon's scalpel and can penetrate through anything, no doubt in the sharpness. The NIV says 'everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account' and the helps say 'God's Word goes to the depth of ones being.'
We all have deep innermost needs and may only share them with a trusted friend, but God knows those needs without us telling him. I like the words - uncovered, laid bare, depth and totality. We know 100% that God's Word is sharp. So do we let God perform surgery on our hearts and let him change us? Do we trust him enough?
Nancy
My mother graduated from the Margaret Pillsbury School of Nursing in the late 40s and as you are going through nursing school, you spend time working in the hospital in various areas, it could be maternity, pediatrics or surgery etc. My mother really enjoyed working the OR best (operating room) and loved observing and aiding the surgeon as he used his skills to repair internal body parts on patients.
The surgeon would use a sharp scalpel and cut through skin and muscle to get to the right body part. What would happen if his scalpel wasn't sharp? Could he perform the surgery if it wasn't?
Gods Word is sharper than the surgeon's scalpel and can penetrate through anything, no doubt in the sharpness. The NIV says 'everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account' and the helps say 'God's Word goes to the depth of ones being.'
We all have deep innermost needs and may only share them with a trusted friend, but God knows those needs without us telling him. I like the words - uncovered, laid bare, depth and totality. We know 100% that God's Word is sharp. So do we let God perform surgery on our hearts and let him change us? Do we trust him enough?
Nancy
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Rev 12:7, 9, 12
Rev 12: 7 & 9 & 12 War broke out in heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The great Dragon-ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray--thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. He's wild and raging with anger, he hasn't much time left and he knows it. (The Message)
What I can envision here is old Japanese monster movies. The Godzilla ones.
Godzilla was first seen in 1954 and was portrayed as a frightening, nuclear monster who represented the fears of many Japanese in a repetition of nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki In the movie, Gojira (1954), Godzilla was a 164 foot monster reptile, weighed 20,000 metric tons and had radioactive breath. He went on a mad rampage, destroying Tokyo. His rampage was not only to destroy Tokyo, but the rest of the world as well.
Godzilla has become one of the world's most recognized monsters. He is one of the most recognizable assets of Japanese popular culture and remains as important facts of Japanese films and has been considered a filmograpic metaphor for the US. (Wikipedia encyclopedia)
It's easy to picture Godzilla (in his anger) spewing his atomic fiery breath over buildings and people.
But I can also picture Satan and how mad he was over his defeat by an angel.
Think of him standing up as tall as he could and just spewing out that anger and fire, unable to control himself.
Isn't it a shame that it's Godzilla who is the most recognized monster?
Shouldn't it be Satan? Shouldn't Satan be the one we know more about? After all, Godzilla is a fictional character and Satan is not.
Read Revelation 12 in it's entirety and maybe Satan will become your most recognized monster.
Nancy
Friday, October 19, 2007
Psalm 125:2
Psalm 125:2 Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles his people--always has and always will. (The Message)
I've been to a couple of walled cities over the years and found that each one has it's own unique history, each of them differ in age and invading enemies and location. But each one was built with the same purpose - to keep the enemy out and the people safe and protected.
Quebec, Canada was built nearly 400 years ago on a bluff above the St.
Lawrence River and is one of the oldest and only fortified walled city north of Mexico. Londonderry, Northern Ireland had it's walls built in the 1600's on the River Foyle, was the last walled city built in Ireland and the only city on the island whose walls survive completely in tact.
Jerusalem, Israel is located in the Judean Mts between the Mediterranean Sea and the Northern tip of the Dead Sea and the current walls were built in 1538.
God's love encircles us like a walled city and his arms protect and keep us safe from the enemy. Like the cities, we each have a unique history, we differ in age and live in different locations. But unlike the cities, we all have the same enemy, Satan.
For me, it's comforting to know that God will protect me from Satan and has his arms around me 24/7 and it gives me a great sense of security to know God always has and always will.
Nancy
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Romans 12:2
One definition of the word conform means 'to be the same as or very similar to something or somebody or make something similar'. And to transform means 'to change people or things completely, especially improving their appearance or usefulness. (Entourage Dictionary)
Nicholas came home from school yesterday wanting to know everything about transformers. His best friend at kindergarten recently saw the transformer movie and that's all the boy is talking about. Nicholas only has one action transformer figure and knows how they can change from one thing to another just by moving the parts around. Last night, he and his dad went on line and together learned about how some transformers can change from a car to an upright human or a warrior to a concept vehicle etc.
If you think about it, we can learn something from those action figures. How they start out conformed to what the manufacturer wants and then how they can change into something their owner wants.
Sometimes our lives are like a knot on a shoe string. We know we want to get those knots out of their lives, but don't always know how. Nothing in the world is working and we've tried everything. Well maybe it's because we've been conforming to the world, so are only what the world wants us to be.
Instead, lets bring God into our lives. Give ourselves over to him and be changed.
Transformation is a process that takes time, but as long as we let God be our owner and not the world, we will be transformed from what we are to someone very different, which in turn will bring hope to others.
Nancy
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Romans 15:1-2
Romans 15:1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" (The Message)
Two words stick out in this verse to me - strong and falter. There are a 25 or so definitions for the word strong, some dealing with physical strength and some with emotional strength. Then the word falter which has only a couple of definitions - to become unsure & hesitant - to lose strength, power or vitality is two of them.
As a Grammie, I want to be a source of both physical and emotional strength for my grandbabies. I want to be in their lives and learn as much as I can and be able to spend one on one time making them feel special and important.
I want them to know I am here for them whenever they need me and if they falter in anything. I want to listen to their fears and questions, pray with and for them and I want to give out hugs for no reason.
I want them to be secure in the fact that I will never leave them and I want them to never be afraid of talking with me or be afraid of what I might say and I want them to know I will try to understand them and just listen and validate their thoughts and feelings.
I really think this is what Jesus wants me to be as a grandmother. But I also believe he wants me to be that way with other people. Not everyone is strong (physically or emotionally) and many of us falter in a lot of areas and we need those strong people to keep us focused and to help keep us going.
Jesus tells the strong ones to step up and help the weak. Lend a hand and ask, "How can I help?"
Nancy
Monday, October 15, 2007
2 Corinthians 3:16
When I think of a veil, I think of a cloth that covers a person's face as with Muslim woman or a bride. But in looking up the word veil in the dictionary, it also has the meaning of something that is hidden or disguised of obscuring something or separating one thing from another.
Have you ever noticed people only request prayers for others and never ask for themselves? When someone asks, 'does anyone have any prayer requests?', I will say nothing unless my request is for someone else. I can't imagine asking for me, because (1) it doesn't seem right and (2) I would end up crying. But then I end up crying anyway because I know I need their prayers but am too afraid to ask.
So I keep my personal requests inside and hidden (like a veil) from others.
I don't want people to think I'm looking for attention or whatever.
Sometimes I want people only to know me from what they see on the outside, not the inside, not the real me. It is embarrassing to have to ask for help and to do it verbally through a prayer request and remove 'my veil' is almost beyond comprehension. Talk about being afraid and vulnerable.
But most of us do want people to care about us, to love us and to pray for us, but they can't if they don't know the real us. And if we hide behind a veil and always have that smile on the outside, they will never know that we may be crying on the inside.
To me, it all makes sense, but to implement it needs prayer in itself.
Nancy
Friday, October 12, 2007
James 1:22
James 1:22 Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! (The Message)
The word listen means to concentrate on hearing somebody or something or to pay attention to something and take it into account. (Entourage Dictionary)
As I look back over my life, I ask myself these questions. Did I listen to my parents when I was growing up or to my teachers in school? Did I listen to my bosses explain what my job was about? Did I listen to what God ever tried to tell me? Probably not the way I should have and probably just enough to get by.
And I know I still am guilty of not listening. A friend may need to tell me something for my own good in order to help me get well, but I'm afraid it will hurt too much and most of the time my fears are stronger than my reasoning. Even if it's done in love, I'm afraid of hearing their words and of being hurt and so I don't want to listen.
I'm probably like that with God as well. When God speaks to us directly or through other people, we must listen and pay attention to their words and apply those words to our lives when we first hear them and not wait until it's too late. It could be like wanting to listen to the flight attendant give the safety message as the plane crashing. An emergency is not the time to listen. Better to listen to the message in the first place.
Nancy
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Psalm 27:11
Psalm 27:11 Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on. (The Message)
Point me down your highway - This is what people do with their Global Positioning Systems (GPS). They program in their destinations and the GPS provides them with a three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude and altitude). I read that a GPS is made up of three parts: satellites orbiting the Earth; control and monitoring stations on Earth and the GPS receivers owned by users.
Direct me along a well-lighted street - Our town has turned off most of the street lights to save money. Our road is dark and we no street lights to obscure the moon or the stars and I like it. Because our town is dark, there are a number of people who are very upset. It means they might have to drive slower, watch for stop signs or animals using just their headlights or walk
with flashlights. They feel they deserve the lights, they pay enough in taxes and the town should make cuts elsewhere.
So between the GPS and lit street lights, we shouldn't have a problem finding our way around and are safer. Right? Wrong. Even with those things, we can get lost and especially when it's dark, we are afraid for our safety.
But we don't need to rely on a radio navigational system or a street light for security in going down life's roads. If we can remember that God is our GPS and our street lights, we will never be lost and there will always be light and we will be safe.
Nancy
Point me down your highway - This is what people do with their Global Positioning Systems (GPS). They program in their destinations and the GPS provides them with a three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude and altitude). I read that a GPS is made up of three parts: satellites orbiting the Earth; control and monitoring stations on Earth and the GPS receivers owned by users.
Direct me along a well-lighted street - Our town has turned off most of the street lights to save money. Our road is dark and we no street lights to obscure the moon or the stars and I like it. Because our town is dark, there are a number of people who are very upset. It means they might have to drive slower, watch for stop signs or animals using just their headlights or walk
with flashlights. They feel they deserve the lights, they pay enough in taxes and the town should make cuts elsewhere.
So between the GPS and lit street lights, we shouldn't have a problem finding our way around and are safer. Right? Wrong. Even with those things, we can get lost and especially when it's dark, we are afraid for our safety.
But we don't need to rely on a radio navigational system or a street light for security in going down life's roads. If we can remember that God is our GPS and our street lights, we will never be lost and there will always be light and we will be safe.
Nancy
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Psalm 119:176
Psalm 119:176 And should I wander off like a lost sheep--seek me! I'll recognize the sound of your voice.
When I was growing up, I had a friend who lived down the road from me. She grew up attending the Immanuel Community Church on Concord Heights and I grew up attending the United Baptist downtown. And like my father growing up at UBC, her parents grew up at the church she attended.
When I got my driver's license, Debbie and I decided to leave our 'growing up in' churches to travel around NH, VT, ME and MA to see what else there was. And, besides, our home churches were old and boring and made up mostly of people our parents generation or older and we knew other churches had to be more exciting or more something. We just knew it.
I don't even know what we were looking for, if anything, but for three years she and I went to different churches of all kinds in various places. We also met some interesting people with interesting practices, especially at the Unitarian Church we went to.
However, after never settling anywhere and a little more mature, we came back and discovered our home churches weren't so bad. And as time went on, we both got married and went our separate ways, (her to a Navy base in SC and then on to KY) but we both have stayed active and raised our children in the church.
I don't know if I wandered away from God using 'a new church every Sunday' as an excuse to avoid commitment to him or if I was actually lost. He let me wander, but always watched me even when I acted like a foolish sheep. He kept his eye on me and never let me fall permanently into the 'non-Christian church'. He herded me back to him, to his church, where he keeps me safe.
Nancy
When I was growing up, I had a friend who lived down the road from me. She grew up attending the Immanuel Community Church on Concord Heights and I grew up attending the United Baptist downtown. And like my father growing up at UBC, her parents grew up at the church she attended.
When I got my driver's license, Debbie and I decided to leave our 'growing up in' churches to travel around NH, VT, ME and MA to see what else there was. And, besides, our home churches were old and boring and made up mostly of people our parents generation or older and we knew other churches had to be more exciting or more something. We just knew it.
I don't even know what we were looking for, if anything, but for three years she and I went to different churches of all kinds in various places. We also met some interesting people with interesting practices, especially at the Unitarian Church we went to.
However, after never settling anywhere and a little more mature, we came back and discovered our home churches weren't so bad. And as time went on, we both got married and went our separate ways, (her to a Navy base in SC and then on to KY) but we both have stayed active and raised our children in the church.
I don't know if I wandered away from God using 'a new church every Sunday' as an excuse to avoid commitment to him or if I was actually lost. He let me wander, but always watched me even when I acted like a foolish sheep. He kept his eye on me and never let me fall permanently into the 'non-Christian church'. He herded me back to him, to his church, where he keeps me safe.
Nancy
Friday, October 5, 2007
John 17:21
The NIV study notes say the unity of believers should have an effect on outsiders, to convince them of the mission of Christ. Jesus' prayer is a rebuke of the groundless and often bitter division among believers.
I understand this to mean we should be a spiritual team player and not an individual player. A team player is one who is willing to work cooperatively with others vs an individual who is a separate entity, distinct from the others in the group. A team spirit is having an enthusiastic attitude towards working productively with a team vs an individual spirit who's enthusiastic attitude is only for how well they do.
The Boston Red Sox (a team) are in the playoff season right now. News broadcasters from all over New England are stationed at Fenway, people have been camping overnight on the side walks in order to get tickets to the game against the LA Angels. Who is going to win the first series? Boston or LA?
Excitement continues to build up, fans are fired up, they can't contain themselves and are talking about these games with everyone and anyone that will listen, there is the special wave in the stadium, special cheers go around, posters are held up and red and white colors are worn. Red Sox nation is off and running with the Go, fight and win attitude and everyone is united for the common goal.
Wouldn't it be awesome if we could generate that kind of excitement for Jesus? Uniting together as a team for the common goal of delighting God?
Letting the world know that God sent his son for us?
God calls us to have an effect on outsiders by showing them how we live our lives. The outsiders watch us. They watch how we encourage those who need encouragement, how we will walk with people who need walking with and how we love each other as God loves us.
We, as Christians, have been drafted for God's team. Let's play as a team and be one, just as God is in us and we are in him.
Nancy
Thursday, October 4, 2007
John 16:33
John 16:33 I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godly world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world. (The Message)
I want to share on incident that happened to my daughter on a trip overseas to a country that has numerous problems with violence.
In 1998, Laura traveled to Northern Ireland to visit Caoimnhe, the daughter of my pen pal of 30 years. She was to stay with the family in their flat right in downtown Londonderry. The north has bombings, the British Military roam the streets with M16s and tanks and you can't tell who the IRA people are from anyone else. Each time you leave the north for the south, you have to go through checkpoints where they ask you where you are going, where you have been and if they want, they can search you and/or your vehicle.
On Sunday, August 16, 1998, the family was traveling to Omagh, No. Ireland to visit a castle (Laura loves castles) and had to make a decision where to have lunch-at the castle or in town at a local café about 1 mile away. They chose to eat at the castle, picnic style. Meanwhile, in the middle of town, the worst paramilitary bombing in 30 years happened. 28 people were killed
and 220 people injured when a 500 pound car bomb went off in the area of the café and the IRA was being blamed for carrying out the attack. Had Laura been eating at the cafe, she could have very well been one of the 28 killed.
Laura adds: "The family was to meet Caoimnhe's friends in town soon after lunch, right in the middle of where the rubble was. Her friend that arrived first ended up loosing at least one leg while she was there..there was talk that she may lose her other leg too. Laura and Caoimnhe went to visit her in the hospital in Dublin just days after the attack."
That night, I got a phone call from my friend, Philomena and the first thing said was, 'don't worry, Laura is ok, she isn't hurt'. Panic set in-what had happened? I hadn't seen the news yet. As Philomena told me the story, I remember the sense of peace come over me and I knew God would take care of her and keep her safe. I wanted to be there for Laura, but I had to put my
trust in God and let him take charge.
I'll never forget that day, but I'll also never forget that warm feeling of peace as it came over me. I was crying, but there I had no fear inside, I didn't need to rush overseas, I knew she was in good hands. What a feeling it was to go from the fear that my daughter could have died to the feeling of knowing things would be ok.
God was with me and God was with her and the Grant family that day. Peace is difficult to explain, but awesome to experience.
Nancy
I want to share on incident that happened to my daughter on a trip overseas to a country that has numerous problems with violence.
In 1998, Laura traveled to Northern Ireland to visit Caoimnhe, the daughter of my pen pal of 30 years. She was to stay with the family in their flat right in downtown Londonderry. The north has bombings, the British Military roam the streets with M16s and tanks and you can't tell who the IRA people are from anyone else. Each time you leave the north for the south, you have to go through checkpoints where they ask you where you are going, where you have been and if they want, they can search you and/or your vehicle.
On Sunday, August 16, 1998, the family was traveling to Omagh, No. Ireland to visit a castle (Laura loves castles) and had to make a decision where to have lunch-at the castle or in town at a local café about 1 mile away. They chose to eat at the castle, picnic style. Meanwhile, in the middle of town, the worst paramilitary bombing in 30 years happened. 28 people were killed
and 220 people injured when a 500 pound car bomb went off in the area of the café and the IRA was being blamed for carrying out the attack. Had Laura been eating at the cafe, she could have very well been one of the 28 killed.
Laura adds: "The family was to meet Caoimnhe's friends in town soon after lunch, right in the middle of where the rubble was. Her friend that arrived first ended up loosing at least one leg while she was there..there was talk that she may lose her other leg too. Laura and Caoimnhe went to visit her in the hospital in Dublin just days after the attack."
That night, I got a phone call from my friend, Philomena and the first thing said was, 'don't worry, Laura is ok, she isn't hurt'. Panic set in-what had happened? I hadn't seen the news yet. As Philomena told me the story, I remember the sense of peace come over me and I knew God would take care of her and keep her safe. I wanted to be there for Laura, but I had to put my
trust in God and let him take charge.
I'll never forget that day, but I'll also never forget that warm feeling of peace as it came over me. I was crying, but there I had no fear inside, I didn't need to rush overseas, I knew she was in good hands. What a feeling it was to go from the fear that my daughter could have died to the feeling of knowing things would be ok.
God was with me and God was with her and the Grant family that day. Peace is difficult to explain, but awesome to experience.
Nancy
Monday, October 1, 2007
Galatians 5:22-23
Galatians 5:22-23 But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
Every time I read this verse in Galatians, I think of my friend, Jane, and what her immediate thoughts were when she read it. She pictured a train and each car had the individual name of a Fruit of the Spirit on it. I really liked that concept and now think of it every time I read the verse. It stuck and continues to stick.
My youngest grandson, Jacob, is really starting to play with trains and has figured out how to hitch them together and put them on the track. Thomas, Gordon, James, Henry, Edward, Bertie, Percy, Diesel and Bill are nine of the trains he plays with. Some of these are the engines that pull and the others are the ones pulled. Jacob can direct them go where ever he wants by pushing them along the tracks because Jacob is in charge.
There are nine components that make up the Fruit of the Spirit train. So visualize a train and put the Spirit as the engine and then the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as the ones being pulled. It's moving along the tracks going somewhere. You might have questions, like where is the train coming from?
Where does God want it to go? And is it hard to get to that place? The answer is no.
As long as God is at the front of our lives (the engine), the fruits (the pulled trains) will follow naturally. Jacob's trains aren't real, but God's trains are and if we ride on God's train, everything will fall into place. We will know where we came from, where we are going and find out that it isn't hard to get there.
Nancy
Every time I read this verse in Galatians, I think of my friend, Jane, and what her immediate thoughts were when she read it. She pictured a train and each car had the individual name of a Fruit of the Spirit on it. I really liked that concept and now think of it every time I read the verse. It stuck and continues to stick.
My youngest grandson, Jacob, is really starting to play with trains and has figured out how to hitch them together and put them on the track. Thomas, Gordon, James, Henry, Edward, Bertie, Percy, Diesel and Bill are nine of the trains he plays with. Some of these are the engines that pull and the others are the ones pulled. Jacob can direct them go where ever he wants by pushing them along the tracks because Jacob is in charge.
There are nine components that make up the Fruit of the Spirit train. So visualize a train and put the Spirit as the engine and then the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as the ones being pulled. It's moving along the tracks going somewhere. You might have questions, like where is the train coming from?
Where does God want it to go? And is it hard to get to that place? The answer is no.
As long as God is at the front of our lives (the engine), the fruits (the pulled trains) will follow naturally. Jacob's trains aren't real, but God's trains are and if we ride on God's train, everything will fall into place. We will know where we came from, where we are going and find out that it isn't hard to get there.
Nancy
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Acts 9:1-19
This week at Lectio, we read the story of 'The Blinding of Saul' (The Message) and I saw that no matter which direction we are coming from, as long as we obey we can end up at the same table.
The story went like this -
Saul was out for the kill.
He was suddenly dazed by a blinding light.
Found out it was Jesus.
Jesus said, 'get up, enter the city and you'll be told what to do'
Saul was blind, but went.
Ananias was spoken to by Jesus.
'Yes, Master?'
Get up and go.
Lots of protest.
Jesus says, 'Don't argue, Go!'
Ananias goes, put his hands on Saul.
Saul could see again, was baptized and both men sat down together and ate a hearty meal.
I think I am both like Saul and Ananias mixed together. I can see me standing in the middle of a see saw and trying my hardest to balance it evenly, but I know I'm failing. One side keeps going up and the other down - back and forth, over and over.
On Saul's end, God is saying, 'ok, I've blinded you, now get up and go and I'll tell you what to do when you get there.'
On the Ananias' end, I say I am a Christian, I feel I listen to God and I say 'yes' to Him. But then comes the, 'I can't or I'm afraid' words when I'm asked to do something.
I don't know where I'm going and I think, 'how long do I need to be blind before I can see or maybe I argue with God when he asks me to do something and why am I so afraid?' I don't know any of the answers and pray one day I won't be blind anymore.
Nancy
The story went like this -
Saul was out for the kill.
He was suddenly dazed by a blinding light.
Found out it was Jesus.
Jesus said, 'get up, enter the city and you'll be told what to do'
Saul was blind, but went.
Ananias was spoken to by Jesus.
'Yes, Master?'
Get up and go.
Lots of protest.
Jesus says, 'Don't argue, Go!'
Ananias goes, put his hands on Saul.
Saul could see again, was baptized and both men sat down together and ate a hearty meal.
I think I am both like Saul and Ananias mixed together. I can see me standing in the middle of a see saw and trying my hardest to balance it evenly, but I know I'm failing. One side keeps going up and the other down - back and forth, over and over.
On Saul's end, God is saying, 'ok, I've blinded you, now get up and go and I'll tell you what to do when you get there.'
On the Ananias' end, I say I am a Christian, I feel I listen to God and I say 'yes' to Him. But then comes the, 'I can't or I'm afraid' words when I'm asked to do something.
I don't know where I'm going and I think, 'how long do I need to be blind before I can see or maybe I argue with God when he asks me to do something and why am I so afraid?' I don't know any of the answers and pray one day I won't be blind anymore.
Nancy
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Matthew 7:11
Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him. (ESV)
My friend, Carol, decided a hamster would be a good gift for her three children. They were delighted in this little guy and enjoyed many hours watching him run in his 'squeaky' wheel, filling up his cheeks with food for winter and the many, many escapades he embarked on when he got out of his cage. Jub Jubs brought the family closer together as they laughed at his antics and then cried when his life was over.
Carol gave a tangible gift to her kids because she loves them and wanted them to learn and experience what it was like to live with a pet. After reading the 'Hamster Diaries' she wrote, I think the whole family learned more than they realized as he captured their hearts. Who would have thought the gift of a little ball of fur could be and do so much for so many?
Think about this. If the gifts from parents to children are good, how much greater God's gifts are to his children. They surpass anything we can imagine.
Nancy
My friend, Carol, decided a hamster would be a good gift for her three children. They were delighted in this little guy and enjoyed many hours watching him run in his 'squeaky' wheel, filling up his cheeks with food for winter and the many, many escapades he embarked on when he got out of his cage. Jub Jubs brought the family closer together as they laughed at his antics and then cried when his life was over.
Carol gave a tangible gift to her kids because she loves them and wanted them to learn and experience what it was like to live with a pet. After reading the 'Hamster Diaries' she wrote, I think the whole family learned more than they realized as he captured their hearts. Who would have thought the gift of a little ball of fur could be and do so much for so many?
Think about this. If the gifts from parents to children are good, how much greater God's gifts are to his children. They surpass anything we can imagine.
Nancy
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Proverbs 18:10
Proverbs 18:10 God's name is a place of protection---good people can run there and be safe. (The Message)
Do we ever wonder what our names mean and how we came to get them? Some of us were named for relatives or close friends, famous people, whatever was popular at the time or maybe because of what the names mean.
My daughter, Laura Jane, was named for my grandmother, Laura Jane Withington. The origin is Latin and means - Laurel. My daughter, Rebecca Leigh, was named for the Biblical Rebekah (and also for her 10th great grandmother, Rebecca Nurse of Salem, MA) and Leigh for my grandfather, Leigh Woodman. The origin is Hebrew and means - to tie.
What does God's name mean? The names given to God reveal his character. Jehovah Jireh - my provider; Jehovah Rohi - my shepherd; Jehovah Rephe - my healer; Jehovah Adonai - my strength; Immanuel - God is with us; Abba - my Father.
Proverbs 18:11 says - The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it.
But if we look at the different names of God, we see that he is the one who protects us. All the money in the world can't do it. When we are afraid, we can run to God and we will be safe behind him.
Nancy
Do we ever wonder what our names mean and how we came to get them? Some of us were named for relatives or close friends, famous people, whatever was popular at the time or maybe because of what the names mean.
My daughter, Laura Jane, was named for my grandmother, Laura Jane Withington. The origin is Latin and means - Laurel. My daughter, Rebecca Leigh, was named for the Biblical Rebekah (and also for her 10th great grandmother, Rebecca Nurse of Salem, MA) and Leigh for my grandfather, Leigh Woodman. The origin is Hebrew and means - to tie.
What does God's name mean? The names given to God reveal his character. Jehovah Jireh - my provider; Jehovah Rohi - my shepherd; Jehovah Rephe - my healer; Jehovah Adonai - my strength; Immanuel - God is with us; Abba - my Father.
Proverbs 18:11 says - The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it.
But if we look at the different names of God, we see that he is the one who protects us. All the money in the world can't do it. When we are afraid, we can run to God and we will be safe behind him.
Nancy
Friday, September 21, 2007
Matthew 11:5
Matthew 11:5 The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. (The Message)
When John was locked up in prison, he got wind of what Jesus was doing and sent his own disciples to ask Jesus if he the One they'd been expecting, or must they still wait?' Jesus told them to go back and tell John what was he was doing. Matthew 5 is what John was told. Jesus heals.
I had a little girl, Leah, in my daycare who was blind. She was born with two healthy eyes, but within a few months, it was discovered she had a tumor in one eye and the eye had to be removed. And when she was just over a year old, she had her second eye removed. With God and proper treatment, she was healed of her cancer.
Leah was an amazing little girl. She went to public school, rode on the bus, played outside with my kids and read huge Braille books. She loved to read and would read to my girls by rapidly running her fingers over a series of raised dots. She never let her blindness keep her down. She would take Laura's upper arm and off they would go as one person and we have so many stories of those adventures. She has since grown up and moved to California where she lives by herself and teaches Braille to children at a school for the blind and is writing a novel. This past year, she even flew round trip from CA to NH by herself.
Jesus heals, but not always the way we might want as I'm sure Leah's parents would have preferred a healthy sighted child. Leah's cancer was healed and she lost her physical eyes, but in God's plan, he knew she would be someone special. And now God has her teaching others to read and showing them how not to let their blindness keep them from living a full life.
Leah can see what God has done in her life and can see how he is using her to help others. Sometimes we can't see what God is doing even with perfectly good eyes.
Nancy
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Proverbs 17:6
Proverbs 17:6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents. (The Message)
The NIV talks about how gray hair is a crown to the aged and to live to see one's grandchildren is considered a great blessing.
I know I'm blessed to see my grandchildren as much as I do and it's special when I get to spend one on one time with them and it's amazing how much I learn when I give them undivided attention. My oldest grandson can share his thoughts and his feelings and his dreams with me, but my other two grandchildren are toddlers and our time is mostly eating, using Play Doh, reading or me asking about Thomas the Train or the Wiggles. Never the less, it's one on one time and we have very special conversations.
I pick my grandson up at his school once in a while and sometimes he's talkative and other times he's exhausted and just wants to sit in his car seat and veg out. One talkative afternoon last week, we saw, in a valley off to the right, a long fog bank and he started asking what it was and why it was there, all the questions a 5 yr old can think of and more questions than I knew answers to.
But I did get to tell him about the Soucook River and how the fog was over top of it all along the river route. I got to tell him how Grammie used to swim in it under the open truss bridge with her friends. He asked to see the place, so we drove down No Pembroke Road and I showed him where I parked my bike and went swimming and now he wants to swim there just like Grammie did. He wants to ride his bike there with his friends too.
Different Grammies have different experiences, but each grandchild is so special in their Grammies eyes. They are all blessings from God and I'm proud to be a Grammie and have these babies at my side. I can't thank God enough for them.
Nancy
The NIV talks about how gray hair is a crown to the aged and to live to see one's grandchildren is considered a great blessing.
I know I'm blessed to see my grandchildren as much as I do and it's special when I get to spend one on one time with them and it's amazing how much I learn when I give them undivided attention. My oldest grandson can share his thoughts and his feelings and his dreams with me, but my other two grandchildren are toddlers and our time is mostly eating, using Play Doh, reading or me asking about Thomas the Train or the Wiggles. Never the less, it's one on one time and we have very special conversations.
I pick my grandson up at his school once in a while and sometimes he's talkative and other times he's exhausted and just wants to sit in his car seat and veg out. One talkative afternoon last week, we saw, in a valley off to the right, a long fog bank and he started asking what it was and why it was there, all the questions a 5 yr old can think of and more questions than I knew answers to.
But I did get to tell him about the Soucook River and how the fog was over top of it all along the river route. I got to tell him how Grammie used to swim in it under the open truss bridge with her friends. He asked to see the place, so we drove down No Pembroke Road and I showed him where I parked my bike and went swimming and now he wants to swim there just like Grammie did. He wants to ride his bike there with his friends too.
Different Grammies have different experiences, but each grandchild is so special in their Grammies eyes. They are all blessings from God and I'm proud to be a Grammie and have these babies at my side. I can't thank God enough for them.
Nancy
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
A Poem
A Poem
The following is a poem(or prayer) I enjoyed, taken from The Magnificat; Lenten Companion. Its a devotional for Lent, but its been interesting to read. Its a little booklet given to me by a co-worker who is Catholic. We often discuss our beliefs & exchange prayer requests.
Prayer for Conversion of Heart
Sovereign Maker of all things,
God of covenant and grace,
Every creature knows your power,
Quakes with fear before your face.
But your mercy far exceeds
What our minds can comprehend;
Deep compassion stays your hand,
Chastening not, though we offend.
You have promised to forgive
Contrite sinners who repent;
So I come with humbled heart,
By your word made confident.
I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned,
Well I know my wickedness.
Yet I make this prayer to you:
Lord, forgive me, heal, and bless.
Let me not be lost in sin,
Banished to eternal night;
God, who hears the penitent,
Let your goodness show your might.
Though I be unworthy, Lord,
Your great mercy I will claim,
Till I join the hosts above
Who forever praise your name.
Hope you liked it as much as I did!
Suzanne
The following is a poem(or prayer) I enjoyed, taken from The Magnificat; Lenten Companion. Its a devotional for Lent, but its been interesting to read. Its a little booklet given to me by a co-worker who is Catholic. We often discuss our beliefs & exchange prayer requests.
Prayer for Conversion of Heart
Sovereign Maker of all things,
God of covenant and grace,
Every creature knows your power,
Quakes with fear before your face.
But your mercy far exceeds
What our minds can comprehend;
Deep compassion stays your hand,
Chastening not, though we offend.
You have promised to forgive
Contrite sinners who repent;
So I come with humbled heart,
By your word made confident.
I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned,
Well I know my wickedness.
Yet I make this prayer to you:
Lord, forgive me, heal, and bless.
Let me not be lost in sin,
Banished to eternal night;
God, who hears the penitent,
Let your goodness show your might.
Though I be unworthy, Lord,
Your great mercy I will claim,
Till I join the hosts above
Who forever praise your name.
Hope you liked it as much as I did!
Suzanne
Proverbs 15:30
Proverbs 15:30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. (The Message)
Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones. (NIV)
The word 'twinkle' in my Entourage dictionary says "a brightness in somebody's eyes, caused by a feeling such as amusement, delight or mischief." (delight)
The word 'cheerful' in the same dictionary says "in a happy and optimistic mood or happy and optimistic by nature." (optimistic mood)
I write a section our Church newsletter called "The Cheerful Look" and it's filled with the who, what, when and where's of our church families. Accomplishments, new jobs, births, marriages, engagements, proud moments, awards, new address/phone - anything that promotes a 'brightness in our eyes' or a 'happy and optimistic mood' when it's read. And I'm hoping it does because God's children are doing great things.
And so what does good news do to us inside? It makes us smile, our faces are brighter, our heart rates are slower, our thoughts are softer and each of those things are projected to the people we meet in life.
Knowing God may be some people's only cheerful news. Knowing him and knowing his love will hopefully bring a smile to those who struggle. We know people aren't consistent, but God always is.
And as we take on each day, we should look for something good in each person, in our lives and in whatever task we have before us. For some, that can be very difficult to do and when that happens, we must turn to God and ask him for a smile, ask him for help. Because if we do, we may find by the end of the day, we have some joy in our heart because of a smile from someone.
Nancy
Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones. (NIV)
The word 'twinkle' in my Entourage dictionary says "a brightness in somebody's eyes, caused by a feeling such as amusement, delight or mischief." (delight)
The word 'cheerful' in the same dictionary says "in a happy and optimistic mood or happy and optimistic by nature." (optimistic mood)
I write a section our Church newsletter called "The Cheerful Look" and it's filled with the who, what, when and where's of our church families. Accomplishments, new jobs, births, marriages, engagements, proud moments, awards, new address/phone - anything that promotes a 'brightness in our eyes' or a 'happy and optimistic mood' when it's read. And I'm hoping it does because God's children are doing great things.
And so what does good news do to us inside? It makes us smile, our faces are brighter, our heart rates are slower, our thoughts are softer and each of those things are projected to the people we meet in life.
Knowing God may be some people's only cheerful news. Knowing him and knowing his love will hopefully bring a smile to those who struggle. We know people aren't consistent, but God always is.
And as we take on each day, we should look for something good in each person, in our lives and in whatever task we have before us. For some, that can be very difficult to do and when that happens, we must turn to God and ask him for a smile, ask him for help. Because if we do, we may find by the end of the day, we have some joy in our heart because of a smile from someone.
Nancy
Monday, September 17, 2007
James 3:13
James 3:13 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk that counts. (The Message)
The minute I read this, I thought of David, a boy in my sixth grade class at the Dame School. He was a smart boy and got very good grades - always. Not like the rest of us, who fooled around, talked and didn't pay attention only half the time. David never fooled around, he was always focused on his work and when he got good grades, everyone in the class knew it.
Back then, we didn't have rugs and the desks were screwed to the floor and were lined up in rows. And we didn't wear sneakers. David wore leather shoes and I can remember every time he got an A on his paper (usually in math), he would run down the aisle from the teachers desk and slide with his shoes on the floor with a huge smile on his face that said, 'I got an A'. No doubt, David was smart, but he struggled with his 'humble' personality and as a result sometimes wasn't very well liked.
In a book I have, it says that wisdom from above is characterized as pure, peace-loving and considerate and wisdom from below is characterized as self-centered and driven by selfish desires.
I realize that David was only 10 or 11 yrs old, so maybe he had an excuse. Maybe he hadn't been taught how to live humbly and have the wisdom from above and maybe had to learn the hard way.
As adults, we often live or act as if we hadn't been taught and our wisdom shows it comes from below. Maybe it's not intended, by never the less, it shows.
So what should our goals be? What are we being taught by God?
Live the life of wisdom from above and be humble at all times. It's how you live, not the way you talk that counts.
Nancy
The minute I read this, I thought of David, a boy in my sixth grade class at the Dame School. He was a smart boy and got very good grades - always. Not like the rest of us, who fooled around, talked and didn't pay attention only half the time. David never fooled around, he was always focused on his work and when he got good grades, everyone in the class knew it.
Back then, we didn't have rugs and the desks were screwed to the floor and were lined up in rows. And we didn't wear sneakers. David wore leather shoes and I can remember every time he got an A on his paper (usually in math), he would run down the aisle from the teachers desk and slide with his shoes on the floor with a huge smile on his face that said, 'I got an A'. No doubt, David was smart, but he struggled with his 'humble' personality and as a result sometimes wasn't very well liked.
In a book I have, it says that wisdom from above is characterized as pure, peace-loving and considerate and wisdom from below is characterized as self-centered and driven by selfish desires.
I realize that David was only 10 or 11 yrs old, so maybe he had an excuse. Maybe he hadn't been taught how to live humbly and have the wisdom from above and maybe had to learn the hard way.
As adults, we often live or act as if we hadn't been taught and our wisdom shows it comes from below. Maybe it's not intended, by never the less, it shows.
So what should our goals be? What are we being taught by God?
Live the life of wisdom from above and be humble at all times. It's how you live, not the way you talk that counts.
Nancy
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Proverbs 22:6
It takes time to 'point' or 'train' or 'teach' our children the truth about God and how to live within his rules while they are growing up in a world that doesn't always follow God.
When my daughters were young, #1, I was their mother and #2, a friend. Some days they didn't think I was too nice, I was mean and they didn't like me.
Maybe I didn't buy them what they wanted or allowed them to go where they wanted. But, we also had fun over the years like playing in the woods creating Fisher Price People scenarios in the brook or sending Barbie dolls floating through the pipe under the road, Laura on one side and Bec on the other waiting for them to pass. (I believe there is one stuck in the pipe in the middle of the road to this day)
I tried to take the time and effort to teach my kids about God and what he expected of them. My knowledge was limited, but I knew the basics and now I see my daughters applying those principles to my grandchildren.
At children's time in church, Natalee, my granddaughter, had the story box.
When her gift was taken out by Pastor Doyle, I wondered how she would react as she's only 1 1/2. She was a trooper and let it go willingly. My grandson, Nicholas (age 5), at the end of the story said (loudly said) to her, 'Thank you for sharing, Natalee'. I thought, wow, that's my grandson saying that, on his own volition, as a praise to his cousin. In his child way, he lifted her and he encouraged her and that is a God rule.
The best thing we can give a child is our time. The more time we give, the more we can teach God's principles to them. And when I see it passed from my child to my grandchild or grandchild to grandchild, I know I trained my kids they way God wanted me to.
Nancy
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
2 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 3:16 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another---showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. (The Message)
The NIV notes say that Paul affirms God's active involvement in the writing of Scripture, an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the infallible and authoritative word of God.
When I was in high school, I had a friend who lived in town near the Merrimack River. We used to swim there occasionally and one day, she decided we should swim across the river and I said ok, despite the fact I was not a strong swimmer and besides the river didn't look that wide. Well, I got across with no problem, but then realized I had to swim back and my arms were tired and not to mention, I also have asthma. Anyway, what could happen?
It wasn't a smart idea on my part to swim back as soon as I did. I had to float on my back and to do it without floating downstream and I swore I was going to drown. When I thought I couldn't breathe anymore, my friend's encouraging words helped me relax, breathe better and I made it back in one piece.
When we feel like we are drowning, not in water, but in life situations, Gods encouraging words will help us relax and breathe better. All scripture is God-breathed and when we forget how or can't breathe, we must open our Bibles and read the Scriptures, knowing it is the authoritative word of our God.
Remember to thank God for your friends who help you breathe when you forget how and are sinking to the bottom. And don't forget to thank your friends as they may not realize how important their friendship is in keeping you afloat so you don't drown.
Nancy
The NIV notes say that Paul affirms God's active involvement in the writing of Scripture, an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the infallible and authoritative word of God.
When I was in high school, I had a friend who lived in town near the Merrimack River. We used to swim there occasionally and one day, she decided we should swim across the river and I said ok, despite the fact I was not a strong swimmer and besides the river didn't look that wide. Well, I got across with no problem, but then realized I had to swim back and my arms were tired and not to mention, I also have asthma. Anyway, what could happen?
It wasn't a smart idea on my part to swim back as soon as I did. I had to float on my back and to do it without floating downstream and I swore I was going to drown. When I thought I couldn't breathe anymore, my friend's encouraging words helped me relax, breathe better and I made it back in one piece.
When we feel like we are drowning, not in water, but in life situations, Gods encouraging words will help us relax and breathe better. All scripture is God-breathed and when we forget how or can't breathe, we must open our Bibles and read the Scriptures, knowing it is the authoritative word of our God.
Remember to thank God for your friends who help you breathe when you forget how and are sinking to the bottom. And don't forget to thank your friends as they may not realize how important their friendship is in keeping you afloat so you don't drown.
Nancy
Monday, September 10, 2007
Proverbs 12:22
Proverbs 12:22 - God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word. (The Message)
Proverbs 10-14 show themes of contrasts of the righteous and the wicked - honest, dishonest - disciplined, not disciplined - good direction, losing your way - fools, wise men etc. And life is full of contrasts. Lying is an example of the honest/dishonest contrast-an are we or aren't we honest? It should be simple as God doesn't mince his words.
What happens when you lie to people? When do they stop believing the things you say and then you wonder why?
My children were brought up the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This was a little shepherd boy who got bored watching his sheep. So for attention, he yelled 'wolf' and every time the villagers came to drive the wolf away, he laughed at them as there was no wolf. Throughout the day, this continued to happen and the people were getting very angry. When the wolf actually did appear and was chasing his sheep, the boy again cried 'wolf' and this time no one came. Finally in the evening, everyone wondered where the boy was and went to find him. He was in the field crying, wondering why no one came when he cried 'wolf'. And an old man told him, 'no one believes a liar..even when he is telling the truth'.
That little shepherd boy learned the hard way about telling the truth and some of us have learned the hard way as well. Any lies (white included) can stop right now. We know God can't stomach a liar period. End of story. But God is forgiving and when the lying stops, God will be pleased and he will delight in us again.
Nancy
Proverbs 10-14 show themes of contrasts of the righteous and the wicked - honest, dishonest - disciplined, not disciplined - good direction, losing your way - fools, wise men etc. And life is full of contrasts. Lying is an example of the honest/dishonest contrast-an are we or aren't we honest? It should be simple as God doesn't mince his words.
What happens when you lie to people? When do they stop believing the things you say and then you wonder why?
My children were brought up the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This was a little shepherd boy who got bored watching his sheep. So for attention, he yelled 'wolf' and every time the villagers came to drive the wolf away, he laughed at them as there was no wolf. Throughout the day, this continued to happen and the people were getting very angry. When the wolf actually did appear and was chasing his sheep, the boy again cried 'wolf' and this time no one came. Finally in the evening, everyone wondered where the boy was and went to find him. He was in the field crying, wondering why no one came when he cried 'wolf'. And an old man told him, 'no one believes a liar..even when he is telling the truth'.
That little shepherd boy learned the hard way about telling the truth and some of us have learned the hard way as well. Any lies (white included) can stop right now. We know God can't stomach a liar period. End of story. But God is forgiving and when the lying stops, God will be pleased and he will delight in us again.
Nancy
A Glimpse of . . .
William Tyndale
I compiled a little information about William Tyndale taken from a couple of websites on google. He captured my interest because of his immense dedication to spreading the truth of God's word, right up to his horrible death. I like reading about Christians like him because their stories dwarf my problems and remind me that the things I think I suffer are nothing in comparison.
In particular, the website, Friends of William Tyndale...History of the English Bible, was a really fun website. They write: For centuries Tyndale has been revered by scholars and church historians as "The father of the English Reformation," "The Apostle of England," and as the man who made the English Bible widely available. Yet, the remarkable account of his life and his extraordinary accomplishments are little known or appreciated. Through his unparalleled service to Christ and His church, Tyndale was used of God to profoundly influence the course of history.
William Tyndale was born about 1495 in a county in the South Western part of England and died in 1536. He studied in Oxford and Cambridge. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1521. Had he remained a Catholic priest he would not have attempted to translate the Bible without official sanction. The only version of the Scripture tolerated in England was St. Jerome's Latin translation which dated back to the 4rth century. (not the common language of his day.) Tyndale was determined to make God's word accessible to all men. It is said that during a dispute with a prominent clergyman, Tyndale replied "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost."
He was convinced that the way to God was through His word and that scripture should be available even to common people. Tyndale's Old and New Testaments were the first English translation of the scriptures taken directly from the original Hebrew and Greek languages. He became the first man to translate anything from Hebrew into English. Tyndale carefully chose words which would clearly express the meaning of the original Biblical languages.
The commonly received doctrine of his time implied that men earn their salvation by good behavior and penance. He wrote that salvation is a gift of God. His views were not appreciated and, fleeing from King Henry VIII, he went to Germany where he met Martin Luther in 1525. Tyndale lived in exile, poverty and persecution. His books and tracts were smuggled into England wrapped in bales of wool or cloth, or sacks of flour by fellow "Loallards."
Eventually Tyndale was caught and arrested. Some of his "crimes" were that he maintained that faith alone justifies, forgiveness of sins and to embrace the mercy offered in the Gospel, is enough for salvation and he denied that there is any purgatory. He was imprisoned for a year. On Sept 6, 1536, he was strangled and burned at the stake. His last words were "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."
Suzanne
Friday, September 7, 2007
Psalm 111:10
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (NIV)
God and wisdom. The two go together.
As a child, I didn't like listening to my parents telling me what or what not to do. I didn't like anyone telling me what to do. I would wait until the last minute before they got home from work to do the dishes, feed/water the ducks and empty the dump. (my 3 daily D's). And I pretty much had run of the neighborhood and got into a few problems because of not listening. I fell into a ditch and remember struggling to breathe. I had been told to stay away from the area the city was digging because I could get hurt. Right! The other thing I remember was being told to stay away from the outfield in the park when the kids were playing baseball, I should sit in the stands. Well, I knew I'd be fine and stayed the outfield, near the woods, and watched the game. Then BAM! I got hit in the head with a baseball.
I've experienced many things that weren't good moves on my part. Lots of consequences. Finally, (how many years later?) I listen to those who have wisdom and actually follow through with what they say. I've learned I can't go through life with only me and my knowledge.
God is our parent. He gives us rules for our own good and it's our choice whether we listen and obey. Sometimes we choose or end up learning things the hard way and, hopefully, after suffering the consequences, we will realize that God knew all along what he was saying and maybe we should have listened to him. There is always next time, it's never to late to start listening to our awesome God.
Nancy
God and wisdom. The two go together.
As a child, I didn't like listening to my parents telling me what or what not to do. I didn't like anyone telling me what to do. I would wait until the last minute before they got home from work to do the dishes, feed/water the ducks and empty the dump. (my 3 daily D's). And I pretty much had run of the neighborhood and got into a few problems because of not listening. I fell into a ditch and remember struggling to breathe. I had been told to stay away from the area the city was digging because I could get hurt. Right! The other thing I remember was being told to stay away from the outfield in the park when the kids were playing baseball, I should sit in the stands. Well, I knew I'd be fine and stayed the outfield, near the woods, and watched the game. Then BAM! I got hit in the head with a baseball.
I've experienced many things that weren't good moves on my part. Lots of consequences. Finally, (how many years later?) I listen to those who have wisdom and actually follow through with what they say. I've learned I can't go through life with only me and my knowledge.
God is our parent. He gives us rules for our own good and it's our choice whether we listen and obey. Sometimes we choose or end up learning things the hard way and, hopefully, after suffering the consequences, we will realize that God knew all along what he was saying and maybe we should have listened to him. There is always next time, it's never to late to start listening to our awesome God.
Nancy
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Psalm 149:4
Psalm 149:4 - And why? Because God delights in his people, festoons plain folk with salvation garlands! (The Message)
I read this and immediately pictured 'Mardi Gras'. Party goers with ornamental chains wrapped around their necks like garland. Taking time for praise, song, dance and parades to God for days and nights on end.
Then I read verse 4 in the NIV and it says - For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
To me, the NIV sounds more subdued or less intense. Both versions say God takes delight in his people and wants us to praise Him. After all, Israel had just been granted salvation and was the earthly contingent of the armies of the King of heaven. And what an honor that was for them!
And what an honor it is for you and me, having been granted salvation and in His army, as well! That certainly is worth getting excited about and worth showing that excitement, all while remaining humble.
When we praise God, let's have the excitement of 'Mardi Gras' and sing Hallelujah, dance and strike up the band to make great music and sing from wherever we are. (The Message)
Nancy
I read this and immediately pictured 'Mardi Gras'. Party goers with ornamental chains wrapped around their necks like garland. Taking time for praise, song, dance and parades to God for days and nights on end.
Then I read verse 4 in the NIV and it says - For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
To me, the NIV sounds more subdued or less intense. Both versions say God takes delight in his people and wants us to praise Him. After all, Israel had just been granted salvation and was the earthly contingent of the armies of the King of heaven. And what an honor that was for them!
And what an honor it is for you and me, having been granted salvation and in His army, as well! That certainly is worth getting excited about and worth showing that excitement, all while remaining humble.
When we praise God, let's have the excitement of 'Mardi Gras' and sing Hallelujah, dance and strike up the band to make great music and sing from wherever we are. (The Message)
Nancy
The Hamster Diaries - The End
* Friends - Thank you for the emails and phone calls acknowledging our loss and offering condolences, that was really thoughtful of you and greatly appreciated. Today I can write about it. Yesterday the Strickland children experienced real loss for the first time. I was outside helping a friend unload some wood when Rachel came screaming out of the house. “Mom, Jubbies is dead!!”. What followed in the next 20 minutes was truly heartbreaking as Rachel tried to come to grips with the reality of it. Had I wanted to leave her side for a minute the rest of the evening, she wouldn’t have let me. Through the evening and well into the morning we all experienced to one degree or another, the heartache of losing this little animal friend with no warning. We skipped Rachel’s first soccer practice of the year and attended Kyle’s game together because we just needed family time. When we returned home we put some shavings and one of Jubs’ favorite things in the box with her and took her outside. Rachel picked the spot, Sonny dug the hole, Rachel placed her in and we all said some words about her. We left Sonny to finish and went back inside. Gavin fashioned twigs together to mark the spot. Kyle in his quiet way wondered why we had to bury her at all because then we’d never be able to see her and I explained just enough about the process so he could understand. Both the boys had some well-disguised tears. Nobody’s grief was as vocal as Rachel’s. We all understood her unique bond with Jubs and all knew she was entitled to whatever she was feeling, however she needed to express it. As she drifted off into a sobbing sleep she thanked me for “going through all this with me, Mom”. At the end of the day I was able to have a moment with each of the boys and acknowledge their loss as well. At the very end of the day I was able to grieve by myself. I kept reminding myself this was “only a hamster” but I couldn’t discount the effect this creature had on the entire family. Relationships were strengthened with a common “little one” to care for. She was loved by all. She was Rachel’s “best animal friend in the whole world” and as Gavin said, “She made me feel better when I held her.” Entire evenings revolved around her antics. Sometimes, after the kids were in bed Sonny and I would take her out and spend some 'quality time' with her. I found great enjoyment in rediscovering a long dormant passion for writing as The Hamster Diaries shared our pet owning experience with friends and family. I was looking forward to writing more but I think my initial assessment of Jub Jubs may have been correct; she was probably a lot older than Salesman led us to believe and it was just her time. At any rate, every one of us got from her what he needed, we're all a little richer because of it and with that I believe Jub Jubs achieved her full measure as a hamster. Thank you for enjoying her with us.
Love, Carol
Love, Carol
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, making them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of age." (The Message)
Last words leave an impression on our minds for a long time.
There are the last words of a family to someone who is dying or maybe to a friend who is moving away.
Usually when Matt goes to school, I have the last word. I say goodbye, I love you and have a good day or see you when you get home. I can only pray those words will help carry him on a positive note throughout the day.
Sometimes, however, the last word isn't good, they are not said in love, they are meant to hurt. Matt remembers a lot of last words in his past. He will never forget them as they weren't good words and they hurt. He remembers them very well, too well.
That day when Jesus was on the mountain with the disciples, his last words were to go out and witness and baptize and obey what he commanded. Some of the disciples were ok with that and some were unsure of taking that risk, but Jesus reassured them he would be with them every step of the way.
Can I obey and go out and witness like they were charged to do? Or am I afraid and maybe hold back, not sure like some of them? Can I remember those last words Christ? Can I remember he will be with me until the end?
With those last words of promising to be with me always, always, always, I pray they will stick in my mind and carry me though each day.
Nancy
Last words leave an impression on our minds for a long time.
There are the last words of a family to someone who is dying or maybe to a friend who is moving away.
Usually when Matt goes to school, I have the last word. I say goodbye, I love you and have a good day or see you when you get home. I can only pray those words will help carry him on a positive note throughout the day.
Sometimes, however, the last word isn't good, they are not said in love, they are meant to hurt. Matt remembers a lot of last words in his past. He will never forget them as they weren't good words and they hurt. He remembers them very well, too well.
That day when Jesus was on the mountain with the disciples, his last words were to go out and witness and baptize and obey what he commanded. Some of the disciples were ok with that and some were unsure of taking that risk, but Jesus reassured them he would be with them every step of the way.
Can I obey and go out and witness like they were charged to do? Or am I afraid and maybe hold back, not sure like some of them? Can I remember those last words Christ? Can I remember he will be with me until the end?
With those last words of promising to be with me always, always, always, I pray they will stick in my mind and carry me though each day.
Nancy
Monday, September 3, 2007
Genesis 2:3
Genesis 2:3 - On the seventh day he rested from all his work. (The Message)
In 1882, a cabinet maker introduced his idea for a new holiday to pay tribute to American Industry. Twelve years later, President Cleveland signed a bill into law designating the first Monday in September as 'Labor Day' as a tribute to workers. For many, that is a day off with cookouts and the last hurrah for summer.
When God finished creating Heaven and Earth, he designated a day to rest called 'Sabbath'. A day of tribute to our Maker. What do we do on that day?
My cousin, Jeff, is a Lt on the Concord Fire Dept.and every year hosts a pig roast (whole pig and pit) at his home in Belmont. Firefighters and their families from Concord and Belmont come to enjoy a day of family fun and camaraderie. Sometimes the Belmont Dept has a truck and rescue sitting in Jeff's yard because the guys might get an emergency call. This get together is important to them, so they bring the station with them. My family and the one or two relatives I have are also invited. There are tractor rides, games for the kids, horseshoes and tons of food.
Jeff does this because he wants not to only have fun with his buddies and their families, but also as a way thank you them for their commitment to service. For him, this is a Labor Day tradition.
Just as Jeff has his Labor Day traditions, we must establish a Sabbath Day tradition. Take the day to rest, thank God for your family and focus on what God has done. I thank God for our fire fighters and for their families who support them.
Nancy
In 1882, a cabinet maker introduced his idea for a new holiday to pay tribute to American Industry. Twelve years later, President Cleveland signed a bill into law designating the first Monday in September as 'Labor Day' as a tribute to workers. For many, that is a day off with cookouts and the last hurrah for summer.
When God finished creating Heaven and Earth, he designated a day to rest called 'Sabbath'. A day of tribute to our Maker. What do we do on that day?
My cousin, Jeff, is a Lt on the Concord Fire Dept.and every year hosts a pig roast (whole pig and pit) at his home in Belmont. Firefighters and their families from Concord and Belmont come to enjoy a day of family fun and camaraderie. Sometimes the Belmont Dept has a truck and rescue sitting in Jeff's yard because the guys might get an emergency call. This get together is important to them, so they bring the station with them. My family and the one or two relatives I have are also invited. There are tractor rides, games for the kids, horseshoes and tons of food.
Jeff does this because he wants not to only have fun with his buddies and their families, but also as a way thank you them for their commitment to service. For him, this is a Labor Day tradition.
Just as Jeff has his Labor Day traditions, we must establish a Sabbath Day tradition. Take the day to rest, thank God for your family and focus on what God has done. I thank God for our fire fighters and for their families who support them.
Nancy
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Jeremiah 33:2-3
Jeremiah 33:2-3 This is God's Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as GOD: 'Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. (The Message)
Chapter 33 concludes a section called 'The Book of Consolation', which depicts the ultimate restoration of both Israel and Judah and also introduces the New Covenant. The New Covenant promised believers inner transformation. It says we would get to know God in a personal way, our sins would be forgiven and we would be able respond to God from the heart, not just with the law. When Jeremiah was in jail, God sent a second messenger to him strongly urging him to ask God for answers to the things that only God could know. And Jeremiah was a person that if anything could go wrong, it
would, but he stuck it out and never gave up. Jeremiah lived what he wrote about and wrote about what he lived, he was the same person.
The Message asks the question: 'What happens when everything you believe in and live by is smashed to bits by circumstances? Does it lead to abandonment of God? --- We know it can happen. Some will push Him away totally and others crave Him.
When we are struggling and aren't strong and can't figure things out, we look for people who have been through what we're going through, we ask how they did it and how they survived. We ask them for support with our mess' and ask for help to stay focused on God and not ourselves.
God wants us to do that with Him. Turn to Him. So slow down, tell God you are struggling, ask how to handle it and how to survive and then listen. God will have answers and in the process, you will learn more about Him.
Nancy
Chapter 33 concludes a section called 'The Book of Consolation', which depicts the ultimate restoration of both Israel and Judah and also introduces the New Covenant. The New Covenant promised believers inner transformation. It says we would get to know God in a personal way, our sins would be forgiven and we would be able respond to God from the heart, not just with the law. When Jeremiah was in jail, God sent a second messenger to him strongly urging him to ask God for answers to the things that only God could know. And Jeremiah was a person that if anything could go wrong, it
would, but he stuck it out and never gave up. Jeremiah lived what he wrote about and wrote about what he lived, he was the same person.
The Message asks the question: 'What happens when everything you believe in and live by is smashed to bits by circumstances? Does it lead to abandonment of God? --- We know it can happen. Some will push Him away totally and others crave Him.
When we are struggling and aren't strong and can't figure things out, we look for people who have been through what we're going through, we ask how they did it and how they survived. We ask them for support with our mess' and ask for help to stay focused on God and not ourselves.
God wants us to do that with Him. Turn to Him. So slow down, tell God you are struggling, ask how to handle it and how to survive and then listen. God will have answers and in the process, you will learn more about Him.
Nancy
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Now we look inside and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons. (The Message)
Are we afraid to let God work through us? Do we block Him because of fear of who we used to be or who we are now? I'm afraid of many things. One is I don't feel good enough for God because of my faults and I know I'm not the only person to feel that way. I think most of us are, some more, some less.
Think of your past as an old house, full of imperfections - our frame rotted, our roof leaked or holes in our walls. Does that mean we can't repair the frame or fix the roof or patch the holes? Can't we give our home (ourselves) a fresh start? God says we can. We all have pasts, good and bad, but when we accept Christ, we don't need to be afraid of those past issues anymore. They are what it says - past.
And so what can happen when we let go and let God? We walk in God's light, no more darkness and no more fear of the past. God has forgiven us and wants us to become new on the inside. Like The Msg says 'the old life is gone, a new life burgeons' (flourishes or begins).
Verse 5 ends with - Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. How, you say? In Christ. God put on him the wrong who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Let's give ourselves a fresh start today.
Nancy
Are we afraid to let God work through us? Do we block Him because of fear of who we used to be or who we are now? I'm afraid of many things. One is I don't feel good enough for God because of my faults and I know I'm not the only person to feel that way. I think most of us are, some more, some less.
Think of your past as an old house, full of imperfections - our frame rotted, our roof leaked or holes in our walls. Does that mean we can't repair the frame or fix the roof or patch the holes? Can't we give our home (ourselves) a fresh start? God says we can. We all have pasts, good and bad, but when we accept Christ, we don't need to be afraid of those past issues anymore. They are what it says - past.
And so what can happen when we let go and let God? We walk in God's light, no more darkness and no more fear of the past. God has forgiven us and wants us to become new on the inside. Like The Msg says 'the old life is gone, a new life burgeons' (flourishes or begins).
Verse 5 ends with - Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. How, you say? In Christ. God put on him the wrong who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Let's give ourselves a fresh start today.
Nancy
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