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Archive for the ‘Christian’ Category

Stillness

Posted in Christian on October 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

powerful message from Bill Merritt, blog: Life Reference.
Like how he stated he waited for Jesus to make the first move, but He already had- on the cross (implied).
– never ask if God is not there- He is. Seek and you will find.

Don Merritt's avatarLife Project Blog

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in the early morning stillness, when the mists are still upon the land, when the uncertainty of a new day is at hand, He is there.  When I don’t know where to turn, when I don’t know how to cope, He is there.  When life is too hard, when I’m at my wit’s end, He is there.

So many times I have been in this place with Jesus at my side and I’ve looked the other way. So many times I’ve seen despair because I did this, so many times I wondered why.  But He was there all along; right there!  He was there and I looked away from his face to see… what?

I was waiting for Him to make the first move, I was waiting for Him to do something, I was waiting for Him to save me.  He was at my side already waiting for me to…

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Reaching Down

Posted in Biblical, Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , , on October 19, 2013| 12 Comments »

I knew it was him. I could see him through the sheets of rain, as if he was walking inside a waterfall. The waves crashed around the boat, swirling it like a leaf in a gutter.  Yet he kept inching towards us, steady-footed, calm, assured.

Wait. He was on top of the water! A few cried out,”It’s a ghost!”. But, my heart knew it was him. If he was near, all would be alright. Through the whoosh of the wind I heard his voice in my soul. “Come to me.”

Without a second thought, I jumped in the water and rushed towards him.

Oh, my Lord. I was on the surface of the lake as well, my feet barely dampened by the waves.  This can’t be.  No one can walk on water.  It can’t be done.  What was I thinking?

The waves lapped my feet. Then my knees. Something  jerked me downwards into the frigid lake. Help me, Lord. Help me.

A wave crashed over my head. My mouth filled with muddy water and choked the words I tried to cry out. I floundered, even though my arms and legs pushing against the waves with every ounce of strength I had.  The gripping force pulled my legs straight down. My head ducked underwater. My tunic billowed around me then slapped against me like a death shroud. My  chest crunched against the pressure. My heart pounded against it like fists on a  closed door.I looked up through the water.  I was going to die. Lord, don’t let me die.

Then, through the shimmering murkiness appeared a hand. It reached for me. I saw his soft face smiling, beckoning beyond the surface of the lake. I stretched my fingers. They touched his.

Warmed strength surged through me as he grabbed hold and lifted me to His face. His caring eyes smiled into mine. “Believe, my friend,  and live.”

(Inspired by Matthew 14:22-32)

Jesus reaching inDo you feel like you are being pulled under? You don’t have another smidgen of strength to fight it. The pressures of your world push against you, jerking you down into the murky unknown where faith is drowned by anxiety and doubt. You sputter for breath. You may even whisper in a resolved plea, “Okay. I quit. Take me then.”

Stop struggling on your own.  Look up. He is there to reach down and lift you out into His loving arms. Stretch to meet his fingers. Believe, and live.

I found God today in this picture – it made me realize once again that if I fix my eyes on Jesus,  grab hold of His hand,  give Him the control, I will not sink.

 

To order a copy go to: http://www.goodsalt.com/cart/print_yskas0001.html

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More or Less

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , on October 17, 2013| 1 Comment »

As I listened to a Christian radio broadcast in the car, a message came through the airwaves into my heart. The DJ simply said:

                    Don’t think less of yourself, think of yourself less.

Growing up, I was shunned by the in-crowd who were the children of parents’ friends. It left deep scars on my psyche. Bolstered by my late husband, who never complimented me on anything but was quick to riducle my faults, I battled a deep-seeded self esteem problem. That is until I truly discovered Christ’s love for me. The immensity of that love began to sink into the corners of my mind, though I doubt I will ever fully understand it. But as I open myself to experience His love more and more, I dsicover that I hate myself less.

ID-100142606Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, but lack of pride is one as well. Both foster the same result- a skewed image of self that is not the one God intends for us to have.  Pride thinks too much of self, while poor self esteem thinks not enough.

But, and this is key, both have the mirror planted firmly in front, focused mostly on self. All else – friends, family and even God – are in the peripheral vision.

Woman MeditatingHowever, when we think of ourselves less, we then can think more on things that are above. We center our thoughts in Christ Jesus instead of ourselves.  We don’t think about how we will come across, what others may think, or what they might say behind our backs. Instead, we think more of the wonderfulness of His love for us and for others, so we are more open to being His voice in a hurting world. We see more miracles, feel more passion, and experience the humbled joy of being more useful.

I guess in this case, the adage is true: Less is more.

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A Stiff Backing

Posted in Biblical, Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , on October 13, 2013| 2 Comments »

SqueezeIt kept flopping over in a wilt. The picture I’d printed of my new book and glued to a piece of card stock would not stand upright in the little ringed holder at my vendor booth. With the moisture-laden gray clouds hovering overhead us that day, it was just too humid – even in an air conditioned room. I kept straightening my sign in the stand, and then out of the corner of my eye, I’d see it slowly bow towards the table in a wimpy droop. How would people be attracted to my book?

Then a wise friend came up and said, “Here. I can fix that.” She peeled the paper from the card stock. Next she accordion-folded the card stock in a tri-fold pattern and set it behind the paper.  Viola!  My sign stood straight as a soldier, and remained that way the rest of the day.

She shrugged with a grin. “It just needed a stronger backing.”

So do I, I thought. I need the tri-fold power of the Trinity to support me and keep me straight. That way,  I will – pardon the pun – stand out. Soon, people will take notice. They will be attracted to my message of what Christ has done in my life.

When I try to stand for Christ on my own, soon I will begin to droop against the elements of this world.  I just don’t have the strength that is needed. I need to stand firmly on the promises of the Word and let God be my strong backing.  If I lean on Him, God’s Spirit will bolster me.  I will not be toppled, I will not wilt.

Who is backing up you today?

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  2Thessalonians 2:15

 

 

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A breath of fresh air

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , on October 7, 2013| 1 Comment »

We knew it would happen, eventually. It always does. That didn’t make the waiting any easier or the day it arrived less exciting.

ID-10019954Finally the cold front barreled down and broke the sweltering summer temperatures.  A few rumbles of thunder, a welcomed rain storm, and a gust of wind ushered in the relief. It was as if the fridge door had finally been opened onto Texas. Everyone stood with eyes closed in long-awaited bliss and breathed in the coolness– ahhhh.

Windows were thrown open to let in the breeze. Joggers and their dogs scampered on the knolls. Sweaters were dug out of cedar chests and the back of closets. Kids skipped to the school bus.

When I came home, the AC hadn’t kicked on because it was not yet 78 inside, thanks to the cloud-cover and lower temps. But, since the house was still shut tight, it was stuffy and still. So, I dropped my purse and dashed to the windows to lift the sash. Immediately, the cool, fresh air billowed in through the curtains. I could almost hear my furniture heave a sigh of joy.

The Holy Spirit can be that same breath of fresh air in our lives, but – and this is key – we have to let Him in.  Before the Holy Spirit can refresh our lives, we have to throw open the windows of our souls. That means change. And good or bad, change is a scary thing to many people.

But what can be more exhilarating than to have your sins washed away by the Blood of the Lamb so His Spirit takes up residence? How invigorating to have Him sweep away all the stale and gloomy cobwebbed corners of your life with a swish of fresh, clean air!

You know it’s coming.  You know it will be glorious.  You see it ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????happening to others.  You witness them basking in the breath of the Spirit. So, go to your own life, open up your heart, and let Him in.

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Plug In

Posted in Christian, Devotional, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , on September 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

ID-10037643Have you ever lost power during a storm?

It is amazing how dependent we are on our plug-in devices. We are cut off from the world when we lose power in a storm, especially if our cell phone batteries were low at the time. We can’t refrigerate our foods, or nuke it ii the microwave. Even if you have a gas stove, it may have an electric ignition.  We may have candles, but they burn down, and battery operated lanterns give out after a few hours.  A gas or charcoal grill will soon deplete. We begin to realize just how powerless we are when we suddenly have no power source.

As Christians, we have an eternal power source. But so often, we let our batteries run down because we stop connecting with His Holy Spirit.  We think we can get through our day on our own energy, forgetting the deep need to recharge through prayer.  Like our cell phones, we need to pug into God each and every day. That is the only way we can continue to, like that battery bunny, keep going and going.

The best thing? Even in the midst of a major storm in our life, God’s power will never flicker on and off. It will never go out.  All we need to do is plug ourselves into His mercy and grace again and be filled with powerful His Spirit.

I have a battery strength indicator device. I put a rechargeable battery to it and it will glow green for full strength, yellow for partial strength and red for need more power quick.  My soul has a battery strength indicator as well. I can tell when I am running low on strength. I need a recharging of His holy power. I must plug into His wisdom through prayer.

Don’t forget to recharge today- before the next storm hits!  When you feel weakened, you can find strength in God. No one can act on their own resources for very long.  We all give out after a while. Realize where the true power lies and tap into it. It’s the wise thing to do. When we are weak, He is strong.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

 

 

 

inspired by a devotional by Linda McCutcheon –http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2013/09/24/recharged-not-disconnected/

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THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Posted in Christian on September 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Wonderfully written and great photos of how this Christian writer found God in her pre-dawn morning stroll. . .

dianegates's avatarMOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES

The chill of a predawn ocean breeze swept across the sand as I made my way over the dunes and onto the South Carolina beach last week. The only sound—the rhythmic rippling of gentle waves breaking along the shoreline.

Alone in the darkness, dwarfed, and awed by the anticipated majesty of this morning concert ready to fill the heavens with God’s created light, I waited. But for the moment the clouds, the sand, and the ocean were smoky gray.DSCF3287

Dull. Flat. Lifeless.

I snapped the first photo.

DSCF3291A tinge of blue washed across the expanse above my head, scattering the remnants of darkness like pulled strands of cotton candy.

Gray clouds soaked up the coming lights of heaven and reflected the soon-to-be seen splendor of the sun’s march to the line between sea and sky.DSCF3306 Like turning up the rheostat of a chandelier from dimmer to lighter and brighter, the…

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All the Lost and Lonely People…

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , on September 17, 2013| 2 Comments »

He was wandering the pet store, peering into the cages, strolling the aisles. He was dirty, tattooed and skinny with disheveled hair and unshaven chin. A  little girl crouched as she watched a white mouse on a wheel. When he stopped near her, I sucked in my breath. She stood up and ran down the aisle to her mom. He turned and went down another aisle. Then he meandered down another, with his hands laced behind his back. No cart, no basket.

Should I notify the clerks? Was he a pedophile, or just a hobo seeking the air-conditioned relief on a hot and humid Texas day?question

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Last Sunday, I stopped for gas on the way back from a workshop 5 hours away. The convenience store was busy – the kind with gas pumps, a fast food restaurant, rows upon rows of food and drink choices, and of course, clean restrooms.  It was a buzzing hive of people dashing in and out.

He sat in a wheel chair with one leg amputated above the knee. His beard was yellowish white and scrawny. He had a big plastic cup of soda.  Someone had given it to him or he had bought it.  Yet he sat with his chin in hs hand, watching everyone else scurrying in and out. I tried to catch his eye to smile, but he looked down and away.  Was he waiting for someone? He looked so despondent. Should I have done more?

As a single woman – do I trust God to protect me as I reach out to minister to these lost men? How would I do that? Do I just walk away and mind my own business like everyone else- how can I do that? These invisible people were no longer invisible to me.

Instead, both times, I got in my car and bowed my head. I prayed for God to send someone to touch their hearts and meet their needs. I prayed for them to believe in Christ and for Him to give them a sense of worth and belonging. I prayed for them to be loved. Was that enough? Did I wimp out of doing God’s will? I wasn’t sure.

They both came to mind this morning. So I prayed again. But I also prayed for myself- and the guilt I felt for not having done something. So many lost and hurting people out there… what can I do about it?

But wait- I did do something. I lifted them up to my Father in Heaven who loves them. It’s a start- a good start.

Who will God place in your path who needs your prayer today?  Will that be enough?

I’d like your comments and thoughts.

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Walking in the Fire

Posted in Biblical, Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »

When the fires of life’s demands are blazing around you, and the corruption of the world is lapping at your hands and feet and threatening to suffocate you – how do you react?

© Sergiu Bacioiu Dreamstime.com

© Sergiu Bacioiu Dreamstime.com

Recall the three young men – Shadrack, Meshach and Abdenego ? Their story is found in the third chapter of the Book of Daniel. They refused to denounce their faith so the king threw then into the fiery furnace. At first they crouched down. But, instead of the fires consuming them, the Lord came and protected them from the flames. Together, they walked in it and through it.

The Lord promised He would never forsake us (Psalm 37;28), and that He is with us until the end of the ages. (Matthew 28:20). Even when we feel the heat of evil and worldliness flickering around us, He is always present.

We just need to seek Him.  If we cry, “Daddy!?,” He will come. He will take our hand, and walk us through the situation, or if we are too weak to walk, like a heroic fireman, He will carry us out.

As Natalie Grant, and others, sing in the song, In Christ Alone, there is no power of hell nor scheme off man that will ever pluck us from God’s mighty and loving hands.  But even more than that, His holy fire protects us.

In the Texas Hill Country, when a brush fire forms, the volunteers often start a barrier fire in it’s path to thwart it’s  spread.

The fire of the Holy Spirit is stronger than any other fire. He will thwart any scorches of hell or schemes of the secular world from consuming our souls once we ask Him into our hearts. We may feel the heat, but we won’t be eternally singed.  So walk- heh, why not dance?  You have a covering of holy asbestos.

In the midst of the flames, let people know you are “on fire” for Jesus.

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Will You?

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , on September 10, 2013| 1 Comment »

from Tx Hill Country

courtesy of Texas Hill Country-facebook photo

Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Psalm 103:22

All of creation praises the Lord – won’t you today?

Drop the load you are bearing.

Lift up your hands and lift your spirits.

You’ve carried it enough- time to give it to God.

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