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Beyond Taxing Times

April 15, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

If you have taken time out to read this devotional today of all days, congratulations. Millions of people are only thinking of one thing today—getting their tax returns done before midnight.  They are too busy rendering unto Cesar at the moment to find time to turn to God, except perhaps in a desperate plea of panic when they see how much they owe. Tax time can definitely be a stressful time. So many rules, loopholes and hoops to jump through. Endless forms to fill in, if-that-then-this scenarios, trying to determine if you, as a square peg, can squeeze into the round hole of restrictions.

Praise God  that His way is not so convoluted. Perhaps that is why many people find salvation hard to believe. There are no hoops to jump through, no volumes of rules to follow to the letter or else, no restrictions, no loopholes. What’s the catch? It’s not that simple. No way. There has to be a plan.

Of course there is. What is God’s plan? To restore us to His presence. That’s it. His biggest desire for us is to return to Eden. But our sinful nature blocks the way. Evil lurks to trip us up and tempt us into turning our heads, and then our backs. All we need to do is to say we are sorry and we desire Christ to come into our lives and take it over. His plan brings peace into chaos, hope into despair, a future of faith where none once existed.

Today, who will you choose to serve? Jesus said we can’t have two masters. Yes, we must render unto ImageCesar, so to speak. But, the best way to do that is to realize that even the government is under God’s plan. In Romans, Paul encouraged the people to be respectful of their government because it, too, came from God. If God is truly sovereign then all is under His control, despite the human free will factor. Once we render all to Him, it makes having to render unto the government more purposeful, and all the more necessary. By paying our taxes, we are abiding by the law of the land, and in essence, obeying God’s desire for us.

Render all to God first—all your fears, misdoings, hurts, joys, blessings and money. Then trust in His plans for you. He died on a cross to ensure that plan. Whatever April 16th brings, you can have faith that it is under control. Render unto Cesar, yes. But first, surrender to God.

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Pluck Away, Lord

April 7, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

IMAG0206I admit I am not much of a gardener, especially with an 7′ X 4′ patio off a second-story apartment. But one thing I do know is when blooms die, you should pluck them off the plant in order to encourage new ones to grow. If you don’t, the plant becomes weaker and scraggly looking. The blooms fade and do not replenish. But, if you diligently pluck the spent blossoms, the plant thickens in foliage, grows fuller, and produces bright, colorful new blooms.

Is this not true with our lives? Life is about change, so why is it we want to cling to past things even after they have withered? “Ah, but it was so beautiful at the time. I can still see it in my mind.”

Is it that we don’t trust God to bloom new, lovely moments in our lives? Would we rather hang on to what is past and slowly wither, or be willing to be pruned so we can bloom again?

Don’t misunderstand. Some memories will permanently “bloom” in our hearts. But others can be our excuse for not moving forward and for clinging to what we once knew. These old withering flowers can keep us from embracing the changes in our lives which God can use to His glory if we’d only squeeze our eyes shut, take a deep breath and say, “Go ahead, Lord. Pluck away.”

Why settle for faded glories when new buds of brilliant growth can replace them? Tonight, I am going on my knees and asking God to pluck away the dead growth in my life. Then I will wait in anticipation for the new blossoming He will begin in me.

Will you?

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Feathered Cacophony

April 1, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

As I pulled into work, a strange buzz hit my ears. No, not a buzz. Hundreds of squawks, in unison and yet sounding individually. An enormous flock of starlings darted in and out of the trees near Mary’s Creek. What struck me is that in the drumming noise I could pick out individual bird songs.  Listen and I bet you can as well.

A warmth spread over me as I thought- that is what God hears. All of our prayers lifted up all over the world, and yet He can decipher each individual one. I never have to worry if mine gets “lost” in the shuffle. Whether 15,000 people are praying with me or just one or two, it is heard. After all, He knows the whisperings of my heart before it even hits my brain and comes out of my mouth.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

God heard His Son’s  sob-laden pleas in the Garden of Gethsemane, and  his last words choked out on the cross. Be cause I believe His son died for me I am confident He hears my sorrowful pleas, the words that choke in my throat as well as my shouts of joys and questioning why?

Today, a feathered cacophony of birds flocking in spring reminded me that God hears. What will God’s message to you be today?

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Another God in the Sky photo

March 26, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

This was taken as tornadic clouds formed recently over Oklahoma.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down?  Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?  Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son?  Surely you know!  Proverbs 30:4

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Burning Proof

March 24, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

Something different registered in the corner of my eye. I looked up from my Lenten Bible reading to peer out the sliding glass door which leads to my second floor screened-in patio. Just at sunset, this spectacular scene appeared. I took the photo through the screen, but you can still see the beauty.

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The live oak trees across the lane in my apartment complex were ablaze with color. It lasted about ten minutes, then the spectacular array began to fade into muted reds, then grays. When I posted it on Facebook, several other friends in my area reported the same phenomena, and a few also took photos.

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It reminded me of Moses and the burning bush. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” (Exodus 3:3)  His encounter with the Holy I AM  changed his life’s direction. God became real. Later in Deuteronomy 33:13-16 it states,

May the Lord bless his land
    with the precious dew from heaven above
    and with the deep waters that lie below;
14 with the best the sun brings forth
    and the finest the moon can yield;
15 with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains
    and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16 with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness
    and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.

I can’t say seeing the trees burst into brilliant sunset colors has changed my life, but it warmed my soul because I know the artist who created it. But, maybe somewhere in southwest Fort Worth it did becoming the pivotal point for someone on the verge of faith. Perhaps the thought, “There is a God.” caught in their breath. As the man whose son needed healing said perhaps they too whispered, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24.)

The next time you see evidence of God in your world, will you praise Him for blessing the land and also ask it touch someone who needs to come to Him to be saved from the brokenness of this life?

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Partly Cloudy

March 18, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

11731677_843326022441119_5009069572829748336_oWhere do you find God in your day?  I often find Him in the clouds. (Which is why clouds billow on this site.)

Perhaps it’s  because my father was an amateur meteorologist and through him I came to love the amazing power and beauty of the atmosphere. God knows this, so it is one of the ways He touches me. I have collected “God pictures” over the years. I switch them out as wallpaper on my home computer and they always make me smile, even on the tough days when I feel in a fog or the dark clouds are hovering.

Here area few of them.

1528744_10152751910254322_7775218544257807944_nID-10014140011060018_10206201281935869_4190886433056711074_ngod smiling in the sky580569_667084729976622_1695637681_ncropped-sunrise-over-burleson-0023.jpgstorm-clouds-2-134981298598261vgu god in the clouds

What are your hobbies, joys and passions? Look carefully. You may find God there trying to get your attention so He can tell you He loves you. Don’t let the daily busyness of your world cloud your vision.

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Onward Through the Fog…

March 11, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

I awoke to a warning beep on my cell phone. Dense Fog Advisory.  So, naturally when I hopped in my car to head for work I sent up a prayer for me to arrive safely, and also for any of my friends out on the roads. Even still, my hands gripped the wheel a bit more firmly. I couldn’t see more than two cars ahead of me, and my breath began to quicken as the muscles in my shoulders tightened.

 

Then a small voice told me, “That’s all you need to see. Trust me for the rest.”

As I drove, cars slowly came into view as well as directional signs- speed, curve, stop.  All along the way, I still received guidance. Is this not an example of our life? Truth be told, I had plenty of visibility. In fact, when I played back the video on my cell phone I thought. “Wow, It’s not as foggy as I thought!”

Doesn’t that describe our lives? God sees all, yet we only see now, and a bit of the past fogged by our memories  in our rear view mirror. I think at times He envelops us in uncertainty so we can learn to slow down, trust and only see what He needs us to see at that given moment. Otherwise we may become distracted, or too overconfident of our own abilities.

Who will you trust to navigate you through the fog today?

 

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On the Move

March 4, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

boxed inI recently moved…. again. Such is life. Moving is sort of like spring cleaning. Weeding through the stuff accumulated, dusting places you normally do not, shifting furniture and cleaning the spots where they have been. Over the packing process I discovered two things:

1. There are things I have been holding onto and I have no idea why. I haven’t used these items in years and probably do not plan to do so. They just do not fit my lifestyle or interests anymore.

2. There are things I truly cherish. Wrapping and packing each brought back loving memories of past times, but more so, warm feelings for the friends or family members who gave them to me–be it inherited from a  great grandmother or gifted as a thank you by a recently made friend.

It made me ponder. What things in my spiritual, emotional and worship life fit in wither of those categories. Are there things I need to pry my fingers from? What do I feel I wish to keep and preserve but not to the point of cluttering my life so much I have no room for future blessings? question

With more sleet and snow barreling down upon us in North Texas, I know it is not yet springtime even if we are springing forward this weekend. I’m not suggesting you move furniture and thoroughly weed through your belongings. But, perhaps during this penitential season of Lent, we are all called to do a little spring cleaning in our spiritual lives.  What do you feel God is asking you to preserve and perhaps let go?

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Healings & Peelings

February 23, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

In Britain, my cyberspace pal, Steve, found a message from God in his treash bin….

Steve's avatariChristian

Please click the metal Bible Verse logo to view many more Bible verses on iChristian

Matthew 12:34 New International Version – UK (NIVUK)

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Shortly after lunchtime today, i strolled up our drive to bring in our recycling bins, tub & bag after the weekly emptying. Sarah & i had just finished a lovely lunch where we had my special “Scwipps”. It’s just swede cut really chunky and long like chips! 🙂 It was now time to put out the peelings into the really smelly food waste recycling bin. This bin has a flip up lid which to me looks like a big mouth, but leave it open at your peril. As i knelt down to open the lid for Sarah to quickly put the peelings in, a thought came straight to mind…

“Our mouths can be like this bin…

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Ready, Steady…WAIT!

February 17, 2015 by Julie B Cosgrove

courtesy duanealley.com Royalty- Free Image by Corbis

courtesy duanealley.com
Royalty- Free Image by Corbis

Do you find it hard to wait?  If you are like most of us, you dislike waiting in line to be served, waiting at traffic lights, waiting in front of the microwave as lunch twirls around inside bombarded by heating waves, waiting for the tax refund….Yet, Scripture tell us we should wait.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:14 NIV

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 NIV

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:6 NIV

Many of us think waiting is inaction, doing nothing. But that is not true. Helen Lescheid, a devotional writer I follow, said this: “Waiting on God is not the same as doing nothing. The truth is, waiting requires tremendous faith and focus ”

Waiting means letting go of our control and our timing. It is to acknowledge that we cannot accomplish it on our own. We need assistance, be it the clerk at the DMV to approve our forms, the snarled rush hour traffic all wanting to enter the same intersection, our food to heat in a few minutes, or God to move in our lives. Life is about waiting. We may as well embrace it.

But there are things we can “do” while we wait. The time passes better for the one who p-r-a-y-s.

1.Pray. As you physically wait in a line, pray for those folks God brings to mind. Pray for those who are waiting with you, such as the woman with the unruly kids tugging on her pant leg. Pray for the old man bent over with a smoker’s cough. Pray for the young man who is dressed like a gang member. And as you wait on God to move in your life, pray for patience, strength to endure the in-between time, and wisdom to see the reasons for the waiting.

2. Reflect. Think on the past blessings in your life and praise God for them. Think about the outcomes when you patiently waited before and how the outcome was better for the effort.

3.Ask. If you get a tightness in your gut or begin to tap your foot, ask for peace and patience to envelop you. Ask for the butterflies to settle and your pulse to slow. Ask God to give you a sign that waiting is the correct thing to do.

4. Yield. Let go and let God. Sounds trite, but it can be so hard to pry your fingers from the situation and lay your hand in your lap, or fold them in prayer. Repeat to yourself the words of the Lord’s prayer: Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. 

5.Smile. Be friendly, even if everyone else is grumpy. Talk with the person ahead or behind you and be a witness to the peace that passes  all understanding. Smiles are contagious. Brighten everyone else’s day and yours will brighten as well. And alone in your prayer corner, smile to God as you pray. Let Him fill you with joy.

..but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
    they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint..  Isaiah 40:31 RSV

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