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Posts Tagged ‘Julie Cosgrove’

A Tree Grows in… What??

Posted in Life Experiences, Nature, tagged , , , , , , , on May 12, 2014| 1 Comment »

10307430_10153104667781002_242652077577200201_nA friend posted this photo from knoxville.com on Facebook. It’s making the circuit, so maybe you’ve seen it. At first I laughed…then my mouth formed an “o.”

God spoke to me in volumes about tenacity, strength through adversity, and determination to become the beautiful creation He has in mind for you to be.

That car must have been there long before the tree was little more than a sapling. Yet, somehow, this tenacious little piece of bark pushed through metal, leather, springs and rust to stretch out into the sky.Year after year it struggled to grow, and eventually sprawled out beyond the boundaries that contained it. Limbs shot from its ever-increasing trunk until it overcame what had held it back.

The same God-given weather – rain, sun, cold and heat – that nourished the tree deteriorated it’s captor. Windows, once hardened by glass, shattered. Metal, once molded for strength, crumbled. What was once an obstacle became a pathway to the light, and a container to guide further growth.

If you are facing obstacles right now, I hope this picture of a tree sprouting healthy and strong from an old rusty car gives you hope. Through the struggle,no matter the diversity you face, you will become what God intended you to be if you don’t give up. Anything is possible if you rely on God. Keep stretching, keep reaching for Heaven’s goodness. God will provide.You will overcome any adversity if you turn to Him.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

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Despite the Drought

Posted in Devotional, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , , on April 26, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Springtime in Texas usually tempt tourists to flock to our back roads. Splattered in carpets of blues and pinks, then shifting to reds and yellows, wildflowers cover the landscape. They spread across fields like God’s colorful quilt, hugging the fence posts and stretching over the edges of the farm to market routes. But, not this year. The lack of rain has taken its toll.

smart phone 003Yesterday, I traveled to a family member’s funeral in the Texas Hill Country. The two-lane highway should have been covered in wildflowers. Instead, mostly brownish-yellow grasses spread along the sides of the road.

The creeks ,once bubbling over the limestone rocks, were dry beds. The larger rivers were so low the cypress trees, which lace the banks, craned their roots out of the dirt in search for water. The temperatures were already soaring into the low 90’s , even though it is April. The thirsty landscape prompted me to guzzle a bit more bottled water as we rode.

Yet, along the way,I noticed a few delicate blossoms hardy enough to pop through the cracked, parched ground. Some clung near rocks. others nestled against cacti, which by the way, were in abundance. They were welcomed signs of renewal and beauty in an otherwise dreary scenery.

Our faith can be that like these sturdy blossoms. Through times of spiritual drought, nuggets of Scripture long ago memorized, verses of a hymn once sung a the top of our lungs with hands lifted high, or a wall plaque or bookmark with a comfortable passage can pop through our worried minds to give us a smile–just as the bluebonnets and buttercups eked through the drought-strickened Texas grasslands this spring. When sickness, death, financial uncertainty or loneliness is all others see, our faith-eyes can detect small patches of color amidst the brown as a sign from our Lord that He is still with us.

If our connections with our Lord are deeply rooted, they will survive any season. Our storehouse of faith-building examples will provide the Living Water we need to survive. We can still blossom despite the dreariness of our circumstances. Our roots are still finding the water that provides life. At the funeral, I saw faces of hope, though some were streamed with tears. Like the wildflowers this year,even in the midst of their grief, they knew our family member was with Christ  Similar to the cypress trees, their rooted beliefs had found refreshment. When the preacher said, “As he breathed his life breath on earth, his soul breathed his first in Heaven,” heads bobbed in affirmation. Though with tissues laced through fingers, smiles were shared.

Seek God during the great times, never stop reading Scripture, attending church, fellowshipping with other believers, or singing hymns. Spend regular quiet times praying and listening.to God. Store up your faith to sustain you, no matter the season or conditions surrounding you. Then, while others are bent low in the heat, you will blossom.

Here are two verses that remind me of the Texas backroads on the way to a funeral one unseasonably hot spring day —

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? Matthew 6:30

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8

 

 

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CROWN OF THORNS

Posted in Christian, Nature, tagged , , , , , on April 17, 2014| 1 Comment »

reblogged from tween author Mary Hamilton – http://www.maryhamiltonbooks.com/crown-of-thorns/

Mary found a message from God in this amazing plant —–

crownofthorns-e1397614114398“Have you seen this plant? When I was growing up, I recall my parents having a gnarled old plant like this in a metal bucket. Most of the year, it looked thorny and ugly. But when it bloomed with small round flowers all over, it was beautiful.

The Crown of Thorns is associated with Passion Week. We don’t know whether this plant formed the crown thrust onto Jesus’ head by mocking soldiers. But the spiky stems certainly make it a strong candidate. And the red flowers symbolize the drops of blood that fell from Jesus’ head and wounds.

Last week, I studied Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, just before he was betrayed. The Bible tells us he was so greatly troubled that he sweat drops of blood. I’d always imagined he was grieved and anxious about the physical trial he was about to undergo. But this time, as I read of his anguish and sorrow, I saw a different reason. This time, I realized he was grieving about the weight of sin that would be put on him. About the burden he chose to carry that was my sin. And He grieved for the moment His Father would turn away. He who was one with the Father would soon bear the sins of the world. . .alone. No wonder our Savior cried out to let the cup pass from him. But in the end, He chose to drink it. All of it. Alone. For me. And you.

Little red flowers that look like drops of blood. That remind us there is no greater love.”

Thanks, Mary for this wonderful reminder of what our Savior did for us in the cross.

May  each of you find God in new ways this Holy Week.

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Journey

Posted in Christian, tagged , , , , , , , on April 13, 2014| 1 Comment »

Yesterday I went on a journey. Led by Shelly Sorem, I journeyed with 21 other ladies on the path of the Hebrews in the wilderness from slavery to the Promised Land. (Thanks, Shelly. It was an amazing day.)

During that journey,as recorded in Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers,  the children of God learned many lessons – God provides, He redirects, He trains up, He disciplines. Through it all, He is in the midst of the journey. We never travel alone, even though at times it may feel as if we do because we are so inwardly focused.

The Christian radio station I listen to and support is also called the Journey (88.3). When people call in to pledge, we thank them for journeying with us. This journey is towards total trust in God until He leads us home.Their message is, “We are all n this journey together.” How true. Yet we each have our own path to follow. But throughout it,the road we each travel intersect with others,Some we will help, others will help us.

ID-100231942 I use my computer and notebooks to journal my journey. Same root word – jour means daily. Not yearly, by decades, or even by the week. But daily. God provides day by day, one step at a time.

My spiritual journey, when mapped out, resembles an EKG – periods of ups and downs, but never flat-lined. Not yet, while my human heart beats in a fallen world. .As I learn more and more to allow Him to lead me on this journey, I can feel my hope-filled faith easing the bumps like a holy shock absorber. One day, my Lord will make that pathway straight, because I will spend eternity praising at HIs feet unburdened by the earthly cares of this life.

Life is a journey through time. We humans are not meant to be stagnant creatures. Like water, if we stop moving we begin to stink. Our minds, hearts and souls need to be in motion developing, learning, growing. We each are on a journey. We get our ticket at conception. We depart from the womb and when we reach our destination at the end of our lives, we leave our bodies.  Each path is unique. Each journey significant, no matter if it is 8 days or 86 years.

Like the Hebrews in Exodus, God will reveal Himself to us along the way to show us He is in our midst. He will provide exactly what we need, He will correct our path if we choose to follow Him, and He will send others to help us do His will.

As Michael Card sings, there is a joy in the journey – the joy of knowing Our Savior goes before us, with us and behind us, provides for our needs, and brings others to walk a while with us. But most of all, because God is there as well. Where will you find Him along the way?

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Forever Footsteps

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, Nature, tagged , , , , , , on March 28, 2014| 1 Comment »

Perhaps you recall my blog post in February about the footprints leading up to the church doors where I work. https://wheredidyoufindgodtoday.com/2014/02/01/funny-footsteps/

IMG_20140128_090244_264They are still there. Weather has not erased them. We have had snow, ice,  a few drops of rain, and 80 degree heat pound the concrete. Yet they remain. Five footsteps with a super-human stride that lead up to the main doors. And if you look closely, it appears the man was barefoot and there is a hole in the ball of his foot.  If you are ever in Fort Worth, TX, why not come by 3900 Longvue Avenue and see for yourself?

Yesterday, it rained off and on throughout  the morning – a blessed answer to prayer for this drought-stricken part of Texas where walking on water over the area lakes is no longer a IMG_20140129_132132_544miracle because you can see the rocks as the water barely laps at your ankles.

So when I walked up to the steps today, I held my breath. Would the footsteps still be there after being soaked for hours? Would they have washed away in the drenching rain we so desperately needed and prayed earnestly to receive? I stepped a little slower, my eyes peeled to the ground, yet not wanting to see.

Behold!  There they were, just as prominent as before. A broad smile stretched across my face. The reminder that Jesus is Emanuel – God with us –  was still present. Then, the words Jesus uttered in the last verses in the Gospel of Matthew flashed into my brain. “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” (28:20)

I shouldn’t need a reminder that Jesus is with me. I believe that with all my heart, mind and soul.  I stand on His promise. Yet, it is comforting to see these bizarre prints each day as I climb the stairs to unlock the door, turn off the alarm, and start my day. And, when I leave to lock up, I know He walks with me back to my car and stays with me all the way home. Even as my eyelids close off the sight of my pillow at night as I drift into dreams, He is there.

I continue to see God in five footprints for as long as He deems them to last. But if and when they do fade, I know God will show me other ways to remind me He is here…always, even unto the end of the age.

Where will you see Him today?

 

 

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It’s all in the clothes

Posted in Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , on March 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Maybe the old saying that “the clothes makes the man” is true.

In my Bible study group, a friend made an analogy. She stated that the police are just normal human beings. They have to eat, they get sleepy, they have a bad day–just like the ID-100174324rest of us. But, put a uniform on them, and they assume an authority that most people obey and respect. People may run to the uniform seeking help. Or, if they feel guilty over something they did, it may make them cower and turn away.

She went on to point out that we Christians are no different. We all have our flaws, our tendency to sin, to be self-orientated. But when we are cloaked in the cloth of the Holy Spirit, we take on the authority of Christ.  “…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27

How people react depends on their situation. They may show respect for the wisdom our walk with God represents, and the power of His Spirit growing in us. They may run to us for help, whimpering, “Please pray for me.” Or, they may back away, afraid the Light shining from us will expose their dark secrets. How people perceive them doesn’t stop the police from doing their job, day in and day out.

The analogy goes further. Just as the police officers have to wear their uniforms to do their job, so we must dress in the love of Christ  before we head out to do our job – going into the world to spread the good news of Christ.  And, just as police officers strap on their equipment and weapons which has been assigned to them, so should we strap on the Armour of God (Ephesians 6) before we venture out.

A police officer is trained to always be prepared. Putting on their protective paraphernalia, communication equipment, their identifying uniform, and/or badge is all part of their routine before they go on duty. 

Fellow Christian, is it your routine to do the same?

 

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All Night

Posted in Biblical, Devotional, tagged , , , , , , on March 7, 2014| 2 Comments »

I have read the story of the Exodus dozens of times. I have seen the movie with Charlton Hesston. It influenced my mind’s eye of how the parting of the Red Sea happened . . .until I noticed two small words in this passage from Exodus—”all night”.

Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. (emphasis mine.)

In the movie, Moses raises his hand and, swoosh, the sea parts just like that. In the Bible, it says it took all night long.

All night the crowd ofID-10015712 refugees stood trapped between a sea they could not cross and the Egyptian army drawing closer to enslave them again.

All night long Moses kept the faith and waited for the wind to do God’s bidding.

I thought, how often do I see the end results of good things and “miracles” in other’s lives and never see the “all night longs” which proceeded them, such as dark times of patiently waiting for God to act while danger drew nearer, the paths seemed blocked or the situation appeared hopeless?

How often is God preparing miracles in the background of my life which have not yet come to fruition because the timing is not right? How many “all night longs” are taking place in my life right now? How many prayers prayed are in the process of being answered, which I cannot yet see?

Oh  me of little faith. Those two little words tucked into a Bible story I have heard all my life convicted me and brought me humbly to my knees.

Where will you find God’s message today?

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I Give Up?

Posted in Devotional, tagged , , , , , , on March 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Lent begins on this Wednesday, March 5th. I grew up giving up things for Lent– like sweets, soft drinks, or chewing gum. So I can relate to this story I found online when constructing the bulletins for the Lenten services at the church where I work:

“Some years ago a friend of mine told me that he had urged his children to move beyond giving up candy to giving up some habit of sin that marked their lives. About halfway through Lent he asked the children how they were doing with their Lenten promise. One of his young sons had promised to give up fighting with his bothers and sisters during Lent. When his father asked him how it was going, the boy replied, “I’m doing pretty good, Dad–but  boy, I can’t wait until Easter.”  *
 

Now, as an adult, I realize the purpose of Lent is a whole lot more than just giving up something for 40 plus days. I don’t think it is a coincidence that Christians are called to abstain from some sin in their lives during this time. Experts say it takes 30-50 days to reverse a bad habit. Lent is not the time to just temporarily stop sinning, thinking that after Good Friday we can pick it up again because it is now Easter. No, we are to use this time to discipline ourselves so we can better eradicate it from our lives.True, we should always try to abstain from sinning. But, like dust on furniture, it is funny how sin starts to accumulate if we do not take the time to clean our souls. That requires some contrite, on-our-knees confession prayers to God now and then. That’s the purpose of Lent.

ID-100228429

I am a pretty much a fanatical clean and neat freak, (I know. Right now my close friends and family are rolling their eyes and saying, “You think?”) But, I confess, when I get busy with life I often put off the dusting and vacuuming. After a while, it shows. Dust mites float in the sunlight and land on my TV, computer monitor, the bookshelves, and the table tops. After a while, you can scrawl your name in them. But, if you leave the curtains and blinds drawn, then my house looks fairly picked-up and presentable. I think our lives can be the same way.

So,maybe we can see Lent as a spiritual spring cleaning. When you draw back the curtains and let in the Light of the World, Christ shines on those dust bunnies that have accumulated in our lives and, let’s be honest, the bit of dirt we have tried to shove under the carpets until we can deal with it later. You know, those nagging little whispers of our conscience that tell us we need to make a change in our attitudes and habits.

Jesus, by His death, became our duster. He helps us wipe away our sins, so our souls, which are the dwelling place for His Holy Spirit, can become sparking clean again.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? I Corinthians 6:19

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!  Hebrews 9:41

This Lent, instead of giving up something, take on this: Let Jesus’ white glove scrape across your life, and where there is some dust of sin settling, let Him help you wipe it clean. Then, confess to Him often, so you can stay clean. Don’t let sin accumulate in your temple! Tell the devil that is one thing you plan to give up.

 
 
 
 
 
*(www.catholic.org/clife/lent/faq.php)

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From Carried to Walking

Posted in Biblical, Devotional, tagged , , , , , , on February 15, 2014| Leave a Comment »

http://www.freebibleimages.org/i“Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralytic man was lying on.” Mark 2:3-4

Has anything ever spiritually paralyzed you? An unexpected death, a job loss, an unfaithful spouse, your own inner insecurities? Maybe it is anger– at God, at someone else, at the world. Is it a guilty conscience that pushes you to try to hide, the way Adam and Eve did in the Garden? Or, perhaps it is just too many “life happens” happening all at once. I have been there. Yet during that time when all was fogged and my mind would not connect to my heart,  when it took all my effort to drag through the day, I felt carried by others’ prayers and concerns.

Jesus is always willing to meet us where we are. But there are times when too many things in our lives have built up like bricks. They form walls that block us from Him. We encase Him in a room deep inside of us, lock the door and then put a “Do Not Enter” sign on it. We hammer in the nails to secure it even more. I don’t want to deal with it now. Wham. I don’t want you to know what I did. Wham.  I don’t want to change. Wham.  I am too ashamed. Wham. I am not sure I believe anymore. Wham, wham. And the biggest nail  – If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have let this happen.

These nails hurt Him more than the ones they drove through his hands and feet on the cross. Yet, He stays cloistered in this room, stands at the door and knocks…Open up. Let me back into your life, my child.

Not yet, Jesus. I just can’t.I don’t have it in me. It hurts too much to try.

We see evidence of Him healing and blessing others – and that paralyzes us even more. Why do I have to suffer? Why can’t I skip and run in a field of faith with the sun beaming down and the widlflowers waving in the breeze?  Why do I have to be burdened with this?

The negative feelings crowd in and keep us from reaching our Lord’s side. Their clamor and clatter can drown out His whisper to draw near and give Him our burdens. That seems beyond our capabilities at the moment. We need other people to carry us through the barriers, even dig through the mess if necessary. Their spiritual strength can make a hole in whatever it is that blocks us from being laid at His feet for healing.

How can people lift us up, dig though our circumstances, and lower us down into the deep place inside us where Jesus lives? Through prayer, through kindness, through tough love. And the cool thing is this: inside the walls we have built, Jesus is not being inactive. His love for us is so strong, His desire for us to be with Him so great, that He empowers our friends with strength and direction. “That’s right. This is the way in. Here is how you can get him or her to me.”

There will come a time in your life when something will block you from Jesus. When life cuts the legs out from under you and you can’t move, call out to Him. He will send armies of angels, true and trusted friends, and prayer warriors to your aide. Through His Holy Spirit, Jesus will give them the tools they need to help you. Let them carry you to Him. 

Once there at His feet, He will shower you with forgiveness and mercy. Then obey His words as He touches to heal you – pick up your pallet, and once again walk. First you may have to hobble by the assistance of others, but eventually you will be strong enough to carry someone else when they have lost the use of their faith-legs. After all, you’ve been there. You know the way into that room, and how to walk out.

Will you find God today in the prayers of others, or in the call to pray for others?

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Abide

Posted in Devotional, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, Abide in my love. John 15:9-11

????????????????????????????????????????February is the “love” month. The stores are filled with read and pink hearts, candies and flowers. I love going to the grocery on February 14th and  watching the last-minute-planning men standing in line, laden with flowers, cards, teddy bears and chocolates for their wives or girlfriends. They casually glance at each other to see if they have gotten enough, or maybe too much, as if there is some hidden rule of how much you should spend depending on the depth or longevity of your feelings.

How different is God’s unending love for us. It is not based on feelings or longevity. God doesn’t have a check list or ponders –  Hmmm. Let’s see…. I will love her more often because she has been a believer since she was six, or love him more deeply because he reads my Word twice a day, prays often, and volunteers at the homeless shelter.

All of us have the opportunity to abide in God’s infinite, abundant, and generous love. It is freely given, equally and fully, in spite of our emotions or actions.

But, what does it mean to abide? It is more than just accepting it. It is letting it absorb into the very fiber of us like permanent ink. It is a snuggle down, feel secure, dwell in total trust sort of attitude. Here are five steps to truly abiding:

A – Acknowledge He loves us more than we can imagine or love Him back.

B – Be thankful that He loved us enough to take on our sins and die, so we could once again be in relationship with Him.

I – In His likeness, try to love others as He loves us.

D – Dedicate ourselves to His ways being the best, not ours.

E – Establish a relationship with Him through prayer and reading the Scriptures.

Chocolates disappear within days, flowers wilt, cards get stuffed in drawers. Human love ebbs and fades. But there is one gift of love that abides – constant, pure, eternal and faithful – the of love the Father, given through His Son and expressed by His Holy Spirit who dwells in us. All we have to do is accept that gift at any time. No certain day on the calendar, red hearts  or check-out lines needed. So, if you don’t get roses or candy this year, know you have a gift that is worth so much more from the One who loves you so much more. It is available to you every single day.

Abide in the love of your Savior this day, this  month, and for the rest of your life. gods-love-2[1]

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