tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63103394416261123982024-03-08T14:22:07.641-08:00Reading The RedReading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-7984722605165329622022-06-25T07:06:00.001-07:002022-06-25T07:06:46.168-07:00Crescendo of Spirit<p> CRESCENDO OF SPIRIT</p><p><br /></p><p> Moments. They tick by us so rapidly as do the seconds on a clock. If we blink we’ll miss most but the important ones we will hopefully pause and take note of. The ones that we should never miss are what I like to call the “ crescendos of the spirit”. THEY are the significant times, the times that ring loudest and are like vitamin shots to our souls, and nourish our spirits and highlight our lives. </p><p> “Crescendos of the Spirit” may come in the form of watching the birth of your children or walking your daughter down the aisle or just standing in the middle of nature and breathing it in. Whatever your ‘crescendo moment’ looks like, well, you’ll know it when you’re in it! A wave of emotion like no other will sweep over you and take your breath and there may even be tears. The ticking of times clock will seemingly stand still and you won’t even care. The man of your dreams could drop to one knee or a college professor could hand you or your son/daughter a significant piece of paper or there may be a long hike and the pinnacle of the mountain is realized and you gasp at the beauty that stretches in front of you. The height of human emotion is met face to face with your life’s script. </p><p> Some of my crescendo moments have been in nature. I know there are many others that have ticked by for me but in my later years it seems to involve nature and the beauty that surrounds me. One I particularly remember is a morning recently where the trials of life had washed over my spirit and I had been up nearly all night crying. I was feeling so overwhelmed that I know the Lord knew I needed an uplifting of spirit. I got up out of bed and went outside to stand near my garden. Literally as I stood there the sun burst from behind the clouds, birds were flying around in mass and singing their hearts out and the flowers that I had planted were beginning to bloom. You can’t make this stuff up but that’s exactly what happened . Like the crescendo in a song I heard it all quite loudly. The lament of loss in my spirit melted into peace and contentment. The songs of the birds brought instant mirth to my tear stained face and the flowers made me lose all sense of my surroundings . The only thing that mattered was the moment I was in and like a vitamin shot my spirit was renewed and I was smack dab in the middle of my crescendo! I didn’t miss it because it was meant to be significant. The master time keeper laid this crescendo out for me and it came at just the right time. </p><p> Crescendos of Spirit come in the timeliest of fashions and if you would it would behoove you to pay attention, bask in those moments as long as possible and never allow distraction to rule the moment. Soak, bask, linger, absorb, relish, and cherish are the important hands on the clock of your time in that crescendo. Stay as long as you can. Soak in every sweet moment of your time. These are the moments that make It all worth it! Your song needs pinnacles of hope to keep you climbing. Listen and keep your eyes open and today may be your day for a ‘Crescendo of Spirit’. </p><p><br /></p><p>Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. As you continue to place your trust in God, He will continue to fill your heart with joy, peace, and a hope that overflows into the lives of the people around you ...</p>Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-91498874403522587582022-03-08T06:59:00.000-08:002022-03-08T06:59:19.661-08:00A New View<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">There are days that come when all can look cloudy and dreary and rainy. We grow sad, apathetic, and depressed. How do we snap out of that place in order to get a new perspective on our outlook? I believe the answer is to “change our view “! We can choose to stand and gaze out at all of the dark and dreary things that currently may be taking place in our lives or we can choose to push back the curtains of darkness and allow the light and love that are present, even when we can’t see it, to come in and penetrate the darkness . It sounds so simple, you say, but easier said than done. Yes, it does take effort. It does take stepping out of our darkest places and times and making the choice to do it differently. How? Small steps make for big changes I’m thinking. Let me share my story and current situation if I may. It may help to relate to what I’m saying.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">A short time ago My dear husband of nearly 50 Years starting exhibiting signs of physical decline and it began to worry me a bit. Then he took a fall and broke some bones which in turn required surgery. He’s hold up in our house now with a cast on his arm and a faraway look in his eyes that tells me he is struggling to find the hope in things. I have been attending to his every need and taxiing him to Dr. Visits and physical therapy appointments and the dark cloud that rested over his head now has taken up residence above mine. In the middle of it all we were told that we would have to move from the house we’ve been renting because it was being sold and we would only have 30 days or so to accomplish it all. Well, I don’t know about you but if you’ve been married for any length of time you know that you can accumulate things. And that was true to a great extent in our case. Our three children and their families have been wonderful and have come alongside us to help us to downsize and make choices in our later years here. To say that this journey of late has been very very hard is quite an understatement. There have been tears there have been angry moments and there have been amazingly good ones as well. Our family, our church family and our friends have shown us love beyond measure. Now here is where my advice on changing your view comes into play. My husband and I have been offered a place to live in my daughter and son in laws home. That gesture alone is chocked full of love and care and honoring that is hard to comprehend. Nonetheless, we are getting ready to change our view, literally. Through all of our dark clouded moments God placed different loved ones at different times to pull back the curtains and let the light in for us. They have held our hands, held our arms up, prayed and encouraged us all along the road. And I am here to tell you that those curtains were very heavy and hard to push back but they were pushed back and now the light is streaming in and the hope lights up our whole room.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In the process of all the darkness and change, when those curtains were pushed back and change came the light came with the change. If we had chosen to look out on the gloom of it all and no one ever pushed back the curtains then we would still be standing in the shadow of hopelessness and dread. But change brought about the joy. Now, here’s another thing to “tweek” your thinking. Every bit of that darkness that settled in over us I believe was ordained, orchestrated with purpose to accomplish something. That’s right! Even those dark moments that seemingly cloud out anything “hope filled”are happening in order to do something in us. It’s true!</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Look at this and remember . . . . </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><span style="color: #4d5156;">The veil was the heavy curtain in the Temple at Jerusalem which was torn when Jesus died. Matthew 27:51 says, "Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the Rocks rent. </span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">The darkest day on the face of this earth yet there was a curtain that would be drawn back, in fact this one was torn in two. It was a darkness like no other, a sadness that couldn’t be equaled yet there was a curtain, a curtain that was torn in two in order for the light to be revealed. Every bit of it , every tear, every agonizing moment was ordained and served a purpose far greater than we could possibly comprehend. The darkness mattered. It was a precursor to the light of hope that Jesus was giving his life to bring. </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">My situation pales in the shadow of this story but it’s still very sugnificant in the eyes of my Father. It’s meant to make me stronger and exhibits the extraordinary love that he has for me. And all it took was for me to change my view! Spring is upon us, the Winter of our season of hopelessness is over but only if you choose to let in the light! </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">One last note: Theses a line in an older song called “Remind Me” that says, “roll back the curtains of memories now and then, show me where you brought me from and where I would have been”. </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #4d5156;">Ask God to remind you today of where you could have been or could be if your curtain was rolled back. Maybe, just maybe you need to change your view! There’s always light when the curtains are pushed back. </span></div>Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-6805270944060850642022-02-06T05:04:00.001-08:002022-02-06T05:04:54.606-08:00Shattered Cup<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I love pottery. I’m not sure what it is about it but I just love handmade pottery. I have a very vintage shaving mug rack that was from a barber shop in a town near me. It held shaving mugs for the barbers’ customers. When they would come in for a haircut and a shave each one had their very own mug with their name on it and a small cake of soap in the bottom that the barber could whip up into a froth and slather it on their face for the cleanest shave that they ever had. Well, this mug rack now holds all of my special pottery mugs for coffee, tea or whatever beverage anyone chooses. I have a favorite, of course that I gravitate towards every time. It was taller than most of my 40 or so mugs, had a tree painted on it ( my weakness is a love for trees) and it just felt “right” in my hand you know! One day as I routinely headed for my mug rack to grab my favorite mug for my morning cup of Joe I noticed that it wasn’t there. I turned and looked at my hubby who had been unloading the dishwasher and he had that ‘ deer in the headlights’ look on his face and he slowly produced , you guessed it, my favorite mug. However, this once perfect vessel was now in 3-4 pieces. I was as crushed as that mug! I quickly ran for the glue and started trying to make it look as it once had. When the last piece was set into place I could see that it would never look as it did before and most assuredly would never serve the same purpose that it had in the past. The last piece that I’d tried to glue back into place looked ok but something about the mug </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">was off. My thought was that the glue would get hot when the mug was filled with coffee and the glue would release. I picked up my shattered and broken mug and walked into my sunroom and sat down. My sunroom is where I sit and watch nature and get inspiration for my art. I took my favorite mug and sat it Next to my chair. I sat there looking at all of my paintbrushes scattered everywhere so I pick them up in a nice bundle and put them down inside of my broken mug. Now my broken mug would hold my favorite tools and I could still look at it everyday. I know it seemed silly and childlike but I asked God, “Why? Out of all the 40 other mugs did it have to be this one that was shattered?” Sometimes in life things don’t seem fair, they don’t seem like they serve our best interests. Oh, but they do! You see, as I sat there feeling sorry for myself and mourning the loss of a coffee cup, the Lord was doing something in me. I looked at that mug holding all my beautiful paintbrushes and looked at it and looked at it and realized that I could look at it. I realized it was still here! It was still my favorite, but it had just taken on a new purpose. Instead of holding my coffee it held my tools. Its usefulness was still intact. It wasn’t the mug that was shattered but my expectations of what made me happy and what was normal in my mind that was shattered. Sometimes things change. Sometimes our thoughts of what a perfect picture can be can get shattered just like my mug. Sometimes we lose things that are dear to us, sometimes we lose people that are precious to us or sometimes we have to move on from our comfortable and normal spots in order for change to be realized. The mugs’ purpose changed and it was a good thing. But the good thing was that I realized in my heart that God has more than one reason for things happening to us and it’s how we resolve it in our hearts and move on and embrace the change that actually makes the difference. God always knows what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. It can be sad, it can be depressing, it can be hard and it can test your mettle at times but ask God to show you and renew your mind and your thinking about all the questions of why?</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I have a paintbrush holder that I love, it’s my favorite and it has a tree on it ! It reminds me of the days when I drank deeply of the pleasures of my morning coffee and time with my Father and now I have a wonderful memory of that PLUS a new smile because I now realize that by drinking deeply in the presence of my Father that my eyes can now see that His ways and His purposes reach much farther than the shattered brokenness that is evident in front of me. </span></p>Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-2531875676584558002021-02-05T06:22:00.000-08:002021-02-05T06:22:07.368-08:00“EX-SEEDING” THE NEED<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Well, this morning held yet another little visual life lesson from the Lord. They come so often now that I scarcely can write them all down. But here goes, you’re gonna love this!</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">While sipping my coffee and having my quiet time, I noticed that just inside the window of my bird garden area was one of my bird feeders that looked like it had something in it. It was very empty looking and upon closer examination, as the breeze spun it around, I could see that the feeder did indeed have something in it. Although it wasn’t birdseed but a little sparrow sitting quietly snuggled safe and warm inside the clear glass walls . of the feeder . He had somehow managed to get himself up over the walls, probably under the roof eaves, and inside the feeder. I noticed that he was trying every once in a while to fly up or get up so that he could get out but it was fruitless. He was either dazed because of the experience or he had plainly eaten enough seed to weigh his little bottom down and he couldn’t get off the ground. His ‘motherload’ of plenty didn’t just give him a taste but it far exceeded his need. When the light of day brightened the sky this morning I’ll just bet that this little fellow who was looking for his breakfast meal never expected to find himself in this predicament. (Not to worry, my husband lifted the roof and he was freed) Today, this </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Little sparrow was met with an abundance that far exceeded his need. Isn’t that a bit like our lives sometimes? We wrestle with where the next dollar will come from to pay the bills yet our “handbook of truth for living” tells us “he (God) shall supply all our needs”. We wrestle and finagle things trying to ‘make it happen’ ourselves. The fact is that if we would just trust Him for it all then we would surely see His hand move on our behalf. Now, I’m not talking about sitting back on our laurels snd doing nothing and waiting for FED-EX to drop a box of money onto our front stoop. Nope!</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I’m talking about continuing to move forward in our day knowing that it will all be supplied. There is no</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">need for striving or straining nor ulceratibg our guts to make sure that we have everything to meet those needs. We can go too far sometimes, like this little sparrow, and find ourselves in a pickle because we step over the line in pursuit of the need and land straight into the sometimes </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Messy ‘greed’ part. We get greedy to do what isn’t ours to do. We work late hours to make up the difference and in the process precious moments with our families are missed. We take out loans to pay off overdue balances and pay dearly for years robbing us of vacations and fun outings. We push ourselves over the tops of the walls of safety and provision and find ourselves stuck inside the clutches of the greed as we try to do it all our way! </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">When will we ever learn? Freedom and provision walk hand in hand with trust and believing. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">As my husband lifted the roof and the little sparrow flew away I thanked my Father for once again showing me just how much he cares for me. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I Peter 5:7</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">“Cast all your (anxiety) cares on Him for he cares for you.”</div>Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-38123993979546064962021-01-30T10:46:00.000-08:002021-01-30T10:46:23.100-08:00It Makes Perfect ‘Cents’<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Today as I was randomly going through some coins looking for early silver ones, I ran across this 1998 Quarter. Now 1998 quarters are only worth 25 cents but this particular coin today held so much more valuable things to me now than it did 5 minutes ago.</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You see, I found myself looking at it, examining it closely with a magnifying glass and turning it over and over. I thought to myself, “ what in the world has this quarter seen to make it look this bad! Scars and dents and mars and divets. Wow! If only this quarter could talk, it surely would be crying or moaning about it’s improper handling and care. George even looks like he taken a direct hit in the head! What stories it could probably tell. I mean, look at those edges, they are chewed and dented as if this coin was used as a tool or well I just can’t imagine. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This dented and marred quarter certainly got me to thinking about my own life. Do I look the worse for the wear on the outside like this 23 year old quarter? Are my edges gashed and mis-shapened due to numerous accidents and mishaps? Are my scars visible to all who look at me? Does the wear and tear of my life exhibit itself for all to see? I certainly hope not! But this sad 1998 quarter is a beautiful illustration to me of how sometimes we wear our scars and they become “badges” so to speak of the hurts and the trials in our lives. Now, here’s something to note; this quarter, as beat up as it is, is still worth what it was created to be worth. It’s still worth 25 cents. It hasn’t lost its value!</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Life can beat us up and life can beat us down but no one has to know. If we don’t bring it up or constantly remind them of our hurts and strugggles. Is it even necessary for everyone to be aware of our scars? Funny thing is in my humble opinion, if we constantly bring up our hurt and pain to the point that people begin to avoid us, and well, we could be in danger of devaluing ourselves. The thing</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">That we must always remember is that we are of great value to God and how we exhibit our lives reflects on Him! I for one want to be the shiny new looking coin in his pocket that brings him glory even though it is older and very used. The age of my coin might say 1954 but I want it to look like a 2021 coin, minted just recently. The world doesn’t have to be constantly reminded of our pain and hardships and we are of great value in Gods kingdom so, let your light shine and unlike this coin, let all who see it know that it’s shining bright in order to honor God. Don’t allow the ‘dings’ and ‘bruises’ and ‘gouges’ that this life can bring to be on display so that you can have others stroke you and take pity on you. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Second note: just above George’s head it says “Liberty” and below his chin it says, “ In God We Trust”! So know this, even though you are worn, marred, scarred, scratched up, beaten or tattered, place your trust in God and shine for him regardless of what life has dealt to you. My friends, just like this coin, you hold value! And just like this coin proclaims, there is ‘Liberty “ for us all so let’s walk in that and SHINE!</div>Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-60206614057165661032020-07-21T09:07:00.000-07:002020-07-21T09:07:01.193-07:00Increase My Appetite<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
I know in today’s world of slim, abstinence of and self restraint living it may seem very counter productive to ask the Lord in your prayer time to “ increase my appetite”. But I find that is the prayer on my lips every morning and one that stared me in the face with a visual clarity as I watched my squirrel friends feasting at my windowsill today. You see, I have this old chicken feeding trough that my husband mounted under the window of my sunroom where I sit and have my quiet times and watch nature sitting down for breakfast every morning. The squirrels come and literally sit next to me as I sip my coffee and they stuff their bellies with the black sunflower seeds that are supplied. As I sat watching this morning I was reminded of my prayer to “increase my appetite” as I watched a squirrel shoving seed in as fast as he could and noticing his <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">belly that had grown so fat that he could hardly sit in the trough. </span></div>
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I’m sure he was taking full advantage of the plentiful seed as he fattened himself up for the impending days of winter and it’s meager food supply. But I was also reminded of my prayer and it revealed a picture of Gods provision and how in the harder days that I was to approach things. </div>
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I was asking God to increase my appetite for Him and the knowledge of things in His Word that I would need to know for the difficult days that seemed to be looming on the horizon. </div>
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But here’s the truth of the matter: if the squirrels didn’t come down from the trees seeking to find the black seed in that trough then it may have been harder for them to have what they needed for the cold winters days. Oh they would probably have had enough to get by but what if it were an extra harsh winter. Well they may not survive as is the course of nature sometimes. But they did have more than enough right now so they ate veraciously at the trough of blessing. We have at our fingertips the greatest treasure that will forever satisfy our hungry appetites and “fatten” our spirits if you will for any impending days of hard times but we fall short of climbing down from our comfortable trees of contented living to eat hungrily like the squirrels. We can’t seem to see the value of it like they do when preparing for winter. So we sit on our limbs of comfort and look at our bibles gathering dust on the tables of our contentnent and think that we have enough. But do we have enough. Are we ready when plenty and provision comes to an end? Will we be ready when sickness or death knocks on the doors of our dwelling places? Will we know what to do when we are at a crossroads of critical decisions of life? What if the coffers of cash ran dry? What if our secure jobs ended and weren’t so secure after all? </div>
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All of these things are never expected or anticipated but that doesn’t stop them from happening when we least expect them to.</div>
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Last week, my precious mother went to be with her Jesus in heaven. As there were many tears at her bedside I found myself oddly standing there in a place of peace and joy. I felt guilty for a brief moment because I wasn’t crying but having these good feelings. But as suddenly as the guilt came i was reminded by the Lord of my veracious appetite of prayer and feasting on his Word in the impending months before her death. My appetite for more of Him had been satisfied with peace and joy at the moment I needed it most. It was the answer to the situation. It was the provision for the difficulty to come. </div>
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So, today as I watch my friend the squirrel I am reminded to keep praying the prayer that begs me to “ increase my appetite”. The table of provision and promise and needs met will only be satisfied when we feast on his Word which gives us EVERYTHING we need for days to come. I pray that you will as well seek to pray that prayer. Then, pull up a chair my friends because you won’t go away hungry!</div>
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Psalm 63:1-5</div>
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O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;</div>
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My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,</div>
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In a dry and weary land where there is no water.</div>
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Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,</div>
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To see Your power and Your glory.</div>
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Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,</div>
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My lips will praise You.</div>
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So I will bless You as long as I live;</div>
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I will lift up my hands in Your name.</div>
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My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,</div>
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And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.</div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-19435845965765246662020-02-12T08:24:00.000-08:002020-02-12T08:24:09.113-08:00ROOM TO ESCAPE<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
Have you ever found yourself with lots of “downtime” on your hands on cold and bleak winter days? Well I know that sure has been the case for me. One of the things that I have found myself passing those dreary hours with is a game that I play on occasion on my phone. The game is one that challenges me to escape from different situations in different rooms, I love a good challenge and gathering the clues and solving the puzzles in order to get the key that unlocks the door for my escape, well, it’s stimulating to say the least. There are word clues, number clues, color clues and the list goes on but I’m sure you get the point. It’s all about the thrill of the hunt I suppose, the pushing myself to find the answers so that I can reach the goal. It causes me to think outside the normal thought processes to see what is really “hidden in plain sight”. When the key finally appears and I place it in the door and it opens I can almost hear the theme to “Rocky ” playing. </div>
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What is it about a game that can challenge us from the comfort of our chairs causing us to play on so that we can win or get to our destination point? We can’t seem to put it down until we achieve that goal yet, when life throws us a challenge we find ourselves lost at times, crumpled up in a heap on the floor in tears or in a pit of depression ready to give up? Why? What’s makes the difference? I know life is real and it’s not a game but the challenges we face are just that, challenges! What would it look like in real life if we met our challenges with as much tenacity and vigor as we do with those games? What if we viewed each small victory as something that propels us forward instead of allowing it to cripple us with anxiety. What if each small “clue” or hurdle that was accomplished propelled us towards the next one with a desire to get to the freedom that awaits us when we arrive at our goals? And there is an end! There is freedom and it just waits on our proper responses. </div>
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In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus was just about to enter into his challenge if you will. His cousin John the Baptist has just been arrested so he moved towards Galilee and set to gathering the ones who would help him along the way. He called Simon and Andrew and they followed him then James and John and they likewise came. From there he went over all of Galilee finding synagogues and places to teach and touching all that needed healing. More and more people came to hear him, momentum gathered . Then here’s the part that jumped out at me. It said, “when Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hill.(obstacles/trials) Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, (support team/small victories we are given) climbed with him”. Then the answers started pouring in. . . . He spoke:</div>
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-You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope, with less of you there is more of God and his rule in your life. </div>
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-You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you, only then can you be embraced by the one most dear to you.</div>
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-You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.</div>
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And the answers (clues) kept coming.</div>
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They were given the keys that day. Keys that would unlock doors to their freedom. They stayed, they listened, they heard what they must do and the key to their feeedom was handed to them. Who wouldn’t want the key! Isn’t that the goal? </div>
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Then He wraps up the challenge in John 14:27 “<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">What a key! What a freedom when the door of those trials swing open to our victory! But, we must persist, we must be driven by his leadings in Matthew 5. He has made a way of escape if we follow through all the way to the end, never giving up but pushing through for your answers. He has provided! He will give help along the way. Please know that there is a key but you must persist! That door will open and you May very well hear the theme to “Rocky” as well! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">Matthew 24:13</span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">“</span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”</span></div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-3472494944847733672020-01-17T16:18:00.001-08:002020-01-17T18:40:57.201-08:00”Peek A Boo” of the Father<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
Recently, on a trip to visit my elderly mom I was delighted when she gave me a large envelope that contained precious old photographs. There was one in the middle of the stack though that made me pause and then ultimately made me cry. You see, I lost my dad to COPD in 2004 and my world hasn't quite been the same since. He was that ”knight in shining armor” kind of dad that was always there when you needed him. He was a gentle giant if you will, who was somewhat content to stand a bit quietly in the background but was truly the mortar that kept all things secure. The photograph that opened the treasure box of emotions was one of my dad playing ” peek a boo” with me as a baby. When I saw that picture I somehow mentally ran through my life with him as if it were that whole ”life flashing before your eyes” moment. Everything about my time with him on this earth came flooding back to me in a few short seconds. Joy, laughter, dependency, love, security, trust, wisdom and faith. Among the myriad of memories one in particular was foremost to me. The term ’role model’ I recalled, best described my thoughts of dad. He wasn't perfect by any means but he always had his girls’ best interest at heart. He was a very good father and I was most blessed to learn and grow under his influence </div>
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There was something else here as well that made its way into my thoughts. This picture of my dad and me was also a beautiful picture of my relationship with my heavenly father. Here's my thought. . . . There are many times when I feel like my heavenly father is standing in the shadows of my life and he's there and then he's not. He's real but hiding some how, or at least it seems staying at a distance so I can't feel him or sense him. Much like my real dad playing peek a boo, darting back and forth .Now Im well aware that God’s always there but it feels sometimes like he's disappeared. I know instinctively though that he will pop back into my life and reveal himself. </div>
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I read somewhere that the early developmental years of a child are super important. And strangely enough the simple game of peek a boo helps the child go from complete trust and dependency on the parent to trusting that they will come back after hiding. This part helps the child grow in the development of their independence. So, the game of peek a boo is not just entertaining and fun but it's doing something important in the development of your childs personality. Who knew? </div>
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So, keeping all that in mind, when we feel like God is hiding in the shadows with us, just playing peek a boo, remember that just like a loving parent, he hasn't gone anywhere. He lovingly stands back while we learn a very important lesson in our development. He stands back while we learn to trust Him more. He never leaves but watches and at the most crucial and divine moment he's there again. Sounds a bit crazy huh! But just remember this. . . . . It's meaningful and it's doing something in us. It's building trust, faith and probably wisdom and our heavenly father/role model knows exactly what we need.</div>
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Jeremiah 32:19</div>
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“great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.”</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold;">Isaiah 41:10</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."</span></div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-4304603481566505262019-10-28T07:04:00.002-07:002019-10-28T07:04:29.434-07:00UP NOT IN<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
Have you ever noticed a little baby when someone other than their mother or father are holding them? When the parent comes near, the babies arms just fly upward signaling the parent to ”take me, hold me, give me what I need”. They know instinctively where their help and comfort comes from. </div>
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God is not dead, he does not sleep. God does not even get tired so we need to rest and relax in knowing he's got everything in his care. </div>
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Gods strength will always provide us with just what we need for today's problems, burdens and issues. We should never try to take tomorrows problems, burdens and issues and work through them today because God has not yet equipped you for tomorrow. He equips us for coping today with today's realities. He will always be at your side, ready to bear you up and tomorrow He will do the same. He will give us the strength that we need for that day.</div>
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When our minds tend to wander over the border into tomorrows realities, the worlds response that we've heard echo in our heads a million times will sweep in to try and take over. It will tell us to ”reach deep down inside yourself and you will find the strength you need within your own self to get through”. Or it may say, ”you can do this because you are great and strong and amazing”. Now, while our heavenly Father may think all of His children are amazing, I’m here to tell you that according to Romans 7:18, we’re not. It says, ”<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”</span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">God assures us though in Isaiah 40 that even when the youngest and strongest have the strength to keep going or overcoming their obstacles that He (The Lord) will give us the strength we need for that day to get through. We can do nothing in our own strength that will yield victorious results like what God can do in us. He never gets tired. We may even feel our outward bodies wasting away but inwardly God is renewing us day by day. He comes to us through His Word in answer to our pleas or our outstretched arms. He bears us up on ’eagles wings’ the Word says. </span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">The World may tell us to ’reach down deep inside ourselves for reserves of strength and energy’ but the Word straight from the one who created us and knows us best invites us to ”reach up to the Lord for His supply of strength”. He has plenty to spare and he's only too happy to share because He loves us so. . . . . </span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;">His mercies for us are new every morning and looking to ourselves or someone else to receive will never yield lasting results. They may give us momentary gratification but at some point they will fail. Why not lift our arms up to call the only one who can ever rescue us. Reach up not in!</span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-56355996529492070872019-10-16T08:24:00.000-07:002019-10-16T08:24:09.338-07:00Grandmas Succulent Wall<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
I have a very very vivid memory as a child visiting my grandmothers house in the country in Virginia. She was the A-typical grandmother that wore the apron always and her house smelled of wonderful cooking or baking things and she always greeted you with the biggest hugs. That farmhouse was filled with love and extraordinary memories in every corner. One thing that stood out to me for some reason was the stone wall that was outside of her backdoor. It was a pretty ordinary stone wall but grandma had it covered with succulents. They grew out of every nook and cranny that they could find and as a small child I found it a wonderment! Grandma called those succulents her ”hens and chicks” and I never knew why until I was grown that it was the country term of sorts for succulents. At any rate, this wall was covered and I used to go out and sit on the old swing and stare at that wall. How could anything grow out of rock? I didn't see any dirt so my little mind didn't comprehend the ability of a tiny root to find cracks to meander into and latch onto any soil or organic medium in order to thrive. Those ”hens and chicks” you see hold quite a bit of water in their fleshy tissues so it enables them to survive in what appears to be rock or very dry places. It's their built in secret weapon so to speak. Store up water and in the dry times you can thrive! Hmmm sounds like a brilliant design, right! </div>
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You probably know where I’m going here, so, just keep walking with me and I won't disappoint. Gods perfect design with those succulents and how they can survive hard, tough and dry times is built into us as well. For instance, we know that if you go to school or college, that you will gain more knowledge to hopefully sustain you for future challenges. We also know that if you work a 9 - 5 job and bring home a paycheck that the money will hopefully sustain you through the week until your next paycheck. But what we as followers of Christ seem to miss a lot is that you can't eat once a week and expect that to sustain you all week. We can't just go to church on Sunday and expect to get enough biblical sustenance to carry us through the trials, hardships and challenges that life throws at us on a daily basis. We will wither and die for sure. You see the Bible says in II Timothy 2:15 ”<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">need</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> to fill ourselves with the Word of God on a daily basis just like those succulents need to store water for those dry days. It also says in Isaiah 58:11 ”</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 16.899999618530273px;">The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Drawing from the well and wealth of knowledge that we have from God Word on a consistent basis will enable us to be like those succulents, survivors! I believe that as a small child the Lord God was imprinting that succulent wall on my mind and heart so today I could understand the beauty of his ways and plans for my life. Lord, make me always aware of my need for you and in that need may I always be extending the roots of my life to search for more sustenance and watering that only you and your Word can give. I pray that I will always stay watered and prepared for the dry spells of life and flourish, giving you glory in the well watered seasons as well as the dry ones. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 16.899999618530273px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Insight Insert:</span> The challenge here would be to make a plan and get yourself into a routine of reading or listening to the Word on audio. There’s a quote that says, “we should treat our bibles like we do our cellphones”. Isn’t it true though that we pick up our cell phones first thing in the morning and they stay close by our side all day! Oh the wealth of knowledge, insight and communication strategies that the Word holds for us instead. It’s hard but technology itself has made it easier for us. Turn the audio on your Bible app and water your spirit on your drive to work. I promise,</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"> your roots will latch on to the sustenance it gives!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold;">Word Of Truth: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; font-variant-caps: normal;">Psalm 63:1</span> “</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial; font-size: 16.899999618530273px; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”</span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-26253852944908487022019-10-12T07:02:00.003-07:002019-10-12T07:02:55.988-07:00Crying “Whose” Name?<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
You know children are always interesting and ever changing little creations. Recently while holding my youngest grandson on my hip, I asked him to " give Gammie a kiss"! Well, my requests are almost always met with sweet compliance and a hug to go along with it, however, not on this occasion. For whatever reason, when the question was posed he began to reach for my daughter and cried out, "momma" as if he needed to be rescued from me! I didnt know quite what to make of it but gave him over to the arms of his mother so he would be quieted. For whatever reason at that point he just wanted the comfort and safety of the one that he knew always gave it! Don't get me wrong, he allows me to have kisses and hugs all the time but just at some particular times (maybe having a rough or needy day) he choses the familiar safety of his mothers arms. His cry for "momma" brought him just what he had need of at that moment.</div>
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This little scene brought a story to mind that has always been hard to imagine for me of how the following incident could ever have happened. The story is that of the day of Jesus' crucifixion and specifically the incident of Pilate. When Pilate decided to give the choice of who would be crucified, Jesus or someone else of the crowds choosing, the crowd chose another prisoner named Barabbas. We've seen in the making of many great movies of the Life of Christ, that scene with multitudes of people watching as Jesus stood before Pilate and the crowd and we heard the question, "who should be released Jesus or Barabbas?" and without hesitation you then saw the multitudes cry out, "Barabbas, Barabbas. . . . " . I always watched in amazement at those sad, misguided people who would choose Barabbas, a convicted prisoner, over the sinless, blameless and loving Christ! What had the people of the world become? What were they thinking? Why couldn't they see the "not guilty" banner over my Lords head? What kind of a choice was that anyway? But, nonetheless, the choice for Barabbas was made! Isn't it true too, that many times in our lives when faced with making a right or a wrong choice that we sometimes choose "unwisely" and it changes everything! Today, as you sit here reading this story are you on a diet and are you following it to the letter or have you said, "what the heck, this one little cookie won't hurt me"? Or, do you have important work to finish and you are surfing the Internet instead? Or, well, I could go on but I won't, because you get the picture I'm sure! You see, whose name you cry out WILL make a difference! It could be the name "desire" instead of "discipline" or it could be the name "procrastination" instead of "work". Whatever name you cry out will be the chosen course for your life at that moment. But here's the good news. . . . . Courses can be corrected! You can decide to choose "peace" over "anger" and you can decide to choose "discipline" over "self" and you can decide to cry out the name of "Jesus" instead of "Me"! It's the name that we cry out that dictates the courses of our lives. It's the name that we cry out that could change everything either from good to bad or from bad to good. Whose name is on your lips today? Is it a cry to others around you to pull you to safety from the pit you are currently in or is it a cry to Jesus to save you and your life from future pits? Is the name that you cry out one of safety and comfort in loving familiar arms like my little grandsons cry? Or, is the name you cry out one of "money", "fame" or fortune that you believe will change everything for the good in your life? Now, back to Barabbas. . . . .you see that day, as I look back, the name that was cried out (Barabbas) was the name that was meant to be spoken. You see, if Jesus' name was the cry at that time then we wouldn't have the hope for the future that we have now. So, NOW is the time to cry out his name because his name holds far more than we will ever know or realize that we have need of. And like my little grandson, the safety and constant love and care will always be felt in those arms.</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">Insight Insert: You know that saying " you'll know them by their fruit?", well that means you will be able to recognize who and what a person is by the things that are growing out of their lives. Whose name is on your lips continually will be someone who is probably the most influential in your life. Stop and take stock this week of the things that you seem to talk about the most and the subjects that most consume your conversations. That will say a lot about your "fruit" and give you pause to make the judgement to whether it is fresh healthy fruit or rotten fruit. If you need to make a course correction then make it but make sure that whose name you cry out to change things in your life is the one who made the ultimate change for us! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">Scripture: Psalm 57:2. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. NIV</span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-30448515610093721942019-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:002019-10-07T08:18:03.493-07:00Living in Splendor<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
What does it actually mean to live in splendor? Webster’s define ’Splendor’ as magnificence or grandeur. When I think of grandeur it evokes visions of mansions on high cliffs overlooking the sea or castles perched on rolling hills in places like England, Scotland or Ireland. Magnificent homes that possibly kings and queens would dwell in. To use the adjective ”Breathtaking” would probably be an understatement.</div>
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As I spoke to some good friends yesterday I was recounting some of the places that I have been blessed to live in. While they were not castles of splendor perched on green cliffs overlooking the ocean they each held a beauty in their own right or at least many beautiful memories. I never looked at my dwellings as places of splendor but they were. You see, it wasn't what the outside of the homes looked like but it was the things that were inside that were grand and magnificent. It was the family, the laughter, the late night movies, baking Christmas cookies and decorating the tree and the dinners around the Thanksgiving table. These all contributed to our dwellings being grand and magnificent. It's always what's on the inside that counts more you know. It's never about the facade but about the heart. </div>
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Recently I was listening to an old hymn written by Fanny Crosby in 1873. She was blind but she had a magnificence on the inside of peace and contentment even though she couldn't see. In 1873 she penned the lyrics to the old hymn ”Blessed Assurance”. Her words captured the essence of joy, hope and contentment as we look forward to our home in heaven. It looked bad for her on the outside because she could not see in the physical but oh, how she could see on the inside in the spiritual realm. Her words just penetrate my spirit: ”blessed assurance Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine”! The chorus of that beautiful hymn though is what strikes me so hard when it says, ”this is my story this is is my song, praising my Savior all the day long”. When that chorus is sung my mind flashes back to a little girl of 5 or 6 years and she is sitting on the church pew behind her grandmother as she plays that song on the church organ. I used to love hearing her play and I would sing that chorus all the time because it was my favorite. At 5 or 6 I believed! I believed in all the things that I was being taught and held them even then, very close inside my heart. My story, my song started back then. My dwelling place of splendor was built the day I believed. The building started the day the door of my heart swung open and I allowed the one who holds the book of life to come in and dwell with me. My house is a house of ”splendor” and it's grand and magnificent because of who dwells there. So, you see, a king does live at my address and it's absolutely splendid. </div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-90910979897114263752019-10-01T04:26:00.002-07:002019-10-01T04:26:09.390-07:00”I See You”<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
I am super happy every morning to be able to get up and usually straight away go out on my back deck and fill my bird feeders. The birds here in East Tennessee are hungry, let me just say, and have voracious appetites but they are also beautiful. Ive seen multitudes of blue jays, cardinals, red headed woodpeckers and finches. They're all so beautiful in their brightly colored suits and they are all vying for position at my feeders. The blue jays are the bully's of sorts as they are the largest so they make sure all the others wait their turns until they are quite full. When the jays leave the others then feel safe to come and eat. But the ones that melt my heart every time are the patient, sitting on the sidelines, little brown sparrows. They wait patiently until all the others have eaten and then get their fill and fly off to their next adventure. </div>
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Sometimes in my life, if I can be honest here, it has felt like I am living out the brown sparrows life. The big guys, the ones with wealth and power just swoop in and rule the day so to speak. They get the best things, and have the pick of whatever they choose. The others are right there behind them to get or attain what the power players haven't gotten. And then, here I am, the brown sparrow, patiently waiting on the sidelines to get whats left over. </div>
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In truth, as the Lord reveals to my heart, even though the other birds are bigger, more beautiful with their colorful suits, I "see" the brown sparrow and I make sure she has what she needs. She patiently waits, so I wait and watch and I make sure always that she receives what she has need of. </div>
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So, God "sees" me! He "sees" you in whatever place or suit you find yourself in. The truth is that God sees us all and takes care of us accordingly. But if you are feeling a bit like I have at times, like a little brown sparrow, just know that God will also provide for you what you need when you need it. Sit back patiently on the sidelines if you must but you will have what you need when the time is right.</div>
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It says in Luke 12:7 "<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">There are days when you may feel like a "plain Jane" or in this case, a brown sparrow, but take it from me and the Word of God, "He sees you"! </span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-86155548370560178812019-09-22T17:33:00.002-07:002019-09-22T17:38:10.970-07:00Edifices Of Stone<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
Today I ventured into two cemeteries that were local to me. Of late I have found such a fascination and beauty in the old carved stones and statuary there. I especially love the carved angels that can be found in the older sections. The artists’ handiwork during the 1800’s was just breath taking. Today stones are laser cut and worked a small bit by hand but the older carvings that grace the rolling hillsides of the historic sections are unmatched. </div>
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As I drove through the winding lanes it was very somber to say the least but as I continued down lane after lane I found myself compelled to take photos of the beauty of the art there. These carvings were very sizeable as well. Oh, some were two foot high but most were towering over their place and stood at least 10 feet high and more. </div>
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It was very thought provoking to imagine a 10 foot statue being commissioned and placed to mark where someones life was laid to rest. Beautiful memorials carved out of timeless stone to mark that life and stand watch through the years over them. </div>
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As I slowly drove on through the memorials I began to imagine what it would look like on the day Jesus returned. As quiet and sobering a place as it was today, the pictures that played in my mind of that day were a bit unsettling. </div>
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<span style="color: #0709b0;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(106, 0, 7);">I imagined that very moment, if I was a witness to it, to be amazing and awesome unlike anything I've ever imagined or Hollywood has tried to portray. The dead that are in Christ will come up out of their graves and be changed. Can you even imagine standing there to be a witness to that? Well, not for long right! Because it would just be a blink and I'd be right behind them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0709b0;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(106, 0, 7);">Think of it though, their spirits would meet with their new bodies and they'd be raised to perfection and glory. That moment would be one of profound worship standing there on Holy Ground. That gloomy, sad and somber place would suddenly become a glorious piece of Holy Ground where one of Gods greatest miracles will unfold. From those quiet rolling hills will come resurrected, glorified and well memorialized believers I might add, that will be snatched up and taken to their glorious reward in heaven. It was as if the edifices of stone we're poised, waiting and whispering, ”soon, soon our watch will be over”. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0709b0;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(106, 0, 7);">The beauty of the statues, the beauty of that moment in time, the beauty of His great love for us is unmatched. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0709b0;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(106, 0, 7);">If you get the chance, go, go stroll through those hallowed places and admire the handiwork of the carvers and makers but particularly, if you don't do anything else, make sure you'll be a heaven bound traveller when the clouds roll back and King Jesus calls us home. The beauty of that trip will far surpass a trip down the angel guarded lanes of the Memorial Gardens you can be sure of that!</span></span></div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-41057113600212661372019-09-09T10:43:00.002-07:002019-09-09T10:43:27.668-07:00Tight Fisted<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
The oddest memory flooded my mind today as I was doing my quiet time. It was a visual of my daughter in her high chair in my kitchen some 40 something years ago. It made me smile because I think God reminded me of it to simply illustrate what I was studying. He's good at that you know. She was in her high chair and was a bit fussy and I was preparing dinner for everyone at the same time. I was making her a bottle because it was growing close to her bedtime. I did possibly the ”unspeakable” in some mothers’ eyes. The thing was that it was simply out of desire for a little contentment and peace from the crying. So, I gave her a little jelly smeared on a crustless piece of bread until I could juggle the rest of my duties. Well, it was magic! The crying ceased, there was a happy baby and I could finish prepping her bottle. Well, once the bottle was ready and dinner put on simmer I went to take the jelly bread from her little fists and she wasn't having it! Have you ever tried prying yummy food from a tight fisted baby? Not so easy. The battle ensued the war was waged but in the end I won! Yay! </div>
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Here's the thought. . . . If she would have just let go easily of the thing that she was holding onto, the thing that she thought was the best thing in the world, well then she could have more readily had exactly what was needed to give her peace and eventual rest. </div>
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Today I was reading in Luke 14:26 and it read, ”<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">If anyone comes to me and</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters,</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”. What! I read on and what Jesus was saying was that you can't hold onto things, things you think are more or of most importance and still follow him fully. It also says in I John 2:15-17 ”</span><span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">This world does hold everything that would try to seat itself ahead of God or become of more importance than He is on the throne of our hearts. And ”yes” that would include our families and even ourselves. You see that is a very very hard pill to swallow or wrestle out of our fists because we hold onto those things most tightly. It's our family that we count most dear and when push comes to shove for most, we would even take a bullet for them because they are of such importance. But what Jesus is saying to us seems to be quite the opposite doesn't it? But let me say with assuredness that what he's saying isn't hopeless at all but instead very very </span><span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">hope filled. </span><span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;"> You see, he wants ALL of us and if we hold ”tight fisted” onto things or people while trying to serve God then that just doesn't work!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">You see, if my daughter had not given up the jelly sandwich in her little fists then she couldn't have held the bottle of warm milk which had everything she needed to sustain her and bring her to that place of peace and rest. We’ve all probably heard the term ”Let Go And Let God” but never truly saw the depth of it. It says also in Philippians 3:8, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; vertical-align: top;"> ”</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Indeed, I count everything as loss because of</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">the surpassing worth of</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”. Paul spoke truth here in saying that it's all rubbish (the things we hold on to). Nothing, I repeat nothing can have place in our lives higher than God. You see, those family members, those things, those possessions they all being to Him anyway and he cares for them. We must let go of holding so tightly to them because we are afraid of losing them or think that we are the only proper caretakers of them. Who's a better caregiver than the one who cares for all? It is put to us then, choose to hold onto our jelly sandwiches and be tight fisted or let go and open our hands so that he can add things back to us that are good and nourishing and hold all we need to sustain us and bring us peace and life! Deuteronomy 30 says, ”</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">See,</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” So, open those hands and choose <b>life!</b></span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-55980795667452592992019-09-01T17:02:00.002-07:002019-09-01T17:02:27.790-07:00Chosen To Wait<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
Have you ever been part of a large crowd in a banquet hall or possibly a wedding and the table numbers were being called in an order so that you could get your food. Ok, so then maybe you know that feeling of being the last table called as your stomach rumbles and your patience level plummets. Or maybe it's sitting in the DMV and your number seems to be ”305” and they're calling out ”99”. Your ability to be patient and hold on is tested beyond belief. Whatever the situation I think we all have moments when we have had to learn to wait. So, what if you are supposed to wait? What if you aren't first? What if the plan calls for you to be number ”305” in the plan of the day? And here's a really funny scenario for you. . . . . what if you were number ”5,000”’who sat on the far away hill on the day Jesus and his disciples fed the 5,000? Hmmmmm, What would you have looked like that day? </div>
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Would there be a dry patch of earth at your feet from all the impatient pacing around while you waited? Would you have fallen asleep and missed the message and the meal because of weariness in waiting? I'd like to believe I would have sat and listened and hung on Jesus’ every word until the bonus of lunch came my way but truthfully, probably not. Do you ever wonder if there was grumbling In the crowd on that far away hill as they all waited for the meal? Would there have been people saying ”when are we going to eat?” like the people in the banquet hall waiting for their table to be called? </div>
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But here's a thought for you, ”What if you were ’chosen to wait’ ”?That's right, ’chosen’! Ridiculous thought right! Maybe not. </div>
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Here’s another, maybe impatience has put us in the same place as the person on the far away hill, the person that was there because they actually had a need for something that they weren't readily recognizing. They didn't see that what they.needed was healing. Maybe they were ”chosen to wait”! You know Jesus himself said, ”many are called but few are chosen!” (sorry my pinach for the ridiculous gets in the way sometimes ) </div>
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Well, what if we were chosen to wait because Jesus needed to perfect something in us that was lacking? Here's the really beautiful part though. It's 2 fold! In II Corinthians Jesus said, ” my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness”. So, while Jesus is perfecting something in us, He is being glorified and it's because of our weaknesses that his power is made perfect and he is glorified. Just chew on that for a minute! It either tastes good and nourishes you or you still need to wait for the revelation of that. Whatever it looks like, I believe that there is a time that it will come to you and maybe the longer the wait the greater the revelation. </div>
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The greatest and deepest need that you and I have in our weakness should not necessarily come in the form of quick relief or a quick fix. It's not necessarily being given number ”99” by some kind soul when number ”98” is being called. Perhaps the greatest and deepest need is for us to be number ”305” or that person on the far away hill. It's doing something in us! It's producing something beautiful that will not only bring healing to us but power and glory to Him. </div>
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So, if your frustration in the waiting is causing you to squirm, grumble or exhibit tendencies of a entitled princess just know this. . . . know that when the things that we need that give us sustenance (bread & fish) are being passed out, that Jesus can see you in your far away place and He knows all too well what you have need of. You were most likely chosen to be number 5,000 on that far away hill for a reason. You were most likely ’chosen to wait’!</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Insight insert: </span>Calling on those of you out there who may be encouragers. Before you run headlong into situations that call for your encouraging heart to rush in and rescue, take a moment. Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance on how to proceed. We encouragers tend to lead with our hearts at times which can prove a bit reckless if temperance isn't applied. Pray and ask the Lord if the situation calls for ”waiting” because God is trying to do a work in that persons heart. In the waiting we can also learn to be better listeners and glorifying God all the more. 😊</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture: </span> Romans 5:3-5</div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">”More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”</span></div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-20000153021357239402019-08-29T12:10:00.000-07:002019-08-29T12:10:21.438-07:00A Scrim Life<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
If you’ve ever been to a theatrical production or have ever seen “shadow dancing” Then you will possibly understand what “scrim” fabric is all about. Scrim is a fabric much like gauze that allows us to see shadows or the outlined images without exposing exact detail. It’s a beautiful fabric used in the theater quite a lot to project the images of scenery, vague shadows of people or background scenes. When backlit it becomes quite magical.</div>
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Recently a friend sent me an image of a tree that I loved very much. It very much took my breath away. I have an extraordinary love for trees and she knew that so she sent the picture that you see above. It is quite magnificently backlit by the sun, which in turn reveals all of its glorious features. Every branch, every limb, every leaf, every inch was revealed as the sun shone through its boughs. Quite noticeably as the sun was the backlight for the wondrous display of this tree, the sun itself was presenting a glorious show. You could see it’s centermost bright spot and it’s rays extending like arms surrounding every branch. It was as if the suns extended arms were enfolding the tree in an embrace and at the same time giving applause and gratitude for its performance. I know I know, my thoughts are quite dramatic here but it does evoke all sorts of wonder and awe if you keep looking at it. My thoughts though, however theatrical they may be, take me right to the thought of my own life. You see, I believe when we allow the light of the Word of God and the illumination of the Truth of that Word by the Holy Spirit to shine through us then our lives will become like this tree. We will be like the scrim fabric in a way, an instrument to display his glory. When we allow Him to back light our lives, every detail of who He has made us to be will be spot lighted. Every gifting, every trait he’s given us, every creative talent, every piece of fruit or things we’ve produced in our lifetimes will be showcased. Every detail of our lives will be illuminated and the light of the Word that shines from us will be a glory and an honor to his great name. It is a dramatic but a most glorious production of sorts. Our own tree or the story of our life illuminated puts on a magnificent reveal here so that we are His wonderful creation displayed. It says in John 8:12.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">His promise to us is that if we follow after Him and live for him that we will forever be illuminated by His light, His love, His discernment and understanding, His care, His provision and His presence. All of that and more! </span></div>
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We will be displayed for His honor and glory for all to see. What a beautiful picture of how he loves us. We can’t live in darkness and display who He is but we must be that wonderful and magical fabric like ”scrim”, and showcase Him! A beautiful life taking center stage in a story entitled ”The Gospel”. </div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-1293644594196288822019-08-29T09:11:00.003-07:002019-08-29T09:11:42.656-07:00Fill The Need: Water & Seed<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
I was sitting out on my patio this morning and I asked the Lord to show me something to imprint me that I could possibly write about. Well he hears me before I speak! All was quiet for a while as I drank my coffee and then the friendly little chipmunk that graces my patio each morning stuck his little head up over the edge of the step and was staring at me. Well I began to talk to him</div>
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as I always do but he disappeared as quickly as he had come. “Ok”</div>
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I said. Then, 30 seconds later his head popped up again and he looked at me and again he disappeared. This little ritual went on for about 5 minutes before it occurred to me that he wanted something. The lightbulb came on finally and I knew immediately that it was the birdseed that I usually sprinkled in the same spot each morning. I put it there so that I could watch him eat. His glaring at me was my signal to get up and get him some seed. As I rose from my cozy spot with coffee in hand to fetch the seed</div>
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I noticed that my Celosia flower was drooping badly from lack of water. The phrase “Water and Seed, Fill the Need” came to me. I stood there and chuckled because God had indeed seen this whole little scene before it happened and that was my “imprint” for this writing. </div>
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You see that little chipmunk had become dependent on my giving him seed and now he expected it so that he could add to his winters stash. My flower was of course in need of water because it was potted and positioned to not get the rain. So, they indeed needed what I had to give them. You see, there are always those outside of our own little worlds that have needs and whether you know it or not you may be the one who can fill their need. Whether it be financial because God has given you an abundance or to be a physical presence in someone’s life because they are lonely. Whatever that may look like, you have something to fill someone’s need or to seed into someone’s life. God is ultimately the provider of all things but He indeed uses people. He uses us all the time. So, if you see a need take time to ask God how you can be a part in helping to fill that need. If you see someone struggling with situations of this thing called life then ask God also what kind of seed you can sow into others to encourage and help them along in their journey. We all need seed to grow and we all need water to flourish. So, water and seed and fill the need. Like my little chipmunk, those in need will be glad you did when the winters of adversity come beating hard on their doors. It may be just the thing to “imprint” their lives in order that they too can water and seed. </div>
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<b>Insight insert: </b>Today I challenge you to look around you, look at the needs that are knowingly present in your circle of family and friends. Ask God what seed you have to offer and/or how the water of kindness or encouragement or friendship might be applied as well in someone’s situation. Truth is, we all have something we can give. </div>
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<b>Scripture: </b>I Corinthians 3:7</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">into your lap. For</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”</span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-71682028230320031542019-08-27T06:55:00.004-07:002019-08-27T07:09:05.716-07:00Harvest Hands<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
As I was reading the scriptures this morning I landed in the book of Matthew, specifically chapters 7, 8 & 9. I found it very interesting to note that Jesus at this point in the writing had been all over the place touching peoples’ lives and healing the sick. These chapters contain the healing of the blind men, the woman with the issue of blood that touched the hem of his garment, the calming of the storm and at the end of chapter 8, he drove the demons out of two mad men and sent them to dwell in a nearby herd of pigs. Well, the pigs ran over a cliff and were subsequently drowned in the sea. </div>
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Here’s the part that made me pause though. It said, starting in verse 28 that when Jesus arrived on the shore and got out of the boat that he was met by two madmen (demon filled) coming out of the cemetery area. It states that these demon filled men had terrorized the area for so long that no one from the town considered it safe to even walk down that stretch of road anymore. So, the freedom to go wherever they wanted was cut short by the demons that occupied these men. The townspeople were limited and held captive to their town area and could not enter the land of the demoniac men for fear of their safety. That’s pretty clear to me. So the story goes that Jesus moved on the behalf of the men and set them free by sending the demons fleeing into the pigs who in turn died in the sea. Now, here’s the strange part, or maybe not! When the townspeople found out what had happened you would have thought they would have run from their houses to see and to thank Jesus for giving them back their freedom to go down that road once more and also for giving freedom back to the men who were probably residents of their town at one time. But. . . . . . . . Wait for it.. . .. .. . . .the people came down that road but they came in the form of an angry mob. They wanted Jesus to go away and never come back. And do you know why? They were angry about the drowned pigs! Yes, you heard it right. Something that was insignificant and didn’t matter a lick in the whole scheme of what had just happened. They were thinking about themselves and maybe their pocketbooks or their bellies or who knows what else. And here’s a note for you to study if you want to take it that far. . . . . .the townspeople may very well have been Jews and by Jewish custom/law, they were not permitted to keep swine! Hmmmmm But truth be known they were merely acting like the rest of the world and doing what they desired over what God desired them to do. We can see a very clear picture here of worldly mentality versus Godly mentality. </div>
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Have you ever done what you thought was the Godly thing, acting as Jesus would have, and instead of being met with thankfulness and kindness filled with gratitude you were met with anger and harsh words of ingratitude? Well, I’m here to tell you that it does happen and if you take a long look at the situation you would probably see that the bad reaction was rooted somehow in selfish and entitled feelings. Worldly reactions with empty and self centered undertones. It happens. It happened to Jesus so it will most likely happen to us at some point in our lives. Chapter 9 then begins “. . . . Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus’ hometown”. He left! There was obviously nothing he was going to do to change the hearts and minds of an angry mob at that point so he went on about the Fathers business somewhere else. </div>
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We can’t change ungrateful or self centered hearts. Only God can do that. Don’t stay where you are not wanted or stand and get beat up and persecuted. There are far too many others out there who need what we have to give them in Christ. </div>
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Later on in chapter 9 it says that Jesus continued touching and healing those in need. He was still of course criticized by the Pharisees. It says in verse 36 in the Message that “when He looked out over the crowds His heart broke”. He then said how huge the harvest was and told his disciples “on your knees and pray for harvest hands”. That’s what I’m doing today, that’s my prayer focus. “Lord, send HARVEST HANDS and make me a better worker, one that doesn’t faint in the midst of the heat that the world brings”. </div>
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Insight Insert: In order to bring in a harvest you must first</div>
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be willing to get your hands dirty. It isn't going to always be easy</div>
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but it will always be rewarding. I challenge you to call someone</div>
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this week that you know has been struggling or that you know </div>
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needs your loving hands to get down in the trenches with them </div>
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and help them out. I don't know what that looks like for each of you</div>
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but it could mean getting your hands a little dirty or doing something that isn't so very pleasant. Be willing to do what Jesus did for those men but also be ready to be met with resistance possibly. It might be tough but I'm here to tell you that the beautiful harvest won't come if you don't get your hands a little dirty. Trust me, it will be worth it if you endure. </div>
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Scripture: John 4:35. ”<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"> Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest”</span></div>
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Matthew 24:13 <span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; color: #252525; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”</span><span style="background-color: #fdfdfd; color: #252525; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-64680739958054574562019-08-23T05:55:00.002-07:002019-08-23T05:55:31.649-07:00What Does It Matter Anyway<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
As I was having a conversation with someone on the phone very recently they asked me how old my children were now. I just laughed, because you see, my children are well into adulthood with children of their own. I told the person, ”Im not sure because math has never been my favorite subject”. She thought I was joking and couldn't quite believe that I just couldn't spout their ages off as if they were 6, 10 & 12 again. My oldest (now 46) was born in 1973 I told her and my second child in 1976 and the third in 1982. Now I know that doing the math isn't terribly hard but with all the years behind me I guess I just thought that knowing their exact age didn't really matter anyway. Besides, nobody can actually tell you the exact age of Jesus when he died so what does age really matter for? It was said that he was approx 33 years old when he died but they aren't really sure. I guess my point here is that sometimes we put too much emphasis on the details and not enough on the ”main thing”. </div>
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Now, if you were to ask me about the details of each of my children's’ lives then I could have spoken all day. I would have told you how proud I am of each one, where they are at present in their dwelling places, or how many children do they have or are they married or single. The things that matter the most to me are the things about them that I choose to recall the most. Age, well age is just a number and like I said before, I don't particularly like to do math. What I do like to do is ”mark” in my memory all of the highlights that life has had to offer. That would include the good and the bad. The good is easy but the bad moments are just as important for me because they also contribute to shaping who we become, how we’ve overcome and the strengths it has built in us as it developed our character. It all matters. </div>
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When I think of Jesus for example, I recall his amazing birth on that glorious night. I see the maturity from a young boy in the temple speaking. I recount the eyes of a blind man opened and sight comes. There is the beautiful story of 5 thousand people having a meal because he multiplied a little boys lunch so they could eat. Then, not to ever be forgotten, the account of his death on a cross. It's hard sometimes to tell of the horrific way that he died but it matters. It matters to recall the bad part because it was actually the ”main thing” that mattered about his life. Without recalling the bad then we would tend to forget just how wonderful and miraculous the good truly was. When asked how old he was in the big scheme of his life it just doesn't seem to matter that much. Generally the age, somewhere in his mid thirties, seems to pale in importance in the glory that was his life! </div>
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So, find the things about life that truly do matter and recall them always. Remember the good, the bad and all the in between moments that have happened to define the landscape of the portrait. How old it is seems a bit unimportant on the gallery walls of life when the big picture is the painting and the story that it illustrates. That will be the thing that captures your memories and even takes your breath when the spotlight illuminates it for all to see.</div>
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How old are my children? . . . . . Does it matter anyway?</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Insight insert: </span>Take a moment here to think about the life of someone you know. That person doesn't have to be a family member but maybe just an acquaintance. Recall all that you can about them, the good and the bad parts. Then take another few moments to pray for them. Pray that God will use the good parts of their life to enrich them and pray that he will take the bad parts and build in them priceless character traits that will also enrich them.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture: </span>Romans 12:2</div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.843137); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.843137); font-family: medium-content-serif-font, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.07199999690055847px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">”Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”</span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-51288726237293029002019-08-22T16:34:00.003-07:002019-08-22T16:34:45.237-07:00In The Waiting<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
So, let’s talk about waiting! There’s the waiting room in the doctors office, the waiting on the birth of a baby, then there’s waiting on a favorable response to all of the job interviews you’ve probably been on, and the waiting for a much anticipated visit from loved ones who are far away and lastly, there is waiting for Christmas morning as a small child. The anticipation runs wild! However you are waiting, the honesty of the waiting can be grueling. Our hopes, our want tos, our ardent desires and longings can cause our hearts to strain at the bit while reality pulls back on the bridle to hold us suspended. We can think that the waiting will actually be our undoing at times. But in the anticipation there is a lesson I think. There is occasionally the lesson of self restraint or maybe the lesson of selflessness and quite often the lesson of patience. Whatever the outcome we must always believe that God has a purpose and a plan in the waiting. Waiting, I believe, according to God’s Word affords us way more benefits than we could ever count or realize. “Waiting” renews our strength; waiting produces endurance and character and hope; waiting helps us to become compassionate and merciful; it produces joy. In the waiting God hears us and pulls us up out of our trouble. In the waiting God hides us and shelters us and delivers us. In the waiting we are made better. So, “in the waiting” is where we walk in the blessings of the Lord for our lives. So, even if it’s hard, even if it seems unimaginably painful and even if we think we will burst, “ the waiting” is the reward. The waiting and your response to it are where your victories lie. In the whole plan of our lives Gods blessings alone make “waiting” something worth enduring. In your waiting I pray that you find the treasure that Christmas morning holds for a child and in the waiting I pray that you see and experience the gift of love that your Father has for you. It’s sooooo worth “ the waiting”.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Insight Insert: </span>I challenge you to make a list of the things that you are waiting for. After each entry, when your waiting is over, write down a prayer of thanksgiving beside that entry and date it. I’ll be waiting to hear how many moments of anticipation are met with good news. I’m thinking it’s a sure thing!</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Scripture: </span> Psalm 27: 13-14 “I believe thatI shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”</div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-54606497240761820502019-08-19T06:42:00.002-07:002019-08-19T06:42:47.663-07:00The Rhythm Of Sunflowers<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
I don't know about you but sometimes my sleep at night is very broken. On one such night a few days ago I awoke with a sketchy but somewhat familiar term in my head. It was ”Circadian Rhythyms”. I know, say no more. I truly don't know what depth of thought well that one rose to the top of but nonetheless, there it was. Circadian Rhythym refers to the natural wake-sleep cycle or internal clock that we were created with. That cycle repeats every 24 hours. This ”circadian rhythm” can also be found in some plants, animals and bacteria. Sometimes light or temperature can cause a fluctuation in the circadian rhythm. Hence my broken sleep. As I lay there thinking on why this ridiculous term was in my head a myriad of thoughts still flooded my brain. I wondered if my broken sleep had anything to do with too much screen time on my iPad or the intense heat while working in my garden. Maybe, but then I had a picture of a sunflower pop into my head. Again, like a good friend of mine says, ” I can't make this stuff up” so I pay attention. It seems Sunflowers are one of the plants that exhibit a definite circadian rhythm on a continuous basis. You see when the sun rises in the east the sunflowers’ blossom turns to face the sun and all throughout the day their faces are turned towards the sun. At the end of the day they they are facing West where the sun sets.During the hours of darkness the blooms make their way back to eastward facing just in time to greet the sun once more. Now, if this wasn't enough, just wait there's more. Now if the rhythm is somehow messed up or interrupted in the sun flower they face each other to share their energy. Ok this is good stuff! My friendwhom I was sharing all of this with found a picture online and posted it to illustrate what the sunflowers do. It said, ” imagine if humans could do this too”. What a Godly concept that I'm sure our Creator built right into the Circadian Rhythm that he gave the sunflowers. I say, ” we humans do have it too!” When the rhythm of one is thrown off by tragedy or sickness or whatever then God sends another human to them to draw strength and comfort from. He sends them to hold the other up until that rhythm is restored. You see as long as the sun flower keeps facing the ”son” then its’ rhythm is beautiful. So, we will keep looking towards that son whose name is Jesus and encourage one another and face each other for strength and wisdom. It's such a great idea given by the great Creator and we don't wanna mess up that rhythm now do we? </div>
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<b>Insight Insert: </b>The next time you are awakened in the middle of the night I encourage you to make the best use of your ”awake” time. Pray for someone you know that is struggling or is having a difficult time. Then, when morning comes give them a call or go see them. Let’s get the ”rhythm” that the Creator gave us back into the proper cadence, keeping our eyes on the ”son” at all times.</div>
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<b>Scripture: </b>Hebrews 10: 23-25</div>
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”Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”</div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-51003880706629528522019-08-03T07:46:00.000-07:002019-08-03T07:46:11.663-07:00Crazy Quilt of Life<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
Recently a dear dear friend was talking to me about making quilts. She is an avid quilter and has many quilting projects just waiting to spring to life and wrap their corners of artistic love around someone’s heart. </div>
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In our conversation I <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">shared that there was a quilting expo in the town very close to where I lived and suggested that she should come and we could go together to see the beautiful and very professional side of this art. Surprisingly she told me that she doesn’t like going to those shows and expos because they remind her how very inadequate her work is next to the quilts in the professional arenas. Well I was taken back a bit by her response but after she explained I could understand how she may have arrived at such a conclusion.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">She told me that while she loved making quilts, cutting out triangles, squares and circles, she could never perfectly line up the corners and the points so that they looked flawless. Her hand quilting stitches weren’t perfectly the same length and stitch spaces weren’t quite consistent. When she would go to the expos and look at the perfection and the high quality of the show quilts it only proved to make her feel very “less than” in her talent. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">As I was thinking about her feelings and the parking spot where she had parked her final thoughts and opinions I was deeply concerned. I have seen some of her projects of love that she has stitched and shaped and given life to and I have to tell you that by professional standards that they would most probably never be placed in the arena or the expo center venue. But I can also tell you this, by the standards of quilters that have traversed the landscape of this country and have stitched pieces of their hearts and pieces of their old tattered calico skirts and homespun shirts, well, her quilts speak “home” and “hearth” to me. Their imperfections remind me of how very imperfect I am and we all are. The stitches and their “unevenness”remind me also of the uneven paths that we all have been called to tred. Sometimes those paths are easy and sometimes not so very easy! With her long and short stitches you see the times when she may very well have gotten sleepy as she stitched into the wee hours of the night just to finish her project. The points of her stars may not have been sharp and the bars of her log cabin squares may not have been perfectly symmetrical but neither are our lives. We search too often for pure perfection and all that is required is our best ability. It says in the book of books, “ my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Our weaknesses, our imperfections and our edges that do not line up quite right are all of the things that shape who we are. We can give it our best ability and newsflash. . . . . .we will never become perfect. Wiser and more skillful, yes, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">but never perfect! That description was reserved exclusively for the Lord of Lords. God gives us grace so we </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">must also give ourselves some grace, some room to fail and get back up and try again. Those times when we fall and get back up</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"> are the times </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">that prove to build character and strength. We learn to live our eneven, patched worked lives moving from strength to strength. In the end it produces in us a beautiful pieced and stitched together work of art called “our life”. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">So I share here with my friend to look at the beautiful quilts. Look at all the perfect corners and straight and consistent stitches. See how beautifully the color choices are and how they take your breath away. But my dear friend here is a final “factoid” for you to remember. I can most probably guarantee you that if you looked at each very closely you would still find imperfections and if you spoke to the quilter they would probably share the areas where they had to make “do-overs” because the corners didn’t line up. There was most likely a price to pay for their beautiful creations so don’t look at what you see as perfection and think there were no errors. Your “ errors” tell the story of how imperfect we all really are and your quilts when complete declare, “I Persevered till the end”and that’s what saves us and declares His glory in us. What a beautiful quilt every time, stitched with love and pieced together with grace! Now THATS a show quilt!</span></div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-69560321825642102082019-07-08T07:40:00.002-07:002019-07-08T07:40:58.076-07:00Perched Beside Provision<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
There are days when we are met with great challenges and tests to the mettle of our lives. We have unexpected hardships that knock on our door, we gaze at a checkbook that holds a single digit balance while looking at a stack of unopened bills or we receive a report from the doctor that tells us that our time frame of life has suddenly changed causing us to count the blessing of virtually every minute.</div>
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Life is fraught with hard times and challenges that test the stuff that we're made of and that's just a fact, however, we have been given every tool of provision that we need to get through the tough times. </div>
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I have a hummingbird that paints the picture of that provision every single morning for me. He comes and lands on the iron rod that holds my hummingbird feeder and I smile. He comes knowing that I'll have placed the sweet nectar that he craves into that red bottle. He comes and sits and looks at me as if to say ”thank you for being an instrument of provision for me”. Now there are most certainly other places for his provision had I not hung that feeder and he would still be cared for by his maker but these days he comes if only to remind me of the faithfulness of provision that he perches next to. </div>
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If we as human beings could only get a handle on the truth of that like my little humming bird. We have also been provided with a tool of provision that will carry us through and at the same time provide us with sweet nectar that will soothe our pain and blanket us with care on the hard days. That provision is Gods Word. How many times are we in distress and sit, tear filled on the sofa, smack dab beside a Bible and have never picked it up? How often do we sit in our family rooms right next to a bookcase where dust gathers on the greatest treasure of care and provision that we are privileged to have?</div>
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We are like that hummingbird in every way being provided for yet we are perched and seemingly never notice the red feeder. We don't open the book to read the red words that were spoken by Jesus to teach us how to pray and how to love and how to endure. </div>
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We become filled with doubt where our next dollar and meal will come from and we cry ourselves to sleep with the words ”why God” on our lips.</div>
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You're perched right beside your provision and its there waiting for you to ingest the sweet nectar of healing and comfort. The red words point straight to the one who has already provided and sacrificed it all so that you can know and trust exactly like that little hummingbird. </div>
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So as you sit perched from wherever you are today, stop and notice! Notice the beautiful provision. I promise you it will feed your wounded soul and gratify every hunger pang that you'll ever have. It's beautiful and right there at your fingertips. </div>
Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6310339441626112398.post-20250384311107795192019-07-06T03:58:00.002-07:002019-07-06T03:58:13.199-07:00Midnight Weavers<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">
There is a sort of magic that happens outside of my house in the wee hours. That's when the weavers come out. They can't be seen too many times during the day but they work their magic when all gets quiet and the darkness settles over the mountains. It's sort of a wondrous thing to behold. The sun comes up over the horizon and floods the nooks and crannies of my front porch and their handiwork becomes visible. At times their weaving is highlighted by little droplets of dew that make their amazing works of art sparkle when the sunlight hits them. I find it simply beautiful. Now, I haven't always found it beautiful. When I first moved into this house in the country I saw these striking works of art as "nuisance cobwebs". I would come out onto the porch and find them everywhere, every morning! I could go around with my broom and sweep them off of the chair rungs, the storm door and my plants on the rails grumbling as I swept away their industrious nights work. I soon realized that it was simply fruitless. As I sat down to drink my coffee with the sunrise one day, sighing that I had to brush yet another cobweb off of my rocker, I succumbed at last to the futility of my morning task. I sat rocking and noticing really how gifted and creatively talented that God had made these little midnight weavers. In my quest for web-free living, I had not stopped long enough to see the beauty of their work. Every fiber that they wove had to be attached to something. Every circle that they spun connected to every anchor strand as if a master architect had painstakingly designed it. They worked their weaving towards the center forming a beautiful tapestry of lines that are breathtaking when I took the opportunity to actually notice their form. Their little canvases were formed everywhere; they worked their magic between my porch rails. Their creative work could be seen on my wicker settee and they even connected the branches of my potted jade tree on the post. There seemed to be no nook or corner that was left untouched. The morning light revealed their nighttime spinning and it was really quite glorious. Their soul task and focus was to weave their web, the tool that God instinctively designed in them so that they could capture their food. Small bugs and insects get caught in the web and the midnight weavers gather their sustenance from the prisoners of their handiwork. It all is wonderfully thought out and planned so they can be provided for as our Masters plan. The birds of the air do not toil or spin but they know that their Creator has provided food in nature to meet their needs. The deer find the streams when they are thirsty and the eagle has the sharpest of vision allowing him to soar and swoop down to find his provision. Our creator designed all of it and it's a perfect and beautiful dance. It allows us to see and be reassured that He will do the same for us when we need our provision. And just like my little midnight weavers, my life needs to have anchor points. I need my relationships and family to anchor me. I need fellowship with other believers to encourage me. I need to study and read Gods Word to truly anchor me in my faith. All of these things form the warp of my life's tapestry. God will then make a finished work of me with all of the other strands of life situations, struggles, tears, joys and triumphs to form the weave of my tapestry. It's alll a part of the Master Architects design you see. Purposeful and perfect. It's all, I'm totally convinced of, a part of the amazing plan that once more points us ever to Christ and His perfect work. Col. 2:2 says, "I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ." How beautiful and purposeful and perfect is his plan for us. It's intricately woven for us, for our benefit. Isn't that just like a good good father, always and ever thinking of his children. I love his plan, woven just for me! It makes my heart smile. Now, every time I come out with my coffee to sit I purpose to see the handiwork of my little midnight weavers and be reminded of my own tapestry of love that is still 'under construction'. I truly desire it to be as glorious with every mornings light as the spinnings on my front porch. Thank you God for allowing me to see that beauty through your little midnight weavers. </div>
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Reading The Redhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02660625327195764189noreply@blogger.com0