The Sound Of Rain

Rain is nature's way of applauding God. Who else deserves such thunderous applause?


The heavens declare the glory of God,
     and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day the pour out speech;
     night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; 
     there are no words; 
          their voice is not heard.
Their message has gone out to all the earth, 
     and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.
Psalm 19:1-4

Peter's Mother-In-Law

Last night I read two verses that challenged me:

When Jesus went into Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve Him.
Matthew 8:14-15


There are times in life when we are just sick. It may be an actual illness, or exhaustion of some sort. Whatever it is, Jesus will come to heal us at the right time. That is when we have a choice. Do we lay there thinking about how sick we had been? Do we go around telling everyone how sick and miserable we were? Or, do we just get up and serve our Lord?

This is not to say that Peter's mother-in-law didn't think about her illness, or that she didn't share with others what she has just experienced. She just chose to make serving Jesus her number one priority. The rest she could do along the way - to the glory of God the Father.


What has Jesus taken you by the hand and healed you of lately? Have you accepted His healing, or are you still laying there? Have you got on with serving Him, or did you get stuck in the bog of "just can't let it go"? Nothing was ever said about stuffing her illness down and pretending it never happened. This record is what she is remembered for. She is remembered for being sick when Jesus came - He reached out and took her by the hand - and she served the Master. Have you ever thought about the fact He might have healed her for that purpose? To serve Him?

What will you be known for?

Stepping Out

Every once in a while we need to shake ourselves up.

I felt this blog needed a new look. I'm not really sure why, but I thought I'd give it a try. What do you think? Do you like this one of the old one better? Why?

I've found that sometimes God asks us to just look at Him and start walking. Then He'll let me know if that was the right way or not. The interesting thing is, nine times out of ten, whichever direction I go seems to be the right one. The key is focusing on Him first. Without that, nine times out of ten it's the wrong direction.

How about you? Is there something in your life you have been seeking God's direction in? If the time has come that the decision must be made- Look up: Then step forward.

Home

I'm away from my home.

This is spring break for my children, so we drove north to Kentucky for a few days to visit family. As much as I love seeing my family and visiting I realized just how much I miss being home. It's not that I'm not comfortable being in these other places, I just like the relaxing comfort of my own stuff: Knowing where everything is, not having to remember if I packed such and stuff, dressers instead of a suitcase, and my tea in its box in the proper place.

Home is just home.

That's why I just can't wait to go home sometimes...


For we know that if our earthly house, a tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And in fact, we groan in this one, longing to put on our house from heaven....
Therefore, though we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord - for we walk by faith, not by sight - yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.
Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-9

Wolves in Sketter Clothing

It's warm enough the Sketter Eaters are coming around again. If you have never seen one, they look like large, lanky mosquitoes and usually cover the eastern side of my house near dusk in the summer time. I use to kill them until learning that they do not bite humans, but rather feed on regular mosquitoes. They are now my friend.

When I saw the first of the season the other day it reminded me of  Matthew 7:15-16a; "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You'll recognize them by their fruit."

We as Christians (True Sketters) must love everyone unconditionally, but are also told to keep a look out for the evidence of fruit. Don't forget this can be a long process. Some fruit may take months or even years to come to fruition. This doesn't mean we shouldn't trust, it just means we need to be diligent in prayer, asking for discernment to know what is of God and what is not. We must try to guide those around us lovingly, but trust God to accomplish His good will even in the midst of some rotten fruit. We trust Him alone completely to reveal all fruit in its truth at the proper time.

Next time you see a Sketter Eater, offer up a prayer to God, asking Him for discernment. Allow Him to separate the Sketters from the Sketter Eaters.

Difficult Christianity

Do you ever sit there and think about how difficult it really is to be a devoted Christian? Truly, there are moments where putting legs to your faith smacks you in the face.

Let what Jesus tells us in Luke sink in to you today:

But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, so good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also.And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks from you, and from the one who takes away your things, don't ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Luke 6:27-36


The first thing Jesus says here is, "...to you who listen:..."  Every once in a while I have to be honest with my husband when I am busy. He'll be talking to me and I have to stop him and say, "I'm sorry. I heard you, but I wasn't listening. I have no idea what you just said." We have do more than simply hearing, or reading, Him in order to receive this difficult command: We have to earnestly listen.

Have you ever prayed for someone as this passage tells us to? I mean, really prayed. It amazes me that God places such a compassion for them, and sometimes a pity, in our hearts. Ask the Lord to allow you to see them through His eyes- you'll be amazed.

Yet, I have to admit there have been times I don't want to pray as I should because I want to be angry at them. Do you know what the problem with that is? Now you have to repent of that before you ever get around to doing it right. And remember, "Don't let your spirit rush to be angry, for anger abides in the heart of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9 


How do we combat these feelings and glorify Him in difficult situations such as this? I was directed to a wonderful set of verses in the Psalms recently. It's funny how so often when others give me Words of comfort, I turn to find they were already underlined in my Bible:

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8 Emphasis mine


We give it to God- it's as simple as that. There is no magic formula, or check-list of duties.

You simply give Him your anger and hurt, and allow Him to give you graciousness and mercy in return.

Your Church

Christians are all called to be part of a local body of believers, called the church. We are meant to love, encourage, correct, rebuke, serve each other, and so much more.

Today, I want to hear about your church.

 

Was it a surprise to find yourself there, or are you at the same one you've always attended? 

What draws you there?

How is your local body good at encouraging/serving you? 

How do you enjoy serving them? 

What is it about this particular group of believers that makes it home for you?

What about your church do you love?