Don't we have an amazingly creative God?
I love when He shows off...
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Gardening
Guess what God has been doing in my life the last few days? Gardening.
I've come to see my life as this beautiful field full of tall grasses, shrubs, and flowers: Rather like a lush, English garden. He and I have worked very hard to make it so. We had cut down all the briers and pulled many weeds. (Those pesky little things just kept popping up! But less in the last few years...) My Father has been great at teaching me when to water, fertilize, and prune. He always knows just when it's needed most in order to flourish. And He knows where to get the best seeds...
But, He's decided it's time to change it up a bit. He wants to plant some things that will produce a lot of fruit. So, He's been digging up some old roots that were still there, hidden underneath and forgotten. He say they're in the way.
But it really hurts.
I'm so glad He's taught me to trust Him. Otherwise there's no way I'd let Him tear me up like this! But I know He's doing it so we can have a great harvest. I'll just keep my focus on Him and think about how good that fruit will taste...
I've come to see my life as this beautiful field full of tall grasses, shrubs, and flowers: Rather like a lush, English garden. He and I have worked very hard to make it so. We had cut down all the briers and pulled many weeds. (Those pesky little things just kept popping up! But less in the last few years...) My Father has been great at teaching me when to water, fertilize, and prune. He always knows just when it's needed most in order to flourish. And He knows where to get the best seeds...
But, He's decided it's time to change it up a bit. He wants to plant some things that will produce a lot of fruit. So, He's been digging up some old roots that were still there, hidden underneath and forgotten. He say they're in the way.
But it really hurts.
I'm so glad He's taught me to trust Him. Otherwise there's no way I'd let Him tear me up like this! But I know He's doing it so we can have a great harvest. I'll just keep my focus on Him and think about how good that fruit will taste...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Your Calling
We are all called to service in Christ Jesus.
I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:24-26 Emphasis mine
In what way has God called you to serve? Another way this is termed is "Our Ministry". Some are called to minister to the poor, the hurting, the lost, or to help mature and encourage their fellow Christians.
What is your ministry? How has God called you to service?
If you're not sure what it is, how are you so sure you are serving Him?
I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:24-26 Emphasis mine
In what way has God called you to serve? Another way this is termed is "Our Ministry". Some are called to minister to the poor, the hurting, the lost, or to help mature and encourage their fellow Christians.
What is your ministry? How has God called you to service?
If you're not sure what it is, how are you so sure you are serving Him?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Hurting
Did you really know that you are not the only one hurting?
You are not the only one with a closet full skeletons. Did you know that it doesn't matter if it's one little toy sized skeleton or the closet's jammed packed with monstrous sized ones? Rather like sin, even the smallest, white ones are still dry bones.
The wondrous thing is that we don't have to keep them there. Christ Jesus died to save us from the punishment of our sins and those include every brittle bone we have ever stuffed away. It's funny that we all recognize and accept Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", but when it comes to admitting that we still may have consequences from past sins, we feel so alone and that no other Christian will understand.
But, you are not alone.
What is so amazing and gracious about God is He can take those skeletons and use them to His glory through our lives. We can live victoriously, after all!
We need only open the closet door.
You are not the only one with a closet full skeletons. Did you know that it doesn't matter if it's one little toy sized skeleton or the closet's jammed packed with monstrous sized ones? Rather like sin, even the smallest, white ones are still dry bones.
The wondrous thing is that we don't have to keep them there. Christ Jesus died to save us from the punishment of our sins and those include every brittle bone we have ever stuffed away. It's funny that we all recognize and accept Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", but when it comes to admitting that we still may have consequences from past sins, we feel so alone and that no other Christian will understand.
But, you are not alone.
What is so amazing and gracious about God is He can take those skeletons and use them to His glory through our lives. We can live victoriously, after all!
We need only open the closet door.
What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
He did not even spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all;
how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the one who justifies.
Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who dies, but even more, has been raised;
He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
Because you were being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things
we are more than victorious
through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing
will have the power to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Romans 8:31-39
Monday, April 26, 2010
Prayer
Wikipedia: Prayer
Tiffany: Prayer
I communicated with the Creator of everything today. I told Him I love Him and was unsure about some things. He knows what to do....
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional connection to some greater power in the universe through deliberate intentional practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words, song, or complete silence. When language is used, prayer may take the form of a hymn, incantation, formal creedal statement, or a spontaneous utterance in the praying person. There are different forms of prayer such as petitionary prayer, prayers of supplication, thanksgiving, and worship/praise. Prayer may be directed towards a deity, spirit, deceased person, or lofty idea, for the purpose of worshiping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins or to express one's thoughts and emotions. Thus, people pray for many reasons such as personal benefit or for the sake of others.
Most major religions involve prayer in one way or another. Some ritualize the act of prayer—requiring a strict sequence of actions, or placing a restriction on who is permitted to pray—while many teach that prayer may be practiced spontaneously by anyone at any moment.
Tiffany: Prayer
I communicated with the Creator of everything today. I told Him I love Him and was unsure about some things. He knows what to do....
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A Few Great Web Sites
Yesterday my daughter and I were blessed to be able to attend a Secret Keeper Girls event held here in the Nashville, TN area. It was a meaty, yet light-hearted event that left my daughter commenting at bed time, "We sure got to hug a lot today, didn't we mom?" I would highly recommend it to any mom who wants to enforce the beauty God created us for in her daughter. My personal favorite comment from the speakers was about how many men we should intoxicate with our beauty in our lives: One. Not one in elementary school, one in middle school, one in high school, one in college..... and so on and so forth!
Take some time to check out their website Secret Keeper Girl. It is full of great tips and resources for both moms and girls.
Another ministry I learned about today is Holt International. This organization is dedicated to supporting orphans in many countries until their adoption and also helps with the adoption process for those who have the heart to expand their family in this way. I have to say my heart went immediately to those in the Waiting Child program who are older, have medical problems, or are in sibling groups. Please take a few minutes to check out this organization and pray for them.
There have also been several of you who have asked for great online resources for Biblical studying. Below are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!
Bible Gateway
Study Light
Blue Letter Bible
E-Sword This is a great FREE download to have on your computer at all times. Great for quickly finding the Greek or Hebrew word with Strong's reference number.
Bible Explorer This is my favorite FREE downloaded program. Just make sure you go to the main page after the initial download and find all the free books you can add. This program is great because there are numerous other materials you can add in an a-la-carte format.
Take some time to check out their website Secret Keeper Girl. It is full of great tips and resources for both moms and girls.
Another ministry I learned about today is Holt International. This organization is dedicated to supporting orphans in many countries until their adoption and also helps with the adoption process for those who have the heart to expand their family in this way. I have to say my heart went immediately to those in the Waiting Child program who are older, have medical problems, or are in sibling groups. Please take a few minutes to check out this organization and pray for them.
There have also been several of you who have asked for great online resources for Biblical studying. Below are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!
Bible Gateway
Study Light
Blue Letter Bible
E-Sword This is a great FREE download to have on your computer at all times. Great for quickly finding the Greek or Hebrew word with Strong's reference number.
Bible Explorer This is my favorite FREE downloaded program. Just make sure you go to the main page after the initial download and find all the free books you can add. This program is great because there are numerous other materials you can add in an a-la-carte format.
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