Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Easter!
Easter
Easter is a special time of year. Most of us can remember many Easter’s, probably way back in our childhoods. I remember it being a day where we wore a new outfit—and I mean outfit, it always included a dress, stockings, shoes, petticoat, hat, purse and most wonderfully….gloves! I loved the gloves the most! I can still feel them on my hands, pulling them over my fingers, holding my hands out and marveling at how wonderful they made me feel! They transformed my hands into something special—they covered up the mundane and made it marvelous. And the candy! We can’t leave out the candy—those chocolate bunnies, the jelly beans!
And Easter Dinner! the ham and potato salad, green beans, deviled eggs—the list goes on and on.
It was a time for gathering together with family and friends. We always had lots of people over for Easter Dinner. There was laughter, games and fellowship. We would hide the eggs over and over! And I never tired of looking for them.
Now I have a different view of Easter. Over the years my focus has shifted off of me and onto Christ. I’m almost ashamed to say how long that transition has taken—but even though I’ve come so far, I still have a long way to go. That thought made me wonder how I could use scripture to help me focus on Christ throughout the Easter season instead of myself. Here are some things I’ve come up with.
The new outfit, instead of material clothes, I could focus on the armor of God:
For the Dress 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
And the shoes: 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Then the purse: 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And the hat: 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:14-17
That takes care of everything but the gloves, I thought about this scripture for the gloves:
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Can’t you just feel that totally enveloping you? Like a glove on your hand?
Then we are left with the food!
The candy was easy—
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
The real food was a little more challenging to my walk.
1 Peter 2:2-3
2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Hebrews 5:11-14
11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
I don’t want to forget the people—they are the most special memories, because so many of them are gone now. They are with Jesus in heaven.
Hebrews 12:1
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
And in the Apostle’s Creed when we say what we believe: and include the communion of the saints, we are recognizing all those who are in Christ are there with us in communion.
I’ll close by wishing you a Happy Easter! And encouraging you to take time and focus on the importance of Easter and Christ’s sacrifice for all of us.
He came and gave himself for us:
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
Easter is a special time of year. Most of us can remember many Easter’s, probably way back in our childhoods. I remember it being a day where we wore a new outfit—and I mean outfit, it always included a dress, stockings, shoes, petticoat, hat, purse and most wonderfully….gloves! I loved the gloves the most! I can still feel them on my hands, pulling them over my fingers, holding my hands out and marveling at how wonderful they made me feel! They transformed my hands into something special—they covered up the mundane and made it marvelous. And the candy! We can’t leave out the candy—those chocolate bunnies, the jelly beans!
And Easter Dinner! the ham and potato salad, green beans, deviled eggs—the list goes on and on.
It was a time for gathering together with family and friends. We always had lots of people over for Easter Dinner. There was laughter, games and fellowship. We would hide the eggs over and over! And I never tired of looking for them.
Now I have a different view of Easter. Over the years my focus has shifted off of me and onto Christ. I’m almost ashamed to say how long that transition has taken—but even though I’ve come so far, I still have a long way to go. That thought made me wonder how I could use scripture to help me focus on Christ throughout the Easter season instead of myself. Here are some things I’ve come up with.
The new outfit, instead of material clothes, I could focus on the armor of God:
For the Dress 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
And the shoes: 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Then the purse: 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And the hat: 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:14-17
That takes care of everything but the gloves, I thought about this scripture for the gloves:
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Can’t you just feel that totally enveloping you? Like a glove on your hand?
Then we are left with the food!
The candy was easy—
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
The real food was a little more challenging to my walk.
1 Peter 2:2-3
2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Hebrews 5:11-14
11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
I don’t want to forget the people—they are the most special memories, because so many of them are gone now. They are with Jesus in heaven.
Hebrews 12:1
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
And in the Apostle’s Creed when we say what we believe: and include the communion of the saints, we are recognizing all those who are in Christ are there with us in communion.
I’ll close by wishing you a Happy Easter! And encouraging you to take time and focus on the importance of Easter and Christ’s sacrifice for all of us.
He came and gave himself for us:
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
25 Random things about me
Rules:Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
Okay, here we go!
1. I love to mow the grass, there is just something about mowing a strip of fresh green grass and looking back and seeing it compared to what hasn't been mowed.
2. I hate to dust! I think that if you can't see a marked improvement there just isn't any reason to go to the trouble, but if you wait till there is enough dust to see a marked improvement everyone thinks you are a slob.
3. My first car was a station wagon with a 454 V8 engine. It was truly wasted on me--and I'd absolutely kill to have a V8 engine today!
4. I talk to my dog like he is a human being that can understand everything I say, he does understand most of what I say--but probably gets lost when I talk about what I'm cooking for dinner, or what the neighbor did last night.5. I find myself daydreaming regularly about being famous.
6. I'm afraid of spiders, snakes, and wasps.
7. I think my grandchildren are hilarious!
8. My favorite wine is Clous du Bois.
9. I love Jesus!!
10. I prefer milk chocolate over dark chocolate.
11. I believe you only get real Mexican food at El Chico.
12. My favorite color changes with the seasons.
13. I LOVE Jack Bauer.
14. My favorite movie is Field of Dreams, because I've always dreamed I could do something that would let me talk to my dad one more time.
15. I've never smoked a cigarette, not even held one up to my lips.
16. I miss Texas more than I ever thought possible.
17. I probably love my Cadallic SRX too much!
18. I've never broken a bone.
19. I wear size 7 shoes.
20. I've just recently learned that playing is worth putting off everything else for.
21. I think exercise is highly overrated.
22. When my first grandchild was born, I vowed never to wear "grannie panties" again.
23. I'm supposed to be 25 years old, not 50.
24. I use a nettie pot to clean my sinus' every day.
25. My dream vacation would be to go to Bora Bora for at least two months, but not more than six months.
Okay, here we go!
1. I love to mow the grass, there is just something about mowing a strip of fresh green grass and looking back and seeing it compared to what hasn't been mowed.
2. I hate to dust! I think that if you can't see a marked improvement there just isn't any reason to go to the trouble, but if you wait till there is enough dust to see a marked improvement everyone thinks you are a slob.
3. My first car was a station wagon with a 454 V8 engine. It was truly wasted on me--and I'd absolutely kill to have a V8 engine today!
4. I talk to my dog like he is a human being that can understand everything I say, he does understand most of what I say--but probably gets lost when I talk about what I'm cooking for dinner, or what the neighbor did last night.5. I find myself daydreaming regularly about being famous.
6. I'm afraid of spiders, snakes, and wasps.
7. I think my grandchildren are hilarious!
8. My favorite wine is Clous du Bois.
9. I love Jesus!!
10. I prefer milk chocolate over dark chocolate.
11. I believe you only get real Mexican food at El Chico.
12. My favorite color changes with the seasons.
13. I LOVE Jack Bauer.
14. My favorite movie is Field of Dreams, because I've always dreamed I could do something that would let me talk to my dad one more time.
15. I've never smoked a cigarette, not even held one up to my lips.
16. I miss Texas more than I ever thought possible.
17. I probably love my Cadallic SRX too much!
18. I've never broken a bone.
19. I wear size 7 shoes.
20. I've just recently learned that playing is worth putting off everything else for.
21. I think exercise is highly overrated.
22. When my first grandchild was born, I vowed never to wear "grannie panties" again.
23. I'm supposed to be 25 years old, not 50.
24. I use a nettie pot to clean my sinus' every day.
25. My dream vacation would be to go to Bora Bora for at least two months, but not more than six months.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Obedience
Obedience
I’ve been studying in the book of Esther this week and have come across some interesting situations. The book of Esther begins as Queen Vashti is summoned to appear before King Xerxes to be displayed before his guests at a banquet for her beauty. He has been strutting his stuff for his friends and allies for 6 months and he calls his queen on the last day of a seven day feast. The scriptures go into great detail about the splendor of the palace and how beautifully it has been decorated for this six month long gathering on officials. Well, Queen Vashti does the unthinkable; she refuses to go to the king. The consequence of her action is the loss of her office as queen.
That is the first obedience situation we see in this book, there are more to follow. And it got me thinking about obedience and what it means. Although we don’t know all the details of this situation, it would appear that Vashti chose to be disobedient over being used as an object by her King. We choose to be obedient or to be disobedient. Either consequences or blessings will come from our decisions.
The next situation involves Esther, a young Jewish orphan who has been taken in by a cousin and raised as his own daughter. In the effort to replace Vashti, she is chosen along with many other young women to be presented to the King after 12 months of beauty treatments at the palace. These treatments include six months with oil of myrrh and six months with cosmetics, special food and seven maids to attend her every need. At the end of the year she will be sent into the king for the night and the next morning to join the harem of concubines for the rest of her life. But, once the King sees Esther, he is so taken with her that he makes her his Queen. Mordecai, the cousin who raised her as his daughter has forbidden her to reveal her nationality or family background, so Xerxes doesn’t know that his Queen is Jewish.
One of the King’s officials, Hamar, is offended by Mordecai’s behavior and as a result, hatches a plot to annialate all Jewish people. Mordecai is understandably upset and tries to enlist Esther’s help. Initially Esther refuses to help, but when Mordecai explains that God’s will shall prevail she reconsiders. He convinces her with these words:
Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:13
Esther’s obedience to Mordecai’s pleas stops the plot to destroy the Jewish people. I think we can all identify with her hesitation to help her people. But when Mordecai tells her that she may well be part of God’s plan to save his people she can’t refuse, even though she doesn’t understand how she will help stop Hamar’s plan. After much prayer and fasting Esther was obedient and God used her in a way she couldn’t have conceived.
Is there a situation in your life where someone is asking for your help, yet you are hesitant to get involved? We should all be encouraged by Esther’s example and step out in obedience. And who knows but that you may have been put here for such a time as this?
I’ve been studying in the book of Esther this week and have come across some interesting situations. The book of Esther begins as Queen Vashti is summoned to appear before King Xerxes to be displayed before his guests at a banquet for her beauty. He has been strutting his stuff for his friends and allies for 6 months and he calls his queen on the last day of a seven day feast. The scriptures go into great detail about the splendor of the palace and how beautifully it has been decorated for this six month long gathering on officials. Well, Queen Vashti does the unthinkable; she refuses to go to the king. The consequence of her action is the loss of her office as queen.
That is the first obedience situation we see in this book, there are more to follow. And it got me thinking about obedience and what it means. Although we don’t know all the details of this situation, it would appear that Vashti chose to be disobedient over being used as an object by her King. We choose to be obedient or to be disobedient. Either consequences or blessings will come from our decisions.
The next situation involves Esther, a young Jewish orphan who has been taken in by a cousin and raised as his own daughter. In the effort to replace Vashti, she is chosen along with many other young women to be presented to the King after 12 months of beauty treatments at the palace. These treatments include six months with oil of myrrh and six months with cosmetics, special food and seven maids to attend her every need. At the end of the year she will be sent into the king for the night and the next morning to join the harem of concubines for the rest of her life. But, once the King sees Esther, he is so taken with her that he makes her his Queen. Mordecai, the cousin who raised her as his daughter has forbidden her to reveal her nationality or family background, so Xerxes doesn’t know that his Queen is Jewish.
One of the King’s officials, Hamar, is offended by Mordecai’s behavior and as a result, hatches a plot to annialate all Jewish people. Mordecai is understandably upset and tries to enlist Esther’s help. Initially Esther refuses to help, but when Mordecai explains that God’s will shall prevail she reconsiders. He convinces her with these words:
Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:13
Esther’s obedience to Mordecai’s pleas stops the plot to destroy the Jewish people. I think we can all identify with her hesitation to help her people. But when Mordecai tells her that she may well be part of God’s plan to save his people she can’t refuse, even though she doesn’t understand how she will help stop Hamar’s plan. After much prayer and fasting Esther was obedient and God used her in a way she couldn’t have conceived.
Is there a situation in your life where someone is asking for your help, yet you are hesitant to get involved? We should all be encouraged by Esther’s example and step out in obedience. And who knows but that you may have been put here for such a time as this?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Advent Devotion
I know this isn't the way you are supposed to blog--but I've neglected my posts--so I'll just add a few things today that I've written over the last couple of months. This is a devotion that I wrote to go in the Advent Devotion book our church published this December.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
At first glance it may seem this scripture is warning us to always be ready for action, for any and all circumstances that come our way. It seems to say if we are ready and in control of ourselves we will triumph over whatever comes our way. But with further study we see a ready mind and self-control are merely a means to an end. The important concept in 1 Peter 1:13 is hope.
Hope is one of those words in our culture that is over used. Much the same as love—I love all kinds of things, from the Divinity that my Noni made every Christmas to my husband Leroy. How can one word adequately convey all these different kinds of devotion? Hope holds a similar concept.
We spent many months hoping for rain during the last year, and we hope our team will win the game this weekend. Our English word hope is derived from the Greek word “elpis” meaning a confident expectation. But, here in the context of this scripture we are looking at biblical hope, a much higher concept. Biblical hope can be defined as biblical salvation. Our biblical hope as Christians is the assurance of the forgiveness of our sin, salvation through Jesus Christ, and an eternity spent with Jesus.
Our biblical hope isn’t a simple wish or an expectation, it is an absolute certainty. Throughout the Old and New Testaments God promises a redemptive hope centered on his Son, Jesus Christ. In Genesis 3, God informs the serpent that Eve’s Seed would crush him. Romans 15, Isaiah says “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations: the Gentiles will hope in him.” Our hope is a gift from God, it enables the renewal of our minds and the self control we will need until Jesus Christ is finally revealed. We look forward, expectantly awaiting the return of our Savior.
Prayer:
Gracious Father,
You alone are worthy of our Hope. Thank you for your gift of Hope, that assurance that we are yours, we are saved for an eternity to be spent with you. Help us to share that gift with everyone around us. Help us to always be ready to give an answer to account for the hope that we possess.
In the name above all names, Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
At first glance it may seem this scripture is warning us to always be ready for action, for any and all circumstances that come our way. It seems to say if we are ready and in control of ourselves we will triumph over whatever comes our way. But with further study we see a ready mind and self-control are merely a means to an end. The important concept in 1 Peter 1:13 is hope.
Hope is one of those words in our culture that is over used. Much the same as love—I love all kinds of things, from the Divinity that my Noni made every Christmas to my husband Leroy. How can one word adequately convey all these different kinds of devotion? Hope holds a similar concept.
We spent many months hoping for rain during the last year, and we hope our team will win the game this weekend. Our English word hope is derived from the Greek word “elpis” meaning a confident expectation. But, here in the context of this scripture we are looking at biblical hope, a much higher concept. Biblical hope can be defined as biblical salvation. Our biblical hope as Christians is the assurance of the forgiveness of our sin, salvation through Jesus Christ, and an eternity spent with Jesus.
Our biblical hope isn’t a simple wish or an expectation, it is an absolute certainty. Throughout the Old and New Testaments God promises a redemptive hope centered on his Son, Jesus Christ. In Genesis 3, God informs the serpent that Eve’s Seed would crush him. Romans 15, Isaiah says “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations: the Gentiles will hope in him.” Our hope is a gift from God, it enables the renewal of our minds and the self control we will need until Jesus Christ is finally revealed. We look forward, expectantly awaiting the return of our Savior.
Prayer:
Gracious Father,
You alone are worthy of our Hope. Thank you for your gift of Hope, that assurance that we are yours, we are saved for an eternity to be spent with you. Help us to share that gift with everyone around us. Help us to always be ready to give an answer to account for the hope that we possess.
In the name above all names, Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen.
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
What I Learned on My Summer Vacation
‘Perspective’ or ‘What I did on my summer vacation’
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Declares the Lord, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I learned something as I was flying home from my summer vacation. As the plane took off from the Denver, Colorado airport I looked down on the landscape and marveled at the creation of God. I was struck at the flat landscape changing drastically to mountains. In my head I said to myself, I just don’t get it. Why did God choose to make creation look like this? Why, such a drastic change from flat to the mountains? We had been in Colorado all week, driving from place to place, going up into the mountains, back down into the canyon, out to the flat places but when I was at street level it didn’t occur to me how drastic the changes were. Only when I saw them from the heights of the airplane did I see the whole picture of what the creation actually looked like. And immediately I thought of my life and Community Bible Study, it hit me that I just don’t get why God has brought me here to do this service.
Let’s back up a couple of steps here and fill you in on my perspective. I only ask that you remember this is my perspective, as narrow as it may seem to you—it’s my experience. I don’t mean any offense to anyone who has a different experience—and all our experiences are different. Just bare with me, I did learn something here that might be valuable to someone; at least it is to me.
I have been involved in CBS for many years. I have worn many hats in my service at CBS and loved each and every one. And believe me, this is an honor to be here to serve Christ. I’m so appreciative of the opportunity to serve our Lord and be in relationship with women who love Him. To be able to come together and pray for this ministry, our lives and families, and our country is a great blessing. This organization is near and dear to my heart. So as my invitation into leadership unfolded in the last few months, I must admit to you that I was sort of taken aback. I didn’t understand why God wanted me in leadership, to be with the babies in the nursery. Don’t misunderstand me it’s not that I think this is an unimportant job, because I know it is very important to CBS. The nursery is an integral part of CBS. We must provide a solid children’s program for the ladies that God has called into this ministry, and we are planting seeds for the next generation of believers as well. I just didn’t get why me? I was always the one who shied away from helping with the kids. When my family gets together they still can’t believe I’m the one with four girls, and not my sister—who spent most of her young adult life babysitting, I never had a paid babysitting job—really, not once! My greatest fear after having Nikki was that the first time I held her she would cry—just like every other baby I had ever held. I was absolutely astonished when she didn’t!
But, here I am, ready willing and I think able to be in the nursery with the children.
But, I digress, this is about perspective. So as I watched out the window of the airplane and saw the mountains passing below me, as the plane turned away from the mountains toward the plain I began to understand that I didn’t have this whole picture perspective, but God does. And that’s really all that matters. As I was pondering this, clouds were beginning to pass below us and block my view of the landscape. I wondered if this too could be a lesson. Were there times when God brought things into my life that blocked my view? That he clears away when He chooses for me to see the whole landscape? Recently I’ve been somewhat depressed about my youngest daughter Stephanie going away to college. For the first time in 30 years I have not had to care for a child at home. I felt that my primary purpose of caring for children was over. Perhaps instead, God has prepared me for a new role of nurturing some of His other children here at CBS. This made me think about the sovereignty of God.
Ecclesiastes 2:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He had also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
I also thought about when we were at street level, I didn’t always know what was around the next curve. If there would be a gentle hill or a steep climb. Life is like that too—we never know what is coming, if we will experience a time of trial or blessing. But God is sovereign in everything—he knows what is coming for us.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I am so excited about this year and CBS. I’m excited about experiencing all the hills, plains and mountains God has planned for this ministry. I pray that He will reveal His plan and perspective to us all.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Declares the Lord, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I learned something as I was flying home from my summer vacation. As the plane took off from the Denver, Colorado airport I looked down on the landscape and marveled at the creation of God. I was struck at the flat landscape changing drastically to mountains. In my head I said to myself, I just don’t get it. Why did God choose to make creation look like this? Why, such a drastic change from flat to the mountains? We had been in Colorado all week, driving from place to place, going up into the mountains, back down into the canyon, out to the flat places but when I was at street level it didn’t occur to me how drastic the changes were. Only when I saw them from the heights of the airplane did I see the whole picture of what the creation actually looked like. And immediately I thought of my life and Community Bible Study, it hit me that I just don’t get why God has brought me here to do this service.
Let’s back up a couple of steps here and fill you in on my perspective. I only ask that you remember this is my perspective, as narrow as it may seem to you—it’s my experience. I don’t mean any offense to anyone who has a different experience—and all our experiences are different. Just bare with me, I did learn something here that might be valuable to someone; at least it is to me.
I have been involved in CBS for many years. I have worn many hats in my service at CBS and loved each and every one. And believe me, this is an honor to be here to serve Christ. I’m so appreciative of the opportunity to serve our Lord and be in relationship with women who love Him. To be able to come together and pray for this ministry, our lives and families, and our country is a great blessing. This organization is near and dear to my heart. So as my invitation into leadership unfolded in the last few months, I must admit to you that I was sort of taken aback. I didn’t understand why God wanted me in leadership, to be with the babies in the nursery. Don’t misunderstand me it’s not that I think this is an unimportant job, because I know it is very important to CBS. The nursery is an integral part of CBS. We must provide a solid children’s program for the ladies that God has called into this ministry, and we are planting seeds for the next generation of believers as well. I just didn’t get why me? I was always the one who shied away from helping with the kids. When my family gets together they still can’t believe I’m the one with four girls, and not my sister—who spent most of her young adult life babysitting, I never had a paid babysitting job—really, not once! My greatest fear after having Nikki was that the first time I held her she would cry—just like every other baby I had ever held. I was absolutely astonished when she didn’t!
But, here I am, ready willing and I think able to be in the nursery with the children.
But, I digress, this is about perspective. So as I watched out the window of the airplane and saw the mountains passing below me, as the plane turned away from the mountains toward the plain I began to understand that I didn’t have this whole picture perspective, but God does. And that’s really all that matters. As I was pondering this, clouds were beginning to pass below us and block my view of the landscape. I wondered if this too could be a lesson. Were there times when God brought things into my life that blocked my view? That he clears away when He chooses for me to see the whole landscape? Recently I’ve been somewhat depressed about my youngest daughter Stephanie going away to college. For the first time in 30 years I have not had to care for a child at home. I felt that my primary purpose of caring for children was over. Perhaps instead, God has prepared me for a new role of nurturing some of His other children here at CBS. This made me think about the sovereignty of God.
Ecclesiastes 2:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He had also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
I also thought about when we were at street level, I didn’t always know what was around the next curve. If there would be a gentle hill or a steep climb. Life is like that too—we never know what is coming, if we will experience a time of trial or blessing. But God is sovereign in everything—he knows what is coming for us.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I am so excited about this year and CBS. I’m excited about experiencing all the hills, plains and mountains God has planned for this ministry. I pray that He will reveal His plan and perspective to us all.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Halloween!
I gave a devotion for my Women's Council Leadership meeting this last Monday night. I was excited because I had seen this devotion given a few years ago at CBS. I had always wanted to give it but never had the opportunity until now.
Halloween has always held a bag of mixed emotions for me. I've always wondered just how much I should celebrate this holiday. I want to honor God in all things, and always felt like I was walking a thin line when I celebrated Halloween. I didn't want to teach my kids the wrong things, I didn't know where the bounderies were on this topic. But this word picture about the pumpkin and our realtionship with Christ somehow made me feel better about the whole thing. The apostle Paul often faced situations with people of different cultures that observed different customs and I think we can learn something from how he handled himself at those times. He didn't segregate himself away from them. he went to them and used who they were and what they were doing to talk to them about Christ. That's what this devotion does, it uses Halloween to talk to people about Christ.
Prepare Your Heart
Like it or not, Halloween is a part of our culture. Personally, I enjoy the costumes and the parties and (especially) the candy! But what can you do if you have serious reservations about taking part in Halloween? You can fight it; you can try to ignore it; or you can follow Paul's example.
In Athens, Paul was disturbed by the culture around him. (Acts 17:16). But instead of coming against it, he used things from that culture to present the gospel. (Acts 17:22-31).
Don't forget - the most important part of preparation is always prayer.
In Athens, Paul was disturbed by the culture around him. (Acts 17:16). But instead of coming against it, he used things from that culture to present the gospel. (Acts 17:22-31).
Don't forget - the most important part of preparation is always prayer.
Prepare The Materials
This is an object lesson - the objects you will need are:
A pumpkin (instructions for preparing it are below)
A candle or flashlight to go inside the pumpkin
Lighter or matches if you are using a candle
A large knife (not sharp, it is for effect).
Some mud or clay dirt
A damp cloth
A cloth large enough to cover the pumpkin
Instructions - ahead of time:
Cutting carefully so that you can set it back in place, cut the top from the pumpkin.
Scoop out the seeds and inner membrane. Rinse, dry and save it. You may want to soak them in coffee or something similar to turn them dark. We will be returning them to the pumpkin.
Making sure to keep the cuttings on one side of the pumpkin only, cut a design into the pumpkin. You can use a traditional jack-o-lantern or some other design. Carving 'JESUS' into the pumpkin or carving a candle is effective. Be careful not to carry the design to the sides or back of the pumpkin as you do not want to show the cuts at the beginning of the lesson.
A pumpkin (instructions for preparing it are below)
A candle or flashlight to go inside the pumpkin
Lighter or matches if you are using a candle
A large knife (not sharp, it is for effect).
Some mud or clay dirt
A damp cloth
A cloth large enough to cover the pumpkin
Instructions - ahead of time:
Cutting carefully so that you can set it back in place, cut the top from the pumpkin.
Scoop out the seeds and inner membrane. Rinse, dry and save it. You may want to soak them in coffee or something similar to turn them dark. We will be returning them to the pumpkin.
Making sure to keep the cuttings on one side of the pumpkin only, cut a design into the pumpkin. You can use a traditional jack-o-lantern or some other design. Carving 'JESUS' into the pumpkin or carving a candle is effective. Be careful not to carry the design to the sides or back of the pumpkin as you do not want to show the cuts at the beginning of the lesson.
Put the seeds and membrane back into the pumpkin. If it is going to be over a few hours before the lesson, it would be better to put the seeds and membrane in the refrigerator until closer time.
Instructions - just before the session:
Set the pumpkin in front of you so that the carved part is toward your body. You do not want the audience to see that it has been carved.
If the seeds were refrigerated, return them to the pumpkin.
Put the top on the pumpkin matching it as good as possible so that the cut is not too obvious.
Smear a little clay or mud on the front of the pumpkin so that the audience can easily see it.
Set the other supplies (knife, light, damp cloth) where you can reach them.
Cover the pumpkin with a cloth so that it is not visible from any side when your group comes in.
If the seeds were refrigerated, return them to the pumpkin.
Put the top on the pumpkin matching it as good as possible so that the cut is not too obvious.
Smear a little clay or mud on the front of the pumpkin so that the audience can easily see it.
Set the other supplies (knife, light, damp cloth) where you can reach them.
Cover the pumpkin with a cloth so that it is not visible from any side when your group comes in.
Prepare Your Group
Begin with prayer.
The Lesson
Sometimes people ask what it is like being a Christian.I'd like to tell you that it is all fun and easy. But I'm a Christian. I'm supposed to tell the whole truth. And here it is. It is fun to be a Christian because I am God's child and God loves me. And it is never too hard for me because God helps me. But sometimes it is pretty hard to be a Christian.
(Lift the cloth off of the pumpkin)
I think I can use this pumpkin to help explain. We all start out like pumpkins. We're out in the garden along with all the others. God is always walking through that garden asking if any of us what to belong to Him. When we say 'yes' to God, he picks us up out of the garden.
(Use damp cloth to clean the dirt off the pumpkin.)
And he gently washes away the dirt. That feels really, really nice.
(Pick up the knife)
But there is more to be done. You see, dirt was not the only thing we brought with us from the garden.
(Pretend to cut around the top of the pumpkin)
Some of what we brought back requires surgery and that can hurt.
(Lift off the top.)
While we were out there in the garden, some things grew inside us.
(Take out a few seeds and hold them out to be seen.)
Sometimes the others were not fair to us.
(Take out more of the seeds)
We became angry and the seed of bitterness started to grow inside.
(Continue to take out seeds as you talk)
Sometimes others let us down or hurt our feelings. We began to feel sorry for ourselves. And the seeds of rejection started to grow. We try to get even with those who hurt us. The seeds of unforgiveness and violence begin to grow inside.
(Remove the last of the seeds)
Yes, all of this cleaning up hurts a bit. But if we won't let God clean all of this out, it gets infected. And then we really have problems. Christians who won't let God clean out all the junk from the pumpkin patch are really miserable. They have spiritual infections and they can spread them to others.
(Wipe the inside with the cloth)
(Pretend to make a few cuts with the knife on your side of the pumpkin)
I'm learning to hold really still and let God take care of anything that needs cleaning! Sure it hurts sometimes.
(Put the light inside the pumpkin and light it)
And sometimes I wonder what God is trying to do!
(Turn the pumpkin around for the group to see)
Then God reminds me that He has a wonderful plan for my life. He wants the beauty of Jesus to shine through me so others can see the way to Jesus. That's what we are, you know. We are not really better than those poor pumpkins who are still in the garden. We are just a whole lot better off because Jesus has taken us out of the darkness and into His wonderful light.
(Lights off)
Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can't be hidden. Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will praise your Father who is in heaven."*
Please pray with me. Father God, thank You for asking us to be Your children.Father, we want to be more like Jesus. We want others to see Your light shining in our lives. Help us to open our hearts to You. Take away all our bad attitudes. Give us Your light and love inside. We're asking this in Jesus' Name. Amen
*Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 NIRV
This devotion is based on an inspirational E-Mail I received. I do not know the author of the E-Mail. You have my permission to copy anything that I have written.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
