Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Life Markers
In my daily devotions, I'm reading the book of Romans. Yesterday I read chapter 4. I was blown away in verses 18-22. Paul talks about Abraham and his faith. After re-reading that portion of scripture several times...I felt so convicted.
There have been events in my life where I know my faith strengthened and carried me through. Those events are my life markers. In almost 50 years I can recall 7 of those markers.
*My first marker was before I met my husband. I went to college and moved out of my parents house. The event was difficult for them and our relationship was very tense for 5 years. God is real.
*My second marker was the process of adopting our first adopted child. I spent 4 years praying, crying, and seeking God for another baby. In the 18 months of adoption waiting, we had 5 adoption to not go through. That was a very dark time for me. Then in Nov. 1991, God so graciously assured me that I WILL have a baby. Then in Jan 1992 we received a phone call, that our baby was ready to be picked up. He was born Nov. 16, 1991. God is good.
*My third marker was 7 years of dealing with extended family issues concerning the race of the child we adopted. That difficult time is over, forgiven, gone, and healed as if it never happened. That's a God thing. God is powerful.
*My fourth marker was the year I turned 40 years old. I tore my ACL in my right knee. In 3 months time I had 3 knee surgeries. The third surgery was very depressing to me. It took 2 years to gain full use of my leg. God is faithful.
*My fifth marker was when we got a collect call from the county jail. Our oldest son was arrested for drug possession. He served 2 weeks in jail and 4 months in rehap 500 miles away from home. I still can hear the sound of the chains as he led the chain gang into the courtroom. My heart was broken. God is strong.
*My sixth marker when our first grand baby was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. I tried to be up for my daughter and her husband, but I was tore up inside. I cried everyday for 2 weeks. I cried every time I thought of that sweet baby and her Momma. I struggled with accepting and understanding God's purpose. I asked God, "What are You thinking?" God is loving.
*My seventh marker is a car accident I was in. One summer afternoon, life was good, weather was beautiful, and I was on a mission. Then out of nowhere, a 16 year old boy tries to cross the highway. And BAM, I hit his truck on the front passenger tire area. I thought I had died. When I came to and felt the enormous about of pain...I realized I lived. God is eternal.
Will I have more life markers? Oh yes! When? I hope no time soon. But I want to keep Abraham's testimony close to me.
The Bible says of Abraham...who against hope BELIEVED in hope... When there's no light, believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. When there is no hope, there is hope through Jesus.
And being NOT WEAK in faith... Abraham wasn't perfect. He made mistakes. But when God told him at 100 years old that he was going to have a baby.... his faith was never shaken. Verse 20 says, "he STAGGERED NOT at the promise of God" Wow!
What Abraham did was he stayed STRONG in faith, giving GLORY TO GOD, and being FULLY PERSUADED that, what He (God) had promised, He was able also to perform.
Wow! That's faith. Isn't that awesome? I want the faith Abraham had. I can have that faith. We both serve the same God.
There have been events in my life where I know my faith strengthened and carried me through. Those events are my life markers. In almost 50 years I can recall 7 of those markers.
*My first marker was before I met my husband. I went to college and moved out of my parents house. The event was difficult for them and our relationship was very tense for 5 years. God is real.
*My second marker was the process of adopting our first adopted child. I spent 4 years praying, crying, and seeking God for another baby. In the 18 months of adoption waiting, we had 5 adoption to not go through. That was a very dark time for me. Then in Nov. 1991, God so graciously assured me that I WILL have a baby. Then in Jan 1992 we received a phone call, that our baby was ready to be picked up. He was born Nov. 16, 1991. God is good.
*My third marker was 7 years of dealing with extended family issues concerning the race of the child we adopted. That difficult time is over, forgiven, gone, and healed as if it never happened. That's a God thing. God is powerful.
*My fourth marker was the year I turned 40 years old. I tore my ACL in my right knee. In 3 months time I had 3 knee surgeries. The third surgery was very depressing to me. It took 2 years to gain full use of my leg. God is faithful.
*My fifth marker was when we got a collect call from the county jail. Our oldest son was arrested for drug possession. He served 2 weeks in jail and 4 months in rehap 500 miles away from home. I still can hear the sound of the chains as he led the chain gang into the courtroom. My heart was broken. God is strong.
*My sixth marker when our first grand baby was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. I tried to be up for my daughter and her husband, but I was tore up inside. I cried everyday for 2 weeks. I cried every time I thought of that sweet baby and her Momma. I struggled with accepting and understanding God's purpose. I asked God, "What are You thinking?" God is loving.
*My seventh marker is a car accident I was in. One summer afternoon, life was good, weather was beautiful, and I was on a mission. Then out of nowhere, a 16 year old boy tries to cross the highway. And BAM, I hit his truck on the front passenger tire area. I thought I had died. When I came to and felt the enormous about of pain...I realized I lived. God is eternal.
Will I have more life markers? Oh yes! When? I hope no time soon. But I want to keep Abraham's testimony close to me.
The Bible says of Abraham...who against hope BELIEVED in hope... When there's no light, believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. When there is no hope, there is hope through Jesus.
And being NOT WEAK in faith... Abraham wasn't perfect. He made mistakes. But when God told him at 100 years old that he was going to have a baby.... his faith was never shaken. Verse 20 says, "he STAGGERED NOT at the promise of God" Wow!
What Abraham did was he stayed STRONG in faith, giving GLORY TO GOD, and being FULLY PERSUADED that, what He (God) had promised, He was able also to perform.
Wow! That's faith. Isn't that awesome? I want the faith Abraham had. I can have that faith. We both serve the same God.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Taste my Jesus
At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have what is called “Baptist Day.” On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area.
Every Baptist Day the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center..
One year they invited Dr.. Paul Tillich. Dr. Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours proving that the resurrection
of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no
such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo,
because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked
if there were any questions.
After about 30 seconds, an old dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the
back of the auditorium. “Docta Tillich, I got one question,” he said as all eyes turned toward him.
He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. “Docta Tillich … CRUNCH, MUNCH …
“My question is a simple question” ... CRUNCH, MUNCH ... “Now, I ain’t never read them books you read” ...
CRUNCH, MUNCH ... “and I can’t recite the Scriptures in the original Greek” .. CRUNCH, MUNCH ... “I don't know nothing’ about Niebuhr and Heidegger” ... CRUNCH, MUNCH ... He finished the apple. “All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate—was it bitter or sweet?” Paul Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: “I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven’t tasted your apple..”
The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, “Neither have you tasted my Jesus.” The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers.
Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Psalm 34:8).
Every Baptist Day the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center..
One year they invited Dr.. Paul Tillich. Dr. Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours proving that the resurrection
of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no
such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo,
because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked
if there were any questions.
After about 30 seconds, an old dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the
back of the auditorium. “Docta Tillich, I got one question,” he said as all eyes turned toward him.
He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. “Docta Tillich … CRUNCH, MUNCH …
“My question is a simple question” ... CRUNCH, MUNCH ... “Now, I ain’t never read them books you read” ...
CRUNCH, MUNCH ... “and I can’t recite the Scriptures in the original Greek” .. CRUNCH, MUNCH ... “I don't know nothing’ about Niebuhr and Heidegger” ... CRUNCH, MUNCH ... He finished the apple. “All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate—was it bitter or sweet?” Paul Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: “I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven’t tasted your apple..”
The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, “Neither have you tasted my Jesus.” The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers.
Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.
“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Psalm 34:8).
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Psalms 84:11
The Lord used this verse of scripture during 2 difficult times in the past 12 months. As I spent time the the Lord this morning, this song was a source in inspiration. Worship in your living room is a sweet time.
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
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