LIGHT and, MERCY!!

Just in case anyone is anticipating a post about RABBIT TRAILS, I will write about them at a later time because I met a gal last evening who inspired this post. As I was 'pontificating' on how TRUE peace, hope, and joy can only come from living in a right relationship to the LORD, she simply suggested I add LIGHT to that list! Need I say more? She is very correct to have realized that JESUS is THE LIGHT of the world.. Thus, life apart from HIM is one lived in spiritual darkness... UGH!  A few moments later, she 'lit up,' as she said 'MERCY'.. What a blessing it was to hear the spontaneous sharing of a lady new to me, as she contributed her knowledge of just 2 of the blessed realities our Lord intends for us to know, and experience.. Dear readers, ask yourself today if there have been times you knew you were guilty of something that deserved a 'consequence.' HOW good did it feel if/when you did not receive 'what you deserved?' That is MERCY! I think of a scene early in KARATE KID II where the old man doesn't 'give it to' an offender but instead, exercises mercy.. Later in the movie, the boy does the same in a final competition of sorts, and the recipient of the mercy would 'rather not' receive it.. HOW PATHETIC! We should never be too proud to graciously accept the mercy we all need so often!  At any rate.. May all of you go forth in the LIGHT and MERCIFUL LOVE of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!! As I am enhancing and proofreading this before I hit "Publish," a marvelous song is being sung by STEVE GREEN .. It is simply called, ENTER IN.. I know other songs by the same title, but this particular one is SO powerful as I have written about LIGHT, and MERCY! The next song is the well-known one from the mid-80's.. PEOPLE NEED THE LORD. Need I say more? 

I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT!

Hello to all 'out there' in cyber-space... I am back from a fabulous 10 nights/days of camping up at 'our' beloved Deception/Reception Pass. I leave again for 11 nights very soon.. So, ..What's on my mind today? Well, it is, CHRISTLESS LIVING =CRISIS LIVING. I just watched a youtube video some folks at our church made after being in UGANDA  this summer. When I finished watching, I truly COULDN'T SEE STRAIGHT due to the river of tears flowing. (I don't often bawl!)  Before I viewed this, I'd also become aware of  a tragedy which 'struck home' with a dear lady in my life.. A lady she's known for decades was burned out of  her house and her home of nearly 50 years, by her  own son when he locked himself in the house and set it on fire. Talk about Christless = Crisis.. My heart aches deeply because it seems like 'someone, somewhere' could/should? have seen this fellow's desparation before he acted. Of course, we all know how JESUS IS THE ANSWER FOR THE WORLD TODAY.. Above Him there is NO other.. JESUS IS THE WAY... I sit here wondering if I miss cues from those around me at times.. Am I alert to the pain of another? If so, am I willing to stop and make myself (our LORD JESUS CHRIST through me) available and shown to this needy one?   Let's go back to the UGANDA video... WHOA! (Of course, we are willing and able to send monthly donations to more than one relief work 'over there in Africa..' but, should we be doing more?)  I was amazed at how deeply impacted I was as I viewed the video.. Here is the link if you have 15 extra  minutes and Kleenex nearby! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7giPO5B9HR8 Blessings to all for now... Sheila   PS- Be 'watching for' a post which I intend to entitle, 'RABBIT TRAILS," or something to thAT effect..

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT..?

Today's thoughts come from over 25 years ago when I realized how the first chapter of Colossians sounds like a recitation of Christ's resume.. Think of it this way... If you were 'in the market' for the LORD of your life, do you think you just might consider JESUS? COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 and 2:9 provide a great list of reasons to do so! 'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on Earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.'…'For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity (Godhead) lives in bodily form.'  As an author, I  want to highlight, or otherwise draw attention to certain key words or phrases in these passages ,but I choose to let you readers take a second or third look at each phrase as you consider its levity on our souls! Praise the LORD for all He allows us to 'know,' in spite of the limitations of our human minds.. He speaks 'volumes' to us by the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit as we open the 'eyes of our heart,' to HIM!   OH! Before I forget it.. EPHESIANS 1:18-23 adds to the Colossians, resume-like passage.. We read how, as the eyes of our heart are being enlightened, we are to know 'that incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him form the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.' I will close by simply asking all of us, "Do we welcome Him as He desires to so capably 'fill us in every way?' I love to sing, "When I fall down, You pick me up.. When I am dry, You fill my cup.. You ARE my ALL-IN-ALL!"                                                                                                                                      

CAN HE STEAL MY JOY?

No way! Although the Enemy CERTAINLY tries to, I have become quite adept at recoginizing his 'antics,' then refusing to let my joy be stolen! This is especially true regarding the 'circumstances' of the daily doings of life.. I do, though, need to learn to be more diligent at not letting him deprive me of the joy of honoring our Lord by eating more wisely consistently.(UGH!) But, back to the 'daily doings!'          Today is the first day of my 7th decade of life on this planet.. So, 'that old devil' thought he'd 'gift' me with some opportunities to not be full of the Joy of the Lord... (along with the Peace and Hope of our Lord!) The great thing about being the Lord's is I know WE WIN! "The joy of the Lord is my strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) Also, I love one of the Apostle Paul's 'benediction-type' sections in his letter to the Romans. In Chapter 15, verse 13, he says, "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." "I learned a long time ago that the JOY of the LORD does not depend on 'happiness!'  So, this morning when I was locked out of my bedroom by accident, and when another very irritating thing was happening (after my husband had gone to coffee with a friend so he couldn't handle the 'situation' for me..) I got to stop and realize I had a choice... To rejoice, or to be in a 'funk!' Of course, it was inconvenient and the other thing was very irksome, but... Hey! I didn't need to lose my joy over them!  The verse in Romans always reminds me to think of my life as a cup of tea, coffee, or whatever.. As I do, I picture it as full so when I (it) gets bumped, I need to be concerned about what spills out! Will it be the pleasantness of Christ in me, or evidence of that Enemy of ours having been allowed to steal my peace, hope, and joy I love so much as his child?!  Well, dear readers.. May you each 'stand guard' over all our Lord intends for and through you this day and always! Remember, 'The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.. But our Perfect Shepherd came so we might have life in full abundance!' (my paraphrase of JOHN 10:10 which happens to be my "Life-verse".. the second part of it, of course!)

Just a Few Thoughts..

 I have "just a few" thoughts on my mind today that are aching to 'get out!'  The first one is about the fact of often hearing the work 'risk' attached to matters of faith!? I am totally confused by this... How CAN it be 'risky' to know, and trust in God's promises, principles, and character in/for/through our lives? I don't have much to say except I'd like for all of you to realize we do NOT live lives of  'risk,' when we allow the Lord to walk with, support, and nourish us daily!  Just as an 'aside,'..It's sort of funny as I consider that word, RISK, because I picture a game board with a map of the world and a whole bunch of brightly colored, small cubes spread across it in strategic positions.. ( I NEVER was very good at that game!)

Three other 'terms' which bother me are: 'Successful' Christian living; the term 'proud' of you; and, I 'disagree' with certain hot topics in our nation's social/political/spiritual climate.  I will do posts about each of these during my available time this summer... Until then, consider living your life with Christ within to be one of SIGNIFICANCE, as opposed to 'successful,' which implies a potential for that ugly word, 'Failure!' Also think of how you felt when your folks said, 'I am proud of you..'' Didn't you sometimes feel the pressure to uphold their reputation through you? Our daughter pointed this our to us in 1993. As a result, I try to always say, "I'm pleased or tickled by you/your...."   Finally, for now, examine your souls for how you really think about those who are not of our 'persuasions' which come from our LORD'S transforming, and delivering presence within us. Do we really 'disagree' with them, or... do we really, truly ACHE due to how their distorted 'persuasions' deter them from life the way our Lord intends for them to know it.. HE is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE LIFE! They, dear readers, are truly missing out on LIFE Himself!

EYE TO EYE With...

I had a wonderful moment on Monday, June 18, 2012 as  I was leading hymns at one of the facilities I minister in. I'd stopped just long enough to walk over to our 101 year old lady so I could get close to her face and speak fully and clearly of our LORD. Her eyes fixed on mine for several moments as they seemed to say, "I know what you all are singing about.." (Her speech is almost non-existent).. Then, only moments later, it was obvious she wanted to actually talk, so I waited as she DID say, 'I KNOW.' Wow! We just never know when or how HE will make Himself known in our midst.. I will never forget gazing deeply into her soul, then hearing her be able to speak forth her knowledge of, and love for our LORD.. God bless you all!

NOT 'WHO,' BUT 'WHOSE?'

Not 'Who,' but 'Whose' Are You?

I am thinking of a song from a summer camp I helped at around 25 years ago.. It simply stated, 'We are complete in HIM!' I loved the tune, but am sort of  'lost' at this point as I try to recall its other lyrics. That's OK though since I just want to offer a few scriptures to feed our thinking on this statement..

In Colossians 2:2-3, Paul lets us know how his purpose it 'that they (we) may be united in love, so they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowldege." In verse 9, Paul assures us, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." 

Two more verses from JOHN encapsulate this fact of our Lord's intentions for us to be totally alive in HIM and through HIM... JOHN 5:26 says "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself." I have been thinking about this a lot recently.. HE IS LIFE!  John 1:24 states.. "In Him was life and that life was the light of men!"  The reason I'm using these verses is because we must realize HIS LIFE within us in order to live the COMPLETENESS He intends for/through us! When we do, we know WHOSE WE ARE, and do not need to be 'stressed out' by the world's question of, "Who am I anyways..?"  BTW- Are those around you aware of WHOSE you are???