Purpose

I took this picture at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY last summer. Thought I'd share it with everyone ;-)

A small tribute

Today I wore a ribbon.
Not one of some great consequence,
Or so it may appear.
But insignificant as it may be,
To me, it means the world.
Because, you see, my ribbon represents
Much more than meets the eye.
It represents big hugs and loving kisses,
Rocky Road ice cream on Sunday afternoons,
Your smile that warmed a room.
It represents complete devotion,
to One and those around you.

I never will forget the way
You loved so unconditionally.
You held our family quite together;
With caring arms a'mending.
I know you felt that leaving then
Would disappoint me, true.
But disappointed, I am not,
In anything that's you.
I cannot quite describe it.
Words seem driven far away.
So all I have to say, for now,
Is "Grandma, I still love you."

No more rugs...

I'm learning not to stand on any more "rugs". They keep getting ripped out from under my feet. My heart is learning that the fall that follows these displacements really hurts. I'm trying to focus on standing on the Rock. It's impossible to rip one of those from under me. No more rugs... unless they're under the Rock.

If you love Jesus, pass THIS on...

No offense to anyone, but I think I may just lose my mind if I have to read one more cheesy e-mail that ends, "If you really love Jesus, you will pass this on to everyone you know within the next 24 hours and something really great will happen to you!" UGH!!! It just makes me cringe! How dare we treat the name of our Lord so lightly. Just "slap it on there". That'll get 'em! How sickening! No reverence. No awe. Just my old pal, Jesus. He won't mind. We have forgotten the fear and terror of the Lord. I know I'm rambling a bit. I'm not sure exactly why this annoys me so terribly.

So why are we passing the message on anyway? Because we love Jesus, or because we want something great to happen to us? Half the time, the e-mail is not something to which I would want my own name attached, much less that of my Lord. Often it contains Scripture taken out of context or ideas of selfish gain haphazardly "supported" with various bits and pieces of Bible verses. Anything to make you feel good. I think I just feel like we have such a skewed idea of God. We don't carry that deep, gut-wrenching respect for Him or His expectations anymore (if that makes any sense).

My Constant Comfort

What a comfort it is to know that in times like these when I feel most alone, God has promised that I will never be alone. He has sent the Holy Spirit who guides and comforts His children. All praise to Him in whom I place all trust-- my God, my King, my Comfort!

Grace and peace to you, brothers and sisters.

Loss and Selfishness

Over the past year, my life has been subject to LOTS of change. I cannot honestly say that I have always so mildly stated it. As a matter of fact, most often (in my selfishness) I have said that I have LOST so much this year. However, I have learned that I have two choices. Either I can dwell on these "losses" of things that were never really mine and allow my selfishness and self-pity to sink me into a deep and dark depression, or I can praise God for the time I was given with these blessings and move forward serving HIM instead of me. As I drove home today, I started to realize this truth in a deep and healing way. I felt almost as though I had taken a wonderful breath of fresh air that I had not been able to grasp in a very long time. There are so many things with which God has blessed me. But He gives AND takes away. I choose to put my tears and my selfishness behind me, sever all my mental chains connecting me to past idols, and believe God. Believe that He knows best. That He is in control. That because I am His, all things will work together for good. That He is the only one who is good and worthy of praise. That I have sinned but He has forgiven me. That He is slow to anger and rich in love. That I can trust Him whole-heartedly. That He knows what He's doing. I have made my choice- to no longer be a lover of self, but of God.

Futility.

When Christ was asked which of the ten commandments is the greatest, he did not hesitate to reply. "Love God," He said, then "love people." How terribly often I do forget this beautiful command- Love. Love God, then through that, love those around me. Love those who've hurt me. Love those that I don't necessarily like. It doesn't matter how I feel about them, just love them. A choice, not a feeling. All too frequently, I find myself so wrapped up in myself and my wants and my beliefs that the farthest thing from my mind is the thoughts and wants of those right next to me. How devastating! How pitiful! What an empty life to live! Constantly pouring into myself and never into those around me! "Futility of futilities, all is futility." NO! Instead I will choose to "Fear God and keep His commandments!"

How many people in the USA have YOUR name?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 214 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Praise.

Bless the Lord!
O, my soul,
And all that is within me,
Bless His HOLY name!

An Old Thought

4/24/2006-- FILTH

Ugh!! What a filthy, rotten, useless rag I truly am. What good am I in this flesh? This dead, decaying, nasty flesh that devours sin and savors it! I cannot clean myself nor repair my rips. Therefore, I continue in this degrading and worsening downward spiral. My dept grows exponentially.

But I fight, stuggle, and scream knowing I'll never break free; not in my own strength, anyway. I work and work and work and work 'til surely I'll collapse in the next second, but nothing changes. If anything, I'm only in deeper than the moment before. How might I end this spiraling cycle? How will I ever break free? There is nothing I can do!

Hallelujah, What a Savior! I will arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms. In the arms of my dear Savior, Oh, there are 10,000 charms!

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9)." "For without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22)." Praise the Lord, I am free! According to His lovingkindness and because of the cleansing blood of His perfect Son, I am no longer slave to sin. Now I am a bondservant of my Christ!

I now claim that blood of Christ over my sins. I declare its cleansing promise and claim it over my own life. Father, You promised to forgive my sins if I repent. Therefore, I bow humbly before Your throne seeking Your forgiveness. Forgive me, Father. Please turn me around for Your glory. Change my attitude and my heart to chase solely after You.

Praise God for His great compassion and tender lovingkindness. When I deserve death and hell, He offers life and the rewards of heaven and best of all, Himself!

Thank You, Father, for Your forgiveness. Please allot me strength, wisdom, and conviction to endure temptations to come.