Polluted

Easter Sunday today, is not like Easter Sunday when I was a little girl.  Back then, family would gather to go to church, all dressed up in new dresses and bonnets and new suits and ties, and then spend the day eating a delicious meal, playing with cousins and sitting on grandparents' laps.  In fact, it wasn't only on Easter Sunday when we would gather, but almost every Sunday, The Lord's Day.  

The Saturday before, we would go to the store to make sure we had everything we needed, because we knew that businesses and stores would be closed on Sunday.  Not so today.  In fact, my adult son is spending his Easter Sunday at work.  Even writing that breaks my heart.  How far removed our Society has come from the True meaning of Easter Sunday.

My heart was heavy as I read the Headlines this past week of what the world has turned Easter Sunday into: 

They turned this day into Transgender Day of Visibility and there are new rules for the Egg Hunt on the lawn at the White House; children CANNOT decorate their Easter eggs with Religious Symbols.

Our Nation has become polluted.

But God is still on His throne.

"So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel."  Ezekiel 39:7

One day, there will be judgment upon our land.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."  Psalm 9:17

As the world pushes to profane our Lord...

    May we preach the power of His Resurrection...

        But that's just me!

Blooming

When it's Winter, you expect to walk into a store and see coats on display.

In the Spring, you expect to see clothes in the color White.

In the Summer, short sleeves, sandals and sunscreen are expected to line most shelves, and then in the Fall you expect to find hiking boots, hats and scarves.

Not so in Retail.  I should know, I worked many years in Retail Clothing, and we were always a Season ahead when it came to our product.

I was reminded of that when I walked past my Christmas cactus this morning, perched in its pot on my sewing table in full bloom.

Yes, my Christmas cactus is in full bloom and it's March!

Is my Christmas cactus confused?  

I don't think so, I think God's Creation is under full control of His mighty hand, so if God wanted my Cactus to bloom for Easter, then so be it!  I am certainly enjoying the beautiful blossoms.

It also reminded me of 2 Timothy 4:2. It says, 'Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.'

According to Albert Barnes, "The preaching of God's Word is our main business in life.  We are to be constant in this duty, at every opportunity, whether it's convenient or not.  We must convince men of God's truth through rebuke, exhortation, longsuffering, and instruction."

Whatever season you find yourself in...

    Are you in bloom?

        I pray I am...

            But that's just me!

        

What Works?

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

words of Jesus, Matthew 25:4

Yesterday I asked God to give me the works, so that I could bring honor and glory to His Name.  Every day when I pray, I ask the Lord to help me be a blessing to someone today; anyone. 

But what are good works?

They can be as simple as Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Good works are simple acts of kindness directed to someone other than yourself.

    Allow someone to go before you in line-

    Open a door for someone-

    Greet someone with a 'hello' and a smile-

    Bake goodies for a neighbor-

    Drive a friend to an appointment-

    Send someone a card, text or an email-

    Bear another's burden-

    PRAY for them-

The list is endless!

Who are good works to be directed?

To the stranger and to the saved.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for therby some have entertained angels unawares."

Hebrew 13:2

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  Galatians 6:10

Good works are the result of God's goodness toward us, beginning with our Salvation; so, are you Saved?  Are you a useable vessel for good works?

Good works allow us to focus on others and not on ourselves.

Good works are manifested in humility...

    Bringing honor and glory to our Lord...

        But that's just me!

"God is honored by our actions more than He is by our words."  Dr. Paul Chappell

 

Faith W/O Works

I heard a very old song on YouTube a few days ago, and it brought me to James 2:14-26.

I'm including a large portion of Scripture today, so bear with me, I think it's important to read this whole passage:

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy words, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Christians can talk a good talk, but it's their walk that tells the truth.

So, what is your walk saying to those around you?

You've heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words," and I believe that to be true.  Sometimes our greatest testimony for the Lord is by keeping our mouths quiet and letting our lives speak the words.

I'm not talking about a works salvation; Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I'm talking about actions that will cause others to say, "What's different about you?"

Do you have to tell others you are a Christian, or will your actions speak louder than words?

Do your actions cause others to ask you for the reason you are different, or do your actions leave others confused?

I believe the way I live...

    Speaks louder than any word my mouth with utter...

        But that's just me!

Give me the Works

by Mark Farner

Give me the works, and I'll give to You,

All the glory and honor that You are due,

Oh, Lord of the good, Let Your Light shine through in me.

I've told so many about You,

How I can't make it without You,

It's not like I'm cryin', cause I'll keep on trying' anyway.

I'll keep on trying to reach them, as by your Spirit, You teach them,

But there's so many, that don't believe any of the words I say...

So give me the works, and I'll give to You,

All the glory and honor that You are due,

Oh, Lord of the good, let Your Light shine through in me.

They thought the behavior, or our Lord and Saviour was strange,

But if His works could shine through, in people like me and like you,

Just think of the lives He could change!

So, give me the works, and I'll give to You, 

all the glory and honor that You are due,

Oh, Lord of the good,

Let your light shine through in me.

Greetings

My husband recently returned from a two-week Missions trip to South Africa. The afternoon of his return, I was already looking forward to greeting him in the airport as soon as he walked through the gate. I made sure that I left early enough to be there, right when he exited the doors.  I wanted him to see my face and know how excited I was that he was finally home safe and sound.  By the look on his face, he was just as excited to see me, as I was to see him.

It made me think of Jesus and how He is eagerly waiting to greet us when we finally make it to our Heavenly Home.  You know, He has been preparing a place for us.  (John 14:1-4)

It also made me think of how He greeted Stephen in Acts 7:55-56.  

It says, "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

Can you imagine the greeting that took place?

One day we will each be greeted by our Saviour welcoming us home.  The bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Psalm 116:15 also tells us that "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

On the flip side, isn't it sad when you see people walking through the gates in the airport and they have no one to greet them?  No one waiting for their return?

Friend, will you be greeted?

One day, we will be greeted by our Saviour...

     and what a greeting that will be!

        But that's just me!

The Calm Before the Storm

"And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."  Mark 4:36-39

I'm looking out my front window facing the East this morning as the sun begins to rise.  It's beautiful.  The sky is clear, with a pinkish hue in the sky.  No wind, and no snow on the ground.  An early Spring?  No.

The weatherman is predicting over a foot of snow with winds in a couple of days.  A storm he described as 'debilitating.'  Not a pretty picture, and yet we are preparing for this storm.

Not all storms can be predicted.

Perhaps you go in for a routine physical only to walk out of the doctor's office with a diagnosis you never expected.

Maybe you walked into work this morning only to be told they were laying off workers and you are one of them.

So many unpredictable storms.

We read about one this morning. Jesus and His disciples enter a ship for some rest from the multitudes.  It was calm seas as they set their sails, but an unexpected storm brewed, and the disciples became fearful.

Why?

Because they put their eyes on the Storm and not their Saviour.

In the midst of panic, they woke Jesus up and, in their fear, asked Him, "Carest thou not that we perish?"

It's easy for us to say that this was a silly question, but don't we ask the same thing when we find ourselves in an unexpected storm?  Only the question is a little different.  Instead, it's "Why, God?"

There is a calm before the storm, because we can't see it coming.

There is a calm IN the storm because Jesus slept.  (Even while Jesus slept, He still had absolute control over the storm.)

And there is a calm after the storm, because Jesus says, "Peace, be still."

In the world there will be great storms-

In Jesus there will be great calm.

We don't know what storm we will find ourselves in tomorrow...

    but we can know that Jesus is already there...

        And He is whispering, "Peace, be still..."

            But that's just me!

"The more the wind rages the more you feel that the anchor holds you."

Charles Spurgeon

I Have A Question...

We all have them.

You know, a friend or an acquaintance who only seem to call you when they need something; perhaps a question regarding something you are more familiar with, or maybe they want you to help them with a project or two. 

That happened to me the other day, and when I got off the phone, I was a little perturbed.  And then the Lord smote my heart, I will explain in a minute.

But first, what to do?  Help them, and then pray for them.

I immediately thought of Matthew 5:44. Jesus says, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;"

Of course, these friends and acquaintances don't 'despitefully' use us, but use all the same, which led me to several verses in the bible concerning flattery.

My how the tongue seems to have a mind of its own when it want's something.

On the flip side:  Are you a friend or acquaintance that tends to only contact others when you need something?

 

And now my confession:  Sometimes I do the same thing with my Lord.

Of course, the Lord wants us to ask Him for what we need, many verses in the bible tell us so, but my heart was smote because I had to ask myself, "How many times do you pray just to thank the Lord for what He has already done?"

How many times have I just said, "Hi Lord, it's me Tracy.  I just wanted to thank you for saving me and providing for my every need every single day.  I just want to praise You for Who you are today!"

I admit, not very often.  Oh sure, I thank Him and praise Him BEFORE I ask Him for something, but it's not very often I just pray because I want to praise Him and ask for NOTHING.

I think it brings joy to our Father's heart when we just praise Him for Who He is...

    And it will bring joy to our own hearts as well...

        But that's just me!

A Recipe for Blessings

Psalm 31:24 says, "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

A strengthened heart is the result of good courage that is produced by hope in the LORD.

Talk about circular blessings!

It's like a fool-proof recipe.  One that never fails and turns out every single time!  It's the recipe you grab from your recipe box when you know it will be a hit!  It's the recipe that requires minimal ingredients, easy to mix together, and produces edifying results.

Because David already knew from his own experience that he can trust the LORD in the most dire of circumstances, he exhorts others to be encouraged and be assured that God would never leave them or forsake them.  

But the key is to wait.  (hope) To wait with great anticipation.

Just like my recipe; if I forget an ingredient and if I remove it from the oven too early, the results will not be what they ought.

So, I must ask myself:

    Do I have the right ingredients?  Am I waiting on the LORD?

    And like David, am I exhorting others to trust God and wholly depend on Him through all things?

    

A strengthened heart will enable me to meet any trouble or opposition.  A strengthened heart will keep me from being disheartened, depressed or weary in the battle.

When I put my hope, my expectation in the LORD (not man, not money, not material possessions) He will sustain me, He will cheer me, comfort me, and help me in all things.

Just like my favorite recipe.

No matter my circumstances....

        God will allow it to work out...

            And be GOOD every single time!

                But that's just me!

Damaris

"Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them."  Acts 17:34

The bible doesn't tell us much about this woman, Damaris, except that she was a convert by Paul's witness at Mars Hill.  When Paul was mocked at Athens, Damaris stood alongside of him.  

She had courage.

God chose to record her name in His eternal Word.

She was not included in, ' and others with them,' but her name was specifically written down to forever be remembered.

Can you imagine?

What was Damaris known for?  When others heard her name spoken, what came to their minds?  Did they remember her as being converted to Christ and then standing with Paul as he was mocked?

It caused me to reflect about the testimony of my name.  What comes to people's minds when they hear my name spoken?  If God was still writing His Word, would He have mentioned me by name, or would I have just been 'and others with them.?'

Proverbs 22:1 says, "A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and a loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Remembering Damaris gave me something to think about...

                    I hope it gives you something to think about too...

                        But that's just me!

Just Call

"And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

Psalm 50:15

Have you ever told a friend, 'If you need anything, just give me a call'?

Have you ever had a friend tell you, 'If you need anything, just give me a call.'?

It's comforting, isn't it?  To be able to have a friend you know you can call on when needed, day or night.

God assures us of the same thing.

It's through prayer.

Prayer is a direct call to the Creator.  We will never get a recording, we will never be redirected or told to call back later.  We will not get an automated voice telling us to select a number for help.

We will never be told to leave a voice mail, we will not be accidentally disconnected, or told that we have the wrong number.

When we pray, God is ready to hear our plea.

Prayer is never wasted time, for we are told that 'the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'  James 5:16

In fact, we are told to pray without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer produces blessings:  it removes anxieties, (Philippians 4:6-7) and replaces it with peace.

It multiplies provisions-1 Kings 17:14, Matthew 14:19. Prayer protects us, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, it moves mountains, Matthew 17:20.  Prayer brings healing, Jeremiah 30:17, James 5:16. Prayer strengthens, encourages, reconciles, unifies, comforts, directs us and keeps us from temptation.  Prayer directs our steps, and prayer brings forgiveness.  1 John 1:9

I cannot exhaust the blessings of prayer; it isn't 'prayer' itself, the words spoken are not magical.  It's the Power in the Person Who answers our prayers according to His will, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer is acknowledging that only God can provide the help that we need.  Prayer is the plea to the only One Who has the power to provide only what God can provide.

Prayer allows us to communicate with the God of the Universe...

    Our Saviour...

        And He is amazing...

            But that's just me!

"Isn't it amazing what a prayer can do?

When it all seems hopeless, it'll pull you through, 

Isn't it amazing how a broken heart grows stong,

When every now and then that Special Someone comes along."

    Mark Farner