Suffering

"When suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, God stoops to pick up the pieces. But he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves. Instead, he sifts through the rubble and selects some of the shards as raw material for another project--a mosaic that tells the story of redemption." --Ken Gire

Being Fully Persuaded

Written in December of 2010

For the past week I've been reading about all the miracles God did through Peter and the other disciples and the sermons they preached to the Jews. Even though I've read it before I am seeing a lot of things I don't remember. Instead of just reading the story, I'm seeing the attitudes and perseverance that I never took notice of until now. I'm seeing some characteristics that I need to adopt in my own life.

The disciples didn't have an easy road to travel being some of the first ones to bring the Gospel to the Jews. (Being the first is never easy.) Just think, the people of Israel probably thought they wouldn't hear no more of Jesus once they crucified him. Now they were hearing his name and seeing the effects of his greatness every where they went. It disturbed the Pharisees and Sadducee's to see all the sick healed and the joy that must have came with it. They were so wrapped up in the law and couldn't let loose of it. But I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about the Sadducee's because that's not what got my attention.

The apostles were thrown into prison for all the miracles God was performing and for teaching the Jews about Christ. The Bible then says, "But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught." Acts 5: 19-21a) The first thing that came to my mind was, 'Wow, they didn't even take a day off to get over their imprisonment.' They didn't sit around for a day to pray about it and see if they really were in God's will. The Bible doesn't say they questioned the angel or discussed it among themselves. They went into the temple within hours, and taught. They went right back to what they've always been doing because they knew that was what God wanted them to do. They were fully persuaded.

Of course we can always say "If I had seen Jesus after he was raised from the dead, or if I had been filled with the Holy Ghost at Penticost, and if I had been spoken to by an angel . . . I would be fully persuaded too." But we do have the scriptures. We have felt the joy of Christ in our heart and seen the things that God can do through others. We know what God wants us to do because it's written in his Word, yet we often find ourselves doubting if what we are doing is the right thing. It's time that we become fully persuaded.

Mercy Said No

Tonight while I was driving home from work I began thinking about how sinful I am and about all the times that I really screwed up just today. At the same time I began singing a song my youth chior is learning, Mercy Said No. This was nothing unusual because I've always got a song on my lips, even when I'm having a bad day you might find me humming a song out of the hymn book or chior book.

This particular day, as I was singing along in the privacy of my car, I really started thinking about the words. Actually, it was probably God pointing them out to me, because that is something He would do. ♪  "Mercy said no, I'm not gonna let you go. I'm not gonna let you slip away, you don't have to be a fraid. . . sin will never take control . . ." I started thinking about how much I deserve to be let go. God should just say, "That's enough. If you want to be that way I'll let you live misserably in your selfishness." But instead He promised to never leave me nor forsake me. He promised to be right by my side chastising me when I do wrong and trying to direct me in the right way. He'll be right there to give me the love that I need, grace that I couldn't live without . . . and his enduring mercy.

♪ "Thank you Jesus, mercy said no!" ♪

Blessings From the Scriptures

I use to read the Bible through one book at a time, but now I read at least two and I love it! It is so neat to see how often the scriptures repeat themselves throughout the Bible.

A few weeks ago while I was trying to memorize Psalms 95 an evangelist, who was preaching a revival at our church, used Heb. 3:7-11 in his sermon . . . scriptures that are practically identical to Psalms 95! Then today I saw it again. I was in Acts 2 and verse 35-36 said, "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool." When I finished reading the chapter I turned to Psalms 110 to pick up where I left off. Verse 1 said, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." It was amazing not just to see that the scriptures match, but that God had directed me to read both of these chapters in my daily Bible reading! I wasn't looking for a scripture to match what I was reading . . . it was just right there in front of me. How amazing is our God!

When you feel like you've blown it.

Ever feel like you've really blown it? You feel like you've done something that cannot be forgiven or that you are too ashamed to ask forgiveness for? Maybe we've all been there, but we don't have to let that destroy our relationship with God.

That's a little bit of what was expressed in an artical called, "Don't Hang Yourself . . . Hang Around." It was such an encouragement to me that I thought about re-writing it myself to share with y'all, but instead I'll just post the link here as well as print it for my files. I really encourage you to take the time to read this short artical if you are down and out.

Click here to read it.

Perfectly Fall

Today is the kind of day that makes me want to stay under my quilts a few extra minutes. It's the perfect weather for reading my Bible next to a fireplace and talking to God in the quiet of the morning. It's just the kind of day that makes me want to cook chili and try a new (and delicious) homemade cappuccino recipe. The cool temperatures is perfect for cuddling next to the fire place to watch a movie with my family. . . while drinking that delicious cappuccino! And it only seems natural to bake a homemade pumpkin pie to enjoy durring this lovely fall season. Yes, today is just perfectly fall-ish!

Check back later for a pumpkin pie recipe . . .

Even the Stars Praise God

Recently I read an article about scientist' discovery of "singing stars." The article, Astronomers Listen In to 'Red Giant Concert' explained that giant red stars are singing in space. Instantly my mind went to the scriptures that spoke of nature worshiping and even obeying God. It only took a few minutes of research to get me excited about this finding.

In Job 38:4-7 God says, (speaking to Job) "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"  Then in another passage the Psalmist says, "Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light."

Then God brought to mind where Jesus said in Luke 19: 40 "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these [the disciples] should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

If the stones can cry out in worship to Christ, I'm sure the stars can. With all that said, isn't that so neat to know that the stars are sing praises to the only living God? It isn't the scientific findings that proves this in my mind, but it's neat to see that science lines up with the Bible, a source I  already know and believe is true. Praise ye the LORD!