post

“Do what ever He tells you.”

blog picture clay potsI was thinking about the miracle at Cana this week. Imagine being there – all the guests, loud conversations, maybe some music. Mary notices that no more wine is being served and it’s still early in the celebration. She may have had experience of Jesus’ gifts before because she tells Him they have no more wine.

4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But Mary turned to the servants and said “Do what ever He tells you”. John 2:4-5

Those servants were probably wondering why in the world they had to fill those stone jars with water. It was hard work and probably involved multiple trips to the well. Maybe it was hot outside. Maybe they were tired. But they were the ones that saw that miracle happen. [Read more…]

post

Gotta Love Them

John 13:34-3634 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

brothers_loveNotice that Jesus did not say this is a suggestion. He said it is a commandment. That means it is not optional. Besides, this is the way we prove to the world that we are Jesus’ disciples.

I was at church this last week and idly looking around at my fellow church goers, when these scriptures came to mind. I am supposed to love these people deeply with all my heart! Do I? No. Why? I have not gotten to know them yet. [Read more…]

quote

But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say,  “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1: 15 – 16

post

Some Virgins Were Ready

Matthew 24:36 “ But of that exact day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the son, but only the father”.

blog picture virginsIn the last few months I have had people ask me about the end times. After all, it has been the topic of several movies that have gotten people thinking about it. We know that nobody knows the hour. Matthew 24:36 “ But of that exact day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the son, but only the father”. So nobody knows exactly when the Lord is going to return, but Jesus gave us advice when He said: Matthew 24:”you must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him”. [Read more…]

post

Somebody Comfort Me

Comfort: to give strength and hope to, to ease the grief or trouble of.

“God is our merciful father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” Second Corinthians 1:3 –5.

blog picture hugging comfortWe know that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. So what about all those difficult things that happen to us? Things like a divorce, a lost job, a troubled child, illness. What does God make of all of these hard times in our lives? And what’s the purpose of it all? [Read more…]

post

I See Harassed People

 

Matthew 9:36-38. When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered or (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd.

blog picture harrassed peopleI asked the Lord to let me see people through his eyes. I wanted to see people the way He sees them. Over the next few days I noticed a change in my perception. The person I would have previously perceived as someone with malice, I now saw as somebody broken hearted, or frightened or needing affirmation. I found myself saying “I can understand that”, when before, I would have been critical. [Read more…]

post

Putting on the Mind of Christ

Corinthians 2:16 4, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s Spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us”.

love and light

Flickr image by James Jordan

One of the side effects of the Fall of Man was that we were cut off from the life of God. Adam and Eve enjoyed fellow-shipping with the Lord every day. It must have been great to walk with the Lord in the cool of the evening, to talk with Him and enjoy His company. But after the fall, the light went out.

The good news is that after we make Jesus the Lord of our lives, the light in us is restored. It is life and the presence of the Lord in us. That is wonderful. But… even though we have the Lord in us guiding and helping us, our minds are still programmed with the old things we learned and most of it is non Christian. [Read more…]

quote

The Lord loves you and has a plan for your life. You and I are part of His portion.

post

How important are we?

“The Lord’s portion is His people”. Deut: 32:9.

your are importantA dear friend of mine in the Lord told me a few days ago that although she used to be a proud person,she now realized that she wasn’t important.  I was shocked; because the truth of the matter is that we are important to the Lord. More important then we realize.

The Lord has chosen us to His special portion. We are His share of things.

“The Lord’s portion is His people”. Deut: 32:9.

Ephesians 1: 4 says: “for He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace which he has freely given us in the one he loves. [Read more…]

post

It’s Mostly About Grazing

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Psalm 23:1-2

It’s mostly about grazing

I have read the Good Shepherd Psalm – Psalm 23, hundreds of times. I even read a book about taking care of sheep so I could understand it a little better. It didn’t help much. But finally one day I got some light from the Lord. The Lord spoke to me quietly while I was thinking about the psalm “it’s mostly about grazing”. In my minds eye I could see a beautiful meadow with a lovely small lake. I watched the sheep graze quietly by the dark blue, quiet water.  I could see the Shepherd standing nearby with his rod ready to beat off any predators, his staff ready to pull back any wayward sheep, vigilantly scanning the meadow for any sign of danger. The sheep were enjoying the grass, the sunshine, and the cool water to drink.

I always have to ask how things affect me personally. The Lord showed me that he leads me to the cool water. My job is to drink.  He leads me to the green grass. My job is to eat and trust in my Shepherd. His job is to guard and lead us. My job is to follow. [Read more…]