Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
The change I got to see in people in three days was amazing. They came in scared and a little unsure if this was even the place they needed to be. By the end of the three days they each realized that this was indeed where they needed to be.
It was the same way for me thirteen years ago when I took my Walk to Emmaus. I was unsure of why I needed to be there, I agreed to go because of what the Lord had already done in my life. He had saved our home. He had forgiven me.
My walk was a heavenly experience and has helped me to be a better servant for Him. I learned so much and changed my way of thinking.
This past week something struck me as I read in the Bible-the way of the unfaithful is hard. If it's so hard to live without faith, then why do so many people do it? I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for my faith. God is real! He proves it to me over and over again.
A commercial recently has caught my attention. The Catholic church is advertising Reconciliation Day and if you've been away from the Catholic church this is the day to return. This actually bothers me. The Catholic church or any church for that matter aren't the ones who bring reconciliation-it's GOD.
We are reconciled because of the blood of Christ. Even better news is there isn't a certain day that you can be reconciled it can happen any day-24 hours a day, 7 days a week. God is ready whenever you're ready. You don't need a priest, all you need is faith.
Enough faith to know that Jesus Christ did die for you. He conquered death. He is alive. Then pray and ask God to forgive you for what you've done, tell Him you believe, and desire to have Him in your life.
That's all it takes! Live a life of faith and reconciliation! Become a new creation! I promise your life will never be the same and you'll never regret it.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
A Change in Light Bulbs
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:3-5 NIV
I noticed the light was out the day before, but failed to do something about it. Yesterday though it needed replaced, so I changed it. The shock of the new light though confused me.
The light appeared to be brighter than the others. I let it go for a few minutes, but it bothered me. I checked the light bulb package, the new one was actually 25 watts less than what was in there.
"Strange," I thought. The next step was to replace the other two lights in the chandelier, I thought this would balance the light out. It made it worse, the light now hurt my eyes.
I turned on more lights hoping for some relief. The other lights helped, but I really don't want to have more lights on to use the one chandelier. The plan was to buy new light bulbs the next time I went shopping.
My hope was that in the morning the lights would be alright, maybe it was just changing them half way through the day that made my eyes go wacky. It didn't work, the lights still hurt my eyes. It also bothered my husband's eyes, "what's with the light?" he asked.
The change needed to happen today. I woke my son up hoping he would go to the store, which he did. Wisdom hit me after I checked the kind of light he needed to buy, "Why not change the two back and leave the one place empty?" So the deed was done, the light grew calmer and more soft.
Triumphantly my son arrived back and our light situation is peaceful once again.
God is our light, He restores peace. The light doesn't have to hurt, He's there to help us through the pain, the loss, the suffering. Don't let the light scare you, come out of the darkness and be restored, God is love and that's all one needs to understand.
I noticed the light was out the day before, but failed to do something about it. Yesterday though it needed replaced, so I changed it. The shock of the new light though confused me.
The light appeared to be brighter than the others. I let it go for a few minutes, but it bothered me. I checked the light bulb package, the new one was actually 25 watts less than what was in there.
"Strange," I thought. The next step was to replace the other two lights in the chandelier, I thought this would balance the light out. It made it worse, the light now hurt my eyes.
I turned on more lights hoping for some relief. The other lights helped, but I really don't want to have more lights on to use the one chandelier. The plan was to buy new light bulbs the next time I went shopping.
My hope was that in the morning the lights would be alright, maybe it was just changing them half way through the day that made my eyes go wacky. It didn't work, the lights still hurt my eyes. It also bothered my husband's eyes, "what's with the light?" he asked.
The change needed to happen today. I woke my son up hoping he would go to the store, which he did. Wisdom hit me after I checked the kind of light he needed to buy, "Why not change the two back and leave the one place empty?" So the deed was done, the light grew calmer and more soft.
Triumphantly my son arrived back and our light situation is peaceful once again.
God is our light, He restores peace. The light doesn't have to hurt, He's there to help us through the pain, the loss, the suffering. Don't let the light scare you, come out of the darkness and be restored, God is love and that's all one needs to understand.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
But I Drove 40 Minutes to get Here
God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Romans 11:40 NIV
A typical Monday without school-eat breakfast, pack a lunch, and head to our field trip destination. A pleasant drive brought us to Sun & Fun, an airplane museum.
We entered prepared to pay and enjoy our morning. Just when the volunteer behind the desk figures out how much we owed, a manager approached.
"I can't let you in today."
"What?"
"I'll give you free passes if you come back another day."
It took me a minute to figure out what he meant. My first thought was, "What are we going to do instead? I have to keep them occupied until 12 at least."
I ended up taking him up on the deal. Then my brilliant daughter came up with a plan, "how about we go pick the strawberries today."So that's exactly what we did.
Today we made the long drive back to go to the museum. It turned out to be a very nice trip especially with our free tickets.
At one point we had part of it to ourselves, along with all the volunteers. They ended up taking my crew in airplanes by letting them sit in a couple. My crew also learned about engines and how the propeller moves. All we wouldn't have learned if we had continued our stay the day before.
Sometimes we have a plan all set in our head. We have walked through each step and know exactly how it'll end. Then God throws in a speed hump, and our best laid plans are in ruins. Still God knows what He's doing, in fact He knows the better way. Trust in Him for His plans are perfect.
A typical Monday without school-eat breakfast, pack a lunch, and head to our field trip destination. A pleasant drive brought us to Sun & Fun, an airplane museum.
We entered prepared to pay and enjoy our morning. Just when the volunteer behind the desk figures out how much we owed, a manager approached.
"I can't let you in today."
"What?"
"I'll give you free passes if you come back another day."
It took me a minute to figure out what he meant. My first thought was, "What are we going to do instead? I have to keep them occupied until 12 at least."
I ended up taking him up on the deal. Then my brilliant daughter came up with a plan, "how about we go pick the strawberries today."So that's exactly what we did.
Today we made the long drive back to go to the museum. It turned out to be a very nice trip especially with our free tickets.
At one point we had part of it to ourselves, along with all the volunteers. They ended up taking my crew in airplanes by letting them sit in a couple. My crew also learned about engines and how the propeller moves. All we wouldn't have learned if we had continued our stay the day before.
Sometimes we have a plan all set in our head. We have walked through each step and know exactly how it'll end. Then God throws in a speed hump, and our best laid plans are in ruins. Still God knows what He's doing, in fact He knows the better way. Trust in Him for His plans are perfect.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
God is Holding You
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalm 73:21-24 NIV
Just being there was amazing, the Hawks girls basketball team had come together winning the second round by 3. Now they were in the finals against a team they had lost to twice before, but not by a lot. Which made this game a possibility.
The other team seemed a bit to confident. Apparently, they were undefeated. Still we had hopes.
The game began and within thirty seconds the other team had scored and may have scored again. The tension was high and the fans went crazy shouting for the team they hoped would win. Soon the score was even and continued to go back and forth.
The girls played hard-defending, stealing the ball, scoring. By the third period our girls had done it. They had stopped them from scoring and were leading the ball game.
The coach of the other team stomped his feet, threw down his towel, and yelled at the girls on his team. Our coach stood there calmly watching, encouraging and helping our girls see what they needed to do.
Right at the end of the third period the other team scored to take the lead once again. the fourth period was intense. In fact, I had trouble breathing. The crowd continued to yell and cheer their team on to victory.
We trailed the other team by one basket. Our girls had the ball and try as they might it just wouldn't go in the basket. Thirty seconds left the other team scored a three and we still had a chance. Quickly, the time ran down and we knew. We knew they had won.
Our girls played hard. They never gave up. They're all winners in my book.
My hope is as we go through life we can play with the determination to see it through to the end. Adversity will come. The other team may be winning, but losing is not an option.
God is on our side. He will hold us by our right hand, in fact He may even have to carry us for awhile. In the end, He will take us to glory and we will be with Him forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw
Just being there was amazing, the Hawks girls basketball team had come together winning the second round by 3. Now they were in the finals against a team they had lost to twice before, but not by a lot. Which made this game a possibility.
The other team seemed a bit to confident. Apparently, they were undefeated. Still we had hopes.
The game began and within thirty seconds the other team had scored and may have scored again. The tension was high and the fans went crazy shouting for the team they hoped would win. Soon the score was even and continued to go back and forth.
The girls played hard-defending, stealing the ball, scoring. By the third period our girls had done it. They had stopped them from scoring and were leading the ball game.
The coach of the other team stomped his feet, threw down his towel, and yelled at the girls on his team. Our coach stood there calmly watching, encouraging and helping our girls see what they needed to do.
Right at the end of the third period the other team scored to take the lead once again. the fourth period was intense. In fact, I had trouble breathing. The crowd continued to yell and cheer their team on to victory.
We trailed the other team by one basket. Our girls had the ball and try as they might it just wouldn't go in the basket. Thirty seconds left the other team scored a three and we still had a chance. Quickly, the time ran down and we knew. We knew they had won.
Our girls played hard. They never gave up. They're all winners in my book.
My hope is as we go through life we can play with the determination to see it through to the end. Adversity will come. The other team may be winning, but losing is not an option.
God is on our side. He will hold us by our right hand, in fact He may even have to carry us for awhile. In the end, He will take us to glory and we will be with Him forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
A Broken Glass
All Scripture is God breathed an dis useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
"Just a chip, thank goodness," I thought six months ago when another glass had fallen from the cabinet and hit my Disney glass as it careened to the floor. "I'm sure glad my glass didn't break."
So these past few months I have continued to use my glass just not the side with the chip in it, that was until a couple of weeks ago. While unloading the dishwasher I noticed one of the glasses in the cabinet wasn't placed where it needed to be, so I fixed it.
I continued to put dishes away only to hear chenck, tumble, crash..."I hope my glass is alright." I turned to look and this time my Disney glass was in a billion pieces. I wondered why because it was safely sitting on the counter. That's when I discovered the culprit--the glass I had just adjusted.
Tears welled up in my eyes, it was my drinking glass. Now what was I to drink out of it? Of course we had other glasses, in fact I had one more Disney glass. It's just I need two, OK I don't need two, but I want two. That way I can still have a glass to drink out of while the other glass gets cleaned.
The next week was a challenge having only one glass, and finally I looked to see if I could purchase another Disney glass. I found a set of four for $20. Yippee, I can get those and have several back ups.
Finally, the day arrived my glasses were delivered. "If I knew those were glasses I wouldn't of just thrown the box in the door," my athletic son shared.
"Gee thanks."
Luckily no damage occurred to my new Disney glasses. I carefully unwrapped each one and noticed that each came with a official sticker. There was even a McDonald's bag from when one of the glasses were officially purchased.
"These are collector glasses mom," my mechanical son informed me.
"I understand that, but I plan on using them. That is after all why I bought them."
"Ah mom, you need to put these up. Look how clean and shiny they are," he shared.
I wonder why, so they can collect dust on a shelf. What's the point of having a glass if it's just going to sit on a shelf?
Sure collecting things is fun and maybe one day it will bring in an extra dollar or two, but what's the point? I mean weren't things made to be used?
Wasn't the Bible written with the intent of being read? God gave us His precious words all written down in one book; a book that's meant to be used. Not sat upon the coffee table or collecting dust on a shelf. A well used Bible will have finger stains, food/drink stains, maybe a page or two coming out. They'll be words highlighted; notes written in the margin.
Don't let God's word get dusty or become a collector's item-Read it, Study it, Love it, Live it...
"Just a chip, thank goodness," I thought six months ago when another glass had fallen from the cabinet and hit my Disney glass as it careened to the floor. "I'm sure glad my glass didn't break."
So these past few months I have continued to use my glass just not the side with the chip in it, that was until a couple of weeks ago. While unloading the dishwasher I noticed one of the glasses in the cabinet wasn't placed where it needed to be, so I fixed it.
I continued to put dishes away only to hear chenck, tumble, crash..."I hope my glass is alright." I turned to look and this time my Disney glass was in a billion pieces. I wondered why because it was safely sitting on the counter. That's when I discovered the culprit--the glass I had just adjusted.
Tears welled up in my eyes, it was my drinking glass. Now what was I to drink out of it? Of course we had other glasses, in fact I had one more Disney glass. It's just I need two, OK I don't need two, but I want two. That way I can still have a glass to drink out of while the other glass gets cleaned.
The next week was a challenge having only one glass, and finally I looked to see if I could purchase another Disney glass. I found a set of four for $20. Yippee, I can get those and have several back ups.
Finally, the day arrived my glasses were delivered. "If I knew those were glasses I wouldn't of just thrown the box in the door," my athletic son shared.
"Gee thanks."
Luckily no damage occurred to my new Disney glasses. I carefully unwrapped each one and noticed that each came with a official sticker. There was even a McDonald's bag from when one of the glasses were officially purchased.
"These are collector glasses mom," my mechanical son informed me.
"I understand that, but I plan on using them. That is after all why I bought them."
"Ah mom, you need to put these up. Look how clean and shiny they are," he shared.
I wonder why, so they can collect dust on a shelf. What's the point of having a glass if it's just going to sit on a shelf?
Sure collecting things is fun and maybe one day it will bring in an extra dollar or two, but what's the point? I mean weren't things made to be used?
Wasn't the Bible written with the intent of being read? God gave us His precious words all written down in one book; a book that's meant to be used. Not sat upon the coffee table or collecting dust on a shelf. A well used Bible will have finger stains, food/drink stains, maybe a page or two coming out. They'll be words highlighted; notes written in the margin.
Don't let God's word get dusty or become a collector's item-Read it, Study it, Love it, Live it...
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Did I Really Miss That?
Do everything in Love. I Corinthians 16:14 NIV
Funny how a simple shared picture on Facebook can give you a message even if your weren't looking for it.
Monday, while preparing soup for dinner, I cut an onion. I sliced down the onion and a part popped out, quite common. When I looked though I discovered a heart placed in the middle of the onion. I showed my daughter and she says post a picture, so I did.
Quickly I thought of a one liner, "My onion loves me." I thought it was clever, so I went with it. It was a little later when a friend posted, "Ah, the one who made the onion loves you." Simple yet filled with such a message.
Why wasn't that the first message I thought of? God sending me a message of love. God is in my thoughts most of the time. I mean He's every where and yet I still missed this message of love from my creator.
A few summers ago at church camp we ended up with a God message from a tomato. That day the tomato slices were in the shape of a heart. Immediately, we recognize this as a message of love from God. One of the campers took pictures and we all were amazed how God could send His message through a tomato.
How much easier it was to recognize God's message of love at church camp? Somehow being there made it easier to see.
At home though I get busy, my mind gets focused on other things, and children misbehave. I wonder how many God messages I end up missing because of my lack of focus.
It's good to know though when I do lose my focus, a friend is there to help guide me back.
Funny how a simple shared picture on Facebook can give you a message even if your weren't looking for it.
Monday, while preparing soup for dinner, I cut an onion. I sliced down the onion and a part popped out, quite common. When I looked though I discovered a heart placed in the middle of the onion. I showed my daughter and she says post a picture, so I did.
Quickly I thought of a one liner, "My onion loves me." I thought it was clever, so I went with it. It was a little later when a friend posted, "Ah, the one who made the onion loves you." Simple yet filled with such a message.
Why wasn't that the first message I thought of? God sending me a message of love. God is in my thoughts most of the time. I mean He's every where and yet I still missed this message of love from my creator.
A few summers ago at church camp we ended up with a God message from a tomato. That day the tomato slices were in the shape of a heart. Immediately, we recognize this as a message of love from God. One of the campers took pictures and we all were amazed how God could send His message through a tomato.
How much easier it was to recognize God's message of love at church camp? Somehow being there made it easier to see.
At home though I get busy, my mind gets focused on other things, and children misbehave. I wonder how many God messages I end up missing because of my lack of focus.
It's good to know though when I do lose my focus, a friend is there to help guide me back.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
This Gift of Love
Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 NIV
I am very grateful to be loved and to have other people to love. The love I feel from God is one of the most amazing gifts of love I could ever hope to receive.
You see God loved me so much that He sent His son to save me from separation from Him. He would have sent His son here even if I was the only person on this earth. He would have done the same for you.
This week I was grieving for a lady who just doesn't get it. She obviously loves her husband and her children, but she is missing out on the best love of all. The unconditional love of God.
He loves each one of us. He knew each of us before He even created this place for us to call home. It's hard to imagine that before He said, "let there be light" He thought of me and He thought of you too. He knew the struggles we would face and the heartaches we would suffer. Yet He still created the world and each one of us.
Truth is each of us mess up several times a day. I lose my temper, I don't want to listen, and I hurt. The one thing I can count on is His love for me. He forgives me when I mess up, and He holds me in the palm of His hand when I'm hurting.
This Friday we have a day to celebrate LOVE. This is can be a hard day on some, and a blessed day for others. The one thing though we can all celebrate is the LOVE our heavenly father has for each one of us. He truly does love you whether you believe it or not. Don't miss out on the best LOVE of all.
I am very grateful to be loved and to have other people to love. The love I feel from God is one of the most amazing gifts of love I could ever hope to receive.
You see God loved me so much that He sent His son to save me from separation from Him. He would have sent His son here even if I was the only person on this earth. He would have done the same for you.
This week I was grieving for a lady who just doesn't get it. She obviously loves her husband and her children, but she is missing out on the best love of all. The unconditional love of God.
He loves each one of us. He knew each of us before He even created this place for us to call home. It's hard to imagine that before He said, "let there be light" He thought of me and He thought of you too. He knew the struggles we would face and the heartaches we would suffer. Yet He still created the world and each one of us.
Truth is each of us mess up several times a day. I lose my temper, I don't want to listen, and I hurt. The one thing I can count on is His love for me. He forgives me when I mess up, and He holds me in the palm of His hand when I'm hurting.
This Friday we have a day to celebrate LOVE. This is can be a hard day on some, and a blessed day for others. The one thing though we can all celebrate is the LOVE our heavenly father has for each one of us. He truly does love you whether you believe it or not. Don't miss out on the best LOVE of all.
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