Philemon vs. 7
7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
In our lifetime we cross paths with many people. Sometimes I look around at a Reds baseball game, in a crowded mall or in other venues where a lot of people gather and I think, wow - there are so many people I will never talk to or get to know. Yet, God has a way of putting the people we need to know in our path. What a blessing when we connect with people who refresh our hearts. I'm sure you can think of someone who has come into your life and blessed you with their positive impact and encouragement. Praise God for that person.
Like Paul, be thankful for that love and encouragement and pass it on to others. You can be the one who makes a difference to someone else.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Bible
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love books. My daughter Sara and I can sit in the bookstore for hours. At work I am the "keeper of the books", I order them, catalog them, repair them, etc. With all the books I see everyday and all the books I want to read, there is one that fills me with joy everytime I pick it up.
The Bible is filled with amazing stories and imagery, adventures, wisdom, mystery, poetry, parables, advice, directions for living, and so much more. God created, through his people, the most important and fascinating book ever written. I used to see reading the Bible as drudgery, something I had to do to be a christian, thinking I needed to understand every word I read. That changed when I decided to just "read" the Bible like I read other books. Now when I am reading, if I do have a question, I write it down and then seek an answer after I finish reading.
Praise God for his Word!
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love books. My daughter Sara and I can sit in the bookstore for hours. At work I am the "keeper of the books", I order them, catalog them, repair them, etc. With all the books I see everyday and all the books I want to read, there is one that fills me with joy everytime I pick it up.
The Bible is filled with amazing stories and imagery, adventures, wisdom, mystery, poetry, parables, advice, directions for living, and so much more. God created, through his people, the most important and fascinating book ever written. I used to see reading the Bible as drudgery, something I had to do to be a christian, thinking I needed to understand every word I read. That changed when I decided to just "read" the Bible like I read other books. Now when I am reading, if I do have a question, I write it down and then seek an answer after I finish reading.
Praise God for his Word!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Storms
Psalm 107:28-30
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
Our dog, Tater, is totally terrified of storms. One morning this week as the lightning flashed and the thunder echoed, he hung at my feet while I tried to get ready for work (a little awkward in the bathroom). Later when we returned home, the storm passed and Tater rested in the calm. Then, about bedtime the lighting and thunder struck again. Tater jumped on the bed, and he shuddered and shook as if he were freezing. Tim and I comforted him as best we could and assured him the storm would pass.
In life we experience storms of many kinds, some from physical suffering, others from emotional and spiritual situations. God offers peace, comfort and hope through all of our storms when we seek his help. He doesn’t promise that they will not come. But he does give hope, guidance and grace.
I like the song Casting Crowns sings, the words remind me that God is with me through every thunderclap. “... every tear I've cried You hold in your hand- You never left my side, and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.”
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
Our dog, Tater, is totally terrified of storms. One morning this week as the lightning flashed and the thunder echoed, he hung at my feet while I tried to get ready for work (a little awkward in the bathroom). Later when we returned home, the storm passed and Tater rested in the calm. Then, about bedtime the lighting and thunder struck again. Tater jumped on the bed, and he shuddered and shook as if he were freezing. Tim and I comforted him as best we could and assured him the storm would pass.
In life we experience storms of many kinds, some from physical suffering, others from emotional and spiritual situations. God offers peace, comfort and hope through all of our storms when we seek his help. He doesn’t promise that they will not come. But he does give hope, guidance and grace.
I like the song Casting Crowns sings, the words remind me that God is with me through every thunderclap. “... every tear I've cried You hold in your hand- You never left my side, and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.”
Saturday, June 6, 2009
STRETCH-------
Matthew 10: 1, 6-10
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…
…6Go … to the lost sheep of Israel 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
This week I celebrated my 3rd year of working for UC Clermont. Since I’ve worked there my abilities, knowledge, emotional well-being, and spiritual life have been stretched in many different directions. I learned to drive in downtown Cincinnati (well, sort of), I’ve learned new software (lots of it), and I’ve been more challenged spiritually than I even thought possible. I can’t imagine how the 12 Apostles felt.
The men Jesus chose must have stretched like rubber bands. We are talking about men who catch fish all day or work at other everyday occupations. Now they are asked to heal the sick, preach and raise the dead. I wonder if they looked at Jesus with wide eyes and said, “Are you kidding me?” and “We can’t take anything with us?” Knowing what we know of the Apostles, they looked at Jesus with faith and trust and picked themselves up and went out as Jesus asked them. Oh to have that kind of faith, to be pulled out of our comfort zone and sent out to do work that is totally new and foreign.
Everyday Jesus wants to stretch us if we’ll let him. The great thing is, He’s with us in every step.
1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…
…6Go … to the lost sheep of Israel 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
This week I celebrated my 3rd year of working for UC Clermont. Since I’ve worked there my abilities, knowledge, emotional well-being, and spiritual life have been stretched in many different directions. I learned to drive in downtown Cincinnati (well, sort of), I’ve learned new software (lots of it), and I’ve been more challenged spiritually than I even thought possible. I can’t imagine how the 12 Apostles felt.
The men Jesus chose must have stretched like rubber bands. We are talking about men who catch fish all day or work at other everyday occupations. Now they are asked to heal the sick, preach and raise the dead. I wonder if they looked at Jesus with wide eyes and said, “Are you kidding me?” and “We can’t take anything with us?” Knowing what we know of the Apostles, they looked at Jesus with faith and trust and picked themselves up and went out as Jesus asked them. Oh to have that kind of faith, to be pulled out of our comfort zone and sent out to do work that is totally new and foreign.
Everyday Jesus wants to stretch us if we’ll let him. The great thing is, He’s with us in every step.
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