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There are many stories of how God has transformed lives. People who are
miraculously healed of diseases, or addictions, people averting accidents,
marriages that have been given new life -- there are many examples of God
working in their lives.
Whether your life has had some spectacular moments in it or not, all of the
lives of Christians are a testimony to God's working in their lives.
Jesus wiped away our sins by His shed blood and has clothed us in His
righteousness. We have become new creatures by the power of the Holy
Spirit.
All people should be able to see how Christians live different lives to glorify
God by their words and deeds. Christians should be out in the community
serving other people. Christians should display the gifts of the spirit
when others aren't -- patience, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and above
all, love.
Transformed lives should be a living testimony to the grace of God and bring
Him glory in all things. Can people see God in you?
So the holiday season has begun. I love this time of year. It seems as though people are more intuned to their fellow man. There is a feeling of purpose in shops and malls. Thanksgiving is probably the last restful and unhurried day for a while. Oh yes, I cooked my little fingers to the bone, cleaned my house with a lot of help from my husband, and I put out the Thanksgiving decorations. It was a small group this year—just seven of us. My hubby and me, my older son, his wife and his son and daughter, and my younger son were all that gathered around the table. As I peeled and chopped I started to remember Thanksgivings of yesteryear when there were as many as thirty sharing the meal.
Those were the days of making memories for these days that used to be thought of as “the future.” My three little children and my friend Ernie’s two were just beginning to build their own memories that they now share with their own children. Three beloved elderly couples have left the table to be with the Lord, taking with them a piece of our hearts and leaving a piece of their hearts with us.
It is such a blessing in these hurried days to slow down once in a while and remember things that built us into who we are today. To run at break neck pace to get things done needs to be given a balance in the consideration of what is really important. It is the day after Thanksgiving and today the second wave arrived for the rest of the weekend. Yesterday I spoke with my friend, Calista. She and her husband, Richard have been here also in other years. More memories float through my mind of the almost sixty years that I have known her, her parents who were so special to me, the town where we lived, and other family members who are part of those days of the fifties and sixties.
That is what life is all about really. You move ahead building a structure of your life knowing that some of the bricks and boards are added in by the precious people who were on your path. Sometimes things change, and that can be hard. However, if we can put the proper value and light onto our past we will appreciate the souvenirs gathered from the people and friendships that God has gifted us with throughout the years.
Father God, thank You for all you have brought my way, especially the friends and memories that offer me a looking glass through which to view my life. May my family and friends be blessed with the memories they hold precious in their lives. As we begin the season during which we celebrate the greatest Gift that You have given us, let the days until Christmas be days of joy, fellowship and the building more memories for the future. Help us to remember the true reason for the season and to hold the wonderful Christmases of our lives close to heart. We must never forget that JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON, Amen.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
She gave birth to a son, her firstborn.
She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger,
During our worship time this past Sunday was simply delightful! There is truly nothing like being in God's presence. When I am in His presence, everything that is hindering me melts away. I experience His peace and His all consuming love that totally covers me like a warm, heavenly blanket.
There is also great healing that transpires as well as a beautiful resting in Him. There is nothing that can take the place of being with Jesus.
I find myself more and more just longing and yearning to come away and get lost in God's presence and sit at His feet.
This particular verse sums it up well.
"My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord, My heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God." Psalm 84:2
As long as I have breath I will long and cry out for the courts of the Living God. For a day in His courts is far better than a thousand else where.
Everyone on this earth needs a friend. We all need someone we can talk to and share our hearts with. Relationships are important to people and a vital part of growth and living as a human being. Here on earth I would have to say that my husband is my best friend. We do lots of activities together. Some of the things we love doing are concerts, bike riding, dinner, walking and movies. Those are just a few of the things we spend time doing. During the day, certain things will come to my mind about a situation, and I know it is something I would really like to share with my husband. I look forward to sitting down with him and sharing my day and the things that are on my mind. I can honestly say that my husband is my best friend.
Jesus tells us in John how he has called us His friends. I don't know about you, but when I read in God's word about Him wanting to be my friend, it totally gets my attention. I not only love having my husband as my best friend and other friends as well, but now Jesus is telling me that He wants to be my friend. That rocks my world!
Scripture says in John 15:15,
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant
does not know His master's business.
Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father
I have made known to you."
But there is a "catch 22" to that scripture. As we read the passage right before it in verse 14 it says,
"You are my friends
if you do what I command."
Jesus so desires to be our "best friend." He longs for us to spend time with Him. He wants us to have an extreme relationship with Him. But He is asking us to be obedient onto Him. In order to have that close friendship, we must follow His commands. Friend means "close trusted friend." Jesus wants us to draw close to Him in prayer, worship and meditating on His word and walking in His word. He wants to be able to trust us with what He has asked of us. If we have a true relationship with Him, we will want to follow His leading.
True, solid, friendships are not passive but continuously active in strengthening the relationship.
I choose to pursue an intense friendship with Christ, and in order to make that happen I am running hard after Him to follow His commands. It is then, I can say that Jesus is my "best friend."
"It's not you, it's them," my friend reassured me. My feelings had been hurt, and I was crying over the rejection of others. I wanted her words to be true. I wanted to be able to blame them. But satisfaction, comfort, and resolution remained out of reach. Many months later I was meeting with my pastors, lamenting over my lack of connection with a certain group within our church and they asked me, "What is it you want?" "I want to be a part of them. I want them to say hi to me, and smile when I say hi back." It sounded childish as I said it-but I was speaking openly. "Then tell them," the pastor said. His wife agreed, "They won't know, if you don't communicate." It sounded so simple. I mulled it over for the next few days, and the next time I saw one of the ladies, I asked if I could speak with her for a minute. She said yes, and I proceeded to explain myself and how much I liked her and the other ladies. "I would like it if you could say hi to me with the same smile on your face as when you say hi to the other ladies, like you are so happy to see them. "I really am happy to see them," she said sincerely. Then she continued, "I don't feel that way when I see you." Her honest answer didn't actually surprise me. I can't explain exactly why, but it didn't even hurt me like I would have thought. Later in passing, pastor asked me if I had spoken to her. I calmly explained, "She doesn't like me like that and she can't fake it and pretend when it isn't true." The truth had set me free emotionally. I had communicated my desire and she had answered me honestly. I didn't get what I wanted, but in the end I got what I needed. Please join me next week to find out what it was I needed.
And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
John 8:32 AMP
Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of hindsight, and for opening our hearts and giving us understanding about each other and ourselves. May the truths You reveal to us each day show us the hidden things in our lives, so that we may call them by name and be set free. In Jesus name, amen. Written by Mary M. Wilkins
Once there was a wild dog who roamed the streets. He was born a stray and didn't know what it was like to live in a comfy house. Many beloved pets don't know anything but the luxury of a home. But the wild dog had learned that humans were not to be trusted and would avoid them at all costs. One day a young woman observed him rummaging through trash cans for a morsel to eat. She had pity on the poor wild dog and wondered about him the rest of the day. She could not get the images of him out of her mind. The next day she decided she would try to befriend him and bring him some food and water. Though he had done nothing to deserve her love, she wanted to help him and care for him. She hoped that some day she would be able to give him a warm and cozy home with her. She took food and water to him every day for a week, getting closer and closer to being able to touch him. Her soft, gentle voice coaxed him out of the shadows, but he was still uncertain about this human. Finally, one day she got close enough to touch his coarse coat, caked with dirt. She stroked him, and he cowered away. The following day she brought a collar and leash, but as she stooped to put them on him, he turned on her and bit her hand and ran away. She was saddened at the dog's actions after all the food, water, and time she had put into him. But he was still wild, and though he took her free gifts that sustained his life, he did not pay her back with thanks or love. He couldn't believe that she could possibly be doing those things with truly good intentions for his well being. Surely it was a trap! The young woman was devastated and never saw the dog again. The wild dog never had the chance to enjoy the undeserved free loving home.
This is what it is like between us and God. We are born separated from God, unable to know or understand Him. As babies we don't know what it is like to live with God in his heavenly home. Some people are born into Christian homes, grow up learning about him from their parents, and stay faithful throughout their lives. They are like the beloved pets. But others do not come to know about Christ until later in life. The good news of God's free gift of salvation is met with different responses. It may be a foreign idea for them to hear that there is nothing they have done or can do to earn God's loving forgiveness and a free home in heaven. Some are like the wild dog. They bite the hand that feeds them by not changing anything about how they live because they figure God forgives, right? They think they can go on sinning and not worry about it and just ask for forgiveness over and over again. What they don't realize is that this kind of thanklessness and ingratitude leads to eternal death because it is mocking God's loving forgiveness, like spitting in his face.
Romans 6:1-4 (NIV) What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
What then should be our response? We show our gratitude for this free gift of forgiveness and salvation by doing good works, witnessing to others about God's love and bringing others to Christ.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)
Thank you Lord, Jesus. May I always be grateful for your free gift of forgiveness and salvation, and may I strive to share it with others! Amen.
No one likes to acknowledge the fact that they can ever be wrong. From the
time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when something was wrong, it was
the other one's fault -- or better yet, God's fault.
It continues still today. We overlook our own sinfulness. It is much
easier to point the finger and to tear others down. Or we boast about our
own exploits so others look small in comparison to ourselves. We would
rather hurt others than confess to God that we could be wrong. Ultimately
this hurts ourselves even more.
Psalm 51 was written by David, acknowledging his sin before God and in
repentance asking for forgiveness instead of God's righteous judgment which he
really deserved.
God heard David's prayer as He hears ours if we repent, turn from our sins, and
lead a life obeying God's commands. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins
by dying on the cross and restoring us to the Father. Our sins are
blotted out forever by the power of Jesus' shed blood. God will
remember them no more.
God is quick to forgive and restore our relationship to Himself when we stop
playing the blame game.
Written by
Carol Steficek
Psalm 51
TLB
O loving and kind God, have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away the awful stain of my transgressions. 2 Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again.3 For I admit my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night. 4 It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing. You saw it all, and your sentence against me is just. 5 But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom.
7 Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins—erase them from your sight. 10 Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. 11 Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from your presence. Don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.13 Then I will teach your ways to other sinners, and they—guilty like me—will repent and return to you. 14-15 Don’t sentence me to death. O my God, you alone can rescue me. Then I will sing of your forgiveness, for my lips will be unsealed—oh, how I will praise you.
16 You don’t want penance; if you did, how gladly I would do it! You aren’t interested in offerings burned before you on the altar. 17 It is a broken spirit you want—remorse and penitence. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not ignore.
18 And Lord, don’t punish Israel for my sins—help your people and protect Jerusalem.
19 And when my heart is right, then you will rejoice in the good that I do and in the bullocks I bring to sacrifice upon your altar.
All people should be able to see how Christians live different lives to glorify
God by their words and deeds. Christians should be out in the community
serving other people. Christians should display the gifts of the spirit
when others aren't -- patience, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and above
all, love.
