Getting ready to leave the house, I reached for my go-to accessory, a long strand of varied beads and shapes, but instead my hand fell on a necklace I hadn't worn in ages. Impulsively, I put the chain with the dangling hearts around my neck. One of the hearts was of scrolled metal design, and the smaller one was graced with a red bead inset. Somehow I'd always overlooked it in my jewelry cabinet drawer.
We had gathered with others at our friends' house for a Bible study. When the leader announced his teaching topic, it was on the heart! Maybe this is why I obeyed the impulse to wear the necklace, I thought. After all, it wasn't my favorite piece, and not nearly as pretty as the other one! But as the lesson unfolded, I learned many truths about the heart, especially the heart of God.
The Bible refers to David being a man after God's own heart. "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will." Acts 13:22. In other words, David would do what God wanted him to do!
Wednesday nights at church we have a fellowship dinner before our several sessions. We had gotten there early, so I had my choice of which table to join. We chatted with those at the table, then one couple got up to leave to make their places available to others coming in. I saw a friend enter and repositioned the chair next to me, thinking she would sit there. But when I turned around, she had passed our table and went to join other friends. I squelched my feelings, then someone else sat down that I was able to visit with.
Later, my friend did sit by me in our Bible Study. Ironically, the lesson was on overcoming feelings of being left out and not nurturing feelings of rejection! Later, in prayer time, this friend prayed for me and my sinus headache!
It's amazing how God goes ahead of us and prepares the way for us, at the same time teaching us a lesson on trust!
Friday, January 27, 2017
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
It's Bubbling!
Wow! This dishwashing liquid is lasting a long time, I thought. I had noticed a few days before that the contents had barely gone down, and now, it was still nearly full! This after my husband had done dishes a couple of times as well, and he is known to use nearly half a bottle at a time!
Then on closer inspection, I held the bottle up to the light. It was nearly empty! Scrutinizing the bottle, I saw that it had a dark-blue plastic coating coming to about an inch from the top, camouflaging the true level of the blue detergent! Soon it would be time for a new bottle!
This made me think of Christians and the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18b tells us to be filled with the Spirit! I have heard many preachers say this means to continually be filled, or "be being filled." We leak! Even as the dishwashing liquid disappears, we often find ourselves "used up," or running on empty, so to speak.
Oh, we may look good on the outside, with our cloak of righteousness camouflaging the emptiness we may feel within. We go to church, give money, volunteer services or any number of things, ignoring the shallowness of our spirit! The Bible gives us the answer when it says:
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," Ephesians 5:18-19.
These verses show how to encourage ourselves in the Lord, even as David did in the Bible, I Samuel 30:6. David often encouraged himself when he reflected on God's goodness to him. Ephesians 5:20 gives us the key: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
When our testimony is held up to the light, may it show a fullness of the Spirit!
Then on closer inspection, I held the bottle up to the light. It was nearly empty! Scrutinizing the bottle, I saw that it had a dark-blue plastic coating coming to about an inch from the top, camouflaging the true level of the blue detergent! Soon it would be time for a new bottle!
This made me think of Christians and the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18b tells us to be filled with the Spirit! I have heard many preachers say this means to continually be filled, or "be being filled." We leak! Even as the dishwashing liquid disappears, we often find ourselves "used up," or running on empty, so to speak.
Oh, we may look good on the outside, with our cloak of righteousness camouflaging the emptiness we may feel within. We go to church, give money, volunteer services or any number of things, ignoring the shallowness of our spirit! The Bible gives us the answer when it says:
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," Ephesians 5:18-19.
These verses show how to encourage ourselves in the Lord, even as David did in the Bible, I Samuel 30:6. David often encouraged himself when he reflected on God's goodness to him. Ephesians 5:20 gives us the key: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
When our testimony is held up to the light, may it show a fullness of the Spirit!
Monday, January 16, 2017
Heartthoughts:Labels
The shiny, plastic cup caught my eye in a Wal-Mart display bin. A new measuring cup! Just what I needed! The markers had worn off my old one, and the graduated cups I'd been using were a hassle. I happily added it to my basket.
There was only one problem with the new cup. A stubborn label was firmly attached to the side and resisted coming off in the dishwater! I soaked it, put the cup aside, and finally managed to get the tenacious sticker off in subsequent washings. I hate labels! They can ruin the surface of glass on a picture frame and so many other things!
The trouble with labels is that they stick! What can really hurt is when a label becomes attached to some person. Kids often grow up with a label applied, maybe in jest, or maybe fondly, but often cruelly. "She is the pretty one." "He is the smart one." "Fatty!" "Slow Learner." "Lazy." "Dummy." "Tiny." "Shorty." The list is endless.
Then there are labels associated with politics or political correctness. "Racist!" "Bigot!" "Sexist!" Terms tossed about carelessly and hatefully. No one wants to be labeled those things!
Growing up with seven brothers, I often heard the mean labels they threw at each other in their hard joshing, mostly about physical characteristics they would outgrow or that would become inconsequential as adults. Then as I began to develop as a young teen, I was the target of their labels which were embarrassing to a sensitive girl-child!
Even Jesus was labeled! In Mark 3:21 he was labeled "beside himself" (crazy) by friends (and family). In the next verse, the scribes inferred he was possessed by Beelzebub (prince of devils).
But Pilate put a sign over Jesus's cross saying, JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS. (When the chief priests protested, saying "Write not, The King of the Jews, but that he said, I am king of the Jews," Pilate replied, "What I have written, I have written.")
Matthew 27:54 says, "Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." The right label at last!
There was only one problem with the new cup. A stubborn label was firmly attached to the side and resisted coming off in the dishwater! I soaked it, put the cup aside, and finally managed to get the tenacious sticker off in subsequent washings. I hate labels! They can ruin the surface of glass on a picture frame and so many other things!
The trouble with labels is that they stick! What can really hurt is when a label becomes attached to some person. Kids often grow up with a label applied, maybe in jest, or maybe fondly, but often cruelly. "She is the pretty one." "He is the smart one." "Fatty!" "Slow Learner." "Lazy." "Dummy." "Tiny." "Shorty." The list is endless.
Then there are labels associated with politics or political correctness. "Racist!" "Bigot!" "Sexist!" Terms tossed about carelessly and hatefully. No one wants to be labeled those things!
Growing up with seven brothers, I often heard the mean labels they threw at each other in their hard joshing, mostly about physical characteristics they would outgrow or that would become inconsequential as adults. Then as I began to develop as a young teen, I was the target of their labels which were embarrassing to a sensitive girl-child!
Even Jesus was labeled! In Mark 3:21 he was labeled "beside himself" (crazy) by friends (and family). In the next verse, the scribes inferred he was possessed by Beelzebub (prince of devils).
But Pilate put a sign over Jesus's cross saying, JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS. (When the chief priests protested, saying "Write not, The King of the Jews, but that he said, I am king of the Jews," Pilate replied, "What I have written, I have written.")
Matthew 27:54 says, "Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." The right label at last!
Thursday, January 12, 2017
The Right Mix!
Why doesn't this have any taste? I asked myself as I sampled the mixture of cocoa, water and butter to be added to the batter of the chocolate sheet cake I was making. Well, it would only be a half recipe, since the two of us couldn't eat a whole cake. On second glance, I saw that that was a lot of water in the pan. I had been mentally dividing the ingredients by half, but I must have put in a whole cup of water instead of a half-cup! Seemed it needed salt, too, but the recipe hadn't called for salt.
Then it hit me! Not only was it watery and too thin, I had used unsalted butter! I had completely forgotten that the new carton of butter I opened was the unsalted variety that I had bought last week because it was on sale! Apparently, salt in the butter would have been sufficient! Not wanting to waste the butter and cocoa, I poured half of the blend out, reducing the liquid. I had no idea how the cake would turn out. The frosting tasted flat, too, as I spread it on the cake, so I impulsively topped it with a light sprinkling of salt. (Reminded me of the salted caramel so popular now.)
The cake was okay, considering my sense of taste is absent lately, anyway. But I thought about the verse in the Bible that says believers are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men." I guess when the salt loses its savor, or taste, it is kind of like Christians who have lost their enthusiasm, zeal, or passion for spreading the gospel.
Jesus is also quoted in Matthew 5:14 as saying, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
In the parable of the sower, Jesus illustrated obstacles to faith. He talks about seed falling on stony ground, among thorns, and even eaten by birds. He notes how the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches chokes and causes the word to be unfruitful.
But in Matthew 13:23, He says, "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth much fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
May we not be flavorless like unsalted butter, but salt and light to the world! And a little sprinkling of salt never hurts!
Then it hit me! Not only was it watery and too thin, I had used unsalted butter! I had completely forgotten that the new carton of butter I opened was the unsalted variety that I had bought last week because it was on sale! Apparently, salt in the butter would have been sufficient! Not wanting to waste the butter and cocoa, I poured half of the blend out, reducing the liquid. I had no idea how the cake would turn out. The frosting tasted flat, too, as I spread it on the cake, so I impulsively topped it with a light sprinkling of salt. (Reminded me of the salted caramel so popular now.)
The cake was okay, considering my sense of taste is absent lately, anyway. But I thought about the verse in the Bible that says believers are the salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men." I guess when the salt loses its savor, or taste, it is kind of like Christians who have lost their enthusiasm, zeal, or passion for spreading the gospel.
Jesus is also quoted in Matthew 5:14 as saying, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
In the parable of the sower, Jesus illustrated obstacles to faith. He talks about seed falling on stony ground, among thorns, and even eaten by birds. He notes how the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches chokes and causes the word to be unfruitful.
But in Matthew 13:23, He says, "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth much fruit, and bringeth forth some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
May we not be flavorless like unsalted butter, but salt and light to the world! And a little sprinkling of salt never hurts!
Monday, December 19, 2016
A Christmas Story
Finishing my Christmas decorating a couple of weeks ago, I pulled out my treasured Nativity set and started to unwrap the figurines, absently listening to my husband and son, Greg, talk. As I unwrapped each piece, I set it on an occasional table holding a small Christmas tree, intending to place them on the mantle when I finished.
"That looks good, Mom," Greg said, and our grandson, Adam, agreed with him. I started to say I was going to move them, but then I realized how pretty they looked under the green branches with beads draped in scallops above them. It lent a touch of royalty to the scene of regal wise men offering their precious gifts to the newborn King, so I decided to leave them there. The tiny white lights reminded me of stars in that holy night sky.
But when it was time to unplug the lights from their extension cord, my hand bumped the tallest wise man, knocking it over onto the table ledge, and off went his head! I found it under an ottoman and hoped it could be glued back on. A couple nights later, another wise man lost his head! This time it was not so easy to re-align the head to the shoulders! After much wasted gluing effort, I put them away with what pieces I could find.
"How are you at gluing?" I asked my grandson next time they were over. He looked a little skeptical, but said he would take the figurines home and work on them. Last night Greg showed me that he had finished one of them. It's back under the tree, the imperfections covered by a mini-scarf around the neck. The other one is still a work in progress. I solved the problem of unplugging the lights by just leaving them on!
This little incident reminded me of people who are broken and sometimes cast aside by the world. But if they meet and accept Jesus, who is not a babe in a manger anymore, but One Who makes whole, they can be restored. Though they may have scars, cracks and imperfections, these are covered by the love of Jesus, just as his blood covers their sins. And what better time to come to Him than at Christmas? The lights are still on! He never unplugs them, for the light of His love shines forever, even for us who are still a work in progress!
"That looks good, Mom," Greg said, and our grandson, Adam, agreed with him. I started to say I was going to move them, but then I realized how pretty they looked under the green branches with beads draped in scallops above them. It lent a touch of royalty to the scene of regal wise men offering their precious gifts to the newborn King, so I decided to leave them there. The tiny white lights reminded me of stars in that holy night sky.
But when it was time to unplug the lights from their extension cord, my hand bumped the tallest wise man, knocking it over onto the table ledge, and off went his head! I found it under an ottoman and hoped it could be glued back on. A couple nights later, another wise man lost his head! This time it was not so easy to re-align the head to the shoulders! After much wasted gluing effort, I put them away with what pieces I could find.
"How are you at gluing?" I asked my grandson next time they were over. He looked a little skeptical, but said he would take the figurines home and work on them. Last night Greg showed me that he had finished one of them. It's back under the tree, the imperfections covered by a mini-scarf around the neck. The other one is still a work in progress. I solved the problem of unplugging the lights by just leaving them on!
This little incident reminded me of people who are broken and sometimes cast aside by the world. But if they meet and accept Jesus, who is not a babe in a manger anymore, but One Who makes whole, they can be restored. Though they may have scars, cracks and imperfections, these are covered by the love of Jesus, just as his blood covers their sins. And what better time to come to Him than at Christmas? The lights are still on! He never unplugs them, for the light of His love shines forever, even for us who are still a work in progress!
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Giving Thanks!
As we were leaving our son's house after a wonderful Thanksgiving family gathering, something on the table caught my eye. Red and shiny, it was the little mask that was part of a cape set I had brought our little grandson, Isaac, just turned three, for his birthday! He had had so much fun wearing it, and exclaiming, "Where my 'gasses'?" when he misplaced it. His family had already left, so I picked the toy up and brought it home to mail to him.
I could see he received it when he showed up sporting it on Facebook yesterday! Then his father sent a video to my phone of Isaac tearing through the house in the red mask. When he saw the FB picture, he had remarked, "Me 'Pider-Man'!"
How we had enjoyed him and the other grandchildren on this trip, especially when we visited the picturesque, historic square of Georgetown, a place that looked like the setting for a Hallmark Christmas movie! Isaac had loved the little old-fashioned toy store with its educational, wooden toys. We could hardly pull him away from a roller-coaster type track where he never tired of placing a marble and watching it roll down the circuitous route.
Our hostess and daughter-in-law, Rhonda, told us of a more modern shopping mall not far from there where an outdoor fireplace was built into the wall of a store complex with rocking chairs out front! That's where Howard spent most of his time with various men-folk of the family, while "us girls" shopped till we dropped!
We were filling time waiting for 5:30 when the lighting of the square was scheduled. Our group was ambling along behind the others toward the courthouse where the festivities would begin. Foot traffic was increasing, and as we drew closer, we saw Mark and Rhonda sitting on a bench, covered up with a patchwork quilt, saving us a place! Did we get smiles and remarks as people passed: "Can we sit with you?" "What a good idea!" "Aw, it's not that cold!"
But it was cold, and at last the ceremony started with Christmas songs. Jolly at first, they were followed by the joyous Christmas hymns, the air filled with the strains of "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," and others. Then the night world lit up brilliantly as Santa pulled the switch, and every tree, branch and building was outlined in illumination! We carried these memories back on our long trip home to Oklahoma, ready to begin the Christmas season!
I could see he received it when he showed up sporting it on Facebook yesterday! Then his father sent a video to my phone of Isaac tearing through the house in the red mask. When he saw the FB picture, he had remarked, "Me 'Pider-Man'!"
How we had enjoyed him and the other grandchildren on this trip, especially when we visited the picturesque, historic square of Georgetown, a place that looked like the setting for a Hallmark Christmas movie! Isaac had loved the little old-fashioned toy store with its educational, wooden toys. We could hardly pull him away from a roller-coaster type track where he never tired of placing a marble and watching it roll down the circuitous route.
Our hostess and daughter-in-law, Rhonda, told us of a more modern shopping mall not far from there where an outdoor fireplace was built into the wall of a store complex with rocking chairs out front! That's where Howard spent most of his time with various men-folk of the family, while "us girls" shopped till we dropped!
We were filling time waiting for 5:30 when the lighting of the square was scheduled. Our group was ambling along behind the others toward the courthouse where the festivities would begin. Foot traffic was increasing, and as we drew closer, we saw Mark and Rhonda sitting on a bench, covered up with a patchwork quilt, saving us a place! Did we get smiles and remarks as people passed: "Can we sit with you?" "What a good idea!" "Aw, it's not that cold!"
But it was cold, and at last the ceremony started with Christmas songs. Jolly at first, they were followed by the joyous Christmas hymns, the air filled with the strains of "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," and others. Then the night world lit up brilliantly as Santa pulled the switch, and every tree, branch and building was outlined in illumination! We carried these memories back on our long trip home to Oklahoma, ready to begin the Christmas season!
Christmas Spirit!
Trees are up (small ones), house decorated, most of the mementos have been pulled out and displayed. I have a good start on Christmas. The church Christmas play will be this Sunday, and caroling Sunday night.
We felt in the Christmas spirit last Friday, when Howard and I donned red aprons and rang bells for the Salvation Army. People were bustling in and out of Hobby Lobby, our assigned location, mostly intent on their shopping, but a good many took time to stop, reach in pocket or purse, and place a donation in the kettle.
Exiting the church Sunday, I stopped at the Angel Tree and took a tag with the name of a little boy and his wishes for Christmas. This was a Salvation Army project, also. It took awhile to find the items on the five-year-old's wish list. (We didn't even know what an Emoji pillow was, nor what kind of Ninja he wanted!) And although our 10-year-old granddaughter thrives on something called Minecraft, I didn't even go there!
Confident we knew where the Salvation Army was, we headed there, but checking directions, we realized this was not the drop-off place. Howard turned the car around as we hunted the elusive location that did not seem to match the street address. "There it is!" I exclaimed after we had circled, back-tracked, and was almost ready to give up. The smiling attendant added my bag to the growing mountain of tagged goods that would soon be delivered to needy children for Christmas. Whew! I thought, next time I may just give money!
Still, someone would have to do the leg work, and gifts for some 400 children would take a lot of shopping! Also, hunting and buying gifts ourselves made it seem more personal as we thought about the child who would receive them. Other personal, hands-on, happenings occurred the day of the bell-ringing. Afterwards, we stopped at McDonald's for lunch. Entering, we noticed a bent figure we recognized as the guy who walks all over town every day, digging in trash cans for food or picking up cigarette stubs and smoking them.
While Howard ordered, I went to the ladies room. I almost bumped into a woman in there sitting in a chair, her body shaking and trembling uncontrollably while a younger woman stood nearby. "Is she sick?" I asked, to which they nodded, and her friend said, "She almost passed out!"
"Can I pray for you?" I heard myself say! She looked surprised, but agreeable. Suddenly I felt the strength of the Holy Spirit as I laid hands on her head and said, "Be healed, in Jesus name!" I thanked them and walked out. Howard had just gotten our order, and when I asked him what took so long, he said he had bought lunch for the man outside. Like I said, the personal touch.
We felt in the Christmas spirit last Friday, when Howard and I donned red aprons and rang bells for the Salvation Army. People were bustling in and out of Hobby Lobby, our assigned location, mostly intent on their shopping, but a good many took time to stop, reach in pocket or purse, and place a donation in the kettle.
Exiting the church Sunday, I stopped at the Angel Tree and took a tag with the name of a little boy and his wishes for Christmas. This was a Salvation Army project, also. It took awhile to find the items on the five-year-old's wish list. (We didn't even know what an Emoji pillow was, nor what kind of Ninja he wanted!) And although our 10-year-old granddaughter thrives on something called Minecraft, I didn't even go there!
Confident we knew where the Salvation Army was, we headed there, but checking directions, we realized this was not the drop-off place. Howard turned the car around as we hunted the elusive location that did not seem to match the street address. "There it is!" I exclaimed after we had circled, back-tracked, and was almost ready to give up. The smiling attendant added my bag to the growing mountain of tagged goods that would soon be delivered to needy children for Christmas. Whew! I thought, next time I may just give money!
Still, someone would have to do the leg work, and gifts for some 400 children would take a lot of shopping! Also, hunting and buying gifts ourselves made it seem more personal as we thought about the child who would receive them. Other personal, hands-on, happenings occurred the day of the bell-ringing. Afterwards, we stopped at McDonald's for lunch. Entering, we noticed a bent figure we recognized as the guy who walks all over town every day, digging in trash cans for food or picking up cigarette stubs and smoking them.
While Howard ordered, I went to the ladies room. I almost bumped into a woman in there sitting in a chair, her body shaking and trembling uncontrollably while a younger woman stood nearby. "Is she sick?" I asked, to which they nodded, and her friend said, "She almost passed out!"
"Can I pray for you?" I heard myself say! She looked surprised, but agreeable. Suddenly I felt the strength of the Holy Spirit as I laid hands on her head and said, "Be healed, in Jesus name!" I thanked them and walked out. Howard had just gotten our order, and when I asked him what took so long, he said he had bought lunch for the man outside. Like I said, the personal touch.
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