He is ALIVE

Matthew 6:28

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Sometimes when you have good news you just have to share it. :)

Sealed

Ephesidans 1: 13-14

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Straight paths

Proverbs 3:6

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

God calls us to a life of constant communication with Him. This is the only way we can live above our circumstances. Even though we sometimes wish for things to be simplifed, he just wants us to accept each day just as it comes and find Him in the midst of it all.

Talking with Him about every aspect of our lives brings us closer to Him. He wants to know how we feel and wants us to know He is listening. It is living by faith that we receive blessing beyond anything we could choose for ourselves. We may have times we think He is not listening, but He is. If we sometimes lose sight of knowing He hears us, all we need do is look into the lives of others and it becomes clear He does listen and does hear. I'm reminded of a lady that sat on the other side of the car and asked her husband what had happened to their marriage complaining they didn't sit close to each other any more. His answer was...I didn't move.

No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets

In 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden Dairy estate, he was already a millionaire.

For his high school graduation present, his parents gave him a trip around the world. As he traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, Borden felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, he wrote home to say, "I'm going to give my life to prepare for the mission field." After making this decision, William Borden wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No Reserves."

During his first semester at Yale, Borden started a movement that transformed the campus. One of his friends described how it happened: "It was well on in the first term when Bill and I began to pray together in the morning before breakfast. I cannot say positively whose suggestion it was, but I feel sure it must have originated with Bill. We had been meeting only a short time when a third student joined us and soon after a fourth. The time was spent in prayer after a brief reading of Scripture. Bill's handling of Scripture was helpful. . . . He would read to us from the Bible, show us something that God had promised and then proceed to claim the promise with assurance."

Borden's small morning prayer group was the beginning of the daily groups of prayer that spread to the whole campus. By the end of his first year, 150 freshman were meeting for weekly Bible study and prayer. By the time he was a senior, one thousand out of Yale's 1,300 students were meeting in such groups.

Borden's missionary call narrowed to the Muslims in China. Once that goal was in sight, Borden never wavered. Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high paying job offers. He also wrote two more words in his Bible: "No Retreats."

William Borden went on to graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month 25-year-old William Borden was dead.

When news of the death of William Whiting Borden was cabled back to the U.S. from Egypt, "a wave of sorrow went round the world. Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice."

Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's plan. Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No Reserves" and "No Retreats," he had written: "No Regrets."

Portions reprinted from Daily Bread, December 31, 1988, and The Yale Standard, Fall 1970 edition.

Proverbs 3:6

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Everlasting Love

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Do you ever get tired of the chase? I do. I get caught up in doing things I think is God's good, pleasing and perfect will when what He really wants from me is my time. Doing, giving, joining this church committee or being involved with ministries of all sorts is a good thing and we don't need to quit, but we also don't need to quit giving God our time. The last couple of months have taxed my time and energy and I know I haven't sat at the feet of Jesus like I should. There is a vast difference in the person I am when I give God my time and when I don't. The devil knows this and uses this weakness to get a foot into the life that He wants for me.

Yesterday Terri, Brent, Carley Ann, Anna Claire and I ate at Chili's. I was so hungry I all but forgot to say the blessing, but Anna Claire remembered. It was so sweet to hear her say the blessing rhyme she had learned. At two and a half she can say her blessing perfectly and while she was praying I kept thinking... yes, Lord, I hear you.

This morning as I take time to talk to Jesus I'm reminding how much I have missed and why my days just haven't seemed to feel right. I've been too busy and like Martha have forgotten what the best part is. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I'm reminded I don't have to chase God. He is always there.

Billy, my brother is doing well. He is off the vent and has taken a few steps down the hall. The four of us, Carolyn Billy's wife, me and Michael and Timmy his sons have taken turns sitting with him day and night for the last five weeks. Timmy and Michael take care of the weekends and Carolyn and I take care of the week days. Billy is getting so much stronger and there is talk from the doctors giving us encouragement that he can soon leave the special care hospital. This is such good news and I look forward to seeing him back to his old sweet self. This mornings prayers are prayers of thanksgiving.

Believe

John 5:39-47 (New International Version)

39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41"I do not accept praise from men, 42but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

45"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"

Billy Graham was returning
to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when his Plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home..

As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped
and spoke to the driver.

'You know' he said, 'I am 87 years old and I have never
driven a limousine.. Would you mind if I drove it for a while?'

The driver said,

'No problem. Have at it.'

Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off
down the highway.
A short distance away
sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap.

The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone.

The trooper pulled out
and easily caught the limo
and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure..

The young trooper walked up to the driver's door
and when the glass
was rolled down,
he was surprised to see
who was driving.

He immediately excused himself and went back to his car
and called his supervisor.

He told the supervisor,
'I know we are supposed
to enforce the law.....
But I also know that
important people are
given certain courtesies.
I need to know what
I should do because
I have stopped a
very important person.'

The supervisor asked,
'Is it the governor?'

The young trooper said,
'No, he's more important
than that.'

The supervisor said,
'Oh, so it's the president.'

The young trooper said,
'No, he's even more
important than that.'

The supervisor finally asked,

'Well then, who is it?'

The young trooper said,
'I think it's Jesus,
because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!'

Praising God

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Weeks have flown by and so much has kept me from typing and sharing with on-line friends. I hardly know which doors have opened and which doors have closed. It's a funny things about doors, most of the time you can't tell if they are "in" doors or "out" doors. Sometimes what we think is an "out" door to new venture is really just an "in" door inviting us to take another look within. No matter, each passage of life gives us opportunites to accept God's gifts to us and His plan for our lives.

One door:

I've just returned from Macon Medcial where my brother has been the last two weeks. I sat in the CVICU last night to represent our family just in case a family member was needed. The coffee I drank this more must have been super high test as I can't seem to wind down so I'm using this time to catch up on emails and snail mail.

Billy is doing much better but still has a long way to go. The doctors tell us he probably will be in ICU several more weeks. He and our entire family ask for your prayers as he continues to heal from this torn esophagus and aspiration abscess to his right lung.

Another door:



Hope all your days have been good ones and the ones that have not been so good you have felt the arms of God surrounding you.

Why I stopped

From Psalm 78

5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
6 That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
7 That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;

TWELVE REASONS WHY I STOPPED ATTENDING SPORTS EVENTS

~ Every time I went, they asked me for money.

~ The people with whom I had to sit by didn't seem very friendly.

~ The seats were too hard and not comfortable at all.

~ The coach never came to call on me.

~ The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.

~ I was sitting with some hypocrites -- they came only to see what others were wearing.

~ Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.

~ The band played some numbers that I had never heard before.

~ The games are scheduled when I want to do other things.

~ My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

~ Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.

~ I don't want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.

Author unknown

Future tree hugger

From Psalm 78

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
3 Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Reflection:
What happens to us when we lose our way or get distracted, overwhelmed, tired, discouraged, or any of those other human malady’s that can plague us? As Christians we know where to turn for strength. Those that do not know Him struggle with self helps or other forms of human type intervention. There is no need to struggle. It's in the early morning that my day is set before me. With no other distractions I talk with God. When I don't, I feel a plague coming on. *smile* It's an easy fix. God is always there waiting to give all of us what we need.

Praying this morning that our day will be filled with the goodness of God and His love will shine through our spirits with each action we take.

Are you thankful

The rest of the story

Isaiah 5:20 (New International Version)

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.

A prayer by Billy Graham’s aired by Paul Harvey:

‘Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and
to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us
From every sin and Set us free. Amen!’

Fixed

Proverbs 22: 17-19

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.

Scrubbing

But godliness with contentment is great gain, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out,

1 Timothy 6:6,7


I washed my hands at the kitchen sink after being outside cleaning the glass top table on the back porch. The dust of the fall season covered the glass like glue making it hard to get off so it took several tries before I made much headway. I threw the paper towels in the trash and looked down at my hands. What a mess!

The warm water felt good and I worked hard to scrub the dirt off my skin and under my nails. It was then I realized some spots weren’t coming off. Age spots, I finally have some. I wonder why I didn't see them before? I smiled when I thought, "Well, now maybe I can connect the dots."

Heart overflow

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

My cell phone went dead while I was talking with my mother. The phone had given me a beep signal to let me know I needed to recharge the battery so that gave me time to tell mother that if she needed me to call 911 and have the police come and get me. I'm one of the ones that has gone exclusively to cell phone and it's times like this I really want my old land line back. Fortunately I had already told mother what I needed her to know.

Talking with mother this morning and getting disconnected made me think how important our conversations really are. We say so much even when we don't say anything important. The big reason for our conversation this morning was just to be family and let mother know I love her.

New tongues - God's Grace

Mark 16:17

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

God's Grace

Today I praise God for His grace. This morning sitting in the early church service I was faced with the full meaning of God’s grace. The message was about many of what we think of as being our Bible Hero’s. You know them as father Abraham, king David, Noah, … and on. Well, each of these had big time reasons to fall under the grace of God for deliverance from sin and it’s consequences… which is eternal death. I do too…big time. Thank you God for your grace and for the understanding I received this morning. New tongues, new understanding.