Month: August 2008

  • From Chrysalis to Butterfly

    "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,
    we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not
    built by human hands… For while we are in this tent, we groan
    and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but
    to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal
    may be swallowed up by life." (2 Corinthians 5:1,4 NIV)

    Through years of aching exhaustion, I've often said I'd like a
    new body.  Ethics aside, it's amazing what can be surgically
    transplanted -- a kidney, heart, lung, even a hand or face!  But
    they'll never manage a body transplant.  However there is hope;
    what man cannot do, God can and will.  The Bible says our
    dying bodies will be transformed into bodies that will never die.
    This hope of new life helps me through the most difficult times.

    God loved everyone so much He gave His only Son Jesus, so
    whoever believes in Him will live eternally with Him in heaven.
    Those in pain who don't believe live with despair and fear of
    what lies ahead, rather than hope for the future.  But whether
    believers or not He loves everyone equally and nothing we've
    ever done or do now will make Him love us any less.  Dear
    friend, are you groaning and burdened?  Jesus said, "Come to
    me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
    rest."  Telling Him about our pain and distress, our everyday
    problems and fears for the future brings inner peace and strength.
    If you've never done this, try talking with Him daily for three
    months and see what happens.  Even if your physical body
    doesn't change, you'll feel like a new person.

    Jesus can identify with us in all we endure.  He knew the
    frustration of being trapped inside a human body, having left the
    freedom of heaven to live as a man, and nobody suffered greater
    pain than He.  As Jesus was resurrected, so all believers will be;
    one day we'll shed these mortal bodies of ours and be swallowed
    up into glorious new life, free as a butterfly fresh from being
    confined in its chrysalis.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
    Janice McLaren is a mother and grandmother who lives by
    herself in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, where
    she has lived with severe chronic illness for many years.

    ******I have been very depressed lately, very much in pain from my fibromyalgia.  I for one cannot wait to leave this earthly body and be free as a butterfly.


  • SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE

    Peace is a noun, but the Bible verbs it. It tells us to extend peace, pursue peace, love peace, make peace, establish peace, preach peace, proclaim peace, seek peace and speak peace. If you seek to do these things each day, you'll be constantly sowing seeds of peace.

     

    Love and Obey the Word of God

    We sow peace into our home when we love the Word. Of course, if we love the Word of God, we will want to read it and impart its truth to our children.

     

    Psalm 119:165 says, "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble."

     

    Isaiah 48:18 says, "Oh, that you had heeded my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

     

    It is not always easy to obey the Word of God. God's ways are usually the opposite of the way we feel, but obedience always bring peace.

     

    Start sowing seeds of peace. The more you sow, the more you will reap.

     

    We will discuss more peace seeds in the next couple of weeks.

     

    Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

     

    PRAYER:

     

    "Lord, I long for peace. I hate it when there is tension in my home. Please help me to daily sow seeds of peace in my home. I know it won't happen unless I make it happen and start doing something about it. Amen."

     

    AFFIRMATION:

     

    I am a Peace Sower in my home.

     

    Peace verbs: Isaiah 66:12; Hebrews 12:14; Zechariah 8:19; Isaiah 27:5; Isaiah 26:12; Acts 10:36; Isaiah 52:7; Nahum 1:15; Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:11; Esther 10:3; Psalm 85:8.

  • Holding On Monday

    Read Psalm 88:1-12

    There are days when it's difficult to rejoice. Oh, we talk about having the joy of the Lord and walking in the sunshine of His countenance. We are grateful for days like that, but there are also difficult days. The author of Psalm 88 penned these words when he was having one of those difficult days. He tells us about his problems.

    First, he is struggling with unanswered prayer. "O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry" (v. 1). This is not an unsaved man crying out to a God he doesn't worship. This is a true believer pleading with God for help. And so far, He hasn't done anything.

    He also is coping with trouble and sickness. "For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength.... You have put away my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot get out" (vv. 3,4,8). Some scholars think that the psalmist had leprosy, since he was segregated from everyone else.

    The foundations of his life seem to be slipping away, and the possibility of death looms before him. In his desolation, what does he do? He holds on to God's power, loving-kindness and faithfulness.

    What do you do on difficult days? Hold on to all that God is and all that He does. God is still working for you. All things are still working together for good (Rom. 8:28). Don't turn away from Him. Wait. He will bring you out of your affliction.

    * * *

    Whenever you experience a difficult day, encourage yourself by focusing on God's character and His attributes--power, loving-kindness and faithfulness. Remember what He has done for you in the past. In spite of what you see around you, trust the Lord. He will see you through your affliction.

  • TAKE HEART

    “God’s grace means that I can rest assured that I’ll have
    everything I need to be what he wants me to be and to do what he wants
    me to do in the situation in which he’s placed me.

    I’m no longer restricted to the limits of my own strength and
    wisdom. By his grace, I’ve a new identity and a new potential. I’m a
    child of God; the risen Christ now lives inside of me. I need no longer
    fear people or circumstances; I don’t have to feel weak in the face of
    suffering or temptation, because I no longer rest in the resources of
    my own ability. I’m in Christ and he’s in me.

    This new identity gives me new potential as I face the realities of
    life in this bent and broken world. God’s grace gives me reason to
    ‘take heart.’”

    —Paul David Tripp, “Psalm 27: Take Heart”

  • ITS FRIDAY FUNNY TIME

    Western Spaghetti