Gee, Denna. What Were You Thinking?

This thread was created for my daily thoughts and ponderings.

Sometimes, I can't get my mind to turn off.  I need an avenue in which I can express my thoughts.  I did not want to over load my journal.  Some of the things that I write, I am asked to share with the group.

Feel free to comment if you like.

Does Jesus Sing?  Maybe HE sings when we sing to HIM...?

My 4 year old daughter, Breanna asked me this question on June 5.  I am still thinking on this.  It makes me wonder.....

Oh to think like a 4 year old.  Things are just so simple to them. 

I have never thought about it before she asked me in her sweet little innocent voice.  Does Jesus sing?  He took on human flesh.  He had human characteristics.  I know that when I hear a song that I like and ministers to my heart, I tend to sing along.  So it would be understandable that when we sing Praises to HIM, that maybe HE sings right along with us.  Makes you want to put forth more effort when you sing Praises unto HIM.

I would like to think that HE does sing with us. 
When we are feeling down and depressed, HE puts a song in our hearts.
When we are feeling alone,  HE puts a song in our hearts.
When we are hurting,  HE puts a song in our hearts.
So may be HE does sing.

Daily Devotions:  Prayer

Today's devotion talked about Jesus and HIS prayer life.  That Jesus had made time to get away for some alone time to converse with God.  In some of the verses listed, it said that HE had sent them away.  In my mind, I would almost interpret this as saying "Go away and leave me alone.  I need to pray."  But that is the human side of my thinking.

The verses that strikes a cord with me today are Mark 1:35-37.

Mark 1:35-38 (KJV)

35)  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36)  And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 
37)  And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

Now that I am a mother of 7 and 4 year olds, I have to appreciate Mark 1:36-37.  Even the disciples came to seek HIM out and interrupt HIS prayer time.  These men basically lived with Jesus.  They knew HIS habits and the need to have some alone time to converse with God.  But yet, they still interrupted HIS prayer time.  I have always said that God must appreciate the prayer of a mother.  I don't know about other mothers, but I seem to be saying "Excuse me God while I go check out who is crying......"  "Excuse me God while I go check out who knocked what over......"  Then there is the occasional "Honey, Have you seen my..." that creeps in there to interrupt.  My husband should know to wait.  The children are still learning.

Anyway, I just felt comforted with the fact that even Christ had an interrupted prayer life.  Now I don't feel as guilty.

For most of the day, I had the song, How Great Thou Art, playing in my head.  OK, it wasn't actually playing.  But I keep humming the song in my heart all day. 

And what a song it is.  Have you really sat down and realised what this song is saying? 

Growing up, I just thought of it as an old fuddy-duddy song.  An Old Hymn that they always sang in church.

But today, today....  WOW. 

HE made the earth that spins ......

• at the right rotation - so that we can get the proper and equal amount of day and night.
• at the right speed - so that there would be an equal amount of time to rule the day and night.
• at the right tilt - so that the heat from the sun could be dispersed through out the year to all parts of the earth.  

HE made this body so complicated in design.  Each cell as it's own assignment.  The skin cell can not replace a hair follicle.  The cell of the eyes can not filter the toxins out of the body the way the liver can.  The brain cells can not replace the cells that make up the digestive tract.  Every cell has a separate and unique job.

Then follow the blood vessels in the body.  How does the blood know which direction that it is suppose to flow?  Is it going to the heart?  Or is it going to supply oxygen and nutrients to the big toe?  Every part of the body is important.

The brain controls the impulses of the body.  But yet without the heart pumping blood to the brain, the brain is dead.

One is dependant upon the other.

When a man and a woman come together, how can those two single cells come together to create another life?  What a wonder!!!  The whole process starts all over again.  The cells multiply until all the organs, skin, hair, bones, are all recreated.  It blows my mind.

But yet, God created it all.  Only God can take dust and create something as complicated as the human body.

Then look at nature.  The balance of moisture.  Evaporation from the earth into the air forming clouds.  When the clouds are full of water, it falls back to the earth again as rain.  The whole cycle starts over again.

Then MAN thinks that He is it.  He can create anything.  MAN thinks that he has all the power.  HA - Man has yet taken dust and created another living being.  Man has to clone cells that have already been created by God.  Man thinks that he can create electricity.  But he has yet to create anything as majestic as a thunder storm.  Or as powerful as a tornado or hurricane.

Now think back to the song, How Great Thou Art ........

Did you know that this song started out to be a poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg, a Swedish pastor in 1885?  He was walking home from church one morning.  There was a storm that passed without warning.  And then left just as quickly.  The awesome display had inspired him to write the poem.

The poem was then put music with eight verses in 1890.  The song was translated into German in 1907, then Russian in 1912.  The poem finally was translated into English in 1925. 

There have been many translations since and many revisions.  But one thing still holds true today....

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

I love this song Denna!  I love to read the history of these great Hymns too.  I've been reading through the Psalms and am finding the scripture for a lot of these old great songs and immediately hear the tune and begin singing when I read them.

Our God is Great! Not only did he so perfectly design the universe but then made man in His image!  One day I was pondering on how many different plant and animal species there are and then how unique each one is that was created, and then relating that to us, and how many different shapes, sizes and color we humans are and how unique we are and yet so very much the same because we have the same creator.

I'm enjoying your ponderings - I did think about if Jesus sang - and figure surely he must have - especially being raised in the Jewish community and with music being a part of their worship - it would only stand to reason that he did. So, now you've given me a new thought, I love singing alto (harmony) to most songs and picture myself in that heavenly choir as we lift our voices in praise, and now have invisioned if Jesus will be leading the choir? --- Out of the mouths of babes - eh!

Daily Devotions:  The ACTS of Prayer - Adoration

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

Today's devotion talks about starting Prayer with Adoration and Praise to the Almighty King and Creator.  Preparing our hearts to petition our needs before the throne is the key to a successful prayer life.  When we focus on how big God is and how powerful HE is, then it will humble our heart into reverence and Adoration of the Great Almighty God.

Grant it there maybe times when an immediate action is needed (car accident, child falling out of a tree, etc.) and we automatically call out on the Name of Jesus to act upon the situation.  But if we start every prayer with "Lord, I need......" without acknowledging HIS Awesomeness, then the prayer becomes a one sided demand.  We need to prepare our hearts to be humbled before God.

Even in HIS example (Matthew 6:9-13), it acknowledges God's authority and power. 

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.   Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." 

Then the prayer continues with the petitions and confessions. 

"Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:" 

At the conclusion, the example prayer returns to praising the Most High.

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

I find this interesting.....

I was looking up the word "PRAYER" in the Concordance of my Bible.  Here is the order (including the variations of the root word)....

• POWER
• PRAISE
• PRAYER

POWER is supported by Praise and Prayer.  Praise comes before Prayer.

hummmmmm

Daily Devotions:  The ACTS of Prayer - Confession

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

Today's devotion deals with confessing our sins to God.  We need to specifically confess our sins directly to God.  And in doing so, we continue to have a healthy relationship with God.  In Psalm 51:4, David writes that when we are in the wrong that we actually sin against God. 

Psalm 51:4 (KJV)

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Confessions should be the expression of a conviction of the heart.  In other words, true repentance for sin comes when we are willingly to confess our faults before the throne of God.  In Matthew 6:12, it states to “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”.  However, The Lord’s Prayer is an example of how we should pray.  To confess our sins in a broad general way [ Lord, forgive me of my sins and short-comings ] then we are only scratching the surface of the confession.  God knows our heart.  HE knows when we are sincere.  Specifically acknowledging the sin (or sins) that God has convicted us of during our confession to HIM is vital for a healthy relationship with the Almighty God.  We are only placing barriers between us and God when we lump all of our sins into a general prayer and calling it done.  The Holy Spirit has put something specific in our hearts that we need to repent of.  And we should acknowledge the sin, confess it before God, and be forgiven of it.     

Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)

23)  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24)  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Daily Devotions:  The ACTS of Prayer - Thanksgiving

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

Today's devotion reminds us to be Thankful for all that HE has given us.  This part of the acronym (Thanksgiving) reminds me of a song that we use to sing in church.

I Will Bless Thee, O Lord

I will bless Thee, O Lord,
I will bless Thee, O Lord,
With a heart of thanksgiving,
I will bless Thee, O Lord.

With my hands lifted up,
And my mouth filled with praise,
With a heart of thanksgiving,
I will bless Thee, O Lord.

We go through our spiritual life, asking God to answer one prayer or another.  But how often do we stop to THANK HIM for answering the prayer?  It may not always be the answer that we were looking for.  And it may not be within our timeframe.  But HE does answer our prayers.  And in doing so, we should take the time to Thank HIM.  A heart felt deep thanksgiving.

Throughout the Bible, we are reminded to thank God.  Everything that we are and can be can only be successfully achieved through HIS grace and mercy.  Without HIM, we would be and have nothing.  HE provides all of our needs.  Everything we have is HIS.  We are only stewards of what HE sees fit to give us.  So it should be second nature to Thank HIM.

I am reminded of the time when I graduated from high school and when I got married.  The gifts just flooded in.  My mother kept asking me “Did you remember to send out a Thank You card to…..”  This was hard for me.  Although it may be hard to believe now, but at the time, I was not the type of person who sat down to write letters or Thank You cards.    

Think of the times when you gave a gift to someone that you love.  Did you receive a heartfelt Thank You?  Maybe with a hug around the neck?  A peck on the cheek?  My four year old, Breanna, will come up to me and kiss me on the check with a hug around the neck.  She will say, “I Love you.  Thank You for being my mommy.”  I don’t care what kind of day that I am having, that spontaneous response from my child will always brighten my day that much more.

Then I get to thinking, how much God is delighted when we lift our hands toward Heaven and say, “Thank You for being God.”  We are HIS children.  In my mind, I would like to think that when we lift our hands toward Heaven with a heart of Thanksgiving, then it is no different than my own child climbing in my lap, hugging my neck, kissing my check, and saying “I Love You.”

Psalm 69:29-31 (KJV)

29)  But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30)  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31)  This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

 

Psalm 95:1-3 (KJV)

1)  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2)  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3)  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

 

Psalm 100:3-5 (KJV)

3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Denna thank you for sharing your devotions with us.  What came to mind is this praise song.  Hope you had a blessed day.

Thy Loving Kindness

Thy loving kindness is better than life

Thy loving kindness is better than life

My lips shall praise Thee,

Thus will I bless Thee

I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

I lift my hands up unto Thy Name

I lift my hands up unto Thy Name

My lips shall praise Thee,

Thus will I bless Thee

I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

© 1962 Singspiriation Music Words and Music by Hugh Mitchell

Daily Devotions:  The ACTS of Prayer - Supplication

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

In today's devotion, we will finish the study of the ACTS of Prayer.  Let’s start off by defining the word, Supplication.

Taken from the Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 Ed.:

SUPPLICATION, n. [L. supplication.]

1. Entreaty; humble and earnest prayer in worship. In all our supplications to the Father of mercies, let us remember a world lying in ignorance and wickedness.

2. Petition; earnest request

In this day in age, there is an urgency attitude.  Most are patting their foot waiting for the microwave to hurry up with the 5 minute turkey dinner tray.  Not so long ago, that same turkey dinner had to take hours to bake in the conventional oven.  Everyone is in such a hurry for everything.  We want it NOW.

Many times, this may carry over into our prayer life.  Too often, we may get right into the asking (supplication) part of our prayer before we lay the foundation for the prayer.  Our prayers should be much more than just a mere To Do list of “I Want….” or  “I Need…” for God to perform on our behalf.  As we have studied this week, there is so much more to a prayer than just saying, “God, I need….”  

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Bible instructs us in Hebrews 4:16 to come boldly unto the throne of grace.  When we make a petition before God, we should be bold in our confidence in the Lord in that HE can and will do all that we ask according to HIS will.  We are not to be bold as in ‘demanding’ our needs and wants. 

During the supplication process, we should be sincere with our petitions.  Our prayers should be filled with genuineness and honesty.  Our prayers should be presented in a natural way.  We should talk to God as if we are talking to our best friend, but with the reverence that HE so rightly deserves.  We should not fill our prayers with vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7), trying to copy someone else’s form.  But yet, we should not be so relaxed that we are almost insulting the King of kings if we say, “Hey, Yo, Yo, God….” 

Psalm 86:5-7 (KJV)

5)  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6)  Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7)  In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

 

Philippians 4:5-7 (KJV)

5)  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6)  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

6)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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Daily Devotions:  Prayer Journals.

The topic of today’s devotion is Prayer Journaling.  Personally, I have not heard of this practice.  I have, however, heard of keeping a Prayer List.  But the author of the Daily Devotions suggests writing out your prayers unto God.  He suggests having a composition book and writing out the prayer at least once a day.  The time spent writing is not as important as the consistency.  By writing out the prayer, you have more concentration and are more focused with more intensity.

You may ask, “What are the benefits of keeping a Prayer Journal?”  The first reason would the ability to review the prayers.  You will be able to see what you have been asking God for and how HE has been answering your prayers.  Another benefit to writing out your prayers is the ability to review who you have been praying for and see that you are not missing anyone.  Lastly, the experience might actually draw you closer to God.  It should make your communication with HIM more intimate and personal. 

Ephesians 6:18 (KJK)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Psalm 141:2 (KJV)

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

I did a search on the internet about Prayer Journaling.  Some of the things that are suggested to be entered into the journal are also thoughts of the day, the innermost feelings of your heart, and your thoughts and ponderings (in addition to the actual written prayer).  I guess, in a way, I am already doing that (except for the actual prayer list).

Daily Devotions:  John 14.

Today, read John Chapter 14.  Do you know HIM?  HIS disciples, who were with HIM daily, did not fully understand who HE was.  Even with Jesus saying, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9), the disciples were still asking to see the Father.  Talk about clueless.  But then some people today don’t really know HIM in HIS fullness.  I guess people need to find Jesus for themselves.  The deeper the relationship that you have with HIM, the more that HE will show HIMSELF to you.  I find that the more that I learn of HIM, the more that I want to know HIM.  HE is not going to force HIS understanding on you.  You must seek after HIM.

Daily Devotions:  The Responsibilities of Raising Children.

We must look to the Bible and use it as a guidebook to life, especially when it comes to raising children.  The Bible tells us to train the child in the ways of the Lord.  Reading the Bible to our children is good, but I feel that it is just as important to live by example.  If we do not set a Biblical example, then we are sending a dual message.  A “Do as I say - not as I do” type of example.  We will only lose our children’s respect by being “two-faced”, or hypercritical.

In HIS word, God shows us how we ought to teach our children and gives examples of how we should live.  Not just in front of our children but also with all people and situations.  HIS word also tells us not to spoil our children but to raise them with discipline.  This world will try to tell us that to discipline our children will only destroy their self-esteem.  Squash their individuality and expression.  I would rather live by Biblical laws than this world’s standards. 

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Psalm 34:11 (KJV)

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 28:9-10 (KJV)

9)  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

10)  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Ephesians 6:4 (KJV)

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Daily Devotions:  A Lesson in Vines.

Today’s devotion isn’t really a devotional that I received from an email.  It is more like an observation and a lesson learned from nature.

When we first moved into our house at the end of December, I noticed a spiked leafy plant with tall stalks that stood dormant beside the backdoor.  I just could not wait until spring to see what flowers (if any) would bloom from this plant.  At the beginning of June, the wait was over.  I saw the flowers that this plant yielded.  It had a light orange to yellow lily type shape.  It was a very pretty flower.  I am not a flower person, so I can not tell you what kind of flowering plant this was.

A couple of weeks ago, I was clearing some weeds from around the house.  There was a vine of some sort that was starting to wind and loop itself around the fence close to the back door.  I had pulled the vine and cleared the fence.  Inspecting my work, I notice a small vine growing around the plant with the pretty yellow flowers.  I said to myself, “I’ll get it the next time.”

Today, I was walking around the backyard.  I looked toward the pretty flowers.  They were all gone.  The little vine that was left unattended had grown and overpowered the flowering plant.  The vine had twisted itself around the tall stem choking the life out of the flowers and then the plant itself.  The flowers were only a wilted mass of their once vibrant splendor.  I could still see the buds of a future flower still on the stalk.  But I knew that I had to act to preserve the flowers. 

I carefully untwisted the vine from the stalk.  I tenderly unwound the choking intruder from the thinner stem that held the future flower buds.  I noticed that the vine had wound itself so tightly around the stem that it weakened the stem.  The stem only broke off in my hands.

Then I thought about how this could easily be an example of how our lives could be.  Is there a sin or transgression that has not been attended to?  At first, it may appear to be a small sprout of a vine just starting to poke its way through the soil.  We can say to ourselves, I’ll tend to that later.  But as time goes on, that vine grows along with us.  We start to yield the fruits of the Spirit.  We start to display the flowers of HIS vibrant glory.  Then the intruding vine will entangle itself around us and try to choke us spiritually.

But, what if we allow Christ to be the vine?  In John 15:5, Christ states that HE is the vine and we are the branches.  After seeing how this vine had overpowered the flowering plant, I wonder how different our lives could be if we truly allow HIM to entangle HIMSELF in our lives.  What if we allowed Christ to be the center of our lives and that HIS attributes choke out the impurities in our lives? 

Oh, to be completely and totally wrapped up in Jesus.

John 15:1-9 (KJV)

1)  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6)  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7)  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8)  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9)  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Daily Devotions:  The Value of Time.

To realize he value of a sister/brother
Ask someone who doesn't have one.

To realize the value of ten years:
Ask a newly Divorced couple.

To realize the value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize the value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.....

To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)

1)  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2)  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3)  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4)  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5)  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6)  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7)  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8)  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

God has a plan and a purpose.  HE has a schedule.  We may not understand within our own time constraints.  But there is a reason that we are in this moment of time.

In regards to the subject of health and weight loss toss, God wants us to be healthy.  We are HIS temple.  We must be diligent caretakers of HIS temple.  We just need to keep in mind that we are not going to meet our goals over night.  Many of us will reach a point to where it appears that we have stalled out. 

Don’t give up.

Don’t throw in the towel. 

Just keep pressing forward.

God is with you in this process. 

HE is with you on this Journey.

You will be a success because God NEVER fails.

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I read this today and thought about how we need the church and the relationships that are placed within the church body to help us on our journey.  It is easy to fall by the way side.  Close to the FIRE, but not close enough to keep the Fire burning.  We need to stay in the Fire.

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A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening... The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire... Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited..

The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it..

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!

I shall not want ----- that's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance !

For His name sake ----- that's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!

I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!

For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!

My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!

Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God is crazy about you!

What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives.

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee, he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
 

Amen!   I love this!

Cherokee Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone.  He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it.  He cannot cry out for help
to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could  become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.  
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone.  Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us.  When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

If you liked this story, pass it on.  
If not, you took off your blindfold  before dawn.

Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see God,
Doesn't mean He is not there.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 

Edit:  Received this story via email.....