Butterfly

Butterfly    

                            

The other day my friend noticed in her garden a beautiful butterfly flitting from flower to flower.  To her amazement there were holes in each of its wings.  She was so surprised at the grace the butterfly exhibited.  As she related this story, she said there must be a Tidbit about this butterfly.  As I was thinking about the butterfly a few days later the Lord brought to mind the tenacity of this butterfly.  It never majored on its imperfections.  It just went living the life God had planned for it. Each of us has imperfections in our life.  Some are obvious on the outside like the butterfly and some are hidden deeply within our body or soul.  Our Lord never meant for our imperfections to be an excuse for us to avoid the life He planned for us.  As we lean on the Lord, we can draw strength from Him to go forth and walk the path in life He destined for us.  What if as the butterfly emerged from the cocoon it said, “My wings are deformed and it will be too hard to learn to fly” imagine the life it would have missed and the joy others would miss.    Sometimes folks use the imperfections in their life to actually draw into a cocoon rather than appropriate God and face the life He has for them. How thankful we can be that as Jesus looked ahead to the cross, He did not say, “It’s too hard for me.” In His word God says His strength is sufficient.  Next time you feel like your wings are shot with holes remember the holey butterfly.  Just remember we all have holes in our life, but the secret is to overcome them.  Much like the butterfly never forgets Jesus is sufficient.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

.

Christmas

Christmas

Today I am thinking about Christmas.  The joy of celebrating our Savior’s birth.  Some find it hard to fathom Jesus’ birth.  Born of a virgin.  By God’s design.  Others celebrate with their eyes on Santa Claus.  No father no mother.  Poof out of nowhere with only material gifts in his bag.  Often unwanted gifts or ones that are so shabby their life span is short.  Conversely Jesus brings us the gift of salvation.  Life everlasting.  The hope of tomorrow. Santa is here and gone in the blink of an eye.  Jesus is forever.  Wonder why folks settle for a fable when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is available to each and every one of us. Just bow our heart and receive the best gift one could ever obtain plus it is an everlasting gift. Celebrate Christmas with the joy of Jesus in your heart and pass that joy on to others.  Possibly a Santa lover might just catch the joy of Jesus if we were to share Him. What a wonderful time of the year to share the joy of Jesus as our Savior.

2 Corinthians 4:18

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Baggage

Baggage

When my church was building a new sanctuary a schematic was placed on an easel showing an architectural drawing.  As our pastor shared he said the architect must have used a computer program for an airport terminal showing people coming toward the church from the parking lot.  Those coming from the parking lot were pulling suitcases behind them.  The thought struck me that this is so appropriate.  Is not the church the place to bring life’s “baggage?” Life’s cares. The secret is to leave life’s “baggage” at the altar, thereby releasing the burdens of life.  How many of us take the same cares home after service instead of leaving them with Jesus?  Maybe the church is more like a terminal that we realize.  Check your baggage at the altar releasing it to heaven and leaving with the cares of the world lifted from our shoulders.  When we leave our burdens with Jesus it releases our spirit to be set free.  Thank you Jesus for Your provision for freedom.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

Emotional Wounds

Jeremiah 30-17  For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds, declares the Lord.

As I was praying Jeremiah 30-17 it is as if He said how can I heal your wounds if you keep picking the scab off.    Emotional wounds that is.  Don’t ruminate on the past.  Leave that to Jesus.   Look to Jesus.  Enjoy the present.  The past is buried in Christ.  The present is filled with the hope of Christ. Walk in the light of the love of Jesus. Lean on Him for strength.  He is your strength and joy.

This is the day the Lord has made rejoice in it.

Are You Loaded Down With "Stuff?"

Are You Loaded Down With “Stuff?”

Mark 6:7-9 And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs; and He gave them authority over unclean spirits; and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff; no bread, no bag, and no money in their belt, but to wear sandals and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.”

When I think about the disciples going out, I picture in my mind them walking along a dusty road, no one carrying anything to weigh them down on their journey.  I suppose the staff they were carrying was to help them as they climbed a steep incline or to lean on as they rested.  No money.  Full trust.  Interestingly, the one who betrayed Jesus carried the money bag.

I think of my life so full of ease – more than enough clothes, money, food or any of the material possessions I might desire.  These things could be a stumbling block if they define who I am but I cannot let them.  Only Jesus can define who I am. When I go out to minister or if I just stay at home and am ministered to by Jesus, I need to set aside all the trappings of ease.  My Bible is my staff to lean on when life gets tough, to glean from when I read His word.  It will teach me to trust in good times and lean times.  When sorrow comes I must realize Jesus is enough.  We need to remember that all the worldly things are worthless unless we focus on the sufficiency of Jesus and Jesus alone.

A Stone A Day Keeps The Devil Away

This morning as I was writing in my stone journal about encouraging a lady in Ross the Lord dropped a phrase in my mind “a stone a day keeps the Devil away.” This particular lady was quite lovely and I complemented her on how lovely she was. She turned to me and said you don’t really know how much I needed that today. Well after we hugged I told her that in truth I needed to bless someone today as much as she needed a blessing. It was a Jesus moment for both of us. Now back to a stone a day keeps the Devil away. About a month ago Jesus told me to make a stone journal recounting all the times He had intervened in my life to guide, protect, bless or otherwise been present. Joshua 4:6-7 directed the children of Israel to place stones in the Jordan River as a memorial to His faithfulness in their crossing the Jordan so in the future when their children asked about the stones they would share with them how God had lead and directed them. As I reflect on all the wonderful times He has intervened in my life and encouraged me to share Him with others I anticipate His next adventure. When I go into the marketplace with a heart turned to Jesus He is almost always faithful to provide an adventure worth recording in my stone journal.

I Thessalonians 1:25 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Leaping for Joy

                               

Leaping for Joy 

                  

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.  And a

certain man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they

used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg

alms of those who were entering the temple.  And when he saw Peter and John about to go into

the temple, he began asking to receive alms.  And Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze upon

him and said, “Look at us!”  And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive 

something from them.  But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have

I give to you “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - walk!”  And seizing him by the right

hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.  And with a

leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and

leaping and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

                                                                                                                                   

 I remember the day Jesus came into my heart.  My priest prayed for me for a long time and then

 he quietly left the church.  I prayed ever so long at the altar after he left.  Jesus gently took my

 soul and restored me.  My soul was as equally as crippled as the man sitting at the gate.  My

 friends had taken me to the temple for healing.  What a blessing to have friends who recognized

 the condition of our soul and lead us to the Savior. After receiving Christ I well remember my

transformation.  Not only was it spiritual but also physical. I felt as if I was walking on tip toes for eons.  I well can relate to the man in scripture when with a leap he stood upright.  My joy was so deep it was evident to those around me.  The first time I saw my sister-in-law, she asked  “what are you on now?” Formerly I had been on tranquilizers and beer.  Joyfully I could tell her Jesus had become my Savior.  Some of us are so crippled our first instinct is to leap for joy when Jesus enters our life.  The blessing for us it is so real we leap for joy the rest of our lives.