A Wonderful Gospel Picture!

I believe Spring has truly sprung here on the Hill! I will admit I heard little ice balls falling onto the grass outside my open window while I slept last night, but it's still a sure sign of Spring! The bird calls are different too. Have you noticed? some of the 'snow birds' have returned from the South? As I drove along Mud Lane yesterday morning, there were the redwing blackbirds who love to hang out at the end of meadow expanses. The little juncos have come in droves, to the feeder at Mom's. Within a couple of weeks we'll be hanging our hummingbird feeder. I was telling someone a few years ago, how the hummers come right around Mother's Day. As we were speaking and hanging the nectar out, here came one! --whizzing around the corner! right on time!

I have yet to see anything green emerging from the ground. Still the only color we have seen are those bright little coltsfoot along the edges of the road. They have the "oomph" to push up through the toughest of ground. Their fuzzy yellow faces and their perseverance (along with healing properties, I'm told) are their only positive points, in my opinion. If they would stay out of my growing space I'd really love them!

What a wonderful picture Paul shared in I Corinthians 15. After giving the clear "gospel"; Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again; all "according to the Scriptures". 

"But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die; and that which thou sowest , thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain; it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain; but God giveth it a body as it has pleased Him, and to every seed his own body." 

I Corinthians 15:35-38

What a picture of the gospel we have, every season! We get to witness a cycle of the seed dying, being sown into the ground, buried, and then rising up again in the Spring! How perfect our Creator is in really giving us all things to enjoy and all things that pertain unto life and godliness.

I hope you have a beautiful Spring day. It appears that ours will be a rainy one. Today is the last day of April - these showers are sure to replenish our wells and water those seedlings that are ready to emerge and blossom! Take care, all.

A Settled Peace

Opportunities

The Lord has an amazing way of meshing things together, teaching lessons along a particular vein throughout the day. As I was washing dishes this morning I was tuned in to WMUU Radio and listening to a Chapel Hour sermon from Galatians 6. Two things that stood out to me are:
We can be deceived into thinking that we are something when we are nothing (vs. 3), and that we can be deceived into thinking that we can mock God and get away with it (vs 7). HE sees when we either sow to the flesh, OR to the Spirit! It is a great comfort to know that God knows all about me. All around me, every day, there are opportunities for sowing to the Spirit.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

As I meditated upon these truths, finishing the dishes, I then sat down to open God's Word. The first thing that I usually do is look into the devotional booklet called The Feature. Two lines from today's writing said, "Who we ARE is not what people see, but what God sees." "He observes everything and keeps record of it." This was taken from Psalm 34 concerning the Fear of the Lord.

"Come ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Ps 34:11 

These two portions of Scripture (Galatians 6 and Psalm 34) prepared me for going out into the world today.

One thing that I do love about getting out among people is to get to know the needs of others all around me. We have opportunities at almost every turn to meet a need. Sometimes it is by an act, but often just by a warm smile or a word of encouragement, very often with God's Word. When I stay home for days at a time I do find myself getting very self-centered. I know this can never happen to you ladies who are home with children. You never get a chance to think of yourself much at all throughout any day! It can happen with those of us who spend too much time alone though; it doesn't have to, of course. The Lord gives each of us a different path. At this time He has me getting out at least 4 days per week to work in a "secular job", which I view as "sacred", as everything should be for a Christian.

I am thankful that he "geared me up" this morning with truths from His Word, to go out there and take the opportunities that are around me. When I sow to the Spirit it will be seen by God (and perhaps ONLY God). When I sow to the flesh, that will also be seen by God.

Lord, help me to see vertically before seeing horizontally; but may I SEE horizontally and only 
'do good'. 

"And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal 6:9

These new, freshly-sprung fiddleheads (no they're not growing in our yard yet) remind me that God's mercies are new every morning!

More Lessons from the Lord and Mom

Being With Jesus

This morning I tuned in to WMUU.com (the music has changed from what it formerly was, but I went to the "sermons" section). Today's kitchen sermon was entitled "Spiritual Amnesia", Phil Gerard, Bob Jones University. It was taken from Deuteronomy 8. One key verse was, "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God...lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein...and thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God...", these are from verses 11 through the end of the chapter.

I only want to say that it was a blessed reminder, using the nation of Israel as example, of God's rich blessings that I experience every day and the warning to not take these for granted and to forget that it is He who even allows us to wake up each morning! It was all that, and much more. Adding the Word of God ('extra-cirricular' (if you will) to that of spending our quiet time in prayer and Bible reading) has been a rich blessing to me. Don't let anyone or anything deter you from spending whatever time God allows, over and above hearing the Word in our church services and Bible reading (both of which are utterly vital). As long as we are not entertaining heresy or simply looking for someone to 'tickle our ears', the Word of God can and should permeate the child of God. Soak it in like a sponge, but then let it flow out into the lives and ears of everyone around us. We want to have God USE these things in our lives, that God will be glorified and that others will know that we have "been with Jesus".

It's a beautiful Spring day! Thank you for stopping by!

A "rewording" to a former post...Direct My Heart Into the Love of God

A former post, by the above title, has been changed just a bit, as I had not had it worded well...

I praise God for a husband who encourages me to be in the Word of God daily and for a Pastor who teaches only the truth of the Bible. Just in these lasts months, as I've shared in former posts, The Lord has used various Scripture in my heart to remind me how much deeper and focused He wants me to be. Though some of the means are through listening to sermons throughout the day, Syd and I both know that it is due to a good Bible foundation and consistent Bible teaching day by day, week by week, growing ever closer to Christ, that this desire gets stronger. I suppose that this is what Revival is, focusing in and honing in more each day to allow God to line us up with the Chief Cornerstone. Lord willing (and we know that He is) all believers in the Lord Jesus will desire this "revival" in our hearts more deeply each day. I pray that I do.

I hope that Christians are praying for their local churches; for personal holiness and for spreading of the gospel to lost and desperate souls all around us. I'm praying for me and for you, for pastors and fellow Christians, and for our government leaders. Individuals and government leaders will likely only come to salvation if churches are strong and Christians are showing Jesus Christ to this dying world.

"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." 

II Thessalonians 3:5

"And He gave, some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of Christ; That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 4:11-16

On Our Knees in the Garden

I am looking so forward to snowless Spring - the days when things start popping up through the ground. Unfortunately, with it comes our beautiful little coltsfoot (also referred to as coughwort or horsehoof, and very medicinal - come and get it!) It starts out as the first color we see along the top of our driveway, quite enjoyable, really. Tiny little sunspots after a world of white!

Soon these beautiful spirit-lifters become a terrible pest. Their root-system travels just an inch or so underground and is almost impossible to rid the land of. A person can spend all of a day on their knees, but if one little piece is left - up comes another bright yellow face, grinning up at you as if to say, "you haven't got ALL of me yet!" Rooting up this bitter fruit is a difficult task. It takes much time on our knees.

God's Word warns of a root also; the "root of bitterness" that can come into our soul. If we allow bitterness to take root, it WILL spring up and trouble us and defile MANY, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." Hebrews 12:14,15

God brings things into the life of a Christian for a good reason (Romans 8:28). Let it drive us to our knees in prayer, forgiveness, and searching the Scriptures. If there is a root of bitterness there, pull it out right away. So often things can distract us and cause such a burden that we leave off serving God and interceding for others in prayer. This root certainly will bring trouble to our souls and anyone we come in contact with.

God uses many measures to drive us to our knees; 

sometimes to pull the weeds, 

sometimes to deadhead the flowers, 

but other times to pick the fruit. 

Do not be discouraged, but believing!