The Ragin River

 During worship this morning, God showed me a picture of this raging river. It was fast and the current was strong but in order to get to the promises He has on the other side, crossing the river was a must. I saw people standing on the bank and instead of focusing on the promises on the other side they focused on the raging river and stood in fear and did not move forward out in faith. Then I watched others who although they saw the river kept their eyes on the promises on the other bank and stepped out in to the river.
  The river would over take those that turned back or looked at the raging water around them but those that stepped out and kept their focus on the promises, the river would become a gentle stream about them and they reached the other side where Jesus and His promises were awaiting them.

Something else God was speaking to my spirit is that...
The river is God's love for us, raging, full of jealousy, powerful. Some people are scared of it, scared to even get close and for some they inch in and stay on the shoreline just getting their feet wet. But for those that launch out into the depths, that raging river is gentle, full of grace and mercy, full of peace and healing. We have to go through His raging river of love to get to the other side to get to the promises He has for us. Not just what is in scripture but what has been spoken over us. The river is all consuming. As is His love for us.

 God seems to speak to me in pictures a lot of the time and I am still trying to take it all in.  I know there is some deep messages here.  I am trusting that He will show me more as I meditate on His word and ask Him to show me more.  I pray that what I have shared thus far is something that has or will encourage you.

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

 Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this.... The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over... the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.

 Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see.. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

 Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.......... The folded napkin meant,  'I'm coming back!'

   He is Coming Back!

He's Alive Forever More!

The Gift that Became a Curse

Have you ever been given a wonderful gift and at first it is everything you wanted.  Maybe it was something you desperately needed or prayed for or just a gift from a loved one and then out of no where it is no longer a gift but a curse.  It may start off as small comments made by the giver.  Things such as, "I'm glad I could give it to you or I'm glad I had the money to give to you,"  then it changes to, "I hope you know how much that cost me or how much of a sacrifice it was for me to give it to you."
   It's as if you now owe them for the gift.  A gift is defined as: Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering. So when is a gift no longer a gift?   When the giver holds the price tag over the receiver's head!!!
   I am positive many of you (those that actually follow this blog or even stumble upon it by accident) have experienced this one time in your life or another.  I can even stretch it to say you (I) may have actually been the one doing it.
   Let me just say I would rather not even receive the gift if this is how it will be.  I am personally dealing with this right now.  Not sure how to handle it and honestly would love to just give the gift back but can't.  It was a monetary gift used to fix something.  A gift we were told.... A GIFT!  and now it has become a curse.  I am doing my best to not allow bitterness to grow towards this person.  UGH!  Why can't the gift be just that a gift!

What does a muffler and prayer have in common?

This week I wrote a new post on Pastoring Partners Network.  GO CHECK IT OUT!  Make sure you post a comment about what you think. I am always interested in others thoughts on what I have written.  I like feedback as much as anyone. :-)

Amazed!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil 4:6 I made my petition known (even down to the specifics of my requests) and God answered those prayers tonight! Thank you Lord for answering this request so quickly and wonderfully!
   It always amazes me when God answers to the specifics of what I pray!  Not sure why it does considering the Word tells us to present your requests to God.  We should expect nothing less than what we pray for right!?  But it always amazes me.  I will share more of what God did this week for us in a later post but today I have to say THANK YOU LORD!
   

Transition

Transition-a passage, a movement, an abrupt change. No where do you see a stop or pause in a transition...there is movement...forward changing movement. Thank you Lord that although we are in a transitional phase of our lives we are not at a stop. Thank you that YOU know the plans you have for us...plans of a future filled with hope! :)

Lift my Hands

I lift my hands up to you Lord. Despite all that is going on, despite what I think and feel I will continue to lift my hands up to you. My heart is broken and I don't understand but I will lift my hands to believe again. I know you have the best in store and I will trust You know what is best. Again my heart is broken and my mind is confused but I know that you are faithful and I will place my trust in you!

This Baby Changed the World

Merry Christmas

  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”  Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.  Luke 1:30-38

Oh to have this kind of faith to answer the way Mary did!!!

Charlie in the Box

 "Halt who goes there?!"  said Charlie in the Box.    The conversation below is from none other than "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer". 

Charlie-In-The-Box: I am the official sentry of the Isle of Misfit Toys.
Hermey: A jack-in-the-box for a sentry?
Charlie-In-The-Box: Yes. My name is...
Rudolph: Don't tell me: Jack.
Charlie-In-The-Box: No, Charlie. That's why I'm a misfit toy. My name is all wrong. No child wants to play with a Charlie-In-The-Box, so I had to come here.


Have you ever felt like a "Charlie in the Box"?  Feel like you don't fit in or belong.  Boy I sure have, more than once.  In fact sorta feeling like that right now in a few places in my life.  Just don't fit in, seem to be on the outside looking in.   Well Jesus was a "Charlie in the Box!"  He didn't fit in with what society expected of him.  He was an outcast and yet EVERYONE wanted to be friends with him.  They would journey hundreds of miles just to get a glimpse of him, crawl on their news just to touch the hem of his garment!  God uses the rich and poor, the beautiful and the ugly, the popular and the unpopular.  You may feel like a "Charlie" but know this...GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!!!!  And it will be fulfilled if you truly seek after HIM!!!

Patience...Waiting...not my favorite!

"Patience ~ an ability or willingness to suppress annoyance when confronted with delay. Waiting ~ a pause, interval, or delay." These two words and definitions go hand in hand and I for one do not like either of them....just being honest.

   Right now we are "waiting" to hear from the two churches that interviewed Sean for the lead pastor's position.  We are having to be "patient" while we "wait."   I know it's the holidays and I know that the boards/committees of these churches may put off making a decision until after Christmas...which means a whole month of waiting.

I do not like waiting or patience. Never have never will.  I am sure there is a reason why God likes to keep teaching me this lesson.  Sooner or later, probably later never , I will learn that it's ok to wait and be patient.  Right now is not that time!

I want to be able to say that I would be ok with the doors closing...honestly I won't be ok with it!  But I would rather have a closed door than be in this waiting game with these two churches. UGH!

Poor People

Saw this posted on Facebook and thought it was worth a repeat for the blogging world.

POOR PEOPLE ?

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?'

'It was great, Dad.'

'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.

'Oh yeah,' said the son.

'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father.

The son answered:

'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.'

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Pass this on to friends and acquaintances and help them refresh their perspective and appreciation.

'Life is too short and friends are too few.'

By: Author Tom Baker

Forks

Ever been on a hike or a river adventure and you come to a fork in the road so to speak?  Two paths that lead to the same destination, different characteristics, sights to see things to do and yet they lead to the same goal.  That is what we are looking at right now.  Two separate churches are interested in Sean as their pastor. Both from all that we know on the surface look the same a few differences but both appear to be great opportunities.  Sometimes when faced with a fork in the road it is hard to know which path to take.  Right now we are faced with this situation.  Naturally the outcome is yet to be seen.  For all we know both doors will close and we could be back at the starting point again. We only want what God wants for our family.
  We know no matter the outcome He knows what is best.  This is like a roller coaster for the emotions and thoughts...I really dislike roller coasters...specially this close to Christmas! UGH!

   Lord make the path clear and straight that we would know what to do if given an option and we would follow only what you have for us!  Amen