Handfuls of Purpose

Do you ever see and recognize the "handfuls of purpose" that the Lord gives to you? By that I mean the extra, undeserved and unexpected things.....sometimes big, sometimes small.....that God does for you in the everyday. Sometimes they just seem to "happen" along. Sometimes He used family or friends as a "delivery person"!

Just such a thing happened to me last week. When I walked in the door of the pregnancy center where I work once a week, my co-workers all started saying, "Come and look what you have!" I couldn't imagine what they were talking about until I saw the beautiful arrangement of flowers sitting on the counter. There was no special occasion that I could think of so was bewildered who could have sent them. Then I read the card. It was from a friend that I had carried to the doctor a few days before that. She had written on the card..."Thanks so much for ALL you do for me!" But the thing is....I don't feel like I do anything much for her! Certainly nothing spectacular enough to warrant such beautiful flowers! (I'm glad that she thinks so though.)

And although the gift came from a friend....and I called to tell her to say thank you as soon as I got home!.....I almost immediately thought of the book of Ruth and how Boaz told his men who were in charge of his fields to "let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them". (Ruth 2: 16) Isn't that just like God! He gives us "handfuls of purpose" all the time if we just look for them. I didn't deserve the flowers. I didn't pay for the flowers. I just got to enjoy them because my friend took the time to go out of her way to do something special for me. And in doing that, she reminded me that actually, all things come from God.

Look for your "Handfuls of Purpose" today......I know you will see some! And maybe you'd like to comment and share with the rest of us what it was!

God bless you!

Marilyn

My Daddy and the Tree

While looking through some “vintage prints” in a Print Shop Photo Folio CD I have, I came across the above picture. What a huge tree!

It reminded me of a story my Daddy told me a few years ago. One I don’t remember him telling to me when I was a youngster.The incident happened when he was just a young boy. The year was around 1920. Daddy would have been about nine years old. He said during that time there was a stave mill operating in the area. (I had to ask him what “staves” were! Remember seeing old barrels or buckets made of strips of wood held together with bands of metal? The strips of wood are called “staves”) People in the area sold their white oak logs to this mill, the mill made staves out of the logs and then sold the staves to a barrel factory.

Daddy said that sometime during the early 1920’s there was a very unusual white oak tree cut down on some property adjoining his daddy’s farm. When this tree was cut down, the stump that it left was large enough for twenty-one men to stand on. Imagine that! All the logging back then was done by hand and with horses and mules. It must have taken some muscle and stamina to get that tree cut down and then cut up into logs and loaded on a wagon to take to the stave mill. Only one log that size could be loaded onto a wagon at one time. Those were the good ole days when people knew what it was like to work hard and for long hours to make a living for their family. ( II Chronicles 15: 7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. )

After Daddy told me about this unusual tree, I started thinking about another tree. The year was around 33 A.D. The place was a hillside called Calvary. This tree was a cross. On this cross hung the Saviour of the world. ( Acts 5: 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. ) On this tree hung the weight of not just twenty-one men but the weight of the sins of the whole world. ( I Peter 2: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. )

My Daddy has been in heaven for almost a year and a half now. I think one of the things I admired most about him was that as a young man he looked on this tree...the cross of Calvary....and accepted the free gift of salvation provided there by the Lord Jesus Christ. (Exodus 15: 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree… )

When we truly cry out to the Lord for mercy, He ALWAYS shows us a tree…the cross of Calvary. My prayer for you today is that you have taken a good look at Calvary where Jesus paid for our sins on the old rugged tree. (Jesus says in John 12: 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.)

Marilyn

And the Winner Is........

I put all the names in a bowl and my husband drew out a winner for the "Precious Feet" pin. And the winner is........(drumroll).....VIRGINIA !! Congratulations my Friend!

Let me tell you a little about my friend Virginia. She has been a missionary in the Philippines for 30 years or more. Leaving from a little town in north MS she went to answer the call to missions that God had placed on her heart. She taught in a Christian Bible school which is where she met her now husband. They married and started a mission work. They have started churches and done...and are still doing... many wonderful works there in the Philippines. I am proud to call Virginia and her family our FRIENDS! I will get the pin in the mail to you this week!

Thanks to each and every one of you who sent in a comment for the drawing. You are such an encouragement to me! May God bless you!

Marilyn

My First Give-Away

***UPDATE! *****
(I am extending the deadline to get your comment in for the drawing for the Precious Feet Pin until midnight Sunday.)

Hello readers! What a blessing you are! Thanks to those of you who check every day and those who come from time to time to see if my keyboard has been tapping out a message lately.

I could not let today pass without writing something. Today is January 22. The 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court case that overturned all state and federal laws outlawing or restricting abortion. What a sad day this was back in 1973. Millions of babies have lost their lives because of this court case.

Our local Crisis Pregnancy Center tries to give women information about options other than abortion. I have been thinking about doing a "Give-Away" on my blog but just had not decided what it would be. That is, until today.

On one of our counters in the center we have a basket filled with Pro-Life items and as I walked past it this afternoon I knew what I wanted to offer you for my first Give-Away on my blog! The "Precious Feet" pin! It can be worn on your clothing and is the exact size of the feet of most babies at 10 weeks after conception. It has been the International Pro-Life symbol for 25 years. It's a great conversation starter and lets people know where your heart is.

If you would like to be entered into a drawing for this pin just leave a comment. Or if you receive this via email, just send an email comment and you will be in the drawing also. Please leave comment or send email before 4:00 p.m. (central time) on Saturday. (Make sure you put your email address in the comment you leave if you do not have it on your Profile page. Thanks! ) I will announce the winner on Monday.

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." Deuteronomy 30: 19

God bless you!

Marilyn

This and That

It seems so long since I've written a blog post! Actually it's only been five days but seems like weeks! I have just had so many other things to attend to and also was not feeling well over the weekend... so have not sat down to write. Now I take "pen in hand" to write and give you my bad news and my good news!

First the bad news. I have not felt well for the last several days. I had an unusual spell with my blood pressure Saturday. Have not had it happen for about 4 1/2 years. For SOME unknown reason, every so often I will have one day only of very high blood pressure. Saturday it was 175/105. It stayed high most of the day. I finally took one of my husband's "water pills" and that helped. But ever since then I have been really weak, exhausted, and have not had much appetite. (which are always my symptoms for several days after I have a day like that) Went on to my doctor today and he checked me out and said it was just "one of those things" and gave me some low-dose blood pressure medicine to take "as needed". (I had first gone to him about 4 years ago when I had the same "incident" happen and at that time he had me do a nuclear stress test, EKG, and echocardiogram.....all that turned out fine.) So, actually, that's not really bad news I guess. Just bad that I've been sick. Good that he could not find a lot wrong with me! :)

Now for the good news! I had lost SIX pounds since I saw him 3 weeks ago! I am really happy about that! I'm hoping that if I lose weight and START exercising that maybe I can get this old body into better shape and it won't shut down on me!

Also, yesterday I took a friend to the doctor and while in the waiting room I got caught up with my daily Bible readings that I had missed while sick! Yeah! That alone makes me feel better! I know that I need to take care of both my physical AND my spiritual body.

Maybe in a few days I will get back into the swing of writing.

I have been really enjoying the verse that I am "deeply meditating" on since January 15:

Psalm 107: 29-30
"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves therof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them into their desired haven."

I feel much better this afternoon than I have been feeling. It seems like the Lord has brought me into a desired haven for a spell.

If things seem to be tempestuous for you right now, I pray He will calm your storms and bring you into your desired haven soon.

Marilyn

Accessory With a Purpose

I just love it when necklaces, earrings, bracelets, gloves, shoes, belts, etc. are called "accessories"! I don't know why ... it just sounds so....classy & dramatic..... or something! A few months ago someone gave me a very old newspaper clipping of the announcement in the local paper when my Mama and Daddy got married around 58 or 59 years ago. I don't remember ever seeing the clipping before and so much enjoyed reading it. This is what was said about Mama and her Matron of Honor: "The Bride wore a donegal grey tweed suit with black accessories. The Matron of Honor was attired in a wine gabardine suit with black accessories." Accessories....that something extra that can make or break an outfit.

The ladies class that I teach on Sunday mornings gave me some money at Christmas and I have just now gotten around to spending some of it. One of the things I bought was the bracelet in the picture. As a bracelet I would identify it as an accessory. It would be a great addition to my wardrobe on it's own merit as an attractive bracelet. But this is an accessory with a purpose! It is a witnessing tool that I am so excited about wearing!

Are there any of you that have ever used the "Wordless Book" of colored pages to give the plan of salvation to children? If so, then you probably recognize the colors in the beads of this "Salvation" bracelet.

The black bead represents our heart being black or dark with sin. ("To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts 26: 18)

Red stands for the blood of Jesus that can cleanse us from all sin. ("Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" 1 Peter 1: 18-19)

The clear (or white) bead talks of how our hearts are white as snow and our sin account has been "cleared" in the eyes of God after we are saved. ("Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1: 18)

Blue speaks of royalty! Jesus is the King of Kings and as His children we are royalty. ("...keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;" 1 Timothy 6: 14-15)

Green is for spiritual growth using the principle that when it's spring time and things are beginning to grow, everything turns green. ("But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen." 2 Peter 3: 18)

And last is gold for heaven....our eternal home with God if we are saved. ("For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Corinthians 5: 1)

I am so looking forward to wearing this "accessory with a purpose" and letting the Lord guide me as I use it as a witnessing tool for Him! In particular I want to wear it to work at the pregnancy center where it is my privilege to be able to have a little devotion with each client that I meet with.

January is Sanctity of Life Month so please be especially in prayer for all the crisis pregnancy centers everywhere.

Thanks!

Marilyn

What A Bargain !

Several times a week....and y'all, I mean several....my hubby receives a catalog in the mail from a tool company. I honestly don't see how sending out all these catalogs doesn't eat into their profits considerably! Anyhoo, last week I dutifully gave hubby his latest catalog which claims on the front cover to have the "greatest tool values in America!".

After just a few minutes hubby brings said catalog to show me the latest "bargain" on the front cover....an electric chain saw sharpener. He asked me if I saw anything wrong with the advertisement. I burst out laughing when I saw it! The photo shows the original price with a slash through it and then the "sale price" in big bold numbers. But wait! The original price was $39 and now they have marked it down to $59 ??? Huh??? Some kind of mix up here I expect! Do you think anyone will actually order this item? Hopefully not but I wouldn't be surprised!

It made me think about how Satan will try and trick us into thinking that he is offering us a great deal on something when in reality we are giving up more than we are getting! Maybe Satan says to a teenager, "Your parents are really treating you bad trying to keep tabs on all your coming and going! What you need is to run away from home so you can come and go as you like!" Or maybe he says to a Christian man or woman, "Your spouse is no fun anymore....they have let their self go and you need to pay more attention to that person you see at work everyday! They would make your life more fun!" And he is able to seduce more and more people all the time! But when we give up the good and right thing that we have and turn to whatever or whomever it is that Satan is tempting us with, we WILL pay a high price for that choice. We can be so blind to the obvious sometimes. I recently read this quote that is very thought provoking: "The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you will still have to mow it!"

Is it a bargain to pay $59 for a $39 electric chain saw sharpener? I don't think so! Neither is it a bargain to shop in Satan's workshop.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about , seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5: 8

Pay attention to what is being offered you. It just might not be a bargain!

Marilyn

Starting Over....With a Pattern

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like this? When a New Year rolls around, I feel like I’m getting an opportunity to “start over”. And as I’ve thought this week about things I could “start over” this year on, I recalled some lessons I learned earlier in life. May I share a few of them with you today?

As a teenager in high school, I took a class in Home Economics. My teacher taught our class to cook and sew. We had to learn to go strictly by a recipe to make bread or a cake or whatever we were going to cook that day. Not one time did she ever tell us to go in the kitchen and just dump any assortment of ingredients in a bowl and see what we would come up with!

The same rules applied to our sewing. We had to be measured to see what size pattern to buy. Then we had to carefully cut the pattern out and pin it on the material. The really tedious part started then. Very carefully we had to cut around the pattern pieces, making sure we cut a single notch at certain places and a double notch at others so we could make the pieces fit together right once we had them cut out. (If you sew you will know what I’m talking about….if not, that’s o.k.!) Oh my, but it was often annoying! Trying to take those odd shaped pieces of cloth and fit them together to make a garment was a challenge to most of us. Sometimes we would put them together backwards or upside down. We would get a laugh out of it but then we would have to pull out the threads and start over.

Once I was making a dress with long sleeves and my teacher made me take one sleeve out three or four times before SHE was satisfied with the results. By then it had so many little needle holes around the sleeve opening where I had taken the seams apart that I was almost afraid I would not be able to wear it out in public. I just hated taking the thing apart and starting over. But my teacher was trying to teach us to do things right.

I hated it then but now as I look back on it, I appreciate the lessons she helped me to learn. She taught me that we need a pattern for life. Alongside the lessons of cooking and sewing, she threw in lessons of morality and human kindness. She helped me to realize that things don’t just “happen”… there has to be a plan or a pattern and then good old hard work to make it happen.

So it is also in the spiritual realm. We don’t just grow in the Lord accidentally. We have to have a plan or a pattern. There has to be fellowship with Him through prayer and Bible study and then there will be growth. When we make our own plans without seeking the Lord’s will, then sometimes He has to “rip out the seams” and start over. This can be a painful time in our lives and we may wonder if we will ever be able to be seen again “out in public” when we feel like there are scars out there for all to see. But our Lord is a Master workman and his work turns out beautiful every time. If we will just follow His pattern, the Bible, then we will be able to avoid the painful process of starting over so often.

(1 Timothy 1: 16 “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a PATTERN to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”)

Praying that I will follow God's pattern more so that I have to start over less often!

Marilyn

Weight Control (Part 3)

Thanks for letting me break these thoughts on Weight Control into three different posts! I know some of you read this at work and don't have a very long time. Let's pray for each other to be healthier both physically and spiritually!

(Weight Control: Part 3)

E. MILK:

(1) “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” (I Corinthians 3:2) In this verse, MILK is compared to simple Bible teachings that must be understood before we move on to stronger doctrine.

(2) “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (I Peter 2:2) We need to desire the pure doctrine of the Word of God. And we must be careful to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize false doctrines.

OPTIONAL FOODS:

An “option" means we can choose to either have or not have certain things in our life. God has given us many OPTIONS. We can choose to serve Him or we can choose not to serve Him. It would be good if we all could say with Joshua, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

I have found that one of the worst parts of going on a diet is having to cut way back on eating sweets. I think I could live on sugar! But according to my research, if I should try, doctors say that my nerves would be shattered, my teeth rotted out, and my pancreas worn out. In other words, my body would be a mess! This reminds me of how hard it is to stay on a healthy diet of prayer, Bible reading, and witnessing. The Bible says there is pleasure in sin for a season. It doesn’t seem like there should be, but even in the life of a Christian, there is an attraction to sin. Just as sugar is sweet and attracts us, yet harms us, so it is with sin. We need to be so full of the wholesome things of God that we have no room left in our lives for sin.

Another thing we need to be healthy is EXERCISE. Acts 24:16 says, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men.” I Timothy 4:7-8 says, “But refuse profane and old wifes’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Paul is saying that even though it is good to exercise our fleshly bodies, that it is so much more important to exercise our spirits which will live on forever!

Two of the biggest battle grounds in my own personal life are the BATTLE AT THE TABLE to eat the right foods and the BATTLE IN MY SPIRIT every day as I try to do the things I know I need to do to be spiritually strong. Let us all pray one for another that God will help us to be strong healthy Christians.

“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every WEIGHT and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Here's hoping this will be a healthier and happier year than ever before!

Marilyn

Weight Control (Part 2)

Today's food groups include one of my very favorites...BREAD! Yum! I think I could live on bread! And, ya know, maybe I have been and that's what has put on so many pounds! ha
So, let's get right back into what kinds of food we need....physically AND spiritually!

B. BREAD:

(1) The most important way bread is used in a spiritual light is found in John 6:33……”For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world.” Unless we have trusted in the life-giving power of this BREAD, we will surely die.

(2) “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) We need to read a portion of God’s Word every day.

C. FRUIT:

(1) “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” (John 4:35-36) “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30) Witnessing to people about the Lord is a very good way to stay in shape spiritually.

(2) “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:31) As Christians, we should not be lazy but instead we should have a reputation as hard workers.

(3) If we let the Holy Spirit have full control over our lives, God promises to give us this fruit found in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

D. VEGETABLES:

(1) “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the garlick; but now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” (Numbers 11:5-6) It is all right to remember where we were when God found us, but it is not good to get in a back slid condition and wish we were back in our sin. We should try to have a continual “attitude of gratitude” to God for all the things he has done for us.

(2) “And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.” (Genesis 42:4) As Christians, we need to be so well prepared spiritually that when other people experience times of spiritual famine, they can come to us for help and encouragement.

I will be back with the final installment tomorrow.

God bless you!

Marilyn

Weight Control (Part 1)

Oh my! Those extra pounds that I have put on in the past couple of years don’t seem to be going away so looks like I am going to have to do something about it! Yep! Afraid so! A diet (don’t you just hate that word?) is going to be necessary! So, I have given Weight Watchers some of our hard earned money so that they will give me some advice and make me accountable for my eating. For the next 12 weeks anyway.

Every time I mention the word “diet” to hubby, he says “Just feed me some lettuce and carrots for a while!” But you can’t do that! A good diet has to be balanced and include all of the food groups. I wanted to do a few posts about what kind of nourishment we need….both in our physical lives and in our spiritual lives. And maybe we can shed some excess pounds from our bodies ….those of us who need to….and at the same time, find some ways to unload some of the extra baggage we’re carrying around in our spiritual lives.

I’ve heard that for a diet to work you must eat a balanced diet, change your eating habits and add some exercise. That could apply to your spirit also. Here’s how:

A. MEAT

(1) “Labor not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:27) “For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” (John 6:55) Jesus said to the people not to labor for meat that will perish but for everlasting life. He meant that He is the MEAT (everlasting life) that we should desire above all else.

(2) “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples on to another, hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:32-34) Jesus compared MEAT to doing the will of God.

(3) “I have fed you with milk and not meat, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” (I Corinthians 3:2) Here MEAT signifies strong doctrine.

These SERVINGS OF MEAT, (1) everlasting life in Jesus, (2) God’s will in our lives, and (3) being able to understand strong biblical doctrine are essential to our Christian diet.

I think I will stop here for today and expand this post into 2 or 3 sessions so it doesn't get too long.

See you again soon!

Marilyn

What A Friend !

***** Update*****

If you can't find your picture on this collage, please don't think

that you are not considered a friend! It is just because I did this

very quickly and could not find pictures of some of you!

You are valued! You are loved!

Marilyn

*************************

“What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry,

Every thing to God in prayer.”

(Charles S. Converse)

It’s a rainy Tuesday afternoon here in north Mississippi and I am sitting at my desk pondering the newness of the year 2009. I am wondering what this New Year will bring. I have been thinking of some of you this morning while thanking God for the wonderful friends He has sent into my life. You have encouraged me, inspired me and supported me this past year in my joys and through my sorrows. Thank you!

It’s been said that “Friend” is the finest word in any language. We have so many enemies ….known and unknown…..seen and unseen….here in this life that a true friend is indeed one of life’s greatest blessings.

But even greater than our earthly friends is the Friend of all friends… our Lord Jesus Christ. (“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18: 24)

It matters not how many good and faithful friends we have around us now….there will come a time in each of our lives that we will be alone and face to face with Christ when our time comes to pass from this temporal life unto our eternal life. What we have done with Christ here on earth will determine where we will spend our eternal life for, contrary to many opinions, we will live forever somewhere.

If we have trusted Christ’s death on the cross to pay for our sins, then Heaven is our eternal home. (“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:” John 3:36a) If we have trusted in our own good works to be enough to deserve Heaven, then hell is our eternal home. (“and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3: 36b)

I am truly blessed to have the best of both worlds. Christian friends in this world and the Friend of all friends, Jesus Christ, who is not only with me every minute here on earth but who has also made it possible for me to spend all eternity at His side.

(“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude v.24-25)

What a Saviour! WHAT A FRIEND!

Marilyn

Two New Things

I got up on the first day of the New Year 2009 with anticipation of Two New Things that I had planned to participate in this year. The first one was a plan to read through the Chronological Bible this year along with several ....or should I say MANY......other people over at Wendy's blog. Years ago a former pastor of ours gave my husband a chronological Bible which, until now, has sat shoulder to shoulder with various other books on a bookshelf in our living room. And although I have read my Bible from Genesis to Revelations multiple times, I had never read through the Chronological Bible. I'm looking forward to it. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2: 15

The second new thing that I started is a memorization program. Beth Moore put a post on her blog asking if there were other women who would like to commit with her to memorizing (or deeply meditating on if you can not memorize anymore) two Scripture passages each month in the year of 2009. To my surprise and delight there were over 2,500 women that responded saying, "Yes", they wanted to commit to doing this! We will memorize whatever Scripture the Lord has put on our heart.....so it will be very personal. The rule is to pick out a new Scripture twice a month.....on the 1st and 15th. The first Scripture that I want to memorize (or meditate on if it just won't "stick") is this: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him because he first loved us." I John 4: 17-19

If sharing about these two "new things" that I have started has caused you to want to read your Bible through from cover to cover this year or to memorize Scripture on a regular basis, then I am glad. Please say a prayer for me that I will be consistent with these commitments that I have made.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" 2 Timothy 3: 16

May God bless each of you!

Marilyn

Whited Sepulchres

The other day when I was peeling an onion to put in the dressing for Christmas dinner I made a stinky discovery! The onion that looked nice and healthy and felt good and firm was in fact neither! When I cut the top off to start peeling it I saw that the inside was sour and mushy! Into the garbage can it went and I was off to find one that was sound, inside and out. It reminded me of the Scripture in Matthew 23: 27 that says of the Pharisees..."for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness."

And it got me to thinking. About myself. How sometimes I may look and act and sound like I am really up close to God when, actually, I may have slipped away from where I should be. I may still look all right on the outside but may be all stinky and sour inside. I may even be able to hide the real condition of my heart from you... but never from God! "..for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16: 7

I don't want people to look at me and think that I'm something I'm not. Sometimes I feel very close to God. Sometimes I feel very far away. Sometimes the words that Jesus applied to "scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites" also apply to me! "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Matthew 23: 28 But when I feel far away, it's not God's fault but mine.

In this new year of 2009 I want to do more for the Lord than I have done in the past. I want more of my days to be days of obedience and honor to Him and less of my days to be filled with my own selfish greediness.

May God bless you as you, too, strive to be all you can be this year for Jesus!

Happy New Year!

Marilyn