Friday, August 31, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Savin' Me
How differently would we share with others, as Christians, if we could see what this video shows? Take it beyond just saving actual lives but saving lost souls. This video gave me chills. As a Christian I couldn't help but take the concept a bit further. WOW!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Guilt and Grace
by Max Lucado
Sometime ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching.
After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So, Johnny did the dishes.
What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally’d whisper when he objected.
So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny,” his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.”
(Steven Cole, “Forgiveness,” Leadership Magazine, 1983, 86.)
He’d been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser.
You have been accused as well. You have been accused of dishonesty. You’ve been accused of immorality. You’ve been accused of greed, anger, and arrogance.
Every moment of your life, your accuser is filing charges against you. Even his name, Diabolos, means “slanderer.” Who is he? The devil.
As he speaks, you hang your head. You have no defense. His charges are fair. “I plead guilty, your honor,” you mumble.
“The sentence?” Satan asks.
“The wages of sin is death,” explains the judge, “but in this case the death has already occurred. For this one died with Christ.”
Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant. You realize that Satan cannot accuse you. No one can accuse you! Fingers may point and voices may demand, but the charges glance off like arrows hitting a shield. No more dirty dishwater. No more penance. No more nagging sisters. You have stood before the judge and heard him declare, “Not guilty.”
Sometime ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching.
After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Sally responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So, Johnny did the dishes.
What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally’d whisper when he objected.
So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny,” his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you.”
(Steven Cole, “Forgiveness,” Leadership Magazine, 1983, 86.)
He’d been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser.
You have been accused as well. You have been accused of dishonesty. You’ve been accused of immorality. You’ve been accused of greed, anger, and arrogance.
Every moment of your life, your accuser is filing charges against you. Even his name, Diabolos, means “slanderer.” Who is he? The devil.
As he speaks, you hang your head. You have no defense. His charges are fair. “I plead guilty, your honor,” you mumble.
“The sentence?” Satan asks.
“The wages of sin is death,” explains the judge, “but in this case the death has already occurred. For this one died with Christ.”
Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant. You realize that Satan cannot accuse you. No one can accuse you! Fingers may point and voices may demand, but the charges glance off like arrows hitting a shield. No more dirty dishwater. No more penance. No more nagging sisters. You have stood before the judge and heard him declare, “Not guilty.”
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
God-Fearing Women
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Proverbs 31:30
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Profound
"In prayer, it is better to have heart without words, than words without heart. Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin entice a man to cease from prayer. The spirit of prayer is more precious than treasures of gold and silver. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan."
--John Bunyan
--John Bunyan
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
BEWARE!
I saw this today and LOVED it.
“Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things ‘above all that we ask or think.’” --Andrew Murray
What I HATE!
I hate strep throat. I really try to not use the word HATE, it’s just one of those words that conjures up nothing but BAD feelings. But, the truth of it is, I HATE HATE HATE strep throat. It grabbed onto my little one and really put her through the ringer. If anyone knows anything about me, they know I have an incredibly tough time when my little one isn’t feeling well. My heart just breaks when she is in pain or is distressed or has to endure both at once.
The good news about strep throat is that once antibiotics are administered, within a few days there is light at the end of the tunnel. It does not last forever, although I was starting to wonder there for a moment or two.
Today my baby doll is better. She is her silly little self again. Thank God it had been SO long between her being sick this time. He has been so good to us. So even though I HATE strep throat, it did make me truly appreciate the good times--the WELL times. I just can’t tell you the relief this mother feels when her punkin is back to singing and dancing and chasing the cat around the house like a wild woman! Ahhh, she’s back!
The good news about strep throat is that once antibiotics are administered, within a few days there is light at the end of the tunnel. It does not last forever, although I was starting to wonder there for a moment or two.
Today my baby doll is better. She is her silly little self again. Thank God it had been SO long between her being sick this time. He has been so good to us. So even though I HATE strep throat, it did make me truly appreciate the good times--the WELL times. I just can’t tell you the relief this mother feels when her punkin is back to singing and dancing and chasing the cat around the house like a wild woman! Ahhh, she’s back!
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