Get Your Own

From Crosswalk Jokes

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.

The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you; We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."

God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the scientist replied, "Okay, great!"

But, God added, "now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."

The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt."

Things Parents need to Do but Often Forget

October 15, 2010 

Becoming Your Child's Chief Cheerleader 

Sharon Jaynes Today's Truth 
"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3 TNIV).

 
Friend To Friend 
Studies show that in the average home, ten negative comments are made for every positive one. Also, it takes four positive comments to counteract one negative comment. With that ratio, it's easy to understand why so many children are discouraged and suffer from a poor self-image these days.
 
We can't always see the destructive potential of our words, but let's imagine the following scenario. Your child gets up in the morning and dresses in a shingled outfit much like the Jolly Green Giant on the vegetable commercials. The only difference is the outfit is made of Post-It notes. Every time you question his worth, criticize, make him feel guilty, incapable, insufficient, or unattractive, the hurtful words are scribbled across a slip of yellow paper and it flutters to the ground. Perhaps when you see the paper begin to fall, you realize the effect of your hurtful words and try to stick the paper back on with a positive word. However, it won't stick. The child goes off to school and hears more discouraging words and more shingles fall to the ground. Finally, at the end of the day, the child comes home, exposed, naked and insecure - and rightly so.
 
As a mom, we can cover our kids with positive words so that when the negative ones cause a post-it note to fall, they won't even know it's missing. But it takes a lot of work.
 
Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children - do not be hard on them or harass them; lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated; do no break their spirit" (Colossians 3:21AMP).  Can I add something to Paul's exhortation? Mothers, don't you do it either.
 
It is a terrible thing to be a part of a family when the only things that are noticed are mistakes. The pain from constant criticism and correction can become a chronic source of insecurity long after the child has become an adult. It is our job, our "homework," to instruct our children, but when we are continually pointing out their faults and failures, they tend to simply stop trying.
 
We must always remember that children are children and they will act like children.  Children are not miniature adults. I remember when my husband was in dental school at the ripe old age of twenty-three. It was his first time treating a four-year-old little girl, and was unprepared for the crocodile tears that escaped her eyes.
 
"You'll be fine," Steve assured her. "You be a big girl now."
Then she looked up at him with big blue eyes that melted his heart. "But I'm not a big girl," she said. "I'm just a little girl."
 
That's what we must always remember. No matter how frustrated or angry we become...kids are kids and they will act like kids.
 
As you go through your day, look for the chance to catch your children doing something right, and shower them with praise. And if you don't have children or if your children have already left the nest, try catching a friend, your husband, or a co-worker in the act of doing something praise-worthy and shower them with praise!
 
Let's Pray
 Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for children. I pray that I will use my words to encourage a child today - whether it is my child or someone else's child. Most of all, thank You for encouraging me, Your child, by the many ways You show me You love me each day. 
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your TurnHere's a partial list of some words kids long to hear, taken from my book The Power of a Woman's Words. Take a look at the list and speak at least three of these affirmations to a child today!
Words Your Kids Long to Hear
·         Great job!
·         I'm glad you're my son/daughter.
·         I love spending time with you.
·         I'll never forget the day you were born. You were such an incredible gift from God...and you still are.
·         I like you!
·         I love the way you fixed your hair!
·         That shirt looks great on you!
·         You played that song beautifully!
·         You are a great friend!
·         You'll make a wonderful wifehusband some day!
·         Thanks for cleaning your room. You did a great job.

I'm Single and Married.

"Huh? What the ****?" was probably the first thing that came to your minds.

Heads up: Today's topic is about I, Me and MY... religion. :D
 I'm single and available by the way.

What did I just mean by saying I'm married?
I'm a Christian, and I'm a part of the Church. And the Church, is known as the bride of Christ. (Revelations 21:9-10* , Ephesians 5:24**, 2Corinthians 11:1-3***)
So in that aspect I am married to Christ, thus the statement "Single and Married" becomes true.

Post comments , questions....whatever. Happy to answer :)

* - Presentation of New Jerusalem (the Church) as the Bride
** - Submission of Church to Christ, as wives submit to husbands
*** - Paul speaking to the people in Corinth about presenting them to Christ as a pure virgin, just like a father would present to the groom a virgin bride in the old days. (Now of course, this aspect is unappreciated by some people)

The Fallacy of Full-Time Christian Work
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
11-11-2009

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:16,17).
Jonathon was a twenty-five year old son of a pastor who was working in his local Christian bookstore. He started seminary but was unable to finish because of a lack of finances. He was OK with working in the store, but felt it was second-best. In fact, sometimes he felt he had "missed his calling."

Then one day a young woman wondered into the store. She was distressed. She was not a believer. Her husband had just left her and she did not know where to turn. She was walking through the mall when she noticed the store. She decided to walk in, not knowing why.

"Hello, may I help you?" said Jonathon. "Well... I don't know. I saw your sign and just came in." Right then, she began to cry. She told Jonathon about her plight, not knowing why she would do such a thing with a perfect stranger. Jonathon listened and began to talk with her. Before the conversation was over, Jonathon had prayed with the woman and led her to faith in Christ.

That night Jonathon pondered what had happened that day. He realized he had personally led a woman into eternity by being available in his workplace. He felt a new sense of purpose behind what he thought was simply a job to put food on the table until he could get to his real ministry. He confessed to the Lord his wrong view of his work. For the first time, he realized it was ministry too.

We have incorrectly elevated the roll of the vocational Christian worker to be more holy and committed than the person who is serving in other arenas. Yet the call to any workplace is as important as any other calling. God has to have His people in every sphere of life. Otherwise, many would never come to know Him because they would be separated from society.

Wherever you are called, serve the Lord in that place. Let Him demonstrate His power through your life so that others might experience Him through you today.

September 27, 2010

Love Covers it All

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth

1 John 4:8-10 "But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."
Friend to Friend

When I was a little girl, I often went grocery shopping with my mother, hoping to snag a treat or two for myself. Mama shopped at one particular grocery store for one reason alone. They handed out S&H green trading stamps with each purchase. Let me just say that my Mama was all about collecting those small, green stamps. She was one of the hardest working women I have ever known. In fact, she sometimes worked two or three jobs at a time to put food on the table. Collecting S&H green stamps was simply a way to get a little more for her money. My job was to lick the stamps and stick them in the S&H green stamp books. I can still taste that nasty glue! I then placed the books in a wooden chest where Mama kept her "stash."

For months, she hoarded the small, green stamps until she had enough to trade for something we needed. Yes, it was always something we needed until one particular Saturday in December. "Get the green stamp books," she said. "We are going to town!" I noticed an unusual excitement in her voice and assumed we were going to trade the stamps in to buy a Christmas present for someone in our family. Mama rarely redeemed the stamps for something she wanted. That seemed to be a luxury we could not afford and a splurge she would not allow for herself. Stamps in hand, off we went to find a treasure.

When we reached the redemption center, Mama parked the car and with great resolve, marched straight in, totally ignoring the appliance section, past all of the toys, skipping the aisle where small electronics, hairdryers and vacuums were displayed, and made a beeline for the linens department. I had a sinking feeling that my idea of a treasure did not match my mother's idea of a treasure.

Unlike most of our trips to the redemption center, Mama did not take her time to look around and weigh her options. It was obvious that she was on a mission and would not be deterred! Suddenly, she stopped, a smile spreading across her face as she gazed at an item on the shelf. "It's still here!" she whispered in relief.

I remember thinking that whatever she had spotted must be very special to warrant such determination, such joy and a whole lot of stamp glue. When I realized that the blue treasure she clutched in her hands was just a tablecloth, I simply did not understand. I mean, there were so many other beautiful things in the store she could have chosen. I had tasted and pasted a lot of stamps for a tablecloth? What was so special about an ordinary tablecloth? I was confused - until we got home.

Our family was poor - in material things - and we lived in what most people would refer to as a "shack" out on the edge of a small, Texas town. My mother was an amazing woman who somehow managed to raise three children after my father died of a heart attack. Honestly, I don't think we ever realized how poor we really were or considered ourselves to be deprived. Many happy times and scrumptious meals were enjoyed around our old, scratched, worn and downright ugly dining room table. That dilapidated table dominated the entire room with ugliness - until the day Mama bought the blue tablecloth.

I watched as she carefully removed the cloth from its hard, plastic package and began to unfold her treasure. Now, my mother could "snap" a bed sheet or tablecloth with the best of them. I can still hear that sound as she whipped the blue cloth in front of her to straighten out any wrinkles and let it slowly float through the air, finally settling on the dining room table. As she smoothed her treasure across that shabby table, an amazing thing happened. Not only did the table look beautiful, the whole room looked better! 

Love is like that, its mere presence transforming the ugliness of a broken life into a beautiful trophy of grace. Love covers the scars of sin. Love heals old wounds and eases the pain of the past. We all need to be loved and we all need to love.

Jesus was and is the living illustration and certain fulfillment of His Father's love. The love of God is unconditional, unfailing and will stubbornly pursue us no matter where we go, what we do or don't do. We cannot earn God's love because then, it would be wages paid for work done. We will never be good enough to deserve the love of God because God's love is holy and pure ... and we aren't. God's love is a gift. All we can do is accept it and rest in Him. God's love satisfies the deepest longings of our soul and enables us to love ourselves and others.

Friend, across your defeats spread the hope and promise of a tiny baby lying in a manger. Across your pain, spread the unconditional love poured out for you on a cruel cross. Across your doubts and fears, spread the promise of an empty tomb and a coming King. The love of God changes everything. God's love covers it all.

Let's Pray

God, I need Your love. My life is filled with scars and wounds that can be healed by Your love alone. I celebrate the love You so freely offer. I accept the gift of Your love and thank You for its transforming power in my heart and life. I love You, Father, and celebrate Your presence and power in my life. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

What past experiences in your life need the covering of God's healing love? Right now, make the decision to face and deal with those experiences in God's timing and God's way. 

• Why do we bury hurt and pain?
• With what have you tried to "cover" the painful parts of your life? Did it work? Why? Why not?
• What does it really mean to allow God's love to cover the sin and pain in your life?
• What is the first step or action that you need to take in the process of allowing God to heal the broken places?

Week of September 17
Blast a Few Walls by Max Lucado
The cross of Christ creates a new people, a people unhindered by skin color or family feud. A new citizenry based, not on common ancestry or geography, but on a common Savior.
My friend Buckner Fanning experienced this firsthand. He was a marine in World War II, stationed in Nagasaki three weeks after the dropping of the atomic bomb. Can you imagine a young American soldier amid the rubble and wreckage of the demolished city? Radiation-burned victims wandering the streets. Atomic fallout showering on the city. Bodies burned to a casket black. Survivors shuffling through the streets, searching for family, food, and hope. The conquering soldier feeling not victory but grief for the suffering around him
Instead of anger and revenge, Buckner found an oasis of grace. While patrolling the narrow streets, he came upon a sign that bore an English phrase: Methodist Church. He noted the location and resolved to return the next Sunday morning.
When he did, he entered a partially collapsed structure. Windows, shattered. Walls, buckled. The young marine stepped through the rubble, unsure how he would be received. Fifteen or so Japanese were setting up chairs and removing debris. When the uniformed American entered their midst, they stopped and turned.
He knew only one word in Japanese. He heard it. Brother. "They welcomed me as a friend," Buckner relates, the power of the moment still resonating more than sixty years after the events. They offered him a seat. He opened his Bible and, not understanding the sermon, sat and observed. During communion the worshippers brought him the elements. In that quiet moment the enmity of their nations and the hurt of the war was set aside as one Christian served another the body and blood of Christ.
Another wall came a-tumblin' down.
What walls are in your world?
Brian Overcast is knocking down walls in Morelia, Mexico. As director of the NOÉ Center (New Opportunities in Education), Brian and his team address the illegal immigration problem from a unique angle. Staff members told me recently, "Mexicans don't want to cross the border. If they could stay home, they would. But they can't because they can't get jobs. So we teach them English. With English skills they can get accepted into one of Mexico's low-cost universities and find a career at home. Others see illegal immigrants; we see opportunities."
Another wall down.
We can't outlive our lives if we can't get beyond our biases. Who are your Samaritans? Ethiopian eunuchs? Whom have you been taught to distrust and avoid?
It's time to remove a few bricks.
Welcome the day God takes you to your Samaria—not so distant in miles but different in styles, tastes, tongues, and traditions.

And if you meet an Ethiopian eunuch, so different yet so sincere, don't refuse that person. Don't let class, race, gender, politics, geography, or culture hinder God's work.
Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
(Romans 15:7 NLT)

World's Smartest Dog?

This is an old one, but worth retelling.

A local business was looking for office help. They put a sign in the window saying:

"HELP WANTED. Must be able to type, must be good with a computer and must be bilingual. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer."

A short time afterwards, a golden Retriever dog trotted up to the window, saw the sign and went inside. He looked at the receptionist and wagged his tail, then walked over to the sign, looked at it and whined.

Getting the idea, the receptionist got the office manager. The office manager looked at the dog and was surprised, to say the least. However, the dog looked determined, so he led him into the office. Inside, the dog jumped up on the chair and stared at the manager. The manager said, "I can't hire you. The sign says you have to be able to type."

The dog jumped down, went to the typewriter and proceeded to type out a perfect letter. He took out the page and trotted over to the manager and gave it to him, then jumped back on the chair. The manager was stunned, but then told the dog, "The sign says you have to be good with a computer."

The dog jumped down again and went to the computer. The dog proceeded to demonstrate his expertise with various programs and produced a sample spreadsheet and database and presented them to the manager. By this time the manager was totally dumbfounded! He looked at the dog and said, "I realize that you are a very intelligent dog and have some interesting abilities. However, I *still* can't give you the job."

The dog jumped down and went to a copy of the sign and put his paw on the part about being an Equal Opportunity Employer. The manager said, "Yes, but the sign *also* says that you have to be bilingual." The dog looked at him straight in the face and said, "Meow."

Mad Mom -From Email

Late one Saturday evening, I was awakened by the ringing of my phone. In a sleepy grumpy voice I said hello. The party on the other end of the line paused for a moment before rushing breathlessly into a lengthy speech.

"Mom, this is Susan and I'm sorry I woke you up, but I had to call because I'm going to be a little late getting home. See, Dad's car has a flat but it's not my fault. Honest! I don't know what happened. The tire just went flat while we were inside the theater. Please don't be mad, okay?"

Since I don't have any daughters, I knew the person had dialed my number by mistake.

"I'm sorry dear," I replied, "but you've reached the wrong number. I don't have a daughter named Susan."

"Wow, Mom," the young woman's voice replied, "I didn't think you'd be this mad."

Not Forgotten

July 2, 2010 

Not Forgotten 

Sharon Jaynes Today's Truth 

"He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering,'" (Mark 5:34 NIV).

Friend To Friend Oh how I love the story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood recorded in Mark 5:21-34.  In my last devotion, we looked at the overall story.  Today, let's take a closer look.
I can so relate to this woman.  What woman among us hasn't felt the wretchedness of rejection, the shame of suffering, and the humility of hopelessness?  What woman hasn't wondered, would God care about the likes of me?  And here we have a story of just how much God values and esteems His female image bearers.  He singles out one lone woman from a multitude of curious followers, heals her of her affliction with but a touch, and then shines the heavenly spotlight center stage for her to testify of the miraculous transformation. 

The woman we meet in Mark, chapter five, has been called, "the woman with the issue of blood."  She was defined by what was wrong with her.  For twelve long years, this woman had been bleeding; we can assume it was vaginally.  When we meet her, she is physically, financially, socially and spiritually drained - bankrupt in every way.

In Biblical days, certain situations and conditions rendered a person ceremonially unclean.  Leprous people were separated from society and had to shout, "Unclean! Unclean!" when they walked among common folk.  Anyone who touched a dead body was considered unclean.  And women were considered unclean during their monthly period.

For seven days, considered the time of a normal female period, a woman was secluded.  A woman hemorrhaging for twelve years would be considered permanently unclean.  If unmarried, she would not be able to marry.  If married, her condition would be grounds for divorce.  She would be expelled from her home, cut off from her family, and ostracized by her community.

Each doctor's visit brought a surge of hope and expectation, only to be swept away when the red flow of despair reappeared.  The joy of tender youth was now a vague memory, crushed by life's hardness and the weight of disappointment.  The hammer of rejection drove the nails of isolation into the coffin of her tightly secured heart.

Unlike the lame man who was lowered through the roof by four friends and placed at Jesus' feet, this woman had no one to intercede for her.  There was no father pleading for his daughter. There was no husband praying for his wife.  There was no master employing Jesus' help to heal a servant.  When we meet this woman, she is fearful and forgotten.  She is all alone - or so it seemed to her.

Sometimes we can feel the same: abandoned by friends, deserted by a spouse, forgotten by family, unseen by society.  But she was not forgotten.  She was not alone.  This Daughter of Abraham was close to God's heart and foremost on His mind.  So God the Father orchestrated His Son's journey to pass her way.

This woman understood that Jesus was radically different in his approach and appreciation of women.  She knew full well that she was overstepping cultural and religious boundaries set out by pious men of her day, but it was a risk she was willing to take.

Two things happened when she touched Jesus.  First she was healed.  It was measurable.  She felt the flow of blood had ceased.  Jesus felt the power of God released.  Secondly, she was revealed. Her courage was cloaked in anonymity trembling in the fear of exposure, but Jesus was not going to allow her to "steal" her healing.  He wanted to do more than stop the flow of blood.  He wanted to start the flow of ministry.  He called her forward to testify, to tell what had just happened to her so that others would believe.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. (Mark 5:34).

A Rabbi did not speak to a woman in public, but once again, Jesus, the liberator, broke the man-made rules for the God-made woman.  He did not call her out to embarrass or shame her in any way.  He called her center stage to honor her honesty, to commend her courage, and to validate her valor.  He did not reprimand her for breaking the religious rules, but praised her great faith.

Once again, Jesus called a woman out from the shadows and placed her center stage.  No longer was she a woman in need of a healing touch, but now a believer who had received it and was called on to tell about it.  

Let's Pray Dear LORD, I am so thankful that Jesus didn't let this woman slip away with her healing, but called her out to tell what happened.  Help me to speak up about the wonderful things You have done, and are doing in my life, so others may hear and believe.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn The Bible doesn't tell us what happened to the woman after her healing.  What do you think happened to her?  What do you think she did with the rest of her life?
How do you think the crowd responded to her healing?
What does Revelation 12:11 tell us about the power of our personal testimonies?

Mary's Heart

June, 17, 2010 

Remembering to Remember 

Sharon Jaynes Today's Truth 

"But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19 NIV).

Friend To Friend 
Mary, now in her late forties, was startled from her mending with a pounding on the door.  Who would come here at this time of night, she wondered.

"John," she cried as she peered through the slightly opened door.  "What are you doing here?  Is it Jesus?"

"Oh Mary, I don't even know where to begin," he whispered as tears streamed down his agonized face.

"Come in, come in," Mary said as she wrapped her arm around Jesus' closest friend.

"Start at the beginning."

"Well, we had a nice Passover dinner on Thursday, but I could tell that Jesus was deeply troubled.  There was just a different air about him.  He even washed our feet and spoke about leaving us.  Something about going to a place where we didn't know.  Of course Peter said he would follow him to the death. You know how Peter boasts."

"Yes, go on."

"After dinner we went to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus talked to us as we walked along the road, as if he were a father telling his sons the family secret to success before leaving to go off to war.  He was so unsettled and bothered about something.  When we arrived at the Garden, he told us to pray for him while he went off to be by himself.  I'm sorry to say, we fell asleep several times.  Once, I overhead Jesus asking God to let this cup pass from him.  When I looked, Jesus had blood dripping from his brow where sweat should have been.

"Just before I was going to ask him about it, an angry mob of Romans came and arrested him!"

"Arrested him?  For what?" Mary cried.

"I don't know.  Something about blaspheming.  And guess who was at the head of the pack?  Judas.  I never did trust that man."

John went on to tell Mary of the trial, the flogging and the ultimate sentencing of execution by crucifixion."

With great resolve, Mary looked John in the eye and said, "Take me to him."

It seems that all her life Mary had been trying to save Jesus.  She remembered when she and Joseph fled to Egypt to escape Herod's decree to kill all the boy babies under two-years-old in Bethlehem.  He recalled the day she and her sons tried to convince Jesus to come home when she heard rumors that the Pharisees were plotting to kill him.  And now this. 

Mary recalled the words of Simeon the prophet when she and Joseph took their baby to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.  And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:34-35).  This was Simeon's sword, piercing her heart with a pain only a mother could understand. 

Arriving on the Via de la Rosa, Mary watched with horror as her first-born son trudged through the jeering crowd. His flesh hung in shreds, torn by floggings of the Roman metal tipped whip. His clothes were crusted with dried blood and mud from collapsing under the weight of the cross tied to his back, and streaks of crimson cut furrows down his face from the crown of thorns pressed into his forehead. 

When Jesus reached the place where his mother stood among the crowd, he raised his head to meet her gaze.  A thousand thoughts passed between them without a single spoken word.  She was there, just as she had been all along.

Later, as he hung on the cross, Jesus breathed his final parting words.

"Dear woman, here is your son," Jesus moaned as he nodded toward John.

And then to John he said, "Here is your mother."

Even in his last breaths, Jesus' concern was for this chosen girl from Nazareth - his mother Mary.
Mary had been there all along.  She was there to hear the babe's first cry in Bethlehem and there to hear the Savior's final breath at Calvary.

We don't have a lot of information about Mary at the foot of the cross, except that she was there - standing below her flesh torn, blood drenched, and physically battered, precious son.  I have painted a picture today in order to help us catch a glimpse of a mother's heart.

We do know she heard the hammer hit the nails, saw the Roman spear pierce his side, felt the
labor of his breathing.  As his heart burst, her chest ached.  For six hours she watched him die.

Pierced.  How perfectly that word described her at this moment.  The sword that had hung over her head for thirty-three-years now pierced her heart.

It must have seemed like an eternity since a symphony of angels announced his birth.  Now a cacophony of accusers hurled insults and accusations.  "Crucify him!" the savage rabble demanded.  "He could save others but he can't save himself," the burly soldiers taunted. 

Where are those angels now, she must have thought.  If she could have peered into the spiritual realm, she would have found them hovering low, silent in full armor array.

It is difficult to envision God's presence surrounding the tragedies in our lives.  Somehow the two don't seem to be able to co-exist in our minds.  It is almost incomprehensible to picture the angles standing by while mere humans taunted and tortured the Son of God.  What do we do when life doesn't make sense?  We remember.

           Mary remembered Gabriel's announcement.
            Mary remembered Elizabeth's welcome.
            Mary remembered Joseph's dreams.
            Mary remembered the shepherd's arrival.
            Mary remembered the Magi's gifts.
            Mary remembered Simeon's prophesy.
            Mary remembered Anna's words.
            Mary remembered the twelve-year old boy in His Father's house.
            Mary remembered the water transformed to wine.
            Mary remembered the miracles.
            Mary remembered the teaching.
            Mary remembered the healings.
            Mary remembered.

After the shepherds' visit in the stables that first Christmas evening, Luke tells us, "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).  No doubt her thoughts returned to that treasure chest of memories for the reassurance she so needed. The events of Jesus' life slipped through her mind like beads on a string with the knot of faith tied securely in the end.

And friend, that is what we must do.  The Bible tells us that in Christ "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).  When we treasure God's Word in our hearts, just as Mary did in hers, it calms the waves of doubt during the storms of life.  The storm may not be removed, but God's Word will help us to hold steady as the difficulties of life toss us to and fro. 

Let's Pray Dear Heavenly Father, as life tosses me to-and-fro, help me to remember.  Help me to remember Your promises.  Help me remember the ways You have blessed me in the past.  You are my Rock, my Redeemer, and my Restorer.  And though I may not always understand, I know that Your ways serve a greater purpose in my life than I may ever know.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Now It's Your Turn I doubt Mary kept a journal, but if she had, wouldn't you love to see it?  Today, I want you to make a list of the ways God has blessed you over the years.  Keep it in a place that you can refer to often. As you remember certain blessings, go back to your list and jot them down.

If you do not keep a journal of prayer requests and God's answers, you might want to consider starting one.  A prayer journal is a great source of encouragement during the difficult times of life.  We have very short memories when it comes to remembering God's goodness to us.  Writing them down will help us treasure them in our hearts

One-liners

From Arcamax

The plumber can't put in the bathroom fixtures until next month. That's a shower stall if I've ever heard one.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

When it comes to telling her age, she's shy.....about ten years shy.

I didn't believe my wife when she said she had lost one of her fingernails while making dessert. I guess the proof will be in the pudding.

Several carniverous animals were eating the carcass but the king of beasts got the lion's share.

Jejung & Yuchun

Hardcore DBSK fans may hate this set up, but if you look closely, Jae Joong and Micky seem much happier doing COLORS rather than the other songs while still being in DBSK, for obvious reasons.

How can you work with people who are part of an organization who forces your hand right? Even if the Fab Five are good friends, SM is good when it comes to putting pressure on those who are under their control.

To Jae Joong, Micky and Junsu all the best to you guys in the lawsuit and your Tokyo Dome performances!
To Changmin and Yunho, free yourselves from SM's grasp and make DBSK whole again. Please?

G U I D A N C E

From an email....

 G U I D A N C E
 This is amazing that someone even thought of this!

 Dancing With God
 When I meditated on the word   Guidance,
 I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
 I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
 When two people try to lead, nothing feels right..
 The movement doesn't flow with the music,
 and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
 When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
 both bodies begin to flow with the music.
 One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
 or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
 It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
 The dance takes surrender, willingness,
 and attentiveness from one person
 and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
 My eyes drew back to the word   Guidance.
 When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
 "God, "u" and "i" dance."
 God, you, and I dance.
 As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
 that I would get     guidance about my life.
 Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
 My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
 and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
 May you abide in God, as God  abides in you.
 Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
 and to guide you through each season of your life.
 This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.
 If God has done anything for  you in your life,
 please share this message with someone else.
 There is no cost but a lot of rewards;
 so let's continue to pray for one another.
 And I Hope You Dance Through 2010


   "I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
    and I dance in the moon and the stars and the sun,
    and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth.
    At Bethlehem I had my birth.

             Dance, then, wherever you may be;
             I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
             And I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
             and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he."

   Words: Sydney Carter, 1963  (UMH 261)

From Adversity to Destiny
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
07-13-2009 "The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position" (James 1:9). Most of us avoid pain. We keep our medicine cabinets loaded with pain relievers. We couldn't imagine major surgery without an anesthetic. We are so averse to pain that we think God must desire that we will experience pain-free lives. After all, a loving God surely wouldn't want us to suffer pain, would He? Although God takes no pleasure in our pain, we have to acknowledge that He sometimes allows painful circumstances to occur in our lives in order to shape us and make us more like Christ. Sometimes our times of despair turn out to be a much needed light into our soul.
I once came across the following poem written by an anonymous Confederate soldier, a devout young man who fought in the American Civil War. The lines of this poem express the soul of a man who has learned to view his times of adversity from a different perspective:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed.*

Do we trust God to lead us even though we can't see the pathway in front of us? Do we trust Him to be all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful? Do we believe He does all things well? As Paul wrote, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). That's why God leads us through the dark places.
Only in the darkness do we learn to walk by faith.



*"Prayer of an Unknown Soldier," quoted in Austin Pryor, "Trusting God to Answer Our Prayers," Crosswalk.com. http://www.crosswalk.com/family/finances/1386973.html (accessed April 24, 2006).

February 1, 2010 

 AAA Club of Marriage  

Sharon Jaynes  
Today's Truth  

"And let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband-that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly" (Ephesians 5:33 Amplified).

Friend To Friend Are you a member of the Triple A Club of Marriage?  You didn't know there was such a thing?  Well, there's not an official one that you can call if your marriage breaks down, but I have one that I keep in the back of my mind.  It stands for adoration, admiration, and appreciation.  Did you know that big tough man of yours longs to be admired?  He desires for someone to think he's brave and brilliant, loving and logical, tough and tender, handsome and humorous, masculine and magical. That's the stuff of your man's dreams.   
 

What does it mean to adore your husband?  Basically, it means to love him with all your heart...and let him know about it. Someone once said, "I like not only to be loved, but to be told I am loved."   Do you want to see your husband's face light up like a full moon?  Tell him you are amazed that he knows how to ________ or that you are impressed by his _______, then sit back and watch him glow.
 

When the TV cameras pan the sidelines of a college football game, my heart always melts in a pool of butter when a young man waves his hand and says those precious two words: "Hi Mom."  It's almost like he's saying, "Look at me! Look at me!"  The truth is men want to be admired by the woman of their dreams.  It starts with mom, and then continues with the Misses.
 

Where does your husband go for adoration, admiration and appreciation?  He goes somewhere.  All men do.  Does he go to work in hopes of hearing "job well done"?  Does he go to the ball field in hopes of hearing "way to go man"?  Does he go back home to mother to hear "I'm so proud of you son"?  Does he work late in hopes of a few compliments from the gals in the office? Does he feast on compliments from patients or clients? Does he hang out at the gym flexing and building his biceps?  Tell me, where does your man go to be admired?
 

Dr. Willard Harley says, "When a woman tells a man she thinks he's wonderful, that inspires him to achieve more.  He sees himself as capable of handling new responsibilities and perfecting skills far above those of his present level.  That inspiration helps him prepare for the responsibilities of life.  Admiration not only motivates, it also rewards the husband's existing achievements.  When she tells him that she appreciates him for what he has done, it gives him more satisfaction than he receives from his paycheck.  A woman needs to appreciate her husband for what he already is, not for what he could become, if he lived up to her standards.  

 For some men - those with fragile self-images - admiration also helps them believe in themselves.  Without it these men seem inherently more defensive about their shortcomings....While criticism causes men to become defensive, admiration energizes and motivates them.  A man expects - and needs - his wife to be his most enthusiastic fan.  He draws confidence from her support and can usually achieve far more with her." (Dr. Willard Harley, His Needs Her Needs (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell, 1986) p151.)
 

You become the mirror in which your husband sees himself.  So if he's looking sort of glum lately, maybe you need to renew your membership into the AAA Club of marriage and try a little adoration, admiration and appreciation around your home. 
 

Let's Pray Dear Lord, I pray that I will be my husband's biggest fan.  Please help me restrain my critical tongue.  Help me to see him as You see Him...a child of the King.  I do so love my husband; help me to make sure that he knows just how much.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
 

Now It's Your Turn If you have been withholding admiring words from your husband, it may feel strange to begin giving them.  First and foremost, be authentic - be real.  If you contrive admiring words, he will be able to tell.  Start with one compliment or word of appreciation.  It may be as simple as "thank you." Soon the admiration will begin to flow...hopefully both ways.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Place an "I love you sign in a public place." (I put a sign outside of my husband's office window to surprise him on Valentine's Day.  The fact that all his patients saw it was an extra boost!)  
• Write him a love letter.  
• Write an acrostic from A-Z of reasons you adore, admire, and appreciate him.  
• Leave an "I love you" message on his voice mail.  
• Write him a thank you note for something specific he did for you.

January 25, 2010 

Salt and Light 

Sharon Jaynes Today's Truth:
"You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:12,13 NIV). 

Friend To Friend 

You are the salt of the earth.

Have you ever tasted potatoes without salt added?  They are bland, blasé, and blah.  Likewise, a world without Christians would be very unappealing.

Salt has three primary purposes. It preserves, heals, and gives flavor.  As Christians, one of our privileges is to preserve what is right and good in the world in which we live.  Satan is referred to as a roaring lion.  He prowls around seeking to rip Judeo-Christian values from the government, public schools, entertainment industry, and the very fabric of life.  Christians, on the other hand, serve to preserve the values of our godly heritage. 

Salt is also an effective healing agent. Gargling with salt water helps heal a sore throat, swimming in a salty sea helps heal a skinned knee, and fellowshipping with "salty" Christians helps heal wounded souls by introducing them to spiritual, mental and physical wellness afforded them through a relationship with Jehovah Rapha - the One who heals.

The most common use of salt is to add flavor, and as Christians, we add flavor to our world.  A gourmet cook once told me that salt not only gives food the salty flavor, but it also brings out the natural flavor of the food to which it is added.  As Christians, we should bring out the best in other people as well.

You are the light of the world.

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth."  He also said, "You are the light of the world."
For eighteen years, I worked as a Dental Hygienist.  Fourteen of those years I worked with my husband, Steve, and four to six other Christian women.  When I think back on those days, I see our team as a chandelier of light: individual yet united to shine the light of Christ to our patients. In the reception room, Newsweek, Southern Living, and Better Homes and Gardens were mixed in with Focus on the Family, Guidepost, and Decision magazines. 

Steve and his assistant volleyed ideas about various aspects of the Christian faith back and forth like a tennis ball over a net while they worked on patients.  Talk about a captive audience!  We prayed with patients, sent them books, and listened to their family problems.  Someone once asked, "Aren't you afraid you'll offend someone and lose patients?"

"Someone might leave," I answered.  "But a person can get into heaven with a cavity, but they can't get to heaven without knowing Christ."

In our own simple way, we were being light in a very dark world.

Think for a moment about what light does.  It drives out darkness.  Even the smallest birthday candle in a darkened coliseum will push the darkness aside.  Jesus encourages Christians not to hide their light under a bushel, but to put it on a stand to be seen by all. Jesus said He was the light of the world. He has put that same light in you.  It is part of your new identity.

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "When a happy man comes into a room, it is as if another candle has been lighted." How much more does a Christian who has something to be truly happy about light up a room!

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I look around and see what the world would be like if all the Christian influences were removed.  Help me to make a difference in my sphere of influence, bring the healing of Jesus Christ with those I come in contact, and encourage the best in others to surface. Help me be salt and light in the world.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Flying Through A Terrible Storm

from Crosswalk.com

Flying Through A Terrible Storm

Even the wind and waves obey him (Mark 4:41, NLT).

Dear Friends,

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats and keep your seat belts fastened. We should be out of the storm in a few moments..."

The calm voice over the intercom was hardly reassuring as our Pan Am 707 jetliner pierced the fury of a storm during our flight from New York to Washington, D.C. The sky flashed as lightning forked its tongue seemingly just inches away from the plane. Swirling winds tore at the plane's metal skin, and the aircraft bounced and shuddered in the turbulence, like a leaf in a windstorm.

I gripped Vonette's hand and turned to look at her strained face. "I don't know how much longer the plane can endure this storm without breaking into pieces," I said.

The 707 began to twist -- first to the right, then to the left -- in the increasing fury. The shaky laughter around me faded into an eerie silence, broken only by the calm voice of the flight attendant. Through the windows we could see the wings flapping almost like those of a giant bird struggling frantically against a violent downdraft.

Vonette leaned toward me, and I felt the gentle pressure of her hand entwined in mine. Softly, we began praying, our words flowing together in supplication to our precious Savior. Convinced that our aircraft could not survive the turbulence much longer, I tenderly said goodbye to my dear Vonette and she to me. Then, together, we told our wonderful Lord that we were ready to meet Him if He desired.

Suddenly, I thought of how the Lord Jesus had calmed the winds and water on the sea when His disciples feared that their boat would capsize during another violent storm. Knowing His power and love for all His children, I prayed aloud, "Lord, you are the God of all creation. You control the laws of nature. You quieted the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Quiet this storm!"

Immediately the rain and turbulence stopped!

Vonette stared at me in amazement, then smiled slightly. "Now, why didn't we pray that prayer earlier?"

I squeezed her hand and grinned back. You can be sure that Vonette and I continued to thank and praise the Lord for hearing our prayers and saving our lives.

We learned later that the lightning had knocked a huge hole in the fuselage near the cockpit, destroying all the radar equipment. The pilot said this was the most violent storm he had ever experienced in millions of miles of flying.

Let us always remember to pray God's Word, at all times, not just times of danger.

Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright