Grace

Two nights ago, I was doing the nightly devotions with Brayden and Spencer since Thomas was coming home late from work.   When we finished, they said their prayers.  Brayden uttered his usual prayer.  When he finished, I said "Why don't you say something else too.  Tell God something new."  So, he went on to tell God he was "Holy, Grace, and King..."  Then he said, "Mommy, what's grace?"   I told him that grace and mercy were kinda alike.  It's God doing good for us, just because he loves us--because He wants to, not because we deserve it.   His answer to that was "Oh, just like Daddy!"---WOW!!!  I'm so thankful to have a husband that is portraying and living out a real-life picture of God the Father to my sons.  What a treasure!

P.S.   I told Brayden, he was right and that God would be pleased with Daddy too for showing grace.

Nay-sayers

Acts 5:38-39 (a pharisee Gamaliel speaks to other pharisees concerning the apostles' fate)  "Therefore, in the present case I advise you:  Leave these men alone!  Let them go!  For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

When God leads in a way that seems improbable, or even impossible, do not lose heart.  It's human nature to analyze, criticize, and scrutinize possibilities.  The world is full of "nay-sayers"---and it's a fight to not be one myself.  We operate in a rational world of possibilities.  However, God operates in an irrational, supernatural, world of promises.  Take David, for example, who would pick a young musician, with no military experience, and lust to carry on the lineage of the Savior of the world?  -No one would, but God did.  Not because David deserved it, but because God planned it and promised it.  God's purposes are not dependent on our actions (whew)!  Does that mean we can do whatever we want and be blessed without consequence.  Of course not, scripture doesn't support that at all.  Read the whole story of David....sin always leads to death. However, God's plan is unwavering.  God's plan came to be despite sin.  There are many examples in scripture, countless...Abraham, Sarah, Rahab, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,Peter, Paul,...    So stand firm, kneel humbly, and rest safely in the will of God. When you are doing God's work, be assured that God will bring it to completion (no matter what anyone else, or your human mind, tells you). 
Acts 5:29 "We must obey God rather than men."
Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us?" 

God, open my eyes to see your work clearly, to recognize your plan in my life today.  May I embrace it boldly with confidence, knowing that your promises are true.  Your word never fails.

Little Life Lesson

My oldest son kept asking for some "GoGos."  He told me he saw them on a commercial.  They were little tiny toy figurines that you can flick with your finger to play a game in which you try to knock other GoGos out of a circle.  Anyway, we looked for these GoGos on more than one occasion and never saw any in stores.  One day I was grocery shopping and there they were, hanging in a very unlikely location (no where near any toys).  Needless to say, he was thrilled when I picked him up from school and surprised him with a pack of GoGos.  He was so excited he took them over to a friends house that afternoon to play.  Somehow in all the fun, one of the GoGos went missing.  We searched everywhere, inside and out.  No luck.  This is a very tiny toy and the odds of it ever turning up were slim (plus these friends have a dog...a big enough dog to swallow it whole).   That night he was still upset about it and I said,  "You know, we should pray about this.  God cares about things that are lost.  The Bible is full of stories about searching for things that are lost until they are found.  God knows what it feels like to miss something.  He cares."  My son tearfully answered "But He'll just say "no"---I know it."   I explained that sometimes God does answer "no" or "wait" to our requests, but He always wants us to bring our requests to him.  So we prayed.  Several days passed.  No GoGos.  It was on his mind again one day in the car, so we prayed again.  A couple more days passed---no sign of it.  Deep down, I began to think we'd never find it.  I even got another pack of GoGos and split it among both my older boys--hoping to remedy the situation.  Then one day, we answered a knock at the door only to discover our neighbor standing there holding the little brown GoGo.  She told us her boys said it was ours.  She found it in the backyard (well within the dog's domain) and she didn't know what it was.   WOW!!! God taught me and my son a little lesson that day.  He does answer prayers. He cares about things that matter to us.   It also made me see how sometimes, my faith is so small. I don't need to remedy situations that I bring to God.  I should just give over the situation and leave it in His hands.  Thank you God for protecting, keeping, and revealing that GoGo so that it could be returned.  Thank you for growing my faith and showing me the importance of prayer!  I love you!

My Portion

God assigns a portion, an inheritance, boundary lines---in a sense, a territory.  How do I know?  Ps 16.  That's a huge honor.  It's secure.  It's personal (notice the word "my" the psalmist uses).  I can't wait to know that fully, to see what God has planned/set aside for me.  Some of it I get to see and know now.  I'm very glad that He's included a husband, children, a home, and a job within my territory.  Given my current territory in my job, I appreciated the verse "I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me."  I took it literally (as I currently work 3rd shift) and smiled, but it also can mean that even in the dark times, the unclear times, the Word of God hidden and written on my heart offers me counsel and guidance.  I have witnessed and found it to be true.  I DO rest secure in His unfailing love and promises.  I know the path of life--eternal and abundant.  Shouldn't my words reflect that?  Lord may my tongue rejoice!  Take away and remove words of hopelessness, distruction, and pessimism.  Replace them with words of vision, construction, and optimism.

Foreign Language

I've often thought it'd be cool to know another language. I'm amazed at people who are fluent in multiple languages.  I've had classes in French, Latin, and Spanish...yet English is still the only one I can actually speak.  I've heard that you really have to immerse yourself in a language to learn it. So, it's no wonder that people were "amazed and perplexed" on the day of Pentecost when they heard people speaking clearly in a non-native tongue.   It's neat to think that the same Holy Spirit is living in me today.  The possibilities in this life are endless.  What I realized today is, God didn't ask his followers to "study-up."  All He needed them to do was declare his wonders.  When they did, it drew a crowd.  God (H.S.) did all the interpreting too.  Sounds like a pretty good arrangement to me. 

God, help me to recognize your wonders today.  Then give me the courage to declare them! 

P.S.--- God showed me a rainbow today!  I wondered at it and thought of all the promises God makes and how he keeps every single one.  I was in the car.  It was just me and Tyler.  I even tried to capture it with my cell phone (to no avail & prob not the safest thing to do).  So now I declare:  Thank you God for your promises!  You are always faithful!!!

Easter Idea

  Ok, so I had an idea to spread the good news of Easter.  I don't know if any of you have ever been "Boo-ed" at Halloween, but if you have...this is sort of similar.   Basically, you make Easter baskets for people, but include your personal Easter "Eggs"perience (testimony) and the instructions of how to pass it on.  (See the instructions that go in each basket below.)  If it sounds like something you'd like to do...go ahead and give it a try.  I've already tried it with some of my neighbors, but I'm not sure if it's going to catch on.   It'd be cool if we started to see eggs on people's doors all around town indicating they had been told of someone's Easter "Eggs"perience.

You’ve been invited to share in the Easter “Eggs”perience!

If you’ve ever been “Boo-ed” or sung carols to,

Here’s another way to share holiday cheer this year.

 

The story of Easter has long been told,

And it’s more than just bunnies and candy that’s sold.

It’s a story that everyone can join in.

It’s about God’s love and forgiveness of sin.

 

If you’ve had this experience before,

Here’s a chance to share it door to door.

If you haven’t had this experience just yet,

Today could be the day…no regrets!

 

Now pick 3 people with whom to share,

Spread the “Eggs”perience everywhere.

Share some treats and your story,

Every time you share, God gets the glory!

 

How To:

1. Fill in your story on the My Easter “Eggs”perience page.

(I had a page with blank lines, titled My Easter "Eggs"perience and

one just like it filled in with my story in each basket.)

2. Make 3 copies of these sheets and get some yummy treats to make 3 baskets to share.

3. Stick the egg page on your door, so that everyone knows you’ve done this before.

(I put clip art of a large Easter egg on a full sheet of paper in each basket)

 

Not sure if you have an “Eggs”perience to share? Here’s how you can:

* Recognize who God is. He loves you, He made you, He lives in Heaven, and He is holy (Holy = perfect, having no sin). John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”

* Recognize that God has no part of sin. (Sin = anything we think/say/do that is wrong or contrary to God’s law) Isaiah 59:2 “…sins have separated you from God…”
* Know that sin is something that ALL people have. Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned…”

* Know that the cost of sin is great. “The wages of sin is death…”Rom 6:23 and separation from God. (Isaiah 59:2, James 1:13-15, Rev 21:7-8)
* Realize that God doesn’t want to be separated from you. He desires to have a relationship with you! God sent Jesus (His son) to die to pay the price for your sin, to take your punishment. Hebrews 9:22 “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus never sinned, so he didn’t have to die for his own sin. He died to pay for yours. John 3:17 “For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
* Believe that Jesus is God’s son and that even though He died on the cross, He did not remain dead. Believe that He rose from the dead and in doing so, he took away the power of death and sin and offers us forgiveness and eternal life with Him in Heaven.


Romans 4:25 “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Justification= to pay for our sin/ make our sin “just-as-if it never happened”)
* PRAY! (That means just talk to God)---You can do it out loud or quietly, anywhere. Admit your sin to God, and tell Him you believe Jesus died for your sins, ask Him to come in and be a part of your life. John 1:12 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”
* Tell someone! Now you have a story!! Be sure to share it! Grow in your faith by reading the Bible and finding other believers to support and encourage you!

Share your “Eggs”perience with someone this Easter!!



An Offering

Romans 6:13
"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness."

How?

mouth:  speak kindness, life
            sing
            slow to speak

eyes:  look at God's wonders
         read
         "oh be careful littles eyes what you see"---don't look upon evil

nose:   ...still thinking on that one

hands:  touch, hold (people are made for companionship)
            make something

ears:  be quick to listen

feet:  go visit someone
        follow (when appropriate)
        lead (when appropriate)