Our church is having its Vacation Bible School (VBS) this week. It's been a very fun event for young and old alike. I like watching the younger kids, the 1st through 3rd graders, who so eagerly jump into worship and who are attentive to the things of God. Unfortunately, some of the older kids have shown some impatience. They seem to be there on a social outing instead of a learning experience; and a few have been disrespectful in their attitudes when a pastor was giving his message.
Some of these kids come from Christian homes; others were brought because a neighbor or friend invited them. Many have had no Christian upbringing at all. But VBS is a wonderful place for children to learn that God loves them individually and that Jesus died so they could go to heaven. I've heard from adults at our church who grew up with VBS as their only outreach to know Jesus, and that visit forever impacted on their lives.
Does your church have a VBS? Are you helping out with time or money so that more kids can experience God's true love? Why not bless the young so they can know Jesus in their hearts!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Second Choice
I forgot to make my husband's lunch the other day. My normal practice is to make lunches after dinner for the whole family so they're ready the next morning for school and work. Being summer vacation, my routine is a bit off, so I got distracted and forgot to make his lunch.
Of course I remembered about 5 a.m., after he had already left and there was nothing I could do about it. He ended up buying from the lunch truck, which lacked healthy choice menu items; a concern since he has to do some lab work in a day or two. My husband had to settle for poor quality because the good stuff had not been available to him.
Thankfully we have no excuse when it comes to spiritual matters. We have God's love letter to us, the Bible, to inspire and direct our lives. There is no one to blame if we don't open this book, read it, and apply it. We are each accountable for seeking its wisdom and using its encouragements to become faithful followers of Christ.
Don't settle for second choice. Open God's word, take it to heart, and recognize that God loves you and wants what's best for you.
Of course I remembered about 5 a.m., after he had already left and there was nothing I could do about it. He ended up buying from the lunch truck, which lacked healthy choice menu items; a concern since he has to do some lab work in a day or two. My husband had to settle for poor quality because the good stuff had not been available to him.
Thankfully we have no excuse when it comes to spiritual matters. We have God's love letter to us, the Bible, to inspire and direct our lives. There is no one to blame if we don't open this book, read it, and apply it. We are each accountable for seeking its wisdom and using its encouragements to become faithful followers of Christ.
Don't settle for second choice. Open God's word, take it to heart, and recognize that God loves you and wants what's best for you.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Handling the Heat
With our recent soaring temperatures, I've noticed that my family has been a bit short-tempered lately. Situations that would normally be shrugged off are now matters of contention. The kids are bickering more and cooperating less. It's interesting how a little heat melts our patience and increases our grumpiness.
Why the sudden change in temperament just because the thermometer raised up several notches over the last week? I think primarily it's because our comfort zones have been tampered with. When things are running smoothly (weather and situationally), we are content because our life is flowing along nicely. But add some pressure, from circumstances and/or the weather, and we gripe and complain.
The best way to deal with the situation is to take a moment or two before we respond (Let's face it; we pretty much know when we are going to be grouchy in our responses). Then we need to send out a quick prayer to ask the Lord to help us be patient and kind. If we take the time now to develop good habits in our interactioins, then it will be easier to maintain those attitudes when the heat rises.
Don't let that mercury reach the boiling point in your life. Ask God to help you handle the heat.
Why the sudden change in temperament just because the thermometer raised up several notches over the last week? I think primarily it's because our comfort zones have been tampered with. When things are running smoothly (weather and situationally), we are content because our life is flowing along nicely. But add some pressure, from circumstances and/or the weather, and we gripe and complain.
The best way to deal with the situation is to take a moment or two before we respond (Let's face it; we pretty much know when we are going to be grouchy in our responses). Then we need to send out a quick prayer to ask the Lord to help us be patient and kind. If we take the time now to develop good habits in our interactioins, then it will be easier to maintain those attitudes when the heat rises.
Don't let that mercury reach the boiling point in your life. Ask God to help you handle the heat.
Friday, June 26, 2009
An Amazing God
We live in a vast universe that's over 93 billion light years wide. We are but a speck in this gigantic array of stars, suns, and galaxies. To some this would seem to indicate insignificance, but to me it indicates that we have One Awesome and Amazing God.
If we were insignificant then God would have nothing to do with us. Yet He is ever involved in our lives. He knows our needs, wants, and desires. Because of His great love for us, He reached down from the heavens and became a man, Jesus, so that we could have fellowship with Him. Through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we can live eternally with Him in Heaven.
When you look up into the sky and see the stars, remember you have a God who loves you and cares for you. He is not distant like some far off galaxy. He's in our hearts and in our lives if we let Him.
Why don't you call on our amazing God and ask Him into your heart?
If we were insignificant then God would have nothing to do with us. Yet He is ever involved in our lives. He knows our needs, wants, and desires. Because of His great love for us, He reached down from the heavens and became a man, Jesus, so that we could have fellowship with Him. Through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we can live eternally with Him in Heaven.
When you look up into the sky and see the stars, remember you have a God who loves you and cares for you. He is not distant like some far off galaxy. He's in our hearts and in our lives if we let Him.
Why don't you call on our amazing God and ask Him into your heart?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Developing Character
I'm currently researching information for a character in a mystery story I'm writing. The character will have already been dead for over eighty years, but I still have to make him "real" in order to make him believable to my readers. As I dig up more information about the time period he would have lived in, about the occupation he would have engaged in, and the lifestyle he would have led, I'm developing his character. These little bits of information will add up to create what this man was supposed to be, something that will be crucial in the final solutions of my story.
It takes time to develop a character, and it takes time for us to develop character. Circumstances in life mold and shape us into the people we will become. I am very different from the child I was. If I continue to grow and develop as I age, I will be a bit different from who I am now.
God is more interested in our character than our comforts. Have you ever noticed that a trial may be very challenging, but how we handle that trial can develop character within us? Our trials are not accidental. God knew, by the choices we would make or by the situations we put ourselves in, that we would need certain circumstances to be the catalyst for our development. It seems to me that the sooner we accept this developmental growth, the better. When we grumble and moan and complain, it takes us longer to learn from our situation.
God is the author of our lives. He provides ways for us to develop our character. Why resist His efforts? He knows what's best for us anyway.
It takes time to develop a character, and it takes time for us to develop character. Circumstances in life mold and shape us into the people we will become. I am very different from the child I was. If I continue to grow and develop as I age, I will be a bit different from who I am now.
God is more interested in our character than our comforts. Have you ever noticed that a trial may be very challenging, but how we handle that trial can develop character within us? Our trials are not accidental. God knew, by the choices we would make or by the situations we put ourselves in, that we would need certain circumstances to be the catalyst for our development. It seems to me that the sooner we accept this developmental growth, the better. When we grumble and moan and complain, it takes us longer to learn from our situation.
God is the author of our lives. He provides ways for us to develop our character. Why resist His efforts? He knows what's best for us anyway.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Honoring THE Father
Yesterday was Father's Day. Some people made phone calls, sent cards, had barbeques, or put flowers on their fathers' graves. A lot of people took the time to acknowledge the man they call father.
Recognizing someone special in our life is important. But we mustn't forget to recognize God, our Heavenly Father. His love far surpasses any an earthly father could ever give. He created us individually, designing us from head to toe and giving us those special attributes that make us who we are. He sacrificed Himself for us in the person of Jesus, who died to pay the punishment of all the sins of the world, and who rose again so that we may go to heaven when it's our turn to leave this earth.
What is the best way to recognize God? By acknowledging He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords; that He is God Almighty, and that there is no one like Him; and by recognizing that it is only through Jesus that we can enter into Heaven.
What's stopping you from acknowledging God?
Recognizing someone special in our life is important. But we mustn't forget to recognize God, our Heavenly Father. His love far surpasses any an earthly father could ever give. He created us individually, designing us from head to toe and giving us those special attributes that make us who we are. He sacrificed Himself for us in the person of Jesus, who died to pay the punishment of all the sins of the world, and who rose again so that we may go to heaven when it's our turn to leave this earth.
What is the best way to recognize God? By acknowledging He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords; that He is God Almighty, and that there is no one like Him; and by recognizing that it is only through Jesus that we can enter into Heaven.
What's stopping you from acknowledging God?
Friday, June 19, 2009
M.O.S.
In the film industry, when a scene is filmed without any sound, the letters "M.O.S." are written on the slate. It supposedly is an abbreviated term first used by a German film director who had come to Hollywood in the early days and wanted a scene to be filmed "Mit Out Sound."
Well, I can say that about my cell phone now. Family and friends calling me will get a M.O.S. response from me. You see, my cell phone microphone stopped working yesterday. There is nothing but silence even though I'm in the midst of talking and I can hear them perfectly. It's very frustrating being without a voice, especially when I have something to say but no means of communicating my message.
Thankfully God is not "Mit Out Sound." He speaks loud and clear through the Bible, through other believers, through nature, and through our life's circumstances. The problem is that we fail to listen. We don't take the time to see that He is trying to talk to us, or we expect Him to communicate OUR way, not His.
Don't blame God if you can't hear Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself. Then expect Him to answer. He will be faithful to sound off to you.
Well, I can say that about my cell phone now. Family and friends calling me will get a M.O.S. response from me. You see, my cell phone microphone stopped working yesterday. There is nothing but silence even though I'm in the midst of talking and I can hear them perfectly. It's very frustrating being without a voice, especially when I have something to say but no means of communicating my message.
Thankfully God is not "Mit Out Sound." He speaks loud and clear through the Bible, through other believers, through nature, and through our life's circumstances. The problem is that we fail to listen. We don't take the time to see that He is trying to talk to us, or we expect Him to communicate OUR way, not His.
Don't blame God if you can't hear Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself. Then expect Him to answer. He will be faithful to sound off to you.
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