tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87658562972298907282024-03-27T02:37:15.872-04:00Cup of GraceMaybe you start your morning with a cup of coffee, tea or cocoa. May we suggest you start today with a cup of grace?
"...I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23:12b)Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.comBlogger626125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-19800208715821985842024-03-24T18:04:00.000-04:002024-03-24T18:04:46.524-04:00<p> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life Lenses</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0653d959-7fff-45ee-1368-8e87d5da7ad3"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’ve ever been to the eye doctor, you’ve probably experienced when they put a big metal mask in front of your face and proceed to flip through different lens options and combinations until you can see clearly. Many times they’re going back and forth and back and forth because it’s hard to tell the difference between one or the other.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all walk through life with lenses, whether you’re wearing a pair of glasses or not. They’re in how we see the world, the experiences we’ve had that give us first hand knowledge in different areas. New lenses drop down in front of us, altering that understanding or personal perspective. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are some lenses I have in front of me that have shaped the way I understand, empathize and see life:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being an only child</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attending 6 different schools between K-12th</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having a parent with a mental illness</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having a parent with stage 4 cancer</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Playing sports</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moving to new places and knowing no one</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teaching elementary students</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being married and having kids</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most recently the lens that dropped down in front of my eyes was losing my dad. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of these things significantly shape the way I think about things, who I relate to, and the decisions I make. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do we have any in common? Are there some differences? I think about how the common ones mean that we can empathize with one another and support one another. Some of these things are hard. When we experience something new or challenging, it broadens our capacity to walk alongside others going through the same things. 2 Corinthians 1 talks about how Christ comforts us in our trials and struggles so that we in turn can comfort those around us who may be going through the same thing. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It wasn’t until I lost my dad that I truly understood how many friends and family members have felt walking through the deep grief and life changes that come from losing a parent. As much as there is pain, there is also the gift of community and being able to relate to one another and bear one another’s burdens.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we have different lenses it shows how the church functions as a body. Not only do we have different gifts and skills, but we also have different experiences. God uses those differences so that we are full and multifaceted as a church family. There is beauty in differences. We come together as a family often despite differences and learn how to love one another as Christ loves.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over time the lenses are added to, perspective and understanding grows and shifts. But all the while, we need something (someone) to hold fast to and who holds us fast. So that while life throws new things at us, we won’t be blinded by and lean on our </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">own</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> understanding. We would get our prescription wrong if we didn’t have the correct training to give us a clear vision. (Prov 3:5)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those constants are who I am in Christ, that I believe I am who He says I am, and He is who He says He is:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a sinner.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am saved by grace.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a child of God.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a hope and a future.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is Holy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is Just.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is True.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is my creator, He knows me and He loves me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is love.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These things are what I must cling to first. Because these things are stable and sure, I can let the experiences God gives add to my life, add to my understanding, add to my disappointment, add to my strengthening. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what are your life lenses? What experiences have shaped your vision? What remains constant through your changing prescriptions? Who holds you fast?</span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-71183909796168570162024-03-17T21:22:00.000-04:002024-03-17T21:22:13.204-04:00He Is Risen!<p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span> <span> </span>I</span>n the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And, behold, there was a great earthquake:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Come, see the place where the Lord lay.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>lo, I have told you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But now is Christ risen from the dead.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><span> </span><span> These passages have been precious to me all of my life. My mother insisted that we memorize them. She sang them to us as well. Easter is my very favorite time of the year.</span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Over the years I have played Mary, the mother of Jesus, in several dramatic presentations, including in a pantomime behind a sheer curtain in The Redemption, an oratorio by Gounod.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In this last I felt the grief of the march to Calvary, the crucifixion. I placed myself at the cross and felt an intensity of grief I had not felt before.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 2015 I went with Tom Kilpatrick and Bill Summers to Israel.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We were at Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb on Good Friday.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I begged Bill to allow me to quote these Scriptures. It was a very moving experience.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 1977 or 78 I was in Israel with the Sandbergs and Martins.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tom was also in Israel, but I did not expect to see him.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But as we were going into a little Arab restaurant in the Old City, there was Tom.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We had a free afternoon so Tom invited me to join him and Mike Bentley, a Temple grad who was a missionary in Israel, for the rest of the day.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was an unforgettable afternoon.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span> </span><span> </span>First we went to a little gift shop that had a special connection with the Dead Sea Scrolls.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The owner had bought the first scrolls from little Arab boys.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He had one of the jars that the scrolls had been hidden in and a small fragment of a scroll.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I got to feel those two and wonder who had valued the Scriptures so much that they had hidden them only to have them discovered centuries later.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In that shop I bought a widow’s mite from about 70 A.D.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That was the year that Jerusalem was destroyed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There would have been no widow’s mites after that tragic year.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our next stop was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This time no one else was around.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There were no tour groups crowding the small garden.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I sat and read Scriptures and prayed under a huge mustard tree.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I believe that is probably the exact place where Jesus was buried.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It fulfills many of the descriptions in Scripture.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But my faith is not based on whether that is the place.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I know my Savior lives.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The last place we visited was Bethany, now a small Arab village.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Earlier the whole group had visited Bethany.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We had stopped outside the village at a cave which our guide assured us was the exact place Lazarus had been buried.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That had been a stretch for me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But now at twilight with no tour buses belching their fumes and noise, I saw the village much as it might have been when Jesus walked there. The dusty narrow streets were deserted. We could hear an occasional donkey’s bray and other animals settling for the night.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We went through a gate into a courtyard, then up a flight of stairs to the home of a Greek Orthodox priest. The room was dark.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(The priest went into another room to move what was evidently his only lightbulb to the cord hanging down in the room we were in.)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He read from the Old Testament in Hebrew for us.We had come to a walled house with a flat roof and no lights.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was easy to imagine Lazarus’<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>lying in a home such as this, not too far from where I sat, his sisters moaning and saying, “Where is Jesus?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And when Jesus came, death had already come.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His sisters then said, “If you had been here, our brother would not have died.” And Jesus wept.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> He loved Lazarus, just as He loves us. </span>But then He spoke to Martha.“I am the resurrection and the life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Do you believe Me?”</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As we grow older, deaths seem to be piling one after another. This year I have lost three dear friends and gone to funerals for others.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I miss Jessie, Doris, and Steve.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But because of the resurrection, I will see them again. Last year they celebrated Easter in Heaven.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In that little house in Bethany I heard Jesus say “Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Because He lives, we too shall live. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do you believe?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do!</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hallelujah!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He is risen!</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> <i>Faith Himes Lamb</i><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px;"><br /></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-79096460130652085662024-03-10T18:30:00.001-04:002024-03-10T18:30:00.245-04:00Habits<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As I write these words, I have a pot of
pinto beans cooking on the stove. I love pinto beans, and they are especially
good with onions and mustard accompanied by a wedge of crunchy cornbread—not
soft, sweet, pseudo-cornbread but firm, crunchy bread, baked in an iron
skillet. This is how my mother made cornbread, so it seems right to me. And I’m
not the only one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">When I was a student at Concord College
(now Concord University) in Athens, West Virginia, many of my dorm mates went
home every weekend, returning to campus in waves all Sunday afternoon. One such
day as I left my room to head over to the cafeteria, I passed an open door
where two or three girls from my home county were gathered around plates of
cornbread and beans fixed the right way—crumbled bread topped by beans and bean
juice. One of the girls had been home and had returned with this treasure. They
offered me a bite, and I was tempted but decided not to interfere.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The things we grow up loving seem good to us, don’t they? Often those things—like the beans and bread—are
products of necessity, but that doesn’t change the fact that this love can
carry over into decades of adult preferences. (I want to acknowledge that
childhood hurts can also have lasting effects, but that’s a topic for another
time.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I’ve been reading a book recommended by
missionary Melissa Baccarella. It’s called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You Are What You Love</i> by James K.A. Smith. The subtitle is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Spiritual Power of Habit </i>and I’m
finding it to be very thought-provoking. This book is the kind that makes me
wish I could start over with some things, but one thing it makes me grateful
for is the habit of church-going that was developed in me as a child. My habit
of being in church on Sunday morning put me in the right place to hear God’s
word week after week; it filled my mind with beautiful music and wholesome
words; it gave me friends who might notice if I weren’t there. And one day,
when I was far from God in my daily practices, it drew me into the vestibule of
a church to listen for a few minutes to the service. Probably no one present
that day knew I was there, but God was speaking to me and making my heart
tender to his leading.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Like beans and cornbread, a habit of
going to church is simple but nourishing. Other habits over the years—praying
before eating, reciting scripture on the drive to school, collecting missionary
cards—have also fed my soul and helped shape my thinking. In his book, Smith
covers several areas of life in which habits help shape our loves and our
attitudes. Thumbing back through the book recently, I saw that on two separate
pages, I had penciled in a statement from Anne Lamott: “We crave what we eat.”
I have found this principle to be so true in recent years, applicable to many
areas of life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">My encouragement to you today is this:
If there is something you know you should do, but you find you don’t love it,
just keep doing it. Make it a habit, and one day, you may find yourself craving
that very thing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works
to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.” Eat the beans, take the
walk, kneel in prayer. Then do it again tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-35604386020319913142024-03-03T15:16:00.000-05:002024-03-03T15:16:33.717-05:00Only a Spatula<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-a--FN_kTPzeFF4UqRWBkUC5UcWiSkmVs91On-dhjVyJWU1KKhCudU6mTuf3W-iw4achv_pC264qZPulnD7j9JNEizyy5W1Yajh1dpXa7bP2MleYPYhuNqD4GhjRanH3s7Pk9_WDyRS0cm3xleoX3OFAL5lQXs_PMf7v-tqm2iIUZwAvdhGDjQwjVR0Aq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="650" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-a--FN_kTPzeFF4UqRWBkUC5UcWiSkmVs91On-dhjVyJWU1KKhCudU6mTuf3W-iw4achv_pC264qZPulnD7j9JNEizyy5W1Yajh1dpXa7bP2MleYPYhuNqD4GhjRanH3s7Pk9_WDyRS0cm3xleoX3OFAL5lQXs_PMf7v-tqm2iIUZwAvdhGDjQwjVR0Aq" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes I get discouraged
in my work at the TN Baptist Children’s Homes. I am a case manager for older
residents, and sometimes I feel so disconnected from them. They do not want to
meet with me or listen to anything I am trying to teach them. (They already
know everything. Maybe you can relate?) I feel like giving up. I ask God why He
even brought me there to work. God is addressing my questions and complaints in
an unexpected way. He is using a chapter on “Self-Existence” in Jen Wilkens’
book, “None Like Him” to correct some of my thinking. It seems that, unintentionally,
I have been trying to steal God’s glory by making this ministry about me. I
want these young people to, at the least, not hate me, and maybe even like me,
but several are hateful, ungrateful, and unteachable. Sometimes they are
downright ornery and disrespectful! <i>Don’t they recognize my gifting?!</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the rewards – praise, gratitude, and adoration
– don’t come, I get discouraged, and the doubts about my calling begin. I start to think
something I deserve is being withheld. When the fruits of my labor do not
manifest, I want to quit.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Another example of my
self-reliance is when I see God answer my prayers in amazing ways, and I begin
to feel a sense of self-satisfaction. Saying to myself, "<i>I </i>did the work
of spiritual warfare" – like I did something special! Even prayer can become about
me! Mercy, what I mess I am!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I find myself trying to do
what only God can do. I cannot save a soul or change a heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When a chef uses a spatula to
bake a lovely cake, we praise the chef, not the spatula. I have forgotten that
I am only a spatula – a tool in God’s hands. He can use me if He chooses or
select another tool.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s free-ing to allow God to
be God. If my TBCH kids refuse Him and I have done my limited part, it is not
my problem. When they do not recognize my heart for them or hard work on their
behalf, that’s okay, because I am only a spatula.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So, to all my fellow
spatulas, let God be God, and don’t try to steal His glory!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">joyce hague</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">(image by bulbandkey.com)</p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-35768044934281080762024-02-25T19:18:00.001-05:002024-02-25T19:18:51.739-05:00What Elisabeth Elliot and I Peter are Teaching Me about Suffering<p> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am sure
many of you have heard the story of the slaying of the five missionary men in
Ecuador in the 1950s by the fearsome Waorani tribe (the “Aucas,” as they were
known to the surrounding tribes). Within one year of the missionaries’ deaths,
Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of those five men, told their story in a book
titled </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Through Gates of Splendor</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. She had decided to stay in Ecuador
with her young daughter, still burdened for this violent tribe, and even had
the opportunity after a few short years to live with the very people who had
killed her husband. However, the time she spent with the Waorani people was
marked with great challenges. She found herself struggling with the language, how
to communicate the gospel, what expectations for life were biblical versus
simply the American way of things, and mostly with her coworker in the tribe,
Rachel Saint, the sister of one of the other missionary men killed that fateful
day. Elliot and Saint both had strong personalities and saw things very
differently. While it seems that Elliot wanted to find a way to work together,
Saint had too many concerns about Elliot’s faith and decisions that she saw no
way forward. After living with the tribe off and on for three years, Elliot
decided it was time to leave the jungle. She struggled with this decision – living
with this tribe was what she had prayed for. What was God doing? Could this really
be part of His plan?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> In a letter to her mom during this
time, she wrote, “I find that faith is more vigorously exercised when I can
find no satisfying explanation for the way God does things. I have to <u>hope</u>,
without any evidence seen, that things will come right in the end – not merely
that we shall receive compensation, but that we and all creation will be <u>redeemed</u>.
This means infinitely more than the good will eventually outweigh the evil”
(quoted in Ellen Vaughn’s <i>Becoming Elisabeth Elliot</i>, chapter 34). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> When Elliot returned to the States,
she struggled greatly with the easy pat answers that Christians would give to
complex spiritual problems, as if they could know why God was doing what He was
doing. Her novel <i>No Graven Image</i> about a single missionary lady in
Ecuador shocked many Christians for it didn’t have a happy ending that tied up
all the loose ends, but ended instead with a tragic death whereupon the
missionary had to choose to trust God even without having her questions
answered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> In 1981, Elliot wrote a second epilogue
for the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary edition of her book <i>Through Gates of
Splendor</i>. She wrote about the urge for Christians to “oversimplify issues,
to weigh in at once with interpretations that cannot possibly cover all the
data or stand up to close inspection.” She mentions that some say since five
missionaries died, that must mean that x number of Aucas will be saved. In
answer to this thought, she writes, “Perhaps so. Perhaps not. Cause and effect
are in God’s hands. Is it not the part of faith simply to let them rest there?
God is God. I dethrone Him in my heart if I demand that He act in ways that
satisfy my idea of justice” (269). She points out that God didn’t answer Job’s
questions either as they related to his suffering. With these final words,
Elliot closes her epilogue: “It is not the level of our spirituality that we
can depend on. It is God and nothing less than God, for the work is God’s and the
call is God’s and everything is summoned by Him and to His purposes, the whole
scene, the whole mess, the whole package... We are not always sure where the
horizon is. We would not know ‘which end is up’ were it not for the shimmering
pathway of light falling on the white sea. The One who laid earth’s foundations
and settled its dimensions knows where the lines are drawn. He gives all the
light we need for trust and obedience” (273).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> In my Sunday night bible study, we
have been studying the book of 1 Peter. So much of this book deals with the
topic of suffering. Peter wants the churches to know that suffering is a part
of the Christian life, that it is not for nothing, and that in the midst of
their trials, these believers must “entrust their souls to a faithful Creator
while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19). And that one day, the suffering will be over,
and that God, “who has called [them] to His eternal glory in Christ, will
himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish [them]” (5:10). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> So, dear sisters in Christ, when
trials come our way, and we want to see the whys to make sense of it in our own
minds, let us choose to leave those questions with God. And, as Elisabeth
Elliot wrote so well, let us hope and believe, even when we can’t see any good
that could come out of the suffering, that God will one day redeem it all for
His glory. This is the message of Romans 8:28. He causes all things to work
together for good. Let us trust Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">--Amy O’Rear<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-70948212448692179342024-02-18T16:37:00.002-05:002024-02-18T21:07:18.240-05:00Mom<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">The
timing for it being my turn to post on Cup of Grace coincides with a major life
event in our family: Friday my mom went to be with Jesus. She was ready to go,
and while we were singing “Praise Him! Praise Him!” in church this morning, I
was thinking what an amazing worship experience she must be having at that very
moment. Every Sunday gathering of Earth’s Christians is a celebration of Christ’s
resurrection, so can you imagine how adoration’s joy must soar beyond words
when Heaven’s redeemed gaze on His dear face? May the Father soon send His Son,
that we may know that unbounded joy together forever!<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span> </span><span> </span>It seems appropriate for this week’s blog
that I should post a few poems regarding my mom. The first one I wrote to her
as a Mother’s Day gift in 2016. The second one I wrote in 2019, on what would
have been my dad’s 74<sup>th</sup> birthday. The last one I wrote just a couple
weeks ago, when I was with my mom in the ICU – the night we knew her homegoing
was imminent. May the truths contained in a few rhyming lines reach out and
grab our souls, encouraging each of us to press on in our own race. Mom once
told me, “Live every day like it’s your last. One day it will be.” Her last day
was February 16, 2024. I don’t know when mine will be, but I pray that I will
honor God all the way through, until I, too, see His face. Jesus is worth everything.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> -<i>MaryBeth
Hall</i> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dawn</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #365f91; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">“Her children arise up, and call her blessed…” – Prov.
31:28<br /></span></i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I stepped outside the eighth of May<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To cut some flowers for Mothers’ Day,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But stopped on steps and looked about,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For morning did its message shout.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The secrets of the clear bright dawn<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sang out to me a mother’s song,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And truths that I saw pictured there<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I now write down with you to share.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As newly risen sun did shine<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On all its pale orange rays did find,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt;">I thought
of tender smiles I’ve seen<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">From my mom, that gave light to me.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I heard the varied songs of birds<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who praise their Maker without words.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My mom’s sweet songs still fill my heart,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For she often sang as she moved about.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw the trees stand tall and straight.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve seen them stay the same; it’s great<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To know my mom still steady is<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Through all life’s changes of that and this.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt the gentle breeze of spring<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The refreshing coolness that it brings,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Like sweet encouragement to press on<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That mom has brought when night was long.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw and smelled the flowers rare;<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A delicate beauty beyond compare<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Can only be likened to the touch and sight<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of Mama: when she’s near, all’s right.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had to smile, for then I heard<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A rooster calling to his world.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought of my mom waking us<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Day after day, despite our fuss!<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Last I wandered to the creek;<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I expected busy bubbling to meet,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But in stillness it mirrored the trees above,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As my mom reflects the God she loves.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My mom would say she’s not so good,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But I say, she’s done all she could<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To live for God and family,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To obey His Word so faithfully.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And if one day when my daughters are grown<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These truths to them I will have shown<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As “Mama” I will successful be.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The secret’s this: Jesus in me.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I send these words across the miles<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To you, Mom, via e-mail files,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And all my love and hugs come, too.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thank you for all you are and do!<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Rich Kids<br /></span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"> <br /></span><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">“We will not hide them
from their children,<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">telling to the generation
to come the praises of the LORD,<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">and His strength and His
wonderful works that He has done.<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">And that from childhood
you have known the Holy Scriptures…<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Therefore I love Your
commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">The law of Your mouth is
better to me than thousands of coins<br /></span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">of gold and silver.” (Ps
78:4, II Tim. 3:15a, 119:127,72)<br /></span></i></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A-jingle
and a-jangle, daily coins are spent,<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As they
turn into dollars of years.<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We
wonder what we did, and where the time went,<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
the treasure of a lifetime outlives smiles and tears.<br /></span></i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Just who are the rich kids in this crazy world?<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Who are the ones possessing treasure unfurled?<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What can I do to give true wealth to my kids –<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wealth that will steady them when life goes into skids?<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I think back to my childhood; what really stands out?<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t a home where money ruled the day,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For my parents saw eternal things that never fade away.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They put a thirst for God in us that will always stay.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t a home where they hurried away,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To escape little kids when “crazy” held sway.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We weren’t “in the way;” we were valued and loved,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And that freedom from fear was a gift from above.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God and His Word flowed in and out of our words<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As easily and powerfully as the mightiest of swords.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">His Truth was the Boss, Blessing, and Breath<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of an unfading Glory that conquers even death.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">That is the wealth I desire to give<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To my own children for as long as they live.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It steadies a soul as nothing else can,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For this is the wisdom of God’s holy plan.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mom and Dad, thank you, for all you are and did:<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A happy childhood and foundation for adulthood<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Are worth more than gold to your five kids.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You gave us the best, and we’re so glad you did!<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A-jingle
and a-jangle, daily coins are spent,<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As
they turn into dollars of years.<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We
wonder what we did, and where the time went,<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But
the treasure of a lifetime outlives smiles and tears.<br /></span></i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <br /></span><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">The
Valley’s Edge<br /></span></b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Psalm
23:4<br /></span></i></span><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #3d85c6;">"Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,<br /></span></i><i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="color: #3d85c6;">I will fear no evil: for
Thou art with me..."<br /></span></i><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">I stand at valley's edge tonight<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">With loved one's hand in mine,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">And know that though, try as I might,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">To let go it is almost time.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">Memories of days now past<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">Like whispers kiss my soul.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">Truths we lived this life outlast;<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">They'll see you to your goal.<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif""> <br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">The Spirit, Son, and Father<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">Will change your faith to sight,<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">And He can never falter<br /></span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">Who carries you to Light.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At valley's edge we'll watch you go,<br /><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"">And we will trust Him, too;<br /></span><span>You taught us how to love and know<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span>The God Who means so
much to you.</span></span></span></p><p></p><p></p>
Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-12848409452703181672024-02-11T19:39:00.012-05:002024-02-11T19:48:03.256-05:00Prayer Changes People<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I awoke recently with lines of a
children’s song running through my head, and my mind went back to the summer of
1976 when I was a college student in West Virginia. That summer, between my
sophomore and junior years at Concord College, I spend several weeks in
ministry with Child Evangelism Fellowship. That year of 1976 was one of great
spiritual growth for me, and my time with CEF was a large part of my
development.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">When we teach, we ourselves often learn
so much more than the students. As I sang “Did You Ever Talk to God Above?”
over and over that summer—in backyards, on porches, and in driveways—I internalized
wonderful truths about God’s goodness and power.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The story that accompanies the song is
of a little boy who is afraid of horses, unlike his brothers and friends who enjoy riding. One day, he has to ride a horse to summon help. He is able to
overcome his fear by remembering Psalm 56:3—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
time I am</i></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">afraid, I will trust in thee</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. As he rides the horse over roads
and hills, he prays for God’s help and encouragement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The illustrations for the visualized
song are eye-catching, and the tune is completely engaging. The best part of
the song, of course, is the lesson it teaches—actually the many lessons. I want
to think about the one highlighted in the last verse that says this:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Find
the answer in his word; it’s true.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You’ll be strong because he
walks with you.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>By
this faithfulness, he’ll change you, too.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span> </span> God</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> answers prayer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">My mom used to have a license plate on
the front of her car that said, “Prayer Changes Things.” My dad insisted that
this statement was wrong. “Prayer,” he said, “changes people.” When we meet
with God to seek his will, we really are changed. We think about his goodness,
how power, and his wisdom. We acknowledge that he is the only one who can help
us, and we return—or should—to thank him and praise him for answers. </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">I want to add that God’s word also changes people. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14pt;">Like the little boy in the story, we find in the Bible courage to move forward and guidance about what is right.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18.6667px;"> That seeking and obeying </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18.6667px;">changes us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p>T</o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">hat summer of ’76 was an important one
for me. By the next summer, I was engaged, and Larry and I married in August.
We have had a wonderful life together, but no life is without struggles and
hard decisions. I’m thankful that God is still using the simple and profound
truths from my CEF training to help me in 2024!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> Here's the whole song: </o:p></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18.6667px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2MdukdPn3g">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Mdu</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;">--Sherry Poff</p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-3584972264214757182024-02-04T19:13:00.012-05:002024-02-04T19:13:57.610-05:00In Time With God's Time<p> I visited my dad in the ICU a few weeks ago. I
flew up to Boston to be with my mom during this extremely challenging
rollercoaster of a time.</p>
<p class="normal">While we were in the waiting room, once again, my
mom commented on how much waiting was involved in these circumstances.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting for the nurse to finish her procedure so
we could go sit with him.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting for traffic on the hour-long drive into
Boston each day.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting for another call bringing good news, bad
news, no news.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting for the test results, a change, answers.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>It’s ironic this topic came up in such a vivid
way, as in weeks prior to my visit, God had already been pressing the idea of
waiting upon my heart.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>As a church, we know what it is like to wait,
long term, for something big. We have been waiting on God’s timing for years
now, in anticipation of reconstruction, a new building.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>As humans we wait all the time in such ordinary
ways:</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting for the water to boil.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting through carline to pick up the kids from
school.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting in the grocery line or on hold with
customer service.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">Waiting to hear about a new job, a new grandbaby.</span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>It so often feels painful, boring, frustrating.
What is so interesting is that the practice of waiting is such a biblical
calling, a fully Christian practice. It is a discipline God calls His people to
throughout history. In fact, major themes of the Bible are dedicated to
waiting. The “already, not yet” concept.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>Quickly coming to mind is Israel waiting in the
wilderness. Sarah waiting for a child. Simeon and all of God’s people waiting
for their promised Savior. The disciples, in those 3 dark days after Jesus’
death, waiting and wondering what was next. Waiting now for Christ’s return.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>As I think through all of those “already” times
in the Bible, I am reminded that in every single circumstance, God delivered.
He provided in the wilderness. He gave the child. He sent Jesus to save His
people. He rose from the dead.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>And He IS coming again.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>God’s time is not our time. When Adam and Eve
were in the garden they worked and walked WITH him, living in God’s time, with
God’s time… until the fall.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>Then time bent away from eternity and into a
narrow tunnel vision of our own lives, wants, desires, needs, pleasures. We
fight against the wait, the interruptions of our own time. We rail against our
own selfishness, fear and impatience that come in the moments and seasons of
our waiting.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>God answers with “not yet.” He calls those who
wait for Him “blessed” in Isaiah 30:18. And as He has shown time and time and
time again, He will deliver, provide, give, answer and come again.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span>May you and I trust God in our waiting, see good
in our waiting, and lean heavily on the promises of God’s faithfulness and
timing.</p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="normal"><span lang="EN">--Sandy Gromacki</span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-4853462605176574482024-01-28T17:00:00.003-05:002024-01-28T21:13:01.338-05:00He Knows What You Need<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-0b0f4d07-7fff-3633-9712-6e242c246b2c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hurrah! The Israelites have escaped Egypt! The armies of Pharaoh with their chariots and horsemen have perished in the Red Sea, even as the Israelites walked through on dry land. God is leading them on the way by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moses and the sons of Israel sang to the Lord. “The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.” (Exodus 15.)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But wait! Only days later “the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. . . .Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the Lord was merciful and provided manna, “like coriander seed, white; and its taste was like wafers with honey. . . .And the sons of Israel ate the manna forty years.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just a short while later there was no water and the people quarreled with Moses over water, citing water in Egypt. So God told Moses to strike the rock and water came out so the people could drink.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s quite a cycle, isn’t it? God meets their needs, the people complain. God meets their needs, the people complain. It’s on automatic repeat.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>So what does that have to do with me? Romans 15:4 says “whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” You see, I get caught in that same cycle and so do you. We are sailing along trusting God to meet our needs, then there’s a big bill for a dental procedure. How are you going to pay it? We have a severe cold snap like the one we just had. The heating bill grows as the temperature drops. We have a new medicine prescribed that costs over $100. We notice that our child has outgrown his shoes and, of course, he’s the one that needs the special shoes that cost more. Groceries cost more. You fill in the blank. Suddenly it’s hard to trust God to meet our needs. We gripe, complain, worry.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the sermon on the mount Jesus repeats the lesson, but in terms that cannot be misunderstood. “Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? …for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care for itself.” (Matthew 6)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you worried about tomorrow? Maybe you’re worried about today. Family? Finances? Retirement? Your heavenly Father knows and He cares. He loves you. Don’t get caught in the same cycle that the Israelites were caught in. Your Father cares for you and He will supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 4:19)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ~~ <i>Faith Himes Lamb</i><br /></span></p><br /></span></div><p></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-46489205192827463382024-01-21T18:40:00.002-05:002024-01-21T18:40:33.076-05:00You Had Plans?<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">Alyssa and I often compare
ourselves to Elsa and Anna from Frozen. Our personalities are surprisingly
similar to the characters', with two main exceptions. She doesn’t like
chocolate, and the cold and snow do bother me. Sure, snow is pretty. But it can
also cause all kinds of problems. As has been the case for many, being trapped
by snow and ice has been the essence of my week.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">I had plans for this week. I was
going to take Mom shopping on Monday, and I had small group to attend on
Thursday. I was going to start going through my dresser drawers, organizing and
getting rid of things. At work, I had a mailing sitting on my desk that I was
going to finish putting together and send out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">But none of my plans happened. I
instead spent most of my week working remotely at Mom and Dad’s house bundled
up by the fireplace. I love my family dearly and enjoy spending time with them,
but I would rather do so out of choice rather than necessity. I don’t like to
feel trapped or that I don’t have control over the things happening in my life.
I want to know what is going to happen ahead of time so I can be prepared.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">As frustrating as this week has
been, it is nothing compared to the last year my family has walked through.
This last year has been anything but planned and expected. From the moment
Alyssa called me to let me know they were taking Mom to the hospital with chest
pain, everything changed. Plans went out the window. Every day since has been
different than any of us would have expected a year ago.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">As much as we learn about the
turmoil of history and regularly experience the unexpected fluctuations of
life, you would think we would be less surprised by the chaos that life can
bring. As Christians, we have the added knowledge that we live in a fallen and
broken world. But almost every time, we are taken aback and sent into a
tailspin attempting to figure out how to handle the unexpected.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">But God is not surprised.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">This seems like such a simple
truth, but it is one I need to be reminded of often. God does not get flustered
by ruined plans because His plans are already laid out, and He sees everything
that has, is, and will happen. I like how Casting Crowns puts it in their song <i>Already</i>
<i>There</i>: </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">“From where You're standing<br />Lord, You see a grand design<br />That You imagined<br />When You breathed me into life<br />And all the chaos<br />Comes together in Your hands<br />Like a masterpiece<br />Of Your picture-perfect plan</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">When I'm lost in the mystery<br />To You my future is a memory<br />Cause You're already there<br />Standing at the end of my life<br />Waiting on the other side.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">God knows what this next week, this
next year, and the rest of my life will look like. He knows all the ups and
downs I will walk through. But not only does He know what will happen; it is a
part of His plan, the great story He is writing with history.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">I don’t see any purpose behind
keeping us trapped in the house all week. I don’t see the purpose of God allowing
Mom to have both a heart attack and a stroke. But I know God does. So moment by
moment, I am doing my best to hold loosely the plans I make and to rest in God’s
sovereignty.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">--Concetta Swann</p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-80529829291885995002024-01-14T08:40:00.002-05:002024-01-14T08:40:30.533-05:00Careful Now<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOKR7VxvbedIpRN05ENAOJeq8IdVoVOkLS4OdTwby0r7_WF__7ib4-mVmU1a14UwLL9x_X9V2ySuwFwiwyoclcfI6rGX6ojJDeyla4EBzJTGAeBT3hFADXO7QDw3C-oHotnkejWeTANdmTttTnt9ugI-fIgZ2Wd1SIQA8mR3so8TOIVh8eWidt_ZYmD30/s4288/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3216" data-original-width="4288" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOKR7VxvbedIpRN05ENAOJeq8IdVoVOkLS4OdTwby0r7_WF__7ib4-mVmU1a14UwLL9x_X9V2ySuwFwiwyoclcfI6rGX6ojJDeyla4EBzJTGAeBT3hFADXO7QDw3C-oHotnkejWeTANdmTttTnt9ugI-fIgZ2Wd1SIQA8mR3so8TOIVh8eWidt_ZYmD30/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All my life I have loved
being outdoors. As a child I spent a lot of time hanging in trees, riding my
bike, splashing in creeks (or ditches I pretended were creeks), and scratching
in the dirt. My mother had to MAKE me come inside at the end of the day. Being
outside sometimes feels like a spiritual experience for me. God’s fingerprints
are all over Creation, and I feel the wonder of His greatness.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, the Enemy knows this about me
and sees it as an opportunity for my undoing.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Recently, I participated in
an herbal medicine class. My love for plants and fascination with how they can
be used for healing led me down this path. There’s another group of people who
are big into nature and herbal medicine: pagans. Pagans (and New Agers)
dominate this field of study. The lure of being in nature, experiencing that
spiritual feeling, prayer, and a sense of connectedness with nature and the
Universe are attractive to many. Being one’s own god is intoxicating – having
that feeling of having power or control. While taking my class, I rubbed
shoulders with several pagans who were very passionate. Having shared several
weekends together, these ladies became my friends. <i>Careful…</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have a strong thirst to
learn more about this subject and have been invited to an herbal conference in
Florida. This conference is being held at a campground which appeals to us
nature lovers. There’s also a bunk house where I could bunk with other ladies
at the conference. There will be circle-time and music. I researched the
presenters and musicians. Although not overtly pagan on their websites, the
pagan vibes were there. This conference feels more like a worship service to me.
But then I rationalize. <i>I just want to go for the learning about herbs. I
don’t have to participate in the pagan rituals.</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Careful, </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">whispers the Holy Spirit. The relationships would be
key for pulling me down an idolatrous road. I would be spending lots of time
with pagan “friends.” Some of the ladies from my class would likely be there.
It could be subtle too. At my age, I tend to think I would not so easily bend
to peer pressure or be influenced. But that’s silly. We are all influenced by
those around us. We all experience peer pressure. I remember my mother talking
about situations among her peers when she was in her 80s. During our last class,
we gathered in a circle to “toast” to each other (with a non-alcoholic herbal
drink), and I wondered where this was leading and if I would have the courage
to step back if it became ritualistic. It did not, thankfully, but I was edgy.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I have decided that if I ever
do attend any herbal conferences, that I will not spend much time in the
presence of these influencers. I certainly do not need to room (or camp) with
them. Will I be friendly and kind? Absolutely. Ready to share my faith? Of
course, but I should not become bosom buddies with those who do not follow
Christ. And I should put on my Armor ahead of time. (I have discovered a
Christian Herbal Association, but they do not have any events planned right
now.)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Proverbs 12: 26, “One who is righteous is a guide to
his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” ESV</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Proverbs 13: 20, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes
wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” ESV</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you have any natural
interests or passions that the Enemy might use against you? Things that maybe
aren’t sinful but could lead to idolatry? <i>Careful.</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">joyce hague<o:p></o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-13997871593686804632024-01-07T22:01:00.001-05:002024-01-07T22:01:59.312-05:00A Challenge and a Word of Encouragement for the New Year<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Twenty twenty-four is upon
us! In thinking about what to write this week, I decided to combine two things
that I myself have been pondering in regard to a new year. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First, I would love to challenge you
with something I am planning to do myself. I have heard my husband often say,
“We don’t drift toward intimacy with God.” We see this in other relationships
as well. If we aren’t intentional about maintaining or even growing a
relationship, we drift away from it. If we want to grow closer to God, learn
more about Him, love Him more, and become more like Christ, we need to be
intentional. And the start of a new year is a good time to take stock of where
we are. I came across this article with a questionnaire of sorts that allows
you to reflect on the previous year and then asks questions about the upcoming
year to help you be intentional in growing that important relationship with the
Lord. For example, it’s great to want to spend time in the Word every day, but
without a plan, that is less likely to happen. This is true for prayer as well.
Also, we want to fight sin in our lives, but without looking at ourselves and
recognizing our sin patterns, again, this becomes more challenging. I will
attach the link here, but if it does not work, type the following into your
internet search engine: Melissa Kruger “New Year, New Beginnings.” This should
hopefully take you right to this article on The Gospel Coalition’s website. In
this article, there is a printable guide for you to work through these
“reflecting and refocusing” questions on your own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/melissa-kruger/new-year-new-beginnings-vitally-important-consider-ways/">https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/melissa-kruger/new-year-new-beginnings-vitally-important-consider-ways/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Secondly, here is how I am
encouraging myself at the start of this new year. I hope it encourages you as
well. At the beginning of my day planner for this year, I have written out this
question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism. I love how it weaves
together truths from the Word of God to create something so beautiful and
encouraging. I plan to turn to this reminder often throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Question 26: What do you believe when you say, “I believe in
God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?” </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing
created heaven and earth and all that is in them, and who still upholds and
governs them by his eternal counsel and providence, is, for the sake of
Christ his Son, my God and my Father. In him I trust so completely as to have
no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul,
and will also turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this life of
sorrow. He is able to do so as almighty God, and willing also as a
faithful Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ladies, the eternal God is our
Father. He is for us, He sustains us, and He holds this year in His hands. He
is sovereign over all that will occur in these 366 days. Let us look ahead with
confidence, trusting our all-wise and good God.<sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--Amy O'Rear</p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-3011989439262052622023-12-31T23:09:00.000-05:002023-12-31T23:09:09.463-05:00Christmas Train<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every year it comes like a train on a fast track. I
first realize Christmas is upon me when my daughters start asking for lists. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What do you want? </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is followed by a frantic search for that slip
of paper where I started writing down ideas. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What do I want?</i> What I really want is something that cannot be
bought or ordered. And I’m not even sure how to voice it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe it’s the magic I felt as a child sitting in
the dim candle glow of our little country church. Mary and Joseph in their
bathrobes up on stage welcomed with shy smiles the shepherds and wise men in
similar bathrobes, heads adorned with towels wound up in artful precision, to
see the baby lying in hay. Angels in white bed sheets, tree tinsel on their
freshly washed curls, stood benignly by as a hush fell over the congregation
and “Silent Night” arose in the near darkness. Never have the words been more
meaningful or the thoughts so sublime. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
do I want?</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I want to pass this wonder to my loved ones, to
have them experience this thrill for themselves, to imagine with me the joy of
the shepherds as they returned to the hills changed, the awe of the magi
traveling over miles of desert, talking among themselves. Who would believe it?
Who could believe it? God come to earth. After so much waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Children understand waiting. Much of their lives is
spent plodding from one unwanted task to another, being obedient, doing
homework, counting the days. For them, Christmas is a slow train that seems
forever just around the bend. Maybe the anticipation of gifts is what drives
their eagerness. I’m sure it was so for me as I avidly searched the pages of
the Sears Wish Book every November to dream of the gifts I might receive, but I’m
glad I somehow caught the vision of God’s example in the very best of gift
giving. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe my memory of those early Christmas
celebrations is enhanced by the shiny veneer of time. Maybe what I really want
is to be young again, to see things fresh and exciting. In fact, the truth of Christmas
is always upon us. The event we celebrate at Christmas is ever one for amazement,
regardless of the time of year or the stage of life. Whether it comes charging
like a runaway train or chugs slowly along, Christmas is, indeed, a holiday that
is centuries old yet forever new. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And here we are at the start—or nearly so—of a new
year. It has become cliché to suggest that we keep Christmas in our hearts, so
I won’t do that. But I do want to suggest that we take time to realize that our
lives are a bit like that train, moving forward whether or not we feel ready.
As our pastor reminded us recently, our goal must be to live under the control
of Christ, as Paul stated in II Corinthians 5: 14 & 15, <span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black;">“</span></sup></b><span style="background: white; color: black;">For Christ’s love compels us, because we
are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.</span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><b><sup style="font-size: 1.2rem;"><span id="en-NIV-28893" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></sup></b>And he died for all, that
those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died
for them and was raised again.</span>”</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Did you write down those three questions Pastor Love
asked us? In case you missed it, here they are. May these questions and their
positive answers lead us forward this year until Christmas comes again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How
will I demonstrate the treasure of the gospel in my daily life?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
will guide my decisions and purpose in this year?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Am
I living with eternity in view? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-- --Sherry Poff</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--</span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-85560237858251800932023-12-24T19:33:00.002-05:002023-12-24T19:33:44.658-05:00The Song of the Shepherds<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">On this Christmas Eve, I have chosen to
share with you this lovely old poem I read recently. If you are reading this
blog after Christmas, it will still be good. Take your time and appreciate the
rich truth in this piece <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">by Edwin
Markham</b>, published sometime before 1923. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The Song of the Shepherds</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">It was near the first cock-crowing<br />
And Orion’s wheel was going,<br />
When an angel stood before us and our hearts were sore afraid.<br />
Lo! His face was like the lightning,<br />
When the walls of heaven are whitening,<br />
And he brought us wondrous tidings of a joy that should not fade.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then a Splendor shone around us,<br />
In a still field where he found us,<br />
A-watch upon the Shepherd Tower and waiting for the light;<br />
There where David, as a stripling,<br />
Saw the ewes and lambs go rippling<br />
Down the little hills and hollows at the falling of the night.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Oh, what tender, sudden faces<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Filled the old familiar places,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The barley-fields, where Ruth of old
went gleaning with the birds.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Down the skies the host came swirling,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Like sea-waters white and whirling,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And our hearts were strangely shaken by
the wonder of their words.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Haste, O people; all are bidden—<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Haste from places high or hidden:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In Mary’s Child the Kingdom comes, the
heaven in beauty bends!<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He has made all life completer,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He has made the Plain Way sweeter,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For the stall is His first shelter, and
the cattle His first friends.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He has come! The skies are telling:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He has quit the glorious dwelling;<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And first the tidings came to us, the
humble shepherd folk.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He has come to field and manger,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And no more is God a Stranger:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He comes as Common Man at home with
cart and crooked yoke.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As the shadow of a cedar<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To a traveler in gray Kedar<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Will be the kingdom of His love, the
kingdom without end.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tongue and ages may disclaim Him,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yet the Heaven of heavens will name Him<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lord of prophets, Light of nations,
elder Brother, tender Friend.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Merry Christmas, friends!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-76367613874883337432023-12-17T21:01:00.001-05:002023-12-17T21:01:56.994-05:00Endurance<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Endure” is
defined as to suffer patiently; to remain in existence or to last.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s people
give Him glory when we endure wrong, remain faithful in persecution, or, as in
Job’s case, simply trust and praise God in the midst of suffering.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Revelation,
chapters 2 and 3, Christ speaks to His churches, praising most of them for
patient endurance, faith, service, faithfulness against spiritual darkness and
not denying His name.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To each
church, He promises rewards to those who endure, to “the one who conquers.” The
criticisms and warnings could apply to any believers anywhere; the rewards
could apply to any believers anywhere. If we collect all the promised rewards
into a single list, the gifts in store for us are thrilling beyond
comprehension!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“To those
who conquer” --</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
give you life as your victor’s crown. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The one
who is victorious will not be hurt by the second death. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
give some of the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on the
stone. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
give authority over the nations. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
give that one the morning star </span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(which is the final name by which He calls Himself at the end
of Revelation). <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The one
who is victorious will be clothed in white garments and I will never blot his
name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and
before his angels. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since you
have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of
trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the
earth.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
make him a pillar in the temple of my God and I will write on him the name of
my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem and my own new
name. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I will
grant him to sit with me on my throne.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are happy
to know that He has purchased for us eternal life. These promises are a part of
His description of that life! Can you imagine?? (A rhetorical question – the
answer is “no”!)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
physical/mental sufferings of this life are a spiritual battle, as demonstrated
by Job’s life. The sufferings of faithfulness to God’s Word are a spiritual
battle. Jesus told us of His planned gifts so we would be encouraged to endure.
And who gives us the ability to do that? Romans 8:35-37, “Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or
nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death
all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--Lynda Shenefield</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-27688644859557325692023-12-11T23:15:00.001-05:002023-12-11T23:15:33.830-05:00Waiting<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is a
sweet children’s picture book that our three kids enjoyed when they were
younger called <i>Waiting Is Not Easy.</i> At the very start of this story,
Piggie tells her elephant friend Gerald that she has a surprise for him. Over
the next few pages, Gerald’s excitement builds as he anticipates the surprise,
but then Piggie tells him that he must wait for it because the surprise is not
there yet. Throughout the majority of the book, the two wait together for the
surprise – Piggie patiently and contentedly waits with a smile on her face
while Gerald gets more and more agitated as time goes by, groaning and
complaining about the long wait. Meanwhile, the white background of the pages becomes
subtly darker. Gerald himself notes how dark it is getting and is frustrated
because the day has almost ended and the surprise has still not come. He thinks
he has wasted the whole day, wailing, “We have waited and waited and waited and
waited. And for what?” At this point, Piggie says, “For that” and points up. As
you turn the next page, the camera lens (so to speak) zooms out and you see
that Gerald and Piggie are standing under a beautiful sky filled with stars. They
look up and stand in silence, and then Gerald says, “This was worth the wait.”
Piggie responds, “I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Waiting is hard, isn’t it? Just this
afternoon, I was reminded of a matter I used to pray about for years that I
longed to see happen and which the Lord brought about in the last few years in
a unique way. I didn’t know if it would happen or how, but I did desire it, and
God chose to answer that request after a season of waiting. We all have things
on our hearts that we are praying about, waiting to see how God will answer.
And in many of these matters, we are not guaranteed a certain outcome. Yet God
has made us promises that we can know for certain will come to pass, even as we
wait for it to be so. He has promised to work all things for good in the lives
of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He has promised that His Word will not
return void (Isaiah 55:11). He has promised a future inheritance that is kept
in heaven for those who have placed their faith in Him (1 Peter 1:4-5). He has
promised a new heaven and a new earth where sin and death will be no more (Revelation
21:1-4).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Advent is a season of waiting. We
are reminded of the thousands of years between God’s promise of a Savior and
the day that Savior was born as a baby in the small town of Bethlehem.
Generations of Israelites waited. They died, having not yet seen the
fulfillment of that promise. I’m sure there were those who, like Gerald in the
story above, groaned, tired of the long waiting and maybe beginning to wonder
if the moment would ever come. Yet, in God’s perfect time, “the fullness of
time” as Paul writes in Galatians, God sent His Son.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this Christmas season, let us
remember that God always keeps His promises even when the waiting seems long. God’s
timing is perfect, and our waiting is not wasted. Our trust in Him deepens, and
our dependence on Him grows. Let us also remember that there is another advent
coming. The same Christ who came the first time as a baby will come the second
time as a King. In the meantime, let us walk in a manner worthy of the gospel
of Christ (Philippians 1:27). Let us rejoice in Him and all that He has done on
our behalf (Phil. 4:1). Let us bear suffering and trials with endurance,
knowing that God is at work and that we can trust Him with our lives (1 Peter
1:6, 4:19). In all things, let us fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:1). And when
He returns at His second advent, we too will lift our eyes to the sky and know
that the long wait was worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">--Amy O'Rear</span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-20161392813074082952023-12-03T08:00:00.001-05:002023-12-03T08:00:00.142-05:00A Prayer Approved by God<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG63M8NHMFY0jkAaVn66V9Y9V2aSkx9Hy1vcHs8tT3UQ65S-mKRIQTe8SBfXl26RbFL6d1Ac4oSPhttO5soqqRS7u0B5N5uNWW15lGcTKbynshuj3tDTBY7Oiukg53sqvUTKEsdcfb8zxEY4ZXlKu1C_MjAJUcyWBONIFjV_gd193G1_54KhbXx_QuOBhz/s3598/IMG_2956.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2410" data-original-width="3598" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG63M8NHMFY0jkAaVn66V9Y9V2aSkx9Hy1vcHs8tT3UQ65S-mKRIQTe8SBfXl26RbFL6d1Ac4oSPhttO5soqqRS7u0B5N5uNWW15lGcTKbynshuj3tDTBY7Oiukg53sqvUTKEsdcfb8zxEY4ZXlKu1C_MjAJUcyWBONIFjV_gd193G1_54KhbXx_QuOBhz/s320/IMG_2956.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">“…at the beginning of your
pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">for you
are greatly loved</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">.” (Daniel 9:23) This was what Gabriel said to Daniel, in
addition to many other things, in response to Daniel’s prayer. What had Daniel
prayed? He had fasted and poured out his heart to God confessing his own sin
and that of his countrymen. He had begged for mercy. God noticed Daniel’s
prayer from on high and was pleased by it. Prayer was a priority for Daniel. He
nearly got eaten by lions over his prayer life. Eaten by lions!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you a woman (or man) of
prayer? I so want to be!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If we truly understood the
importance of prayer, we would likely never neglect it.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We are doing battle in the
spiritual realm – in the unseen. We do not even know when it makes a difference
much of the time. We might feel like it accomplishes nothing since we cannot
always see the results. It is hard work too! If God does not really need our
help, why do it? Because He invites us into building His kingdom. I do not know
why, except that maybe He wants us to have ownership in it? Or maybe it changes
us into the image of Christ? Or both? We are commanded to pray, and who else
are we going to look to but God Himself? These problems are bigger than anyone
except Him. Our prayers, especially those like Daniel’s, please God. Is that
not reason enough?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I am praying for revival in
this country, for the end of trafficking, for the fall of Planned Parenthood,
for the peace of Israel and Ukraine, and many other people and situations. I
hope you are too. Revival begins in our hearts with confession and submission to
Jesus’ authority. Intentional seasons of fasting go along with this. We can make
a big difference right from our prayer closets. Big changes because we have a
big God Who is waiting for us to ask Him to move. We have not, because we ask
not. Jesus said so.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Daniel did not get exactly
what he requested even though he was greatly loved and favored by God. But I do
not believe his prayers were for naught. God had much bigger plans (some
terrifying) than Daniel could imagine, but no telling what a difference Daniel’s
prayers made.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Bible tells us that life
and death are in the power of the tongue. I do not think we maximize that
enough. Like prayer, this is another mystery we do not fully understand. I
believe it though, and many of my prayers are out loud. I want the Enemy to
know I’m on to him and praying against him in the Name of Jesus.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">What do you think? Are you a
woman (or man) of prayer?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">joyce hague<o:p></o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-51420509947863915142023-11-27T20:18:00.004-05:002023-11-27T20:18:29.663-05:00A Light to Future Generations<p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Recently, as I
have been doing my Health Rider in the morning, I have been listening to a CD
by 4HIM...one of my all-time favorite groups. I just can’t get away from the
songs, including the one “For Future Generations.” The line in the song “to be
a light for future generations” keeps running through my head and heart,
reminding me to think about my responsibility. We are grateful for the “lights”
in our past who have taught us by their examples and words to love the Lord
Jesus and live for Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span><i><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Psalm 145:4 gives us a direction: “<u>One
generation</u> will praise Your works <u>to another</u> and declare Your mighty
acts.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Psalm 78:4 - “...Showing <u>to the
generation to come</u> the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His
wonderful works that He has done...<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Vs. 6 - <u>That the generation to come
might know them...who should declare them to their children<o:p></o:p></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Vs. 7 - THAT THEY MIGHT SET THEIR HOPE IN
GOD and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">These are
sobering thoughts about our responsibility as adults...whether having children
or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, neighbors. If we do not tell them about
this mighty God, to quote the song, “<u>Will they have the strength to stand?</u>”
In today’s culture, we all need that firm foundation of God’s Word, His might,
His strength, His salvation to help us to stand when difficulties and
temptations come.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">But how do we
do this? How do we live as “a light for future generations”? To quote another
4Him song: “Pull back your bow, let love go, aim straight for the heart.” Brant
Hanson (Christian radio): “No matter how strong the conviction or cause, love
people more.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">We can’t make
them believe, <u>but we must be careful we don’t give them a reason NOT to
believe.</u> We must pray for the Holy Spirit to give us love for our family
and friends and discretion to know how to live our lives as good examples and
how to speak to them about the Lord. Sometimes it is just allowing the Holy
Spirit to do the work that we cannot do. God does say in Nehemiah 9:20 that He
gives “His good Spirit” to instruct us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Our prayer should
be for our children and grandchildren, as Moses said in Deuteronomy 5:29: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they
would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, <u>that it might
be well with them and with their children forever</u>!”</span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">And one of my very favorite verses to
pray for my family (Isaiah 41:20):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">“That they may see, and know, and
consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this!” I
always want them to know that it is the Lord Who is watching over and caring
for them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">My heart’s desire is to be a “light
for my future generations” so they will know and love the Lord Jesus and will
pass that message on to those who will come in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">--Maylou Holladay</span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-76387736162880849812023-11-19T17:00:00.001-05:002023-11-19T17:00:00.142-05:00In Everything Give Thanks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I love fall! (Though I love Christmas, too, I hate the rush through fall. Remember when the Christmas season, even shopping, didn’t start until after Thanksgiving?) I love the crunch of dry leaves, the nip in the air (I can never decide whether to enjoy the nip or wear a light jacket), and the fall decorations—sweater pumpkins, dried okra bouquets, acorns and pinecones. My favorite color is orange, so I love seeing the pops of orange on other people, too. I think it shouldn’t need to be said, but I will say it anyway. I love Thanksgiving and the emphasis on expressing gratitude. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To thank is a transitive verb; it needs a direct object to receive its action. I grieve for those who do not have God to thank. I have two plaques which say, “Give Thanks.” You can buy magnets, plaques, shirts, banners, which all direct you to give thanks. I have a pillow downstairs which says, “He fills my mouth with good things,” Psalm 103:5. There is the object: God is the source of all good things in my life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was recently browsing through <i>Southern Living </i>of April, 2022, when I spotted an article entitled “How to Keep an Attitude of Gratitude.” This Texas family started playing a game they called “Popcorn Thanks.” Instead of playing the game only on Thanksgiving, they began playing it every day. Natalie Chodniewicz says, “It’s been sort of a tradition. It’s a habit in our lives, a daily part of our activities. We do it before bed, at dinner, or in the car—talking about the good in our lives.” She and her family must be believers. They root their practice in Scripture, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Natalie adds, “There’s been research analyzing thankfulness, and it’s been proven to make people happier, healthier, and more capable of handling hard times. Those were all things that I wanted for my kids.” Those are all things we want for ourselves and our families. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Natalie has written a book for children entitled <u>Popcorn Thanks</u>. It personifies gratitude through a corn kernel named Popcorn Pearl and comes with a small knitted version of Pearl. I plan to order this little book for the children in my life, but in the meantime. . . . </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of my daughters recently sent me a Facebook list entitled “Thirty Day Gratitude Challenge.” I am going through that list, especially at night before I fall asleep.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A person in my life, my friend who struggles and triumphs in the same ways I do.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A space in my house that makes me happy, my back deck where I feel as if I am swaying in a tree house</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Something that makes me laugh, my four-year-old grandson who is a perpetual motion machine, when he sings and dances in a four-year-old frenzy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A person who is always kind to me, my neighbor across the street</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A favorite smell, bread toasting in the oven</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A favorite sight, the number of a family member or close friend showing up on caller ID</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A favorite taste, savory chicken soup when I’m sick and nothing else tastes good, especially when brought by a friend or family member</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A favorite way to spend time, an afternoon nap on the couch</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A favorite book, read again late into the night, as if I don’t know how that plot twist will resolve </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am working on my attitude of gratitude. I have a very small blank book that I bought to record my thanks a long time ago. Unfortunately I only filled five pages. But now I’m working to fill it with my own “Popcorn Thanks.”</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 136:1, O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ephesians 5:20, Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>~~Faith Himes Lamb</span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-24365192384376149742023-11-12T17:40:00.001-05:002023-11-12T17:40:59.038-05:00Help Thanks Wow<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Occasionally I pick up a book that I know I am not going to agree
with on theological issues, but that has intrigued me on some level. Here
is an example. The title is <u>Help Thanks Wow</u>. The subtitle is
The Three Essential Prayers. The dust jacket says these three prayers are
asking for assistance, appreciating the good we witness, and feeling awe at the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">So the first is Help. Looking at
Scripture, asking for help is definitely part of prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Philippians 4:6, Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Matthew 6:11, Give us this day our daily
bread.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">James 1:5, But if any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and
it will be given to him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">So we say Help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">The second word is Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give
thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ephesians 1:16, I do not cease giving
thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ephesians 5:20, Always giving thanks for
all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Psalm 92:1, It is good to give thanks to
the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy name, O Most High.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">I think this second word, Thanks, is the
most difficult of the three because we are told to give thanks for
everything. I can give thanks for most things, but some things are
difficult to be thankful for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">This third word, Wow, I think primarily
should be used for God Himself, but also for the works of His creation, which
cause us to praise Him. We have an awesome God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Chronicles 29:11-13, Thine, O Lord, is
the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty,
indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth: Thine is the
dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. Both riches and
honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and
might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
Now therefore, our God, we thank ‘Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Psalm 66:1, 2 and 5, Shout joyfully to
God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious.
Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of
men.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stand in awe with me. Wow!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">So here are my thoughts on Help, Thanks,
and Wow. I have meditated less on Wow than on the other two. May I
learn to include all three in my prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 3.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: .5in; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;">~~<i>Faith Himes Lamb</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-70558267629019537982023-11-05T20:48:00.001-05:002023-11-05T20:48:09.359-05:00Imitators of God<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As a person who has spent a lifetime in
and around church, I find that I sometimes read and pass over a scripture passage
without much thought. Recent events have helped me to slow down a bit and
consider what God means by some of the things he tells us. Both Leviticus and I
Peter contain verses that tell us that we are to be holy just as God is holy: “[L]ike
the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior
because it is written ‘You shall be Holy, for I am Holy.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Holiness is a tall order. How am I—a badly
flawed human—to be like God? We all know it’s only through the blood of Jesus
and the power of the Holy Spirit. Those are good Sunday School answers, but
they are good answers because they’re true, as a wise young person
said to me this past week. We don’t want to slide too quickly over the
profound idea that “it is God who works in [us] to will and to do his good
pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). So, even though in my flesh I am decidedly not
holy, as a child of God, with my sins paid for by Jesus, I possess his
holiness. How am I, then, to conduct myself?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">In Isaiah 48, God says that he is
concerned about his “own name’s sake” (9). In other words, he has a reputation
to uphold. In verse 11, he declares that he will not let his name be polluted.
I, too, have a reputation to uphold, and so do you. If people know we are
Christians, they expect a level of integrity that we are duty bound to display.
This awareness has helped me walk away from volatile situations and think
before I speak.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Other times call for moving forward
instead of away. In our small group, our teacher, Burdette Burgen, made a statement
this last week that stuck with me. I can’t recall the exact words, but the
essence is that God always takes the first step toward us, initiating
reconciliation and fellowship. We are admonished in Ephesians 5:1 to be
imitators of God, and I immediately thought of a situation in my life in which
I might need to take a first step toward an individual. So on Friday, I was
able to do just that, resulting in what I hope is the beginning of a better
relationship and improved outcome for this person.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">It is sometimes said that you or I
might be the only Bible some people read. Likewise, what people think of our
God might be determined by our attitudes and actions. If the Holy God of the
universe is protective of his reputation, we should also, as his
representatives, guard our mouths and monitor our behavior, for in some
situations, we stand in God’s place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">--Sherry Poff<o:p></o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-7009634711158643482023-10-29T19:58:00.001-04:002023-10-29T19:58:07.111-04:00One Scary Thing in Scripture<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Tis the
season. Somehow, our culture has changed Hallowed Evening into Horror Eve.
Instead of driving off the evil spirits, we invite them, decorate with them,
play with them, “frighten” ourselves with them for our enjoyment. Personally, I
don’t get it. I never liked to be frightened. Spook houses and horror movies
are not for me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If anyone
wants to be scared, just read the Scriptures. Some parts of that are
hair-raising! Here’s the concept that rattles me. We love to think about God
forgiving us. Maybe not so much about Him forgiving certain other people. But
when <u>we</u> can’t forgive others, we put our own forgiveness in jeopardy!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mt. 6:12-14: <br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Forgive us
our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people
when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">But
if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your
sins.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke 6:37:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do not
judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned. </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">Forgive, and you will be forgiven.</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mark 11:25:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And when you
stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">forgive them, so that
your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mt. 5:44:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But I tell
you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">that you may
be the children of your Father which is in heaven.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Matthew,
chapter 18, Peter asks Jesus how many times to forgive his brother. Jesus’s
answer, “Seventy times seven,” was followed by the story of the unforgiving
servant, which ends with a warning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mt. 18:32-35:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then the
master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I canceled all
that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on
your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger his master handed him over
to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">This is
how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother
or sister from your heart.</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yikes!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some
commands from the Lord are easier to keep than others. “Do no murder.” So far,
so good. “Don’t steal.” OK. “Don’t covet your neighbor’s stuff.” I was doing fine
with that until my friend’s new used car came with the blind spot warning
signal and my new used car didn’t. I got over it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But,
“forgive.” That one is really hard. It was I who was offended, hurt, damaged,
inconvenienced, and maligned. How can I forgive these offenses against me, me,
me? But that’s my self-centered perspective. Jesus claims that offenses against
His children, prophets, disciples, followers are actually offenses against Him
– Matthew 25:40 & 45. Furthermore, He claims the right of payback.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Romans
12:19:<br /></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Do not take
revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If I can
picture the offenses against me as against God instead, several things happen.
First, I’m horrified to think of my friends/family/enemies doing those
offensive things to God. Then I think I don’t have to take offense, since it
was aimed at Him and not at me. Then I know it will be taken care of
appropriately if I leave it to Him. Maybe I exaggerated and it wasn’t as bad as
I took it, and He will not need to punish them like I would. Maybe it was even
worse than I knew; in that case, He will do the right thing. It’s His weight
and His responsibility. But, best of all for me, if I leave it to Him, He will
forgive me because I have not kept unforgiveness in my heart. It’s hard, but it
has to be done. Because the alternative is scary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Note: If
you want to have a better understanding of forgiveness and <u>don’t</u> want to
be scared, go back and listen to Kelly O’Rear’s two messages on forgiveness,
July 9 and 16, 2023, on the Grace podcast.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">--Lynda Shenefield</span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-12582656081240817622023-10-23T20:59:00.002-04:002023-10-23T20:59:50.661-04:00The Prayer Behind the Song<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A song that
we sing fairly regularly at our church is actually based on an old Puritan
prayer found in the classic book of Puritan prayers, titled <i>The Valley of
Vision</i>. Sometimes, in the Baptist denomination, we can tend to shy away
from prayers written out by others. Yet there is such richness in praying
prayers that others have prayed before us with language that beautifully
expresses our hearts, but that we would have struggled to put into words. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We
also realize when we pray these prayers that prayer is more than “moving down a
prayer list.” There is an element of worship, penitence, and praise that can
transcend time and cultures so that we can pray the same things as were prayed
over 500 years ago (or even over 2000 years ago... think about the Lord’s
prayer or Paul’s prayers for the churches recorded in his letters). So, here is
the prayer I referred to. If you’ve been at Grace, even if just for a few
months, I think you may recognize fairly quickly what song has sprung from
these lyrics, and you may carry this song (and prayer!) with you throughout the
week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">O God of the highest heaven, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Occupy
the throne of my heart,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Take
full possession and reign supreme,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lay
low every rebel lust,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let
no vile passion resist thy holy war;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Manifest
thy mighty power and make me thine for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thou art worthy to be praised with my
every breath<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Loved
with my every faculty of soul,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Served
with my every act of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thou hast loved me, espoused me,
received me,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Purchased,
washed, favoured, clothed, adorned me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I was dead in iniquities,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Having
no eyes to see thee,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>No
ears to hear thee,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>No
taste to relish thy joys,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>No
intelligence to know thee;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But thy Spirit has quickened me,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Has
brought me into a new world as a new creature,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Has
given me spiritual perception,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Has
opened to me thy Word as a light, guide, solace, joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thy presence is to me a treasure of
unending peace;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">No provocation can part me from thy
sympathy,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
thou hast drawn me with cords of love,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
dost forgive me daily, hourly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">O help me then to walk worthy of thy
love,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of
my hopes and my vocation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Protect me that no evil befall me;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Let me lay aside every sin admired of
many;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy
arm,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Hold
converse with thee,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">That henceforth I may be salt of the
earth and a blessing to all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">--Amy O'Rear</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-49537217620353343982023-10-15T17:24:00.000-04:002023-10-15T17:24:18.606-04:00A Vagabond Song<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.0in; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"> There is something in the autumn that
is native to my blood—</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Touch of manner, hint of mood;</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> And my heart is like a rhyme,</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> With the yellow and the purple and the crimson
keeping time.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">This
is the first stanza of “A Vagabond Song” by Canadian poet Bliss Carmen. I have
loved this poem since I was a child roaming the hills of West Virginia, and I
think of it—along with several others—every fall. The last stanza goes like
this:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: 1.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">There is something in October sets
the gypsy blood astir;</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">We must rise and follow her,</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When from every hill of flame</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">She calls and calls each vagabond by name.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I don’t
know if it’s the subtle influence of this poem I’ve known most of my life or
some other force, but I do get a wanderlust in the fall, when the idea of
packing up the car and taking off seems so appealing. This week I’ve been
thinking about that restlessness and the source of it. Am I not supposed to be
content? Shouldn’t I have peace in my circumstances? Why this vague uneasiness?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">One
thing we know for sure: This world was not made to last forever. When John speaks
of “a new heaven and a new earth” in Revelation, he does not seem to be
speaking figuratively. Indeed, we can see things wearing out and winding down
all around us, and—while I am heartily in favor of caring for the earth all we
can—we are wise not to get too attached. (That’s a hard one for me.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">In
more than one place in the Bible, believers are referred to as “strangers and
pilgrims” (KJV). Hebrews 11:13 and I Peter 2:11 are perhaps the most notable. I
am passing through this world. Remember the old song? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through</i>. Since we are
actually vagabonds on earth, perhaps a certain restlessness is appropriate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
final chapter of Hebrews, which is essentially a list of admonitions,
includes this meaningful verse: “For here we have no continuing city, but we
seek the one to come” (NKJV). That is, we don’t have a lasting home here on
earth; we are waiting for our eternal home in heaven. When I was in college and
weary with moving from the dorm to home and back again, this verse was a true comfort
to me, and it’s one I can cling to now as well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">As
much as I love the mountains and the fields and my own back yard, this world is
not my real home. Autumn reminds me that the beauty of this earth is passing.
I am so thankful for the prospect of an eternal home that will not fade.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 13.5pt;">--Sherry
Poff</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8765856297229890728.post-4034424328751734182023-10-08T23:12:00.006-04:002023-10-08T23:13:01.234-04:00Our Almighty God<p> </p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">This
song just keeps running through my mind. The promise is unbelievable!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">“It’s Your breath in our lungs<br />
So we pour out our praise<br />
To You only...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Great are You, Lord!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Do
you realize what that means? God Himself, the Creator, is the One who gives us
every single breath we breathe! When we realize that, it frees us up from worry
about tomorrow. He will determine our days (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Psalm 35:15</b>). Wow! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Charles
Haddon Spurgeon said (and you might need to read it over twice):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-size: 14pt;">“If this </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://answersingenesis.org/god/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">God</span></i></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041;"> is your <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">God</span> by His gift of
Himself to you, what more can you have? If Jehovah has been made your own by an
act of faith, what more can be conceived of? You do not have the world, but you
have the Maker of the world; and that is far more...”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">No matter what your
situation is today</span></u></i><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">, these are just a few
reminders of what we have as the children of this Almighty God:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">1. <u>A Saviour, A
RISEN Saviour!</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mark 16:6</i></b> “... </span><span style="background: white; color: #525252; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">But he said to them, “Do not be
alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen!” And when
we believe that Jesus died and rose again to give us eternal life, we have...</span><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">2. <u>Forgiveness/MERCY.</u>
(one of my favorite words) - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm 103:8</i></b> “The Lord is merciful
and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (12) As far as the east is
from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” If you haven’t
read Psalm 103 lately, do it today. And if you don’t have peace that you are
God’s child, ask Him to forgive you and make you His child today. Why today? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Micah
7:18</i></b>: because “He pardons iniquity and He delights in mercy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">3. <u>His Good
Spirit to instruct us</u>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nehemiah 9:20</i></b>: “You gave also Your
GOOD SPIRIT to instruct them...” He doesn’t leave us on our own. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exodus
15: 13</i></b> tells us that God in His mercy leads us. Even when our way seems
so dark and discouraging, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm 112:4</i></b> states that He gives us
“light in the darkness.” How?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">4. <u>His Word of
truth</u>...the only book that is totally truthful and has endured through the
ages. The Bible is so very practical. It not only tells us about our God and
the way to Heaven, but it also instructs us for today on how to live, how to
talk, how to listen, how to handle temptation, how to help the poor, how to
handle illness... (Read the book of James). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">5. <u>His personal
concern and care for us.</u> His <u>eyes</u> are always awake, watching and
caring for us, and His <u>ears</u> ready to listen. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Psalm 121:3 and 4: </i></b>God
never slumbers nor sleeps. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Peter 3:12: </i></b>“The <u>eyes</u> of
the Lord are over the righteous, and His <u>ears</u> are open unto their
prayers...”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">6. I have to
include <u>His beautiful creation</u> that speaks of His power, His love for
order, for beauty, for ways to delight all of us who enjoy the moon, oceans,
flowers, snow, mountains, birds, giraffes </span><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">, fall leaves...to name a few.<a name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">7. All of this and <u>Heaven</u>,
too. In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 14</b>, Jesus promises that
He is preparing a place for us; where He is, we will be also. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">As the Psalmist
said in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Psalm 104:34</b>: “My meditation
of Him will be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord.” I hope you take a few
minutes right now to meditate on the goodness of our mighty God because:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">“It’s Your breath in our lungs<br />
So we pour out our praise<br />
To You only...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Great are You, Lord!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> --Maylou Holladay</o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #3f4041; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 11.25pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI","sans-serif"" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Cup of Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06658686083875789948noreply@blogger.com1