BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, RIGHT? I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE POST. MY WEEKEND PROHIBITED ME FROM GETTING TO A COMPUTER. I BELIEVE YOU'LL FIND THAT TUESDAYS ARE AS GOOD AS MONDAYS FOR CUP OF GRACE! ~ Rebecca Phillips :)
**This week's post is written by a special guest author who requested to be left anonymous.
Our family outings are often spent walking through a local prayer garden, with bronze statues of Jesus. The statue of Jesus washing Peter's feet often captures my son's attention. He loves to study the face of Jesus, as Jesus humbly serves His servant, Peter.
On another outing we visited Veterans' Memorial Park. My son was taken with the statue of the field medic caring for a wounded soldier. Later, he referred to the statue of the medic, as being Jesus. Quickly I corrected him. However upon thinking on it my thoughts were, "He is correct, that field medic was Jesus!"
Recently life took a very difficult turn, the wounded soldier was me. As the tears flowed and depression settled in, Jesus showed up. The Jesus that was there looked very average. He was dressed in friends' and family members' faces, He even appeared in some brand new faces. During this time He showed up in so much tenderness and compassion.
Everyone needs Jesus in human flesh at times. We know the Lord is there; but how sweet it is to have a hug, someone comforting you, or praying for you, someone being Jesus.
You may never have served in the military. However, remember we are all in a spiritual battle; we are veterans of war. No one escapes this life without battles. May we be faithful to seek out the wounded and be Jesus to those who are hurting.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
P.S.
We serve a great God, He answers prayer!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Excuses! Excuses!
Excuses! Excuses!
I hate teaching! At least some of the time I do. And this is that “some of the time.” Right now I am fed up with students. I teach on the quarter system so I still have four more weeks of the term. And I’m tired, drained, and irritable. I am tired of excuses!
· “I didn’t know I had to turn that in.” (It’s been on your syllabus and class assignment schedule since the first day of the quarter!)
· “Do I have to do it that way?” (Yes, you do. That is why I showed you how.)
· “I still can’t decide on a topic for the speech.” (The one that has the outline due tonight?)
· “The power went off at 11:00 p.m. and I couldn’t take that test.” (That test was due by 11:55!)
· “You’re taking points off because I went over the time limit?” (Yes, that’s why I gave you a time limit.)
The later in the quarter it gets, the more elaborate the excuses.
I have suddenly begun wondering if God is just as fed-up with my excuses when I think He’s telling me something He wants me to do.
· “I’m too tired.”
· “I’ve got too much to do.”
· “It won’t make any difference anyway.”
· “I will feel so foolish!”
· “I’m afraid.”
· “I don’t know what to say.”
· “I don’t want to make him angry.”
· “I can’t afford to do that.”
· “I’m afraid they will hurt my feelings.”
I am just as full of excuses as my students are. And these are my responses to what I think God wants me to do, not just what a speech teacher requires of me. Does God get as exasperated with me as I get with my students? I don’t know, but I know I grieve him. Ephesians 4:30 commands me not to grieve the Holy Spirit, but I do.
Tonight I sat in the communion service and examined myself as Paul commanded us to before we participate. I saw my excuses for what they were—excuses. I don’t want to be an excuse-maker. I want to be found faithful, trustworthy. That is what God requires of me, that I be found faithful. (I Corinthians 4:2)
Will you join me? Will you help me not to make excuses? Will you work to quit excusing yourself? Can we work together? No more excuses!
~Faith Lamb
Monday, May 16, 2011
EXTREME MAKEOVER – Temporal vs Eternal
Last night the Sharrock Family of Rossville, Georgia was featured on the television program Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I remember when that is all we watched on the news as they filmed here locally. I have watched this program in the past and always enjoyed seeing the dilapidated and unfit homes become new and clean, ready for the family to shout “Move That Bus”. Then we would be taken on a virtual tour of each room that had been set up just to the family’s likes and needs. They were no longer burdened by the insufficiencies of the previous home. Friends, family and strangers became ambassadors of good will for one busy week to become the salvation for one family.
Second Corinthians 5:1- 5 says, “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”
If you continue reading chapter five of second Corinthians, Paul encourages the believers of the church in Corinth to always be of good courage. We prefer to be absent from the body and present with the Lord, but regardless of whether we are at home or absent we are to be pleasing to the Lord.
So when I put this into context concerning me and my earthly tent, dilapidated and unfit, I long for my dwelling in heaven. Instead of “Move That Bus” I want to cry out to the Lord “Take Me Home”. But I am an ambassador of Christ and God is making an appeal through me on behalf of Christ for the salvation of others.
Tina Laubscher
Monday, May 9, 2011
Words of Love
Sunday morning--Mother's Day--on the way to church, Larry and I were listening to the radio. A man was talking about his mother---sweet words of appreciation about how she always got up early to make breakfast: bacon and eggs during the week and either pancakes or waffles on Saturday and Sunday. He said, "No one had to tell her to get up early. She did that because she loved her family."
Well, friends, I have to tell you something about me. I do not like getting up early to cook breakfast. I sure hope that's not the only measure of love for one's family! I am going to fail! I am grateful that my sweet husband likes cereal. When the kids were home, they knew that Mom would eventually get up on Saturday and cook breakfast (I actually specialized in muffins and eggs) but if they woke up hungry, they should just get a bowl of cereal and be patient.
Happily, there are other ways to show love. I was especially stirred by Michael Loftis' evening message when he was with us. He was talking about the influence of fathers, but it spoke right directly to the teacher as well as the mom in me. I took some notes. Here are the three things a dad/mom/teacher/friend can say to encourage:
1. It can be done. What wonderful words those are. When we feel like quitting,we all need to believe that our goals are possible.
2. You are not alone. This is a powerful truth. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help him up.
3. I believe in you. We all need someone to believe in us, to tell us that we have value, that God can use us.
Don't you want to be that person for someone in your life? I do. I am asking God to show me who needs to hear these messages. I am so very grateful for those who have been there in my moments of disbelief and discouragement. Amy Wright, whose beautiful funeral service was on Tuesday, was that kind of encourager for friends and family. Several stood and gave eloquent testimony to her influence in their lives. I hope and pray that some day there will be folks to stand and say similar words about each of us.
--Sherry Poff
Well, friends, I have to tell you something about me. I do not like getting up early to cook breakfast. I sure hope that's not the only measure of love for one's family! I am going to fail! I am grateful that my sweet husband likes cereal. When the kids were home, they knew that Mom would eventually get up on Saturday and cook breakfast (I actually specialized in muffins and eggs) but if they woke up hungry, they should just get a bowl of cereal and be patient.
Happily, there are other ways to show love. I was especially stirred by Michael Loftis' evening message when he was with us. He was talking about the influence of fathers, but it spoke right directly to the teacher as well as the mom in me. I took some notes. Here are the three things a dad/mom/teacher/friend can say to encourage:
1. It can be done. What wonderful words those are. When we feel like quitting,we all need to believe that our goals are possible.
2. You are not alone. This is a powerful truth. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help him up.
3. I believe in you. We all need someone to believe in us, to tell us that we have value, that God can use us.
Don't you want to be that person for someone in your life? I do. I am asking God to show me who needs to hear these messages. I am so very grateful for those who have been there in my moments of disbelief and discouragement. Amy Wright, whose beautiful funeral service was on Tuesday, was that kind of encourager for friends and family. Several stood and gave eloquent testimony to her influence in their lives. I hope and pray that some day there will be folks to stand and say similar words about each of us.
--Sherry Poff
Monday, May 2, 2011
What the H_ _ _ is Going On?
DISCLAIMER: I hope you don't find my title offensive, but I find Hell offensive, and therefore, could not address the topic any other way. The Lord laid this on my heart this week, and I had to obey Him. Please know that my mother raised me well and has washed my mouth out with soap for words you'd laugh at! I hope you'll read on to see that it is a taste of Hell that has made me long even more for the feast of Heaven!
Death. Destruction. Devastation. Fear. Pain. Separation. Sorrow. Tears. Hell on Earth. These words are just a few that come to mind as I reflect over the events of the last couple of weeks. I have shared these feelings with my family members as we received news of the shocking murder of my father's sister, my Aunt Marcia. Within our church family we have all felt this burden in the last week even more heavily as many lives were shaken by the effects of record-breaking tornadoes. Many have experienced extreme loss. We are grieving with our sister and brothers, Kathy, Paul and Bradley at the homegoing of Amy. These events have stirred us deep within. We have tasted Hell, and it leaves us preferring the taste of soap.
The prophet, Joel says, "...Indeed, the Day of the LORD is terrible and dreadful who can endure it? (Joel 2:11b)" If you have felt the depths of despair, as I have, then you know in a small way what Hell will be like for eternity. Often, we talk about the blessings in life that leave us with a little taste of Heaven. But it is a call to repentance and urgency that we must also experience tastes of Hell.
My heart is heavy, as many of yours, and as the people to whom Joel prophesied. I encourage you to read the book of Joel today. It's only three chapters tucked in between Hosea and Amos. The people had experienced great loss. Joel pointed out to them that their devastation was just a glimpse of what the day of the Lord would be like. He calls them to repentance, and then he tells them about God's great desire to restore, heal and shower with blessings. You will LOVE chapter 2 especially!
I like what one teenager wrote on his Facebook wall this week: "We might not have electricity, but we still have Power." Oh that we might grasp, as this young man did, that though we grieve, we still have hope in the One whom even the wind and waves obey (Luke 8:25).
I hope now you see that the only way to understand what is going on around us, is to acknowledge that it is, indeed, a taste of Hell. May these events draw you to your Maker, urge you to tell others and stir within a deeper longing to be with Him in Heaven!
~Rebecca Phillips
Death. Destruction. Devastation. Fear. Pain. Separation. Sorrow. Tears. Hell on Earth. These words are just a few that come to mind as I reflect over the events of the last couple of weeks. I have shared these feelings with my family members as we received news of the shocking murder of my father's sister, my Aunt Marcia. Within our church family we have all felt this burden in the last week even more heavily as many lives were shaken by the effects of record-breaking tornadoes. Many have experienced extreme loss. We are grieving with our sister and brothers, Kathy, Paul and Bradley at the homegoing of Amy. These events have stirred us deep within. We have tasted Hell, and it leaves us preferring the taste of soap.
The prophet, Joel says, "...Indeed, the Day of the LORD is terrible and dreadful who can endure it? (Joel 2:11b)" If you have felt the depths of despair, as I have, then you know in a small way what Hell will be like for eternity. Often, we talk about the blessings in life that leave us with a little taste of Heaven. But it is a call to repentance and urgency that we must also experience tastes of Hell.
My heart is heavy, as many of yours, and as the people to whom Joel prophesied. I encourage you to read the book of Joel today. It's only three chapters tucked in between Hosea and Amos. The people had experienced great loss. Joel pointed out to them that their devastation was just a glimpse of what the day of the Lord would be like. He calls them to repentance, and then he tells them about God's great desire to restore, heal and shower with blessings. You will LOVE chapter 2 especially!
I like what one teenager wrote on his Facebook wall this week: "We might not have electricity, but we still have Power." Oh that we might grasp, as this young man did, that though we grieve, we still have hope in the One whom even the wind and waves obey (Luke 8:25).
I hope now you see that the only way to understand what is going on around us, is to acknowledge that it is, indeed, a taste of Hell. May these events draw you to your Maker, urge you to tell others and stir within a deeper longing to be with Him in Heaven!
~Rebecca Phillips
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