Show me the one, show me the way, help me to know just how to share the love You gave.

Look around you! There is probably someone who could use some love! All too often, we find ourselves surrounded by people who are going through some difficult times. Perhaps you are! Whether it's unemployment, family problems, health problems, depression, loneliness, or whatever, all of us would like some relief from what we are going through. We need to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

And there is! The Light of Lights, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is willing and more than able to lift us from our darkness, into His pure and safe haven of light. He promises His love and presence to heal and deliver, to strengthen and help, all those who call on Him.

Like the beam from the mighty lighthouse, that directs ships safely back to harbor, His Light is there to show us the way to Him, for Jesus is truly the Way, the Truth and the Life.

It is my prayer that this site encourages you to reflect His light to those around you who need to know Him. Let Him use you to share His love. And as you embark on this remarkable journey, please share your experiences so that all of us can grow together in our quest to reach all the world, lest anyone should perish.

May God richly bless you!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Do You Worship My God, or Your God?

This morning I noticed a post on Facebook. It was from a spiritual website and had 21 Bible verses to encourage people. I clicked on it, and found the site to be attractive and indeed inspirational. Because I am usually looking for such items to share on my own website and Facebook posts, I decided I would subscribe, thereby receiving daily items through my email address.

However, as I scrolled down, I noticed an alarming fact. This site was also offering inspirational items for those practicing Hinduism, Buddahism and Islam, among others! This troubled me and I immediately withdrew my subscription.  This is exactly what our world is encouraging now. To tolerate all religions and all gods.

I worship the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. My Bible, which I believe is God's word to us and was inspired by Him for us to live by, says this:

And God spoke all these words:
'I am the Lord your God...
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them,
for I, the Lord your God,
am a jealous God,
punishing the children for the sin of the fathers...
but showing love to thousands
who love me and keep my commandments.'
                                              Exodus 20:1-6
If we truly desire to please our Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then we need to be more discerning, especially in this time that we live in. The enemy, Satan, roams the earth, seeking who he may devour. He is trying to distract us from worshipping the one and only true God. It is NOT okay to tolerate other religions. It is NOT okay to look the other way. We need to refuse to endorse anything that promotes other gods.
Do you worship my God, or your god?

 

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Staying Focused Above the Stormy Waters

On Friday, June 15, 2012, US tightrope walker Nik Wallenda, made a new record by walking successfully on a cable suspended around 200 feet over the roaring Niagara Falls. His feat was televised, to be witnessed by countless people all around the world. He braved strong winds and heavy spray, and his venture took him 25 minutes. He came from a family of tight rope walkers, and was accustomed to attempting the impossible. At least the impossible for you and me!

He was wearing a sleek water proof suit and special shoes designed by his mother. He was also equipped with a two-way radio and a small earpiece, enabling viewers to listen to his conversations with his father. What I found was extraordinary was that we were also able to listen in on his conversations with his Heavenly Father! With each step, he continually praised God for His goodness and protection. He was able to block out the roar of the threatening waters below him, and in spite of the heavy mist, he was able to stay focused on his walk before him, because he knew he was guided by his Heavenly Father above him!

What a lesson for us! From time to time, we also find ourselves maneuvering through the storms of our lives. We become so preoccupied with our circumstances that we are unable to see clearly what is before us, and we tend to lose our confidence that things will turn out okay. We wonder if we'll ever get to the other side.

Like Nik Wallenda, we aren't alone while walking the tightrope of life. Our Heavenly Father is with us. There are many verses in the Bible about paths, and I encourage you to look them up. The Lord  desires that we seek Him and stay in His perfect will. He offers His guidance and protection to get us through those storms in life. Psalm 121 is a beautiful one to meditate on -

I lift up my eyes to the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip-
He who watches you will not slumber...
The Lord watches over you...
The Lord will keep you from all harm-
He will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
                                               


So remember the next time you find yourself in the midst of a mighty storm. Where all you hear is the loud roar of the waters, and the heavy mist keeps you from seeing ahead. Trust in Him who will direct your steps. The One who is above You will help you to stay focused on what is before you, so you can block out what is below you. You WILL get to the other side!! While praising Him all the way!!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Bloom Where You Are Planted

On my morning walk recently, I noticed some beautiful pink roses growing alongside the road. And they are very fragrant! They have been there ever since I can remember, and it seems that every June there are more of them. What amazes me is that they can grow and flourish in spite of the location they are in. The soil is terrible and never amended. During the winter snows, there's salt, wind and storms. And they don't receive any tender loving care, like fertilizer or bug spray. All they receive is the light from the sun, and rain. That's all. And still they return every year, full of new buds, blooming abundantly. Even though they are covered in thorns, their beautiful flowers stand out, to be appreciated by others.
This reminds me of people, like you and me. Are we blooming where we are planted? The roses didn't choose to be planted by the road, yet they make the best of their situation and bloom anyway. They look up and receive the glorious sunshine, and are replenished by the rain. As a result, they bloom and are beautiful. Therefore, blessing anyone who happens to walk by, like I have.
 You, too, may be planted in a terrible situation, and wonder how you ever got there. You don't feel like "blooming" and the thorns in your life are creeping up. You are beaten by the storms around you, and wonder how you can survive.
There is a "Son" who is available to give you the needed "Light", and the rain (the Holy Spirit) to replenish you. Jesus Christ came to give life abundantly to those who seek Him. He is the Light of the world, which is clothed in darkness because of the evil that is around us. You were created in the image of God, and when you look up to receive His Light, you are receiving life itself. You are then able to be beautiful, and to bloom, as you were created to do. The Holy Spirit, which dwells in anyone who receives Jesus as Lord, replenishes our spirit, and enables us to endure hardships. We are strengthened, and enabled, to bring blessings to others, in spite of our circumstances.
Are you blooming where you are planted?



Monday, June 18, 2012

Look Up...You Are Being Watched!!

I just returned home from a vacation at Myrtle Beach. Our room faced the ocean and we were on the 13th floor. It was funny....the list of floors on the elevator said we were on the PH Floor. Thinking we were staying in a penthouse suite, we felt pretty special! On one of our rides in the elevator, a maintenance man was with us, so my husband asked him if our room was any different from the others. He told us "No, they're all the same. They just didn't want to have a 13th floor!" Our bubble was popped! That was it for feeling special...we were being treated the same as all the others.
We had a fabulous view from our balcony. Since we were so high up, we could look out and see miles of beach expanding both ways. Below us was the hotel's property, which included two beautiful pools, colorful umbrellas with chairs, and lovely landscaping by the cabanna. We also could see lots and lots of people. They weren't aware of us watching them, and they really enjoyed the beach and all it had to offer. From very early in the morning to nighttime, there was always someone walking on the beach or swimming. Everyone was busy doing their own thing.




This reminds me of how God can look down and watch us doing our own thing. I wonder if we are fully aware of this? Proverbs 15:3 says "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." He sees all, and nothing is hidden from him. While we try to keep others from knowing the 'bad' things we do, we sometimes forget that God is aware of them. Others would be shocked, but He already knows. Yet, He still loves us!
He loves us so much that His Son, Jesus, offered His life on the cross, giving us the free gift of salvation. Not because we deserve this. But because He wants us to be able to spend eternity with Him. Simply by accepting Him as Lord and Savior, confessing your need of Him in your life, and making Him Lord of your life is all that you need to do. No one is perfect. Ecclesiastes 7:20 tells us "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." But we are forgiven, because God is merciful and just. He does discipline His children, because he hates sin. But when we turn to Him for deliverance, He promises to help us. His eyes are always on us.
So the next time you are busy doing your own thing, remember that you are being watched. By a loving, merciful and just God who loves you more than you realize!!
Look up!! 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Wash The Window of Your Mind!!

All of us, from time to time, have dirty windows. And when you want to look outside, all you see are the spots on the glass. They grab your attention, especially when the sun is shining through the glass. This irritates me! So, I get out the cleaning solution and get to work. And when I'm finished, the glass is clean and the outside looks beautiful! No more spots or streaks. Nothing to distract me from what I want to see.
This reminds me of our lives when we are dealing with issues and problems. They seem to remain on the surface of our minds, and as we try to go about our daily business, our outlook can be distorted. Our relationships can be affected because our perception of others can become unbalanced. If we are focusing on the negative things, then we become unable to properly rationalize the issues we are dealing with. The solutions become overwhelming, hindering our progress.
What we need to remember is that Jesus is the perfect cleaning solution to clean the windows of our minds! Reaching for Him affectively removes all the spots and stains that hinders our view of the world. His Word is all that we need and His Spirit provides all the power that is necessary to remove the stains that pop up.

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness"
Psalm 51:7-8          
       "Whatever is true, whatever is noble,
      whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,
think about such things. 
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me, put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you. 
Philippians 4:8-9   
     
Reach for Jesus the next time you have a stain on the window of your mind! He will wash you so clean you will be able to see all the beauty He has for you!!