Grateful??

"A grateful child of God  

can't help

 but be a

joyful, peaceful, radiant

person."

~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

 

Really makes me think.... am I grateful?? 

 

~~Praising Him today for what He has done. Seeking to radiate His Light...

 

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A Stubborn Lump

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"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8

I love the word picture this creates....

I am a lump of clay and God is the Potter molding me.

Lately it seems He has been working a bit extra on me--  pressing, pinching, forming, remolding, and removing excess clay. 

It sure has been painful at times. 

You see...

 I am a stubborn lump. 

At times I get dried and hard, pretty much refusing to let Him to do any work at all. 

Countless other times I do not give in easily to how He wants to mold me. 

I have this vision of what I want to look like and sometimes I am pretty bent on getting there...

MY way, 

what I think is the easy way. 

Yet, He already knows what I am to look like and if I would just soften to His touch and trust Him, then He could do His work on me. 

While I am busy striving, He is gently but firmly molding me...

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As I have resisted and fought against His touch, I nearly missed out on an important truth.

Look at the potter in the picture above, busy spinning and molding a lump of clay. Pressing his fingers into the clay to make interesting grooves. Scraping away the excess. Wetting the clay when it dries, etc.

We can't see his face, but I bet if we looked deeply into his eyes we would see a deep sense of pleasure there...

Here is the awesome part (~smile) :

All the while the potter is working away on this stubborn lump, he is enjoying the process. And what's more, 

 he is happy working with the clay - it is what he likes to do.

As I wrestle with the knowledge that God has done so much work on me and still has so much work left to do... 

 and as I struggle with the thought of the pain that may create... 

What a joy it is to remember that He loves me!

 He is molding me with gentle, loving hands.

And the work He is doing is for my good.

So in the end... 

I can be a vessel He can use. 

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Be Bold!

"Boldness is critical. Without boldness, my life story will be one of great deeds left undone, victories left unwon, petitions left unprayed, and timely words unsaid. If I wish to live only a pathetically small portion of the life God has prepared for me, then I need no boldness. But if I want my life to bloom full and loom large for the glory of God, then I must have boldness - and nothing so nourishes boldness in me like the gospel!"

~Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians

Will they know we are Christians by our love?

There is an old song that goes 

"They'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love." 

Brother or sister in Christ, 

WILL they know we are Christians by our love??

Are you kind to others? 

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." Romans 2:10 

Are you kind in your actions? In your words? In your tone of voice?  Would your brothers and sisters in Christ say that they know you "prefer" them? - Do your actions show that you have affection for them? That you do indeed prefer them?

 Do you put the needs of others, whether they be physical or emotional, before your own?

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3

Would your brothers and sisters in Christ say that you "lift them up"? -esteem them better than you do yourself? Do your actions show that you value others more than you value yourself? Does your tone of voice show a peaceful, loving, humble attitude or does it show strife and vainglory?

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45

By the standards of this verse, are your actions, words, attitude, or tone, good or evil?

The way we treat others is a direct result of what is in our hearts.

^"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25

Christian, are you walking in the Spirit? Would your sisters and brothers in Christ say, they know you are a Christian by your love??

Note: I do include myself as part of the pronoun "your". This is a post of self examination for myself as well.

Vertigo

Throughout much of the spring and summer of this year, for nearly 8 weeks now, I have been dealing with vertigo, which at times has been debilitating. Many times it has felt as though I lived inside my own little tornado, spinning round and round. It has been a long journey. I am now on the road to healing, still have a bit of a journey to travel but am trusting that soon I will feel like my old self.  (I am so thankful to be able to say that as of this update - August 10- the vertigo has been gone for over 2 weeks! Praise!)

[~~ I would like to preface this post by saying that I know many people deal with much worse conditions than this each and every day. What I experienced can in no way compare to what they endure. However, God is teaching me a lot during this time of illness and I feel compelled to share...]

1. When I think that I "can't take anymore" or that I have fully reached my limit, I can indeed push on.

 For most of the better part of 2 weeks my world swirled around at a fast pace and my ears/face hurt so badly that at times I couldn't help sobbing. Several times I thought, I can not do this anymore... well... I did do it and am now on the other side. ~smile

The really awesome truth is that while I was tired and weak, I didn't have to do it in my own strength.

 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." ~Philippians 4:6-14

2. Although I hate to, there are indeed times to say, "I need help" and "I need prayer."

 I, like most people, hate admitting there is a problem. Even writing this post is not easy for me. I hate to be seen as weak or sickly in any way. There were times, though, when I did need help- physically couldn't do what needed to be done and am thankful that others were here to help! I admit to feeling like a bit of a failure for doing so, but if the meal was going to get made, the floors washed, dishes done, etc - someone else had to do it.

At one point I had reached an all-time low and I knew I NEEDED others to pray for me. I sent an email to a friend asking for prayer. Later that night God did a great work in my heart. During this trial I was doing my best to "accept" this as a time of learning from God. However, God made it clear to me that night that He wanted me to REJOICE in it. Yes, that is right. While everything was spinning around so badly that I had all I could do to walk from my couch to the bathroom, while the pain was so bad in my ears/face that I thought my ears would explode... during this He wanted me to live a life of rejoicing in Him. A life of passion, fullness, and richness in Christ my Savoir!

 "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." ~Philippians 4:4

"Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually." ~1 Chronicles 16:9-11

"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." ~Psalm 5:11

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience." ~Romans 5:1-3

3. God is REAL - He is here with me.

What can I say? He has proved Himself time and time again to me. While having an MRI the pain in my head was extreme - I thought it was more than I could bear. As I was about to push the little "get me outta here" bulb, I felt His presence in an incredible way- nearly physically, as if He held me. I can't adequately explain it. God is so good!

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." ~Psalm 46:1


4. Life will go forward and events will happen, even while I'm sick.

During this period of time, my oldest son and daughter in law were married. It was a time I had been looking forward to and praying about for years...yet I don't remember a time that I ever felt so sick. It was really hard for me not to help out more than I did, not to walk around and chat with people at the reception...  God blessed wonderfully though, He allowed me to light the candle during the ceremony without even a wobble and I would hazard a guess that the average person attending probably had no idea what was going on with me (I hope!).Yes, He is an awesome God!

The wedding went off without a hitch and was truly beautiful...

What JOY...

I have another daughter-in-love!!!

5. I can sit/lay on my couch for the better part of 2 weeks and I will not die of boredom...

Hours and hours of sitting and spinning around, not able to read, hardly able to think. I enjoy spending my days working in the garden, taking walks in the woods, reading, writing, visiting others, keeping busy... to sit like that and not even be able to read.....So thankful that is past. ~smile.

All I was able to do was call out to Him in prayer much of the time. I called upon Him and He heard me- I knew I was not alone. At times I would get discouraged (yes, very discouraged more than once) and doubt my ability to go on but I never doubted His presence (although, a couple of times I did ask "Why?").

 In this time as well, He taught me that when I have a limited window of time to read, the only thing truly worth reading is the Word of God. When I could only read in snippets, nothing else would do.

 I learned much, much more as well, but I won't bore you with all that. ~smile

 Instead I'll leave you with the one most important point God has made clear to me:

Each day contains a blessing... 

each day IS a blessing...

live it with passion .... 

for Christ!

One Fine Chick

Would I sound a little crazy to you if I said one of my best friends is a chicken? Hmmm.... just maybe. ~wink

I promise this post isn't about my chickens... well... mostly not anyway. ~smile

I have 8 Rhode Island Reds that are a delight to me. Seven of my girls are big, red and beautiful. Feathers nearly always in place and they are so beautiful to look at in the sun.

(Photo copyright Penni Hill, March 2, 2012. Please do not use or pin without permission.)

Then there is Prunella.

 Pru isn't as plump as the other girls. She is nearly always missing at least a few neck feathers - sometimes most of them are gone on the front. When wet her feathers totally "deflate" and she looks down right pitiful. To top it off, she is missing the end of three toes. Yeah, physically she is a wreck.

Here is the thing though, Prunella is very dear to me. She is the first one out of the hen house when I open the door, she will follow closely at my heels when I walk around in the yard, and she loves to have me pat her and pick her up. She is my favorite - I love that silly little chicken. She isn't much to look at, but she brings a lot of joy to my life.

This is Prunella.  ~love~  (photo copyright Penni Hill, 3-2-2012)

At my church there is a dear sweet older lady who doesn't have a lot of money and doesn't wear the latest fashions. She has a hard time understanding how things work sometimes. Yet, this little lady always has a smile. She never lets me pass by her without speaking to me and each church service when she first spots me, she calls out to me. She doesn't have an outstanding singing voice, yet she joins in singing groups and sings with a heart so cheerful and joyous that her voice is indeed beautiful to listen to. She is a loveable soul and a precious friend. I have learned a lot about joy from this woman.

Now, do not misunderstand me, I am not comparing my friend to a chicken!! However, it does make me think of how we look at the people around us. Sometimes we look at the bright and beautiful, the well spoken and think "Wow, they have so much to offer." (This brings to mind a message our Pastor did recently Three Cautions and a Call ) We look at those who are so obviously gifted with looks, intellect, etc. and so often pass right bye those who don't appear to offer as much. Sadly, many times we overlook the Prunella's of this world.

But here is the thing....

When we pass them by or don't take them seriously, we are missing out on knowing and receiving a real treasure.

Because they have a lot to offer...



.

Joy... JOY!

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Joy is much like happiness but deeper.

Joy is a funny thing. If we try to find joy (or happiness), it may seem impossible to find. In the searching for it, we lose it. If our one goal is to find joy for ourselves (to be happy), it will allude us.


And yet...

when we...

use the little acrostic..

J - Jesus

O- others

Y- you

WOW. There it is...


JOY! 

Our lives... lived in the proper perspective... will yield joy.

True joy = living for Christ, serving others and focusing on my needs/wants/desires last.

Everything within our human souls cries out just the opposite-- "What about ME?"

Yet, when I am last, then... joy, there it is. What a blessed little revelation.

It is not easy and I certainly can't do this all on my own, when I try do it in my own strength (which is all too often), it slips away. Only with Him am I able..
..moment by moment seeking to rely on Him...

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Think, think, think

While out shopping with a friend just before Christmas, I came across the book The Liberty of Obedience by Elisabeth Elliot at a thrift store. I looked it over but decided not to buy it. Later in the day we went to another thrift shop and there it was again... I figured I should buy it - maybe God was trying to tell me something!

I am so glad I did purchase it. Elisabeth Elliot shares great wisdom in this little book and I read several passages over and over.  E. Elliot has a easy to read, conversational style of writing. Each time I read one of her books, I feel as though I have had a little visit with her. This book is written in just this way. I greatly enjoyed the time I spent learning from her.

In the LoO, Elisabeth shares how she thought she knew what worldliness was before she arrived to teach the Auca people.  She was shocked when she first got there because the people were so friendly to her. She expected them to be hostile because they lived in a Godless society. She went to the Word of God to learn how to relate to them and share His gospel with them.

I love her perspective. Many times we get all caught up in what we think is "the right way" to do something (something we already know is good), when God gives no specific guidelines in His Word -- rather He is looking at our heart- the WHY of what we are doing rather than the "how".

"It appears that God has deliberately left us in a quandary about many things. Why did He not summarize all the rules in one book, and all the basic doctrines in another? He could have eliminated the loopholes, prevented all the schisms over morality and false teaching that plagued His Church for two thousand years. Think of the squabbling and perplexity we would have been spared. And think of the crop of dwarfs He would have reared!

He did not spare us. He wants us to reach maturity. He has so arranged things that if we are to go on beyond the "milk diet" we shall be forced to think. We must train our faculties by practice to distinguish between good and evil..." p. 84

"We shall be forced to think." I love that phrase... God doesn't want mindless, unthinking, zombies.... he wants thinking, maturing followers... people who choose to live for Him!

In the words of Winnie the Pooh, "Think, think, think."

Man, I just want to moan and complain!

When you realize how temporal this life here on earth is-- how very short it is in comparison to all of eternity, it changes your perspective quite a bit.

This life isn't about me - 

I am to live it 

and 

God expects me to live it with 

joy! 

But it really is all about Him. 

So what if there are problems, issues, arguments, criticisms? -- We have all of eternity to live in the totally blessed wonderfulness of His love. 

Oh there is much work here on earth to be done... showing His love to others... listening... giving... going out of our comfort zones...pushing through when tired...no time for a break...always more to do... and I get tired, selfish, angry, and want to moan. But I have all of eternity to rest in Him!! All of eternity to feel the physical presence of His love. 

I can be so prone to fussing over my problems in this life. 

I want... 

I need...

Yet,

in 100 years they will not matter in the least... 

then I will be with Him...

Salvation is so easy.... ??? Really?

Someone made a comment recently that salvation is simple, easy. Although I do understand their reasoning, I disagree.

Christ suffered death.
 
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

At no time do I think of death as easy.

And considering HOW Christ died, and what He went through prior to his death, neither simple nor easy come to my mind.

Read along with me the following verse:

^"And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified." Mark 15:15

Scourged him... are you familiar with the term? To scourge is to whip, but this was no ordinary whip. Wikipedia gives a bit more thorough definition of scourge:   Scourge . Does that sound like an easy thing to endure??

They had only just begun:

^"And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" Matthew 27:28 & 29

Doesn't that sound nice? They placed upon his raw (likely down to the bone in many places) and bleeding back a robe. Imagine how it would sting- imagine also after a while how it would feel to have His clothes removed once the blood had begun to clot against them. ...

Let's consider that crown as well....  

One of the most vivid symbols of Christianity is the crown of thorns, which Jesus wore before his crucifixion. The scripture text tells us that the soldiers "platted a crown of thorns", that is, they braided long vines of thorns together to form a crown. There are two types of thorn plants that grow around the Holy Land, one called the Zizyphus Spina Christi and the other qundaul. Both have long, flexible twigs that can be woven into crowns, however, the qundaul has the harshest thorns of the two. Considering the cruelty of the soldiers, most theologians believe that the qundaul plant was used, with its spikes of 1 to 1 ½ inch long. The Roman soldiers had to weave this plant very carefully. If they were careless, they would be wounded just as easily as they wounded Jesus. One must ask, “What purpose drove the Romans to take that extra step of torture?” Such an undertaking to braid the thorns was certainly work and not pleasure. This was not something easily accomplished in a few moments. It was not something accomplished without risk to the soldiers. Weaving the thorns into the shape of a crown would have been a toilsome task.

                                                                     -Dan Southern

How about that crown-- it wasn't easy to wear and it wasn't easy to make.

The Bible tells us more of his crucifixion, I've only just touched at the beginning. I encourage you to read more of it for yourself.

Now, I must ask you. Does any of this sound easy? How about simple??


Let's look at the other side for a moment, the receiving end. This is where it gets simple right?
Now I'm just going to summarize what happened for me.

Acknowledging and repenting of my sin.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 5:23

Ah... I don't know about you, but this is not a simple thing for me. I have realized it and Christ has forgiven  my sins.. but easy... hmm....no.

Next consider that as a person I am to give up control of my life and turn over the reigns to God.

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19

My body not my own??? Excuse me?? Well... I'm a little bit stubborn and a wee bit mistrusting... and I am supposed to let someone else tell me what to do, rule my life, be my Master??? Hey, I'm an American. I was born to be free. Right?

Thankfully in Christ is freedom. 

TOTAL freedom. 

REAL freedom. 

And

REAL peace

And

REAL love.

No, I do not call salvation easy. I do not call it simple. 

It is

Amazing

Awesome

Wonderful

It is beyond description.

and I am SO thankful that He offers it freely.

Life's Colorful Choices-- Fading, Dull, or Vibrant?

The leaves are starting to change color here in Maine. What was once such a beautiful, delicate green in early spring, is now changing to the colors of a vibrant fire...orange, yellow, and red. Each so amazingly beautiful... some leaves with a spectrum of all 3 colors combined with a little leftover green. And yet, on occasion we come across a branch with a crinkly, leaf devoid of any real beauty. One that has seemingly skipped that vibrant stage and went on to a very dull brown instead.  In spite of the occasional dull leaf, Autumn is a lovely time of year in Maine.

For me this is a melancholy time and I become retrospective. I tend to be of this sort of mind anyway, but in the fall these feelings are magnified.  As I walk about outside with leaves crunching under my feet, I think about my purpose in this life, my purpose for the rest of 2011, and my purpose for today. What have I accomplished this year? What can I accomplish in the time remaining in this year? What have I been doing and what should I be doing?

My life is at a crossroads, as much as the earth is starting the new season of autumn, I am starting a new season as well. Will I start it with vibrantly beautiful colors or will I hold onto the fading pale green that used to be? Or will I instead choose the dull, dead brown color that some leaves change to rather quickly? The choice is mine... will I hold onto the past, trying to live in it, crippled by it? Will I sulk and worry about the future, give up entirely on today and live a dull, colorless life? Or will I choose to live my life vibrantly, with passion, enjoying every moment, seizing every opportunity God gives me? The choice is indeed mine....

The Maine Woods, Simply Beautiful

I'm just back from a walk in the woods. 

Everything is so beautiful out there right now... 

From the lush green of the moss carpeting the path...to the rain drops sparkling on the ferns...to the dappling sunshine on the birch trees... 

~overwhelming beauty given to us from God.

I don't need to travel the world to see great examples of art and beauty. 

They are literally out my back door.

~~~~~~~~

Thankful Thursday

You've Got Mail

Mmmm.... a letter from the One I love most. I have to read it again and again.

 
Have you ever received a letter (or email) from someone you love or admire? You read it once through quickly, then again slowly, then again and again until it is nearly memorized. You never tire of reading those words written by the One you love.

It is like that with God's Word. His precious Word for us. 

Never dull,

never boring,

filled with love,

and always just what I need to hear.

There have been times in my life when I have neglected reading the Bible.  Always the Holy Spirit draws me back to it... after a few days I literally thirst for it, the need is so great. At times reading it has been painful, yet as I weep tears of sorrow, He turns them to joy.

Knowing my Lord loves me so... His Word is so dear.

^"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

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Want to look GREAT?? Then you really do need to have these.

In my last post I spoke a little about "frumpiness". It was a light-hearted post and said a bit with tongue-in-cheek. Today I want to share what I believe are the two most important fashion assets any woman (or man for that matter) can have. Want to look GREAT?? Then you really do need to have these.

1. A smile.

Not a fake, pasted-on, "I really can't stand you but am smiling anyway" smile, but rather a sincere smile that comes from peace and joy deep in our hearts. The kind of smile that says "all is well with my soul". A smile that adds a twinkle to our eyes and a spring to our step! Do you know that a smile makes you look younger? It may add "smile lines" but a smile makes other wrinkles less noticeable. There really is nothing quite so attractive as a woman or man whose joy of life shows in their face. Attractive is an apt term to describe a person who has a wonderful smile- people are literally drawn to them. A smile is free and makes you feel great as well.

2. A servant's heart.

 A woman who serves and sincerely cares for others is BEAUTIFUL. I know several women like this. They give, give, give and they never let on to others how much they are serving... you never hear them "brag" and seldom do you even hear them mention in passing what they are doing to serve..     

....And you know what? Even though they may not wear the latest fashions, wear little or no make-up, have simple hair styles, etc., they are honestly beautiful.

It is a beauty that comes from within.

It can not be faked,  no make-up can give the appearance that it is there when it isn't...

but you can not mistake this kind of beauty when you see it.

I have noticed women like this before and for a few brief moments I have thought... "if that woman just shortened her shirt a bit so it wasn't pulled so tightly down over her stomach, wore a different height of heel, applied a little mascara...." then as I watched her with others... watched as she served when tired...with a smile.. I realized she didn't need anything else to look more attractive. She was beautiful.

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