The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited
island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned
the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually
managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the
elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut
in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had
happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief,
and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the
island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the
weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going
bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even
in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your
little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal
that summons the Grace of God.
P.S. You may want to consider sharing/passing this on, because you never know who
feels as if their hut is on fire today.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Fly Away
EEEEEEeeeeeHAAAAaaawwww! I get to fly away to sunny California for an 8 day visit. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I miss my kids and grandkids so much it actually hurts. I've gained weight and gotten depressed in recent months because of the loneliness. My husband is upset with me though, because I'll be gone for our anniversary. Originally, I had planned to take the days off to celebrate our anniversary. But, when it looked like he wasn't going to be able to get off, I asked if he had plans. He said no...but I guess he had a surprise in mind. He has a valid point , and cause to be upset. I AM being very selfish by going without him (he's on the road driving semi). But, a secret part of me hoped he would think of it as his anniversary present to me. He didn't. He resents it and now I can't wait to fly away even more, just to escape the barrage of verbal criticisms I'm getting on the phone. He makes me feel so guilty I feel like the worst wife in the world. Besides, he always manages to get a load out that way and visit for a few days with me (which will probably be the case again), but he is unforgiving. I just hope it doesn't spoil my visit.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
More Devotionals
As Good Friday approaches and Easter Sunday is days away, I enjoy sharing these devotionals with you. Praise our Lord the risen Savior!
Scripture:"...as labor pains upon a pregnant woman."
Devotional: We have talked about this before. Once labor pains begin, the only become more intense and more frequent. The word is warning us here of the last days. The word says it will be like a thief in the night. We have heard that before, but in this context, to those of us in Christ, the day should not overtake us as a thief. Why? We live in the light. Not darkness. We are watchers. We are not asleep. We are not drunk. We are alert. We are suited up for the day of Christ coming to get us, OR us going to get Him. Either way, we win! We have seen many trials and tribulations in our world as of late. Tsunami's, hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorism, devastating fires, and the list goes on. The earth is groaning and alerting us to the day approaching. As destruction becomes more and more frequent, be a child of the light. Don't let the day take you off-guard. Even the things that await you today, this week, and the remainder of this year, be alert to what God is doing in you and around you. When sudden destruction comes.. "they" will not escape. As you see the world celebrate their sin. As you watch those around you enjoy the pleasures of this world. Pray for them. Their time is short. One way or another their time is short. Either their days of submitting to satan are about to be over, or they are on a countdown with an encounter with sudden destruction. You may feel foolish at times for what you see that others scoff at. Know this the scoffers have their appointment. That day will come like a thief. You however are not appointed to wrath. Jesus is our escape from the wrath to come. Watch the birth pangs as they become more intense and more frequent... know that the King is coming!
Prayer:That your eyes will be open to the things going on around you.
Reading:1 Thessalonians 5:1-12 ...read entire scripture.
Scripture:"...as labor pains upon a pregnant woman."
Devotional: We have talked about this before. Once labor pains begin, the only become more intense and more frequent. The word is warning us here of the last days. The word says it will be like a thief in the night. We have heard that before, but in this context, to those of us in Christ, the day should not overtake us as a thief. Why? We live in the light. Not darkness. We are watchers. We are not asleep. We are not drunk. We are alert. We are suited up for the day of Christ coming to get us, OR us going to get Him. Either way, we win! We have seen many trials and tribulations in our world as of late. Tsunami's, hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorism, devastating fires, and the list goes on. The earth is groaning and alerting us to the day approaching. As destruction becomes more and more frequent, be a child of the light. Don't let the day take you off-guard. Even the things that await you today, this week, and the remainder of this year, be alert to what God is doing in you and around you. When sudden destruction comes.. "they" will not escape. As you see the world celebrate their sin. As you watch those around you enjoy the pleasures of this world. Pray for them. Their time is short. One way or another their time is short. Either their days of submitting to satan are about to be over, or they are on a countdown with an encounter with sudden destruction. You may feel foolish at times for what you see that others scoff at. Know this the scoffers have their appointment. That day will come like a thief. You however are not appointed to wrath. Jesus is our escape from the wrath to come. Watch the birth pangs as they become more intense and more frequent... know that the King is coming!
Prayer:That your eyes will be open to the things going on around you.
Reading:1 Thessalonians 5:1-12 ...read entire scripture.
Monday, April 10, 2006
One More Devotional
Scripture:
Acts 1:9-14 ...read entire scripture.
Summary:
"...why do you stand here gazing up into heaven"
Devotional:
Yes Jesus is coming soon, but what are you and I to do about it. The disciples here were standing and gazing into heaven. I mean, can you really blame them. After all the Man Jesus, who they had seen crucified, laid in a tomb, resurrected, appearing on an off to them, now speaks to them for one last time. Right in front of their eyes he physically is taken up into a cloud. Remarkable stuff. Then two men in white apparel... hmmm, I wonder who they could be? Either angels, painters, ice cream salesmen or...Col. Sanders (those are about the only people I know who wear white all the time). My belief is they were angles, told them to snap out of it.. Jesus would be back, and He would come back in the same manner He left..... in a cloud. They were given the news right then. He was not gone a few seconds and a promise of His return was given. So what did the disciples do. They stopped gazing, or looking with their EYES and began to prepare and LOOK with their HEART through PRAYER. They also got busy with the last command Jesus gave to them and that was loving each other and reaching the world.I think it would be a good idea if we did the same thing. Look (watch) for His return through prayer, and give ourself to the great commission. Our assignment is to be about the Father's business.Jesus is coming.... but we must see Him with our heart before we see Him with our eyes. We must receive Him in our heart before He is received again on earth. Jesus is coming.... can you SEE it??
Prayer:
To keep our eyes on Jesus
Acts 1:9-14 ...read entire scripture.
Summary:
"...why do you stand here gazing up into heaven"
Devotional:
Yes Jesus is coming soon, but what are you and I to do about it. The disciples here were standing and gazing into heaven. I mean, can you really blame them. After all the Man Jesus, who they had seen crucified, laid in a tomb, resurrected, appearing on an off to them, now speaks to them for one last time. Right in front of their eyes he physically is taken up into a cloud. Remarkable stuff. Then two men in white apparel... hmmm, I wonder who they could be? Either angels, painters, ice cream salesmen or...Col. Sanders (those are about the only people I know who wear white all the time). My belief is they were angles, told them to snap out of it.. Jesus would be back, and He would come back in the same manner He left..... in a cloud. They were given the news right then. He was not gone a few seconds and a promise of His return was given. So what did the disciples do. They stopped gazing, or looking with their EYES and began to prepare and LOOK with their HEART through PRAYER. They also got busy with the last command Jesus gave to them and that was loving each other and reaching the world.I think it would be a good idea if we did the same thing. Look (watch) for His return through prayer, and give ourself to the great commission. Our assignment is to be about the Father's business.Jesus is coming.... but we must see Him with our heart before we see Him with our eyes. We must receive Him in our heart before He is received again on earth. Jesus is coming.... can you SEE it??
Prayer:
To keep our eyes on Jesus
A Devotional from a Friend
Scripture:
"...redeeming the time, because the days are evil"
Devotional:
Most everyone reading this know of someone that should have had another day, week, month or year. If we could we would have had one more day with them. In some cases we did not know that last day would was going to be the last. The last time we would see that person in this life. Time is an important commodity. No one knows how much we have. We have already learned that life is a vapor... its here and it gone. Not only concerning death do we realize time is short. How many dads have walked their daughter wondering where the time went. How many moms see their little boys becoming men and wish they could hold their baby in their arms.... one more day. To be honest as I sit and write this tears are coming to my eyes because I realize either by death or by life, our time with each other is all to short. The word "redeem" in this scripture means to buy back. We can not actually buy back time with the people we love. People are only in our lives for a certain time. We only have so many moments with each other. But what if we looked at today as if we got it back. Suppose that a person you knew that you needed to share the gospel with moved, or worse ... died tomorrow. If you could buy back another day with that person. What would you do with it? Well, today is that day. The days are evil folks. Our time with our children are important. We only have so long to get them in church, rooted and grounded in the faith. Some only have so many opportunities to get in a right relationship with God. Lets wake up! Get ready, and make the most of this opportunity that has been given to us..... TODAY!
Prayer:
Strength to make the most of today
Reading:
Ephesians 5:8-21 ...read entire scripture.
"...redeeming the time, because the days are evil"
Devotional:
Most everyone reading this know of someone that should have had another day, week, month or year. If we could we would have had one more day with them. In some cases we did not know that last day would was going to be the last. The last time we would see that person in this life. Time is an important commodity. No one knows how much we have. We have already learned that life is a vapor... its here and it gone. Not only concerning death do we realize time is short. How many dads have walked their daughter wondering where the time went. How many moms see their little boys becoming men and wish they could hold their baby in their arms.... one more day. To be honest as I sit and write this tears are coming to my eyes because I realize either by death or by life, our time with each other is all to short. The word "redeem" in this scripture means to buy back. We can not actually buy back time with the people we love. People are only in our lives for a certain time. We only have so many moments with each other. But what if we looked at today as if we got it back. Suppose that a person you knew that you needed to share the gospel with moved, or worse ... died tomorrow. If you could buy back another day with that person. What would you do with it? Well, today is that day. The days are evil folks. Our time with our children are important. We only have so long to get them in church, rooted and grounded in the faith. Some only have so many opportunities to get in a right relationship with God. Lets wake up! Get ready, and make the most of this opportunity that has been given to us..... TODAY!
Prayer:
Strength to make the most of today
Reading:
Ephesians 5:8-21 ...read entire scripture.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Paul Harvey
Here is a pretty neat little thing
from Paul Harvey.
Paul Harvey Writes:
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.
I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.
from Paul Harvey.
Paul Harvey Writes:
We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.
I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.
I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.
These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.
From Blonde to Brunette
My husband has been bugging me to dye my hair brunette for years. So, as an early anniversary present ... I surprised him and did it. I've been a blonde my whole life (except one time years ago when my beautician messed up). I HATE IT. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. My son hates it. My stepson said it "isn't that different". I hope it really washes out after 20 washings like it says on the box. My husband hasn't even seen it yet. He'll be home tomorrow or the next day. I hope he enjoys his brief stint with a brunette ... because I'm going back to blonde SOON. (Before I go back home to California for a visit in 3 weeks)!!
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