Maybe it's the end of 2008 fast approaching or the prospect of a new year beginning, but the subject of time is on my mind. I had a conversation with someone the other day who was experiencing sadness with her current place in life. She feels that life does not fit her now. She longs for the future where she thinks things will be so much better. This hope for the future got me thinking about other conversations that I've had with others who long for the days gone by. In these conversations beliefs that the best days have already occured and there is nothing in the future but a downward slide permeate the thinking.
Both these points of view are very familiar to me. I can relate to feeling them both at different times in my life, are they familiar to you? Can you recall a time when you just could not wait for something in your life to occur? It could have been something you were hoping for, working toward or believing would be the best day(s) of your life? Perhaps you even remember a time when you were counting down the months, weeks and days until "it" happened.
Maybe you are remembering how great "it" was and wish it could be like that again. After all, "it" did not last all that long. Maybe you long for a place in your life in the past when youth was carefree, when your body was more in shape and you felt like life was more simple. Maybe there was a time in your past where money was not a worry or your family was just as you wanted it. But those days are gone. You long for them.
Wouldn't it be great to be free of these longings? I believe that we can. God does not want us to focus either in single minded anticipation for the future or single minded pining after the past. When we do this we are not experiencing joy for the day we are in, we are not being thankful or appreciative of the life we are given today. The Apostle Paul wrote the following to the church that started in Lydia's house:
"Always be joyful in the Lord! I'll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:4-7, God's Word Translation)
Today will only last one day. This day will never come again. What opportunities to help others, or learn more about your God or thank Him might you miss today if you are either rushing this day by reaching for tomorrow, or ignoring today all together while reminiscing over the past? Think of all the things we'd miss if we live like this for a whole week, or a month. Do you think it's possible to get stuck for months at a time in this kind of time trap? Oh, I hope that we don't let this happen. There is so much to live for - TODAY.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The following entry was given to me by a woman whose courageous faith has been greatly tested. Hers is a testimony of God's presence and love. The words below show her interpretation of God's love on his daughters...
I want you to discover your worth to me. I will carry you, and whatever path you take, I will never leave you or forsake you. Put aside your worries and your fears. I understand you are weary and tired. I believe you have come to a new awareness of Me, and you are making an effort to lean on Me in making wise decisions, and that is all I require.
Remember to be still, and know that I alone am God. I understand that there are many times you feel lost and alone. I know you have fears and doubts about the future. I hold your future in my hands. Nothing will ever separate my love from you. Hold on to that promise. My plans are perfect for you. As a child of mine, nothing can stop you from receiving your inheritance from Me. It's in realizing that although I am with you, you cannot sit around and just wish everything to be okay, I expect you to pray for direction before every move and then go forward with my direction.
Do not mourn over what life has dealt you, rise up in my strength. Remember not to speak words that encourage the enemy or he will keep up the attack. You don't drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there. I am available to you at all times. Cease striving to understand reasons, and let my Spirit control you. I am at work in your life today and I am completing what I have begun in you. My mission will be accomplished in your life.
Strive to get past those feelings of insignificance - remember what you mean to me. My hand will catch you when you fall, and I will give you strength to fly again. You have never been loved by anyone the way I love you. I will never take my love back. Read the Bible until you believe it, for it is there that you will find all you need. Nothing you have ever done has changed my mind about you. My love is and will remain unconditional. The fact that I love you even when you are wrong is what gives you the power to right the wrongs. You can't change where you've been but you can change where you're going. Exhale the past and get it out of your system. Allow the pain that torments you to drive you into my arms.
I am waiting expectantly to be gracious to you and to show you the loving kindness I have for you. I am looking for opportunities to be good to you. Remember to speak about the successes you expect in your life, not the failures you've experienced, unless they've made you stronger. I will always bless you if you bless others.
Adversity has its advantages. If you are regretting your past, remember that I am looking at your future. I am a God of second chances and new horizons. Do not obsess over your past for it will rob you of the future. Forgive and love yourself. Wipe your slate clean, as I have, and move on. Let go of what's behind and press on to what is ahead. Rest in the fact that I already know everything about you - your name, your thoughts and exactly where you are and how you are feeling, at every moment. I know the balance in your checkbook, the bills you have to pay, the weariness in your soul; the anxiety in your heart and all that overshadows your soul. You are my daughter, and as you take this walk, I am with you.
Remember to be still, and know that I alone am God. I understand that there are many times you feel lost and alone. I know you have fears and doubts about the future. I hold your future in my hands. Nothing will ever separate my love from you. Hold on to that promise. My plans are perfect for you. As a child of mine, nothing can stop you from receiving your inheritance from Me. It's in realizing that although I am with you, you cannot sit around and just wish everything to be okay, I expect you to pray for direction before every move and then go forward with my direction.
Do not mourn over what life has dealt you, rise up in my strength. Remember not to speak words that encourage the enemy or he will keep up the attack. You don't drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there. I am available to you at all times. Cease striving to understand reasons, and let my Spirit control you. I am at work in your life today and I am completing what I have begun in you. My mission will be accomplished in your life.
Strive to get past those feelings of insignificance - remember what you mean to me. My hand will catch you when you fall, and I will give you strength to fly again. You have never been loved by anyone the way I love you. I will never take my love back. Read the Bible until you believe it, for it is there that you will find all you need. Nothing you have ever done has changed my mind about you. My love is and will remain unconditional. The fact that I love you even when you are wrong is what gives you the power to right the wrongs. You can't change where you've been but you can change where you're going. Exhale the past and get it out of your system. Allow the pain that torments you to drive you into my arms.
I am waiting expectantly to be gracious to you and to show you the loving kindness I have for you. I am looking for opportunities to be good to you. Remember to speak about the successes you expect in your life, not the failures you've experienced, unless they've made you stronger. I will always bless you if you bless others.
Adversity has its advantages. If you are regretting your past, remember that I am looking at your future. I am a God of second chances and new horizons. Do not obsess over your past for it will rob you of the future. Forgive and love yourself. Wipe your slate clean, as I have, and move on. Let go of what's behind and press on to what is ahead. Rest in the fact that I already know everything about you - your name, your thoughts and exactly where you are and how you are feeling, at every moment. I know the balance in your checkbook, the bills you have to pay, the weariness in your soul; the anxiety in your heart and all that overshadows your soul. You are my daughter, and as you take this walk, I am with you.
Reproduced with permission from the author - Anita King
Monday, September 29, 2008
Exhausted...
Life easily fills up with many necessary activities that need to be carried out. Most of us need to work, we need to attend to household finances, we need to take care of our own basic health requirements, (you know...eating, exercising and sleeping). Well, there's the necessities, but there are also many important activities that rise to the place of necessity. Spending time with family members, being present when our kids want our company - and sometimes even more so when they don't. We may be a member of a club, or support group, or have a regular meeting with a friend or two that has become a life line for you. And then there are the unexpected demands on your time, doctor appointments, car repair, household maintenance, friends who need you...and the list goes on.
What's missing?
Spending time, alone, with your One constant in this life...God. This precious time is sadly so easily pushed to the side for many of us. We think we can talk to him as we drive to work, or "maybe I'll listen to some Praise music later, that always makes me feel better". Those things aren't bad, but it really does not substitute for the relationship building that we experience between us and Christ Jesus when we go to a lonely place, away from other distractions and read what he wants to say to us in his Bible and then talk to him about it.
I am easily taken away from this time spent with him, but I know I need this. This should be at the top of my necessity list. I hope you will agree with me that it should be at the top of all of our necessity lists. If so, let's go to the lonely place and meet with Him - today.
What's missing?
Spending time, alone, with your One constant in this life...God. This precious time is sadly so easily pushed to the side for many of us. We think we can talk to him as we drive to work, or "maybe I'll listen to some Praise music later, that always makes me feel better". Those things aren't bad, but it really does not substitute for the relationship building that we experience between us and Christ Jesus when we go to a lonely place, away from other distractions and read what he wants to say to us in his Bible and then talk to him about it.
I am easily taken away from this time spent with him, but I know I need this. This should be at the top of my necessity list. I hope you will agree with me that it should be at the top of all of our necessity lists. If so, let's go to the lonely place and meet with Him - today.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
An excerpt from the book, The Gospel of Ruth
Did you ever come across a passage in a book that captures your own thoughts so well that you feel as if the author had reached inside you to describe your convictions - only she did it with much better prose than you ever could? This happened as I read the following passage. It was written by Carolyn James.
"In his letters, Paul promotes earthshaking views of women that fly in the face of human culture. He speaks in radical ways of the single woman, most of whom in his day were widows. According to the apostle, a woman alone is neither incomplete nor needy, but an asset to God's people. Although she is free to remarry, he believes she will be "happier if she stays as she "is" (1 Corinthians 7:39-40). His high view of single women in no way disparaged men or marriage, but simply reflected what he found to be true in his own life - that singles are unencumbered with family concerns and can therefore live "in undivided devotion to the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). It also conveys Paul's conviction that women are indispensable in advancing the gospel of Christ.
Instead of viewing the "lack" of a husband as a deficiency that needs to be explained (and also remedied), as many Christians think today, Paul equates singleness with greater freedom to serve God and a path to rich satisfaction. Instead of seeing a husband as a woman's salvation, he rightly points to Jesus as the true source of every women's fulfillment. It would be interesting to see how the church today, and how the church's reputation might improve with women outside the church if we actually embraced Paul's liberating teaching regarding women - if we prized, equipped, and mobilized them for the kingdom as he did.
Officially, the New Testament church at an early stage took seriously their responsibility for widows who lacked family or other resources. The office of deacon was instituted initially to address this pressing need. However, these women were not always on the receiving end, but gave of themselves in ministry to the church in a variety of ways. (emphasis added by me) Paul describes the ministering widow as "well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds" (Timothy 5:10). Some believe widows "made charitable and pastoral house calls and taught younger women 'what is good.'" Although we don't know a lot of details about the order of widows, "it is clear from the pastoral letter that an office for older women not only existed in the church but was large and active enough to require detailed regulation."
Ladies, I hope that this passage grabs you, or at least intrigues you. Let me hear from you if you have questions or comments. (If this blog is hard to log on to, you can always contact me at: stimbol@comcast.net )
Shelly
"In his letters, Paul promotes earthshaking views of women that fly in the face of human culture. He speaks in radical ways of the single woman, most of whom in his day were widows. According to the apostle, a woman alone is neither incomplete nor needy, but an asset to God's people. Although she is free to remarry, he believes she will be "happier if she stays as she "is" (1 Corinthians 7:39-40). His high view of single women in no way disparaged men or marriage, but simply reflected what he found to be true in his own life - that singles are unencumbered with family concerns and can therefore live "in undivided devotion to the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). It also conveys Paul's conviction that women are indispensable in advancing the gospel of Christ.
Instead of viewing the "lack" of a husband as a deficiency that needs to be explained (and also remedied), as many Christians think today, Paul equates singleness with greater freedom to serve God and a path to rich satisfaction. Instead of seeing a husband as a woman's salvation, he rightly points to Jesus as the true source of every women's fulfillment. It would be interesting to see how the church today, and how the church's reputation might improve with women outside the church if we actually embraced Paul's liberating teaching regarding women - if we prized, equipped, and mobilized them for the kingdom as he did.
Officially, the New Testament church at an early stage took seriously their responsibility for widows who lacked family or other resources. The office of deacon was instituted initially to address this pressing need. However, these women were not always on the receiving end, but gave of themselves in ministry to the church in a variety of ways. (emphasis added by me) Paul describes the ministering widow as "well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds" (Timothy 5:10). Some believe widows "made charitable and pastoral house calls and taught younger women 'what is good.'" Although we don't know a lot of details about the order of widows, "it is clear from the pastoral letter that an office for older women not only existed in the church but was large and active enough to require detailed regulation."
Ladies, I hope that this passage grabs you, or at least intrigues you. Let me hear from you if you have questions or comments. (If this blog is hard to log on to, you can always contact me at: stimbol@comcast.net )
Shelly
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Who Do You Have on a Pedestal?
In yesterday's meeting Rita asked us the question, "Who do you have on a pedestal?". For some of us this is not a hard question to answer. We know immediately who we look up to as a person of great wisdom or achievement. For others we may think about this for a moment and decide we have no one on a pedestal. All of our heroes have fallen. There is no one to look up to any longer. Ah, but don't think that pedestal stays empty. Is it possible that if your hero has fallen off the center stage of your affection that someone closer to you has moved into the spotlight? Is it possible that the "someone" is you?
Well, what does it matter? Doesn't everyone have to look up to someone? If others have let you down, isn't it a good thing to be proud of yourself and be the center of your own destiny? These may be things that you have heard others tell you, they may be things that sound sort of good, but this is not good thinking.
In the biblical book of Hebrews, chapter 3 and verses 3-4 we read:
"Jesus deserves more praise than Moses in same way that the builder of a house is praised more than the house. After all, every house has a builder, but the builder of everything is God."
If you and I were to plug ourselves into the analogy given above, we also are a house that was built by God. And, as such God deserves more praise than any of us, even on our best day.
Please consider if you have Him first in your life today.
Is He and He alone on your pedestal?
Well, what does it matter? Doesn't everyone have to look up to someone? If others have let you down, isn't it a good thing to be proud of yourself and be the center of your own destiny? These may be things that you have heard others tell you, they may be things that sound sort of good, but this is not good thinking.
In the biblical book of Hebrews, chapter 3 and verses 3-4 we read:
"Jesus deserves more praise than Moses in same way that the builder of a house is praised more than the house. After all, every house has a builder, but the builder of everything is God."
If you and I were to plug ourselves into the analogy given above, we also are a house that was built by God. And, as such God deserves more praise than any of us, even on our best day.
Please consider if you have Him first in your life today.
Is He and He alone on your pedestal?
Monday, March 17, 2008
An Opportunity to Help
For all of you who know Laurie and would like to show her your love and support in a very practical way here is how you can do that. Wednesday and Thursday evenings are especially difficult nights for this family of four. Bringing a meal to them on one of these nights would be a wonderful help. For directions to their house or to coordinate a night you may contact me or send a comment to the blog leaving your first name.
Thank you - shelly
Thank you - shelly
Thursday, March 13, 2008
God's Love For You
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no
compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget,
I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
Isaiah 49:15-16
compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget,
I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
Isaiah 49:15-16
If you are a mother or ever been around a nursing mother you can understand how seemingly impossible it is that a new mom could forget about the baby she has just given birth to. Not only is there overwhelming love that floods the mother's being for this child, but she will experience physical pain if she were to go too long in between feedings. And, her baby is not usually very quiet about needing to be fed either! So, for a mother to forget her little baby is almost unbelievable. But, God says it is more possible for that new mother to forget her infant than it is for Him to forget you.
God's love for you is evident even in the word picture He's painted for us. This is a description of love that is full of meaning for women. We can identify with this love, we can feel it. It grabs us in a deep place in our soul. Do you think that God doesn't know that? He is whispering in the deepest part of your understanding "I love you this much". It's almost like a message seen by all, but truly comprehended to the full by women.
But, the passage does not end with the illustration of a mother's love. It goes on to show us His hands and the Lord tells us He has our names " engraved" on them. And, indeed He does. When Jesus went to the cross His hands were pierced through for you and me. After He rose from the tomb three days after his execution He showed the wounds on His hands to His followers to prove to their incredulous minds that He was their friend who was nailed to a cross and died for them. Yes, He loves you this much. He carries with Him always, in His body the physical reminder of you. He Loves you.
God's love for you is evident even in the word picture He's painted for us. This is a description of love that is full of meaning for women. We can identify with this love, we can feel it. It grabs us in a deep place in our soul. Do you think that God doesn't know that? He is whispering in the deepest part of your understanding "I love you this much". It's almost like a message seen by all, but truly comprehended to the full by women.
But, the passage does not end with the illustration of a mother's love. It goes on to show us His hands and the Lord tells us He has our names " engraved" on them. And, indeed He does. When Jesus went to the cross His hands were pierced through for you and me. After He rose from the tomb three days after his execution He showed the wounds on His hands to His followers to prove to their incredulous minds that He was their friend who was nailed to a cross and died for them. Yes, He loves you this much. He carries with Him always, in His body the physical reminder of you. He Loves you.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Reflections of today's meeting
It's always a great time when we get together. "Great" is not always full of laughter, sometimes "great" also includes some tears, but nevertheless meeting together is a blessing.
On this first blog, it is my hope to dedicate this means of communication to the women who bear the weight of leading their households by themselves. I hope that this blog will become a pathway for encouragement as well as a means of communication.
Today I was struck by the variety of life experiences that have brought our particular group together, some of you have been divorced for years, others are going through this painful experience now, some women are widows with young children, or widows whose children are grown, and a few are women whose husbands are seriously ill. What we all have in common is that the life that we thought we'd have, the one that was in the storybook...did not happen.
There is one other very important thing that we have in common. That thing is reliance on the God of the Bible for strength; for life; for today and for tomorrow.
In upcoming blogs I hope to post some of the practical needs of the women in our group. This blog is new to me and I am still learning the process, so please be patient as I bump along.
Thank you - shelly
On this first blog, it is my hope to dedicate this means of communication to the women who bear the weight of leading their households by themselves. I hope that this blog will become a pathway for encouragement as well as a means of communication.
Today I was struck by the variety of life experiences that have brought our particular group together, some of you have been divorced for years, others are going through this painful experience now, some women are widows with young children, or widows whose children are grown, and a few are women whose husbands are seriously ill. What we all have in common is that the life that we thought we'd have, the one that was in the storybook...did not happen.
There is one other very important thing that we have in common. That thing is reliance on the God of the Bible for strength; for life; for today and for tomorrow.
In upcoming blogs I hope to post some of the practical needs of the women in our group. This blog is new to me and I am still learning the process, so please be patient as I bump along.
Thank you - shelly
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