Saturday, May 10, 2025

Blessings

 

We pray, "God, thank you for our blessings.”  I wonder what we really consider as blessings when we say those words.

Sometimes we see them as “blessings” only if they are wrapped in pretty paper, or resulting in things we've wished for, or maybe only if they are clear and definite "yes" answers to our wants.
 


The word “Raindrops” sound beautiful, soft and lovely. But when we use the word “Rain” it has a different sound to us. Like something a little harsh, like a trial. Let’s explore that a little.

Do you remember reading the book of Job? Job was a good guy. He did what God wanted him to do. He lived a pretty blameless life.
  But there was more to the story.  Blessings?

Job lost everything. His children and servants were killed, and he lost all his riches. Soon he was afflicted with sores over his whole body.

Job laid out his complaints to God. But he also asked God to show him where he had fallen short.
  He spoke of God’s goodness, and yet complained about the state he was in. He felt that God wasn’t listening to him - sometimes we feel the same way.  Job just didn’t understand – and that’s the crux of the matter. 

God’s answer set Job back a bit. In Job 38, we read.” Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. . . In the storm He showed Job that God was God, and Job was not.

God was laying out for Job a picture of just who he was complaining to, and then God asked Job to answer Him.

Job didn’t know that God was so sure of Job’s love that He would allow him to go through these troubles for another reason. Job didn’t know what blessing was going to be his. He didn’t know that God was showing Job how to trust Him.The storm helped him grow, and because of it, Job learned more and more about God and learned that no matter where Job found himself, in the sunshine or the rain, God can be trusted. 

Job's blessings came through raindrops. This time the rain was a real gully washer, tearing through Job’s life was a real storm. The rain in Job’s life was a blessing, even though at the it didn’t feel like it.

A little aside -- Job’s “blessing” is really a blessing to us. It helps us to know God better. It speaks of an almighty God, a God we don’t always understand.
  It also shows that man can have a conversation with God – not a “formal” talk, but a real conversation.  For although God basically scolded Job for his attitude, He continued to talk with him.  He didn’t shut Job out.  And in the end, God demonstrated His love for Job in a very tangible way. We may, in our rainstorm, hear a gentle word from our Savior saying, may this trial be a way for you to understand Me more.

Oh yes, sometimes in our storms we wonder if He’s listening - but the Bible tells us that God always hears His children.  
Yes, sometimes our blessings come through raindrops. 

These were just my thoughts after I listened to this beautiful song.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKPeoPiK9XE

 

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Pride - it's a Virus

Proverbs 11:2  
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Pride’s a lethal virus that affects each living man, and in fact, man doesn't see how deep the evil in it stands.

We oft’ don’t know that pride is there within our human heart, unless we look beyond ourselves and take our thoughts apart.


        Possibly we’ll find it tucked within our halo’d hair,
preparing to reveal itself, when least expected there.
Pride masquerades as many things.
Pride’s costumes are so fine,
that we may sometimes see it as
"humility divine."
 
Pride’s a lethal virus that affects our walk as well.
We stumble on the “I” and “me” in the stories that we tell.
In tales of glory, we’re the ones that win the big grand prize
for deeds we’ve done, and races run; our works are supersized.
 
Pride enters through a mirror that reflects a wish to shine,
and to hear the words that puff us up; those words we underline.
 
You see –
When pride builds me and lessens you,
sin shows his ugly head - it’s true.
Whether searching for the spotlight, or looking in the glass,
If I am first, that pushes you
to second
or to last.
 
So, don’t be proud of your beauty,
or your talents
or your stuff.
Those gifts and possessions are
yours for today,
but in eternity -
not enough.

They may pass in a moment
since it’s not up to you
how the world sees your worth
and the things that you do.

Instead,
bow to the One who is perfect and wise,
to the God who will hear when His humble child cries.
On her knees,
and with tears,
see the love on God’s face.
Hear His promised forgiveness.  Know the gift of His grace.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Holy Week

 

I wonder what Jesus thought and felt during this week prior to His crucifixion and death.  He knew what was coming but was still determined to do what He came to the world to accomplish.   That week He confronted the merchants, and the pharisees, Judas, and even a fig tree. 

He met with his disciples and celebrated the Passover meal with the twelve.  He prayed for the children given to Him by the Father – His followers.  He also included us in His prayer – the ones who would hear of Him in the future, have faith in Him and would remain in the world.   

I consider and try to imagine the dread Jesus must, (truly must) have felt.  He was a man, after all and as a man as well as God, He would have had to viscerally dread what He knew would come.  When we read the accounts of this week, of His suffering, we can’t help but get physically involved as well.  If my heart does not ache, if I do not feel my blood pressure rising, if I can ignore the picture portrayed in the garden, in the courtyard, before Pilot, then I wonder if I truly understand the depth of His love.

All this pain, even prior to His actual crucifixion must have been unbearable – but He did bear it for you, for me, for all the people who would come, or had gone before. 

-----

He might have said -

The night that Satan thought he had me, the night he planned his victory,
the night his servant Judas kissed me – began my walk to Calvary.

Rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.
A dear friend drew his sword to fight.
I said “No angry swords are called for.
It has to be this way tonight.”

Oh don't you think I could withstand them at any time if I should try.
Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with just a cry.
 
Lead me on the way to Calvary.
We'll take the road together now.
I'll walk along - no need to drag me
for I won't use my heavenly power.
 
Oh I could call ten thousand angels if I wanted to be free.
But my love for you will keep me silent.
For
I’ve lived to die upon that tree.

As you see the pain and suffering that He endured, may you also see the unbelievable love that He has for each of us.

Love,
Diane
 

Monday, April 14, 2025

Hope in Christ's Sacrifice

Dear ones, 

Recently our minister spoke about true "hope."  This is what I heard in my heart.

Hope is spelled JESUS.
Hope means rebirth.
Hope feels like confidence while we live on this earth.


Hope doesn’t worry,
doesn’t fret, stew or wonder.
It’s assurance that God cares when your world’s torn asunder.

Hope isn’t just wishing.
No, it’s true expectation.
It's faith in God's promise that He rules in the nations.

Hope is spelled JESUS
Hope means rebirth
It came through the sacrifice of Christ for the earth.

As we approach Easter and look at the events leading up to Christ's death and resurrection,  I absolutely need to remember the HOPE that Jesus brings to us, don't you?


Tuesday, April 8, 2025

So Weep Not!

As I watch the clouds weep 
on this early Spring morning 
my tears join the clouds as they cry.  
My mind's full of grief for the sin that Christ carried 
and my heart's sick with sorrow 
as if no tomorrow 
will come, and my tears will not dry. 

Gently, there comes from the heart of the Father
a breeze whispering, “Daughter, don't cry.
Yes, the price for your sin was paid by my son.
He was willing to pay
and His life give away
so your tears could forever be dry."

"It was love for you child that He walked on that path.
It was love for all men that He'd die.

So weep not, 
see the morning
 as she shouts out in joy.
Weep not!
See the sun as He shines.
Weep not!
Hear the words, "He is risen.  He lives."
Weep not!
and remember, you're mine.

He has risen.
Joy will reign
on this earth and in heaven.
The price has been paid, and sin's power lies dead.
Sing, child!  
For your sins are forgiven."


Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Friends, I was thinking about what to write at this especially difficult time of the year - the days that we consider all Jesus had to go through for us.  I decided that something I had written last Easter season was what I needed to post again.  So....



It's almost time!  Easter is just around the corner!  But, before we sing of His resurrection, before we glory in the Conqueror’s might, let's take a minute to walk with His disciples during those dark days of uncertainty.  

I want us to walk with those men and women because I believe that we all have days of uncertainty as they did.  We all have days when we wonder what tomorrow will bring.  We all wonder, at some time or another, if tomorrow will even come, don’t we?

Can you imagine the disappointment?
Can you feel the aching pain?
Their leader is dead.  
Their hope was in vain.

Those hopes seemed to vanish, eclipsed by the roar 
of the thunder within, and the words “nevermore.”

Their plans for tomorrow were lost in the storm 
of the evil before them, 
in the winds of despair.
They questioned, “God, why,
and God how can it be
that Jesus, our Savior, is no longer there?”

As we walk with the people who walked with our Lord, 
we can feel in our hearts the despair they endured.

But today

on the other side of the cross, on the other side of the empty tomb, we can scarcely imagine what they might have felt.  

We can’t really walk in their shoes, especially since we know the rest of the story.  They told us!  And in their words we find our solid hope! 

I, for one, wish His friends hadn’t been required to walk that path.  But I’m so grateful that they were finally able to touch the scars and hear His voice, and to see and know that He was truly alive after all.

May you live in hope as you consider the joy that was just around the corner for those disciples, but is here - now for us. 

From my heart, Diane

 

 

 


Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Sometimes we Cry

 

Dear friends, 
I’ve been thinking about the fact that God is, according to the Scriptures, always present.  The word that theologians use is Omnipresent.  Omni, the Latin meaning, all or every.  God is present everywhere, every time.  But sometimes we can’t get our minds around that truth, since we see things from a human point of view. I tried to put myself in a place where doubt in His constant presence lives, so the following are those thoughts. 

If
When I’m heavy-hearted
or when dreams terrify,
or when the world seems broken
I cry 
"God, please tell me Why!"

If
Tears fall on my pillow
as the darkness rules the sky,
if

my plans and hopes are shattered
I can’t but wonder why, 
and I cry. 

I wonder
if God is a God of love 
but still my life feels gray.
If I’m a child of His,
but He seems so far away.
If He doesn't see my face,
from His great hiding place
beyond the heavens’ darkest space.

Or  
if God was absent now, today,
if on this path He wasn’t here 
and because of that I lost my way.
If that were true, I could but cry

“My God, Oh God, please tell me why?” 

But praise be to God 

HE IS PRESENT
GOD IS HERE 


He is filling, presiding, powerful and wise. 
He is always, eternal, the limitless King.
He is God above all, and to Him I will bring
Songs of rejoicing, my God and My King. 

I can give Him my worries, my cares and my sin.
I can trust His forgiveness again and again.
He’s the God who is close and will not move away.
He’s the God who will walk with me day after day. 

“God’s alive and He’s here!”
So, this I will sing
 "Almighty and present, my God and my King!"

1 Peter 5:7 (TLB) Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. 

Jeremiah 23:23-24 (ESV) “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.
 

Blessings

  We pray, "God, thank you for our blessings.”   I wonder what we really consider as blessings when we say those words. Sometimes we se...