This morning we had some excitement. I was working on the computer when Polly wanted to go out and as she trotted out the door, a snake slithered in! Imagine my surprise! I've never had much testing to my natural response to snakes, but, respond I did. I ran in the opposite direction yelling for Michael at the top of my lungs! I probably scared him half to death, because he came running from upstairs to see what the commotion was all about.
It wasn't a terribly big snake, but, it was still a snake, and, to make matters worse, it was inside MY house! Michael ordered me to grab Polly who was, by this time, back in the house also wondering what all the fuss was about, so that he could attend to the business of ushering the critter back outside. He opened the door, grabbed a broom, and carefully swept the snake back out the door. When all was done and the snake was safely outside, and things were calm, I kissed him on the cheek telling him he was "my hero".
Later, I was reflecting on what had taken place, remembering the Biblical illustration of the snake in Genesis. Our snake was black as coal. It made me think about the darkness of sin. It also caused me to give thought to what had happened. When I saw the snake, my first impulse was to run the other way. Hmmm. The Bible tells us to flee from sin. It also directs us to resist evil in 1 Peter and in James, and if we do, Satan will flee from us.
I wonder, sometimes...if I run from sin as quickly as I ran from that snake this morning? I know that we become new creatures in Christ at the moment of salvation, but, still, there is the flesh which must be crucified on a daily basis.
I was glad it was Saturday and that Michael was able to come to my resuce. I am ever so much more grateful that one day years ago, Jesus Himself rescued me from sin and death. He truly is MY HERO!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
He Mends the Broken Pieces
I know, I know...it's been a long time since I've updated my blog. It seems like life is just so busy. My office responsibilities and hours have increased and it I sometimes find myself wishing that there were 48 hours in a day rather than 24! Even then, I don't think I'd finish everything I need to do!
And, last night I had another project; a sewing project to make replacement foot covers for the dental chairs at the office. As I was searching for some velcro, I stumbled across an old box of broken jewelry that was Mom's. Mom kept everything. When she died, I inherited all of her sewing supplies.
The little box was full of jewelry clasps, random beads and broken strands of fine gold necklaces. As I sifted through them, the Lord brought to my mind how I, too, was broken and my life in pieces of my past and random fragments of shame when He sent His Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin, convince me of my need for a Savior, and showed me that He alone could mend and heal my broken heart. What joy that brought to me last night and what a beautiful reminder of how He makes beauty out of ashes through the reconiliation of the resurrection.
Since I last posted to this blog much has happend in my life. I've seen the life of a precious and dear young man taken at his own hand because of a mind unable to live in this real plane of existince and a skewed, but intense desire to be closer to God. I've seen another young man in our family struggle, digging his hole deeper and deeper into sin. I've seen marriages that are unravelling, and young people who are not able to stand against the temptations of life. I've heard the voice of despair; seen Satan working in the church, as our dear friend, Layne, says, "like a microwave from the inside out".
At the same time, I've minstered to women in the local jail and seen one woman come to Christ and several who are trying to submit to His will for their lives. I've correpsonded with our Compassion kids in Africa who are content with so little. I've seen women who want to be closer to God.
I've fired an employee, and hired another to take her place. No matter how good we think we are, we are never irreplacable. Life will go on without us! I've learned patience. I'm trying to improve in self-control. We're looking at our future; praying for God's wisdom in business decisions that must be made; thankful that God is still keeping us afloat in the midst of an uncertain economy.
I've visited with old and dear (or should it be dear and old, Dan and Susie and Layne and Kristy... LOL) friends and gone to the beach. I've enjoyed summer time with family. I've seen my grandkids grow. I've taken quilting classes and have tried to find time to sew. I've had nice visits with my in-laws and good German food. I've taught Sunday school and ministered to ladies.
But...no matter what; good or hard, ups or downs; Jesus transcends all of this. Ephesians 2 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture and I think that once one masters the concept of forgiveness and salvation, the concepts of this chapter in Ephesians are the next most important thing about our lives in Christ one needs to know. Just exactly what is our victory in Christ? When Jesus takes all those broken fragments and pieces of our lives; when He melds the broken links of those chains together, where does that put us? So many people I've met do not know; do not understand, and consequently do not dwell in the place of victory upon which we are seated in Christ at the right hand of God. This is what Paul tells us in Ephesians 2.
Furthermore, as we're on that seat in Christ, He continues that lifelong process of sanctification in our lives. In fact, we read in Ephesians 2 :10 that we are His workmanship. I love the Greek transliteration of that word; 'workmanship', to poema. God takes all those broken pieces and weaves them together in a masterful tapestry according to the design He has had for us before the foundations of the world. To me that is an incredible and very humbling truth. My life is not my own; my life is not in my hands; my life is in the hands of Him who is skillfully weaving the fibers together into something more beautiful than I could ever imagine.
Dear one...do you sometimes look at your life and see only a little box of broken pieces and fragments of fine jewelry? Be encouraged today. Remember that Paul also writes in Philippians 2:12-13 : so then, my beloved, just as have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your savation with fear and trembling... and don't get worried here; there's more!: for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. God never leaves us dangling with our feet hanging over the edge of a cliff. The best is yet to come and we all know that His work will be done through the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and accomplished in His own good time and His own good way. Philippians 1:6 tells us He will be faithful to complete what He begins.
I have been encouraged lately to remember that even Paul counted himself as not perfect; nor complete. I like to summarize Philippians 3:12-16 to say "I'm not perfect, but, I'm pressing on".
So, dear ones...perservere and don't be discouraged when the trials of life come. Know that God is perfecting you and that He loves you with an everlasting love. All this He reminded me of as I sifted through that little box of broken jewelry and how grateful I am!
And, last night I had another project; a sewing project to make replacement foot covers for the dental chairs at the office. As I was searching for some velcro, I stumbled across an old box of broken jewelry that was Mom's. Mom kept everything. When she died, I inherited all of her sewing supplies.
The little box was full of jewelry clasps, random beads and broken strands of fine gold necklaces. As I sifted through them, the Lord brought to my mind how I, too, was broken and my life in pieces of my past and random fragments of shame when He sent His Holy Spirit to convict me of my sin, convince me of my need for a Savior, and showed me that He alone could mend and heal my broken heart. What joy that brought to me last night and what a beautiful reminder of how He makes beauty out of ashes through the reconiliation of the resurrection.
Since I last posted to this blog much has happend in my life. I've seen the life of a precious and dear young man taken at his own hand because of a mind unable to live in this real plane of existince and a skewed, but intense desire to be closer to God. I've seen another young man in our family struggle, digging his hole deeper and deeper into sin. I've seen marriages that are unravelling, and young people who are not able to stand against the temptations of life. I've heard the voice of despair; seen Satan working in the church, as our dear friend, Layne, says, "like a microwave from the inside out".
At the same time, I've minstered to women in the local jail and seen one woman come to Christ and several who are trying to submit to His will for their lives. I've correpsonded with our Compassion kids in Africa who are content with so little. I've seen women who want to be closer to God.
I've fired an employee, and hired another to take her place. No matter how good we think we are, we are never irreplacable. Life will go on without us! I've learned patience. I'm trying to improve in self-control. We're looking at our future; praying for God's wisdom in business decisions that must be made; thankful that God is still keeping us afloat in the midst of an uncertain economy.
I've visited with old and dear (or should it be dear and old, Dan and Susie and Layne and Kristy... LOL) friends and gone to the beach. I've enjoyed summer time with family. I've seen my grandkids grow. I've taken quilting classes and have tried to find time to sew. I've had nice visits with my in-laws and good German food. I've taught Sunday school and ministered to ladies.
But...no matter what; good or hard, ups or downs; Jesus transcends all of this. Ephesians 2 is one of my favorite passages of Scripture and I think that once one masters the concept of forgiveness and salvation, the concepts of this chapter in Ephesians are the next most important thing about our lives in Christ one needs to know. Just exactly what is our victory in Christ? When Jesus takes all those broken fragments and pieces of our lives; when He melds the broken links of those chains together, where does that put us? So many people I've met do not know; do not understand, and consequently do not dwell in the place of victory upon which we are seated in Christ at the right hand of God. This is what Paul tells us in Ephesians 2.
Furthermore, as we're on that seat in Christ, He continues that lifelong process of sanctification in our lives. In fact, we read in Ephesians 2 :10 that we are His workmanship. I love the Greek transliteration of that word; 'workmanship', to poema. God takes all those broken pieces and weaves them together in a masterful tapestry according to the design He has had for us before the foundations of the world. To me that is an incredible and very humbling truth. My life is not my own; my life is not in my hands; my life is in the hands of Him who is skillfully weaving the fibers together into something more beautiful than I could ever imagine.
Dear one...do you sometimes look at your life and see only a little box of broken pieces and fragments of fine jewelry? Be encouraged today. Remember that Paul also writes in Philippians 2:12-13 : so then, my beloved, just as have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your savation with fear and trembling... and don't get worried here; there's more!: for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. God never leaves us dangling with our feet hanging over the edge of a cliff. The best is yet to come and we all know that His work will be done through the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and accomplished in His own good time and His own good way. Philippians 1:6 tells us He will be faithful to complete what He begins.
I have been encouraged lately to remember that even Paul counted himself as not perfect; nor complete. I like to summarize Philippians 3:12-16 to say "I'm not perfect, but, I'm pressing on".
So, dear ones...perservere and don't be discouraged when the trials of life come. Know that God is perfecting you and that He loves you with an everlasting love. All this He reminded me of as I sifted through that little box of broken jewelry and how grateful I am!
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