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December 30, 2017

Getting a Glimpse of God

As the new year approaches quickly, and everyone is making their new year's resolutions that most won't keep --at least not for the whole year; may we commit our lives to God more fully. I believe if we could just get a small glimpse of God in our minds eye, we'd make daily changes and maybe even moment by moment changes to live more holy, more Christ-like in the coming year. 

There's a Christian song with a line that says "when I see who He is, I realize what I am and I wonder why a holy God would ever reach down so far..."; and I believe if we would just realize how holy and perfect and just God is, it would knock any pride, arrogance and self promotion in us right into oblivion. The prophet Isaiah tells us in 6:5 - Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

When we take notice of who God is, we will realize our wretched state. "In us dwelleth no good thing" without the Lord. - Romans 7:18 "There is none righteous, no, not one. -Romans 3:10

In and of ourselves we are nothing. "Our righteousness is as filthy rags" - Isaiah 64:6 But we can stand before God righteous with the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!!! Romans 3:25 - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God,

Just a reminder to look to God when we compare ourselves to others or begin to think we are something when we are not. In the coming year, get that glimpse of God in your mind and live accordingly. This will take care of many of your New Year's Resolutions.

December 6, 2017

Births & Deaths Change Everything

Today I changed the church sign and posted on one side "A Birth & A Death Changed Everything". I realized after putting it up, that while I feel it displays a Christmas type message and an Easter one for that matter, it is one of the truest statements in life that there may be. While Jesus was born solely to die for the sins of mankind, every birth and every death has an effect on those around them. They really do change everything for those whose lives are involved. 

Think about how much change comes to parents when a baby is born. Their sleep patterns change, their intimacy patterns change, their priorities change (hopefully!), their daily schedules change, heck, even their showering patterns change! lol Life as they once knew it has changed for a long period of time. Maybe the above mentioned things aren't changed forever but certainly their hearts are no longer fully their own. Once a parent, always a parent even if the time has passed of changing diapers, feedings, and training. Even when you become an empty-nester, you still tend to be there for your child. 

It is the same with death. When someone we love dies, our lives are forever changed. Depending on who it was and how close we were to them, even daily schedules may be different. We learn to go on, we learn to cope, we get back to the daily living of our lives fully aware to us but usually unaware to others around us that something is missing. Something is different. There are days we wonder what life would be like if so and so hadn't passed away when they did. We wonder how different things would be if our loved one was still alive. 

As I have expressed before in past blog posts, I have had many experiences with loss through death that forever changed the course of my life. Some things that would be different are obvious to me now, but others are still a mystery. Things can't be changed. Decisions were made and events have shaped who I am today. 

Some people don't get the privilege of experiencing a life change through a birth. Many live way into adulthood before ever experiencing change from a death. Interesting how some learn things at a young age and God allows others to wait until later in life for those learning moments. 

Whether we like it or not, births and deaths bring new norms to our lives. We must face those challenges and keep moving forward - adapt, adjust, improvise, overcome.




December 3, 2017

The Ornaments of Our Lives

Ornament -
1. Archaic - a useful accessory
2. something that lends grace or beauty
3. a manner or quality that adorns (enhances the appearance of)
4. one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society

We are going to look at how different things about our personalities are the ornaments that represent our lives.

We should be asking ourselves if they are ornaments that compliment or disgrace us in the sight of others.

I. Willingness to learn from authority 
           - Children from parents or guardians
Prov. 1:8-9 - My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
--Children & especially teens are know it alls and unwilling to listen and learn from parents

        - Church members from Pastor
Heb. 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
--many church members are just like teens and unwilling to heed advice and wisdom that a Pastor offers

II. Being wise or seeking to become wise
Prov. 4:5-9 - Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee.
Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all the getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
--wise people tend to have people be drawn to them, there's something alluring even graceful about a wise person

III. Being humble
1 Peter 3:3-4 - Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
--humbleness is a great ornament to wear and display in our lives

There are many personality traits that each of us display to the world around us like an ornament. They range from our clothing & makeup styles to our character and demeanor.

Ask Ourselves:
Are those personality ornaments displaying a useful accessory?
Do they lend grace or beauty to us?
Is it a quality that enhances our appearance or personality?
Does it add luster to a place or the world around us?

Let us strive to be an ornament of grace, beauty, and meekness that is willing to learn and gain wisdom.