Coffee Anyone?

The coffee cup is a created object. It is used for the purpose it was created. It doesn't boast about being used. It doesn't want to be used more often than it is used. It is either being used or waiting quietly to be used.

Imagine...if a coffee cup decided it was more important than what it was created for, it would fall short. "I was created for a dish washing container". Nope. "I was created to be used for a bathtub." "I was created for watering the lawn." No. Well, watering the lawn might happen but it would take forever!

There are times when no one is drinking coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc. The cup sits in the cabinet. It doesn't care. It doesn't scoot itself closer and closer to the edge of the shelf where it might be better seen. Implication being that if it can be seen, it will be used. Eventually, said cup would simply fall off the shelf and shatter, rendering itself useless.

We have ALL been created for a specific use. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". And in Ephesians 2:10 Paul says "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus which God created in advance for us to do".

We don't need to move ourselves to the visible area, reminding God that we are there. He knows. When it is time to use us, He will get us out of the cabinet Himself. When we try to force a use, eventually we will fall out of the cabinet and shatter.

It is also said that pride comes before the fall. The fall from the "cabinet". We would do well to humble ourselves and believe that God really does know what our intended purpose is. Maybe it's even been happening already. Does a cup really realize it's being used? It's possible it's been happening to you, too!

Because You Loved Me

It can be a precarious road to walk.  The walk of a Christian.  

Coming to know The Lord for me was an answer to a decade long quest. At least that’s how long I was aware.  Even within that decade I wandered in and out of the quest....thoughts appearing here and there like rays of light flashing through the mire of the life I was living.

When the light finally became more than a flash, or maybe I finally paused long enough to see what was being spotlighted, I wanted "that Light" and never wanted to turn back!  And so I believed, received Christ as my Savior, welcomed Him into my heart and took this change very seriously.  I KNEW from where I had come and I wanted a new life.

Some things were obvious; behavior changes like church attendance, bible studies, no more partying, watch my mouth...those kinds of things were easy.  And without a doubt God was working on my inside too.  I was reading the bible which of course convicted me in areas, grew me in others .... and Satan is crafty.

Pride sets in.  Look how good I am doing!  Learning Gods Word....cleaning up the outside of my life. And thinking I have it all together while others do not...maybe they aren't even REALLY Christian.  Disgusting.

The disgust might have meant that the Word of God was beginning to penetrate.  Hebrews 4:12 says "for the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart". And THAT reveals just how wretched we really are. Christians.  God fearing, devoted followers of Christ.  With great intentions! I certainly didn’t WANT to become judgmental.  I wanted to please God and there isn’t anything wrong with that.  It’s comparing oneself to others that gets you in trouble.

"The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus:  'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I get.'  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.". Luke 18:11-14.

We are wise to heed God's Word and we must be VERY careful because it will be very rare or most likely will not ever happen where we are correct when we judge another persons heart.

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.  The one who loves Me will be loved by my Father and I too will love them and show myself to them."  John 14:21

The NIV bible I have on my Kindle is the only translation I have seen this scripture worded that way.  The use of the words “one” and “them”.  I find this interesting.  Perhaps it means that individually we are to focus on our own relationship with The Lord, knowing there are countless others who are doing the same.  I am not the “one” who has got this down.  

In fact, I don’t.  

But there is good news!  Jesus loves us and He is so kind.  He sort of reminds me of a kindergarten teacher.  When kindergarteners start school, this is their first experience at so many things!  Different methods work for different children.  The teacher teaches a concept, maybe the ABCs, or colors. Both of these are basically memorization.  Some people are auditory learners and so a song will help in the process.  If that doesn't work for some, a visual tactic may be tried...the letter A presented with an apple.  Whatever.  Jesus was the same way with His disciples.  And He is the same way with us! Didn't underatand that teaching?  Heres another tactic.  He says if we seek Him, He will be found.  If we aren't "quite getting it" He bends near and shows us again.  He says He didn't come to condemn and we would do well to not try and do that for Him.  If He doesn't deem it necessary, it's probably not necessary.  Lets just learn from our mistakes.

"Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more".

Isn't that great?!

Welcome!

Hello!  This blog has been in the works in my heart and mind for a little while now.  Please bear with me as I try my hand at it.  I enjoy writing but I am not a writer.  And I use a lot of exclamation points!  Then I try to compensate for that and get all serious and even melancholy....can you say SICK?  Oh and lots of capital letters, too.  If you can get past all the foibles, hopefully what comes through is my joy, thanksgiving and lessons learned.  I am blessed.  Everything here has pretty much come from my devotional times with God and therefore anything good that may land here is credit to Him alone. Anything not so good?  Well that's probably me flying solo .... and for that I apologize in advance.

I am so thankful for my husband and daughters.  Most often the mistakes I have made and continue to make within those sacred relationships are the very fuel for the chats between God and me.   The result of which is what might end up here on these pages.  I am also thankful for my parents who introduced me to the knowledge of God.  For my sister who also has been much inspiration.  And for my dear, dear friend Debbie.  She was the very first person I ever got to know who was really walking this faith thing out.  In every day life.  Unashamedly.  And I wanted it.  Didn't know how to get it, but I wanted it!  Don't get me wrong.  I have met lots of people who really love God.  She was just the first I could really see that in.  And like I said, I wanted it.  I cannot go without thanking the pastors and bible teachers I have been blessed to sit under.  Thank you all for being so darn smart! 

My hope is that you just might find encouragement; more important than in my ramblings, in the Scriptures that have inspired them.  God's Word IS alive and active.  He WILL speak to your very present situation.  Lend your ear to Him. You will find HOPE.  If you are looking for it.

H.  You might as well be completely HONEST with Him.  He knows the truth anyway. He even knows your (mine, too) true motives.  When we don't!  Isn't that great?  And He knows why our motives might be a tad messed up.  When we are just SURE that they are pure!

O.  Are you OPEN to really hearing what He has to say?  I promise you don't need to be afraid to hear it.  He is ever so gentle.

P.  His PROMISES are true.  He really does want the best for us.  He loves us!

E.  EVERLASTING.  He doesn't change.  What was best for His people thousands of years ago is best for us today.  Although His ways are not necessarily our ways, or the way of the present culture, they are right and they will NEVER lead to negative consequences.  Isn't that enough of a reason all on it's own?

So there you have it.  Let's give it a whirl and see what happens!  No promises.

Be blessed :)

Connie