With the title above, a person might think I'm talking about weddings. I've officiated at one just recently, but that is not what is on my mind today. The something old that I'm referring to is something that I've done in many ways for many years. Something that is comfortable while at the same time always making me realize I'm dependant on someone else. It is telling others about the love of Jesus. On Sunday, May 27th, a group from our church is planning to travel to Matamoras, Mexico for a mission trip to tell others that Jesus loves them and minister in various ways to them.
That brings me to the something new part. I have never been out of this great country of ours. I have never seen the level of poverty that is supposed to exist in Matamoras. Confessing freely, I am just a little bit nervous. But then I keep returning to the words of comfort from the pen of the Apostle Paul (and the Holy Spirit) "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)
As we go to Mexico, there will be something old, something new. I wonder if that is what it will be like when we gain the eternal perspective? All of the glory of heaven and the full glory of God will be new, but won't there be some of the familiar as we bask in the great love of Jesus, the one who made our blind eyes see? I think so.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
Tomorrow is a great day! I know it hasn't even arrived yet, even though it is 11:18 as I am writing this. But I know it will be a great day, because it's the day set aside specifically to honor mothers.
I have been blessed through the years to have had many older, wiser women to give me advice and to look after me, and for those I am very thankful. But the one who I always think about first whenever the term "Mother" is mentioned is my own dear Mom.
She is 66 now, (sorry, Mom!) and slowing down some due to some health issues, but she is as vibrant and alive to me as she was 30 or 40 years ago when I was young and still becoming the adult I am today. Without her influence, her love, her wisdom, her discipline (ouch!) I don't believe that I would even know half of the blessings I enjoy at this time. She taught me how to:
- treat others
- laugh at myself
- sing
- enjoy living one day at a time
- be thankful for all I have,
and most importantly, how to follow and serve my God, and that He is the most important part of this life.
Mom, I love you. God, I thank you for my Mom and all mothers. All of you mothers, may God bless your day and the rest of your lives!
I have been blessed through the years to have had many older, wiser women to give me advice and to look after me, and for those I am very thankful. But the one who I always think about first whenever the term "Mother" is mentioned is my own dear Mom.
She is 66 now, (sorry, Mom!) and slowing down some due to some health issues, but she is as vibrant and alive to me as she was 30 or 40 years ago when I was young and still becoming the adult I am today. Without her influence, her love, her wisdom, her discipline (ouch!) I don't believe that I would even know half of the blessings I enjoy at this time. She taught me how to:
- treat others
- laugh at myself
- sing
- enjoy living one day at a time
- be thankful for all I have,
and most importantly, how to follow and serve my God, and that He is the most important part of this life.
Mom, I love you. God, I thank you for my Mom and all mothers. All of you mothers, may God bless your day and the rest of your lives!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Standing Up Against the Devil
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:13
When Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God, he is telling us that without that armor in its entirety, we will fall to the evil schemes of Satan. Without God’s protection we have no power of ourselves.
There is another thought presented in this verse. If we have put on the full armor of God, we are protected by God’s power, and then, we are called to stand. Standing firm against the devils’ schemes, standing firm against temptation, standing firm against all of the evil in the world is something that we are called to do. Stand!
This understanding avoids two extremes and restores balance in our thinking. We must understand that God provides all the protection and all of the power. We cannot stand without God. Therefore, the extreme of doing it all our self doesn’t work. However, we must also avoid the extreme that says, “Well, God is the protection and the power, so there is nothing for me to do, but to receive it. These two views are both wrong and extreme.
Remember to put God’s armor on and then … STAND!
Ephesians 6:13
When Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God, he is telling us that without that armor in its entirety, we will fall to the evil schemes of Satan. Without God’s protection we have no power of ourselves.
There is another thought presented in this verse. If we have put on the full armor of God, we are protected by God’s power, and then, we are called to stand. Standing firm against the devils’ schemes, standing firm against temptation, standing firm against all of the evil in the world is something that we are called to do. Stand!
This understanding avoids two extremes and restores balance in our thinking. We must understand that God provides all the protection and all of the power. We cannot stand without God. Therefore, the extreme of doing it all our self doesn’t work. However, we must also avoid the extreme that says, “Well, God is the protection and the power, so there is nothing for me to do, but to receive it. These two views are both wrong and extreme.
Remember to put God’s armor on and then … STAND!
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