Psalms 1:3 "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
A number of years ago, Bro. Albert Barr preached a wonderful message at Kansas
State Holiness Camp called "Palm Tree Religion." In his own unique way, Bro. Barr likened the life of the Christian to the life of a palm tree. In addition to being a preacher, Bro. Barr was also a Science teacher and loved to study what God created. In this unique message, Bro. Barr explained how as Christians, we can live a life so grounded and rooted in Christ, that no matter what comes or goes, our lives can prosper and be fruitful for Christ.
One of the most interesting parts of this unique message, was when Bro. Barr described how the palm tree is some times put through a very seemingly brutal procedure which causes the tree to "weep tears." This process produces a very sweet and useful substance which is appropriately called "tears." How beautiful! God sometimes puts His children through such difficult things, that to an unbeliever would seem cruel!
I think of my own very special brother, Michael. His life was forever altered on March 20th of this year when his Femur broke unexpectedly. A diagnoses of bone cancer soon followed, and then, a complete amputation! Talk about tears! Many actual tears were shed by different ones at that time and in the weeks and months to follow as Michael has suffered unbearable pain and discouragement.
Yet, through it all, I believe God has a plan for greater sweetness in Michael's life that will indeed bring Him MORE glory than if Michael had never gone through this horrible time.
As the scripture says, "...whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." I believe that Michael's life has only begun to bear the fruit that God has intended and only eternity will tell all the reasons why God allowed it and all the lives who have been blessed. Through the past six and a half months, Michael's tree has never withered, although it has been battered. He has remained rooted in Christ, and to this day is prospering. May God be praised!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
The One Who Blesses Others...
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25 The Message
I would like to pay tribute to the owners and employees of Associate Solutions where Michael, my brother is employed. I can see that this scripture has been fulfilled in their generosity to my dear brother. When Michael was first in the hospital, in the midst of having a broken leg, finding out he had cancer, etc., his employer told him that he did not need to worry about his job. Several of the other employees and partners visited Michael different times and were totally supportive of him as he walked through the darkest valley of his life. Three of the partners came and assisted with Michael and Shawna's move back in April and one of them, Terrie, provided food for all who came to help.
His employer continued to pay Michael his base salary and for his insurance benefit and through their generosity, I believe that this scripture from Proverbs has been lived out in this locally owned business.
In the midst of the down economy, this business received eight new clients in the month of June! Could it not be said, they have been generous with Michael in his hour of need and now they are receiving back? They could have said they were no longer able to keep him on their payroll, but they instead chose to take the high road...I have prayed for God's blessing on them...He has done that...praise the Lord!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Living Free
"Live as free men..." I Peter 2:16
How thankful I am to be an American, living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. In spite of what some have said about our nation, there has never been another in the history of the world that has been more free, or has done more for the remainder of the world. Yes, we have our scars, and presently we are scarred by such things as abortion on demand. Yet, there are many who are fighting to end this blight upon our great land.
While we are enjoying our freedoms which we still have, many in other parts of the world are languishing without the privileges that we take for granted. Part of living free is to remember them and to do what we can to promote freedom. How thankful I am for each of our men and women in the military who are giving of their best years to fight for freedom and to them I give honor. I am also thankful for those of our veterans who gave so much so I may enjoy so much. One of the nursing homes where I play piano has the honor of being the home of a woman who was a pilot way back before women in the military was so acceptable! She is something else! Now getting about in a wheelchair, she once flew planes high in the sky!
Living free means I need to give up some of the things I want and desire...the desire to get even with someone who hurts me; the need to be in control of my life and what others think of me, etc. Living free in the spiritual sense means trusting Christ completely with all of me. Oh for grace to rest securely in Him, alone!
How thankful I am to be an American, living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. In spite of what some have said about our nation, there has never been another in the history of the world that has been more free, or has done more for the remainder of the world. Yes, we have our scars, and presently we are scarred by such things as abortion on demand. Yet, there are many who are fighting to end this blight upon our great land.
While we are enjoying our freedoms which we still have, many in other parts of the world are languishing without the privileges that we take for granted. Part of living free is to remember them and to do what we can to promote freedom. How thankful I am for each of our men and women in the military who are giving of their best years to fight for freedom and to them I give honor. I am also thankful for those of our veterans who gave so much so I may enjoy so much. One of the nursing homes where I play piano has the honor of being the home of a woman who was a pilot way back before women in the military was so acceptable! She is something else! Now getting about in a wheelchair, she once flew planes high in the sky!
Living free means I need to give up some of the things I want and desire...the desire to get even with someone who hurts me; the need to be in control of my life and what others think of me, etc. Living free in the spiritual sense means trusting Christ completely with all of me. Oh for grace to rest securely in Him, alone!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Prolonged Days...
"The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days;
But the years of the wicked shall be shortened." Proverbs 10:27
I find true crime stories very interesting. They are featured regularly on TV shows such as Dateline, 48 Hours and 20/20. You can watch many of these online on their respective websites. One thing that is so obvious in watching these stories, is this simple truth: so many people who are involved in violent crime greatly increased their chances of being involved by the lifestyle they chose to live. Some of these people become involved in love triangles and the offended spouse seeks revenge and murder is the end. There are other specific factors such as unwise choice of spouse to start with, profession, and seeking after money and other worldly pleasures. It is sad to see what sin will do to people. One recently featured story dealt with a single mother living in a poor part of a city in Tennessee. She had four children, was on disability and chose to supplement herself financially by selling her prescription drugs! This is completely illegal and led to people of bad repute coming in and out of her home. One such occasion led to her murder and the near murder of her tiny daughter. How sad. I don't mean to unmercifully castigate those who are less fortunate than I, but am grateful that by God's grace, I'm not put into a position to "need" to do that.
It is amazing how living a moral life saves you from so much grief! When you refuse to have children while not married, and you don't abuse your body by doing drugs, drinking and smoking, you have just saved yourself from many sad things.
The Bible says it well, "Great peace have they which love Thy law..."
But the years of the wicked shall be shortened." Proverbs 10:27
I find true crime stories very interesting. They are featured regularly on TV shows such as Dateline, 48 Hours and 20/20. You can watch many of these online on their respective websites. One thing that is so obvious in watching these stories, is this simple truth: so many people who are involved in violent crime greatly increased their chances of being involved by the lifestyle they chose to live. Some of these people become involved in love triangles and the offended spouse seeks revenge and murder is the end. There are other specific factors such as unwise choice of spouse to start with, profession, and seeking after money and other worldly pleasures. It is sad to see what sin will do to people. One recently featured story dealt with a single mother living in a poor part of a city in Tennessee. She had four children, was on disability and chose to supplement herself financially by selling her prescription drugs! This is completely illegal and led to people of bad repute coming in and out of her home. One such occasion led to her murder and the near murder of her tiny daughter. How sad. I don't mean to unmercifully castigate those who are less fortunate than I, but am grateful that by God's grace, I'm not put into a position to "need" to do that.
It is amazing how living a moral life saves you from so much grief! When you refuse to have children while not married, and you don't abuse your body by doing drugs, drinking and smoking, you have just saved yourself from many sad things.
The Bible says it well, "Great peace have they which love Thy law..."
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Let Me Be Like Aaron and Hur...
In Exodus 17 we read of a wonderful miracle in the account of the battle with the Amalekites. Amalek came to fight against Israel and so Moses said to his trusty sidekick, Joshua,"Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua was to lead the men in battle, while Moses stood on the hill with his staff held up on high.
"Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed." As it would be, his arms became tired! He became tired! He had to set down. But, alas, the Amalekites began to prevail when Moses was no longer holding up his hands! "But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword."
Here we have a wonderful lesson of how God's man, while blessed by God and living in obedience to what God had asked of Him, still needed the aid of others to be victorious in this particular battle. I have personally thought of this account recently as my brother Michael has been going through the most difficult time of his life. Michael has lived an exemplary life and has served the Lord faithfully since a child. This has become the fight of his life!
The past two months have brought not only excruciating physical pain and side effects from the chemotherapy to Michael, but also mental anguish, uncertainty and discouragement. The Lord has allowed me as Michael's sister to come along side him and try to be of assistance. I do want to be a vessel that God can use to "lift up his hands" so that he can come through victoriously.
Other people have been used in this capacity as well in amazing ways. The cards, letters, phone calls, Facebook messages, visits, financial gifts, etc. have all been a part of this effort to assist and help him in this most difficult time. There have been numerous people who have helped them move, mowed their yard and provided meals. As Michael's sister, I appreciate those who have come to encourage Michael and "lift up his hands." Thank you so much! Let's join together to be like Aaron and Hur to help Michael and Shawna through this to a victorious finish!
"Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed." As it would be, his arms became tired! He became tired! He had to set down. But, alas, the Amalekites began to prevail when Moses was no longer holding up his hands! "But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword."
Here we have a wonderful lesson of how God's man, while blessed by God and living in obedience to what God had asked of Him, still needed the aid of others to be victorious in this particular battle. I have personally thought of this account recently as my brother Michael has been going through the most difficult time of his life. Michael has lived an exemplary life and has served the Lord faithfully since a child. This has become the fight of his life!
The past two months have brought not only excruciating physical pain and side effects from the chemotherapy to Michael, but also mental anguish, uncertainty and discouragement. The Lord has allowed me as Michael's sister to come along side him and try to be of assistance. I do want to be a vessel that God can use to "lift up his hands" so that he can come through victoriously.
Other people have been used in this capacity as well in amazing ways. The cards, letters, phone calls, Facebook messages, visits, financial gifts, etc. have all been a part of this effort to assist and help him in this most difficult time. There have been numerous people who have helped them move, mowed their yard and provided meals. As Michael's sister, I appreciate those who have come to encourage Michael and "lift up his hands." Thank you so much! Let's join together to be like Aaron and Hur to help Michael and Shawna through this to a victorious finish!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Woman Who Made a Difference
In 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23 and chapter 24:1-18, we read of the courage of an amazing women, with an unusual name! Aunt Jehosheba was used along with her husband Jehoida, who was a priest in the temple, to preserve a baby, named Joash. Not only did they preserve his life from his wicked grandmother, but they also preserved a child who would become one of the more righteous kings in Judah. What courage it must have taken to hide this child when all of the other children were slaughtered to satisfy the wicked heart of Athaliah, his grandmother! But, Jehosheba prevailed and a few years later, Joash was crowned king at age seven!
God still uses anyone who is willing to be used of Him. Perhaps, like myself, you are not a mother...this may bring tears and sadness to your heart as it has mine on many occasions. But, we need not feel useless or left out! As an aunt, I have a tremendous opportunity to influence the lives of four precious little people, Luanna, Esther, Juli and Karson! I can choose each day to follow Jesus and be an example to them, or I can choose otherwise. I can choose to conduct myself in their presence with a Christlike spirit or not. I can be available to cheer them on as they grow and to be a listening ear if they so desire. There are many other ways for me to do good to them and many others. My life need not be in vain...
In Proverbs 31, we are reminded that "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." May each of us women focus first and foremost on the beauty that need not fade, that of the beauty of Jesus in our lives...
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Rest in the Lord
This evening, I sang a song that Steve Green made popular years ago..."Rest."
"Rest, the Lord is near, refuse to fear, enjoy His love.
Trust, His mighty power fills every hour of all your days...
There is no need for needless worry, with such a Savior,
we have no cause to ever doubt, His perfect Word still reassures
in every trial.
Call Him if you grow frightened...call Him, with loving care,
He'll lift your burden and you'll rest, the Lord is near,
Refuse to fear, enjoy His love."
Oh, if only I could really grasp what this means! All, literally, ALL that I need is found in Jesus, alone! Oh, to rest in Him...freed from reaching for earthly pleasures and things that are passing away...oh, to rest in Him, safe from fear and dread...oh, to rest in Him, like a little child, knowing that all will be well while I'm in my Father's arms...
How often, we run around, searching for what we think we need or want, when all the time, it is found in Him!
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Ps 37:7)
"Rest, the Lord is near, refuse to fear, enjoy His love.
Trust, His mighty power fills every hour of all your days...
There is no need for needless worry, with such a Savior,
we have no cause to ever doubt, His perfect Word still reassures
in every trial.
Call Him if you grow frightened...call Him, with loving care,
He'll lift your burden and you'll rest, the Lord is near,
Refuse to fear, enjoy His love."
Oh, if only I could really grasp what this means! All, literally, ALL that I need is found in Jesus, alone! Oh, to rest in Him...freed from reaching for earthly pleasures and things that are passing away...oh, to rest in Him, safe from fear and dread...oh, to rest in Him, like a little child, knowing that all will be well while I'm in my Father's arms...
How often, we run around, searching for what we think we need or want, when all the time, it is found in Him!
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Ps 37:7)
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