As I pulled up to the paper dispenser this morning the short, white headed & white bearded elderly man on the front page caught my eye. If you know me at all you know that I absolutely adore elderly people, especially the adorable little old men.
The article had me curious so as I began to read it I began to be discouraged. You see, this man named Hal Taylor, of Bloomington, has taken it upon himself to provide shelter for homeless people in the way of tents in his backyard. A friend of his picks the homeless up each night at 9 & takes them to Taylor's house then at 8 the next morning they are picked up & taken back to town.
Now at this point this sounds like the story is applauding this man's effort to help out the less fortunate. Not the case at all, it is about the uproar the neighbors are causing & wanting the city to do something about it. As I continued to read I was shocked at the speculation that his neighbors were making. They basically were saying these homeless were you everyday run of the mill criminals that may or may not be targeting their houses to rob from.
The story went on & on about how uncomfortable they felt & how it was bring the value of their houses down.
Seriously??
Are we more worried about our comfort & the value of properties then the welfare of those around us who are more than likely homeless for no fault of their own. Even that being said who are we to judge their position?? Aren't we called to "go"? I don't ever remember reading in the Bible where we are commanded to be comfortable & stock pile possessions & shun others because they may not look like us or have the possessions we have.
So to you Hal Taylor, I say bravo! I applaud your efforts to help those around you who are less fortunate & to step out of the modern day society & reach out to those around you.
Matthew 25:40 I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
As we know, the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. It is his goal is to steal, kill and destroy our joy and our REAL identity given to us by God. It is important for us to remember in ALL that we face and ALL that we do, God has provided us with other Christian SISters to encourage us, stand beside us and help us fight the good fight.
It is imperative that we have friends that will give Godly advice, speak truth in love, and help bring us closer to our Lord. Today I ask you, "Do you have YOUR cord of three strands?" If not: find two women and ask them to be your "Accountability SISters" as you fix you eyes, heart and mind upon the SIS WOW each week. Ask if they would join you Monday to get the "Word Of the Week." At the end of the week the three of you would come together, whether church, work, conference call or skype and say the Scripture together. Before you know it, you will be talking about how this verse spoke to you personally or how you were able to use it in a specific situation. And ultimately, life-long reliable friendships are formed
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
As we know, the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. It is his goal is to steal, kill and destroy our joy and our REAL identity given to us by God. It is important for us to remember in ALL that we face and ALL that we do, God has provided us with other Christian SISters to encourage us, stand beside us and help us fight the good fight.
It is imperative that we have friends that will give Godly advice, speak truth in love, and help bring us closer to our Lord. Today I ask you, "Do you have YOUR cord of three strands?" If not: find two women and ask them to be your "Accountability SISters" as you fix you eyes, heart and mind upon the SIS WOW each week. Ask if they would join you Monday to get the "Word Of the Week." At the end of the week the three of you would come together, whether church, work, conference call or skype and say the Scripture together. Before you know it, you will be talking about how this verse spoke to you personally or how you were able to use it in a specific situation. And ultimately, life-long reliable friendships are formed
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Dashed Hopes
by Max Lucado
“I had intended …”
David had wanted to build a temple. And who better than he to do so?
Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God.
At least, that had been his intention. “I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it” (1 Chron. 28:2 NASB).
Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? Did David grow discouraged? No. He stood willing. Were the people resistant? Hardly. They gave generously.
Then what happened?
A conjunction happened.Conjunctions operate as the signal lights of sentences. Some, such as and, are green. Others, such as however, are yellow. A few are red. Sledgehammer red. They stop you.
David got a red light.I had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, “You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.… Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts.” (1 Chron. 28:2–3, 6 NASB, emphasis mine)
David’s bloodthirsty temperament cost him the temple privilege. All he could do was say:I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
I’m thinking of some people who have uttered similar words. God had different plans than they did. One man waited until his midthirties to marry. Resolved to select the right spouse, he prayerfully took his time. When he found her, they moved westward, bought a ranch, and began their life together. After three short years, she was killed in an accident.
I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
A young couple turned a room into a nursery. They papered walls, refinished a baby crib, but then the wife miscarried.
I had intended … I had made preparations …But God …I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?The man who lost his wife has not responded well. At this writing he indwells a fog bank of anger and bitterness. The young couple is coping better. They stay active in church and prayerful about a child. And what about David? When God changed David’s plans, how did he reply? (You’ll like this.)He followed the “but God” with a “yet God.”“Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.” (1 Chron. 28:4 NASB)
Reduce the paragraph to a phrase, and it reads, “Who am I to complain? David had gone from runt to royalty, from herding sheep to leading armies, from sleeping in the pasture to living in the palace. When you are given an ice cream sundae, you don’t complain over a missing cherry.David faced the behemoth of disappointment with “yet God.” David trusted.His “but God” became a “yet God.”Who’s to say yours won’t become the same?From
Facing Your Giants
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado
by Max Lucado
“I had intended …”
David had wanted to build a temple. And who better than he to do so?
Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God.
At least, that had been his intention. “I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it” (1 Chron. 28:2 NASB).
Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? Did David grow discouraged? No. He stood willing. Were the people resistant? Hardly. They gave generously.
Then what happened?
A conjunction happened.Conjunctions operate as the signal lights of sentences. Some, such as and, are green. Others, such as however, are yellow. A few are red. Sledgehammer red. They stop you.
David got a red light.I had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, “You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.… Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts.” (1 Chron. 28:2–3, 6 NASB, emphasis mine)
David’s bloodthirsty temperament cost him the temple privilege. All he could do was say:I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
I’m thinking of some people who have uttered similar words. God had different plans than they did. One man waited until his midthirties to marry. Resolved to select the right spouse, he prayerfully took his time. When he found her, they moved westward, bought a ranch, and began their life together. After three short years, she was killed in an accident.
I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
A young couple turned a room into a nursery. They papered walls, refinished a baby crib, but then the wife miscarried.
I had intended … I had made preparations …But God …I had intended …I had made preparations …But God …
What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?The man who lost his wife has not responded well. At this writing he indwells a fog bank of anger and bitterness. The young couple is coping better. They stay active in church and prayerful about a child. And what about David? When God changed David’s plans, how did he reply? (You’ll like this.)He followed the “but God” with a “yet God.”“Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.” (1 Chron. 28:4 NASB)
Reduce the paragraph to a phrase, and it reads, “Who am I to complain? David had gone from runt to royalty, from herding sheep to leading armies, from sleeping in the pasture to living in the palace. When you are given an ice cream sundae, you don’t complain over a missing cherry.David faced the behemoth of disappointment with “yet God.” David trusted.His “but God” became a “yet God.”Who’s to say yours won’t become the same?From
Facing Your Giants
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2005) Max Lucado
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
God's will for your life
I'm pretty sure God's will for my life doesn't involve snakes. That much I know!! I have had a fear for snakes & when I say fear, I mean an obessiveness about it. I had nightmares since childhood about them & they were always terrifying dreams where I would wake up screaming & standing on top of my bed. Poor Ed!! Anyway, about 6 months ago I killed the snake in my dream & I haven't had a nightmare since.
I related this to satan. In my dreams the snake represented satan & just until recently I have finally gotten it as far as God. Have I perfected "it"... Nope & I hope I would never say that I have cause that would mean I have stopped growing.
God's will for our lives is divine. An appointment by Him to further His kingdom. Are you striving to find out what that will is on your life? I'm thankful God can use me right where I am. I just pray I continue to seek ways in which to be used by him... Right where I am!!
I related this to satan. In my dreams the snake represented satan & just until recently I have finally gotten it as far as God. Have I perfected "it"... Nope & I hope I would never say that I have cause that would mean I have stopped growing.
God's will for our lives is divine. An appointment by Him to further His kingdom. Are you striving to find out what that will is on your life? I'm thankful God can use me right where I am. I just pray I continue to seek ways in which to be used by him... Right where I am!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them."
John 13:12-16
•John's gospel describes the Last Supper without mentioning the Eucharist. Instead, it describes Jesus washing his friend's feet.
•On his knees like a servant, Jesus turned human status upside down. Do I celebrate with the community of those who serve?
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them."
John 13:12-16
•John's gospel describes the Last Supper without mentioning the Eucharist. Instead, it describes Jesus washing his friend's feet.
•On his knees like a servant, Jesus turned human status upside down. Do I celebrate with the community of those who serve?
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