Have a Glorious Day

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It came up in a Bible study…”What does the word ‘glory’ mean to you? I wasn’t there, but when told about the question my mind immediately went into overdrive about this word ‘glory’.

My first thought was that glory is a word of profound beauty…as in the morning glory flowers that adorn so many garden arbors. That led me to think of the term, “Give God the glory”. It is a phrase used when something wonderful and beautiful takes place and in Christian parlance we refer it back to God.

When I think of God and blooming morning glories, adoration comes to mind. I adore them both…God more so.

I’ll leave you to ponder this word and the glory it brings to mind. Have a glorious day. Happy Sunday.

Image result for morning glory pictures

 

 

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For the Birds

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Some of us have something to sing about every day and others don’t.

As for the birds they seem to start every day with a song. Happy Saturday.

 

Help Yourself

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There are those who ask for help and when it comes they turn it down. It really hurts to see this happen and makes the people offering help frustrated in their attempts. It reminds me of the story of the drowning man:

A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.

Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.”

The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.”

So the rowboat went on.

Then a motorboat came by. “The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.”

To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.”

So the motorboat went on.

Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.”

To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.”

So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.

Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!”

To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”

I might add here: “God helps those who help themselves“, or at least help the people who are trying to help them.

Flood. Man on the roof of his house

Hung Up on a Word

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Some people get hung up on the word, “repent”. It seems to automatically ring a ‘religion’ bell in their head and they are turned off  probably because of Acts 2:38 where Peter tells the people, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”

In this regard repent means to be sorry for living in ways that dishonor God.

However,  Professor Robert Wall, Professor of Scripture and Wesleyan Studies, adds that it is “the internal and intellectual act of exchanging old beliefs for new ones.”

To me, this explanation is much more digestible and may appeal to those outside of religion as well as to the religious.

The internal and intellectual act of exchanging old beliefs for new ones…it makes me happy that I got hung up on a word. 

This post was prompted by a blog from Matthew Ruttan’s devotional, UP, on April 29th.

Believing in Difficult Times

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I often quote one of my favorite scriptures, Jeremiah 29:11-13, to those who are going through difficult times in their lives and things look hopeless. I also quote it to new believers who will begin to learn the promises of God, and this is one of His best.

11 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 hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

This morning I read in Luke 1:45: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” 

I have believed this promise since I learned it in 1995 and it has proven itself, or better, God has proven Himself, many times over in my life since.

I have found it pays great dividends to believe…especially in difficult times.

 

Who You Are

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The following is taken from Charles Stanley’s book, Relying on the Holy Spirit:

God knows who you are. He knows who He created you to be and which natural gifts, talents, abilities, and personality traits He put into your life. He knows which motivational gift is best suited to you. 

God knows how to place us within a body of people to accomplish His ministry. He will open doors of opportunity for you to minister in a way that is suited to your natural gifts. Be open to how and when the Holy Spirit chooses to use you.

This is sound advice for those asking the question, “Who am I and why am I here?” Happy Sunday.