It Is Good That You Exist

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There was a man on our planet who lived his life to the full by learning who he was, what his purpose was, and went forward to serve that purpose in the best way possible….loving the afflicted.

He was one of my favorite people in the world. Jean Vanier was one of the kindest, helpful, spiritual people who lived. He died on May 7th at the age of ninety years. One of his famous messages is,”It is good that you exist.” There is a beautiful interview he did on Tapestry with Mary Hynes on CBC in 2005. It was repeated yesterday in his memory and is so worth listening to. Good-bye for now, Jean Vanier; it is good that you existed.

Becoming Human

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s About Faith

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My life is lived by faith…not blind faith, but supernatural faith. It works for me. Faith means much to many people and means nothing to others.

There are many examples of faith throughout the Bible and chapter one of Hebrews is a great example.

This came to me from the book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard:

“Faith has nothing to do with intellectual belief. Faith is obedience. Faith and abandonment to God’s will and power are inseparable. Faith is willingness to do God’s will. Unwillingness to abandon one’s own will and to obey God is unbelief.”

Because I believe, my life is lived by faith.

Happy Sunday.

I’m For the Birds

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Along with the red wing blackbirds, chickadees, robins, cardinals, and sparrows usually hanging out in my yard, these three newcomers paid me a visit within the last few days. It made me very happy to see the rose breasted grosbeak, a bluebird and a junco vying for a place on the feeder and even gracing my deck with a short visit. All these feathered friends add to my happiness. Happy Saturday.

Image result for rose breasted grosbeakImage result for bluebirdImage result for junco

All That is Good

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Besides being known for great preaching, open friendliness and hospitality, our church is home to a few comedians who brighten our lives with quips right up there with the best stand-ups in the world.

For example, noting all the terrorism taking place in churches of late, one of our gentlemen advised our Pastor to keep the church doors locked during services lest someone come in and kill us in our sleep.

This is not to make light of the horrible happenings in places of worship, but to acknowledge that although there are people in the world who would destroy all that is good, all that is good will prevail.

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

 

 

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.