Good Cheer

This morning I went by Starbucks to get my morning coffee. the usual: Vente Quad Half Caff, No Fat, No Foam, Latte. I ordered a muffin too and sat at a small table close to about 8 to 10 people sitting together. I have seen these people together week after week. There are several different groups that meet at Starbucks all the time. (I normally see them as I swiftly get my coffee and leave promptly to go to work. )Their conversations were really funny and I caught myself listening and then laughing out loud. A few of them looked over and saw me and I kinda quieted up. I liked the people and wished I could have just joined in. I didn't though. I thought it would be brash and rude of me. As I was walking out and driving off, I was thinking how fun it would be to meet people every week at a certain time to sit and visit over coffee. That is just so special to me. What a blessing to have that in one's life. It's what's been referred to as a core nucleus. It takes,time, work and commitment on the part of every person. I have alot of friends, but they are scattered and many that don't know one another. I don't have 10 friends that live close enough together to make that possible. I think it would work if this group of people had a common interest. Could I influence others to feel the same importance to this that I do? As you read this, what do you think about this? Is it something you see as special to have in your life? Please pray and seek the Lord if He desires this for you. If so, give me a call!

Strive for Holiness

I hear the phrase alot from christians "I've turned it all over to the Lord & I let him live His life through me." So, if all we are to do is turn it over to Him, does it not seem sorta a passive approach? When the apostle Paul said he had learned to be content (PHILLIPIANS 4:13) I believe he recognized it was his responsibility to be content and to not just turn it over to the Lord & trust Him to do the work of being content. Paul had to work at it and he knew he could only be content through the Lord, who gave him strength. Because of his union "In Christ" he was able by faith to rely upon Christ working in him through His spirit. Paul did not say "Christ shows contentment through me" Rather he said " I have learned to be content through Him who gives me strength"

The apostle Paul urged Timothy to discipline himself to be godly. He had a responsiblity to train himself, yet at the same time he recognized his dependence on the Lord. Paul didn't mean for Timothy to discipline himself in his own strength and willpower, but to be strong in the grace- that is the strength-that is in Christ Jesus. To pursue holiness there must be discipline on our part, but also dependence on the Lord. As we depend on the Lord, He enables us to live a life pleasing to Him.

Some years ago, I was struggling to love a christian sister. God spoke to me about my lack of love for her and I sensed He said to me "If I love her, can you?" I responded " Lord, I can't but I'm willing for You to love her through me." Over time I came to love this person & we are very good friends. Did Jesus then love her through me? No, He enabled me to love her. We are not passive in this pursuit of holiness. We are the one's who love. We are the ones who clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12)But, we do this in utter dependence on Him who gives us strength!

Do I think we don't always sense that strength, you bet. How about when I fail, when I weep over a sin I've committed? Could it be that the Lord is showing me the sinfulness of my own heart? Could it be that I had been depending on my own efforts and how weak I really am and how dependent on Him I really am? Maybe it's spiritual pride and a good cause for me to grow in humility. He best knows how to respond to our dependence. We can plant and we can water, but it is the holy spirit who makes us grow. We must keep in balance our discipline/dependence in the pursuit of holiness and be aware of our tendency to put our confidence in the performance of our disciplines. Remembering Christ's words " Apart from me, you can do nothing." Through the discipline of prayer , we can grow in a conscious sense of dependence on Christ knowing we are utterly helpless without Him.

baby boy days shorter

Last week we had a baby shower for our daughter & her fiance. We had so much fun! We had a house full of people. She was so happy to see so many who had come. We played some games too. Just a couple of months left and the little guy will be here.
This month has been a whirlwind of activity for me. I could write about a lot of things going on, but I'll save getting you in the whirlwind! Life is speeding by and I put in a full day. I praise the Lord each and everyday. When my eyes open in the morning, the first thing that happens is I realize I woke up in my bed and then I close my eyes again and tell Jesus "Good Morning Lord" "I love you Lord" "Thank you for Loving me Lord"
Now it is the end of the day and I've been sitting here singing and rehearsing the songs we are singing at church tomorrow.
So I'm going to end this short blog with this song it my heart:
You're the love of my life
You're the joy of my morning
You're the song of my heart
and I will praise your holy name
singing- ha-le-lu-jah-----ha-le-lu-jah-
singing-ha-le-lu-jah- and I will praise your holy name.