In the 17th century, the best violins were made by Antonio Stradivari.They are still the best.He said that to make a violin less than his best would be to rob God.He was right.God could not make a violin without the help of Antonio.Certain gifts were given to that craftsman that no other violin maker ever possessed.
There are certain things you do that no one else can do as well.Maybe it is encouraging others, or parenting, or praying, or teaching, or using your hands in a skillful manner to build something out of nothing.There are things that only you can do, that God cannot do without your help.You owe it to God to give your best, because together, you and God can do and create certain things that no one else can duplicate.
GospeLines Prayer:"Father, remind us that we have a reason to be alive!Empower my walk today with the knowledge that, without my skills, without my talents used for the Kingdom, the world would not be quite the same."Amen and amen.
Day by day Day by day Oh dear Lord Three things I pray To see thee more clearly Love thee more dearly Follow thee more nearly
Do you recognize the lyrics from Godspell?It’s a catchy tune and one that I kept humming to myself after singing it as part of a medley in church one Sunday morning.
Later that same day, the words resonated even more as I felt the wind in my face on the back of our Harley.My pilots navigated the various highways for a trip from Houston to Port Lavaca, a small city of about 13,000 residents on Texas’ gulf coast.(Pilots, you ask?Yes, hubby was at the controls, but God is always our co-pilot when we embark on any journey…)
As we rode down Highway 59 South on a beautiful sunny day, we passed the small towns of Kendleton, Hungerford, Hillje before turning on Highway 172 through Ganado… past La Ward and through Point Comfort.Our two hour journey each way was filled with so many sites for me to take in.
Passengers are lucky… they get to enjoy the view while the pilots are busy watching the road.I was able to see the Lord more clearly… His work in miles and miles of fields… some full of wild flowers in various hues of pink and yellow and many, many fields of maize - a crop indigenous to the Indian people of North America - used for livestock feed.I could bask in the sun beaming down on us and contemplate whether the clouds that looked like cotton candy were moving, or if it was because we were!
The landscape was full of other goodies… from a few scattered homes in the distance to those buildings that looked like they were on their last leg and could blow away at the slightest wind.And, of course, I enjoyed seeing the cows and horses in their pastures.In fact, we noted a group of them grazing at exactly the same time… guess they were having their lunch!
Once we arrived at our destination, we had a nice lunch at a local restaurant, checked out some of the sites, especially the huge ships loading and unloading cargo at the port, and some of the large facilities located directly on the water.
On our return trip home, I could easily sit back to capture in my mind’s eye and praise all that God has provided.
GospeLines Prayer:Father, thank You for allowing me to witness to the beauty You have provided for all to behold according to 1st Peter 1:18-25 (The Message):
"Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know…
Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said,
The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God's Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you."
Day by day, Lord, I pray “to see thee more clearly, to love thee more dearly and to follow thee more nearly.”
In His Love,
Carla˙
≈ Devotional for Wednesday: June 20, 2007
"You’re As Good As You Think"
Much is being made of self-assurance, building self-esteem, overcoming our personal shortcomings, etc., etc., etc.Let us not forget the source of our courage.The next time you look into the mirror of your soul introspectively and dislike what you see, say not that YOU will do something about it.Rather, whisper a prayer of thanksgiving that the One who lives in you is greater than the enemy who destroys our self-esteem.Rejoice!'Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.'Never has total victory been more attainable than it is this very moment.Whisper a prayer of faith that our great God will give you the desire of your heart and the need of your spirit.Amen and amen.
Children of all ages in the USA, UK, Canada and many parts of the world celebrated June 17th as Father's Day - a special day set aside to honor our Fathers.Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father's Day on the first Sunday of September; Spain and Belgium celebrate Father's Day on 19 March; and, in Sweden, Father's Day is celebrated on second Sunday of November.No matter when it's celebrated, all children wish to do the same thing on this special day… they want to make their Fathers happy.
How do you make someone happy?Usually by giving them what they want.Ok, what do Fathers want?Dads all over the world want the same thing - they want their children to be happy.They want them to be successful at whatever they do and to live joyful and fulfilling lives.They want them to prosper.So, if we want to make our Fathers happy, the best way to do it is to live the kind of lives that will make them proud.That doesn't necessarily mean rich and successful, but it does mean happy and filled with joy and peace.If you do that, your Father will be very happy.
How about our Heavenly Father?What does He want?This is what the Lord says: "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." (Jeremiah 29:10-12) Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: "My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem." (Zechariah 1:17)Our Heavenly Father also wants us to be happy and prosper… but how?
The Holy Spirit testifies that we are God's children.And, if we are His children, then we are His heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16-18)Because we are His children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Daddy (Abba)." (Galatians 4:6-7)If we are His children, what does he want us to do…? The same thing as our "Big Brother".
Jesus (our Big Brother) said, "For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38)To him who overcomes and does My will to the end, I will give authority over the nations… just as I have received authority from My Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…" (Revelation 2:26-29)
A teacher of the law heard Jesus debating and asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"Jesus answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.There is no commandment greater than these."
"Well said," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:28-34)
Jesus might say to us, if we love God with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength, and we love our neighbor as ourselves, we are doing what our Heavenly Father wants and that will make Him very happy.
Don't wait for a special day.Tell your earthly Father today that you love him.If he's already gone to be with the Lord, think of him fondly and with love - promising to live a life that would make him proud.
Don't wait for a special day to tell your Heavenly Father that you love Him.Tell Him right now that you love Him and promise that from this moment on, you will live a life that will make Him proud.Amen and Amen!
Pastor RonU
“…we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”
The church had just gone through the persecution at the hands of Nero.John, the only surviving apostle, continued his ministry to a small group of Christians near Ephesus.They were distraught and disillusioned about their faith, not sure if what they believed was the cure for their woes or the cause of their persecution.
It was in that setting that John said, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13)
There are days when we just need to know!This timeless verse speaks an indelible word of truth for this century as well.No one is able to snatch us from the hand of God.Our salvation is secure in the one who gave His life for us.
GospeLines Prayer:Everlasting Father, from Eden to Patmos, the story did not change.You walked in the garden with Adam and Eve, and you sheltered your servant John, exiled on the island called Patmos.Your Word is the same from Genesis to Revelation, from beginning to end, and it is fresh everyday.Hallelujah!You live in my heart right now!!I give You honor, praise and glory for all that You do for me and for the way You will provide for me tomorrow and forever.Amen and amen.