During
my early morning walks, I usually chew gum to keep my throat moist; however, the
gum loses its taste before I complete my walking time and I have to dispose of
it. Normally, I have a Kleenex or
the gum wrapper I can put it in but on this particular day, I had neither.
The gum had lost its flavor and it had to go.
I strategically spit my gum out into a road water drain.
Who would have thought that it would actually hit the grate and bounced
back into my pathway! –yep—it did! I
did a quick side maneuver and avoided stepping into the gunky blue goo and was
thankful that I did not have a sticky mess on my shoes to clean up upon my
return home. I was reminded of the
Bible talking about words we say to others and how words ineptly spoken could
most certainly come back at me and cause a situation to become quite sticky.
I took this as a “warning” for how my day may go, and upon my
immediate return home I found a scripture to carry with me to keep me well
grounded. Thank you Lord for my not
remembering my Kleenex and for my throwing the gum wrapper away that morning!
I needed the lesson very much that day!
The heart of the righteous weighs its
answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
Proverb 15:28
New In Christ
By Dianne Darby
I was a bit bleary eyed from a day of self reflecting and to some degree,
reliving past mistakes, when I pleasantly welcomed the ring of the telephone.
It was the voice of a caring and empathetic friend. As we talked openly and honestly, I shared some of the
“stats” of my life as the world would see it…as, I too, sometimes see it.
The compassionate and affirming voice replied, “I don’t care about
your past. I like you for who you
are now.”
Then…there was silence.
My heart was humbled and grew quiet with a silent peace as fresh as a new
fallen snow. I knew it was God,
Himself, speaking directly to me saying, “Oh, sweet hurting child of mine.
I know the mistakes you’ve made. You
are forgiven and I remember them no more. You
are a new person made alive in Me. You
have a new heart and a new spirit that I have given you. Nurture the new life…not the old. Learn…and grow.” You
see, I now know who I am in Christ and the difference that has made is
unbelievable! (Unless you knew me
before!)
As I said goodnight, I could not stop the gentle, cleansing tears that
spilled out onto my pillow. I felt
the nudging of the Holy Spirit encouraging me to also extend to others that same
grace and forgiveness that had been extended to me.
May I be like him.
As far as the east is from the west, so
far has He removed my wrong doings (sins),
Psalm 103:12
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
I will give you a new heart and put a new
spirit in you. I will remove from
you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Greater love has no one than this, that
he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
Let me share deeply from my heart; I know
such a person. She has evidenced so
much Christ-likeness to me that my heart is overcome with peace, true joy and
pure delight in how God has worked through her to show Himself to me.
How do you truly express thanks to a person who shares herself, her
wisdom, her knowledge, her unconditional love without judgment, her physical
labor so freely without murmuring, discontentment, or complainings?
At a drop of a pin, she’s there to offer what resources she could…for
me.
My sister was my Aaron, who was one of the men who held up Moses’ hands during an intense battle. As Moses grew weary of holding his hands up, Aaron was there to support him. (Exodus 17:11-12) Many times I would grow weary and she would hold me up and continue to hold me up when and, as I needed it.
My sister was my Barnabus, my Encourager! What a gift she shared with me on a consistent basis…encouragement that was mostly needed on those “feeling alone” days. Her favorite verse that she’d remind me of is “Today is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24.
My sister was my Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas), who was always doing good to me and helping my poor and needy spirit. (Acts 9:36) Whether it be clearing brush, spraying weed killer, moving furniture, I mean WHATEVER, she did it!
My sister was my Deborah, a wise leader who was able to see the bigger picture. She was a good and trustworthy advisor in all things. She was always able to look above the circumstance and say what was right, wrong, good, or fair. (Judges 4,5)
My sister was my Ruth, who shared my deep sorrow, who shared my great bond of faith in God, who gave me such sweet, loving devotion, especially following me around at a family wedding to be sure I was “okay”. (Ruth)
My sister was my Jesus…in the sense that she was my advocate. She would speak in my favor, support me, plead and or defend my case as need be.
This my sister would do for me. The same sister who used to dog me diligently in our younger years and disregard me as sisters sometime do. (1John 2:1)
You want everyday evidence of Jesus in my life? He has shown it by the graciousness and willingness of my sister Lois who has laid down her life for me. I pray she’ll feel my heart of gratitude that neither words nor actions can express when reading this loving tribute.
Oh! And one more thing you should know…she’s the OLDER one!
Unable to attend a young friend’s
football game, I decided to go to one of his practices.
I noted the coaches had the players lay out bags on the ground to
practice a “chute” tackling drill. The
kids were instructed to “square up” and ram into the opposing player, and at
the end of the drill the defensive guy would do his best to bring down the
offensive guy (ball carrier for those of you, like me, who really don’t know
that much about football). Many of
the kids struggled with the squaring up process.
Instead of bucking up and hitting straight on, some of them would edge in
with their shoulders and really not “hit” hard.
I’d struggle with that myself considering some of the huge differences
in size that some of the players were facing!
I, too, would be quite timid about getting hurt!
I don’t care much for pain myself, let alone what seems to be
self-inflicted! But, the coach
would keep them focused with words of, “Come on guys-SQUARE UP and keep your
head up!”
At the tail end of the drill, the defensive player was then to tackle the offensive player. He was to bring him down by wrapping his arms around both of his legs. “Ya gotta grab both legs to be assured of bringing the guy down,” the coach would say. “He can’t stand if ya do that…so do it.” The kids did their best but much work still needed to be done. One of the players did fairly well by getting hold of only one leg. With great tenacity, he continued to pull him down but without success. The coach encouraged him with a couple of hand claps and words of, “You wouldn’t have been alone, your teammates would have been right there with you. You’d a had him.”
After practice I was talking to one of the
players. He has the size and the
ability to really buck up and go for it, but was timid in doing so on the field.
Speaking with the now-learned-voice of “I know what I’m saying,” I
encouraged him saying, “Use your strength and your size to your advantage.
Believe in yourself. Don’t
be timid. Don’t over think! Your game will come up to a new level if you would begin by
squaring up.”
Hmmmmmm…I was beginning to enjoy this whole new coaching aspect…though I still don’t really know a thing about the game. But, this basic premise was easy enough. “You gotta CHOOSE to make that first step kiddo,” I said, “and listen to the coaches’ instructions.”
On my way home, I was reflecting on our conversation when I felt the Holy Spirit actually speaking to me about my personal life and using my newly found football drill as an example for me to live out in my personal life.
“You’ve got some squaring up to do yourself,” He spoke to my heart. “Don’t shoulder it with timidity, you need to buck up and hit your life circumstances head on…with your head up! Don’t be afraid of what lies ahead or the issues you will confront. Ya can’t tackle them in the end if you don’t begin by squaring up. Trust me…I’ve got’cha covered. I’m here to assist you and you can’t do it without Me. And when you’re needing help, I’ll be sending in the “team” of friends I’ve surrounded you with.”
Isn’t God something?! He used something I know literally nothing about, and took my own words of fortitude to this young man and whipped ‘em out on me.
First, I must choose how I’m going to respond to this game called life. Second, square up. Third, go for the tackle-by grabbing “both legs”…whatever they may be…any fears, worries, or concerns that lie in front of me. “I will not be afraid.” Fourth, know and believe that the most awesome Coach, God Himself, is right there instructing me in the way I should go…through His strong and encouraging words in His Play Book, the Bible…through His personal instruction and encouragement and through the most gracious, loving, and faithful “team” of friends a person could have. A team that reminds me, “You’re not alone. We’re right here to assist you when you need help.” I know I’m covered in this game. Blessed am I as I trust in Him. Blessed am I for such loving friends.
When I am afraid, I
will trust in You. In God, whose
word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
Psalm 56:3-4
Whether you turn to
the right or to the left, you ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This
is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21
Whenever we have the
opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers
and sisters.
Galations 6:10
Moses approached the thick
darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:21
I’m an early morning walker and on this
particular morning, the earth and sky were laden in a pitch-black darkness.
A pale dimness was the only light emitting from the city street lamps.
A misty fog kept them from shedding their usual bright and guiding light.
I had walked this road several times before and was not overly concerned
about getting hit by early morning travelers nor was I concerned about seeing my
way. As I said, I’d been this way
many a time before. So on I went
with head set in place as worship music filled my heart and my feet picked up
the stride of its aerobic beat.
As I neared the trickling creek the fog grew much thicker…so much so that I couldn’t even see the stone bridge that I KNEW lay before me. My cadence slowed for a moment as I began to exert some extra caution. Then I thought, “GOOD GRIEF! I know this bridge is there! It’s always been there! Pick up the pace!” So with chin up and strut back in place, on I moved. I began to reflect about the heavy blanket of fog that had recently engulfed my life. How I had been afraid to enter into it. Then I felt the presence of God reminding me of how many “roads” He had walked with me in the past. How He had led me through the drudgery of past fogs where I couldn’t see my way. How he had been there for me yesterday, today, and will be again tomorrow. It was as if his very words were..."Walk on! Do not be afraid of the cloud’s descending around you and covering you with their misty ways. Know and believe that in the darkness I am there. Know and believe I am your bridge, your solid foundation. Come…cross through the fog. Come…cross over the bridge to safety. I go before you. You know that. Come…up and meet me. The fog will disappear soon and you will rejoice that you moved on.”
I do rejoice for God’s “move” in me. How I praise His faithfulness to me even in the times I have been faithless. God, You are so good to me.
What
Love Was shown
By Dianne Darby
I was feeling particularly exuberant during
one of my early morning walks. As I
headed south, I noticed the sky was beginning to lighten as the sun crept up
from the night’s darkness. I
ventured on with a confident, brisk walk knowing that it was going to be a grand
day. As I turned at my half-way
point to return home, the breath-taking sunrise literally took the step right
out of my walk. The sun itself was
a majestic, golden yellow with shreds of dark pink, almost red, clouds scattered
in stripe-like fashion against the early morning blue sky.
It struck me so that I stood in silent awe of what it reminded me
of…the hated beatings Jesus took before He was horribly crucified.
The almost red colored shreds of clouds representing the flesh torn from
His body as He was brutally whipped…without mercy shown to Him.
It’s overwhelming what I sensed at that
moment.
Within minutes those same shredded clouded
turned into a bloody looking mass. It
quickly faded into a bright but heart-rending pink color with golden streams
radiating from the full rising sun as it set itself on the most brilliant blue
canvas I had ever seen.
Jesus took my beatings, was crucified for
me, and was raised from the dead. (I
Corinthians 15:3) He now stands at
the right hand of God in Heaven (Acts 7:55) And to think, He did it with
me…and you…in mind.
The suffering Jesus endured…to die…for
me…and for you…what love He evidenced to me early in the morning as I walked
home knowing how my life had changed, not only in my eternal life, but my life
here on this earth, because of His ultimate sacrifice.