Thursday, June 18, 2009

Hairs, Sparrows, and Plane Crashes


I've come to find believe that when it's my time to die, I'll just go. I can't really fight what's supposed to happen because I know my Lord and King is in control.

When I share this idea with others, many people argue, "Well, what if you're in an airplane and it's the pilot's time to die?"

I've always laughed off the comment, but never had a response.

Well, today I saw a story on the news... A pilot of a Continental Airlines plane died midflight of a heart attack. HOWEVER, two copilots took over, the stewardesses continued giving out snacks, and the plane landed ON TIME. How's that for control? God is not going to let anyone die "accidentally." He doesn't let things happen without a purpose, even when bad things do happen to us.

Matthew 10:29-31 says, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

I know God will take care of me. He has set a destiny for me, and no matter what it is, I'm ready to follow where he'll lead. God is Good.

*Note: Today's picture is not my own. Credit goes to http://www.iwrc-online.org/kids/Facts/Birds/bird_families.htm.

Read more...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Faith Hope Walker


My thoughts are on Myah and Faith today. After 93 days, baby Faith Hope Walker, a baby that doctors said would never even survive birth, a baby diagnosed with anencephaly (a syndrome where the baby is missing a large portion of the skull and part/all of the brain), a baby that Myah was advised by doctors to abort. This baby and the difficult but beautiful journey that she and her mother have gone through make me thank God for the miracles he gives us. He is beautiful, wonderful, and gracious. Not only did He allow Faith to survive against all odds and give her to Myah for three amazing months, He, the Creator of all the Earth, has increased the faith of the thousands of people who have heard her story. For months, this group of people has been growing in size and faith, showing that God answers all prayers in His own time.

Faith is home again, but Myah and those closest to her need prayers now more than ever. Myah asks that you please do not contact her for the time. She needs peace in this difficult time, but she welcomes your love and support. The Lord Jesus says, "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19-20) Please pray for Myah and her family. God Bless You.

Read more...

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Body of Christ


For a long time I have struggled with the idea that I should do exactly as the disciples did in Jesus’ time. I keep thinking I should be out there on a mission in a foreign land, sharing His message, and owning only the clothes on my back. The problem with that idea is that I’m naturally a shy person…I like talking to people one-on-one, in social situations, or somewhere that they know I’m going to try to convince them of something…but the thought of going door-to-door, persuading people that they’re not following the path that my God wants them to follow makes me extremely nervous.

For the same reason I also used to question my choice of major and career. How is my opening a bookstore going to help share God’s Word? My boyfriend Daniel asks the same thing about his chosen career path, engineering. What does that have to do with Christianity? You’re supposed to devote all of your time and energy to the Lord right? You’re supposed to forget about the world and focus on God. So how does selling coffee and books or inventing new technologies really do that?

Well, it’s taken me a long time, but I’ve come to realize that not everybody is meant to preach or share the gospel in the same way. I’ve learned that, even thought I could probably improve at it, I will probably never be a public speaker. My gift is in writing and business, so I know that, putting all of my passion for God into my work, I can praise and serve him using this gift. I can put the Christian novels in the front of my store instead of hiding them in the back like most major bookstores do. I can see someone who is having a bad day, and encourage him. I can write stories that are positive and impactful, books that make people want to learn more about God. Similarly, all Christians can use their specific talents to share the Word.

Romans 12:4-8 says, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

With this scripture, we can learn that not everyone will be able to do the same type of work for the Lord. Some people are meant to be preachers, others are teachers. Some people should be accountants, and some should be cooks. But no matter what we do for a living, we can still be living for God.

Last week, I met a woman named Barbara who works at JC Penney. I have spoken with her a few times since then, and every time we talk, we end up discussing the Lord and Christianity. She is a true warrior of God who uses every opportunity she can in order to do God’s work, even though her job doesn’t sound like it is a venue for doing so. Even her business cards and office space have scriptures and encouraging words for anyone who might chance to read them. So my question for you today is: What can you be doing at your job, whether it’s in fast food or medicine, that will tell people about the joy and comfort that comes from being a Christian?

Feel free to comment with suggestions or things that you already do at your work.

Read more...

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalms 107:1



It seems as though the first blog you write should be the most spectacular, wonderful, and awe-inspiring thing anyone has ever read, but at this point I'm not sure where to start. I have never written a blog before, nor does any of the writing that comes from my fingertips normally become available for immediate reading and commenting by others... (I don't even have texting on my phone!) In any case, I just want to thank God for the life He has given me and the love that He shows to all of his creations. I know that everything that happens in my life is because of the plan the Lord has for me, whether it is something I consider good or bad. The same holds true for your life. When you find yourself in times of great ease and comfort, praise the Lord because He has blessed you. When you find yourself in times of fear, poverty, or anguish, praise the Lord because He has given you the opportunity to shine for Him. He is allowing you to show that you can have faith, even in hard times, but more than that, He is giving you the chance to demonstrate to others (by example) that with God, they too can be strengthened. You can serve as a living testimony that if you have Jesus Christ in your life, you can overcome anything. Christians know that nothing can permanently harm us, because Satan and this world will pass away, but God's love for us will never pass away.

If you fail all of your classes
If your boyfriend or girlfriend leaves you
If you lose your job
If you lose your car and your house
If you never had a house or a car to lose
If you are afraid of what will happen to you tomorrow
If someone in your family died
If you think you’re too fat or too skinny
If you hate who you are, or who you are becoming
If you’re sick of life

REMEMBER THIS: The most important thing to remember every day is that God loves you too much to let you suffer forever (that's why He sent His Son to save us!) God will love you no matter what the world thinks of you, because He created you in His image. He knows your potential, your mind, your heart, and your soul. Because God believes in you and loves you so much, He sent His son to make up for anything bad you have ever done in your entire life. The Lord wants you to know that you are capable of anything if only you have faith. And one day, He hopes you will walk beside Him and be full of the joy and peace that He promises to all of His children.

Read more...

My Blog List

Followers

  © Blogger templates ProBlogger Template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP