March 23. I see this date and usually it gives me such warmth. I think about my Mom and what gift I want to give her for her birthday. Today it is bittersweet. She's not here and there's no gift. So I think....what is the deal with birthdays? Why are they so special even when the loved one is gone? It's just a day right?
March 23. The day that God brought my Mom into this world. He created her special. He made her with a plan. On this day 62 years ago, God gave her life and loved her through it. My Mom shared with me years ago that she accepted Christ as her Savior when she was a teenager. She also shared with me how much she desired to know Him better. He used her life to bring my sister and me into this world as well. Out of one life....God saved two more. My Mom went home to be with the Lord 5 months ago....and yet, she left two daughters that love the Lord! We will all see each other one day in Heaven and celebrate our eternity with our Lord & Savior!
March 23. This might be the physical birth of my Mom....but it is just a date. The real birth is the day she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. Only the Lord knows our heart. We cannot judge someone's spiritual "birthday". Today, I hold onto the fact that she claimed a birthday with the Lord. Today, I am thankful that my sister and I both share a birthday with the Lord as well. Otherwise, my life would be just a physical, one time deal and not a life of eternity with Christ.
So, what is in a BIRTHday? Everything. Eternity. Life everlasting. I am certain that God LOVES creating us and bringing us into this world. I am sure He loves our birthday that we celebrate every year! But what I KNOW He loves even more?? Our spiritual birthday....when we accept His gift of salvation. It's when we walk each day with Him and celebrate each year of that walk. My time with the Lord has been 25 years of birthdays. Some years are harder than others.....but I love each one! Precious life everlasting.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A fish or a snake....
Luke 11:11..."Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"
I am Impatient. Impulsive. Spontaneous. Passionate. Anxious. For years, God has been teaching me to wait on Him, patiently. Ugh. That word....Patiently. It's a tough one for me. I read His Word and believe it. Yet, when I pray and seek Him....I want Him to answer me right away. I don't like to wait for the answer.
Over the past 6 months, I have watched God fill me in ways I never knew before. He has answered my prayers....my cries for help...and He has done it quickly. His answers have been so deep and so fulfilling. So why is it that sometimes He rescues me right away and other times it takes a while? I don't have the answer but I do have a thought.
In Luke 11, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray. They need to acknowledge that God is God. Then, they need to ask, seek and knock. Verse 10 says, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." The very next verse is precious....."Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"
Verse 11 is odd to me and yet so perfect. We ask God. We seek Him. We desire Him to answer us. Why must we wait? Because God gives the perfect gifts....the perfect answers!! He doesn't play games and He doesn't trick us. If we ask for a fish....He isn't going to trick us or scare us with a snake! When our Heavenly Father has us wait on Him for a short time or a really long time...it's NOT because He is toying with us. It's because His timing is perfect and His will is being done. Our job is not to figure out His process. Our job is to trust Him, knowing that He is God. Perfect. Holy. Patient. Gracious.....and the best giver of the best gifts!
May we wait patiently on Him to meet all of our needs. May we pray continually....asking, seeking and knocking. May God be glorified through our lives as we watch His will unfold. Thank you Lord for your wonderful gifts!!!!
I am Impatient. Impulsive. Spontaneous. Passionate. Anxious. For years, God has been teaching me to wait on Him, patiently. Ugh. That word....Patiently. It's a tough one for me. I read His Word and believe it. Yet, when I pray and seek Him....I want Him to answer me right away. I don't like to wait for the answer.
Over the past 6 months, I have watched God fill me in ways I never knew before. He has answered my prayers....my cries for help...and He has done it quickly. His answers have been so deep and so fulfilling. So why is it that sometimes He rescues me right away and other times it takes a while? I don't have the answer but I do have a thought.
In Luke 11, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray. They need to acknowledge that God is God. Then, they need to ask, seek and knock. Verse 10 says, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." The very next verse is precious....."Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"
Verse 11 is odd to me and yet so perfect. We ask God. We seek Him. We desire Him to answer us. Why must we wait? Because God gives the perfect gifts....the perfect answers!! He doesn't play games and He doesn't trick us. If we ask for a fish....He isn't going to trick us or scare us with a snake! When our Heavenly Father has us wait on Him for a short time or a really long time...it's NOT because He is toying with us. It's because His timing is perfect and His will is being done. Our job is not to figure out His process. Our job is to trust Him, knowing that He is God. Perfect. Holy. Patient. Gracious.....and the best giver of the best gifts!
May we wait patiently on Him to meet all of our needs. May we pray continually....asking, seeking and knocking. May God be glorified through our lives as we watch His will unfold. Thank you Lord for your wonderful gifts!!!!
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