Category Archives: Christian Growth

Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer

Dropped Calls

A BLOG CELL PHONE

 

It happens and is very annoying. I’m in the middle of a phone conversation; the person on the other end is in their vehicle and calling by cell phone and we lose our connection. It is one of many dropped calls experienced daily. Then there is a tossup. Do I hang up and call back or wait patiently for the person to call me? SEPTEMBER 2014 002

At times, it seems my prayers are dropped calls to God. I am talking; He is listening and then I sense a prolonged silence. Will I try to reconnect or listen for an incoming message from Him?

Cell phone users frequently lose their connection when buildings, trees or mountainous terrain blocks their signal. In my prayer life, sin separates me from God, leading to the sounds of silence.

I clear the line and prepare for an incoming call.

“If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9 HCS).”

Standard
Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Benefits of Bible Study

       

 

I believe I benefit from the Bible, every book of the Bible, chapter and verse. Repetition is a great teacher and I have recently learned a new appreciation of the Book of Job.                                                                                       SEPTEMBER 2014 002

First, I share the first two words that come to mind when considering Job.

• Suffering
• Patience

Before I reveal a third I want to tell how I discovered it. Each year, I try to take a fresh approach to my Bible study, using different translations, read-the-Bible through plans etc. This year, for my very first time I am using the Nave’s Topical Bible; in my journal, I enter scriptures by themes. As examples: grace, mercy, peace and joy.

• Joy

I have just begun joy scriptures. To my amazement, I have found scripture references from Job!

• Job 8:21
• Job 22:21
• Job 22:26
• Job 33:26 “He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, he shall see his face with joy, for he restores to man His righteousness (NKJ).”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

Teachable Through Trials

Most school age children hope that peers never label them the ‘Teacher’s Pet.’ On the other hand, they secretly desire preferential treatment from their teachers. In the Christian life, Jesus is the Master teacher. Am I teachable through trials or petulant?SEPTEMBER 2014 002

“Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses (Psalms 25:12 NKJ).”

He is reaching, He is teaching…

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJ).”

I pray that I will remain teachable through trials.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4 NKJ).”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Marriage

The Threshold

A BLOG-BRIDE & GROOM

 

Stammering and wobbly kneed, a man and woman make a lifelong commitment. Exchanging wedding vows before God, clergy, family and friends, they promise to love and cherish until death do us part.

“You may kiss the bride!”                            SEPTEMBER 2014 002

At the wedding reception, a photographer gets a close-up of the happy couple cutting the towering cake. Unwed girls scamper in an attempt to catch the bouquet and be next down the aisle. Well-wishers throw rice and mischievous friends tie cans behind the grooms vehicle.
It is official; the man and woman are now husband and wife. Upon arrival at the honeymoon destination, the groom checks in and escorts his wife to their room. Lifting and raising her up into his arms, he tenderly carries her over the threshold.

We are the bride of Christ. Though difficult to comprehend, God the Father has raised Christ’s bride and carried her up above…
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6 NAS).”

I yearn for the day when Christ will carry me over the threshold into my heavenly home. (John 14:1-3)

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Marriage, Relationships

Knows Best How to Bless

Is it a match made in heaven?

When love walks in, we hope and pray it is the till death do us part kind of courtship.

As love grows,SEPTEMBER 2014 002 we seek assurance of lasting commitments.

Is God in the picture, do we seek his blessing or do we issue demands outside his perfect will?

God knew precisely what and whom Adam needed.

“And the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him (Genesis 2:18 NKJ).”

Father knows best how to bless.

“Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:22-24 NKJ).”

God brought the first man and woman together; he still directs singles to mates of fulfillment. It is worth the wait.

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

For Keeps

A MANSION

I inwardly squirm when I read the shalt not commandments.

I visualize the doctor telling me not to use salt. Instantly, I feel slighted and want to shake that table salt-shaker for all it is worth!

God gives two lists.

One has imaginary header reading ‘Do’ and the other ‘Do not.’ I am not free to disregard any of his commandments.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s (Exodus 20: 17 KJV).”

‘Covet’

I don’t often think on that shalt not. We have boundaries. I know that it is sinful to want what belongs to another. Bringing the terms up to current wording I sense that they cover material things as shelter, marriage sanctity, workforce and animals. What’s his or hers is theirs for keeps.

Let this not be said of thee or me…

“He coveteth greedily all the day long (Proverbs 21:26a KJV).”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships

Handholding

holding-hands-21284787

Handholding is not a new concept; I’m glad that it will never go out of style…

Daddy: “Take my hand; we’re going to cross the street.”

Daddy: “Take my hand; I’ll walk you to school.”

Young Admirer: “Take my hand, I’ll walk you home.”

First Steady: “Can I hold your hand?”

Fiancé to Girl’s Father: “I’m asking permission for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

Pastor to Bride and Groom: “Please hold hands.”

Husband to Wife during child labor: “Squeeze my hand.”

Lifelong mate to his Beloved as she faces death: “I won’t leave you; hold my hand.”

Heavenly Father: “Child, take my hand.”

Godly Woman: “I see the Lord!”

“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel; and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever (Psalms 73:23-26 KJV).”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Short Stories

Surprises Discovered

BLOG CATS

 

 

 

Try to recapture childhood excitement…SEPTEMBER 2014 002

It did not take much to make us happy in those days; we searched for hidden free toys in boxes of our favorite cereals. Of course, we liked the trinkets buried within boxes of Cracker Jacks nearly as much as the tasty popcorn. The reason, we all like surprises.

We have three cats that have found their reason for living. They eat. We have them to rid the farm of mice and rats. On a score of 1-10, I rate them#9. Rodents infested this property when we moved here; now, they rarely make an appearance.

‘And what to the cat’s eyes did appear?’

This evening, my husband prepared to feed the cats at the old farmhouse. Taking a nearly empty bag of cat food, he began to scatter it on the front porch. To his surprise, and the cats’ delight a small mouse tumbled out from the bottom of the bag!

How do I weave this humorous incident into a devotion message? Follow me.

Joseph used cunning to waylay his brothers who had sold him into slavery…

“And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, ‘Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.’ So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken (Genesis 44:1-2 NAS).”

Joseph was not vindictive; he forgave the deeds of his brothers.

I forgive the cats for any mouser infractions. With adoration and praise, I thank God for ‘forgiving me’ of my sins.

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals

Pam’s Penny Candy

???????????????????????????????????????

Long before there were Super Stores…

Shoppers purchased groceries and more at the mercantile or SEPTEMBER 2014 002general store.

The ‘Mom & Pop’ groceries stores offered basics and old-fashioned friendly service.

In my case, it is not a ‘Mom & Pop’ that I am remembering. It is an ‘Aunt & Uncle.’

My Aunt Dorothy Rice Ford & Uncle Alex Ford owned and operated ‘Rice’s Grocery,’following the death of her father.

Dwarfed in size to today’s Super Stores, it had ample penny candy variety. Making my selections easily occupied me while Mom and Dad shopped for our week’s groceries.

*Gumballs
*Fireballs
*Licorice
*Tootsie Rolls
*Root-beer Barrels
*Lollipops

The Bible is not a Mom & Pop grocery or a Superstore.

It is a storehouse of wisdom.

Peer through the looking glass of Proverbs…

Choose a daily selection from its thirty-one chapters.

My favorite scripture passage is contained in chapter three.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).”

Standard
Christian Growth, Devotionals, Uncategorized

Shell Game

1-3 BLOG

Life is not a sidewalk shell game; or is it?SEPTEMBER 2014 002

Multitudes are duped, deceived and deluded daily…

The deceived have not done their homework.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6a NAS).”

They exchange truth for error. (Romans 1:18-32)

Who manipulates minds?

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9a NAS).”

Standard