Category Archives: Christian Growth

Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Blindsided on a Blind Date

A BRIGHT LIGHT

Ever been blindsided on a bind date?

In my teen PAM CROPPED 2013years, I had many dates that fell under the blind date category. Two or three of the boys I paired off with were what in my day were popularly labeled losers.

On the brighter side, I am in the blessed state of wedlock with my last blind date. We will celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary in three years.

Saul, in his blind date trauma trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, becoming the Apostle Paul. (Acts 9:1-18)

A bright heavenly light blinded his eyes. God sent a reluctant messenger to restore his sight. (Acts 9:10-18)

“Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized (Acts 9:18 NKJ).”

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

Some Pop Vitamins

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The jury is still out on the health benefits of vitaminPAM CROPPED 2013 and mineral supplements.

Some tout their effectiveness while others say they do little to  improve our over-all health.

Personally, I can tell a big difference when I take certain vitamins.  Married to a ‘vegetarian,’ I have occasionally suffered with anemia. When I’ve ‘added’ iron supplements to my diet, I’ve had increased energy.

Spiritually, I benefit from specific character traits and virtues.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge, self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love (2 Peter 1:5-7 NKJ).  Some ‘pop vitamins.’

I prefer the pursuit of virtues.

“For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8 NKJ).”

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Bible Studies, Children, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer

Duck, it’s Pouring!

6-25- BLOG RAIN

 

“It’s raining, it’s pouring”….

 

PAM CROPPED 2013

The children’s nursery rhyme has a catchy tune!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avurCRJiUj0

Residents of South Texas were singing songs of woe when experiencing a severe drought. It could mean devastation to crops and loss of life in livestock herds. We watched weather broadcasts, searched the horizon and prayed for rain.

Elijah prayed; the LORD God sent rain pouring down upon parched land.

“He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, ‘Go up and look toward the sea.’ So he went up, looked, and said, ‘There’s nothing.’ Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ On the seventh time, he reported, ‘There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.’ Then Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, Get [your chariot] ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour (1 Kings 18:42b-45a HCS).”

God also heard the prayer requests of Texans. It rained and we rejoiced!

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Shortest Distance

A BLOG RAPTURE

PAM CROPPED 2013

 

Factual knowledge is not always exciting; yet, I  have remembered a few facts from my school days. ‘The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.’ It’s not very exciting but it is logical. Oops! Is that a Mr. Spock flash back? Back to the elementary school straight-line, rule…

Teachers always instructed us to line up in a straight line at the door, before going to lunch, the library, to the gym, or for recess. So, does that verify that the shortest distance between the classroom and any designated destination was a straight line? Apparently, they thought so.

In addition, the straight-line approach worked well in moving twenty-five squirming children in an orderly fashion. I’m looking forward to the day when I move from point a (earth) to point b (heaven). If it requires a straight line, I’m already trained!

“And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16b-18 NKJ).”

 

 

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Christian Growth, Friends, Salvation

John Deere Decision

A JOHN DEEREPAM CROPPED 2013

  How old is too old, too set in our  ways? Advancing in years does seem a detriment to seeking radical change. Yet, we can start anew at any age. Let me introduce a man I refer to only as ‘Sam.’ When we first met, he was, I would guess in his mid sixties and retired from the military. He had not retired from life.

Sam busied himself with farming, a well-stocked fishpond, and a woodworking shop. His wife would be retiring soon and they decided to begin a small business in preparation. He opened a gift shop, where in addition to mail order items; he would offer his wife’s ceramics. Already friends, he hired me to serve as clerk (and coffee maker). It was in a small town strip mall.

The manager of the shops was the wife of a local pastor. Conversation came easy for Sam. Conversion had not. His wife was a dedicated Christian and had prayed for his salvation for many years. My husband and I were concerned about him; the always-cheerful strip mall manager was as well. Much to our surprise, Sam made a ‘John Deere’ decision.

The Lord had been tugging at his heart. One day, when working atop his tractor he detoured from the field to a highway and drove to town to talk with the husband-pastor of the manager we had both come to love. Sam got right with his maker and made Jesus his Savior and Lord. We witnessed his water baptism and his change of heart.

Sam, along with his wife, now abides forever with the Lord in heaven. His ‘John Deere’ detour and decision proved he was not too old for transformation.  [Romans 10:9-13]

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Uncategorized

Or So They Say

BLOG MEN AT WORK

‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way,’ or so they say.

It isPAM CROPPED 2013 true that determination and diligence mean a great deal when facing insurmountable obstacles.

Is willing something to come to completion enough? I think not.

We need the might of the Master.

When the Master asserts His will, the impossible becomes reality. I want to serve Him faithfully, yet I fail. His power prevails!

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13 Scofield Bible).”

He is the workman. I am the work in progress.

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships

Apple for the Teacher

A BLOG SCHOOLMost of us have fond memories of favorite PAM CROPPED 2013schoolteachers. They had the knack of telling stories or sharing pertinent information in an interesting way.

We were learning because they had valuable knowledge and knew how best to share it with others. They were good teachers because they made learning enjoyable.

I consider some pastors as having been among my best teachers. I sat under their preaching as they taught their flocks about the Shepherd, Jesus. Using, the Bible as text book they used illustrations and personal experiences. The messages were not entertaining. Instead, they were convicting, inspiring and comforting. Their lives reflected an intimate relationship with Christ.

Mary had her relationship and service priorities in order.

“While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said (Luke 10:38-39 HCS).”  

Mary’s place, position and apt attention to Jesus teaching pleased Him.

“Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42b HCS).”

Each that makes the right choice will sit at Jesus’ feet in heaven. In love, we will worship and listen to His teaching for eternity.

 

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Children, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships

Power Struggle

A BLOG JESUS

‘Power struggle.’PAM CROPPED 2013

Does that make you wince after reading?

Power struggles happen; it’s that simple yet stressful.

We find ourselves in the midst of conflicts at work, home, in civic clubs and sadly even in many churches.

‘Government gridlock’ is nothing more than a politically correct catch phrase for power struggles.

Are you aware that Jesus reprimanded his disciples when a power struggle surfaced?

“Now came an argument among them as to which of them would be greatest [in the coming kingdom]! But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he stood a little child beside him and said to them, ‘Anyone who takes care of a little child like this is caring for me! And whoever cares for me is caring for God who sent me. Your care for others is the measure of your greatness (Luke 9:46-48 Living Bible).”

 

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Prayer, Uncategorized

Unspoken Prayer Requests

 

HANNAH PRAYER BLOGThe pastor asks the same question every time we PAM CROPPED 2013meet.

Any unspoken requests?

Hands and seeking hearts go up throughout the sanctuary. Some things are just too personal or painful to voice aloud. There may come a time when we feel led by God to share them publicly;  for the present, we label them unspoken prayer requests.

The LORD hears our hearts as well as our lips. Hannah’s prayer serves as an excellent example.

“Making a vow, she pleaded, LORD of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut (1 Samuel 1:11 HCS).”

Hannah prayed in the temple area without voicing a word to anyone else.

“While she was praying in the LORD’S presence, Eli watched her lips. Hannah was speaking to herself, and although her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk and scolded her (1 Samuel 1:12-14a HCS).”

The Priest, Eli,  could not hear the prayer request of Hannah. He who answered her prayer with a gift of  a son heard every word.

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Christian Growth, Short Stories

Antie

PAM CROPPED 2013

      

 

“This stage in my life’s not all bad.”

3-14 BLOG

 “Antie, are you talking to yourself again?”

 “Yeah, just thinkin,’ I’m not alone. This daily routine is full of others just as busy as me.”

 “Why so discouraged?”

 “Goes with the territory, I guess. I’m in a mid-life crisis;  staying busy does help to keep me focused. Yet, I’m not convinced the retirement plans are such a good idea. Maybe, if I work extra hard the supervisor will see how I’m useful to the industry.”

“Okay, let’s go with that. What do you think you do best?”

“You should know!  I’m always trying to fix things. I look for problems  in the structure and try to repair it. If the foundation breaks down the entire unit suffers.”

“O Antie, lighten up! Don’t try to do everything yourself; leave some work for others to do.”

“Wish I could, at times I feel like a combination waitress- sanitation engineer! Why does life have to revolve around food? I deliver the food and I’m expected to carry off the garbage.”

“You are so right, Antie! You ready to go after groceries?”

“If I can work up the courage, I might not survive the trip. Predators are everywhere. I live in constant fear of being eaten alive or being ground into the dust!”

Such is the mid life crisis for the typical female ant in her colony. Only the oldest leave the ant beds seeking food, and usually do not survive the expedition.

 “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer (Proverbs 30:25 NKJ).”

I have much to learn from ants. Though fictional, and with negative emotions, Antie teaches me to be industrious in kingdom work. My Father is looking for willing workers to build upon the foundation of His Son, Jesus. I can carry the bread of life to those who hunger and warn of impending danger. Satan lurks in the shadows but Jesus reigns victorious!

 


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