A Living Cross

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Man has the symbol of the cross in many places to remember but only Jesus can display a living cross with His shining colors in fleeting beauty for me to see.

This living cross reminds me of the amazing ways Jesus shows His presence in all the details of my life. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"God is the One who builds trophies from the scrap pile,

who draws His clay from under the bridge,

 who makes clean instruments of beauty from the filthy failures of yesteryear." 

 (See Matthew 9:10-13) 

 

 Charles Swindoll, The Living Insights Study Bible, pg 1016

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On this earthly journey

I will walk the path of obedience,

while using the light of His word.

 I will hold the hand of Jesus as He keeps me and provides for me.

 Jesus will never let go---I will not do anything without

His smile of approval.

When I am tired and weary

I will allow Jesus to fill me with His presence, comfort,

strength and wisdom!

I will persevere in this life as I look through the lens of eternity

at everything I do each day until I reach my home in heaven.

Jana Finch

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The following is from James Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore, page 143

“Satan doesn’t have to convince you and me to do his will for our life.  He only has to tempt us to demand our own.  God has something bigger for each of us than our human minds can hug.  Something eternal.  Something that will still matter when our bones have turned to heaps of dust.

       *God knows everything about you and every matter concerning you.  Nothing is hidden from His sight.  So submit to God.

       *He is always looking out for your ultimate good and takes your hurts personally.  So submit to God.

        *He is holy and worthy and incapable of abusing His divine authority over you.  So submit to God.

     *He knows when your motive was right but your mouth messed up.  So submit to God.

        *He knows exactly how to work terrible into good.  So submit to God.

         *He loves you completely and unconditionally and will never let you go.  So submit to God.

         *He knows the well-deliberated plan for your life and how all things must fall into place for you to fulfill your destiny.  So submit to God.

         *He will never put to shame those who trust in Him.  So submit to God.

 

The Devil is trying to steal from you and destroy you and make it look like it was all your idea.  So, Girlfriend, submit to God."

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Hope For The Heart: What does the Bible say?

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Visit HopeForTheHeart.org
to see Bible help topics on the web.

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Wisdom's Gentleness

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The following is written by Melissa Fitzpatrick in James Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore.

The reference to Douglas Moo comes from his book The Letter of James, page 170

 

 

 

 

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"He (the one who is wise and has understanding) should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness."

 

James 3:13  HCSB version

 

 

"The Greek word rendered "humility" or "gentleness" refers to "the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one's self-importance."

 

"Douglas Moo notes that the quality this word refers to "was not usually prized by the Greeks" because "they thought it signaled a servility unworthy of a strong and confident person."  Things are not so different in our society, are they?  Even within our church communities, the wise people are usually the outspoken, the ones winning the theological debates.  The gentle ones may be respected as good, down-to-earth folks with servant hearts, but we rarely deem them wise."

 

"What is it about not being overly impressed by a sense of one's self-importance that makes one wise?  If I were really courageous enough to admit I am not as significant as I think I am, then I wouldn't always need to have the last word."

 

"The gentleness that is linked to wisdom in this context means living out of the knowledge that I am not the priority here.  When I combine this disquieting yet liberating truth about me with the awareness that each person I meet is worth far more than I could ever imagine, perhaps I will be on my way to exuding this wisdom from above."

 

 

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Dear Lord,

 

Give me your wisdom, work it in and through me.

 

 Give me eyes to see the worldly wisdom around me

 

 before I join in and become like the world. 

 

 Then show me how to act and think to do your will

 

 and to be filled with your

 

gentle wisdom from above.

 

I ask this in Jesus name, Amen

 

 

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Jealousy

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Jealousy takes root in the soil of insecurity.  Without hesitation, let’s ask God to pluck every splinter of jealousy from our hearts while we hold still in His hands; but those holes aren’t meant to stay hollow.  Let’s ask Him to plant within us a thriving, healthy sense of our security in Him.  Never forget that God is a giver (James 1:17).  Every time we ask Him to take something from us, let’s be bold enough to request divine riches in its place.  Isaiah 33:6 says He’s “a rich store” and a “treasure”.

 By Beth Moore, taken from James Mercy Triumphs Bible Study (LifeWay), page 121

 

This Bible Study is very convicting and I would recommend it.  I have bought the CD’s and workbook. This way I can do the study on my time without needing to drive somewhere to do it.  I want to add I really miss being in a group to study God’s word but that is not what God is calling me to do right now. Beth Moore challenges us to memorize all of James.  I have taken on the challenge.  Memorizing chapters at a time really does change your life as I have heard her say over the last 10 years but I have never had the time and the desire to memorize chapters at a time.  I praise God that He is helping me to do it now.  However, without being able to recite the chapters to my son I might lose my resolve.  I don’t see my son very often which gives me ample time to memorize!  Memorizing is not easy to do but it is worth it!

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Wisdom From Heaven

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Give me your wisdom that comes from heaven.

Use your ways to clean the stains of sin in me that I have
no power to remove.

Make this earthen vessel like new.

Why would something pure be put into a dirty container?

Why would purity be mixed with envy and selfish ambition?

How can good fruit exist where a restless evil

full of deadly poison resides?

God gives wisdom from heaven generously,
we only need to ask.

Humility comes from this wisdom from heaven. 

Bitter envy and selfish ambition cannot be disguised.  It is the impurity within the container that no human can clean.

This uncleanliness within us cannot be denied. 
Satan would deceive us to believe we are
clean and full of wisdom.

The wisdom we desire is held above, to be sought after and asked for
from the creator.

We must be an anchor in a world of violent waves
being blown and tossed by the wind.

Our wisdom comes from heaven all day,

whenever we ask.

 

 

 

James 3:17 NIV   “But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

James 3:8  “but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

James 1:5  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

James 3:14  “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”

James 1:6  “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

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Jesus calls us each by name

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Each flower grows with unique beauty that can't compare.

The seed is given every detail for each flower.

God knows every flower and every seed He has placed on the earth. 

 His creativity and knowledge are beyond our thinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each person has beauty that can't compare.

The embryo is given every detail for each person.

God knows every person and every embryo He has placed on this earth.

His love and attention to every detail is beyond our thinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus calls each flower and each person by name.

 

 

Do we hear Him?

 

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"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them , and they follow me."    John 10:27

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Listen

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God requires us to take risk...to trust Him.

 

 

To believe He called , spoke, directed.

 

 

We don't require others to know and believe what God told us...it is enough that He spoke to us and we listened.

 

 

 

Our hearts were created to hear the creator.

 

 

 

We can take the risk....He gave the idea...we listened and we planned.

 

 

He helps us to carry out the plan...our prayers for guidance are answered.

 

 

And we are blessed beyond what we hoped or imagined.

 

 

 



Our life is changed because we obeyed...

                                       

                                                         we listened to His voice.

 

                                                            

 

                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me."    John 10:27

 

 

 

 

 

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How Will They Know?

 

 

 

The sun melts the top of the newly fallen snow.  Through the night the snow freezes over. That same patch of snow is now slush turned to ice.  It is harder than it was the day before.  The days remain cold and the ice becomes stronger.  The sun must now shine hot to melt away what was once fluffy white snow.

 

A child is like bright shining snow that has just fallen.  When upon the child's first encounter with fear and abuse the child begins to melt.  More pain brings icy winds to harden this heart that was left like slush.  Hard ice is now guarding this heart.  The ice covering keeps all feeling out.  Only heat can change things now. 

 A flame to melt the layers of suffering. 

 

The love of Jesus Christ can cut through to the heart covered with ice.  It can burn through to allow the beauty of 

green summer grass. 

A soft newness can replace the burdened heart.

 

How will the child born into a bitterly cold environment

know of His love?

 

They will know by seeing the bright light and

feeling the blazing heat.

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The Angels Were There!

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When times are overwhelming, such as an emergency situation, I lock eyes with Jesus.  My thoughts are my words.  Jesus hears my thoughts and answers in my thoughts.  He knows what was, what is and what is going to happen. He is there with the answer as soon as my thoughts form questions. Jesus is beside me, He is carrying me, He is in front of me and He is behind me.

 

I knew I could not loose my composure and cry because that would not help Sarah.  Still, my soul was screaming, "Help Me, Jesus!"   I say the name of Jesus over and over as my thoughts are telling me what to do next to help Sarah.  I am speaking the words, “Help me, Jesus!” while He is giving  me complete instructions as to what I should do.  I had to stay calm so I could hear the directions otherwise who would help Sarah?

 

After everything was over and we were back home I asked God, "Why weren’t you there when Sarah and I fell, why couldn’t I see you?"  "Where were your angels to keep us from falling?"  Then a still small voice spoke to me, "My angels were there."  Yes, now I know His angels were there, we could have been hurt so much worse with long-term consequences!!  The angels were all around and they never left us.  God was in control all the time even if I felt out of control.  I believe good will come from this accident!  I am confident we are in the palm of His hand!

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah and I fell 3 foot off of the van lift as I was putting her into the van. The front wheel rolled off on one corner.  I was distracted, had too much in my hands and was in a hurry to be on time.

 

I tried to pull the wheelchair back up but I fell over with the wheelchair off of the lift and slid on the ground, I only had a bruise on my ankle. Sarah’s chair had hit the ground then fell over. Sarah’s cheek was smashed in the gravel while she was still belted into her wheelchair. And then the nightmare started of trying to get Sarah right side up again and in her chair!!  (the above writing, The Angels Were There, goes here!) All I could do was release her belt in the wheelchair and make her comfortable on the ground.  I could not lift her or get her to stand on her legs.  Then I bundled her up and gave her a pillow for her head while she lay on the ground.  Sarah gave a happy sound at this time like maybe we were on a campout!!  Sarah's pain tolerance is very high!

Sarah had to stay on the cold ground for an hour until her dad got there to put her in the chair.  He had his arm in a sling and was not suppose to lift with it but he had to. He did not do any damage to it thankfully. (He had surgery on his arm a few weeks prior.)

 

Sarah and I then spent the rest of the day in the emergency room having different tests done to make sure all was well with Sarah.  She wouldn’t stand for a few days and had a bruised face but otherwise was O.K.

 

Now we park the van a different way so that the wheelchair can never roll forward on the lift again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith

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The shadow was perfect with every detail.  It was a sunny morning; the bird was eating at the feeder.  I could only see his shadow. He must have been very hungry by the motion of his shadow.  I could not see the actual bird but I believed he was there.  I could not know for sure the bird was eating, but I had faith he was.

 

The movement and outline of the shadow were intriguing.  I could almost see the real bird in my mind.  I couldn’t see the color of the bird’s feathers until I changed the angle of my line of vision, then I saw the bird as he really was. I could see so much more beauty and color. There was no comparison between seeing the bird in a shadow and seeing his color in real life!

 

When I see Jesus face to face there will be so much joy. I know Jesus is here beside me.  I can’t see the details of His face but I can see how He works.  Things are that could never have been without His love and intervention. 

 

I believe He is with me.  I know the peace He gives me.  I know the sustaining strength that is not my own.  I know the thoughts beyond my ability to know.  I know how those thoughts can bring success to impossible situations.  No, I can’t see the details of the face of Jesus but I know He is smiling. I know His arms are around me, protecting me. 

 

By faith I know Jesus is beside me just as I knew the bird was there eating at the feeder. Soon I will see Jesus as He really is and there will be no comparison!

 

 

 

“……but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall, as God’s children,
resemble and be like Him, for we shall see him just as He really is.” 

1 John 3:2




 

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Letter to Sarah

Dear Sarah,

 

I knew you as I was weaving you together before you were born. I took great care to knit you just the way I wanted.  I used beautiful color and design as everything I make is wonderfully made. I was in control of each part of you, nothing was ever hidden from me, nothing was ever unknown to me as you were in that secret place.  When I was finished I then began a plan for your time on earth where I would have my hand upon you guiding and holding you fast.  Each and every day was recorded in my plan, not one of them was unplanned.  I knew about each one of your days before you started your first day on earth.  They were so very important to me that I wrote them in my book where I keep all things that are close to my heart.  I knew that your thoughts would not be like other people I had made.  I meant for you to be limited in some ways so you could do things on the earth that no one else could.  I have things written in my book that you have not accomplished yet that are very important in my plan for my kingdom.  Oh, how I want you to know that I will see you every minute of every day and nothing will happen to you that is not already written in my book.  I am so happy to see your trust in me Sarah.  Your trust that is like an infant’s trust in those that care for her.

 

I love you so much and I will see you soon, Jesus

 

 

Sanctity of Human Life month

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   7 weeks old                                                                          LIFE

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus is in all LIFE........

no matter the quality...

no matter the age...

no matter the desire.

 

He is in all LIFE, He is over all LIFE, all LIFE is His.

 

NO LIFE is taken without the need for Jesus to die.

 

He has conquered death with LIFE.

Who are we to take LIFE with death?

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LIVE the LIFE Jesus gives.
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