Philip-4 years old-
I had lost my keys.
Philip-"I know where the orange keys are."
Me-"Where?"
Philip-"In God's Spirit, and He's not going to give them back," he said very gently.
It was raining outside. Freeman and Philip were dancing in the rain. Freeman was praying, "More Rain! More Rain!"
I said, "Freeman, while you are praying-would you ask God for more money?"
"Sure!"
He came back in and said, "I prayed a prayer I will never forget...and neither will God."
Philip, 4, caught a frog today in our pond. He took it over to our neighbor, Bonnie, to give her as a present. He came back and said a bit sadly, "Bonnie didn't want my present so I decided to give it to Billy Balmer. He said he's coming in 50 hours." Poor frog. He didn't revive right away after he was put back in water. He jumped quickly though after Philip kicked the water.
Philip got stung on his finger. He cried and cried. I heard him praying outloud, "Please God. Don't let the bees sting me. Please dear Lord. Don't let the bees sting me. Thank you Lord for healing my thumb!"
Michael, 1, holds very still and smiles a big smile whenever I want to take his picture. He loves his bath and likes to pull out the plug. He also likes to lay down and drink the bath water. Horrors!
I suggested to Philip that we go for a walk. He said, "..but not Freeman. He's too hyper and stuff. "
Little fleas or gnats were bothering us. Philip said, "Maybe they think we're dead or somethin'."
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Mother Mary and the Upper Room
I was thinking about Mary, the Mother of Jesus, this week.
When the angel came and told her that she was to be with child through the Holy Spirit, she said, "Be it unto me according to Your word."
She carried Jesus within her for nine months and for the next thirty years, she was with Him, enjoying His life and the beauty of One who is fearless.
When He began His ministry, she saw less of Him, but she believed in Him and remembered the words spoken about a sword piercing her heart. When He died, she knew what that sword felt like.
When He rose again, she knew that she would never feel it like that ever again. When He ascended up into Heaven, I am sure it was a bittersweet time for her. First she had Him, then she didn't, then she did, then she didn't.
Jesus told His followers to wait in the Upper Room for a gift from Heaven-the Promised Holy Spirit. Mary, His Mother, was with the others in the Upper Room when Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, came down upon them with wind and fire and the gift of tongues.
From that time on, she had Jesus within her again, through His Spirit. She never missed Him again. I think she must have been so comforted as His mother, and at the same time, she realized He was much more than her son.
She wanted to let others know about Him, not as her son, but as the Savior of the world. She was part of the early church and her life was full.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have wondered, 'Why the gift of tongues?'
Perhaps it is because different tongues represents the different peoples of the world.
With the ability to speak in another language, the gospel could go out to all the nations.
It reminds me of the tower of Babel, only in a good way.
This time, the gift of different tongues enabled others to do mighty things and bring others into the kingdom.
Whenever I hear another language being spoken, I stop and listen.
One time, at Sam's Club, I heard such beautiful language that I actually wept right there in the maple syrup aisle.
I thought, "God speaks all the languages of the world. He Is the Word. He is Language. All things were created through the speaking of His Word, and He speaks every word in every language."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O for a thousand tongues to sing my Great Redeemer's praise.
One language is not nearly enough.
When the angel came and told her that she was to be with child through the Holy Spirit, she said, "Be it unto me according to Your word."
She carried Jesus within her for nine months and for the next thirty years, she was with Him, enjoying His life and the beauty of One who is fearless.
When He began His ministry, she saw less of Him, but she believed in Him and remembered the words spoken about a sword piercing her heart. When He died, she knew what that sword felt like.
When He rose again, she knew that she would never feel it like that ever again. When He ascended up into Heaven, I am sure it was a bittersweet time for her. First she had Him, then she didn't, then she did, then she didn't.
Jesus told His followers to wait in the Upper Room for a gift from Heaven-the Promised Holy Spirit. Mary, His Mother, was with the others in the Upper Room when Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, came down upon them with wind and fire and the gift of tongues.
From that time on, she had Jesus within her again, through His Spirit. She never missed Him again. I think she must have been so comforted as His mother, and at the same time, she realized He was much more than her son.
She wanted to let others know about Him, not as her son, but as the Savior of the world. She was part of the early church and her life was full.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have wondered, 'Why the gift of tongues?'
Perhaps it is because different tongues represents the different peoples of the world.
With the ability to speak in another language, the gospel could go out to all the nations.
It reminds me of the tower of Babel, only in a good way.
This time, the gift of different tongues enabled others to do mighty things and bring others into the kingdom.
Whenever I hear another language being spoken, I stop and listen.
One time, at Sam's Club, I heard such beautiful language that I actually wept right there in the maple syrup aisle.
I thought, "God speaks all the languages of the world. He Is the Word. He is Language. All things were created through the speaking of His Word, and He speaks every word in every language."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O for a thousand tongues to sing my Great Redeemer's praise.
One language is not nearly enough.
Sunday Sermon~April 5, 2009
Text from l Samuel 21:1-9-
David was fleeing from Saul and went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. David lied to him and told him he was about the king's business. The priest decided to go by the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law, and he gave David the old bread that he had just exchanged for new bread, even though it was not lawful to do so. He determined that it was more important to help the desperate man than to follow a doctrinal position. He chose relationship over rules.
David asked for a weapon and the priest gave him the sword of Goliath, which David had used to cut off Goliath's head. It reminded David of God's presence in His life and helped him face his present fear because of his past victories with that same sword.
We come to church to be given bread for the day and a sword for tomorrow.
The bread we receive helps us through a present crisis of abject hunger and the sword helps us face our crucible and move on.
What is the fear that you face that keeps you from moving on?
What is keeping your life and calling on hold?
Your children are waiting for you to get beyond this.
Heaven is cheering you on and saying, "You can do it."
It's time to grow up and move on.
We cannot be coddled forever.
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a time to confront a sinner and make them face the lie that is attached to their sin.
There is a time to shake the dust off of our feet when someone refuses to hear the truth.
How long do we allow someone to eat from a pig's trough?
How long do we wait for them to come to themselves?
When do we comfort and help and encourage?
When do we rebuke and expect a change?
These are difficult questions for those who are responsible for the thriving of our souls.
God help them and give them wisdom.
Jesus poured His life into twelve men, and one man absolutely betrayed Him and another denied Him. We are bound to be hurt and betrayed by those we have poured our lives into. We cannot allow the fear and the pain of betrayal keep us from pouring our lives into others.
(I read one time that we will not truly know how to minister to others unless we have felt the sting of betrayal.)
When people come to church, they do not have to clean themselves up first.
The purpose of the church is to help people in their desperation.
The purpose of the church is to feed people with the Bread of Life and give them a sword to face their fears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David was fleeing from Saul and went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. David lied to him and told him he was about the king's business. The priest decided to go by the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law, and he gave David the old bread that he had just exchanged for new bread, even though it was not lawful to do so. He determined that it was more important to help the desperate man than to follow a doctrinal position. He chose relationship over rules.
David asked for a weapon and the priest gave him the sword of Goliath, which David had used to cut off Goliath's head. It reminded David of God's presence in His life and helped him face his present fear because of his past victories with that same sword.
We come to church to be given bread for the day and a sword for tomorrow.
The bread we receive helps us through a present crisis of abject hunger and the sword helps us face our crucible and move on.
What is the fear that you face that keeps you from moving on?
What is keeping your life and calling on hold?
Your children are waiting for you to get beyond this.
Heaven is cheering you on and saying, "You can do it."
It's time to grow up and move on.
We cannot be coddled forever.
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a time to confront a sinner and make them face the lie that is attached to their sin.
There is a time to shake the dust off of our feet when someone refuses to hear the truth.
How long do we allow someone to eat from a pig's trough?
How long do we wait for them to come to themselves?
When do we comfort and help and encourage?
When do we rebuke and expect a change?
These are difficult questions for those who are responsible for the thriving of our souls.
God help them and give them wisdom.
Jesus poured His life into twelve men, and one man absolutely betrayed Him and another denied Him. We are bound to be hurt and betrayed by those we have poured our lives into. We cannot allow the fear and the pain of betrayal keep us from pouring our lives into others.
(I read one time that we will not truly know how to minister to others unless we have felt the sting of betrayal.)
When people come to church, they do not have to clean themselves up first.
The purpose of the church is to help people in their desperation.
The purpose of the church is to feed people with the Bread of Life and give them a sword to face their fears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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