Inspirations

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to  the   house   of   the   Lord .” As I was sitting in church last Sunday, I noticed some people who were in the service that were checking the clock when the service started and at varying intervals during the service.  This is something that has bothered me from the time I was a young person. While I cannot presume know or judge another’s motives for their actions, I do question them.   I have always felt that, as a Christian, we should desire to be in God’s house and among his people.  We should never be concerned about the length of the church service. We are putting limits on the Holy Spirit when we are consumed with time in a church service. In addition, we lose our focus; we forget why we are at church. Finally, we may distract others who truly desire to worship God.  Friends, fellow Christians, if your passion in going to church is to love and worship God then put the watches away...

A few weeks ago, I was hiking at Jakes rocks.  It was relaxing to walk in the woods.  Even though it was fun as I was reflecting on the excursion, I could not help but imagine how much more fun it would have been if I had a guide to lead me.  I needed someone familiar with the trails; that would be able to lead me and guarantee that I would not lose my way.  Truth is I was afraid to go too far along the trails because I did not want my darling husband to have to send in a search party for me.  Friends if our desire is to get to heaven, then we need someone who has already been there to show us the way.  There is only one person, which I’m aware of, who qualifies for that job; that is Jesus Christ. He knows all about life on this earth; he lived among us.  He faced every struggle that we could face, so he is more than capable of leading us through this life without getting us lost.  There is no pitfall that can surprise him.  When we trust hi...

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic,  love  one another, be compassionate and humble.    1 Peter  3:8 I love fountains!  I love looking at and listening to them.  There is something calming and peaceful about them.  I absolutely love fountains that have tiers.  It’s so enjoyable to see the water cascading over the different levels.  Every time I watch fountains, I am reminded of how our love for God should be like a fountain.  When we love God, it will spill over on to those around us.  As we fill up with God’s love, it will have no place to go so it will run over the edges and on to others.  We will create a fountain. Surely our love for God is evidenced in our love for those he put around us.  Soon, they too may be filled up with the love of God and creating a fountain of their own; since they, in all likelihood, know others that we do not know.  We can take great satisfaction in knowing th...

Every now and then, God gives me a glimpse into what real love should look like.  This week, thanks to my sweetheart, I had just such a revelation.  For me, vacation means going somewhere, anywhere, that is not home.  I don’t want to feel like I’m sitting home on vacation.  However, I never realized that, until recently, my hubby would be perfectly happy sitting at home on his vacation.  Yet, for the last few years, we have gone somewhere for vacation.  My darling husband does this not because he loves it, but because he knows I love it.  In short, the only reason that he goes on vacation is because it makes me happy.  He puts his wants aside for me and what I want.  What a beautiful picture of the kind of love we all should have for each other; not just as husband and wife but for everyone.  We are to “consider others better than ourselves”; to put their needs above our own.  We deny ourselves something because we know someone e...

Yesterday while I was in the shower, I heard a young girl say, “Mom, do you have a scrubby?”  I completely ignored the voice.  Then I heard the girl ask the question a second time.  “I don’t think I’m your mother”, I said as I poked my head around the shower curtain.  Then I saw who was speaking and realized that the person in question really was my daughter.  We all laugh at those mistakes.  As I thought about the incident, it reminded me that Jesus says his sheep know his voice.  God wants us to know him so well that when he speaks, we know immediately that it is Jesus; this takes practice and discernment.  God wants us to be so “in tune” with him that we automatically know his voice.  He doesn't need to raise his voice or speak above a whisper. He wants us to be so “in sync” with him that if we hear another voice we will not listen because it’s not the voice we know and love.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 Last week I went to see a place called Jakes Rocks in the Allegheny National Forest.  I had my GPS, so I felt confident that I could locate the site.  When I left a little place called Warren, Pa I had a quarter of a tank of gas.  If I had been wise, I would have gotten gas then.  Sadly, I was not wise; I did not get gas. We started down a byway that took us through the Allegheny National Forest.  The farther I drove down the road (if you could call it that), the more concerned I became that I would run out of gas on a road that with no houses AND no one travels; there were only trees (lots of them).  So, I whispered in God’s ear, “Lord, I’d really like not to run out of gas”.  After going a little distance, we met a man doing some sort of work on the roads or paths.  I stopped and asked ...

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6     I know a young man going to college in Colorado who juggles and does balloon art ( Get Creative Entertainment LLC on Facebook) , and a pastor’s wife in New York who sews all kinds of things and writes books.( http://www.terrigroh.com/ ) These people inspire me because of the way they are making use of the talents God has given them.  They and others like them are making use of the talents that God has given them.  Often what I see is quite a different story.  I see people who never make use of the talents, abilities, and resources God has given them. They keep them hidden, locked in a safe rather than put them to work so they can present the increase to God.  Instead of looking at what God has given and asking “how can I put this to work for me?” the...