Inspirations

When I first bought our house twenty plus years ago,  we had a relatively large back yard.  Now, however, the yard is much smaller.  Why?  Did I plant trees?  No.  Did I add a pool or pond?  Nope.  I didn’t even make a pretty Garden.  So, what did happen?  Well, about thirteen years ago, I took a job in a local store.  I worked much of the time,  and so mowing the lawn became everyone’s job.  The problem is that when other’s mow, they don’t like to mow the corners.  It was a small thing, and at the time, it wasn’t worth the fight, so I let it go.   As I was looking at our yard,  I realized that all those years  of not mowing the corners had taken its toll.   What I’m understanding is that it is incredibly easy to give up the edges,  but it’s super hard to take back the corners....

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. Hebrews 1:1   I gave a silent scream. “God, are you Listening?” I think that we have all felt that way a one time or another. We feel as though our prayers are falling on deaf ears. We believe, at that moment, God is not listening, and if you haven’t, hang in there, your time is coming.  Yet, deep in my soul, I know for sure he hears. For, God is not deaf to the cries of his children, and he quiets our soul with his presence,  and the Almighty speaks in the laughter of a child  or in the pastor at church on Sunday,  in the words of a friend, or the train wreck at work, and in the beauty of nature  or even the doctor you dread to visit. God is not limited in how or when he speaks as though he were human, but he does speak. He’s the nudge to do the right thing, or the voice prompting you to visit a neighbor or friend. His ...

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28 A yoke, in its purest form,  was used to connect two animals so that they could work together as one.  Jesus said to take “my” yoke. We are to attach our self to Christ.   Often, I fear, we are not fastened to Jesus.  We join our self to many other things.    We are devoted to our job, our money, our friends, power, or our kids (ouch).  Don’t misunderstand me;  none of these things are bad, but they can be harmful if we join our self to them.  If our work is our primary focus, we will soon wear out.  If our family or any other person becomes the emphasis of our life, they will quickly drain us.  If money or material possessions is what matters to us,  we will always be living...

Chains are ok if you are walking a dog.   However, as people, we cringe at chains.    Let’s be honest, I don’t even like the idea of handcuffs.    I understand the need for handcuffs,  but I am not convinced that anyone, honestly, enjoys being restrained.    Chains are strong, and few of us would willingly submit to physical chains.    Yet, what we would never allow in the physical realm we do permit in the unseen realm.    We all know people who are in chains to the addiction of  alcohol,  drugs,  cigarettes,  sex,  power,  or anger….    The sad thing is that they often never see the bonds until it’s too late.    Most of the things that hold us in chains seem harmless at first.     It’s not until the drugs have us in their control, that we see the shackles.    When alcoh...

Recently I heard a Christian friend say,  “I don’t worry about sinning, because when I sin,  I can ask God for forgiveness, and it will be alright.”     This is another one of those statements that make me cringe when I hear it.    Really?    It sounds like you are saying I can do whatever I want because God will forgive me.     This, my friends,  is not Biblical!    It cannot be found in either the Old or New Testament.    In the old testament, the children of Israel were sent into slavery for their sins.    David confessed his sin with Bathsheba,  yet he was punished.    “But that is the Old Testament and we’re not bound by that,” you say.    However, even in the New Testament, this teaching is not there.    Jesus never taught this either.     To the woman caught in adultery, he ...

Words, they are powerful.     God spoke, and everything was created.     He didn’t use anything except his words.    He took nothing and made it something.    He spoke into the darkness, and there was light.     It’s hard for me to even imagine creating anything just by commanding it,  but God did just that.     He spoke into the heavens,  and there were stars and the sun and moon.    Amazing!   Our words are powerful too.    God says that, if we have faith,  we can tell a mountain to move, and it will be moved.     Is God speaking of literal mountains?    I am not sure,  but I have seen financial obstacles removed because of prayer.   I have seen diseases cured because of words that were spoken.    Relationships can be restored or broken because of th...

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Psalm 23: 5  I love the imagery in this verse!     I think of God pouring into us, renewing us.    God renews our life (Ruth 4:15).  He renews our spirit (Psalm 51:10).    According to Isaiah (40:31),  God renews our strength.  We are told in (Romans 12:2) that he renews our minds.    In (2 Corinthians 14:6), we are reminded that we are renewed day by day.    I am told that I never have to pour from an empty cup.    In fact, I don’t have to pour at all.    My cup overflows on to those around me.    That’s a much easier task than trying to pour into anyone.    I can let God overflow in me onto those around me.    The best part is that I do not have to worry about pouring into,  I can j...