"For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Acts 8:23
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." Ephesians 4:31
"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many." Hebrews 12:15
Lord,
You said not to let the root of bitterness grow. You showed me a wonderful example of that this spring.
Our one tree at the left of the driveway was in a growth of a scrub brush and Rose of Sharon. Last Summer, I cleaned a lot of it out cutting the stumps of the scrub brush down to almost ground level so I could mow there. This spring, AEP hired a tree cutting company to cut down that tree and one of the Poplars in the front yard out by the road. I decided to go out and finish cleaning out all by the Rose of Sharon now that it would get enough sunshine to actually bloom. Lord, You are described in scripture as the Rose of Sharon.
There were a lot of leaves that had fallen there so I started cleaning them out go I could finish the job. What I found was the lesson. Because I could not uproot the scrub brush but just cut it down, it had sprouted not one stem like I had cut down, but several new ones out of the stump. Although I could not see them because of the leaf clutter on top, they had lots of time to grow hidden from view.
Oh, Lord, how like the little slights, insults, and attacks on my pride is that scrub brush growth!
I think I have forgiven and cover the offense and my feelings well enough so as not to have them grow into plants again. BUT, something will come up, a word or remembrance totally unrelated and another shoot springs from the stump! Oh, Lord, please forgive me! Help me to be like the chemical "Roundup" sprayed on the bitterness plants as it kills not only the foliage, but the roots! Remind me often, Lord, that any bitterness I feel can corrupt many...maybe the very ones I want to win for You as they see the hypocrisy in me. May that NEVER be!
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Thursday, October 17, 2013
More of God's Amazing Provision
This last 3 weeks, our government elected officials have been fighting over the National Budget. The government actually shut down! Government employees were placed on furlough (Maggie's Mom for one), National parks and monuments were closed (although some D Day vets challenged that and went to see the WW2 memorial in DC anyway! To their credit, police did not arrest them or cause them any harm.)
There was news that folks on Social Security would not get their checks for at least 2 weeks if at all.
Since Dick is on Social Security (We know there is not security except in Christ and He provides our needs), we were wondering if he would get his check or not. It is a big part of our budget for bill paying and we had had to use more funds for gas than we had planned coming home from our trip to PA earlier this month. We got lost and added 3 hours to our trip.) That was my fault!
To our delight and praise to the Father and in His incredible grace and mercy, On the 15th of this month of October, Liberty University gave me an unexpected bonus in a check of $734! Then last night, October 16th) the Congress passed a budget. I am not sure if Dick will get his check or not, but we were able to get caught up on all of our bills and stock the house with groceries!
There was news that folks on Social Security would not get their checks for at least 2 weeks if at all.
Since Dick is on Social Security (We know there is not security except in Christ and He provides our needs), we were wondering if he would get his check or not. It is a big part of our budget for bill paying and we had had to use more funds for gas than we had planned coming home from our trip to PA earlier this month. We got lost and added 3 hours to our trip.) That was my fault!
To our delight and praise to the Father and in His incredible grace and mercy, On the 15th of this month of October, Liberty University gave me an unexpected bonus in a check of $734! Then last night, October 16th) the Congress passed a budget. I am not sure if Dick will get his check or not, but we were able to get caught up on all of our bills and stock the house with groceries!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
God's Lessons From a Spider
God's Lessons From a Spider
Dear Lord,
The other evening, Dick and I watched a big spider build a big web from the end of a tree branch outside our kitchen window. We were eating supper and for a half hour watched from start to finish. The lessons You taught were amazing!
First, the spider drifted down to the ground and attached the web by a single strand anchoring his web. He then went back up that strand and started working from the middle to make the inner circle. He then did something surprising. He started working from the outside of the web from the first strand to the inside. He was meticulous connecting each thread to the next intersection. Around and around he went until he arrived back into the center. All the while the spider did not lose weight as his body made yards and yards of thread.
The breeze started to blow. While the web was in the formative stages, the breeze did not affect the web much at all, as it found no opposition. In the latter stages as the web grew in volume, the breeze made it act more like a sail and it billowed with the wind. However; because the web was grounded by that single thread to the ground, it did not fold over itself and was not destroyed.
Lessons Learned:
- If I want to be successful as a Christian in completing the purpose God has for me, I must first be firmly grounded by the only ONE who can save me, keep me stable, and keep me from self destructing in the midst of the trials in life.
- After being grounded, I need to have a small circle of grounded brothers and sisters first (the church) before I strike out to the outermost areas on my own.
- However; It is not wise to stay in the middle and never go anywhere. The spider knows that in order to attract more bugs, he must build a big web.
- When the web is small and not many strands are connected, the winds of adversity (the enemy) has little effect.
- But when the web grows, it is more of a threat so catches more opposition.
- Only if the original thread of belief in the Lord alone is grounded will the whole group of believers be successful. Otherwise the whole group will come to naught and self destruct.
- If the spider just made great circles, there would be no stability to the web. Each new strand was connected to the existing strands. Only then was it strong.
- So it is with us!
- When I approached the web to try to take a picture, the spider did not hide in the center as I thought it would. It ran to the top from where it started.
- We must run to God in our times of distress, when we are threatened by the enemy , and hide in the shelter of His wings.
There is a reason that Connect is first.
Without connecting to God first and then to others, nothing of any good will come of us.
Then Grow comes next.
We will be ineffective if we just stay in our small circle and never venture out into the community to touch the lives of others and bring them into the web.
Impact is last:
When we do the first two properly, the body of believers will be strong against storms and complete their mission.
Now, the next lesson was hard to take.
The next morning, I went out to inspect the web more closely since the sun was not in my eyes. To my disappointment, the web was gone! At sometime during the night, one of our Whitetail Bucks must have walked under the tree and caught the web in his horns. All of that work, all of that effort, was for naught.
I thought of how, if not carefully guarded, the same could happen to us. I have never mourned the destruction of a spider web before, but that morning, I did.
To my amazement; two days later, the same spider was back in the same tree spinning the same web in exactly the same way! That spider persevered! He would not give up just because his work was destroyed by an unknowing deer. No Sir!
May we...may I learn from that spider; Lord! In Romans 1 You tell us that You show Yourself in all creation and there is none with an excuse. How very true!!!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
More Lessons from a Mustard Seed
Matthew 17:20
I planted some mustard seeds because I wanted to see why the Lord chose that out of all of the seeds he had created. I grew up on a farm and have planted thousands of seeds. All of the seed packets it said that it would take seven to ten days to for the seeds to germinate let alone show above the ground. The seeds I planted on a Sunday were an inch above the ground by Tuesday! God showed me that the smallest faith, when "planted" in the fertile soil of a soul, kept watered with the Word, and kept in the "Son"shine will grow quickly.
The large pot of mustard seeds grew to be about a foot tall, were robust and even flowered. The pot was out in the yard where it was in the elements. We had some hard downpours of rain and big wind storms this summer. The plants took a bit of a beating, but thrived. We were to have a major storm so I brought the pot up to the house and placed it just outside the front wall of our screened in porch under the eves troth for protection. The plants survived the storm, but in 2 days most of the leaves had been stripped off by worms.
I may be wrong, but I believe God showed me that trials are good for us and keep our faith strong and healthy, even though we get a bit beaten up while they are being endured. But if we are placed, or keep ourselves placed, in a "safe" place; the little worms of doubt, disappointment, fear, bitterness, etc. can eat away at that faith and eventually kill it altogether.
By Sunday, August 11th we had 2 broken lawnmowers, and they had been broken since the beginning of the month. God provided mowing through our neighbor who had just had his riding mower fixed! Then on Sunday, a Heather Nickerson, a girl from our Sunday School class brought her dad over to pick up both broken mowers to see if he could fix one of them.
On Tuesday night, they brought not one working mower, but TWO! We were able to give him a love offering because our check from the insurance company had arrived to reimburse us for towing my car.
Yesterday, August 16th, Lance called telling us that our riding mower would be delivered this next week.
Lord, we went from 2 broken mowers to three working mowers! Thank You for YOUR provision in abundance!
I planted some mustard seeds because I wanted to see why the Lord chose that out of all of the seeds he had created. I grew up on a farm and have planted thousands of seeds. All of the seed packets it said that it would take seven to ten days to for the seeds to germinate let alone show above the ground. The seeds I planted on a Sunday were an inch above the ground by Tuesday! God showed me that the smallest faith, when "planted" in the fertile soil of a soul, kept watered with the Word, and kept in the "Son"shine will grow quickly.
The large pot of mustard seeds grew to be about a foot tall, were robust and even flowered. The pot was out in the yard where it was in the elements. We had some hard downpours of rain and big wind storms this summer. The plants took a bit of a beating, but thrived. We were to have a major storm so I brought the pot up to the house and placed it just outside the front wall of our screened in porch under the eves troth for protection. The plants survived the storm, but in 2 days most of the leaves had been stripped off by worms.
I may be wrong, but I believe God showed me that trials are good for us and keep our faith strong and healthy, even though we get a bit beaten up while they are being endured. But if we are placed, or keep ourselves placed, in a "safe" place; the little worms of doubt, disappointment, fear, bitterness, etc. can eat away at that faith and eventually kill it altogether.
By Sunday, August 11th we had 2 broken lawnmowers, and they had been broken since the beginning of the month. God provided mowing through our neighbor who had just had his riding mower fixed! Then on Sunday, a Heather Nickerson, a girl from our Sunday School class brought her dad over to pick up both broken mowers to see if he could fix one of them.
On Tuesday night, they brought not one working mower, but TWO! We were able to give him a love offering because our check from the insurance company had arrived to reimburse us for towing my car.
Yesterday, August 16th, Lance called telling us that our riding mower would be delivered this next week.
Lord, we went from 2 broken mowers to three working mowers! Thank You for YOUR provision in abundance!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
God's Provision and Blessings- July
Lord, You have been So very good to us this month with surprise funds for our needs and wonderful young people from Liberty to not only help with lawn clean up and mowing, berry picking, and "Summer Cleaning as they ministered to us but we got to minister to them in return. They needed "Home away from Home" as they were at school all summer. We developed such sweet relationships, Lord! Thanks So much!
You provided in the medical realm:
Dick got an appointment in one day to the doctor, and hopefully they will find out what has been making him so very sick.
The meds they put him on, one was free?
Then there were the car issues:
The tail pipe of my Kia fell off, but you provided help right when and where I needed it. Then it died because it needed a new starter and You provided discount towing and insurance to pay for all by $5 of it. You provided for funds to have it fixed and a VERY low estimate for getting the tailpipe fixed too!
You know we still have needs, but I am convinced You will provide there too.
On Wednesday night July 31, we had the amazing privilege of having the whole Sabella family and the Summer RA's to come to the house! They brought dinner and dessert, and cleaned up afterward too. The best part was the real FELLOWSHIP and the prayer time together!
Lord, please bless them all!
You provided in the medical realm:
Dick got an appointment in one day to the doctor, and hopefully they will find out what has been making him so very sick.
The meds they put him on, one was free?
Then there were the car issues:
The tail pipe of my Kia fell off, but you provided help right when and where I needed it. Then it died because it needed a new starter and You provided discount towing and insurance to pay for all by $5 of it. You provided for funds to have it fixed and a VERY low estimate for getting the tailpipe fixed too!
You know we still have needs, but I am convinced You will provide there too.
On Wednesday night July 31, we had the amazing privilege of having the whole Sabella family and the Summer RA's to come to the house! They brought dinner and dessert, and cleaned up afterward too. The best part was the real FELLOWSHIP and the prayer time together!
Lord, please bless them all!
Saturday, July 27, 2013
God's Provisions
Dearest Lord,
In the 3rd week in June, someone that my boss did not know approached him in another building on campus and gave him an envelope that had just my name on it and asked him to deliver it for him. The envelope was Inside was a piece of paper with PHIL 4:19 on it and enclosed was $200 in cash! We needed it to pay the taxes we had forgotten about on our cars and for meds and groceries.
Lord, you have done it again!
This week on Tuesday July 23, 2013, there was an envelope on my desk with an encouraging verse from Colossians in it as well as a $25 gift card from Wal-Mart. Lord, we really needed that at that moment. Dick's check would come the next day, but we needed groceries.
I had to take him to the doctor...another miracle. He has been very ill for about 10 days. He finally put a request in on the internet to the doctor's office Monday evening asking for an appointment. Usually that can take about 2 weeks for him to get one. They called on Tuesday morning at 7:30 am and told him to come at 2:40 THAT DAY! If he didn't take that appointment, it would be September before he could be seen. My bosses told me to take the time that afternoon and the next afternoon to take him for the appointment and the chest X-Ray the next day, without taking the time off my allotted sick or vacation time. The antibiotic they put him on did not cost anything either...still amazed at that!
Friday July 26, 2013, there was another envelope delivered by someone our employee to whom it was given didn't know. Inside was PHIL 4:19 and "God is with you and will take care of you" on the paper. Inside was $160 in cash!
Oh Lord, You are our provider and an on time God. Dick's car needs to be inspected and the tailpipe and muffler will need to be replaced before my car will pass inspection in August.
You have provided ample precious yard helpers this summer in the Summer RAs and a student from Liberty. They not only help, they come to visit Dick and spend time with him because they want to! Our neighbor Alan mowed our lawn yesterday because our mower is broken, and Brien Sabella came to do branch clean-up and weed-eating!
How great the Father's love for us!
How blessed beyond all measure!
That He would give His only Son,
To make this wretch His treasure!
Lord, as long as I live, I will never understand why You love us...but am ever so thankful and blessed that You do!
In the 3rd week in June, someone that my boss did not know approached him in another building on campus and gave him an envelope that had just my name on it and asked him to deliver it for him. The envelope was Inside was a piece of paper with PHIL 4:19 on it and enclosed was $200 in cash! We needed it to pay the taxes we had forgotten about on our cars and for meds and groceries.
Lord, you have done it again!
This week on Tuesday July 23, 2013, there was an envelope on my desk with an encouraging verse from Colossians in it as well as a $25 gift card from Wal-Mart. Lord, we really needed that at that moment. Dick's check would come the next day, but we needed groceries.
I had to take him to the doctor...another miracle. He has been very ill for about 10 days. He finally put a request in on the internet to the doctor's office Monday evening asking for an appointment. Usually that can take about 2 weeks for him to get one. They called on Tuesday morning at 7:30 am and told him to come at 2:40 THAT DAY! If he didn't take that appointment, it would be September before he could be seen. My bosses told me to take the time that afternoon and the next afternoon to take him for the appointment and the chest X-Ray the next day, without taking the time off my allotted sick or vacation time. The antibiotic they put him on did not cost anything either...still amazed at that!
Friday July 26, 2013, there was another envelope delivered by someone our employee to whom it was given didn't know. Inside was PHIL 4:19 and "God is with you and will take care of you" on the paper. Inside was $160 in cash!
Oh Lord, You are our provider and an on time God. Dick's car needs to be inspected and the tailpipe and muffler will need to be replaced before my car will pass inspection in August.
You have provided ample precious yard helpers this summer in the Summer RAs and a student from Liberty. They not only help, they come to visit Dick and spend time with him because they want to! Our neighbor Alan mowed our lawn yesterday because our mower is broken, and Brien Sabella came to do branch clean-up and weed-eating!
How great the Father's love for us!
How blessed beyond all measure!
That He would give His only Son,
To make this wretch His treasure!
Lord, as long as I live, I will never understand why You love us...but am ever so thankful and blessed that You do!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Journeys
Psalm 33:11"But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
Lord,
Sometimes you ask us to walk journeys we would never have chosen. But, you know what is best for us. Dick is walking a very difficult journey and has for sometime now. I do not know why You have allowed it, but know that You have not caused it either. Sin has tainted this world and because of that we have death and disease. Lord, I pray for strength for him and me as we wlak this together. I pray that you will encourage His hearyt that You ARE with him in this walk. Thank You that you have redeemed us andin heaven there will be none of this and we will all be forever healthy!
Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
Lord,
Sometimes you ask us to walk journeys we would never have chosen. But, you know what is best for us. Dick is walking a very difficult journey and has for sometime now. I do not know why You have allowed it, but know that You have not caused it either. Sin has tainted this world and because of that we have death and disease. Lord, I pray for strength for him and me as we wlak this together. I pray that you will encourage His hearyt that You ARE with him in this walk. Thank You that you have redeemed us andin heaven there will be none of this and we will all be forever healthy!
Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come!
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