Snow

We finally got a little bit of snow today (usually we start getting it much earlier than this). It wasn't very much and it didn't last real long, still it was special. And it made me think...

Photo: Kezzia Keener

...of purity. Snow is white, the color of purity. And God offers to wash us "as white as snow"*. Wash us pure. Wash us till we're totally untainted by the world, by sin. But snow doesn't fall in the sunshine (usually). This washing, this purifying, can only be done through the cloudy, stormy, cold, winter days...through the trials and the darkness when we can't see through tomorrow. The days when we feel like complete failures. The days when we wonder if God is really leading us. The days when the coldness and pain make us wonder if summer will ever come again. The days when it seems like darkness will win.

Yes, these are our greatest blessings.

Photo: Judi Keener

"...God 'doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" (Lam. 3:33). When He permits trial and afflictions, it is "for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness" (Heb. 12:10). If received in faith, the trial that seems so bitter and hard to bear will prove a blessing. The crual blow that blights the joys of earth will be the means of turning our eyes to heaven.... 

Photo: Kezzia Keener

"The trials of life are God's workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. Their hewing, squaring, and chiseling, their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process, it is hard to be pressed dowm to the grinding wheel. But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple. Upon no useless material does the Master bestow such careful, thorough work. Only His precious stones are polished after the similitude of a palace." (MB p. 10). 

 

Reflections

It's that time of the year again. Thanksgiving. My favorite. Why? Because it is a special time to stop and remember the blessings God has given us and give thanks for them. Oh, yes, it's important to take time to thank God for them throughout the year, but there's just something about taking a day and dedicating to just that.

There's much to be thankful for: life, health, family, friends, protection, food, shelter, freedom...the list could go on and on. And I am thankful for those things. But as I look back over the past year, there's something I'm even more grateful for than those (though those are all priceless): God's leading. And grace.

This year has not been an easy year. Not even close (it could well have been the hardest so far). But the lessons learned and grace given far out weigh the trials.

...Thank You, God.

Only Love...

Love is a very interesting thing... 

...Only love will do the unreasonable 

...Whether it is met with joy or pain, it will persist when nothing else will

...Only love can awaken love

...And sometimes, only love can make someone change their course.

I'm so glad we have a God that loves us such much, aren't you?

"Ananias," 


"Behold, I am here, Lord,"


"I have a job for you: Go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas for Saul of Tarsus, and put your hands on him, that He might receive His sight."

(Here comes my favorite part)

"Uhh...What? Are you crazy? Haven't you heard how much evil this man hath done to Your people at Jerusalem? And how He came here for that intent?"


"Just go. I know what I'm doing. I'm going to make him a powerful worker for Me." 

True humility

"Skepticism and unbelief are not humility. 

Implicit belief in Christ’s word is true humility, true self-surrender."

(The Desire of Ages, page 535)

Strength

Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop your strength.
When you go through hardship
and decide not to surrender,
that is strength.

-Author Unknown

Robe of Christ's Righteousness

"...Clothed with the garments of praise and thanksgiving—the robe of Christ’s righteousness." (Help in Daily Living, p. 52).

Praise and thanksgiving = robe of Christ's righteousness?

Heavenly Perspective

I'm running
I'm trying
I'm doing all I can do to be something that I am not
Not sure of the reason why I play this silly game
The truth is without You I would fall apart
When storms come
When rain falls
I want to be in control
I give in to the voice of despair
When I fail I cry out for peace and joy
But my mind is consumed with cares
With cares

Why do I live my live my life in worry
Lord, come renew my mind
I'm blinded by the circumstance
Please open my eyes
Let me see the awesome God that stands behind
You cannot be anything but faithful
You cannot be anything but true
How I need this heavenly perspective
Take my eyes off the world so I see You
I see You, I see You

I want to be strong
Help me show that I am weak
It's not my strength the world should see
Only when my mind is rightly fixed on You can I be
A reflection of Your glory
In trials, in hard times You will be faithful always
Teach my heart to never complain
Too often, I live like the world in mind and spirit
Help me remember I'm a Child of the King
A child of the King

Why do I live my live my life in worry

Lord, come renew my mind
I'm blinded by the circumstance
Please open my eyes
Let me see the awesome God that stands behind
You cannot be anything but faithful
You cannot be anything but true
How I need this heavenly perspective
Take my eyes off the world so I see You
I see You, I see You

(By Leslie Ludy)

The Spirit is Willing

You have a thousand moments in every day of your life that you need to be rescued. From what?

We don't believe in victory anymore. 

We have more faith in the power of Satan over our life than we do in the power of Jesus Christ to deliver us in our life. 

What has happened to the church where we have faith in Satan? 

We have faith in the power of darkness? 

We have faith in the power of sin? 

What has happened to us, when we have lost the faith in the power of God?

If you are not living in the life of Jesus Christ, if you are not abiding in the light of holiness,

then you are living a false existence under the banner of all these things that are true.

Our world is wanting to flush Christianity down the toilet because of this very thing...

How Many of Us Really Know God?

How many of us truly know Christ? Most of us think we know Him. But how many of us really know Him?

Many of us have grown up in good Christian families. We've been in church our whole lives. We've lived lives of moral integrity. When we were little, we learned that the answer to nearly every question is Jesus. In Sabbath school we learned that if we memorized enough verses we would get a lollipop or a packet of stickers. As we grew older, we learned how to please the godly adults around us by saying "Jesus is number one." or wearing WWJD bracelets. We appeased our parents by going to youth group every week, listening to Christian music, going to Christian camps or summer mission trips, and maybe even cracking our Bibles happen every now and then. We lived good Christian lives. We went to Christian schools. We have great Christian friends, listen to inspiring messages, sing passionate songs, and even read plenty of Christian books. But how many of us truly know Christ?

All of this is good. I'm not saying we shouldn't be doing it. But what good does it do if we don't truly know Christ? There's a huge difference between knowing about God, and knowing God.

Knowing Christ in like this is not easy. But I'd rather have a meaningful, victorus life than an easy one. And so, I've made a decision. I'm through with just knowing about God. I want to know Him.