Facing Rejection

     Have you ever dealt with the feeling that you will never be good enough for someone?  Or that you just don't measure up to someone's expectations of what you should be or that you just will never outlive the things you have done in your past? 
     Well as I was reading this morning I came across a devotion that just spoke to that part of my heart, the part that felt that I was never going to be good enough.  It is from yessterday's evening devotion of Billy Graham's book Hope for Each Day. 
     ...How did Jesus respond to this criticism and rejection?  First, with steadfastness.  He did not tone down His message, nor did He stop doing what He knew was right.  Second, with strength.  Ahead of Him was the cross, but He did not lose courage or shrink form what He knew was God's will.  Third, with submission.  When Herod prodded Jesus to defend Himself, "He anwered him nothing" (Luke 23:9).  Only one thing mattered: fulfilling God's purpose for His life.
     How will you meet criticism?
     I will follow Christ's example.  First by continuing to take care of my family, staying active in my church and doing my work because they are the right thing to do.  Secondly by facing criticism with strength by keeping God's will in mind when people want to tear me down.  And finally third, by submission, realizing God's purpose is at work in my life and that what doesn't kill me will make me stronger.  Remember that nowhere in these verses does it say that Jesus responded in anger.

Power Verse for Today:
Phillipians 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.  Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse poeple.  Hold firmly to the word of life; then on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Peace On Earth?

Today's entry comes from Billy Graham's book Hope For The Future:

     He Himself is our peace.  -Ephesians 2:14

     For as long as I can remember there have been innovative ideas for bringing peace to this Earth.  Organizations have been created, much money and time have been spent, treaties have been signed, books have been written--all in an effort to find a formula that would bring peace on Earth and goodwill to men.
     World War I was called "the war to end all wars," but it wasn't.  Whether nations fight one another or not, there is warfare in the home: warfare between husband and wife, between parents and children, between brothers and sisters, between neighbors, between boss and employee.
     What can be done? It sounds almost simplistic to say we need to turn to God, but that is the only lasting solution.  Only God can remove the poisons of greed and hatred and jealousy in our hearts, and replace them with contentment and compassion and forgiveness.  Only He can subdue the violence and rage within us, and replace them with His peace and love.
     Whatever wars rage in your life, lay them down at the foot of the cross and ask Jesus to give you His peace.

Powerful Passages:

Proverbs 14:1
A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

Hebrews 4:13-16
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.  So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Would It Matter?

First of all, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! Make sure to wear green today so you don't get pinched.
     Today, I want to simply share something I read on a Christian blog I am subscribed to. 
      Let me begin by telling you how my week went.  My husband's schedule at work got shifted around and we were planning our vacation for the end of the month.  So needless to say, it was a little dramatic in our house for a few days until that got worked out because we thought we weren't gonna be able to go on vacation.  We always go home to Louisiana where we are originally from for our vacation in order to see the majority of our family who still lives there.  So after that was worked out then I had to rearrange my "schedule" for cleaning the house and packing everything for vacation in order to get everything done that I thought needed to get done by the time we were to leave.  Moving things around once I have a plan seems to always stress me out.  Then I had a craft project, a full-sized throw, I am trying to finish for a client before we go.  So needless to say, my plate was overflowing as well as my stress level. 
      That is when I came across the blog.  I wasn't really in a mood to read anything inspiring.  I was simply checking my emails like I do every day and saw the blog update in my inbox.  I felt lead to check it out.  So I did and this is what it said, I am of  course paraphrasing, "Is it gonna matter a year from now?"  I know that seems a little odd but let me explain.  The blog went on to say that if you looked at your situations now and viewed them as if from the past, like you were sitting here a year from now and thinking about them, what would they matter?  Would the fact that you didn't get your house spotless before you left for vacation really matter?  Would it matter that you forgot to pack something for vacation?  Would it matter what happened on your birthday a year ago?  So that got me to thinking.  Better than "would it matter?" is "will I hold onto what happened and give it cause to matter?" like holding onto a grudge. 
      I have found that with this outlook I am enjoying my family more, stressing less and finding more time in my day to do what I love because I am letting things go or at least trying to. 

     My challenge for you today is look at the things in your life that seem to be stressing you out and ask yourself, 'Will it matter a year from now?"

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed St. Patty's Day and know that God loves you and so do I <3

Healing & Hope

Today's Reading:
Psalm 107:1-9

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.  Has the LORD redeemed you?  Then speak out!  Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.  For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. 
Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.  Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.  "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.  He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live.  Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.  For he satisifies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

     It begins like this: Give thanks to the LORD for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.  Has the LORD redeemed you?  Then speak out!  Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
     Now here it is  speaking about God saving his chosen people, the Israelites, from captivity after their blatant refusal to obey him.  It continues in verses 3-9 describing how he saved them.  He heard thier cries for help and rescued them from their distress.  He led them to safety to a place where they could live.  Let them praise the LORD.  Verse 9 sums it up.  For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
     This is a perfect example of what God wants us as Christians to do today.  Call out to him in whatever distress you may be suffering.  He will offer you healing and hope.  He won't just save you but will also bring you out of it.  He will give you a place to live in peace.  He wants you to live, not to perish under this strain.  And when he has done this, simply tell him "Thank you LORD," singing his praises to the world.  Share your story so others might see his love and compassion at work in a world where these attributes are so rare.
     I'll share my story.
     After our first sone was born, I thought we had it all- good jobs, a house of our own and a beautiful son.  But we were under a strain, financially and emotionally.  We soon saw our "happily ever after" fall apart.  Bud don't get me wrong.  It was our own version of "happily ever after" not the one God had planned for us.  That's why it fell apart.  God's plans aren't our plans and vice versa.  So most times, things have to change to allow God to work in our hearts and lives. 
     After all the hardships we went through, we are now blessed with a roof over our head, a rented one but a roof none the less, another beautiful son was added to our family, an opportunity arose that allowed me to be home with our sons and still help our family financially. Now I am running my own crochet business, Fleur De Lis Crochet, putting those years at Wal-Mart to work for me.  We have even found a church where we can worship and feel like we are part of a family, something I have longed for for a very long time.  Now don't get me wrong.  Our lives aren't perfect but we have it seems come into the peaceful years after the storms of years past. 
     God alone has done this.  And He can do it for you too.  Whether you are on the brink of a storm or have just come through one, God will guide you and protect you if you only open your heart to him.  Cry out to him for help and he is already there.  He is always at your side ready to help when you call.  Call on him today and praise him through this storm.  There is hope and healing in God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The next time you feel the give someone a piece of your mind, take inventory and make sure you can afford to lose it.

Protecting Our Future

     Today, I read of a woman, Amy Carmichael, who shared her home and most of all her heart with children who were not even hers.  She opened her heart and God gave her the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the children she helped.  I am going to share her story with you and today I pray you get the opportunity to help a child so you too may help in protecting our future, for the children of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)
You must not exploit a widow or an orphan  IF you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. --Exodus 22:22-23

The number of homeless people throughout the world  (as a result of personal tragedy, natural disater, or war) seems only to be getting higher.  But reaching out to even one homeless person can be a life-changing experience--as Amy Carmicheal's life demonstrates.  One wintry day when she and her family were walking home from church in Northern Ireland, they came across a frail woman struggling with a bundle.  At first they were embarassed and wanted to turn away.  But Amy and two of her brothers decided to help the woman, despite the condemnation they felt from other parishioners.  It would be the first of countless times Amy would hold her head high while she helped society's outcasts.
     At age nineteen, she attended a Keswick conference on "the higher Christian life."  By the end of the conference Amy had committed to giving her all to Jesus.  In 1895, she was commissioned by the Church of England to go to Dohnavur, India.  There the painful consequences of the Indian caste system confronted her, and she was especially concerned with the treatment of women and girls.  Amy's home, which eventually expanded to the size of a village, became a haven for young girls whose parents had "offered" them as prostitutes in the Hindu temples.
      Though Amy never married or had children of her own, for fifty-six years she was Amma (mother) to hundreds of Indian boys and girls, whom she called her "Gems."  Thousands have encountered the loving arms of Christ because Amy opened her doors and her heart to these children.
 
Life Lessons:
-Sometimes we need to go against  our culture--and even follow church members--to help society's "outcasts."
-One way to show the love of Christ is to open our homes and hearts to children.

Matthew 18:1-6
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child lik this on my behalf is welcoming me.  But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Setting The Example

Today's Reading: Psalm 105:1-22

     Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.  Let the whole world know what he has done.  Sing to him; yes his praises.  Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.  Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD.  Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.  Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
     His is the LORD our God.  His justice is seen throughout the land.  He always stands by his covenant--the commitment he made to a thousand generations.  This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac.  He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant: "I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession."
     He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.  They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.  Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.  He warned kings on their behalf; "Do not touch my chosen people, and do not hurt my prophets."
     He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.  Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them--Joseph, who was sold as a slave.  They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.  Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character.  Then Pharoah sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.  Joseph was put in charge of all the king's household; he became ruler over all the king's possessions.  He could instruct the king's aides as he pleased and teach the king's advisers.

     Verses 1-5 speak of celebrating the LORD and his greatness.  Share what He has done with the world- a call to be preachers in our own little part of the world.  Then it continues, remember the wonders he has performed and search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek Him.  In other words, grow in the knowledge of the LORD.
     Verses 7-11 speak of how God always stands by his promises.  Verses 12-15 speak of God protecting his people even when they were small in number. It reminds me of a verse, Matthew 18:20: For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."  He even warned kings on their behalf to leave them alone. 
Verses 16-22 tell the tale of Joseph when he came to Egypt, going from captivity to being the king's right hand man.  This is an example of what the previous verses are saying.  Joseph was tested but he blessed God through it all.  He was willing to speak God's word and God protected himso that the will of God could be done--the saving of a nation from famine with God's guidance at the hands of Joseph.
     As Christians, these verses sum up what we are called to be: (1) praise-filled for God, willing to share the Word with the world. (2) Believers, believing that God will provide and protect us. (3) An example for others so they can see God's hand at work in our lives from beginning to end.

Allowing God To Provide

Today's Reading:
Psalm 104: 16-35

     These verses are praising God for all He has created and the writer is in awe of how He cares for them- providing all they need-His creations.  We are among the list.  He is faithful to provide what we need if we just ask, not always what we want but what we truly need.
      Does nto the Creator who made us know what is best for us, the created?  How can a cake know when it is done?  But the one who baked it will know and will take it out of the oven at the appropriate time.

     You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 
-Psalm 139:13-14
     God rejoiced at your birth.  You were fashioned exactly the way He wanted you.  How incredible to comprehend that when you awake in the morning, God is already thinking about you!

The Perfect Role Model

Just had to share my daily devotional reading with you.

"But what about you?" He asked.  "Who do you say I am?"  Simon Peter answered, " You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." -Matthew 16:15-16 NIV
     Jesus repeatedly asked this question to those who followed after Him.  He knew that in a short while He would be gone.  And all these fledgling Christians would have to bolster their faith were His words and actions.  Jesus wanted to be sure they would not allow the world's viewpoint to diminish who He was.
     My prayer today is that we be reminded who Jesus was and how He lived in order to be  more like Him in our every day life today and every day there after.

See The Rainbow Amidst The Clouds

     Haven't written in a while.  Been in the midst of storms in my life.  Although minor, they seemed a lot more destructive to my soul.  I know that I am not the only one in this situation.  So as I read today, I came across some encouraging words and just felt lead to share them.  So here they are, hope they offer you the same uplifting that I longed for and found.

Matthew 8:23-24
When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.  And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
     Jesus took the disciples to the height of the storm's raging fury, yet all the time He was with them.  Yes, the storms of life will attempt to ravage me but Christ is there, amid the frenzy, ready to deliver by just the power of His Word.
     Shows hope amidst the troubles of this world.  Though we are afraid or overwhelmed, He is ever present in our lives, seeing us through the storms that come our way.  He is simply asking us to see the rainbow amidst the clouds.  Keep your focus on Him and no matter what the world throws your way, you will overcome.