BE LIGHT IN A WORLD OF DARKNESS

Posted on July 12, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Edith Wharton was a  writer from the late 18th to the early 19h Century who came from a life of privilege.  One of her contemporaries was Theodore Roosevelt.  The fact that she came from a wealthy family and lacked for nothing seemed to have nothing to do with her writing, since most of it concerned the problems of poverty in her time.   Her novel, “The Age of Innocence” received the Pulitzer Prize.

Most folks might think it easy for her to write about the ills of destitution from her ivory tower in New York.  Most of us might even express our thoughts by declaring, “Easy for her to say. ”  It’s easy to imagine being rich and having no worries about anything except being consumed with our writing.

Being wealthy doesn’t guarantee a life of comfort for us.  Money comes in handy when it’s time to pay the rent or buy groceries, but it isn’t the key to happiness.

Edith was married to a man 12 years her senior.  He was a successful banker.  I don’t think she married him out of love.   It would seem that her life just kept getting better and better.  It wasn’t long before her husband started showing his attention to younger women and squandering money on them.  His mental instability must have  had a profound effect on her.  She also proved to be unfaithful to her husband with a three year affair with an American journalist, before their divorce in 1913.  Not such a perfect life..

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Edith Wharton didn’t have it made.  None of us does when we rely on our own resources; our own desires; our own needs.  She went on to support many charitable  endeavors.  She was very aware of the differences in the social classes of her time and she not only wrote about them, she did something about them with the resources she had available to her.   Money is not an evil thing.  It’s the love of money that turns people into greedy individuals.

We all have our burdens to bear in life and we will have some kind of trouble and struggle as we pass through it.  We can choose to overcome that struggle on our own or depend on the one who is the true light of the world.

Lord, help me be a reflection of your bright light – the one you gave to us through your Holy Son, Jesus.  With Him as the source of my light, may I pass it on to those who have the need for it.  I have no treasures here on earth, but this precious one.  Please allow me to share it with others.

 

 

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Living Water

Posted on July 8, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Yesterday the clouds were heavy with rain – the air grew oppressive under the weight of high dew point levels.
Within minutes the ominous clouds emptied in sheets of torrential rain upon the earth.
Within seconds the air lightened. The clouds were replaced with pristeen blue skies.
In those brief moments, the earth was cleansed and refreshed.
We experience similar storms in life.
We can become burdened with the weight of sadness, worry, anxious thoughts.
We might gasp for air at times, thinking relief will never come.
Our hearts grow cold, our souls weary, our bodies and minds dry up
and sometimes our spirit dies.
It is then that God sends His refreshing waters – to renew us,
to satisfy us and to give us strength.
That living water is presented to us through His Holy Word.
It is the only place to find the rejuvenation that brings new life.

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CONSIDER THE ANT

Posted on July 8, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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We are currently being invaded by these little creatures.  It seems that we have this problem every summer, especially when there’s an abundance of moisture – and we certainly have received more than a little rain this year.  It did get me to thinking though about how these miniature insects are geared to working in teams to get things done.  They seem to be able to overcome amazing odds and can carry more weight than you’d imagine.

 There are times in life when we are faced with difficulties.  It might look as though there is no answer and we give up.  We stop trying or we just get so worn out from trying that we pass out from exhaustion.

 “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?”  Proverbs 6:6-11

Ants don’t have a foreman or a boss  telling them what to do – they just do it.  They do out of necessity and follow their God given instincts to do.  They gather their food wherever they can.  When weather interferes, they find other sources.  When rain pushes their nests out of the ground and they are without a home – the build a new one.

What do we do in time of crisis or need?  Is our first inclination to turn to the Lord for help?  Most of the time, we try to figure things out for ourselves.  We are in control, after all … right?  Sometimes we ask others for help.  We may even turn to the government for assistance.  Those things aren’t bad in themselves, unless we grow dependent on them,

We are warned in this Proverb against being lazy.  Let me tell you, the ants in my kitchen are not in the least bit sluggards.  They are very busy and extremely fast.  It’s especially apparent when you place poison down to eliminate them.  They belly up to the bar and suck up as much as their itsy-bitsy bodies can hold and then scurry back to their buddies and share with them.  It may be a cruel thing to do to these smallest of God’s creatures, but I want my kitchen back!

There are so many lessons in these few verses, but I think one of the most important is that God doesn’t want us to depend on others for our sustenance.  He wants us to be industrious, like the ant, and to never give up – because even though our circumstances may seem overwhelming – He is always there to pick us up.

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IS OUR FREEDOM WASHING AWAY?

Posted on July 7, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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The picture I’ve chosen today shows just how fragile our freedom is – how it can be washed away in the sweep of a wave or the winds of time.  This past weekend we celebrated the birthday of one of the greatest countries on earth and the only thing that really gave me goose bumps over the past few days was to sing “God Bless Our Native Land,” at the end of our church service yesterday – the final line being, “God save the state.”

I am proud to be an American, but I am not proud of what’s happened to my country over the past several years.  When 9/11 occurred, I felt an urgency to go out and buy a flag because of my love of this nation.  We sang many patriotic songs in a special church service that week.   I was somewhat inspired by the words of our leaders, but the real inspiration came when I saw Americans coming together to help each other – when I saw the flag at half-staff for the many victims of that tragedy – when I heard “Amazing Grace” being played day after day – when I realized that the American spirit of hope and freedom were still active I our society.  That was almost 13 years ago and as I see what’s happened over that short span of time, it really makes me sad.

We have seen a growing government and the general population becoming more and more dependent on it (many times out of necessity.)  We are losing many of our basic freedoms daily.   The world around us is suffering too. The cost of living makes it almost impossible to survive on the income of only one job and that  market is suffering, even though the media would like us to believe otherwise.

Our founders wanted to be sure that this new country would survive for a long time.  They were tired of the chains of tyranny.  They wanted to be independent thinkers and doers.   It was a place where opportunity abounded and the little guy could build something for his family and future generations.  We have in a way lost some of those basic freedoms.

I pray that the American spirit never dies, but like most civilizations before us, who have lost sight of the One True God, our nation may also get lost in the history books.  We have something worth fighting for though and I know that God loves America.  We must be careful as citizens not to take her for granted.  Like sin infests our souls, the devil is also alive and kicking.  He would love nothing better than for us to lose sight of our God in this nation of ours.

So where does our freedom truly lie?

Galatians 5:1 says,  ” We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law.”

 

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TROUBLE!

Posted on July 6, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Some folks think that becoming a Christian means gaining complete freedom from all our troubles. Not true! In fact, God never promised any of us a rose garden. Well, He gave us a perfect garden, but that was quickly lost when man thought He was smarter than God.

We are going to have difficulty in our lives until we pass into eternity. However, our troubles here on earth don’t have to overwhelm us and send us into a deep depression. Some “Christians” believe that if you have trouble in your life it is because of something you’ve done to put yourself out of favor with God.

God’s mercy is beyond our wisdom. He has placed these trials in our lives to make us stronger and yet completely dependent on Him for help.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

Thank you, Lord, for daily strengthening me with your truth. May your gift of peace give me hope to endure each day.

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Gardening 101

Posted on July 5, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Yesterday, my husband and I dug into some tough physical work.  It was apparent that we had neglected some important tasks in our yard far too long.  The weeds were overtaking my hill garden and that is a monumental task in itself.  We also have some conifer bushes in front of the house that hadn’t been trimmed in years.

It got me to thinking about how we as Christians can become infected with sin and darkness when we aren’t constantly vigilant in our prayer life or our daily walk with Christ.  We need to be pruned and reshaped.  We need to get the weeds out before they overtake us.

By the end of the day our bodies were aching and tired.  When you’re in your 70s  physical labor gets harder and harder.  We, as part of the family of God, often find it difficult to pay attention to our souls.  Sometimes we take our faith for granted.  We neglect going to church for fellowship, renewal and uplifting.  We forget about searching the Scriptures.  It sometimes seems too much like work.

When we finally finish the work in our yard, things will look lovely again, but it won’t stay that way.  It is a lifetime battle to weed out the icky stuff in our lives too.  The hope we have is not in the things of this world, but in our Heavenly Father – who paid the price that we could never pay.

Thank you, Father, for weeding the sin from my soul.  I could never do the job by myself.  You know my weaknesses and shortcomings and you have freely given me a way out of the clutches of sin.  I praise you for your precious love.

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GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR . . .

Posted on July 4, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

EMMA LAZARUS

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France, intended to welcome visitors and immigrants as they entered the  New York harbor.

She carries a torch in one hand – representative of a light to guide the way –  Its symbolism denoted progress.  There is a tablet in her other hand, which represents the law with the date of the 4th of July, 1776 etched into it.  At her feet lays a broken chain which stands for freedom from the chains of tyranny – won by a determined, fledgling nation.

The words of the poem live on today and are a reminder of the concept of our welcoming nature as a nation.  We are a nation of many peoples and many cultures, but we manage to work together for the good of all our citizens.

Lady Liberty has been witness to so much in her short history, but so have we as Americans.  We have seen our nation under attack.  We have watched as the concepts of the founders have eroded over the past 50 years.  We see disturbing images of slavery of all kinds within her boundaries.  We watch in wonder at how the ideals of freedom have been corrupted and turned into something that has nothing to do with freedom at all.

We could throw up our hands in despair.  We could decry all that has been done – all the blood that has been shed – all the lives lost in defense of this great nation.  We could do that, but we must remember that our country is still the best there is.  We should never lose faith in that fact.

Our government was instituted by God – the Creator of the Universe.  He will never let us down.  His light – unlike that of the Statue of Liberty – will shine like a beacon to guide our every step.  His Law was established to bring us closer to Him and to realize how much  we need Him.  The chains that once held us captive to sin have been loosened by the blood of Jesus, Christ and our freedom has been guaranteed.

May God continue to bless America and all that she stands for.  Help us, dear Lord, to trust that you have a plan for everything and that no matter what lies ahead, you will be there to protect us.

 

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Incomprehensible Love

Posted on July 3, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

I’ll never grow to comprehend the power of your love.
You hold me fast. You treasure me. You guide me from above.
There is no other love like yours. You fill my every need.
You comfort and protect me. For my soul you did bleed.
So take my life and use it, to serve you in some way.
Help me to share your message today and everyday.

Kathy Boecher

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WORRY IS A WASTE OF TIME

Posted on July 2, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

 

 

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I’m not Jewish.  I’ve acted the part of many Jewish women in my life and I’ve pretty much mastered the accent.  Jesus was born a Jew and I’m willing to bet His mother worried about Him.  Maybe that’s why He spent a lot of time talking about this dreadful trait. 

We worry about life altering things – like getting married, graduating from college, getting a job, entering the military.  We worry about things we can’t control – like the weather, our environment, wars and disasters.  We worry about money, our children, our careers, our relationships.  We fret over things we can’t change –  like our looks, our circumstances, our strengths and weakness.  We just plain worry!

It’s easy to tell someone not to worry, but that isn’t going to stop them.  We may not have experienced what they are going through. Maybe our lives have never involved this emotion.  We might not be able to relate.  Jesus walked in our shoes.  He knows all our frailties and shortcomings.  That’s why He can look into our hearts and know what we are going through.  Because He is also God, He invites us to depend on Him to get us through these disheartening fears and doubts.

Isaiah 41:10  ” fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In fact our God is telling us not to sweat the small stuff.  He’s got our back – He’s at our side – He will never leave us and we can depend on that!

I will undoubtedly continue to worry until I die, but my worries don’t have to depress me or dominate my thinking. When I turn my anxieties over to Him, He promises to give me peace – and God always keeps His promises.

Thank you, Lord, for giving rest to my weary mind and body, but mostly for relieving the doubts, worries and fears of my soul.  Be with me today and every day as you have promised.  Lift me up when I am down and help me to do the same for others.

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IS IT EVER GOOD TO BE IDLE?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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Summertime is the perfect time for us to slow down.  The living is easy – as is said in the song – or is it?  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the busyness of life that we forget to take time off – or we just can’t seem to slow down. The need to work hard in order to accomplish great things has been hammered into our thinking from our youth. 

Our founding fathers had a lot to say about idleness.  Ben Franklin said, “Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all virtue.”  John Quincy Adams stated that, “Idleness is sweet and its consequences are cruel.”  Thomas Jefferson once said, “Determine never to be idle.  No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any.  It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.”   He also stated that, “Lethargy is the forerunner of death to the public liberty.”

Somewhere between our nation’s beginning and today there has been an erosion to that ideal.  Many have become dependent on the government for their daily needs.  Some politicians with noble ideas about helping the poor have become victim to not really helping them at all.  We have the right as Americans to build a business, to work hard for what we need, to help others along the way, but we shouldn’t take away others’ ability to do for themselves by providing everything for them.  There is no joy in being pandered to.

Our country was built on hard work and determination.  When you look at our history, you will see men starting with nothing and building an empire for themselves by doing things rather than sitting around complaining about how things were. They saw a need, came up with a solution and acted on it. 

“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Age makes us slow down in our physical activity, but as soon as we let our minds stop coming up with ideas, we are opening the door to idleness and complaint.  Maybe that’s why older folks get grumpy from time to time.  We have more time on our hands than the average guy, but that shouldn’t deter us.  Using the time we have left can still be advantageous even if it’s in small ways. 

There are times when we must physically slow down however.  We need time to reflect, to get inspired, to plan our next move, to determine where we’re going.  The difference between idleness and relaxation is that one is something we choose while the other is a necessity.

 

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PEACEFUL SLEEP

Posted on June 26, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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There is nothing like a good night’s sleep.  When our labor is physical, it’s a necessity.  When our mind is overworked, we need rest too.  When we are struggling with a spiritual problem, God invites us to rest in Him – to actually lay our cares on His shoulders. 

Even in those hours when we have our eyes closed and our dreams come into view, He is there watching over us – keeping us safe – giving us needed rest and peace.  He never sleeps.  He is present everywhere and at a moment’s notice.  He knows what we need even before we do and He provides it for us in His way and on His timeline.

Dear Lord, you are so good to me.  Not only do you lead me beside still waters and refresh me daily in my walk with you, but you even care about what happens to me as I sleep.  I can count on you for all my needs.  I will continue to trust in you because I know that I can.  Thank you for being my forever friend.

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THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Posted on June 24, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Darkness

His hand reached for the oil lamp in the darkness of night. He was enveloped in the deepest darkness he had ever experienced. He strained to see even a tiny glimpse of light – just a faint whisper – Nothing. He groped, but still the blindness which had overcome him, left him hanging only to his other senses, and even they were permeated with the sullen blackness.

He groped and felt his way around the, but here in this pitch black abyss he felt so alone – so lost. Maybe if he could just reach the door and open it, a tiny sliver of light might steal its way into his humble home.

Finally he felt the latch and opened the heavy wooden door. On the other side – darkness, obliquity – only the stench of the last days lingered in the dank air which surrounded him.

When would this end? When would his eyes be free to view his surroundings? He didn’t deserve this punishment. It was the king who wouldn’t relent. Why couldn’t he swallow his pride just this one time?

<blockquoteExodus 10:22-23 "So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived."

To live for three days in complete darkness must have been unbearable. We panic when the lights go out for a few minutes and our minds shut down after an hour or more, but we rarely experience complete or total darkness.

Can you imagine the fear that would infect your mind? Can you acknowledge your faith faltering – your courage failing – your hope dissolving into the murkiness? We are lost without light.

John 8:12. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

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THE BOOK THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Posted on June 24, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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There recently was a very powerful You-Tube video gone viral, depicting a group of Chinese people receiving a gift of several cases of Bibles.  The looks on their faces and the way they held and even kissed this amazing book, spoke volumes on the treasure they had in their hands.

I wonder how often we take this book for granted.  Many homes have Bibles as part of their family library.  You can usually see one sitting on a table.  Do we look at this collection of pages as merely something to decorate our homes or do we regard it as the true inspired Word of God?

We are told, within the pages of this best seller, that God inspired His very own words into the pens of men.  Not only are His words truth, but we can be confident that we have a direct line of communication through them.  Each sentence – each paragraph – each page has been inspired by the breath of God.

Every time you ransack the pages of this amazing book, you will find new truth that applies to what may be going on in your life at the moment.  You may receive peace, confidence, hope, consolation.  Your heart will be inspired by stories of people in high places and the least of humanity having a strong relationship with their Creator.  You will watch them rise and fall as all of humanity does – but you will also see how God uses those people for His purposes and that He has a plan for every one of us.  You will find that even when it looks like there is no hope for you – you have one who was willing to give His own life to make sure your salvation was won.

You will see how much you are loved – how you will  be judged – that there is hope even for those who think they are hopeless.  It isn’t only a physical treasure, it’s filled with purpose for our lives here on earth and the promise of eternal life in heaven.

How do you value the Bible?  There is no longer an excuse for not getting into it.  It isn’t just an aged, dusty, musty old book that sits on a shelf.  It can be accessed on the internet.  You can even find an app for it and have it at your fingertips in seconds.

Thank you, dear Lord, for speaking to us through your Holy Word.  May we show it the same reverence and respect for it as those who receive it for the very first time.  Remind me to search your scriptures on a regular basis, knowing that you will provide the answers I seek.

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The Sentries in our Back Yard.

Posted on June 24, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Two ancient maple trees stand as sentinels on either side of our back yard.
During winter their skeletal branches reach up to heaven.
They look as though they’re entreating the God of creation to cover their nakedness with a blanket of protection from the elements.
When spring and summer burst through the bone chilling temperatures,
These majestic soldiers bring forth new life.
Squirrels scurry through their branches in search of some awaiting feast,
While birds prepare for the arrival of their young by constructing a soft bed for them.
Small green buds emerge and quickly grow into a glorious emerald canopy enveloping the space providing a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the urban world.
When fall arrives the greens fade into golden yellow and the leaves hang tight until the first heavy snowfall of winter – preparing for the cycle to return once more.
Those trees could tell a lot of stories. They’ve seen more than one family under our roof.
They’ve been witness to countless wind, rain and snow storms and endured.
They’ve suffered some damage, just like we have over the years,
But they remain steadfast, just like their Creator clings to us with consistency.

Our life cycle is much like theirs.  We’re conceived from a tiny seed.   We force our way into this world with great labor and grow through years of enduring life.  We suffer the storms of life and the extremes of our emotions, often just barely hanging on. We burst into life with enthusiasm, but at times our world seems to overtake us and sap us of our strength.  With each new stage in life, we long for release, but grasp everything we can from our surroundings.  When our final hour comes, we’ve experienced everything we possibly can and succumb to death, but through it all, we can count on the fact that has remained faithful and something even better prepared for us.

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I’M SO TIRED!

Posted on June 23, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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There are times when our bodies just wear out. We get tired – physically as well as emotionally. The older I get, the more I realize that this weak, old carcass can’t do what it did twenty years ago. It’s hard to admit it too. We like to think of ourselves as strong and self-sufficient. It isn’t easy to say we need help – but we do.

Age isn’t always the reason we grow weary either. We may have undergone a time of hard physical outlay with little or no rest. We may be battling some kind of illness and really need to slow down. Our mind may be burdened with emotional or spiritual battles. Whatever the cause of our exhaustion, we can be certain that we aren’t alone in it.

God has promised to refresh us through His Word. He gives us renewal by carrying the bulk of the load.

I’m not a farmer, but I spent a lot of summers on my grandparents’ farm when I was a child and I recall seeing two horses or two cows yoked together so they could accomplish more work with less individual effort. When God invites us to yoke ourselves to Him, He is guaranteeing that we will have complete rest. What an amazing visual that is. That burden has been totally lifted and we have enduring freedom from the weight of it.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Thank you, dear, sweet, Jesus for lightening my load in life – for lifting me up when I feel down – for giving rest to my soul through the refreshment of your Holy Word. Remind me each day that I can count on you in all my burdens.

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Rejoice in your gifts!

Posted on June 22, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Every time my little group of young, aspiring actors complete a show, it makes my heart swell with pride. Not only because of their hard work and accomplishment, but the fact that they have discovered something within themselves that they didn’t know existed.

God has blessed each of us with certain gifts – some may have the ability to be encouragers, while others possess a good work ethic. Some have the talent to be great writers, musicians, artists. There are those who reach the top rung of the ladder of success when it comes to knowledge.

All of us are capable of greatness in our lives if we look at our abilities as opportunities to express the handiwork of our Creator. The talents bestowed on us are meant to be shared. To keep them to ourselves is in fact being selfish.

Be generous with your talents. Spread them around. You will reap benefits beyond your imagination, but remember to give the glory to the one who gave them to you!

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NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US!

Posted on June 21, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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I came across this passage today and it made me think of how this life is so uncertain.  We can share relationships and friendships – hardships and loss – joys and successes, but all those things are really only temporary.  Someday we will die.  Someday our hardships may turn into depression – our happiness and success don’t last forever. 

Everything in our existence is transitory.  We could be sitting at the pinnacle of our earning power, when the bottom falls out and we are left with nothing but the change in our pocket.  We could be the picture of health one moment and be faced with a terminal illness the next.  We may think we have found the perfect soul mate, but soon discover that they are just as human as we are.  Our flaws, our weaknesses, our strengths and our brain power don’t really amount to a hill of beans when it comes to our relationship with our God.

God’s consistency is something we can count on.  Our accomplishments will not be remembered much after we leave this earth.  Our wealth will have no value in the grave.  Our relationships will also wither and pass away along with us.  The world is in a constant state of change.  Moral values and religion are slowly being gobbled up by a degenerate society. Political correctness has become the norm in almost every area of our lives.

So how do we cope with all this gloom and doom?  We put our trust and faith in the one who never changes – the One who created the world – the One who promises and delivers.

Thank you, dear Lord, for putting up with your people for so long.  Your patience is beyond my understanding.  Your ability to look beyond the imperfections of this world because of your love for us, is just too much to comprehend.  I don’t deserve any special treatment, but still you give it freely to me and all those who love you back.  It’s such a simple thing for us to do, but it’s all you want from us.  Help me to rest in the knowledge that even though things are in a state of change, I can rely on you to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow

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YIKES!

Posted on June 17, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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If we were to focus too much on the events in the news, it wouldn’t take long for us to need treatment for depression.  Our world is in a terrible state.  Our own country is in moral decline; the world is constantly fighting terrorists; there are those seeking  political power driven only by greed and our media continues to paint a picture that all is well.  It makes one wonder where it will all end .

We could be like Chicken Little who ran through the barnyard claiming that the sky was falling.  The rest of the animals at first were frightened by her claims, but soon ignored her when the sky continued to stay where it was supposed to. The moral of the story is not to believe everything you hear, unless it’s backed up with some kind of proof or evidence.

We as Christians have a true story that we can depend on.  Our world will someday come to an end.  We have all sinned and don’t deserve anything but death and damnation.  God, the Father loves us so much that He became a man – lived a perfect life – suffered a horrendous death – was buried – came back to life and rose to heaven.  He sent His Holy Spirit to live in and with us so we could share His love. We have been promised a new heaven and a new earth and we can be assured of eternal life.  He did all of this because He loves us. That’s a story you can trust and believe.

Dear, Lord, you provide us comfort and hope in all our circumstances.  Your Word contains your truth for our daily lives and for the life to come.  You are indeed our rock and cornerstone.  Thank you for giving me peace in that knowledge.

“Remember your word to your servant in which you have made me hope.
 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”  Psalm 119:49-50

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on YIKES!

TO ALL DADS! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Posted on June 15, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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There aren’t enough words to thank God for the gift of fathers.  They have been established and fashioned by Him.  God is the perfect example of what a father should be, but we often fall short of His expectations. Still He gives dads strength and wisdom to do the best they can.

Psalm 127:3-5 “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”

Today and every day, let us not forget to hold father’s in high esteem.  Not only are they the head of the family, they have had a part in our creation

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FUNNY FATHER’S DAY STUFF

Posted on June 13, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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I grew up in the years when Bill Cosby was launching his career into show business.  I remember listening to his monologues on the stereo and laughing at all his quips about family and parenting.  He had some amazing insights into what it took to be a parent, even though his stories were laced with humor.

“My childhood should have taught me lessons for my own fatherhood, but it didn’t because parenting can only be learned by people who have no children.“

There is some wisdom in that statement.  Nearly everyone who has never had the experience of raising children is an expert.  They seem to have all the answers.  The only lessons to be learned are through experience.  No one is born with the knowledge of how to be a good parent.  They may think they are, but let’s hear what they have to say after they’ve had a few of their own.

“No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids. Their behavior is always normal.“

When you are blessed with more than one child, it becomes part of the job description to step in now and then and let your children know the right way to settle disputes.  The books say to talk to them about their behavior at the time it’s happening, but when one has the other in a headlock, the time for reason flies out the window. 

“Raising children is an incredibly hard and risky business in which no cumulative wisdom is gained: each generation repeats the mistakes the previous one made.“

No one ever said it was going to be easy to be a parent.  Today many young men think it’s cool to go out and father children, but walk away when it’s time to actually do the job.  Instead of passing down what we’ve learned from our own parenting experience, I think it’s necessary to be involved in the process.  That means changing diapers, cleaning up messes, laughing with your children, encouraging them, teaching them and being with them.  We all learn from the mistakes we’ve made and parenting is one of the greatest life lessons to be found.

One final  quote from Bill:

“Whenever your kids are out of control you can take comfort from the thought that even God’s omnipotence didn’t extend to His kids.”

God doesn’t make mistakes, but His kids do.  We can’t expect to be experts in all the nuances of raising children.  Every situation is different, each child unique.  All we can do is love them, give them beliefs they can be sure of, and pray that they will turn out OK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, Inspiration, Life, parenting, reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FUNNY FATHER’S DAY STUFF