I Use To

The last two weeks, our preacher has talked about being a prodigal son or daughter.   One of the scripture passages that he used was Luke 15:11-32.  I bet many of you know exactly what that scripture is.  It is about the son that wanted his share of the money.  He didn't want to wait until the appropriate time.  He wanted it right then and his father gave it to him.  That passage also talks of how eventually the prodigal son ended up feeding and eating with the pigs.  It was at that point that he started thinking, and this is a paraphrase of the scripture and of what our preacher said, what have I done, I am living with pigs, I am hungry and I have nothing.  I used to be able to sit at a table and feast with my family.  I used to live in comfort and never went hungry.  I should go back and apologize and see if I can become a servant at my father's house.

Than the preacher talked about us, the church members.  How many of us used to do something but not anymore.  We used to sit at the table and partake with our Lord but not anymore.  We used to fellowship with Him but not anymore.  We used to sow for Him but not anymore.  Then he said, so if we used to do but we don't anymore and we aren't doing more than we used to do that makes us a prodigal.

This made me think if I had any I used to dos.  This also made me think about shoulda, coulda, wouldas and how many of those are hanging around dragging back into the kingdom of being a prodigal.  I am not saying that the used tos, shoulda, coulda, wouldas put me where I shouldn't be, I put myself there.  So how do I drag myself away from the pig pen.  I have to be willing to be a servant and apologize to my Savior.  I have to let go of the I used to and the shoulda, coulda, wouldas and keep my ears open for the instructions of my Lord.

What about you?  What did you used to do?

Luke 15:14-24New Living Translation (NLT)

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]’

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ 

Don't assume

This post comes about because of so many assumptions!  I am going to post a few things that people have assumed about me and I would like to tell you to always assume for the softer, kinder assumption.  I am trying to quit the assumption game. 

First, but not the most important one, never, never assume someone is old when they are not!!  At least give the benefit of doubt and don't just give me that terrible thing called the senior discount.  I would really like it if all you people that can give discounts would always err to the softer, kinder, younger assumption.  

Don't assume someone is pregnant!  Way back and I mean way back when I was in my twenties someone ask me when the baby was due.  I think I said something like I'm not pregnant, I'm just fat.  Of course it was a man that asked that almost fatal question.  The crazy thing I wasn't even fat at that particular time.  

Don't assume I am sad just because I am crying   I cry all the time and I am not always sad! 

Don't assume I am happy just because I am smiling.  I have been know to put on the happy mask.

Don't assume I can't mow the lawn! I can!

Don't assume that I can't cook!  Sometimes I can!

Don't assume that I won't have my children's back.  Don't mess with my kids!

Don't assume that I can't keep plants alive.  I can keep any ivy alive!

Don't assume that I will always make sense when I write.  I sometimes don't.

The last assumption that I am going to list, though I know there are many more, is don't assume that I am a Christian.  Well I am, I am a saved by the grace of God but how many times do we just assume that the person next to us is saved?  

I think that I have got to quit assuming that just because you look a certain way and that you are nice, gentle, kind and go to church that you are a Christian.  I would hate to make an assumption that might land you in the wrong place.

I am so glad that someone didn't make that assumption about me.

John 3:16-17New Living Translation (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

The Mastercraftsman

 I have been reading in 2 Chronicles.  A few days ago I was in the second  chapter and that chapter is about Solomon preparing to build the temple to  honor the name of the Lord.
    

           

2 Chronicles 2:5-7New Living Translation (NLT)

5 “This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods.6 But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him?

7 “So send me a master craftsman who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as with purple, scarlet, and blue cloth. He must be a skilled engraver who can work with the craftsmen of Judah and Jerusalem who were selected by my father, David

I could not help but compare this to Jesus.  He is my Master Craftsman.  He died and rose again so that I could have a magnificent Temple. That temple is my body.  He is the one that makes me a worthy temple. God sent the best and that best is and was worth more than all the gold, silver bronze and the finest cloth. Just as Solomon wanted a magnificent Temple for God, my God wants me to be a magnificent Temple for Him.  Many times I get in the way of being magnificent but God never leaves me and woos me back to Him.

1 Corinthians 6:19New Living Translation (NLT)

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

Matthew 21:12New Living Translation (NLT 

12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.

Just as Jesus cleaned out the Temple He can also clean you out and make you worthy to be His Temple.  He wants a magnificent Temple that is willing to give up the past and live for Him.

John 14:6New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 3:16New Living Translation (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Do you know the Master Craftsman?  He is waiting to craft you into a Magnificent Temple!

Change is like a breath of

I have a change that is coming up in the near future.  It is something that I have wanted but have been fighting.  I know that doesn't make sense.  This change is or should be like a breath of wonderful air.  I feel like God has been leading me to this change but for financial reasons I have more or less told God that he doesn't know what is best for me.

I have talked and written about my God and how He is in the business of changing lives.  Now I am trying to put my actions in line with what I have been saying.  I don't know how many times I have told the fifth graders at my church that their actions need to show what their mouth is saying.

God has been telling me to take the plunge and become a stay at home writer.  I have so many words that God has given to me that have just floated away in the breath of I can't do that.  I want my change to be like a breath of I am going to trust my God to supply all my needs.  I want my change to be like a breath of a God who has my back.  I want my change to be like a breath of I will do whatever God tells me to do.

It was with a sense of relief and joy that I gave my notice and my last day at work will be July 18th.  I do know that God is in control and I need to accept any changes that come of to me from the breath of God.  I need to remember that change is like a breath of submission! I need to always remember that ultimate change which came from above!

Change is like a breath of the Cross!

What is your breath of change like?

James 1:17New International Version (NIV)

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.