What do you reach for?

Last Sunday the lesson in Sunday School was in Genesis.  The lesson was about Eve, fruit and a serpent.  You probably remember that God had told Adam and Eve not to eat from a certain tree.  The serpent was very cunning and talked Eve into reaching up and plucking that fruit from the tree.   After she ate the fruit she also gave fruit to her husband.

This made me think about my sins.  What is it that is so enticing about sin.  Could it be that serpent whispering in my ear that this is good, this is beautiful and it will open your eyes.  The serpent wants me to reach up and grab that apple.  He wants to send me spiraling down into the pit of sin.  The serpent wants me to run and hide from God.   He wants me to offer sin to those around me.

The serpent wants me to forget that my Savior, Jesus, died on the cross.  He wants me to forget that Jesus covered my sin!  He wants me to forget that my Savior rose again!  He wants me to think that my sin is unforgivable!  He wants me to think that if I reach for that apple that I will know the truth.
He doesn't want me to know the truth.

What is your apple that you keep reaching for?  Don't let the serpent entice you to keep reaching for it because there is a Savior that will cover you with His blood!

Revelation 1:5

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of JesusChrist His Son cleanses us from all 

sin.

The Journey Continues:An unexpected development

This morning I headed back to the hospital where my husband has been since Sunday.   Some tears of sorrow escaped from my eyes and started their journey down my face.  I was thinking of the unexpected development that happened the day before.  My husband and I received the news yesterday that Richard has esophageal cancer.

I turned east and when I did I noticed that  the sun  was peeking through the clouds.  A few minutes before that there had not been even one ray of light.  The forecast had called for clouds and rain for most of the day but at that moment the sun had sent forth rays of hope to me.

I realized that just because the sun might be covered with clouds, even all day, doesn't mean it is not there.  I  just can't see it.  That unexpected development  yesterday had left me with dark cloud feelings.  I had been stunned with the news.  I felt like I was on auto pilot until I saw the rays of sun peeking through the clouds.  I was reminded that the Son is always there, even when my outlook is cloudy.  Jesus is my Lord and Savior and His light will be there for me always.

Do you know Jesus?  He is the light of the world! He can turn your clouds into hope!

John 8:12 (NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

I can't keep my hand out of the cookie jar!

                           

I love most cookies but really love those chocolate chip cookies.  I have been trying to eat more healthy but when there are chocolate chip cookies around  I just can't seem to keep my hand out of the cookie jar.  It seems like I resolve that I will stay away from those cookies but then I see them.  Without my permission my hand just seems to end up with a cookie in it.  Then there is the smell of those luscious cookies wafting from my hand to my nose.  Before I know it that cookie is gone and more cookies in my hand.  After several cookies I think oh my how did that happen.  I have even tried slapping my hand only to find the other hand with a cookie in it. Sometimes between my hands not being able to stay out of the cookie jar and the smell I feel like I might be fighting a losing battle!  Sometimes I just think oh well, one or two or twelve cookies won't matter.  But it does matter and it shows.  It shows on the scales, it shows with tighter clothes and it also shows with health.

Sin is just like my hand that can't seem to stay out of the cookie jar.  Sin entices with the thought, oh just once won't matter, it entices with the smell and it entices with the thought that no one will know.  Sin keeps your hand in the cookie jar and it does matter.  It shows up in the way you act, it shows up in your attitude and it can also affect your health.

There is a way to keep my hand out of the cookie jar of sin.  There is a Savior and He can keep my hand out of the cookie jar of sin!  All I have to do is ask!  I don't have to fight a losing battle!

What about you? Do you know my Savior?  He can help keep your hand out of the cookie jar!

John 3:16New International Version (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Brokenness

The last few weeks I have been pondering on the fact that my Lord and Savior, Jesus came to Earth willingly.  He came knowing that His body would be bruised, battered and broken before His time on Earth would end.  He knew that He would be rejected, mocked and spit  upon but He came anyway.  He knew that He would be nailed to a cross but He also knew that He would rise again and He did.  He did this for me!  It breaks my heart that He had to do this for me.  He knew though that His body would need to be broken so that He could heal my brokenness.

I was saved as a child and knew at a young age the power of prayer.  I also knew that I could take any problem to my Lord.  Even as a child though I had a problem with pride.  Sometimes I was afraid that I would be embarrassed.  I was afraid of what people might think.  Sometimes I was just so caught up in my own self that I could not hear that still small voice.

I found myself many years later broken, bruised and battered.  It was not my body though.  It was my heart. After seventeen years of wedded unbliss I had to let go.  My heart was broken into a million tiny pieces that I thought would never be whole again.  I felt like I had a big D on my forehead.  It was there for everyone to see my humiliation.  I did not even care what people thought.  I was full of shame and regret. I felt so unworthy that I would not even partake of the Lord's supper.  I was so low that I could only look up.

Through prayer, Bible reading and a Christian counselor my eyes looked straight up into the Eyes of my Lord!   He mended my heart piece by piece until I found joy and peace.  Because of His broken body my broken heart was mended.  I needed to come to a brokenness before I really understood His love.

Jesus takes us just as we are!!  Are you ready??

Romans 5:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 34:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Verse:
In brokenness, I come to You, Jesus
I’m kneeling in surrender to Your Spirit
Mend my broken heart
I can find no other
To mend my broken life
To give me hope, Jesus

Chorus:
Lord I want to place my life in Your hands
Lay my burdens at Your feet
Take my life
Take my heart
I am Yours

Verse:
In repentance, I come to You, Jesus
I’m kneeling in surrender to Your Spirit
Forgive me my sins
I want no other
To give my life
My all to You, Jesus

© 1995 Esther Mui

COLONOSCOPY

Just so you know, yes I will write about anything! In the past I have chosen boogers, shoes, my blank mind, roosters and today the subject is colonoscopy.  Spell check doesn't even recognize the word but that doesn't make it not real.  It is real and it is going to happen to me tomorrow!

Today I am drinking, drinking and drinking.  No solids allowed.  Right now I am sipping on a nice hot, juicy cup of chicken broth.  I am pretending that it is fried chicken in a cup.  I have heard from veterans of this procedure that the fun begins later today.  I have to drink something will clean me out.  Then I have to do it over again in the morning.  My colon will probably be cleaner than it has been since I was born.

Then at eleven tomorrow a doctor, while I am in twilight zone, will go in with a rotor rooter and make sure that my colon is okay.  He also mentioned some kind of digital exam that makes me shudder when I think about it.  I am so glad that I will not remember but if I do I will post about it.

Did you know that I have been rotor rootered before.  Not the colonoscopy kind but a deep cleansing kind. When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, He rotor rootered deep and cleansed my soul.  Some people don't recognize Jesus but that doesn't make Him not real.  He is the truth, the light and the way.  He is waiting!  It is not a cleansing that will make you shudder!  Are you ready to have a colonoscopy of your soul!  The fun can begin now but the real fun will begin in Heaven.  Hope to see you there!

Psalm 62:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

¹ Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
² Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

The Journey Continues:Christmas Eve

Just thought I would write a short update on Richard.  I have had many people ask about him so I thought I would let you know.  He is doing pretty good.  He still seems tired in the evenings, some evenings he is more tired than others but he really pushes himself.  He will do things because he will not and never has liked asking for help.  With the tiredness comes some grumpiness but he had that before he had cancer.  :)  We all have that I think, some more so than others!  He is looking forward to Christmas, being with family and celebrating the birth of his Savior!

Merry Christmas to everyone and as always we thank you for the many, many prayers you have prayed for him and for us.

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:16-20 NIV

It's a Jungle Out There

Have you been to the store lately?  It is a maze of people pushing and shoving or stopping and talking.  I have noticed that many people have frowns and impatient looks on their face. I probably have had some of the same looks on my face.  Others are wandering aimlessly through the aisle with bewildered looks on their face!  Especially in that one store that starts with a W.   I decided last week that I would not go back there  until next year.

It seems like a jungle out there.  People are roaring, screaming and look like they will pounce if one makes a move in the wrong direction.  There is chaos, noise and unfriendliness.  It makes me wonder what season this is?  It seems like a season of me, me and more me.

I realized that I need to stop, pause and reflect on this season.  The Christmas season is a time to reflect and be thankful for a Savior that was born in a stable.  It is a time to be thankful for the King that was born and that what He brings to me and to you is PEACE!  He is the Prince of Peace!!

Next time that I am out in the Jungle I need to greet the maze with a smile and a Merry Christmas.  It might change a frown into a smile and a reminder of the King!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to my Savior!!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” Luke 2:11-14 NIV