Tag: Bible

  • Vicks VapoRub = comfort & healing

    Just opening the blue jar of Vicks VapoRub® brings back fond memories of my Mom. Whenever I was sick, she would gently rub the ointment on my throat and chest and carefully cover the area with a towel. Then I’d top the cloth with a tee shirt or pajamas – something to keep the healing vapors in place.

    As I rub the balm in today as an adult, I consider this downtime a waste of time. I should be going somewhere/doing something. Yet, due to a nasty cold, I’m resigned to coughing, blowing my nose and taking medications. I feel unproductive and count these days as lost. But are they really? I’ve been able to enjoy time at home watching movies with my husband who is also sick.

    Days spent horizontal can be rejuvenating. There’s nowhere to look but up! And maybe that’s why I’m down. I’ve been in such a panic to make the holidays special that I’ve failed at the most important item: always remembering the Christ that makes Christmas possible.

    The season should be all about Him (not decorated cookies, presents, or visitors). Since the noise has diminished, hecticness subsided, quiet reigns around me now. As I lay facing the ceiling, I realize what I missed. Chats (in the form of prayer) with my heavenly Father and time spent reading from my Bible.

    God is the one who grants me breath, health and life. I’m not promised tomorrow. But I do have this day on earth to rejoice and give Him the glory — even if it’s spent in bed or on the couch.

    Prayer: God, thank you that I am alive. I don’t feel well, but I can still find a reason to be thankful. Amen.

  • Things aren’t as they used to be

    “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:14–16).

    This verse suggests that I should not be complaining, moaning and groaning about the non-working or poor-working parts of my body. Since I am fearfully & wonderfully made (Scripture says so) and God’s works are wonderful, then my body is as it’s supposed to be.

    Every day has been pre-arranged. God is aware of the exact state of my body today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

    “Though the process of aging continues, inwardly you grow stronger with the passing years. Those who live close to Me develop an inner aliveness that makes them seem youthful in spite of their years,” Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

    I must trust that He knows what He’s doing & all is going according to plan.

    • Do you grow tired of certain body parts not functioning as they should?
    • Can you turn the grumbling into thanking God for what is going well in your life & what body parts are functioning well?

    ***

  • Are you thirsty?

    “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” – John 7:37-38

  • Fried Green tomatoes anyone?

    (Photo by Teresa)

    I eagerly watch as my first green tomato crop grows heartily on the vine. I can almost taste the juicy, red tomato next to a bacon slice surrounded by leafy lettuce all sandwiched between two pieces of toast.

    But patient I must be. The harvest can’t be hurried. However there are things I can do to promote success such as.

    *Faithful watering

    *Adequate sunshine

    *Occasional fertilizing

    The sturdy vine connects to the branches that support the tomato. If for some reason, the branch becomes detached from the vine, the growth process stops. Fruit cannot happen without its source of strength.

    The apostle John talks about how God is the gardener in John 15:1, 4–5. “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener … remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

    Just like the sturdy vine connects to the branches supporting the tomato, God is the vine of protection. There are certain things I can do in order to strengthen the vine such as:

    *Spending time in prayer and reading the Bible

    *Seeking out spiritual mentors and friends

    *Regular church attendance with those of like faith

    Without a combination of the above, life becomes unbalanced. We need God and each other to survive and thrive.

    Do you feel connected to the vine? If so, in what way?

    ***

  • Soaring – part III

    Juvenile eagle flying with black bird – photo by Steve Lasher

    My responsibility is to wait upon God. From past experience, I know it is wise to rise in the morning and say, I give myself and this day to you, God. You are in charge — not me. I can do nothing without your permission as the Creator & Sustainer of the universe. Use me as you see fit to accomplish your goals today. My desire is to honor and glorify you and not to promote my own agenda.

    I must carve out the time to come near to God. Listen to him. It’s too easy to listen to outside noises that clamor for my attention. I am easily distracted from my prime mission. Consistent reading of his love letter (the Bible) to me is crucial. Otherwise, how can I come near and feel at ease in his presence. In this way, I am open to receive what he has specially planned for me for the day.

    Why would I not want to rely on this source of direction and comfort? He is great in might, strong in power, and never fails!

    “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” — Isaiah 40:31.

  • The Lord is my Shepherd

    “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” — Psalm 23:1–3.

    As I read this passage, my mind and soul feel wrapped in comfort and peace. Through the flurry of the week’s events, God’s words speak restoration and renewal.

    It’s difficult to come aside and take time to read scripture, let alone, practice what is written. Yet, I know from past experience that when I do make the time to meditate and pray my day goes smoother. My mind stays focused and uncluttered and I accomplish much more than when I constantly worry.

    Dear God, forgive me when I want more than I really need. Help me to be content with the many blessings you’ve already give. When I’m content and appreciative, it’s then that you can teach and lead me. I look forward to quiet waters and green pastures.

    Are you at a place where it’s hard to look around and see calmness in your life? Can you step aside for even 10 minutes and name your blessings one by one?

    Los Cabos shoreline – photo by Steve Lasher

  • Good intentions

    I really had the best of intentions when I set out to exercise. But the phone rang, not once but two times. I didn’t want to be rude, so I answered the phone — both times. I heard rustling in the other room. Upon investigation, I discovered the cat had tipped over a waste basket and trash covered the floor. I hit the “pause” button on my DVD and cleaned up the mess. The bag wasn’t full yet, so I began gathering more trash from other parts of the house. When I neared the laundry room, I heard the dryer buzz. Of course, the clothes needed to be folded before wrinkles set in. My 30 minute workout turned out to be over an hour long.

    That’s probably never happened to you, but it seems to happen to me all too often. I start down a certain path, ready to do business, then the urgent pops up and I end up spending precious time on other distractions. It happens when I set out to read the Bible, pray, or do my study in the Word. Sometimes I wonder if it isn’t Satan’s tactic to distract me from what I know would be good for me. And it’s not that the things I end up doing are bad, but they do distract me from better use of my time.      Open Bible

    When I complete the task whether it be exercising or listening to God, I am rewarded with the fruit of my labor. I feel better physically and emotionally. I am a better person for having taken the time to take care of me so I can better take care of and bless others. 

    Dear God, forgive me that I am so easily distracted from doing what I know I should be doing. I end up at the end of the day exhausted, yet empty. I want to do your will and receive my reward.

    Do you have days like that? When you set out to do something worthy, and then end up doing something altogether different. Would a list help keep you on task? Can you think of anything else to help put the blinders on to reduce distractions?

     “Backsliders get what they deserve; good people receive their reward.” (NLT)

     ***

  • Where did January go?

    “The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you” — Numbers 6:25.

    Looking at my calendar, I see the first month of January is nearly over. Where did it go? There are 31 days in the month — just like last year and the year before, so why did it seem like it flew by so quickly?

    Maybe it’s because all my resolutions were not completed. I’d hoped to squeeze in a bit more writing and reading, but that didn’t exactly happen. However, I do know God’s face did shine upon me when I took the time to spend with family, rest and renewal.  Those were blessed times. I also know that God’s plans are not always the same as my plans.

    Maybe it’s more quality time with your spouse or children that you crave. Or, it might mean making the effort to spend time on you … relaxing in a bubble bath, reading scripture and meditating on God’s promises. As you look forward to the month of February, my prayer is that God’s face will shine upon you and he will be gracious to you.

    ***

  • Devoted to Prayer

    Just five days before Christmas and I need to do an emotional and physical check. To be perfectly honest, I’d have to say not so good. My emotions are all over the place between elated and depressed. I’m totally elated and eager to see my son and family with three young grandchildren; yet sad that I won’t be seeing other family members. Other relationships are still not what I’d hoped for given the past history. 

    Last night I met a friend for our Christmas gift exchange. She remarked how she could barely contain herself with glee on the drive over. Really? Seriously? She wasn’t kidding. I found myself envious that I wasn’t able to muster up such feelings of joy.

    Just what was the matter with me that I wasn’t feeling glowing and happy all over? Immediately I began to question my circumstances and lot in life. Why weren’t those same positive feelings invading my heart and life? After all, it is Christmas — the season to be happy and jolly. So why wasn’t I feeling happy or jolly? What am I investing my time doing? Running here and there, or investing in eternity where present and future rewards emerge.

    In sheer desperation, I opened my Bible. Colossians 4:2 jumped out at me and I captured three valid pointers:

    *  “Devoting yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” In all honesty, I certainly was not “devoting myself to prayer.” A quick SOS here and there (in between searching for a parking spot) probably did not qualify as devotion. But I’d grown weary of praying for the same individual year after year with no evident change. No matter. God honors persistence. My job is to continue to pray believing change is possible because with God nothing is impossible.

    *  “Being watchful” — searching the store shelves and making countless phone calls for the hot ornament of the year is not what God intended by that phrase.

    *  “Being thankful” — naming my list of complaints does not equal a positive spirit. It would serve me well to remember the words to the old hymn by Johnson Oatman Jr., (1897) , Count Your Blessings …

    When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
    When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
    Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
    And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

    *** 

  • Do not be afraid

    Moses and the tablets of Law (Wikipedia)

      “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” — Joshua 1:5. 

    We need not be afraid because God tells us he will never leave or forsake us. When bills mount, the car breaks down, and our body doesn’t work like it used to, God still cares. God won’t abandon us when times are tough.

    Some suggestions for times of crisis found in Joshua 1:  

    1. Be strong and courageous
    2. Obey the law and do not turn away from God’s word (the Bible)
    3. Meditate on God’s word day and night
    4. Do not be discouraged

    These are not easy things to do especially when the going get rough. But this is exactly what I need to do during the bleak hours and days. No one else will come through for me like my God. I need to trust and obey — for there’s no other way.

    Have you told the God of the universe your troubles today? Isn’t it time you confide in the One who cares the most about you?

    ***