May you walk in Son shine and be encouraged through the trials of life as a wife, mother and woman of faith. May laughter fill your days, courage strengthen your soul and His love light your way. May God be ever present and invited into your journey. May I refresh your spirit and cause your heart to smile.
"I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name." Is 49:15-16
"I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me." Jn 10:14
Ray C. Cone, 48, went to rest in peace with his Savior, on November 7, 2009. Ray is survived by his loving wife Trish and beloved children Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline and Stephen. Ray was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, where his family. was stationed in the Air Force. Growing up in Edgewater, Colorado, Ray excelled in baseball, basketball and football. He later became an All American middle linebacker at Colorado University, where he still holds the record for the most tackles. He later signed with the Denver Broncos. Ray shared his love of sports with each of his five children, volunteer coaching all their teams. Ray’s outgoing personality, integrity and strong work ethic led him to become a successful salesman. Ray will be remembered for his sense of humor, selfless service, love and devotion to family, and above all his love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sorry I don't know how to fix this breaking up but here are the words to this beautiful song of Hope.
I will come to you in the silence, I will lift you from all your fear. You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice, Be still and know I am here. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
I am hope for all who are hopeless, I am eyes for all who long to see. In the shadows of the night, I will be your light, Come and rest in me. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
I am strength for all the despairing, Healing for the ones who dwell in shame All the blind will see, The lame will run free, And all will know my name. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine. I am the Word that leads all to freedom, I am the peace the world cannot give. I will call your name, Embracing all your pain, Stand up, now walk, and live! Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
A friend of mine who is going through a very painful trial in her life shared with me how she is dealing with the anger and frustration as she faces the daily unpredictable encounters. When the negative experiences collide with her shattered heart she reaches for the Lord and focuses on mercy and grace. Often repeating the words rapidly as the healing balm begins to cover the pain. How vital for our own healing it is to forgive even the most unforgivable.
While in a concentration camp in Germany, Betsie ten Boom was becoming frail. One day while doing heavy manual labor, she kindly said to her guard, “Don’t give me more to do than I am trying to do already, because I am not strong enough to lift these heavy parts.” The guard flashed back, “You don’t decide what you do. I decide.” At that the guard brutally beat Betsie. Corrie ten Boom, her sister, watched and was enraged. When the guard left, Corrie went over to Betsie who now had blood all over her face. Betsie immediately said, “No, don’t hate, Corrie. You must love and forgive.”
Corrie knew that she was unable. That night she went for a walk and told the Lord that she could not forgive “that brutal woman.” The Lord reminded her of a Scripture, “God’s love had been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) Corrie knew that what she was unable to do, the Lord, in her, was able to do.
She writes, “At that moment, when I was able to forgive, my hatred disappeared. What a liberation! Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. What a liberation when you can forgive.” - Adapted from Oh How He Loves You, by Corrie ten Boom
A pearl to string: Troubles, trials, and tragedies reveal our vulnerability and weakness. Those times strip us of arrogance making us less judgmental of others. Most of us become more accepting, understanding, and kind after we have been through a fiery trial. Finally it is from the darkness that we emerge stronger, wiser, and more resilient. It is when we are falling into the depths that we experience the majesty and power of God’s promises. In the biography film The Hiding Place, Betsie Ten Boom said to Corrie, her sister that “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” A statement of faith of God’s timeless and boundless love.
When I was a little girl I lived on the beach in Santa Monica. I loved to stroll along the ocean's edge and collect the broken glass the sea would toss out. The salt water had smoothed the rough edges and changed the color into something so beautiful. I would examine each colorful piece and imagine wonderful stories of travelers in far away places. Broken into beautiful.... wouldn't that make a great devotional. I've been waiting more than a couple of years for the Holy Spirit to guide me into that devotional. I wondered why it would not come to me until this morning when I read Gwen Smith's devotional from Girlfriends in God. It's the perfect illustration for my beautiful broken glass devotional.
Broken Into Beautiful by Gwen Smith
Today's Truth "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Psalm 34:5
Friend to Friend I remember the phone call to my college boyfriend. Through sobs, I managed to tell him I was pregnant. There was a long pause on the other end of the phone ... and then came the speed round of questions and comments: "What are we going to do? Do you think we should get married? Oh, my gosh ... Oh, my gosh...what are we going to do? Do you want to have this baby? What are we going to do? What about volleyball? What will your parents say? What will my parents say? Oh, my gosh!"
Like trapped animals, we were frantically looking for a way out. Then we made our decision. We would take care of it. It wasn't time for us to have a baby yet.
God wasn't consulted. He wasn't invited into our decision.
Adam and Eve hid in the garden after eating the forbidden fruit. My boyfriend and I hid from God and did what we considered to be our only option. We made a plan. He would pick me up and take me to a clinic that I read about in the yellow pages.
When the day came, we drove in icy silence. I was Fort Knox. No one was going to break through the emotional walls I had constructed for protection.
You see there was never a moment that I believed having an abortion was the right thing to do. I only stubbornly and naively believed that my choice was the only ladder to grab out of the horrible pit I had dug for myself.
I was wrong. Dead wrong.
There, in the sterile room of that stale clinic, I used an alias. I wasn't Gwen. My charts did not say that I was Gwen, the girl who was raised by good parents, the girl who was raised in the Word of God to know right from wrong. The counselor I had met with said that using my name could have made me feel uncomfortable with the "harmless and legal procedure" I was having done that day. Nobody else needed to know. I was anonymous.
It was my secret. A secret of chains that bound me in silence for the ensuing fifteen years - a secret kept because I mistakenly assumed that no one else could handle the ugly truth of my sinfulness with grace and forgiveness. I was a Christian girl. Christians don't get pregnant when they aren't married, and Christians don't have abortions, right? It was all too scandalous, and I was crazy afraid of the consequences.
Most of that day was a blur. It was a dark, cold January day. Though the clinic was lit with bright fluorescent lights, the flame of dignity and hope in my heart had grown dim. I blocked out all the voices in my head as they contested what I was doing. I was desperate and scared.
I was Peter. Simon Peter was a fisherman Jesus had called to be a fisher of men. His relationship with Christ was passionate and intimate, but far from perfect. He was a disciple, one of Jesus' closest friends. Jesus called Peter "the rock," and he would eventually go on to build the foundation of the Christian church.
But before he did, the Bible shows us, in Luke 22:54-60, that the night Jesus was arrested, Peter "followed at a distance," sat in a courtyard with enemies of Jesus, and denied the Lord he loved three times. Remarkably, Jesus knew Peter would betray Him, yet still extended advanced mercy as He said to him, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32).
I imagine that when Peter betrayed Jesus on that long, dark night preceding the crucifixion, he must have felt a physical illness and emotional angst similar to the one that shattered my life the day I said yes to death and betrayed my Lord. Luke 22:62 tells us that after he had disowned Jesus three times, Peter "went outside and wept bitterly."
Peter knew Jesus, yet still betrayed Him. He loved Jesus. I knew Jesus, yet still betrayed Him. I loved Jesus too.
But that love was tucked into the icy trunk of my heart on that snowy winter afternoon.
For weeks following my abortion, I went through each day under a dark cloud of despair. I couldn't reconcile what I had done with who I was, and who I was supposed to be. My heart was broken. I felt hopeless and was horribly ashamed. I hated what I had done, and I hated myself for doing it. I was responsible for the death of my baby. It was my fault. I knew it, and it haunted me.
Voices of accusation used to scream in my head. They shouted things like: Murderer! Baby killer! Hypocrite! You can never tell a soul about this! Condemnation kept me shackled. Without realizing it, I was a captive to my own acceptance of those words. I was guilty. A wretch. No excuses. My heart was paralyzed by death. Words just can't express the depth of anguish my soul experienced.
The dark days turned into weeks, which turned into months. Although I could turn on the fake charm like water from a faucet...oh, how my plastic smile served me well in those days...I was dying inside! At night, my pillow soaked up rivers of tears. I would lie awake, wondering if my baby was a boy or girl, or if my baby had felt any pain as she was being sucked from my body.
I wept. I wept for both my baby and for myself. It was necessary. It felt right to cry. And though the tears helped my soul grieve, none were as healing as the ones I cried to Jesus when I finally turned back to Him.
Like Peter after the rooster crowed, I wept bitterly at the feet of Jesus in raw repentance. Then, as the psalmist did, I "waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God" (Psalm 40:1-3). Although I didn't deserve His mercy, Jesus forgave me. My forgiveness was immediate and complete, but the healing took time. He gave me a new song.
Hallelujah! I've been forgiven and transformed by the unconditional love of God. I was dead in my sins, but am now alive in Christ! I am free and it is my privilege to encourage you towards that same freedom in Christ. God longs for you to experience His perfect healing and hope too - no matter what you've done, no matter where you've been, no matter what has left you broken.
What's your story? Jesus came that we would have life abundantly (John 10:10). Not because of anything that we have done to deserve it, but because of what He has done. His grace is sufficient. The guilt, pain, and shame of our pasts tell us we are disqualified to move on, to serve God, to be free, and to know peace. But to believe this lie is to believe that your sin is outside the scope of God's grace. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have purpose in this life. And though you may have gone through a season of hurt, rejection, or pain, God can and will pick you up and place you back on track. I'm living proof.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ. While the enemy loves to cast false guilt, our Lord loves to extend grace and forgiveness, which is the remedy that restores all your broken pieces. Don't hold onto those pieces. Don't hide them behind a plastic smile. Bring them into the light, lay them at the feet of Jesus, and let go. Allow your wounds to be healed today.
Let's Pray Holy Father, today I come to You with the broken pieces in my life that I have been hesitant to deal with. Take my hand and lead as I walk past my fears and doubts to the refuge of Your forgiving arms. Please take what is broken and transform it into beautiful. Please free me from the lies that have me shackled in silence and that keep me from believing that Your forgiveness can be mine. Help me to trust that You can redeem and restore every area of my life.
Step outside your door and you are exposed to all kinds of ugly out there in the world. OK, some people don’t even have to step out of their door. We’re all experiencing high exposure to ugly comments, ugly injustices, ugly squabble, ugly arrogance, ugly attitudes, ugly confrontations, ugly language, ugly road rage and a few other ugly messes. There is a growing trend toward ugliness. The financial struggles this year are ugly. The job loss is ugly. Both major political parties seem to have sunk into a new level of ugliness. Public discourse is becoming uglier. As news breaks from day to day we are exposed to all manner of creative ugliness. We hear of ugly weather and ugly moods, situations, architecture, even ugly truths. "Uglyism" lives! Hidden somewhere in the middle of ugliness is blessing and beauty put there by the Creator.
Where is this beauty you query? Show me the beauty! Come on…. Just a little peek… Reveal it!
Well….. It’s you! You are the blessing and beauty God put right smack in the midst of ugly. Your love for God produces a sweet spirit that blesses all who can see you.
It starts in our own home, our neighborhood, our church, our community, our state, our country and reaches to the far corners of our world. There is enough need around the world for each one of us to be a blessing every day of our lives. Deuteronomy 8:10-15 warns us not to grow proud in our comfort and fine things forgetting those in need. The Lord has blessed us for the purpose of being a blessing. Paul wrote: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:9 NIV).
A pearl to string: The most freeing thing we can ever do is to abdicate the throne of our own miniature kingdoms. Our status is infinitely higher as a servant in God’s kingdom than a ruler in ours. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
You can make a difference every day You are the beauty the Lord sent Lyndi
They were looking for a Lion, He came as a Lamb, ...and they missed Him.
They were looking for a Warrior, He came as a Peace maker, ...and they missed Him.
They were looking for a King, He came as a Servant, ...and they missed Him.
They were looking for Liberation from Rome, He submitted to the Roman cross, ...and they missed Him.
They were looking for a fit to their mold, He was the mold maker, ...and they missed Him.
What are you looking for? Lion? Warrior? King? Liberator?
What are you looking for? They were looking for their temporal needs to be met, He came to meet their eternal need, ...and they missed Him.
He came as a Lamb to be sacrificed for your sin. ...Will you miss Him?
He came to make peace between God and man. ...Will you miss Him?
He came to model servanthood for all mankind. ...Will you miss Him?
He came that we might have true Liberty. ...Will you miss Him?
He came to give you eternal life. ...Will you miss Him?
When we submit to the Lamb, we will meet the Lion. When we join with the Peacemaker, we will meet the Warrior. When we work with the Servant, we will meet the King. When we walk with the Submitted, we will meet the Liberator. When we concern ourselves with the Eternal, we will have the temporal.
If Jesus is not fitting into the mold you have then come to the mold maker and get a new one. Submit to His plan for your life and you will see the eternal need met first - then all the other things you have need of will be taken care of as well. Matthew 6:33
At our RightNow Conference last year there was a huge theme to dig deep into the word of God and apply what we read. Matt Chandler even said that if he stuck you with a needle he would want you to bleed Bible! I remember going away with a renewed passion to read my Bible more. That passion stuck as the months went by and about 100 days ago I decided I would read the entire Bible before this year's conference. I figured out that if I read for 30 minutes a day I could get it done. And to add some accountability I decided to take on a Nazarite vow and not cut my hair. I hate long hair - so this was some serious incentive to get in the word!
Ninety-seven days later I finished! Reading the Bible for 30 minutes each day was a wonderful experience. Here are a few of my big takeaways:
The Old Testament is all about our faith in God expressed through obedience and marked by being set apart for God. Almighty God asked Israel to do things that demonstrated their faith and obedience in Him.
The New Testament is all about our faith in God expressed by loving one another. Jesus came and changed everything by establishing a kingdom built on love.
The whole Bible is an amazing story where God chooses His people and His people have the wonderful opportunity to glorify Him through faith and obedience expressed in love.
Jesus Christ is the savior of the world! And I love Him deeply - more than words can express!
And... I'm convinced that all good mafia movies were inspired by the Old Testament - those are some seriously epic stories - and even though I knew the outcome there were nights where I simply couldn't put it down. Cain & Abel, Abraham, Jacob & Esau, Joseph (love me some Joseph), David and the list goes on... What a great 97 days!
And Robin is very happy that I got my hair cut on day 98!
Ever notice that these days it takes nerves of steel just to be neurotic!
Coach Wonderful got a call from a friend the other day. When he inquired as to how life was going the friend responded angrily with, “I am bitter”. This Christian gentleman has been facing a difficult trial for some time. It’s definitely been taxing his spirit and draining his energy. He had evolved into the mode of blaming God. Raise your hand if you have ever done that. My hand is raised and there is no smile on my face. “God doesn’t care about me, God doesn’t love me”..... We all know in our right spirit … that is a pile of satan poo and we don’t need to be tracking it through our lives. But what’s the ole saying? ....... satan poo happens? We need to be prepared to guard against it. Corrie ten Boom said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”
I think I’ve been watching too much Dr. Phil my immediate thought was, “You’re bitter? How’s that working for you?”Is that bringing you peace? Can the Lord touch your heart with that bitterness surrounding you? Are your arms safe and reassuring for each of your family members? Bitterness is like a bat swinging away at the balls of blessing that the Lord is hurling. The Lord has to heave these balls of blessing at the bitter person – He’s trying to hit the guy to down him so He can gently bless him. Otherwise the bitter person is just batting the balls of blessing right out of the park with the exception of an occasional miss when they whiz right by him. Ok, now I’m hearing in my head Jerry Lee Lewis singing Goodness! Gracious! Great balls of (fire) blessing! You’re hearing it too. Admit it!
Nothing stays the same but it can get worse if you hang out in the same place.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world”. John 16:33/NLT
When you are hurting real bad sometimes it’s hard to get your mind around the fact that a seed just does not grow strong sitting on top of a mound of dirt. It needs to be pushed into the dirt in order to grow into something beautiful. Our suffering feels like a pile of dirt all around us but don’t worry God owns the dirt. In Him we have the peace and in Him we grow beautiful.
A pearl to string: Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up...
Years ago I was sitting at a conference listening to Gary Smalley speak when he shared a story about the Butterfly and the Buffalo. Not long into the story it became apparent that he was speaking about Coach Wonderful & I. Do we know this man I wondered? I could actually hear music as I listened to him describe the Butterfly gliding about. In my head I could hear the violins, the perky piano, the flute, the harps - the strings, the beautiful strings and happy, light melodious music. Then enter the Buffalo and I heard loud drums and tubas and the percussion instruments thundering, precise, slow, low and heavy. Oh my, I always did feel the earth move when Coach Wonderful walks into my world.
Mr. Smalley continued to explain that the butterfly has a keen sensitivity. It is sensitive even to the slightest breeze. It flutters above the ground where it can get a panoramic awareness of its surroundings. It notices the beauty of even the tiniest of flowers. Because of its sensitivity, it is constantly aware of all of the changes going on around it and is able to react to the slightest variation it its environment. Thus, the butterfly would react with swiftness toward anything that might hurt it. If a tiny pebble were taped to its wing, the butterfly would be severely injured and eventually die.
The buffalo is another story. It is rough and calloused. It doesn’t react to a breeze. It’s not even affected by a thirty-mile-an-hour wind. It just goes right on doing whatever it was doing. It’s not aware of the smallest of flowers, nor does it appear to be sensitive to slight changes in its environment. Tape a pebble to the buffalo’s back and he probably won’t even feel it. The buffalo isn’t ‘rotten to the core’ just because he goes around stepping on pretty flowers. In fact, the buffalo’s toughness is a tremendous asset.
Ok, I get it – so I flit about and he has the density of a rock. So how is a butterfly expected to get along with a buffalo that kicks up boulders on a regular basis?
A pearl to string: Through the GRACE OF GOD. Sigh! Pebble pitching is out, dying to self is in. Let Scripture be your guide and learn the secret of respecting your buffalo which unlocks the love a butterfly needs to thrive and flit.
1 Peter 3:4 “Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God”.
Fill your heart with the Word and your soul will fill up with blessings and grace. Singing in His Son shine Lyndi
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."James 1:1-2, 12
Life is a struggle! It’s ever changing and a bit irritating at times. There are moments of time when life is so painful that it is hard to breathe and your heart is on edge. And of course life is sprinkled with the occasions where thinking isn’t imperative and smiling is easy.
Often observing nature we are more able to see the advantages that God created in strife. For example the Great Barrier Reef that stretches 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. On one side of the reef the lagoon looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and full of color. What causes that stark difference?
The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is continually being tested by wind, waves, and storms in constant surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested it changes and adapts. It grows healthy, strong and it reproduces. The result is magnificent beauty.
A pearl to string: As you look back on your life there are many places you can point to and say, ‘there I grow again’! If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Just remember He has a purpose for your growth and that is your pearl to discover and string. Try to view yourself through your Father’s eyes. God’s intended result is His child’s magnificent beauty.
Corrie Ten Boom shares this true story in her book, "The Hiding Place"...
It was a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck.
He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there -- the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face.
He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein," he said. "To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!"
His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.
I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.
And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
Corrie Ten Boom "The Hiding Place" www.corrietenboom.com
How can one tell? For a live demo go to the family room.
Coach Wonderful and I were sitting in the family room when he said to me, "Grandma, just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."
So I got up, unplugged the TV and threw out all his diet Pepsi!
I had no idea when I married him that my hubby apparently suffered from a not so rare genetic deformity in his DNA. It’s commonly referred to as The Interior Pigskin Membrane. Instead of fat cells beneath their skin they have football cells. Typical symptoms are: prolonged staring which results in drooling, excessive pontification, and a fixation on Xs and Os. To my chagrin I thought those were kisses and hugs. This genetic deformity seems to multiply in families like rabbits to the second and third generation and probably beyond. Well at least I married the Center and not the loose end……… tight end…whatever!
Ok football is beginning to get on my nerves. I think high school football is pretty cool. I especially love to watch our son Tom coach his Knights and our grandson TC send those spirals through the air. Love watching our grandson Derek smile as he flattens the opponents. College football is always exciting all day and night on Saturdays.
Paaleeze, Calgone take me away!
It kind of dwarfs the good ole` fun January 1st bowl game day of yesteryear. That has turned into “The 32 Games of Bowl Season” month! Ugg! ESPU!
Every night of the week there is some kind of football on TV. If it’s not the NFL or Big Time College or local high school then it’s Fantasy Football! All across the world you can hear women cry: “Hold me, Hug me, squeeze me, pretend I’m your remote control”!
Lord have muuur .. saaay!
I drove to the park last Saturday just to escape the sound of football and to listen to classical music while I watched the sunset and what did I spy?
Do you see that little football on the ground?
Even the prairie dogs play football around here! Sometimes there is just a whole lot of shaking going on in a person’s life. Perhaps not earth shaking - just aggravating. When life gets a pile up of annoyances I cling to Job 9:27 “… 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile." I cannot control what others do nor can I control circumstances but I CAN control my attitude and my response. Wow! God is good!
A Pearl to string:A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey.... but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. -- Psalm 34:4
PRAYER:Majesty on high, the Holy One of Israel, my Father and my God, I seek you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I want to know you more completely. I want to fully respond to your leading and your will in my life. Be near me today, and every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen and amen.
From the book, Windows On God’s World, by James A Tucker comes a story about a young scientist who won first prize in a high school science fair with an exhibit of her experiments with spiders and their webs. Her project involved a comparison between the webs spun by normal spiders and those spun by spiders under the influence of alcohol.
At first the girl collected a number of common house spiders for her experiment, but she had difficulty with them. When she injected the wine directly into them, they all dropped dead. Then she adopted the plan of feeding wine-injected flies to the spiders. The spiders did not die, but they did not spin webs, either. Somewhat discouraged, she took her problem to her teacher and learned that house spiders are not much for making webs. They simply make strands of silk that are strung in all directions with no particular pattern. She was advised to find some of the common garden species, long know for their talent for constructing beautiful orb webs.
Thus encouraged, the girl again got busy with her project. She found a number of garden spiders and fed them wine-injected flies. This time her efforts were rewarded. The drunken spiders began to spin all sorts of wild and unorganized webs that did not at all resemble the intricate and near-perfect designs they were able to spin under normal circumstances.
After eating the spiked flies, a spider would begin spinning frantically, totally without method or reason. And the tipsy creature would keep on spinning without stopping until it passed out cold. I wonder if that drunk spider was near the computer – hummm – maybe that’s how we got web pages? Groan! Just checking to see if you’re still with me!
A pearl to string: In all good consciousness one should not plan to eat spiked flies. The Bible tells us that God has a superb design for our lives. We have something beautiful to do for our Lord and we don’t want to get drunk on the ways of the world and go web crazy! “He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold”.(Job 8:15) See! It’s all in the Good Book. Every direction we need to follow Jesus. It’s all written down for us. How cool is that. So dear hearts “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ”.(Colossians 2:8) And “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will”.(Romans 12:2)
Packing up the dreams God planted In the fertile soil of you Cant believe the hopes He’s granted Means a chapter in your life is through But we’ll keep you close as always It won’t even seem you’ve gone cause our hearts in big and small ways Will keep the love that keeps us strong
Chorus: And friends are friends forever If the Lord’s the Lord of them And a friend will not say never cause the welcome will not end Though it’s hard to let you go In the Father's hands we know That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.
With the faith and love God’s given Springing from the hope we know We will pray the joy you’ll live in Is the strength that now you show But we’ll keep you close as always It won’t even seem you’ve gone cause our hearts in big and small ways Will keep the love that keeps us strong
Chorus And friends are friends forever If the Lord’s the Lord of them And a friend will not say never cause the welcome will not end Though it’s hard to let you go In the Fathers hands we know That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.
Associate Pastor David Langerfeld from Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo, Mississippi (I just love spelling that) tells a story about a fourteenth-century Italian stained-glass artist who was summoned to design a huge portrait for the window of a cathedral in Chartres, France. The artist laid all of the pieces he was going to use out on the floor of the cathedral. They were beautiful to behold; most of them were large and colorful. Some of the colors from that time cannot even be reproduced today. Among these awesome pieces of glass was a small, clear piece about as big as your fingernail.
As the stained-glass portrait was assembled, that little piece remained on the floor. Only the big colorful pieces of glass were used. On the day of the window's completion, the tiny piece of clear glass was still lying on the ground.
The entire city gathered to witness the unveiling of the brilliant and beautiful stained-glass portrait. The artist stood in front of the crowd, made his speech, and dramatically pulled down the cloth cover. The crowd gasped at the beauty of the colorful window glowing in the sunlight. After a few seconds, however, the crowd grew silent. They sensed that something was missing, that the portrait was unfinished.
The great artist then walked over to where the little clear piece of glass lay, picked it up, and placed it in the portrait, right in the center of Jesus' eye. As the sun hit that little piece, it gave off a dazzling sparkle. The magnificent stained glass window still draws visitors. The first thing they see is that sparkle in Jesus' eye.
A pearl to string: Psalm 17:8 tells us that God thinks of you as the “apple of his eye”. You may struggle to see yourself as measuring up to others or doing anything big for God. You may think you are “all that” and need a little ‘tude check. Regardless of your impression of yourself God finds you so valuable that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and keep you with Him for all eternity if that would be your heart desire too. Is there anyone who would like to say the sinner’s prayer? I’ll say it with you. Sinner's Prayer?That's not for me you think- I'm not a Sinner! "Sinner" is a word that gets a bad rap these days - and well it should. Unfortunately, the bad rap it is getting is for the wrong reasons. Confronted with our shortcomings, we are quick to defend ourselves with words like, "I'm not a sinner! I don't go around sinning! I've never murdered anyone or anything like that!" The problem is - we don't really know what the word sin means. We think it only applies to some despicable act that repulses "church people" who want to hang big scarlet letters around our necks. But sin simply means to miss the mark; to fall short of the goal. The fact is, we are all sinners, for there is no one, save Christ alone, who has lived a life that did not in some way fall short of the perfection God requires. We all deserve to pay the penalty for that sin, which is to spend eternity in hell. There are no "magical" words that result in salvation. It is only faith in Jesus' death and resurrection that can save us. Respond to God’s call by crying out to the Lord, repenting of your sins, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah Yeshua). And please, come just as you are; Jesus will clean up your life as you faithfully seek and follow Him. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”(Revelation 3:20) You are the sparkle in His eye, Lyndi
After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
"Be still, and know that I am God".Psalm 46:10/NLT. With the surge of activity for the new school year upon us that could be a timely verse though not in time for the mouthy lion. There is a story I came across, reportedly from the writings of Rabbi Kushner, about a group of tourists who went on a safari in Africa and hired several native porters to carry their supplies for them. After three days, the porters announced they would have to stop and rest for a day. When the tourists inquired as to why (they did not appear to be tired) the porters confirmed that fatigue was not the reason: “but we have walked too far too fast and now we must wait for our souls to catch up to us."
The soul is the part of us that longs for God—that tells us how spiritually hungry we are. It’s also the part that reminds us of the truth. For David, the psalmist, his soul was like his inner compass that told him the right way to go. He often had to stop and listen to his soul. Over and over again, his soul is thirsty (Psalm 107:9), it longs for God (Psalm 143:6), his soul cries out for salvation (Psalm 199:81), and it recognizes the truth about himself—that he is fearfully and wonderfully made(Psalm 139:14). If we don’t listen to our souls we become spiritually disconnected. It’s impossible to know God and not connect to your own soul but every once in a while we need a Soul Catch-up Day.“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23) but as Charles Spurgeon rightly noted “so are His stops”. Teachers, Professors, students and parents it may be time to take a stop. Is there some matter plaguing you today--an issue, an obstacle, a problem that stands in your path? Wait on the Lord to give your soul a chance to catch up and in His time, He will clear the way for you to see your way through.
A pearl to string: Hal Chadwick said, “No one appreciates the value of constructive criticism more thoroughly than the one who’s giving it”.
Remember He gives us grace so we can give grace to others. :D
Know that the God who holds the universe is the God who is holding you, Lyndi
"So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you" (2 Cor 4:12).
On 9/11/01, New York City firefighter Stephen Siller had just completed his shift when he heard on his truck's scanner that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers. Siller quickly turned his truck around and attempted to drive back to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel but found the entrance blocked by abandoned vehicles. Desperate to join his elite Squad One brothers, Siller donned 75 pounds of fire gear and ran a mile-and-a-half through the tunnel, before an emergency vehicle picked him up and dropped him off at Tower Two.
Siller had been orphaned at the age of 10 and raised by his much older brothers and sisters. Siller died that day trying to save others. He left behind a wife and five children.
His story proved so inspirational that it became a legend in the newsrooms and firehouses of New York City. His six siblings - who in many ways viewed Siller as a son, as well as a brother - found themselves grappling with a dilemma: should they allow the tragic circumstances of their brother's death to paralyze and embitter them or use it as a catalyst to help others and preserve his memory?
The Siller family chose the latter.
Once they made that decision, and armed with no extraordinary wealth or political clout, the siblings combined forces to convince New York officials to close down the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel the last Sunday morning of each September and stage the "Tunnel to Towers Run" to commemorate their brother's heroic last run.
Each year since 9/11 tens of thousands of runners have retraced the steps of a hero. As part of the event 343 New York City firefighters, each representing a fallen comrade and holding an American flag, stand throughout the length of the tunnel. They are joined by firefighters from across the United States, each holding a poster-size picture of a firefighter who perished on 9/11.
The Siller family has raised more than $1 million and donated the money to charities that benefit families of those affected by the 9/11 attacks.
This is a tribute to one heartbroken family who opted to channel its energy into triumph out of tragedy.
"I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You, from those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me" (Psalm 17:6-9). My God, what a privilege to be the apple of Your eye, loved beyond comprehension and nurtured to grow into that prized fruit of Your making. I thank You and praise You for Your lovingkindness and Your protection. I pray that You will also hide our troops in the shadow of Your wings, those brave men and women who fight for freedom and long for peace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Of course everyone sees it. Not fooling anyone. It just looks better to me than the mess without the camouflage. What I sometime do in the physical seems to reveal what I do in the emotional realm also. I push pain or things I do not want to deal with into a corner. Put up a smokescreen and cover up the distress or agony I don’t want you to see. Do you ever do that?
Of course people close to you can see your pain in your countenance. Not really fooling anyone. Everyone has pain in their life. Many suffer life altering experiences that I cannot even imagine the cumulative difficulties they go through. But nothing in this entire world, including my heart or your heart, is hidden from God. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight”.(Hebrews 4:13) Our very thoughts are known to Him, and they are not even a surprise. God doesn’t say, “Hmmmm, imagine that, what was she thinking”….or, “Gee, look what he just did!” No nothing we do is news to the Lord.
A pearl to string: In the first six verses of Psalm 139 we can clearly see that God knows us inside out, through and through. Everything we do, every thought that goes through our mind, every step we take, every plan we make, every word we speak, He knows them before they ever happen. God knows what is behind us and before us. And, He loves us anyway. And furthermore He is ever ready to bless us. We don’t have to hide or cover up – we only need to let go and let God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in Jesus all encompassing love. "And I will bless you... and you will be a blessing." Genesis 12:2.
In Sonshine and joy You are loved, Lyndi
09-09-09 Wow, nine represents the Holy Spirit; this is going to be a very, very, very good day.
Pastor Larry Rowland explains the law of nature is that blessing only continues to flow as it is passed on to others. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38 NIV)
There are two bodies of water in the land of Israel. These 2 seas are as different as night and day, as death and life. The Southern of the 2 is actually called the Dead Sea. It is named well because there is not one living creature in it. With a salt concentration 9 times that of the Ocean, there aren't even any birds around it. No boats dot it’s rocky beaches. Even though roughly 5 million tons of fresh water are poured into it every day, the Dead Sea contains 24% solid matter - mostly salt along with magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium bromide. When you swim in the Dead Sea, you come out feeling like you have baby oil all over your body. Not the clear, clean look of baby oil more like a greenish brown yuk color and very grainy.
In contrast, some 80 miles north of the Dead Sea is the Sea of Galilee. And what a difference there is found in this body of water. Teeming with life, this Sea even today provides the livelihood for scores of fishermen. When one visits the Sea of Galilee, they see the beaches dotted with fishing boats. Jesus spent a good portion of his ministry here, because the people were here. Catching the fish for food and profit, farming the fertile land around the Sea, building their towns and cities by the water's edge, this formed a major hub of activity during the days of Christ and it remains so even to this day.
If the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea have the very same water, what accounts for the stark difference between the two? The answer is very simple. The Sea of Galilee receives its life giving water from the Hula River and then passes on the blessing down the Jordan River. The Dead Sea, on the other hand, is the lowest spot on the face of the earth - some 1,286 feet below Sea level. It receives all of that life-giving water, but it doesn't give any away. It just takes and takes and takes. And in its hoarding, it turns life-giving water into death.
A pearl to string: The world tells us that happiness and fulfillment is found in getting and making and accomplishing as much as you can any way you can. The American Dream? That message runs in direct contradiction to the law of nature that God has set forth as a principle of life. The chain of blessing only continues as the author of blessing is recognized and as the flow of blessing continues. When either the author of blessing is denied or the flow of blessing is stopped, the blessing becomes a curse, life becomes death. And we are seeing this process happening all around us today. In a nation of unbelievable affluence and prosperity, we are seeing more unhappiness and discontentment and unfulfilled lives than ever before in the history of man. Seems as a people we have missed God’s heart. The chain of blessing that God bestows on us must pass through us and on to others. The blessings came from God. So as we have freely received, we freely give of ourselves to others.
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously”. 2 Corinthians 9:6
"By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8
Are you living in the midst of a storm? A storm that makes you feel powerless, or that maybe God has left you alone? Has the wind knocked you down and are the waters crashing around your life? Are you feeling oppressed by the world, by your family, by your friends, by your job, by your boss, by trying to please others, by trying to keep control of your relationships, by trying to keep control of your money and finances? Are you full of worry about the future or doubt about your abilities in life? Are you ill and crying out to God or feeling depressed and lonely?
If your contentment is based on your circumstances you will never find peace. If you are waiting for someone or something else to make you happy you will never find peace. If your life is on hold until you feel better or get well you will never find peace.
In King Henry VI Shakespeare poetically described internal contentment. A king is wandering in the country and meets two gamekeepers. He informs them that he is a king. One of them asks, “But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?” He replies:
My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen; my crown is called content A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.
A pearl to string: As I look around I see those who are content in their daily life share God’s vision of eternity. Contentment is a soul sufficiency, a peace separate from your circumstances. From the book ‘Calm My Anxious Heart’ I found a lovely prescription for contentment by a lady missionary with great peace in her soul:
~Never allow yourself to complain about anything — not even the weather. ~Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else. ~Never compare your lot with another’s. ~Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise. ~Never dwell on tomorrow — remember that [tomorrow] is God’s, not ours.
“God is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters.”1 Timothy 6:15/Phillips
Knowing our eternal destiny keeps us Still in One Peace, You are loved, Lyndi
I will come to you in the silence, I will lift you from all your fear. You will hear my voice, I claim you as my choice, Be still and know I am here. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
I am hope for all who are hopeless, I am eyes for all who long to see. In the shadows of the night, I will be your light, Come and rest in me. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
I am strength for all the despairing, Healing for the ones who dwell in shame All the blind will see, The lame will run free, And all will know my name. Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
I am the Word that leads all to freedom, I am the peace the world cannot give. I will call your name, Embracing all your pain, Stand up, now walk, and live! Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me I will bring you home; I love you and you are mine.
"I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name." Is 49:15-16
"I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me." Jn 10:14
Thank you, I cannot express to you how much this means to me. These devotionals come right out of my prayer time. Many times I am praying for you specifically and I am speaking into your heart to bless you. The devotionals are my love letters to you. These days are flipping by at a furious pace and I know you don’t have time to listen. I keep these short just for you. I know they are not deep spiritual messages – just a thought or two that hopefully take you to the Lord where His love abounds for you. I’ve just recently switched over to a mail service thinking it would be a nicer format for you to read. I also wanted to avoid you getting bounced off the String A Pearl list. Imagine my excitement when I discovered that this mail service provides a report to show how many people open the devotionals, forward them or click through to a web site that was suggested. How very cool is that I thought until I opened the first report. Wow, nearly 40% of the people on the list didn’t even open the devotional. Only one passed it on and 3 clicked through to the suggested web site. Who is on my list? Family, friends, special personal requests - all people I would die for I love them so much. I know - I know it’s not about me. I’m fighting the emotionalism that I was not able to bless you when you were hurting. Bitter sweet! I’m also experiencing great joy knowing 60% were blessed right where you were hurting – oh I thank God for that opportunity to bless you. God? Oh no, it’s much worse for God. We’re on His list. Oh Father God how Your heart breaks for all those who never open Your love letters and You did die for us!
A pearl to string: John 17:8--Jesus said to the Father, "I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me." In the Old Testament phrases such as "thus saith the Lord,""the word of the Lord came," and "God said" are repeated over 3800 times. Clearly God communicates His love by words. Second Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God". God breathes His love into us through His Word, YES HE loves us, and the Bible tells me so. Honestly the answer to every problem you have, every decision you need to make, what direction you need to turn can be found in God’s Word, His love letters to you. By the Holy Spirit He will empower you, bless you and direct you
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.(1 Timothy 6:7-8)
Wow, I read that scripture this morning and my mind went back, way back in time to a discussion with a girl friend who was frustrated with me and my new found relationship with Jesus. I was actually commenting on the above verse and how content I was to be where the Lord had me and ever ready to follow His lead when she erupted. Big eyed I leaned back as her hot air filled the room. She was observing every modest aspect of my surroundings including my fragrant ‘essence of baby urp’ sweatshirt. The core of her tirade was people like me were lazy losers waiting around for some fictitious hero to save them and that I should never be satisfied with where I am. I thought: “Lord I think we both just got our butts kicked, what are You going to do?” I waited for His wisdom just didn’t realize I had received it. You know that’s true when you answer smarter than you are. Do you know words won’t change a cold, stone heart? I told her she had made some valid points that line up Biblically but I doubted that I would change her mind and she wouldn’t change my heart. I offered her pop corn & lemonade & we played with our kids. We didn’t get together much after that day. We’ve lived life in different directions but love is the only way to warm a cold heart – I’ve kept in touch for 35 years and now she lives in Colorado. Isn’t God amazing?
A pearl to string:Godliness with contentment is great wealth!(1 Timothy 6:6) The world has moved away from modest living, contentment with little. The weight of performance, possessions and money has choked off blessings to the majority. We’re suffering a great spiritual drought. I’m not referring to healthy competition in the market place or earning a wage to provide for one’s family. Godless excess & turning away from our Creator has weakened our foundation in America. It is funny how we spend the first part of our adult life gathering and collecting and building our estates. Then a reality sets in that all our belongings are weighing us down and we begin to downsize our lives. The purging of the unnecessary creates a peaceful surrounding and fills a need for others. Those who have gone without reaching the quintessential earthly measuring stick of success and kept their eyes and hearts on Jesus may well be the wealthiest people on earth.
Son Mike, daughter Kristy, son Marc friend Lizza Baro surround me in prayer Grand daughter Grace, Grandson Brandon, friend Louise Christopher lay hands on me. Only four members of our 19 strong family were unable to share in this prayer time. Perhaps not pictured but all children, their mates and grandchildren and beloved friends were with us.
There are moments of time in your walk with the Lord that you are completely enveloped in His presence. For me personally those have been moments of great pain and sorrow when there was nothing left but the Lord. I call those my Adonai moments when I ran out of courage, strength or grit to withstand the great wave of pain that life offered up to find the Lord waiting right there at the end of me. OK, here’s where it’s going to sound really strange if you have not ever experienced those moments. Those Adonai moments of time are my most treasured experiences in life. To be enveloped in the presence of the Lord is such an incredibly safe place, warmed by His love and surrounded in peace. It’s not a place you want to leave. Truly, I am not fond of the anguishing pain or the gravity of illness that seem to escort me to my Adonai moments so imagine my surprise to discover a new path. A rocky mountain high!
My family and friends made our way to the stadium floor at the Promise Keeper’s event this past week end to receive a yellow star signifying our heart to heart pledge to stand with our Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters. My husband was waiting for us there as prayer broke out all around us. Shofars were blowing and it felt as if the beautiful mountains that surrounded us in Boulder Colorado were shaking inside of me. And then ….. the Kavod fell, my Adonai moment without pain or suffering I was in my incredibly safe place, warmed by His love and surrounded in peace. Indescribable joy!
"Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"Isaiah 6:5 (Amplified Bible)
A pearl to string: When you come to the end of yourself, the end of your right, the end of your knowledge ….. You will find a ‘peace that surpasses all human understanding’(Philippians 4:7). It is there you will find a guard for your hearts and minds in Jesus.
If you have 23 odds and ends on a table, and 22 of them fall off, what do you have left: An odd or an end? Does this question have an answer?
Life is filled with daily routines and perplexing questions. If you are feeling the weight of the day-in and day-out grind you may be in God’s process of learning the lessons of small things. Pray that you will be faithful. "Who despises the day of small things?"(Zechariah 4:10)
You may be struggling through great troubles and trials at this moment in time. C.H. Spurgeon wrote: a gem is not polished without rubbing, nor are godly men and women made without trials. Think about it. Haven’t the greatest strides in your spiritual journey always come during times of significant difficulty and hardship? “Many men and women owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.”
A pearl to string: Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfection! God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but HE did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears & light for the way.
“On the day I called you answered me; you increased the strength of my soul”. (Psalm 138:3)
Every now and then, God takes us to the mountaintop to experience His presence in a dramatic way. Such a time is near. I wait in Holy anticipation.
May His blessing befall upon you and May the strength of your soul be increased In His Sonshine. You are loved, Lyndi
With Promise Keepers: A Time to Honor just around the corner I am filled with excitement and anticipation. I’m expecting God to snatch some people right out of evil’s grip. I’m expecting the blessing on women to heal broken and weary hearts and refresh souls to soar with God’s eagles. I’m expecting a transformation of the busy to reach out and bend down to lift our brothers and sisters who struggle with having so little to become a real community who share with each other. I’m expecting Jew & gentile to experience the mending of the divide in the most glorious of ways and I cannot fathom what that looks like. I am expecting God’s healing hand to be over all who attend, who watch, who hear, who pray…. I’m expecting the unexpected…… I’m expecting the Kavod.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 1:6).
A pearl to string: A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often.
One night, the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but since the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light for practice. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board, arms extended outward. It was then that he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body was in the shape of a cross. The man felt as if someone was speaking to him. The words of his Christian friend filled his mind. In his heart, he suddenly realized the truth. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. As the young transformed diver stood to his feet, a maintenance man walked in and turned on the lights. The pool had been drained for repairs.
God is going to catch our breath just like that, You are loved, Lyndi
I first heard the terminology ‘sandpaper people’ reading Girlfriends in God devotionals. The girlfriends are simply 3 extraordinary women who share the love of God daily. I read their devotionals every day and I share with you their interpretation of ‘sandpaper people’ mixed with mine.
I have more than a few friends going through their days trying to deal with ‘sandpaper people’. People, often times Christian people, who are unruly, meaning that they are frequently careless, out of line or over the top in their behavior. The word, "unruly" applies to soldiers who refuse to follow orders, insisting on doing things their own way. Sound familiar? It is the motto of every respectable sandpaper person. These people frequently are placed in positions of responsibility and have no idea of how to treat others with respect and love while administering their duties. If sandpaper people continue to offensively power trip their way through your day take heart. God has a plan.
A pearl to string: Looks like The Law of Power* goes into effect here: “You only have the power to change yourself. You can’t change another person. You must see yourself as the problem, not the other person. To see another person as the problem to be fixed is to give that person power over you and your well-being. Because you cannot change another person, You are out of control. The “REAL problem lies in how you are relating to the problem person. You are the one in pain, and only you have the power to fix it”. Study that statement it will eventually bless you.
Sandpaper people can definitely get on our last nerve, which is why God's plan for dealing with these difficult people includes setting aside part of our emotional energy to cover their faults and allow for their weaknesses. In other words, we must learn and choose to be patient. By the grace of the Holy Spirit you can take the grit out of sandpaper people.
"Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone".1 Thessalonians 5:13-14
May God bless you with wisdom for patience is wisdom’s gift. Joy in Sonshine, Lyndi
*from Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
"I'm not supposed to give these away," the young man said, handing me a display Bible, "but I sense you should have this." I shrugged and absently tucked it away. We had a Bible at home. I'd only stopped by the Gideon's table because nothing else at the Iowa State Fair was set up.
A few days later I was walking to town when a car pulled up beside me. "Get in," the driver snarled, pointing a gun at me. I did as he said. Soon he pulled over, grabbed me and tried to force me down on the seat. I struggled with all my strength. Finally he ordered me out of the car.
Before both my feet were on the ground, I heard a shot and felt a sharp pain in my side. I collapsed, and the man came around the car. He picked up my purse, took out my wallet then threw the purse on my head and shot it. I felt a dreadful impact. Still conscious, I lay silent, hoping he would think I was dead. I heard the car drive away, and I stumbled to a nearby farmhouse. A woman called for help, and the police were closing in on the drug-crazed driver based on the description I'd given them.
At the hospital, just before I went into surgery to remove the bullet in my side, my sister came to see me. "Do you know what saved your life, Mavis?" she asked. She handed me the Bible that had been in my purse. A bullet was lodged inside, its tip stopping exactly at Psalm 37:14-15: "The wicked draw the sword, and bend the bow...to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken."
This is what it means to know the voice of God. The young man wasn't supposed to give away the Bibles, but he "sensed" that God wanted him to give the Bible away to this lady. He probably thought that she would open the Bible and read something that would turn her life around, or bring her closer to the reality of God. But the sword came first, and then certainly a peace that only comes from God; the reality of His protection made manifest by those who "sense" His will.
Ray C. Cone, 48, went to rest in peace with his Savior, on November 7, 2009. Ray is survived by his loving wife Trish and beloved children Daniel, Andrew, Patrick, Caroline and Stephen. Ray was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, where his family. was stationed in the Air Force. Growing up in Edgewater, Colorado, Ray excelled in baseball, basketball and football. He later became an All American middle linebacker at Colorado University, where he still holds the record for the most tackles. He later signed with the Denver Broncos. Ray shared his love of sports with each of his five children, volunteer coaching all their teams. Ray’s outgoing personality, integrity and strong work ethic led him to become a successful salesman. Ray will be remembered for his sense of humor, selfless service, love and devotion to family, and above all his love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 
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