Friday, September 14, 2007

My God is an Awesome God


My God is an awesome God!
He turns darkness into light,
Death into life,
Time into eternity.
He makes mud into men,
Wimps into warriors,
Sinners into saints.
My God is an awesome God!

He turns failure into victory,
Enemies become friends,
Strangers become brothers.

He changes poverty into abundance,
Chains into stepping stones,
And scarlet into purest white.

He makes ugly into beautiful,
He turns grief into joy.
Fear into faith,
Defeat into victory.
My God is an awesome God.

He turns mistakes into building blocks,
War into peace,
Weeds into trees,
Wilderness into gardens…

My God is an awesome God…

And what He has done for me He can do for you!
by Dr. Waylon O. Ward see
http://mercymatters.org/ or http://waylonward.blogspot.com/

The Prince's Trust

This rose is a medium red and grows in clusters. The scent is very mild. This reminds me of all the issues, conflicts, controversies and tribulations of life that are all clumped together as a bouquet. Who do you trust with your most precious thoughts, your opinions and your trials? Who would you share this bouquet with?

The Lord has been speaking to me about Trust. To have a relationship with someone we must trust them. We must trust them to not ridicule us when we share our thoughts, we must trust them to comfort us when we need comfort, we must trust that we will be valued as a person. We must trust that we will not be shamed, made to feel guilty, or feel unworthy. To trust you must feel safe in what you say, what you feel, what you see, what you hear, what you do in each dimension of your life. This includes trusting your words and feelings regarding spiritual issues, financial issues, your friends, your education, your emotions. We are very lucky to find a friend or spouse that we can trust. Are you a trustworthy person?


The Prince of Peace is One who you can trust when you have no other. Have you ever had nagging questions and doubts? Or asked yourself why you are in the marriage you are in? Why your children have made bad choices? Why you have financial problems? Why life is not fair? Why the evil seem to flourish? Why is there so much pain and suffering? Why has your life not turned out the way you wanted it to? Our children ask many "whys" everyday. I think most of us as adults ask, if not aloud, then to ourselves, "Why God did this happen to me?" But we know "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him." (Nahum 1:7)


The Lord is Good. All the time the Lord is Good. If we look through the lens of "God is Good all the time" we know that since God is good and He loves us He would never allow anything to happen to us that would not be for our good. We should "live by faith" trusting in God for He is Good ALL the time.

Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path. Do you trust God with your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, your heartbreaks, with your trials and temptations. Can you trust the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6) Begin by trusting Him who wants to have a relationship with you. Trust Him and tell Him what you are not happy about. Ask Him "Why?" And then wait for Him to pour out His love and His peace and his goodness on you. He is faithful and He will do it. Trust the Prince of Peace.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

'Lovesong" Rose



The "Lovesong" Rose is considered a shrub but can bloom singly as well. The bush is used as a hedge and also blooms through all seasons. Nearly all shrub roses are repeat bloomers and very hardy. Just like the name of this rose implies, Jesus is a hedge around us and is there for us in all seasons. I believe that Jesus softly and tenderly calls us through a love song to come home. Home being where He lives within us. (Col 1:27) "Christ in us the hope of glory."

We all struggle with conflicts and issues in different seasons of our lives. Listen to the "love song" of our Father who loves us so much He sent His son Jesus to die for us. He lives today at the right hand of the Father in Heaven interceding for us. (Romans 8:26) He left the Spirit of truth within us to guide us in all ways and protect us in this life here on earth. (John 14:16,17) It is a mystery how we can go into the secret place to find hope and comfort. Listen to the "Lovesong" of the one who loves you and calls you to come home.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

"Playtime"

"Playtime" provides an amazing display of brilliant color in vibrant shades of reddish orange. The fragrance is mild but the rose makes up for the lack of fragrance by generously blooming.



I've just returned from my girl trip and discovered that a new woman emerged from this busy life during my time of playtime. I call it "playtime" because I have been on several girl trips in the past couple of months. We have laughed, shopped, eaten, talked and "played".

I have come to realize while playing with my friends I was actually glorifying God. (Romans 12:1) I have witnessed creation by the Lord who is the creator of Heaven and Earth while being in different parts of the country. I understand the uniqueness of being made in His image by being around so many different "girls". There is an awareness of who I am, the real me, the one who is created in the image of God. I am a divine design drawn with lovingkindness. (Jeremiah 31:3) But not only am I created for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) but so are my friends uniquely formed to be a part of God's plan for my life and I theirs. Our diversities give us our strengths. We are actually all part of one another, one spirit, because there is one God. (Ephesians 4) I pray we can all bloom where God has planted us giving Him praise for His creation of the earth, the girls, and "playtime" as we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)