Life is finally settling down a bit. I have recently begun developing my YouTube channel, Let’s Karen-ize! , and thought I would post my Wednesday vlogs dealing with spiritual health here also and resurrect this site:) I also post Friday crafting videos, shorts with my crazy dog Yuki and various random posts also. Here is the latest Wednesday vlog. Enjoy!
Today, I’d like to share a post from the blog Girlfriends in God. Although the site is targeting women in particular, the truths shared there apply to all. Today’s blog reminded me so much of my friends Bernie and Sharon, who are going through an ‘even if’ situation of their own right now. Their testimony during this trying time is an inspiration to all they encounter! They are a shining example of rock solid faith!
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Even If
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2 NIV).
Friend to Friend
One of the most beautiful pictures of trusting in the sovereignty of God is in the story of three young Jewish young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three lads refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. The punishment for such rebellion against the king was death in a fiery furnace. When the young men were taken before the king just before facing death they respectfully explained:
The God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. (Daniel 3:17-18 NIV emphasis added)
That’s real faith—truly tried by fire. God can deliver me, but even if He chooses not to, I’ll serve Him anyway. God can heal me, but even if he doesn’t, I love Him regardless.
The young men were thrown into the furnace. Their refusal to bow to the king’s request infuriated Nebuchadnezzar. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie the young men up and toss them into the flames. The flames were so hot, the soldiers who took the bound boys to the furnace died in its heat. Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the flames and the king stood by to watch.
“Didn’t we throw three men in the furnace,” the King asked in amazement.
“Look, I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25).
That was enough for the king to have a change of heart. He ordered the door opened, and the three young men walked out of that furnace without a singed hair on their heads or a hint of smoke on their clothes!
We can be sure of this, my friend—when walking through the fiery trials of life, we are never alone. Jesus is right there with us all the way. A little smoke and fire doesn’t bother Him one little bit.
He is right there with you through all of your even ifs.
David Morse – American missionary to India – became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau’s cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God’s way of salvation.
Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior – he would shake his head and reply, “Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner – I would feel like a pauper there…like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud – but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven — and so I am going to work for it.”
Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau’s decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.
“Come in, dear friend,” said Morse.
“No,” said the pearl-diver. “I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time — I have something to show you. Please do not say ‘No’.”
“Of course I’ll come,” replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: “In a week’s time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi — and I am going there on my knees.”
“Man, you are crazy! It’s nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay.”
“No, I must get to Delhi,” affirmed Rambhau, “and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet – for it will purchase heaven for me!”
“Rambhau, my friend – you can’t. How can I bear you to do it – when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!”
But the old man could not be moved. “You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want – you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss…I must go to Delhi!”
Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him – where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.
Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. “I have had this box for years,” said he, “and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son…”
“A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!”
“No, Sahib, I couldn’t.” Even as he spoke the diver’s eyes were moistened.
“Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.
What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the ‘perfect’ pearl – one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it – he had been under water too long… That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after.”
The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. “All these years,” he continued, “I have kept this pearl – but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend – I am giving my pearl.”
The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.
It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.
For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. “Rambhau! What a pearl!”
“That pearl, Sahib, is perfect,” replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for – to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ’s sacrifice? So he said, designedly, “Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it.”
“Sahib! What do you mean?”
“Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more – I will work for it.”
“Sahib,” said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, “this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift.”
“No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it…”
The old pearl-diver was stunned. “You don’t understand at all, Sahib. Don’t you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn’t sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this – but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you.”
The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. “Rambhau,” he said in a low voice, “don’t you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time.”
The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. “God is offering you salvation as a free gift,” said the missionary. “It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God’s love for you – a sinner.
“Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won’t you accept God’s great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?”
Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. “Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!”
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If you are like me, it is very difficult to understand the magnitude of God’s love for us, flawed and sinful as we are. So many of us feel as Rambhau did, that we should have to earn our way to Heaven. I remember staying with my Grandmother a few years before her death. She was a member of a church that believed we are saved by our works. During the night, every night, I could hear her praying and begging God to help her do enough to get into Heaven. How heartbreaking that was to hear. Nothing any of us could say to her helped her to understand the truth. My uncle, a Baptist minister, had tried to show her the truth so often, but she just could never grasp the concept of a free salvation paid for by Christ’s sacrifice. She loved our Savior so much, but did not have His peace while alive on this earth. If that is you today, reread today’s story and then study the following passage. God has given us a free gift of salvation through our belief in His Son’s sacrifice. All we are required to do is believe and turn our lives over to Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
If we could earn our way to Heaven, His sacrifice would not have been needed. If we could earn our way, so many of us would be tempted to boast about our works, much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. And if you study, the scriptures, you will see that He had nothing good to say about that kind of attitude!
Have a blessed day!
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire … if you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something … for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times … during those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations … they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge… which will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes … they will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary … because it means you’ve given your all.
It’s easy to be thankful for the ‘good’ things … yet, a life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive … find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.
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If you have read many of my blogs, you will see that this is a fairly common theme: look for the silver lining in the trials of your life. If you do, you can turn negative situations into positive learning episodes that add depth and color to your life. Our Heavenly Father promises that in Romans 8:28 when we are told, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I have found that in any situation, when I remember to look for that silver lining, He has always been faithful in fulfilling that promise. I may not always thank Him for the trials, but I have learned to always thank Him for His faithfulness during the trials.
Today, if you have a life filled with dark, ominous clouds or if the storm has already begun unleashing its fury, remember this promise. Hunker down and watch for that silver lining. It may not make its appearance until the storm passes, but it will show up eventually.
Have a blessed day!
A Seed in the Mud
Once upon a time there was a seed buried in the mud.
It was in dark blackness. It was cold and wet. It shivered. It was just plain no fun.
It was icky. It was dirty. It was muddy. It was mucky. It was stuck in the mud.
How it got there is a little 3 sentence story.
One nice breezy Fall day, it had fallen on the ground. Then it rained a little. And a deer came along and stepped on it and pushed it deep in the mud.
Life just wasn’t fair. It was all alone. If only it had fallen like the other seeds in the grass, or on the log over there, or at least not been stepped on.
But what the little seed did not see was
It couldn’t see this because it was stuck in the mud. It didn’t know how lucky it was.
Now besides being squished tight in the mud, it was also locked in its shell. It tried to get out of its terrible predicament, but the Fall days got shorter and shorter. It got colder and colder too. It had no strength to get out of its shell. The mud was frozen solid, the deep snow covered it. It went through a terribly cold and dark winter.
Finally, after what seemed forever, slowly the days grew a little longer, a little warmer. The seed had work to do. It began to grow.
The water in the mud had softened its shell. Still, how hard it was to get out of its shell ! It had to exert energy like never before. It struggled and struggled. Finally it broke free.
Then it used more energy to go not up, but down, struggling to send a tiny little root through that compacted mud — that terribly icky place. It needed something to tightly hold on to, because……..
…now it had to struggle yet again with great effort to send a tiny little shoot to the light above — through all that icky mud. Finally it was free. It reached the warm sunlight.
You would think its troubles were over. Not so fast. In a whole year it grew only a few inches, while the other plants grew by leaps and bounds, as if to mock the little seed. Every fall it lost its leaves. In winter it barely survived, covered with snow. And as it got a little taller, it had to go through windstorms and blizzards.
But one thing was peculiar. Even while it slowly grew up to the sunny blue sky, it never forgot its roots. It had the wisdom to keep growing its roots deeper and deeper in the mud.
In fact, it used every wind storm, every blizzard, every shaking, every vibration to wiggle its roots deeper and deeper into the black icky mud.
It knew the importance of a solid foundation, because it always remembered where it came from, how it had been protected and helped by the mud.
The years rolled on, and the seasons too. Each summer it so slowly but surely grew. Each winter it became a little tougher and stronger. It had little joys and little sorrows throughout its life like all of us do.
Then came the fiercest of all storms. The wind blew so violently this way and that. Trees all around were dashed to the ground, broken, uprooted, a jangled mess.
After the devastation, the sun shone once again. To be sure, it didn’t look so pretty, some leaves were missing, in fact, quite a few, but that would soon be remedied.
Because it hadn’t forgotten its roots as a seed in the mud, it stood there in all its glory. It had become the mighty oak tree.
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This story is so chuck full of potential lessons, I scarcely know where to begin! The first that came to my mind is the parable of the seeds found in the beginning of Matthew 13. As I read further, however, another lesson cam to mind: that of how our response to life’s trials can strengthen us and grow our character. Then there was ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ and the fact that in our own trials we often don’t notice the trials of others.
The lesson I decided to focus on is ‘roots.’ Our foundation, our root, is critical to get us through everything life throws our way. Listen to the following passage from I Corinthians chapter 3. Paul is talking about laying a foundation in ministry, planting seeds that others may harvest later. But look also at the parallels when we lay this passage over the trials of our lives.
” 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
If we have the foundation of our life rooted solidly in Christ, if He is our foundation, the fiery trials of life won’t knock us over. Ephesians 2 adds more to this idea: “19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the , 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,…”
I know that since I have made Him my foundation, the trials of life may try to knock me down, but He is there to hold me up, or in the worst of times, to gently lift me back onto my feet and walk beside me through the remainder of that ordeal. I am so thankful every day for this strong foundation!
There is so much more I could write on this subject, but there are children to get to school, a dog to get to the groomers and a long drive to work, so I will leave you with those few thoughts for today.
Have a blessed day!
Learning to Run by Nathaniel Bronner, MountainWings.com
The two-year old likes to run.
It warms my heart when I see his funny movements as he runs. It also scares me because young children have a tendency to fall very easily.
I was out shopping with my sons when the two-year old started to run.
He fell.
If you are a parent, you completely understand the phrase,”it hurts you more than it does them.” There is something that pains worse than physical torment to see your little one hurt. He skinned his knee and elbow. He cried for a few minutes and finally with the soothing of Daddy, quieted down.
We are like my two-year old.
There are so many areas of life where we must run: some by choice, some by the force of circumstances. There are so many new things. There are so many times when our steps are unsure and we are not experienced runners.
The older I get, the more I understand how a Divine Father can let us go through some things and fall. I was tempted to stop my son when I saw him run. I knew that sooner or later, if not that day then one day, he would fall.
I also knew that if he was to ever learn how to run, he must fall, and often I had to watch him do it.
I fell in business several times before I was able to run.
I fell in relationships several times before I had sense enough to stop looking for perfection and know that we all have faults.
Even your second child is reared differently from the first because you learn some things from falling with that first one.
I fell off of my bicycle.
I fell off of my motorcycle.
I fell on skates (roller and ice).
I even choked a few times while learning to swim.
We often fall when learning to run the things of life.
Too often bruises stop us from ever trying to run again. We are afraid that we will slip and get hurt. We are afraid of the pain.
My son runs much better now. I still wince when I see him run on a hard surface but he won’t stop running.
At only two, he has one of the keys of life.
He won’t stop running just because he fell.
Your bruises will heal, you will get up, and the path will still be there.
Though at times you may not think it so, The Divine Father is still watching over you.
He just knows that He has to let you fall, If you are ever to learn to run.
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Falling, failing often creates fear. When that fear becomes crippling rather than simply making me cautious, it becomes a problem. The Bible says in II Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. ” When I remember to give those fears to Him, when I remind myself that He is in control, I throw away my fear-made crutches and walk again in the freedom of His protection. I am so thankful for this protection in the midst of life’s trials! If you are walking in fear today, throw yourself into His awesome arms and ride out the storm in His protective shelter.
Have a blessed day!
Pursue Air- Author Unknown
A student looking for wisdom approached a master and asked to be shown the way towards God. The master told, “Come. Follow me to the river.” As they waded into the water the master suddenly grabbed the student and shoved his head under the water. For several very long moments the student thrashed about. Finally, the master relented.
Sputtering and coughing, the student said, “Why did that you that? Why?”
The master calmly replied, “As you were under the water what were you desiring?”
“Air!” the student said. “Air!”
To this the master replied, “When you would pursue God with the same passion you desired air then you will find him.”
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Psalm 42:1-2 is one of my favorite word pictures in the Bible. I’m sure you know the verses: As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” It exemplifies the kind of relationship with God that brings new life, that enables us to have that joy that passes all understanding. When we have this deep, abiding relationship with Him, everything in life shifts. When God is our substance spiritually even as air and water are physically, we walk in a new dimension of life. Even the difficult times have a new look. When I am walking this closely with Him, when I desire Him more than anything else in this world, my life takes on new meaning and even the colors around me seem brighter. When I get distracted by life and lose this passion for time with Him, things tend to come crashing down around me. I no longer draw on His strength and have found time and time again that my strength isn’t enough. May I always walk closely with Him!
My prayer for you is that you will know this close, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. Take a few minutes to enjoy the following video of the song created from Psalm 42:1. I always get so choked up when I listen to it and realize how much He loves me.
Have a blessed day!
Two Horses- Author Unknown
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.
But if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting…
One of the horses is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in.
This alone is pretty amazing.
But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field.
Attached to the horse’s halter is a small, copper-colored bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.
As you stand and watch these two friends you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect. Or because we have problems or challenges.
He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
And at other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.
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I love this story, don’t you? I am reminded of the phrase ‘blind faith.’ So much of life as a Christian life is just that- blind faith. Actually, if you think about it, one definition of faith is believing in something even when you can’t see or feel it, so it is blind by definition. How comforting to know, then, that the One I have faith in is the One who is always there, always faithful, always loving, always my everything. I can always count on Him.
Isaiah 41:10-13 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”
I have found this to be true again and again, even though often I am not aware at the time that it is happening. What a comfort to know that behind the scenes, He is always working on my behalf. I just need to follow that bell, His Word, His Spirit, with the same blind trust as the old horse had. It will never fail me!
Have a blessed day!
Run in the Rain- author unknown
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red-haired, freckle-faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside — the kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth that it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child, came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. “Mom, let’s run through the rain,” she said.
“What?” Mom asked.
“Let’s run through the rain!” she repeated.
“No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,” Mom replied.
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”
“We’ll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.
“No we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm.
“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'”
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life, a time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
“Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD lets us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,” Mom said.
They off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran too. I got wet. I guess I needed washing.
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I don’t know about you, but I see several great personality traits in this story. If we could all have the simple faith and attitude of that small child, what a world this would be.
The first trait I see is the unswerving faith of this child that resulted in great optimism. Despite very depressing circumstance, she was able to see past the trial and find a way to put a positive spin on their day. And in the process, she brought light into the lives of many others. This little cherub lived out the words in Joshua 1:9 when God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The second trait I want to talk about today is related to the first in that it may be very difficult to have it without that kind of faith. That trait is a deeply rooted joy. Joy that does not depend on the circumstances, in fact, a joy despite the circumstances. James 1:2-4 talks about this kind of joy. It says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” If you don’t have this trait yet, don’t despair. It is not easy, but it is worth the journey to get there. When you have this trait, nothing gets you down too far or for too long. Notice though, that the passage doesn’t say we need to have joy for the trials, but that we have joy despite the trials. There is a huge difference!
Have a blessed day!
Cellebrate Life 