Abundantly Pardoned

Someone emailed me some beautiful color slides with 25 sayings. Two of them really struck me for the situations we face at work: "He who angers you controls you" and "Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop." Actually, those sayings can apply to relationships and marriages and family life, too. No one should control us except Christ, and we need to give up all worries to Him. This is something we have to consciously work on every, single day, because we humans like to control everything in our lives. Jesus is our Master, our Shepherd, our Teacher, our Savior, our Friend. He is the Lord. He is perfectly capable of taking care of the things we worry over and the people who make us angry. Dear Jesus, we're so sorry that we try to control things ourselves. We really don't mean to say we don't think You're incapable. We're just control freaks. We love You! In Your name, Amen.

Jesus prayed in John 17, "The same glory You gave Me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are---I in them and You in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that You've sent Me and loved them in the same way You've loved Me." (The Message) Five words stood out to me when I read the above verse: "give the godless world evidence." We are to give this dark, sinful world evidence of the love of Jesus Christ by shining in the darkness, by living a life that reflects Christ and by spreading the gospel. Do people see Christ in you? Do they see Christ's love in you? Are they directed to Christ after speaking with you?

At the church I belong to there is a crown of thorns on the Bible which rests on the table in front of the pulpit. That crown of thorns always touches my heart and makes me feel even closer to Christ. Mankind drove a crown of thorns onto our Savior's head, but our Savior is our King, and His crown is eternal. Revelation 19:12 tells us, "...on His head are many crowns." Amen and Amen! Our Wondrous King of Glory!

We see in Luke 8:1-3 that many women followed Jesus during His ministry, providing for Him from their means. These women were a part of His ministry. He had healed these women of diseases and demons. We are all important in the ministry of Jesus Christ, and we all have a story to tell, a witness to make. Have you been healed? Spread the good news! Are you blessed with much money? You've got a way to help others to expand the Kingdom! He can and will use us in so many ways. If we let Him. He wants to use you in His ministry. Will you let Him?

My little gray cat had been missing for 2 and 1/2 days, and I was really worried about her. When I got home from work yesterday, I began calling for her and heard some loud meows coming from the storage barn. Sunday had been windy, and the door had managed to open a little. I had made sure it was shut securely without peeking inside first. She had been in the barn 2 and 1/2 days! Let me tell you, she was very hungry and very thirsty! If we find ourselves neck-deep in sin and don't cry out for help, we're going to have a very difficult time getting ourselves out of that mud pit of sin. We're going to wallow around in the muck day after day until we're so exhausted that we give up and give in to our sin. If you're having trouble with sin, get help: well trusted friends who will hold you accountable and pray over you and most of all, God close at your side at all times. Don't be a cat trapped in the barn.

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." (Luke 1:45 NIV)

The "elderly" Elizabeth spoke the above words to young Mary when the former's baby leapt in her womb at the sound of Mary's voice. One woman beyond child-bearing years giving birth to the man who would prepare the way for Jesus; the other a virgin giving birth to the Son of God. Both women believed that God can do anything. Blessed because they believed. Oh, to always have a heart like theirs' when we pray!