I have waited a little while to comment on this, as I have been unsure of what to say.... A lady that I have been working with for the past few months lost her husband just recently. Very tragic accident at his workplace. I never met him, but have heard wonderful things about him. Great wonderful family man /husband/father/brother/son/friend. I went to pay my respects to this fine Christain gentleman, Tim McCammon. I was so uplifted by the many that came to honor him and to support her and their children. It brought tears to my eyes to see the people pouring out of the building..wrapping around it on all sides..just waiting to pay respects to this family. The whole entire day was like that, as well as the evening, and into the night. From what I hear until close to midnight people came from near and far. I believe it was close to three hours before I had the honor to give my support to this family. Though it was overwhelming~ sad and so hard to comprehend~ how amazing to see what a great testimony to God this family continued to give to each and everyone of us who came. How any of them were still standing, was by God's mighty hand..and they were not hesitant to tell you so.
I find myself thinking about Tim and DeAnna all the time. Little things especially make me stop. We take so much for granted each day. Especially the little things we have come to expect. I am thankful that they will all be together again, but I still think about NOW. How do you just go on? What a heaviness on your heart to just have your life turned upside down.
I have prayed countless prayers for this family, and I want to ask you to do the same. Lift them up, pray for their strength, encouragement, tenacity... Pray for God to wrap them tightly and keep them close. Bless them. I pray that through this tragedy, triumph comes. I pray for someone who knew Tim or maybe who didn't even know him, to see the example of his life. To let it make an impact on their own lives, that they too can be a representative of Christ. We know that God does all things for good, for He himself tells us so. He also tells us that it will not all be revealed to us until it is time. He does have a plan. He wants you in it. From what I understand, so did Tim. Let us honor him in this.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Today's Verse
Today's Bible verse hit home with me.
James 3:9-10
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
How very easy it is to see the faults of others and even let their "faults" become our focus. Why is it so easy to see where other people are making major mistakes, saying rude things, and just all around doing a poor job of representing Christ...and yet our own lives could reflect theirs as if it were a mirror? Even though this is the case many times, we see it in their lives, but are totally blind to it in our own. Even if we are not blind to it, we certainly excuse it or defend it. We are no different than our brother.
Luke 6:42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
James 3:9-10
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
How very easy it is to see the faults of others and even let their "faults" become our focus. Why is it so easy to see where other people are making major mistakes, saying rude things, and just all around doing a poor job of representing Christ...and yet our own lives could reflect theirs as if it were a mirror? Even though this is the case many times, we see it in their lives, but are totally blind to it in our own. Even if we are not blind to it, we certainly excuse it or defend it. We are no different than our brother.
Luke 6:42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Make Time for Prayer
Make Time for Prayer
"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (NAS, Matthew 7:7-11)
Prayer is loving communication with God. Prayer may be long or short, alone or in a group, silent or aloud, but should be a true communication with God and not done for public recognition.
God promised to answer our prayers and give us everything we need and more. But a wise parent will not give a child everything he or she wants. Similarly, prayer is not a magical trick to get anything we want or a "quick fix" for problems that we should be solving ourselves. God answers prayer requests in His own way in His own time, and will not grant requests that are against His holy and wise purposes, are selfish in nature, are not in our best long-term interest, or those made with impure motives.
Often, we must be persistent in prayer. The answer, when it comes, may be in a form radically different than we expected, and we must be alert to that possibility. Sometimes, the answer must come from within ourselves and persistent prayer will help us find that answer. We may need a new attitude or a different way of looking at things, or we may need to make amends with somebody.
Jesus spent a lot of time praying. He often went to a solitary place and prayed for hours at a time, especially at difficult times in His ministry. Jesus is the great intercessor. He is the one interceding for us every time we speak to God. Let's follow that example and intercede for those we love!
"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (NAS, Matthew 7:7-11)
Prayer is loving communication with God. Prayer may be long or short, alone or in a group, silent or aloud, but should be a true communication with God and not done for public recognition.
God promised to answer our prayers and give us everything we need and more. But a wise parent will not give a child everything he or she wants. Similarly, prayer is not a magical trick to get anything we want or a "quick fix" for problems that we should be solving ourselves. God answers prayer requests in His own way in His own time, and will not grant requests that are against His holy and wise purposes, are selfish in nature, are not in our best long-term interest, or those made with impure motives.
Often, we must be persistent in prayer. The answer, when it comes, may be in a form radically different than we expected, and we must be alert to that possibility. Sometimes, the answer must come from within ourselves and persistent prayer will help us find that answer. We may need a new attitude or a different way of looking at things, or we may need to make amends with somebody.
Jesus spent a lot of time praying. He often went to a solitary place and prayed for hours at a time, especially at difficult times in His ministry. Jesus is the great intercessor. He is the one interceding for us every time we speak to God. Let's follow that example and intercede for those we love!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
