Life-Support

      My friendly shade provides a place away from the frustrations of jobs and other problems; it up-lifts my heart and spirit.  My gray skies turn to blue as the spirit of  calm refreshes and helps me through.

     As I think further about it, life-support can work two ways.  Either you can be the one working to plug someone into the life support system or the one needing life-support.

     There are people, near death, everywhere who are waiting to be put on life-support.  I am, of course, not talking about medical health but spiritual.  People need life-support within the community we live in.  We don’t need to travel to foreign countries to find them.  They are getting weaker everyday, because they have not been plugged into the proper life-support system. 

     Those in need of life-support may rub shoulders with us every day.  They may be placed into our lives just waiting for us to take up the cross and provide that much needed life-support. 

     Paul was in need of life-support as he traveled around persecuting Christians.   He was in need of life-support after he was blinded on the road to Damascus.  God had planned ahead and made provisions for him.  The Lord prepared Ananias to be an instrument of life-support.  Ananias, on the other hand, was afraid, but he did as he was told.  He obeyed  the command and nudge from God to go to Paul with his hand of life-support.  Paul’s heart, after that, was filled as he accepted the life-support offered, and his life was changed forever.  Paul, in turn, became the instrument of life-support.  He became willing to plug people into God.  With God in our lives our “gray skies turn to blue as He helps us through.” 

     It would be good to stay alert, accept the gentle nudge from God, and to become a faithful witness so that we may, also, be able to plug those we come in contact with into God- the best life-support known to man. 

  

Mother's Day

I was doing a reuphostery job on a chair for my daughter yesterday which left me no time to sit and ponder my blog for today.  This was my very first attempt at such an over-whelming task, but I was enjoying the challenge, and to be perfectly honor, aside from a few mistakes here and there, it was coming together rather nicely.  My husband came in to view the project and said, "I guess you would "walk on water" for your daughter."  My answer was, "That's what mothers do."  And there it was! My blog for the day as I thought then about my own mother and all the projects she did for me.  So I decided, what better to blog about than the poem I wrote last year for my very own mother? 

In My Mother’s Eyes 

 In my mother’s eyes I was a blessing to be unwrapped;

In my eyes she was the one who gave me life and helped me adapt.

  

 She is no longer with me these days,

But my mother left a special gift.

 She raised me to know Jesus and His mighty ways;

She taught me where to look when I need a lift.

  

My mother and I had special ties; 

In her eyes I was an extraordinary child.

That’s the way I am in God’s eyes,

For when I was born, I believe, He smiled.

In my mother’s eyes I was the rose that held no thorn;

In my eyes she was the one I ought to adorn.  

She watched over me through my growing phase.

I remember how she taught me right from wrong;

How she read and studied her Bible throughout her days;

  How it helped through trials to make her strong.

 Although I tested her patience; she kept her calm.

That was my mom!

She never thought, “Why bother?”

My mother still loved me in her heart.

I share this same knowledge with my Heavenly Father;

He’s always willing to give me a fresh new start.

In my mother’s eyes I was the one who stood apart; 

In my eyes she was a complicated work of art.

My mother is no longer with me this day.

When I miss and long to hear her voice,

I hear my Lord say, “Talk to me. I’m here to stay.”

Like Mom, He listens, gives hope and helps me rejoice.

In my mother’s eyes she saw a child of Christ;

In my eyes I saw a mother’s sacrifice.

  

  She left me a legacy, a gift, to carry throughout my days. 

It didn’t come wrapped in fancy ribbons and bows;

It was the simply act of her worship and praise,

For the Lord who died for me. And then, He arose!

                                                                                      Mary Crisp Jameson

Prayer Changes Things

     We are in the midst of a stormy sea of change.  Almost every state and every county is struggling with lack of funds to maintain their programs.  Families are struggling with lack of funds to maintain their current life-styles.  Change is happening all around us; it is effecting people both physically, emotionally, and psychologically. 

      Yet God is in the midst of His people.  It is God who will sustain us, give us hope, and guide us to a better place in life. 
     It was God who led the Israelites into a better land even after all the grumblings when their situations appeared to get worse. 
     The Israelites drifted for 40 years, but they learned to depend upon the God who created them.  Americans may have to give up their luxuries, designer clothes, and big cars.  They may have to down-size their homes, but I believe God will lead us to a better life. 
     Is there a reason for the worsening of America?  Where is the growth of character?  What makes a person strong? 
     I believe we grow strong and develop growth through change.  We have grown soft.  Now is the time for our “sleeping giant” to wake up.  Now is the time to turn back to God and become a praying nation and a nation that adheres to the words of God.  We must have the courage to stand up for our moral beliefs and stop fearing offending those who stand against us. 
       We are told in Hebrews 4:16  “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
     Most of all, let us not forget that President Obama is the President  who cancelled the National Day of Prayer at the White House in 2011 with the ruse of not wanting to “offend” anyone. 
     Many tout the idea of separation of Church and State.  I will not debate that theory but I will say that never should God be left out of every aspect of our lives or discernment when it comes to what is written in the Word of God.  Throughout the Old Testament, whenever Kings failed to seek God and His direction, battles were lost.   
     During the coming presidential campaign there will be many debates and candidates will be discredited. Which candidate believes in marriage between one woman and one man?  Which candidate will stand strong and support Israel, God’s chosen people? Which candidate will most likely lead the nation in prayer?