The Desire of My Heart

     Psalms 37:4 reads, "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  
      I do not know about any other reader's interpretation of this scripture, but I have always wanted to think that if I did what God wanted, then He would provide my desires.  Of course, this is taken completely out of context. 
     Upon serious reflection of this scripture, it suddenly came to me that if I actually delight in the Lord, I will need to search His Word, seek Him, and give Him my full devotion.  When I truly make God the love of my life, He will actually become the desire of my heart.  This kind of thinking is actually confirmed in Isaiah 26:9 (NIV),   "Yes Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you, your name and renown are the desires of our hearts."
    
    

The Three Little Pigs

     Most everyone, I am sure, remembers the children's story of the Three Little Pigs.  One built his house of straw, the other built his house of sticks, but the third one built his house of bricks.  The big bad wolf came along and blew down the house of straw and sticks, but he could not "huff and puff and blow" down the house made of bricks.
     I tell this story to relate it to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15  "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.  But each man must be careful how he builds on it.  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.  If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward .  If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
     This tell me that as a Christian and believer in Jesus, the Son of God, I am to put Jesus first in my life.  Then I am to perform all my work to the best that I can, being watchful to follow the Ten Commandments and apply the scriptures to my daily walk.   This also means I am to love others, put judgmental attitudes behind me, toss away criticism of others, steer away from gossip, and develop quality workmanship.  I am to be respectful, prompt, courteous, forgiving, and appreciative.  God expects me to build my foundation, not from hay and sticks, but bricks of gold and precious stones that cannot be burned.  He expects the best I have to offer both at home and on the job, always ready to share the wonderful story of salvation.  

When Did He Know?

We see Jesus when He was born.  We are not told much about Him during His youth.  The next time we hear His story is when He is twelve and at the temple in His Father's house.  Then we again see Him entering the scene of His ministry when He is thirty and being baptized.  From there He heals, teaches, and ministers until  His death and resurrection.  A price He paid for me and for you. 

When Did He Know?

 When did He know

  about the old rugged cross, upon where His blood would be shed?
When did He know
  about the nails which would pierce His hands?
When did He know
  about the sins that would be heaped upon His shoulders?
When did He know
  how my sins would cause His Father's face to turn away?

Was it when He was born

   in a shabby, lowly manager?
Was it when He hammered
  nails alongside His earthy father?
Was it when He walked
  the countryside with no home to lay His head?
Was it when He was betrayed
  by one of His own?
Was it when He was spit upon
  and beaten?
Was it when He took my place
  upon that rough and rugged cross?
Was it when, in death,
  He cried out, "Why have you forsaken me?"

Regardless, through it all:

  He gave His life for me.
  He rose again.
  He lives for me.
  He still loves me.

If you have not recognized Jesus as your very own Savior, I encourage you to bow the knee and ask Jesus into your heart.  He died for you, too.   

 

Bread of Life

Have you had your bread today?

     The Bread of Life

Wherefore cometh my satisfaction;

  my movement to action?
Wherefore cometh my contentment;
  my release from resentment?
Not from the love of man
  who walks this land;
Nor from riches or fame
  or triumphs to proclaim.
It cometh from the Bread of Life;
  from the Living Water;
Jesus Christ, the One who satisfies my hunger,
  my thirst,  though my heart is sad to burst. 
It is He- the Fountain of Water;
The One, rarer by far;
The Spirit resting where heartbeats are. 
The Spirit leading when sins would mar.   
Wherefore cometh my joy and calm?
From faith that I am in His outreached palm. 
                   Mary Nell Jameson

John 6:36  "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

 

'Tis So Sweet

     One of my favorite songs is 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.   This song is a timeless piece of art which was sang often at my little country church when I was growing up.  It was interesting to search and find that this song, still being sang today, was written as far back as 1882 by Louisa M.R. Stead.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!” 

• Refrain:
  Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
  How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
  Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
  Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

    When I think of the sweet, sweet name of Jesus and associate His mighty, wonderful name to what He has done for me, I stand in awe, yet feel ashamed when my faith slips. 

J -ust as I am is how He accepts me.
E -ternal life is what He offered by His death.
S -avior of the world is who He is. 
U -nited with Him is what He provides when we believe and accept.
S -taying by my side is my Jesus -Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend, so sweet and so near.

 

Forgiveness

     There was a time when I found it harder to forgive than I do today, although there are still times I struggle with forgiveness.  It is the One who has the power to work within me who enables me to be more forgiving.  I am reminded in Matthew 19:26, "...with God all things are possible.”
     When I ask myself why I even need to forgive, I have the following reasons:
1.  I need to forgive because God forgives me.
2.  I am being obedient to God's instructions when I forgive.
3.  Forgiving helps me grow spiritually.
4.  Forgiveness creates a heart of love rather than one of prejudice and hatred which would rob me of my own joy. 
5.  Just as anger controls me, a lack of forgiveness can control me too. 

     When I struggle with forgiveness, the following scriptures help to restore my thinking and get me on the right path. 

      Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

    Matthew 6:14-15  " For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

     Luke 17:3-4  "So watch yourselves.  “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

     Ephesians 4:31-32 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

     Luke 6:37  "Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

   

The Beginning

     It's March and Spring is showing off!  The array of colorful tulips are dotting flower beds,  The beautiful yellow buttercups and daffodils,  touched with tones of yellow, orange, and white, have almost disappeared.   Pink, red, and white azaleas are beginning to show their colors.  The trees are budding, preparing for their new window dressings.   
     When God created this great universe, He lovingly gave us so many wonders to see every day. 
     The seasons are given special creative touches.  I recognize Summer when I feel the warmth grow hotter, yet I enjoy the butterflies donned with hairstreaks of black, yellow, and emperor purple.  I enjoy the bluebirds, busily feeding their off springs.  I am in awe when Fall follows, and the trees give out a host of oranges, reds, and yellow just before losing their colorful clothing, followed by Winter which shows off a silhouette of bare branches beneath a clear blue sky. 
     There is no way I can began to describe the natural beauty that the Creator gave us when He formed this world or even the daily, loving tender care the Gardener performs daily.  Not only does He continue to care for His creation through the weather changes with refreshing rains, summer droughts, and winter snows, but He cares for me.  He prunes me daily, preparing me for His work.  It is up to me to love Him back, do a work for Him, put on my coat of many colors - spread my wings and fly.  

The Beginning

The canvas was blank, void of any light,

Then the artist covered it with a frosting of white.

He added colors; some orange, green, and blue;

From there, the picture grew.

 

 Behold! The division between earth and sky-

It was going to be a masterpiece for the human eye.

There were lakes, rivers, seas, and ocean,

And the waves rose up in motion.

 

The earth was filled with grass and trees;

All as beautiful as the great blue seas.

The canvas was splashed in colors of every hue;

There was day and night, yet He wasn't through.

 

He stroked in the stars, the moon, and the sun,

But still He was not done.

The artist's hands added life of every form;

There were seasons. both cold and warm.

 

In His touch beauty sprang forth

From the east, west, south and the north.

This was a picture interwoven from His heart and soul.

 

Nothing was He going to withhold.

He painted sunrays, moonbeams, and stars shining bright.

He painted and stroked to make it just right;

This masterpiece, He was painting with love-

Giving all life would be unworthy of.

 

A piece of art created by the Master's hand;

A canvas covered with all He had planned.

                                                                          Mary Crisp Jameson

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."  Geneses 1:31