Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Who is He?


Luke 2:25, 27-32 (New American Standard Bible)

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

Simeon confirmed the identity of Jesus when he was 8 days old. In his life, Jesus fulfilled all the law and the prophets and took upon himself the wrath of God against all sin of all people. He finished the task on the cross, was resurrected by God and will return to gather unto himself all those who believe that Jesus is Lord.

We celebrate in this season the glorious love that God has for all humanity. He sent his very Son to make a way for each person to have fellowship with Himself. I don’t know why he loves me, I just know that he does. It is equally true that He loves you. Who can deny such a love that sacrificed so much for you and me to have a relationship with Him and for you and me to spend time (eternity) together with Him?

In this season, let us praise God for his gift of love---Jesus.

Blessings to all during this season!

Margaret

 






Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Walk with Me

Abba, Father, teach me;
My spirit is quiet before your throne.
All my words strung together from all my years have come to nothing.
Give me, Father, your words to speak,
Your words to inspire,
Your words to guide me.

And it came to pass that the Word became flesh and lived among us.
Jesus alone was clean and pure, without sin.
How humbled I am, knowing deep in my soul that Jesus loves me.
Because of His finished work on the cross,
Now I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

His love has become the light to my path.
It is His light that glows within me.
His love teaches me to trust Him implicitly.
Jesus comforts me with His peace.
It is as if He puts His strong arm around my shoulder and walks beside me.

Galatians 6:10 - So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.

Margaret
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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Tale of Two Trees

Once upon a time there were two trees in a magical garden. No people had found this place and so the trees and plants grew undisturbed. One cool, breezy morning the taller tree, El, began moving his leaves in such a way that he began to speak. The other tree, Si, understood and he also began to communicate.

Both trees were quite stately and beautiful with luscious fruit hanging low on strong branches. Each tree took pride in producing perfect fruit. And so it was that they began to proclaim the astonishing qualities of the fruit they each bore. Si, feeling most confident, declared that his fruit would produce superior knowledge in anyone who ate of it. With knowledge, he reasoned, one could choose wisely between the good and the bad.

El listened patiently and thoughtfully replied that his fruit had a radical, supernatural power to give life to those who partake of his fruit. And so the matter stood. Each tree had fruit with incredible power for those who ate from it.

Epilogue. The tree El is the tree of life who is Jesus. He has within his power to give eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Si is the tree of knowledge, both natural and scientific. One can have extraordinary knowledge and wisdom and still miss the gift of life everlasting.

It remains a choice for each human to this very day.

Romans 10:9, 13 - Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Margaret
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Six AM in Edinburgh

How excited I was on my first trip to Europe in 1986. I had joined a small group of teachers and students, and we had experienced a tiny bit of London & Bath, England. Thursday night we left London on a train bound for Edinburgh and haggis and other delights of Scotland. Someone had procured a small bottle of wine, and after much ado the bottle was opened and paper cups materialized. All the adults received a bit more than a sniff as the train roared out of the city and across the inky landscape. Before dawn the train attendant knocked on our door and thrust a tray holding 2 cups of Hot coffee into my hand. Now, I’m awake, still lying on the bunk. Ruth clambered down from the upper bunk, took her coffee, and started down the hall. I elected to brush my teeth first using the lavatory in the compartment. All my toiletries and first aid supplies were in plastic bags so they were easy to find in the semi-dark. Shaking my head from the cobwebs, (maybe a little wine) I squeezed an ample amount of toothpaste on my brush. Only after 2 seconds did I realize, “Something’s wrong here!” I had brushed my teeth with Ben Gay!

At this Thanksgiving time, we can all find some reason to be happy.

Proverbs 17:22 - A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Margaret
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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit and Self An Imaginary Dialogue


H I’m starving! Growing weaker every day. Won’t you help me?

S If I can. Who are you? What do you need?

H I need the Bread of Life.

S Is that wheat, Italian or rye? Chuckle

H Not exactly. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life.” Feed on the Word.

S Wait a minute. Explain yourself.

H I am the Holy Spirit of God. I have been given to you to help you in this life and to bring resurrection to your body at the last day.

S Oh! My! Oh! Humbled

H Because I live in you-I see through your eyes, walk in your shoes, hear through you and sometimes speak through you.

S You see what I’m looking at? You read what I am reading? Hum

H Yes. I need for you to read the scriptures; that is the Bread of Life.

That is how I gain my strength, my power to move in your life. (voice grows weaker) Forgive me; I grow weaker every day that you neglect to feed me that Bread.

S Oh, no. Forgive me! Father, forgive me. I did not realize that I was quenching the Holy Spirit.

(Starts reading a Psalm)

H Do you have any wine for me?

S I don’t understand.

H Do you have new wine in new wineskins?

S I don’t know. I suppose not. Should I?

H Let me put this another way. Do you love the Lord?

S YES!

H How do you express that love to him?

S Well, I go to church. I appreciate earth’s beauty. and His blessings.

H Good. But how do you really show that you love God? It is the first commandment, you know. Do you praise and thank Him for the things you just mentioned?

S Uh. Sometimes.

H Would you like to do that just now? Practice a little?

S (bowed head, reverently) I praise you, most holy God for out of your beautiful perfection, you have created a world full of great beauty, in infinite variety- on land, sea, and air. Thank you!

H That is the wine that nourishes me. The praise of the Father that glorifies Him. Now I can pray for you with greater power through my utterance, not your language.

Margaret

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Letting Go

Very gently the breeze rounds the corner of the cabin; softly, quietly the fading yellow leaves turn loose and glide--ever downward. They journey from the only home they have known, the tree that nourished them, toward the unknown. The ground, still warm from the day’s sunshine provides a soft landing on this Indian summer afternoon. The incremental layers of yellow, gold, red and brown leaves form a carpet under my feet on y walk. Watching the natural process of the seasons in the flight of the leaves, I am caught by the thought that my leaving this life w ill be as easy and natural as the leaves falling.

Secure in my identity as a joint heir with Christ, I have no more worries about my actual transition from this life to my eternal life, than the leaves I admire. I imagine there will be magnificent beauty in that world of love, peace and harmony. Just looking at the beauty God created on this earth is enough to convince me that heaven is even more beautiful.

Psalm 8:3-4 - When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?

Margaret

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Variety

Oh yes, they come in a wide variety-
As befits the infinite capacity of the Creator.

Some are almost closed, compressed with the “petals” wound tightly together.
The inside is obscured from all except the most astute observer-
One who takes the time to come close, pay attention,
and finally marvel at the beauty.

Then there is the flamboyant extrovert.
All his petals are spread out wide to the sun.
Each petal is a work of art, perfectly shaped and curved.
No mystery there, but in the casual glance anyone can see
a striking, independent individualist.

Finally, a dark miniature cone catches my eye.
Each petal is carefully molded on a tiny scale
making it distinctive, precise-
It is neither too broad nor too narrow, being well balanced,
each part clearly in harmony with the whole design.

All have their place in my collection.
Lord, help me appreciate the differences in your people - your world.

Revelation 7:9-10 - After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Margaret
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