Monday, October 12, 2009
dear reader
~Angie
Monday, September 21, 2009
sweet treats
After explaining the art of eating to him along with finishing my own meal, I too stretched across the table for my orange. Thumbs diving in, I broke into the small orange pulling apart segments, revealing a single white seed.
At this sight, my mind chewed on the meat of God's word.
Consider now His fruit. It too is irresistible. It is sweet. It satisfies. And yes, it has seed hidden inside.
When the fruit of the Spirit is offered to others, it is deposited with a seed that is sure to germinate and produce like fruit if there be any good soil hidden inside and yet another comes along to offer a bit of living water.
O Lord, help me crucify this flesh with its affections and lusts and live, yes, walk in the Spirit where there is life...life more abundant, not only for me, but also for others. Thank you for your life-giving fruit and your Spirit manifested in so many wonderful ways.
Monday, September 14, 2009
perspective
"That's a pretty little area," I point to an offroad spot along the countryside.
"Yes it is, but it looks nothing down here as it does from above. I've flown over this very spot many times by helicopter. Amazing how differently it appears from above," he answers.
From above...how must things appear? I'm remarkably familiar with this earthly perspective which is full of limitations. Obstacles occlude my view. People get in the way. Mountains are difficult to scale.
From above...He says He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).
From above...O to have His heavenly perspective! Yet, His word says that he MADE US SIT together in heavenly places. This faith flight, which causes us to rise above a temporal existence has already been performed. I/we only need to appropriate what has been done.
So then, how do things look from above? Perhaps this helps us understand better...
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory...therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col 3).
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
walk and talk
But what about this idea...walk and talk. Isn't that the concept behind our relationship with Abba Father? Consider Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9).
Think. Did Noah have tasks to complete along with a busy schedule? Ahem, 120 years to build an ark, animals to gather, all the while preaching to a mocking crowd of gawkers. Yes, surely He needed to walk and talk with his Father. Not only that, but he required specifics to build this never before built ark.
Are there specifics in your life that you need answered by God? I sure do. We have another potential move on the horizon and need to know the where, the how, and the when. Look at Noah's undertaking. As he walked and talked with God, he was instructed on which materials to use, how many cubits, stories, windows, and where/which animals to bring on the ark along with the necessary food and supplies for his long voyage.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. I am so glad He is concerned with the details of our lives. We need only walk and talk...and listen.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
channels of blessing
Born into affluence, freedom and divine blessings, Americans should be the most thankful people on earth. But along with the privilege comes a responsibility. The Christian must ask not only why, but also what he should do with these unearned favors.
Throughout Scripture, we see only one correct response to abundance: sharing.
God has not given this superabundance of blessings to Western Christians so we can sit back and enjoy the luxuries of this society--or even in spiritual terms, so we can gorge ourselves on books, teaching cassetes and deeper-life conferences. He has left us on this earth to be stewards of these spiritual and material blessings, learning how to share with others and adminster our weath to accomplish the purposes of God.
A solution?
Gospel for Asia is bringing the truth of Jesus to the over 2.7 billion unreached people of Asia. The harvest is ripe, but the workers are few. 100% of all giving goes into the field. None is taken for adminstrative purposes. Consider...
Monday, August 24, 2009
still celebrating
braids, beautiful braids 
long, heart to heart visit by phone with my dear friend and cousin
a perfectly cooked fried egg on toast made for me by 9-yo son
birthday celebration with the best mother-in-law a girl could ever hope for
marker memories
spending the day with a boy of many talents and his wonderful parents
Sweet Sandy, who taught me that when she falls to her knees in her sometimes feeble state, that that is where she needs to be anyway, talking to Jesus. Sandy, if you're reading this, know that WE got the blessing when we came to your home. I'm looking forward to our next visit!
Glory to God from whom all blessings flow.
I look forward to getting back in touch with you all now that I have more time!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
celebrating freedom
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Luke 18:19
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
pressed but not crushed
Five minutes until 12pm, I file in behind other parents at the high school gym waiting for basketball camp to let out. I glance over at 9-year-old son leaning against bleachers as another group of boys play five on five. Our eyes meet and he instantly casts his down to the shiny wood floor where tennis shoes squeaked all morning. Dejected is the best word to describe his countenance. My mind races.
Boys are called to line up on the court to receive ribbons. The same three boys spin their blue, red, and white treasures on fingers while mine walks to me as he did yesterday, shoulders slumped, head down.
We make our way to car where he instructs me to not ask questions. I don't. Silence.
Upon coming home, excitement builds at the prospect of seeing Dad's truck home. This time it doesn't matter that Dad is a scholarship athlete or NAIA National Champion in basketball. What's important is that he is a champion encourager and lifter of a little boy's chin...Dad, who has a way of bringing all things into perspective.
I stand on the sidelines with pom-pons, make lunch, do cheers and toe-touches of sorts. We pull back from our family huddle, ready for another day, another opportunity to build character...the same kind of character that comes when same said boy had to ride sister's purple bike for a period of time...the same kind of character that comes from being the new kid in school...the same kind of character that comes from going into the girl's bathroom on the first day of school...character.
This boy's got character.
Monday, June 22, 2009
summer gifts
.jpg)
.
remnants of another visitor ~thank you Lord, for Christian neighbors~
remembering His nail-pierced hands ~praise You Jesus~
.. .
making a new friend ~God's perfect timing~
Friday, June 19, 2009
good news
I had surgery this morning to remove a skin cancer. There ended up being more to it than I thought...IV, five-inches worth of sutures, and a lovely bald spot at the crown of my head. The surgeon went all the way to the skull to make sure there was no infiltration. The underlying muscle was also removed so pathology could check for sarcoma.
Upon coming home, I pulled out the mirror to assess the damage. Boy did I have a flashback. You see, one evening when I was about 10 years old, I was shining my daddy's dress shoes with his electric shoe shining kit. My long locks draped over shoulders got caught in the spinning mechanism and boy did I hear the most awful sound coming from the motor on that electrical unit. It all happened so quickly. Dad looked at me. I looked at hair wrapped around the shoe shiner. Dad looked at Mom. Mom looked at me. Mom looked at Dad. Their expressions are seared in my memory.
I immediately wanted to run to the mirror. The song "You're So Vain" was written for me during those pre-adolescent years. They wouldn't let me see myself in the bathroom mirror, which only created more anxiety, but it was inevitable. That night I caught my reflection in the sliding glass door of our dining room. About a three-inch bald patch sat on top of my head in plain view. It wasn't anything a side combover couldn't handle. That was the 70's style anyway. Let's just say that Donald Trump would have been proud.
Today, I could care less about my hair (or lack thereof). I'm just praising God for the good report.
Anyway, I hope you all are having a great summer, but for goodness sake, wear your sunscreen and hats!


.jpg)



