Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Physically Fit to..... Sleep?

There is somewhat of a bone of contention with me and working out. I really wonder why people work out to improve their stamina yet they get so tired from working out they fall asleep during conversations or have to take naps. To me, if you take the time to exercise and it zaps your energy its counter productive. I had this conversation with a certain work out enthusiast who blamed his/her lack of energy mid evening on the fact that he/she gets up at 4:30am to work out. My answer was "sleep in and stay awake, what good is being in shape if you sleep through your evenings?" Of course said person disagreed and I think said I was mean and unfair...

Then the thought of "physically fit to sleep" turned into a spiritual parallel (doesn't it always?). I immediately thought of the millions of Christ loving followers thrusting into scriptures, piling up on bible studies year after year, bench pressing conferences (get it?), reading books, building knowledge, knowledge and more knowledge. Truth be told they lack the POWER to do what they trained for. So they end up sleeping through their Christian life content with the thought that they are spiritually in shape.

Jesus says this in Matt 10:5-8: These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

So I close with this...take care of your physical body but not to the point of exhaustion and take care of your spiritual life but make sure its a productive work out!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Butterfly

My kids and I went to a fall festival at a barn last weekend. It was the perfect fall day and we had a great time. Of all the horses, the cats, the dogs, the chickens and the goat, the butterfly struck me.

It was brown and orange and was sitting on the pebbled driveway. I bent down and placed my hand near its legs expecting it to fly off. To my surprise it walked up into my hand. As I stood, this beautiful butterfly moved its wings to show off its beauty, yet it did not fly away. My son noticed and asked to "hold it" I explained that this was a precious time because butterflies aren't usually so peaceful and how careful we have to be with their gentle wings. Just then the butterfly flew off and my son was a bit disappointed. I felt confident that my son would want to grab hold of it tightly so it would stay with him. Firmly grabbing a butterfly will surely cripple it,if not kill it.

God spoke to me in that example. It is so important as mothers, spouses, leaders and friends that we not hold too tightly to what WE want in another. It is so important to hold onto someone with an open hand caring enough to allow God to have His way in their lives. We should encourage them, love them, hold them accountable, but never to our own standards or for our own purposes. To truly see beauty in another is to want for them what God wants for them and then see them fly.

Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE?

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.
and God approves this message!
ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE

Amen!!


*This came from an email I received that was forwarded ALOT...I loved it but I did not write it. Thank You "anonymous" God knows who you are and HE IS PLEASED!