This is the topic of my newsletter this month. I'm currently working on it. Every month I feel the strain of getting the newsletter ready; this is because I choose the topic carefully and also the articles with a lot of prayer.
This is a topic I think will speak to alot of people. My aim is to show that change starts from the inside. Sometimes, the change is slow to manifest on the outside but as long as it has started, it will in time.
Do you have any comments on this topic? Please let me know.
Friday, March 28, 2008
You are Special
You are who you are for a reasonYou’re part of a perfect plan
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason
Our God made no mistake
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.
You are who you are for a reason
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved
Because there is a God.
Our God made no mistake
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.
You are who you are for a reason
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved
Because there is a God.
By Russel Kelfer – culled from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, p. 25
Red Lipstick
by Gwen Smith
Today's Truth
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2 Corinthians 7:1
Friend to Friend
When my three children were young, it was a challenge to keep track of where they were. My husband and I baby proofed the house as best we could, used gates and hoped for the best. I'll never forget the day that Preston and Kennedy were accounted for in the play room, but Hunter had wandered off. I called for him, but got no response.
Curious, I headed for the front stair case and listened for his little two-year-old voice. I checked his bedroom -- no Hunter. I checked Preston's room and Kennedy's room - no Hunter. By now, my heart was racing as my concern grew. When I headed into my bedroom, I heard faint noises coming from the master bathroom.
Our bathroom mirror gave me all the information I needed. Hunter had gotten into my red lipstick and it was everywhere! I wanted to laugh -- I wanted to cry! He was unaware of my presence as he continued his creative lipstick artwork on my walls and on the linen closet door.
On a whim, I ran to get the camcorder.
Stifling laughter, I crossed the threshold of the bathroom and confronted my little chubby-cheeked 'red lipstick-all-over-his-face' boy. He immediately hid his scandalous tool behind his back...thinking I was none the wiser. I asked him what he was doing, to which he replied "Nothing." In my best trying-not-to-laugh mommy voice, I continued to ask him a series of questions and he continually denied any wrong doing.
Sometimes I wonder how many times I go before the Lord in prayer while trying to hide my red lipstick behind my back. How many times have I thought I was pulling one over on Him? Just as simply as I saw the tangible evidence of Hunter's red face, God sees our hearts and knows what we've been up to. He sees pride, anger, gossip and bitterness. He sees hurts not forgiven, sins not confessed, the habits we cling to, the shows we watch and the literature we read that don't honor Him. He sees our failures and lovingly longs for us to allow Him to clean up the mess we've made.
A few years back, after reading 2 Corinthians 7:1 and Psalm 51, and seeking God's heart in prayer, I was inspired to write the following song:
Purify My Soul
By Gwen Smith
know my heart and You know my ways
Yet You love me just the same
I know that You are able
You are God, it's true
Help me Lord, just as I am, surrender all to You
Purify my soul
Cleanse my heart and mind
Restore to me Your gentle, loving arms
Purify my soul
So I can go and be a true reflection of Your holiness
Create in me a clean heart
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away, Lord from Your presence
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
Lord, Your love surrounds me -- encompassing my soul
Mold me as a potter molds the clay
The freedom of forgiveness liberates my life
Renew in me a fire, in the name of Jesus Christ
© 2000 Audio 31 Music / Sunday Best Music (ASCAP)
What is your red lipstick today? Are you ready to hand it over to God?
To find out more about Gwen Smith, click here or read her blog.
This article was taken from the daily devotional of Girlfriends in God.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Rain or Shine
By Angela M. Baker-Bridge
Rain or shine, Martha's outlook was always the same, dismal.
It had been a difficult year since her accident. Once a very strong, self-sufficient woman, Martha now could barely get through the day without the assistance of others. Most days she refused to get out of bed.
"What's the use?" she would yell while looking at the ceiling of her bedroom. "I don't want to live like this God! Why didn't you take me too? The people in the other car were innocent strangers. I was the one speeding. I should have died, not them!"
Daily she cried out in anger to God, daily he remained silent to her questions and plea.
One morning, her son called earlier than usual. "Mom, I'm calling to let you know the agency is sending over another aid today. You have to stop being so difficult. We cannot keep going through aids. Please try to cooperate and not scare her off on her first morning."
Martha sighed, "I can't help if the aids are incompetent and thin-skinned. Whatever, I really don't care who you send."
"Mom, that's not enough. Promise me you'll behave."
"Fine, as long as she doesn't tell me what to do or get in my way," Martha snapped.
An hour later, Cathy arrived smiling and carrying a bouquet of daisies.
"What's with the flowers?" Martha suspiciously asked when Cathy entered her room. "And make sure you don't lose the key to my house."
"Good morning Miss Martha. I'm Cathy, your aid. I'm so pleased to see you, and excited to be assisting you. I found out from your son that your favorite flowers are daisies; mine too, so I stopped to get these for you. There isn't anything better than a bunch of daisies to brighten a room or day."
Surprised, Martha asked, "Why are you excited about working here and specifically with me?"
"Miss Martha, I guess you don't recognize me. I'm little Cathy Anderson, Pastor Anderson's daughter. You were my Sunday school teacher when I was ten-years old."
"Oh yes," Martha nodded, remembering her favorite little student.
"Because of you I accepted Jesus as my savior. Whenever things would get tough for me in life, I would think of you and the verse you made me repeat every time I was afraid to try something new. "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.*" Because of you, I was able to endure the pain of Dad's death. Because of you, I'm in nursing school right now. So, when I saw your name on the patient's list, I begged for this assignment. God told me you needed me. So here I am. It's my turn to encourage you not to give-up, no matter how bad things look."
"Oh," was all Martha could say with such a huge lump in her throat.
"So Miss Martha, do you still like almond tea? I hope so, because I brought a few tea bags with me. The water should be ready about now."
Cathy left the room singing, "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."
Martha wept.
"Thank you God for allowing me to live... and to know that I did impact someone's life. Little Cathy is here to help me! Maybe I really can get through this... with her help, and with YOURS."
© 11-15-07_________________________________
*"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 (KJV)_________________________________
Married to a minister for 30-yrs, Angela has two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. She's passionately creative with a versatile portfolio. Out of hurt and pain, Angela writes from her heart and life. She touches others as she gives God the glory. She married a former pastor in '03.
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com
Rain or shine, Martha's outlook was always the same, dismal.
It had been a difficult year since her accident. Once a very strong, self-sufficient woman, Martha now could barely get through the day without the assistance of others. Most days she refused to get out of bed.
"What's the use?" she would yell while looking at the ceiling of her bedroom. "I don't want to live like this God! Why didn't you take me too? The people in the other car were innocent strangers. I was the one speeding. I should have died, not them!"
Daily she cried out in anger to God, daily he remained silent to her questions and plea.
One morning, her son called earlier than usual. "Mom, I'm calling to let you know the agency is sending over another aid today. You have to stop being so difficult. We cannot keep going through aids. Please try to cooperate and not scare her off on her first morning."
Martha sighed, "I can't help if the aids are incompetent and thin-skinned. Whatever, I really don't care who you send."
"Mom, that's not enough. Promise me you'll behave."
"Fine, as long as she doesn't tell me what to do or get in my way," Martha snapped.
An hour later, Cathy arrived smiling and carrying a bouquet of daisies.
"What's with the flowers?" Martha suspiciously asked when Cathy entered her room. "And make sure you don't lose the key to my house."
"Good morning Miss Martha. I'm Cathy, your aid. I'm so pleased to see you, and excited to be assisting you. I found out from your son that your favorite flowers are daisies; mine too, so I stopped to get these for you. There isn't anything better than a bunch of daisies to brighten a room or day."
Surprised, Martha asked, "Why are you excited about working here and specifically with me?"
"Miss Martha, I guess you don't recognize me. I'm little Cathy Anderson, Pastor Anderson's daughter. You were my Sunday school teacher when I was ten-years old."
"Oh yes," Martha nodded, remembering her favorite little student.
"Because of you I accepted Jesus as my savior. Whenever things would get tough for me in life, I would think of you and the verse you made me repeat every time I was afraid to try something new. "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.*" Because of you, I was able to endure the pain of Dad's death. Because of you, I'm in nursing school right now. So, when I saw your name on the patient's list, I begged for this assignment. God told me you needed me. So here I am. It's my turn to encourage you not to give-up, no matter how bad things look."
"Oh," was all Martha could say with such a huge lump in her throat.
"So Miss Martha, do you still like almond tea? I hope so, because I brought a few tea bags with me. The water should be ready about now."
Cathy left the room singing, "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."
Martha wept.
"Thank you God for allowing me to live... and to know that I did impact someone's life. Little Cathy is here to help me! Maybe I really can get through this... with her help, and with YOURS."
© 11-15-07_________________________________
*"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 (KJV)_________________________________
Married to a minister for 30-yrs, Angela has two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. She's passionately creative with a versatile portfolio. Out of hurt and pain, Angela writes from her heart and life. She touches others as she gives God the glory. She married a former pastor in '03.
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Love Covers All
Website: http://www.marysoutherland.com
But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4: 8-10
When I was a little girl, my mother collected S&H green trading stamps. She collected them while I licked and pasted them in saving books. For months, she would hoard the small, green stamps until she had enough to trade for something she needed. It was always something we needed until that Saturday in December. "Get the green stamp books. We are going to town!" Mama said to me, a strange excitement in her voice. I assumed that we were going to buy a Christmas present for someone in our family since I knew Mama never bought anything for herself at the Green Stamp Redemption Center. To do so would have been a luxury she rarely allowed. Stamps in hand, off we went to find a treasure.
When we reached the redemption center Mama marched straight in, past the appliances, toys, hairdryers and vacuums, heading straight for the linens department. She did not look around or hesitate until she abruptly stopped, a smile spreading across her face. "It's still here!" she whispered in relief. I remember thinking that whatever she had spotted must be very special to warrant such determination and such joy. When I realized that the blue treasure she clutched in her hands was just a tablecloth I simply did not understand. There were so many other beautiful things in the store and we had been saving those green stamps for months. And she was going to buy a tablecloth? What was so special about an ordinary tablecloth? I was confused -- until we got home.
My family was poor -- in material things -- and we lived in what most people would refer to as a "shack". My mother was an amazing woman who somehow managed to raise three children who never thought of themselves as deprived. Many happy times and scrumptious meals were enjoyed around our old, scratched, worn and downright ugly dining room table. That dilapidated table made the entire room ugly -- until the day Mama bought the blue tablecloth. As she spread her treasure across that shabby table, an amazing thing happened. Not only did the table look beautiful, the whole room looked better!
Love is like that, its mere presence transforms the ugliness of life into a beautiful trophy of grace. Love covers the scars of sin. Love heals wounds and eases the pain of the past. We all need to be loved and we all need to love.
Jesus was and is the living illustration and certain fulfillment of His Father's love. The love of God is unconditional, unfailing and will stubbornly pursue us no matter where we go, what we do or don't do. God's love satisfies the deepest longings of our soul and enables us to love ourselves and others.
Friend, across your defeats spread the hope of a tiny baby lying in a manger! Across your pain, spread the unconditional love poured out on a cruel cross! Across your doubts and fears, spread the promise of an empty tomb! The love of God covers all and changes everything.
Celebrate Him! Celebrate His love!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Whose Strength?
'my strength is made perfect in weakness'. - 1 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
This is a scripture that has meant alot to me over the years. It started to mean so much in 1999, when I first got into the university (college). Even then, it took awhile to sink in. What I thought it meant was that I was not supposed to be weak. And that was tough. I tried so hard to be strong all of the time but like we all know, that is downright impossible. So I beat myself up each time I thought I'd failed. Again.
It's amazing how patient our Lord is with His children. I'm pretty sure that each time I wallowed in guilt and self pity He sadly shook His head. If I'd listened Iprobably would have heard Him say, Child, slow down. Let me be strong for you.
Well, I finally learnt to listen and I heard. His strength has indeed been perfected through my many weaknesses; I did not have to BE strong all the time. In fact, I did not have to be strong at all. I just needed to rely on Him and on His strength. He has been perfectly willing to be the macho man in my life; fight my battles for me; bolster me up when I'm drooping with fatigue; fill me with joy when I am weak... the list is endless!
God has indeed been faithful.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Searching for the Words
I have not posted anything on my blog this month. I decided to take a break to write and send out my newsletter. its a christian and inspirational newsletter which I send out every month. I still haven't sent it out. I've been asking the Lord to speak to me on what to send out but I've heard nothing yet. And time is running out. I'll appreciate any suggestions, maybe God will speak through one of you.
I'm finally satisfied with my blog (I think). If any of you have come bye this week, you would have noticed crazy things on this blog; some really weird color combinations. Oh, well, I hope this is here to stay finally.
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