Home

Starting Sunday my husband and I should be on vacation. We are excitedly looking forward to it. There truly is No place like home. And I miss my family and can't wait to spend some time with them too.

But it is only Thursday.......and we are in Raleigh, NC with no load yet. We need a load bringing us within 200 miles of home. And as we sit and wait, we get a little impatient.

Well, ok, a lot impatient!

We pray and we hope that that load will come.

I love my job. I really do. I am not unhappy doing it or being here where the day is sunny and warm, but my heart is longing to be at home.

This reminds me of how we should be looking forward to going home to a Heaven.

This World is not my Home

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

I have a loving mother just over in Gloryland

And I don't expect to stop until I shake her hand

She's waiting now for me in heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh Lord you know...

Just over in Gloryland we'll live eternaly the saints on every hand are shouting victory

Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from heaven's shore

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Oh Lord you know...

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Philippians 3:20 ESV)

By the Grace of God I am what I am.

Sometimes I need reminded.

re·demp·tion

riˈdempSHən/

noun

1.

the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. "God's plans for the redemption of his world"

synonyms: saving, freeing from sin, absolution More a thing that saves someone from error or evil. "his marginalization from the Hollywood jungle proved to be his redemption"

2.

the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.

synonyms: retrieval, recovery, reclamation, repossession, return More

exchange, cashing in, conversion paying off, paying back, discharge, clearing, honoring fulfillment, carrying out, discharge, performing, honoring, meeting archaic the action of buying one's freedom.

1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 

Rom. 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

When we follow the specific plan for salvation that God has laid out in His word, we can be sure that we have been redeemed. Our sin is was washed away during our baptism which represents our old selves being buried. When we come up out of that watery grave we are new and our sins are remembered no more. 

Remembered no more by God. However, we sometimes recall our faults and sins because we have trouble forgiving ourselves or we have shame that is hard to overcome. 

Also people from our past enjoy reminding us of who we once were. I believe that they do this so as not to feel so badly about their sin and actions.

We have to accept God's grace. We have to believe and know that He loves us that much, that those things are gone forever from His mind.

Because of this, we do not have to fear our past.

1 Cor. 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. (You do not have to fear what someone says about you.)

OUR SIN IS GONE!!!

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Are you living your life so that people see a new you? Are you living so that people will not believe slander that people might bring up against you?

Your only answer to them should be the same thing that Paul said when people reminded him of his horrible past of killing faithful Christians, "For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9, 10 NASB)"

Filling the Void

Bill and I will be taking our vacation starting next week. Our son-in-law will also be on vacation. He and Bill are going deer hunting in Ohio. 

They have been talking about it for weeks now and more and more as the time is coming closer.

Starla has confessed to us that her Bill is already in "vacation-mode" and she feels sorry for his co-workers this week.

It is nice to have vacation after months of hard work. We work hard, day after day, earning a living and many times get so caught up in our work that it seems to dominate our lives and we actually become what we do.

Many things besides work can also dominate our thoughts and lives, for example, our children and their activities, our pastimes, our houses, our belongings, etc.

We can really let ourselves be filled with just about anything.

But the fact is, there is a place inside of us that no person, no job, no material thing, no amount of money can reach. It is a place deep inside of us that our Creator has made that can only be filled by Him. It is a hollow spot that makes us feel empty and forever seeking until we allow Him in to fill that spot.

Blaise Pascal wrote in Pensees, There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.

Solomon wrote about this thing in Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 NASB)

Paul also wrote about this need,

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (Acts 17:22-27 NASB)

People need to hear about God. They need to know that He is the answer for what they are seeking.

If you have the time click on this song link. Listen to the words and read the verses that accompany the slides. And share God with everyone you meet.

http://youtu.be/zHlkRcZqz7A. God Shaped Hole by Plumb

Sacrifice

Can you believe Christmas is less than 2 months away? It is time for me to think about what to buy my family. 

It seems like each year there is less to spend. I wonder how some families manage.

I wish there wasn't so much emphasis put onto material things. I know several people that make very big sacrifices to see their children happy.

They will sacrifice their own gifts, they will sacrifice on the food budget, they will let bills go unpaid and sacrifice their credit.

A sacrifice is always something being deprived for the benefit of something else.

In the biblical Old Testament, animals were sacrificed on the alter to atone for people's sin. Then God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice, once and for all, for the sins of all mankind.

Now, in the Book of Romans, Paul writes about God's loving kindness. And then he writes,

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1 NASB)

He says, therefore (because of what I just wrote) I URGE (strongly push) ALL OF YOU, because of God's tender kindness, to offer up your bodies as a LIVING AND ESPECIALLY SET APART SACRIFICE, pleasing to God, THIS WOULD BE your spiritual service of worship.

Now read that again.

Our worship service is us offering ourselves to be used by God for His purpose. 

We honor God by denying ourselves and our wants and desires and preferences, and giving ourselves into being of service to and for Him, willingly and lovingly.

We are a LIVING SACRIFICE.

The only thing wrong with me being a living sacrifice is that I keep crawling back off the alter.

I offer myself to God, but say no when asked to help in the nursery. 

I offer myself to God, but skip out on assembling with the saints.

I offer myself to God, but play on the computer and don't have enough time to read scripture.

I offer myself to God but forget to thank Him for all of His blessings.

Oh, Dear Lord, please help me. Help me in my desire to be pleasing to you. Help me learn to make myself that sacrifice because nothing I can have and nothing I can do compares to the joy and blessings I have in you.

Who do you Follow?

We get excited when we see celebrities or go to concerts and see our favorite artists perform live. It gives a sense of "coolness" to actually be in the presence of someone that everyone knows.

Jesus knew about those humans feelings. He understood people. In the following scripture He was questioning them about John the immerser, who was His cousin and also a prophet.

As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. (Matthew 11:7-9 NASB)

He wanted to know, why did you go out to see him. Were you going out of curiosity, were you going to find faults in him. Or were you really interested in his message?

I have traveled long miles to hear a preacher speak. And I must admit that there are some speakers that I would prefer to listen to. But it is the message, that message of Jesus and God's love, that I go to hear.

But sometimes people get hung up, not on the message, but the speaker. People get so "star-struck" that that person could say just about anything and they would nod their heads and shout "Amen."

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church because they were dividing themselves according to who had baptized them. (1 Cor. 1:12)

I also know people that will come or go to a particular church just because of the preacher.

Paul warned the young preacher, Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-3, to preach the truth whether it was popular with the people or not.

I need to make sure that I am listening to the truth. I need to be checking it out and not hearing it only. I need to look up the scriptures that are preached and read them and understand them in the context in which they were intended.

Be a Christian (a follower of Christ)  not a preacher-ite. Do you live to be pleasing to God or to your preacher?

Sheep among wolves

There have been a couple of times since I started driving truck with my husband that we have gone into areas that are somewhat frightful. We go into truckstop parking lots that are full of every kind of illegal activity. We have driven into areas that are very crime laden and to be honest, sometimes I am afraid.

I have already walked through areas where I felt like a little ewe surrounded by wolves.

Bill never ever allows  me go alone and that brings me comfort. And we stay away from those situations as much as possible.

But let's be real, this world is harsh and mean and getting more so all the time.

Jesus chose 12 men from among His many followers. He set them apart, taught them, gave them authority and sent them out. The verse below is one of many things He said to them.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NASB)

They would live the rest of their lives as sheep among wolves. It would not be an easy life for them. I think they might have thought otherwise.

Why do we wonder then, why our lives aren't better or easier? Do we think that we deserve better than Jesus or His chosen?

Jesus told us to "go out" into the world. So we will be among the wolves, but He also gives us other advice, "be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."

So I had to ponder on this for awhile. I had to look up the words and I'm still pondering and thinking about it. 

Shrewd- discerning awareness, astute, clear eyed, knowing and smart.

Innocent- free from sin, harmless in intention

How would a sheep ever survive living among wolves?

I think they would have to be very wise and alert, Watching and guarding their every step. I think that any chance that they had to be in the company of other sheep they should take the opportunity because there would be more safety in numbers and they could help protect each other. The more sheep they could gather together, the better off they would be.

I think they would have to be very non threatening to the wolves and not do anything that would provoke their anger. 

I don't think they should ever eat with the wolves as this would probably prove to be very dangerous. 

I think that even in their sleep they will have to be ready for attack.

I think the sheep will not ever be able to rest until the Shepherd comes and destroys the wolves and takes the sheep away to eternal safety.

Work hard to gather and surround yourself with sheep until that day.

Harvest

I love this time of year. Fall, there are so many colors and smells. There is so many fruits and vegetables in abundance.

There is an excitement in the air, a kind of energy or maybe it is just the feel of urgency, needing to get things done before bad weather.

Nothing ever gave me such comfort as a well stocked, warm house, with all my family members at home.

Fall is also apple picking time. I enjoy going to the orchards to buy apples, cider, and  apple butter. And then going home to make pies, cobbler, apple dumplings, and apple crisp. 

I love apples. But what I liked best was that someone had already picked and sorted all the apples, all I had to do was purchase them, then my work would begin once at home.

Jesus knew something about a harvest too. He saw the plentiful harvest, the distressed and dispirited people. 

And like me with my apples, He saw so much promise in the bushels of people. 

Jesus purchased this harvest, with His blood.

And now our work begins. It is up to us to spread the love of Jesus. We, like Jesus, need to have compassion on the distressed and dispirited.

Let's roll up our sleeves and get busy. We can't harvest the fields if we don't go to the fields. Where do you find hurting people? You don't have to look far.

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:35a-38 NASB)