Category Archives: Spiritual Encouragement

Simple Path

Christianity, homeschooling, Parenting, Truth, Uncategorized, Who we are in Christ, , , , ,

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Simple Path

I walk down the path , minding my own business.  Things seem to be going just fine.  The path is well lit and easy to walk upon.  The bushes are lovely, the butterflies flit in and out between their blossoms.  The thorns that were always present seem to have disappeared.

  The sunshine is glimmering on the stone path.  The little squirrels twirl and whirl right in front of my feet.  What a joy the journey along the path is today!

Wait a minute.  This path is becoming a bit bumpy.  Ouch!  That stone punctured my foot.  Whoa.  I cannot see like I could a few minutes  ago! No, I am not leaving this path or asking for any help.  Those thorns weren’t there a minute ago either!

Those little squirrels suddenly have a look of evil in their eyes.  I am lost!  I cannot see where I am going.  I don’t care how many other paths there are to take that won’t hurt.  I am going this way…wait a minute, what happened to the joyful journey?

 I cannot do this.  Why did I begin to travel this way?  Don’t I know better?  Why do I always make these stupid mistakes?  What can I do now?  I am so stupid, I am so scared.  I am so ashamed.

Where did that shame come from?  Why do I feel so guilty for walking down this path?  Why am I condemning myself for walking down a simple path?  Pride has kept me from taking another path.  Why am I so scared of squirrels all of the sudden?

Does this sound like a journey we call life?  We can be walking down a path and all the circumstances on that path can change so suddenly.  We can make a mistake, we can be pierced by the thorns, hurt by a stone. But it always come, at one time or another.

Romans 8:1  “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”  Proverbs 16:18  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”  1 John 4:18 ” “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

So we beat ourselves up.  We make mistakes, we take the wrong paths…circumstances of life change.  We do too little, or not enough.  We need to learn how to get up off the path, dust out feet, conquer our fear, deal with the consequences and maybe even take the other path.  The enemy has us right where he wants us when we mess up and sat down, beat up and scared on that path.

Hebrews 13:5-6  ” Never will I leave nor forsake you, so we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?'”

Stay on that path today.  If those squirrels become mean, the stones become sharp…stay the course, or even change to another path!  Either way, HE will stay with you, right by your side!

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*

I DO & I DID!

Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Freedom in Christ, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Trials, Troubles, Who I am in Christ, , , , , , , , , , ,

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I DO & I DID

There are two events that I really enjoy….wedding and anniversary celebrations. I have always enjoyed looking in the paper’s social page at pictures of both. The pictures of people that have been married forty, fifty and sixty years or more are the best, especially when the newlywed picture is side by side the anniversary one!

I recently saw a picture of a couple celebrating their 71st Anniversary! The genuine love that the couple had for each other was so evident in the picture. Their grin and the look in their eyes said it all.

I had the privilege of being with my daughters-in-law on their wedding day as they prepared for their groom. I am not sure if their hands perspired or their hearts fluttered…but I do know the looks of love they had when they walked down the aisle looking upon my sons’ faces. The bridegrooms might have had knees knocking, teeth chattering…I am not sure. But the look of deep love when they saw their brides was one I personally will cherish forever.

Revelation 19:7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb had come, and his bride had made herself ready.” Revelation 21:2 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

I cannot really imagine the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can get a sliver of a glimpse because of what I have seen at weddings, but I am sure nothing compares. The bridegroom with come and take away his bride (the body of Christ). No wonder the relationship of marriage is described by the Father as a symbol of His love. He longs for and yearns for an intimate relationship with us. Intimacy that can only come from marriage. Intimacy that deepens over the years as couples face trials and tribulations.

Looking at couples that have been married over 50 years I marvel at the depth of their love. Many times they could have given up. They have traveled down many roads and paths together. Have you ever noticed that the longer people are married, the more that they seem to resemble each other? They always can complete each others’ thoughts and sentences!

We are working on our 35th year of marriage, and it is true! My hubby cannot say a word and make a clicking sound with his tongue, and I know something is bugging him. Or we can look at each other and know what the other is thinking when we have experienced the same social experience. It is so funny!

I believe that is how it is suppose to be with the Father. As time goes by we face many things in life. But as we travel this road of life, the years add up, we become more like our bridegroom, more like Jesus!! We choose to get to know him in an intimate and personal way. Our love deepens, the relationship become the type of relationship in which we know Him so well, we are able to complete the sentences!

I love this quote from Steve McVey, “We are HIS bride, not his hostage.” Married couples do for one another because they want to do for their partner. They do not do so because they are being held hostage by their spouse.

By the same token, we are HIS bride and not HIS employee. The Father allows us to be a part of His work here on earth because of His love for us, not because we need to earn a place in His heart. This is no more true that my husband paying for me to be his wife. I am his wife because I love him. The same is true of the Father.

Try to remember walking down that aisle, or imagine doing it someday and look at who is standing there waiting with open arms.

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Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

Simple Fire

Christianity, mom, motherhood, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, , , , ,

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Simple Fire

Have you ever watched a campfire? It is mesmerizing….the fire just consumes everything in it’s path.

Have you ever struck a match to the thin strip of paper? You have not time to back away! The fire consumes the paper in less than a second! The paper simply is no more.

Consume: “Use up in the process of living; destroy …as by fire.” These are the definitions that Websters gives us. 

Hebrews 12:28-29 says: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” This means to consume wholly or thoroughly.

God wants to consume us. His desire for us is that we know and feel His love. God wants His love to invade every part of our being. He wants a complete union with us.

I Corinthians 6:17 “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” God has a love that subdues every part of our being.

How is this achieved? There is not a plan, there is only a person. JESUS CHRIST. We just have to surrender. I say that over and over and over. We can spend time in prayer. We can meditate on Him, His love and His word. We need to get away in solitude. God will not shout over the clamor in our lives. But He does want to consume us. He wants that intimate relationship.

Find a place mom. Praise Him, think on Him and just listen. If you are like me, talking is one of my best traits, so listening to Him…waiting on Him took some practice! Basking in His presence is the most wonderful, intimate time I know…and want. He wants it to.

I always thought I wanted to be thin! So a strip of paper I am…waiting to be consumed!!

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*