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Simple Path

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

path

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*

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*

 

Simple Shirt

Christianity, Spiritual Encouragement, Uncategorized, Who we are in Christ, , , , ,

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Simple Shirt

“Mom, that shirt looks awful!” Sarah yelled as she ran through the room. “Can we put it in some dye and brighten the yellow?” Sarah’s shirt had faded, basically because she wouldn’t wear anything else! Multiple washings had taken it’s toll.

“I need the shirt for tomorrow” she told her mom. And as ALL good moms would say…”wear something else!” But Sarah already had a plan, and the yellow shirt was needed for the class play.

“I can do it, really I can. I have the yellow dye and the hot water is running. I promise I won’t bother you with it,” she said. And as ALL good moms would say…”ok”.

It didn’t work. The shirt turned out spotty and the yellow was basically a thing of the past. “Mom, what happened? What did I do wrong?” “Did you completely immerse the shirt in the dye solution? “No” came the reply with a sigh.

Sarah tried it again, this time she put it in and allowed the yellow dye water to completely swallow up the shirt. Ten minutes later Sarah was thrilled. “It worked Mom, it’s a brand new shirt, even the yellow is different!”

In scripture “baptize” means to “immerse or place into, to be put into, to be swallowed up.” Matthew tells us in the gospel that John baptized Jesus. We often believe that this was simple referring to water and nothing else.

But look: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11

Matthew then goes on in the next few verse about John baptizing Jesus.

We believe that Christ died for us, but do we believe that Christ lives in us? We were buried with him, we were immersed or swallowed up in Him. We get to live a brand new life! A never before lived life! A life that we can allow Christ to live through. Like that yellow shirt, we were completely and totally immersed. Completely covered! Made new!

How dingy is your yellow shirt? Go ahead, completely immerse it!

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*