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*

 

The Race of Love

Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , ,

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The Race of Love

I taught school for many years and must say that I learned a lot along the way. Sometimes my kids taught me more than I could ever teach them. I always had a special education room in some form. Their special needs helped me see the world through their eyes.

While I was in college, one of my favorite activities was working in the “Special Olympics”. As you most likely know, this event is similar to the regular Olympics held all over the world every four years. There is a marked difference however. These participants are developmentally delayed or physically challenged in some way.

There is competition. The individuals compete against each other in races, shot put, distance running and other such things. One day something unique happened, yet I found out it wasn’t really unique at all at this competition.

As a “hugger” my job was to hug participants as they crossed the finish line, no matter their placement in the race. A couple of races had taken place and there were hugs, giggles and smiles everywhere. I think I was having as much fun as any of the competitors!

Another race was set to begin. The runners were at their mark. The gun was fired. The runner in lane three fell down. He went down on his knee, scraping it as he fell! There was a gasp in the crowd and you could have heard a pin drop.

Soon the other runners stopped running. They all turned around and went back to the fallen boy. They reached down to pick him up. They brushed him off, checked his skinned knee and starting running again…but this time altogether as one. Most of them did not even know one another.

They crossed the finish line as one. All the huggers were in tears, as was the majority of the crowd. What a precious sight! It was an example of the unconditional love of God to me.

Can we do that? When our brother falls, do we stop what we are doing? Do we pick him up, dust him off and help him finish the race? Or do we go on running, not worrying about the fallen runner? Do we mumble to ourselves how they didn’t do it right and they deserved to crash?

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

So next time you are in that race…and your competition falls….what are you going to do?

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE



Isaiah 55:8-9

*google, shutterstock image, NIV Bible*

Simple Gift

Christianity, Spiritual Encouragement, Truth, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

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Simple Gift

She glanced at the huge box on the table. Could it be hers? What could possibly be in that beautiful box? How long would she have to wait to find out? The suspense was almost more than her little 9 year old heart could handle!

Her daddy had brought the large box in and sat it on the table. He had looked at her and grinned, then walked out of the room. She sat on the couch, unable to take her eyes off the box. Her daddy had been gone on a business trip and always found something to bring home to her. This had to be one of those gifts!

She sat still for what seemed like an eternity. Where did he go? Should she open the box? Should she wait until he came back into the room and ask him? Should she get up and go find him? She tried to keep her mind occupied, but her mind would not concentrate on anything but that huge box!

In a few minutes her daddy walked back into the room. Her anticipation had grown.  She sat waiting for his instructions. None came. He just sat down in his chair. “What is he waiting for?” she thought to herself. “Is that for me or not?” she thought.

Five minutes passed and she tried to act as if she had not noticed the box, but it was driving her crazy. When she looked at her daddy, he smiled politely and simply looked back out the window. This was torture!

Another five minutes drove the daughter practically into madness. She had always been taught to be polite and was not sure if she should just come out and ask for the box. Finally she asked her daddy, “Daddy, I have to ask…is the gift for me?” “Why yes my precious daughter, the gift is yours.” The daughter jumped up and went to get the gift.

As she opened it she found so many of her favorite things. She found books, seashells, flowers, a picture of a bird and music. All of these things were precious to her.  She loved to read and write, give gifts of beauty to others, sing, play the piano.  She received the gifts with such thanksgiving. Daddy was so pleased, he loved being able to gift his little girl.

“Daddy” she asked. “Why did you wait so long to tell me the gift was mine?” “Well sweetheart” he replied, “I was waiting for you to simply ask for it. The gift was yours the whole time. You just had to make the decision to receive it.”

What gifts has the Father given you that you have not received? Has the Father offered you the gift of salvation? What are you waiting for? Has He given you gifts in which you can use to glorify Him and serve others? Or are you leaving them to sit in the box? Has the Father simply offered you the beauty of a seashell, but have you looked past it not receiving it as the gift of beauty to bring you joy? Whatever the gift is..our Father is a gentleman, and he will not force it on you. He gives out of love.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” 1 Corinthians 12:4

What gifts has the Father left for you to find and receive? Believe me, it is not a mystery…you won’t have to look hard…

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*