Tag Archives: Abba Father

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*

 

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*