Imagine this scenario...
A masterful carpenter is putting the final touches on an intricately carved piece of furniture. Just by viewing the furniture you can tell how much work and skill went into its creating. Then, a passerby comes along and sees this piece of furniture. The admirer looks at all the fine detail and all the hard work. Then the passerby tells the carpenter "Man! Those tools did an amazing job making this furniture".
During Sunday school, this picture rolled though my mind like a movie. Sometimes that is how God speaks to me, so I thought He might want me to share this. So here we go.
What is wrong with this picture? I am sure that you have already discerned that the problem is that we never give the tools the credit for making anything magnificent. Picasso didn't give his paintbrushes credit, nor did Van Gogh, but rather when people viewed what these men had created, those admirers probably said what beautiful work the artist had done.
Why is it then that when we do exactly what we have been told to do by God, we want to take credit? We are to go forth into every nation and tell them of the news of Jesus' love, life and sacrifice for them. Sometimes when people are only an introduction for someone to God, they want to say "I brought them to salvation". No you didn't. Only the Holy Spirit can convict someone. No words we say, no matter how eloquent, no actions we take, no matter how righteous or forceful can make anyone accept Christ's gift.
So don't give tools the credit for a plan laid out so masterfully by the Creator. Just be glad that you are able to be used in creating such a beautiful thing as a new life in Christ.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
God uses women too....
When we think of women in the bible, most of the ones that stand out as godly women are women who didn't come from great means, importance or social status. The women we associate with good character are women like Mary (Jesus' mother) who was but a mere girl when chosen to be the mother to our Savior. There are other women, like Ruth, whose actions were such an example as to have a whole chapter dedicated to them. Neither of these women had wealth, but quite the opposite. Mary was a teenager who had been affianced to Joseph at around the age of 14. We know that she was approached by an angel and told that she would give birth to Jesus (from the time before and since there has never been another birth that didn't require two sets of DNA so we know what people probably thought of Mary). Ruth was an old widow who was faithful to her mother-in-law Naomi. She found favor in God's eyes and was married to Boaz and taken care of even in her old age.
I say all that to tell you this, women are important to God. He used them in the bible to do important works for Him. God used Jael to defeat an enemy of the army of Israel. He could have used anyone, he could have chosen the most mighty warrior that Israel had, but chose instead to use a courageous and faithful woman. When you look at statistics for missions funding and we think of those yearly church offerings, what sort of names do you think of? Eliza Broadus, Annie Armstrong, those ring a bell? The thing they both have in common is that they are both women and both loved God.
God can use anyone to teach, preach and evangelize. You don't have to have seminary school under your belt to tell someone of God's love. There is not a asterix at the end of the Bible saying that all the words in here only apply to men and when Jesus says the harvest is full but the workers are few, he wasn't referring to just men. He used women in the Bible, and He will use you today.
I say all that to tell you this, women are important to God. He used them in the bible to do important works for Him. God used Jael to defeat an enemy of the army of Israel. He could have used anyone, he could have chosen the most mighty warrior that Israel had, but chose instead to use a courageous and faithful woman. When you look at statistics for missions funding and we think of those yearly church offerings, what sort of names do you think of? Eliza Broadus, Annie Armstrong, those ring a bell? The thing they both have in common is that they are both women and both loved God.
God can use anyone to teach, preach and evangelize. You don't have to have seminary school under your belt to tell someone of God's love. There is not a asterix at the end of the Bible saying that all the words in here only apply to men and when Jesus says the harvest is full but the workers are few, he wasn't referring to just men. He used women in the Bible, and He will use you today.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
What Could Be Is Now
Can you imagine a life without worry
Without care and without pain?
A life with joy and peace with
Comfort that is sustained.
Life for you my loves,
Could be called unfair at best.
At time it's seemed unbearable
Like an un-passable test.
Please know that it can be better
If you keep your eyes ahead
Let go of the past, it is unchanging
Your faith in Him embed.
I'll take your pain, if you will
For I have two sturdy knees
Lay your cares, I'll give them away
God will take them away from me.
~For my sister and my niece. I'll be with you through this new journey. I love you both with all my heart. Please always know that.
Without care and without pain?
A life with joy and peace with
Comfort that is sustained.
Life for you my loves,
Could be called unfair at best.
At time it's seemed unbearable
Like an un-passable test.
Please know that it can be better
If you keep your eyes ahead
Let go of the past, it is unchanging
Your faith in Him embed.
I'll take your pain, if you will
For I have two sturdy knees
Lay your cares, I'll give them away
God will take them away from me.
~For my sister and my niece. I'll be with you through this new journey. I love you both with all my heart. Please always know that.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Don't Do Familiar Again
Sometimes it seems like life is on auto-pilot. Then suddenly you are cast into a turbulence so severe you are not even sure if you will make it off this trip alive...
Having a niece in the ICU on the brink of death jerked me out of auto-pilot. The terrible thing would be if we took this gift from God for granted. If we let life slip back into what is comfortable and familiar. Please tell me that I am not the only one that realizes that if we do the same thing, we will get the same outcome we have always gotten. Life is too precious to take for granted. Think of those that we've lost, those that we've almost lost and then tell me that there isn't room in your life for some improvement. Each decision that we make should first be thought through. If it will displease God, it will hurt my family, and it will hurt myself, I try not to do it. However; I am by NO means perfect. I do think that I have gotten the main idea of life down. The secondary concepts I may still need some work on. But one thing I can tell you for sure that I've discovered in my 30 years is that sometimes people will stick to familiar even if familiar hurts.
Please don't do familiar again.
I love you.
You were created for something beautiful and what you are doing now is not beautiful.
Praise God for bringing my niece back from the brink of death.
Having a niece in the ICU on the brink of death jerked me out of auto-pilot. The terrible thing would be if we took this gift from God for granted. If we let life slip back into what is comfortable and familiar. Please tell me that I am not the only one that realizes that if we do the same thing, we will get the same outcome we have always gotten. Life is too precious to take for granted. Think of those that we've lost, those that we've almost lost and then tell me that there isn't room in your life for some improvement. Each decision that we make should first be thought through. If it will displease God, it will hurt my family, and it will hurt myself, I try not to do it. However; I am by NO means perfect. I do think that I have gotten the main idea of life down. The secondary concepts I may still need some work on. But one thing I can tell you for sure that I've discovered in my 30 years is that sometimes people will stick to familiar even if familiar hurts.
Please don't do familiar again.
I love you.
You were created for something beautiful and what you are doing now is not beautiful.
Praise God for bringing my niece back from the brink of death.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
What did you think prophecy meant?
Everyday I watch the news and it seems like at least once a week in our country or some other country there is a natural disaster that has beaten past records on its strength and death toll. I am not surprised by these, what I am surprised by is the fact that people are surprised it is happening. It has been written down for a long time. Granted, it doesn’t give the date and time each flood, hurricane, tornado or earthquake will occur, but it does say that they will occur.
Luke 21: 7 - 12 says:
7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
While all of these things that the Bible has foretold does mean death, sorrow, and hurt, for Christians it also means the culmination of all we have lived for since accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The only way to make the things that WILL continue to happen less scary, is to understand why they are happening.
If you are reading this, and you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, please contact me, or someone else of faith and ask us how we can help you. Being a Christian isn’t restrictive, it is liberating because you no longer have to be in control of your life. Let God take the reigns and you will be fine.
Luke 21: 7 - 12 says:
7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
While all of these things that the Bible has foretold does mean death, sorrow, and hurt, for Christians it also means the culmination of all we have lived for since accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The only way to make the things that WILL continue to happen less scary, is to understand why they are happening.
If you are reading this, and you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, please contact me, or someone else of faith and ask us how we can help you. Being a Christian isn’t restrictive, it is liberating because you no longer have to be in control of your life. Let God take the reigns and you will be fine.
A different kind of thought...
It is funny how you meet someone who challenges they way you think about things. What is even funnier (not ha ha, but like wow, really) is when you meet someone who you are sure has stepped right out of a movie with all their personality and pizzazz. I shall not illuminate on this any further, just wanted to have this written down so perhaps I will remember this day later on in my "golden years". Anyway, I have news to share:
My niece Rachel Clark aged 26 is fighting for her life at this moment. She is suffering from ARDS, and she is also septic. Monday morning she was discovered unconscious on the floor. She was brought in to the hospital and since then it has been a roller coaster. I am begging any of you who reads this to please, please pray for her. She is the mother of three beautiful babies. They have been through so much already, I pray that they can see a wonderful outcome from this situation. God is mighty, He is a healer and a miracle worker. We've read of Him raising people from the dead, parting seas, and many more wonders. Rachel is in very critical condition, and prayers are greatly appreciated. Also, if you have any prayer requests you would like people to pray for, please don't hesitate to hop over to the prayer request page and leave me a comment. I'll add it to the main page. God bless each one of you. Thank you in advance for the prayers.
My niece Rachel Clark aged 26 is fighting for her life at this moment. She is suffering from ARDS, and she is also septic. Monday morning she was discovered unconscious on the floor. She was brought in to the hospital and since then it has been a roller coaster. I am begging any of you who reads this to please, please pray for her. She is the mother of three beautiful babies. They have been through so much already, I pray that they can see a wonderful outcome from this situation. God is mighty, He is a healer and a miracle worker. We've read of Him raising people from the dead, parting seas, and many more wonders. Rachel is in very critical condition, and prayers are greatly appreciated. Also, if you have any prayer requests you would like people to pray for, please don't hesitate to hop over to the prayer request page and leave me a comment. I'll add it to the main page. God bless each one of you. Thank you in advance for the prayers.
Monday, August 22, 2011
If You Value Your Life Like God Value's His Church...
Then you won't try to defile it! This is a re-write of a bumper sticker that my pastor saw. The original bumper sticker said something like, if you value your life like I value my truck you won't touch my truck. But this statement totally ties in with what our evening sermon was about this Sunday. We studied about 1 Cor. 3:16-17 which says
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
There are a few key points in this passage. Here are the questions that my pastor posed to us:
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
There are a few key points in this passage. Here are the questions that my pastor posed to us:
- Who are the ye in the sixteenth verse?
- What does it mean by the word defile?
- Who are the defilers?
- How does someone defile the temple?
- And what does it mean by "him shall God destroy"
- The ye is plural, it would be the church as a whole and as individual churches also.
- Defile means neglecting of duties by the guardians and leading away of the church from a state of holiness in which the church ought to be.
- The defilers are believers, Christians. The greatest threat to t the church is from the inside.
- We defile the church by letting divisions to occur within the church, by allowing bad theology to permeate our churches and by bad methodology or bad conduct.
- By destroy, well, we really don't know what God intends to do. The Bible doesn't say for sure, we can only take references from other areas of the bible (see 1 Cor. 11:30)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
God is my Bounty®
He is strong enough to hold me up and soft enough to comfort me.
The most durable in any situation and absorbent for life's blows and tears.
He can help me clean my messes up no matter what their size.
He is the one I continue to pick even after all these years
No need for me to select a size for He is perfect for any need.
Always available whatever the cause, finding Him down on bended knee.
I highly recommend Him to all my family and friends.
Although His price was very steep, He was kind enough to prepay for me.
The most durable in any situation and absorbent for life's blows and tears.
He can help me clean my messes up no matter what their size.
He is the one I continue to pick even after all these years
No need for me to select a size for He is perfect for any need.
Always available whatever the cause, finding Him down on bended knee.
I highly recommend Him to all my family and friends.
Although His price was very steep, He was kind enough to prepay for me.
Monday, August 15, 2011
In You Whom I Boast
There's nothing I can do to get
me to you.
I can claim no glory for my
blood washed soul.
The perfect plan was in action
long before I.
My claim to glory is only
in your name.
For even at your weakest you are
mighty by far.
In your most foolish of moments
Your wisdom surpasses.
What will be my legacy for this life
But your name
Nothing! And amen and amen. Glory be to
God's holy name
me to you.
I can claim no glory for my
blood washed soul.
The perfect plan was in action
long before I.
My claim to glory is only
in your name.
For even at your weakest you are
mighty by far.
In your most foolish of moments
Your wisdom surpasses.
What will be my legacy for this life
But your name
Nothing! And amen and amen. Glory be to
God's holy name
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Paul's Journey
WOW........ I am so thrilled today that I felt that the first word of this post needed some extra emphasis. This morning at Watts Chapel Baptist we were blessed to have hosted a beautiful singing quartet called "Paul's Journey". They are from Houston, Texas and tour all over the United States. (I added a link directly to their web page so you could check them out and buy their CD's. There are also links to other ways to connect to them and their tour dates/places as well.) Let me just say that I do not possess the words to tell you how much of a blessing these men were to our church! I hope maybe God will tell me the words tonight, but as of yet I am speechless. If they are ever near your state, you should go listen to them. If you don't get a blessing, you must have had ear plugs in!
I can tell you for sure that if they come back to Kentucky, I will be there to see them. Keep them in your prayers, for their music ministry is a full time job! They need prayers, love and support (and yes I mean money)! Please go by their website and check them out.
And by the off chance that any of the members of the group should read this, please let me say again how thankful I am that you are doing EXACTLY what God created you for!
I can tell you for sure that if they come back to Kentucky, I will be there to see them. Keep them in your prayers, for their music ministry is a full time job! They need prayers, love and support (and yes I mean money)! Please go by their website and check them out.
And by the off chance that any of the members of the group should read this, please let me say again how thankful I am that you are doing EXACTLY what God created you for!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
My Gift
How can I sing my praise to you
With my voice?
I will in honor of what you've done
And who you are.
Not because I sound so sweet
As an angel, oh so glorious.
Lord how shall I shout to others of you
I've not been given the countenance
For confrontation such as that
I can humbly tell them of your love
And pray that you guide my words
I am so thankful for this body God
And that you've called others to do
What I've not been given the gift for
Beautiful singers, powerful evangelists
Thank you Lord for my gifts
I pray each day that I can use them for you
In honor of your love and devotion
In silent praise to your name, I write
You whisper words to me; they flow endlessly
Without thought or pause
For Lord, you are more than the poems I write
You are the reason that I do
I give all my praise and my love
I give everything I have
I give it all to you
Amen
With my voice?
I will in honor of what you've done
And who you are.
Not because I sound so sweet
As an angel, oh so glorious.
Lord how shall I shout to others of you
I've not been given the countenance
For confrontation such as that
I can humbly tell them of your love
And pray that you guide my words
I am so thankful for this body God
And that you've called others to do
What I've not been given the gift for
Beautiful singers, powerful evangelists
Thank you Lord for my gifts
I pray each day that I can use them for you
In honor of your love and devotion
In silent praise to your name, I write
You whisper words to me; they flow endlessly
Without thought or pause
For Lord, you are more than the poems I write
You are the reason that I do
I give all my praise and my love
I give everything I have
I give it all to you
Amen
Sunday, July 31, 2011
An Innocent point of view
Green grass beneath my feet
Just so simple
A home to millions of things
Ants crawl over my feet in search
Always in search of
Blue sky above my head
So majestic
See those birds soaring, wings outstretched
Flying, carelessly fulfilling God's plan for them
His plan at work
Baby eyes staring back
So angelic
Little arms around my neck
Hugging me, God's gift to me
I accept this task
See this world
From the eyes of an innocent
Isn't all so bad, so cruel and unjust
It can actually be beautiful and amazing
When you see how God planned it
Just so simple
A home to millions of things
Ants crawl over my feet in search
Always in search of
Blue sky above my head
So majestic
See those birds soaring, wings outstretched
Flying, carelessly fulfilling God's plan for them
His plan at work
Baby eyes staring back
So angelic
Little arms around my neck
Hugging me, God's gift to me
I accept this task
See this world
From the eyes of an innocent
Isn't all so bad, so cruel and unjust
It can actually be beautiful and amazing
When you see how God planned it
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Just a little while
Just to hear your newborn cries
Feel your baby skin
Smell your sweet smells
Lasts just a little while
To be able to go back
Cherish those moments more
Linger in each of your breaths
For just a little while
I'll never get those moments back
But we'll make more each day
If God lets me stay with you
Just a little while
~I love you Jakob Ethan Mink! You were my first true love and always will be. I know sometimes you think I am the worst mommy ever, but I promise everything that I do, I do to make you a good man one day. I pray each day for you and hope that God guides you in the right direction all your days.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
How it slips away
Time is such a fragile thing. I have had to reexamine how I value my time, what I do with it and how I place importance on the things I have chosen to spend my time on. For one thing, if you notice the date of my last blog entry, it was almost a month ago! A month, really? How does a whole month slip by? It is really easy to just skim through life sometimes without really delving in to the beauty of it. So this post will be a catch up. I'll try to do it chronologically, but my memory is terrible so.... :)
This week at our church we are having VBS. I usually do nursery, but felt this year it wasn't what I was supposed to do. This year I am helping with recreation. And let me tell you what a blessing it has been. Getting to see the kids laughing and having fun with the silly games brings a simplistic joy to my heart. It most assuredly makes the 90+ degree weather bearable.
This past weekend I hosted the second annual Backpack for Kids Charity Yard Sale. We made 376.00 last year and this year made 500.00. My brother Wayne and my mom gave me almost 200.00 of that before the yard sale even started! I had so much help for it, it made me realize even more how blessed I am. My sisters helped, one of my sisters co-workers, my brother, husband, father, mother, church friends and even some of the kids came and pitched in! I wish that this money didn't need to be given to this cause, but it does exist. Kids go home from school on Friday not knowing if they will eat anything of sustenance (or anything at all) all weekend. Without the backpacks of food, lots of kids would go hungry. There are lots of causes in this world, but God has laid hunger on mine. I can't imagine those babies with growling bellies, knowing that there is no relief in sight for those hunger pains.
I thank you all for taking the time to read what I write. I will make myself sit and write more often. It really is cathartic for me to do this. And somehow lets me feel more connected, even though some of you I'll never meet.
Lots of love.
Christina
This week at our church we are having VBS. I usually do nursery, but felt this year it wasn't what I was supposed to do. This year I am helping with recreation. And let me tell you what a blessing it has been. Getting to see the kids laughing and having fun with the silly games brings a simplistic joy to my heart. It most assuredly makes the 90+ degree weather bearable.
This past weekend I hosted the second annual Backpack for Kids Charity Yard Sale. We made 376.00 last year and this year made 500.00. My brother Wayne and my mom gave me almost 200.00 of that before the yard sale even started! I had so much help for it, it made me realize even more how blessed I am. My sisters helped, one of my sisters co-workers, my brother, husband, father, mother, church friends and even some of the kids came and pitched in! I wish that this money didn't need to be given to this cause, but it does exist. Kids go home from school on Friday not knowing if they will eat anything of sustenance (or anything at all) all weekend. Without the backpacks of food, lots of kids would go hungry. There are lots of causes in this world, but God has laid hunger on mine. I can't imagine those babies with growling bellies, knowing that there is no relief in sight for those hunger pains.
I thank you all for taking the time to read what I write. I will make myself sit and write more often. It really is cathartic for me to do this. And somehow lets me feel more connected, even though some of you I'll never meet.
Lots of love.
Christina
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