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Saturday, 09 January 2010 19:48

Wash day wisdom

Written by Marcia Bohn

Preview Yesterday, I was doing laundry when the machine started freaking out. The load was off balance and the machine was banging against the wall and dancing in an agitated manner, its feet hammering the floor. I ran in and quickly shut it off, then waited for it to stop its spinning. After rearranging the load, I started it up again. As the machine started it's spin cycle again, this time calmly, I noticed that my hands were holding the sides of the machine in a comforting action and the thought that came to mind was, "That's just like a good friend.While you freak out she will hold you and be there to comfort you. She may help you shut out your world for a bit so that you can readjust and refocus but she will stay with you until you are running calmly again."

I appreciate Pastor Chris Martin's current focus on friendships. Friends are so very important in life. In this age of cell phoning upstairs to ask you son to bring down your slippers, e mailing your grandmother with an e card for Christmas, doing a days worth of chores without ever touching a foot to the ground outside the garage, talking to 3D people around you is becoming a rare sport. Everyone is so busy being busy that we can live in a cocoon of lonliness and not even be aware of it.

Here are some scissors,Sis, let me help you get out of that cocoon.

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:10

Thursday, 10 December 2009 13:46

Written by Big Sis

"The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."

Matt 4:16

As I was reading my Christmas devotional today, this verse really caught my attention. I wanted to check the prophesy from Isaiah 9 concerning Jesus, to find out why Isaiah said this. This darkness had come upon Israel because they had turned away from God. In Isaiah 8:21-22 it says that they had become enraged and cursed God and,"then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish, and they will be driven into darkness." Imagine yourself sitting in darkness for years and years, what does that feel like? Is that hard to imagine for you? Maybe not. In our present day we have our own "God separated" darkness. Depression, fears, sins, ignorance, rejection, sorrows, chains, just think about the canvas in the hall at church and all the words there. This is the darkness that we sit in. Absence from God is darkness and the shadow of death, eternal death.

The next verse, Is.9:1, starts with a glimmer of hope, "Nevertheless..." Do you see that spark of light in our inky blackness? God is preparing an escape from our cell of darkness, help is on the way! "The people which sat in darkness saw a great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." What is this light that we all so desperately need? (I want to sing these next light infused words) It is Hope, Joy, Peace, Forgiveness, Eternal Life! It is Love, Laughter, Acceptance! It is Running and Leaping and Singing and Freedom! This light is JESUS!!!

Ahh... just think about all that means. Can you possibly comprehend it? It is so much but God says "I AM" and He is. He is the light of the world and when people didn't pay attention to this light He sent His Son into the world to save us all from ourselves. "To give light to those that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:79 Our guide has come in the form of a baby. This hope in human form is Jesus, our escape from the bondage of sin and darkness. I can sing along with Mary,

" My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

... For he who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name."

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Friday, 06 November 2009 19:44

God's Transforming Hand

Written by Louise Martin

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

This week I was talking with another mom about our children, in particular one of hers and one of mine who seem to share the same DNA when it comes to certain rather trying personality characteristics. I made the statement that my child is obstinate, argumentative, and will not admit he is wrong. (Those of you that know my family can rule out my only female offspring based upon my use of the masculine pronoun.) It is also true that this particular child is passionate, outspoken, and won't give up easily when facing obstacles. If you look at these two statements, you will see that these are the same three characteristics! What is the difference between being obstinate and passionate? What is the difference between being argumentative and outspoken? The person who won’t admit he is wrong in one situation may be the person who does not give up when the going gets tough in another!

By the grace of God we are transformed from the Ugly to the Godly. God is using what we’re made of (yes, every ugly piece of who we are) to make something beautiful that will represent Him well.