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Spring–A New Beginning!

Apr4

Saturday: It’s a beautiful sunny morning, with a temperature warm enough to get outside and work! What joy that spring is finally here! Sunday: Heading for church (8:45). Chilly, but no big deal, since it’s early, but suddenly I think my eyes catch something pass my vision. Turning to my husband I ask, “Is there a winter mix advisory, by any chance?” “NO!” Thirty seconds later.. “Did I just see a snowflake?” he asks. … End of story. Of course he had–that’s why I asked about the advisory!! For the next couple of hours it poured down!

This has been the craziest winter I can remember; how about you? Maybe you’re still  plowing through it! (Pun intended!) As we do, we have to remember that nothing here on earth is certain except–as the old saying goes–death and taxes! Weather forecasters and Farmer’s Almanac may try, but ultimately, unless they have a word from the Lord, they just hope they are right!

But all the uncertainty teaches us one thing: lean on God for everything, trust Him for everything, and let Him walk with you today, whether it’s sunny, snowing, or a day of frustration! Take comfort that everything that happens “comes to pass,” and I always  hope that ‘passing’ means it will go on down the road and be a forgotten memory!

Have a great day, thank God for life, and ask Him what He wants of you today! Pray for Him to put someone in your path today who needs a smile, a word of encouragement, or look at their eyes and see if they need prayer. You may be the only one who has a tender heart toward them today!

Now go out into the mission field–but don’t get stained!

Stains?

Apr3

The beautiful yellow pillow was perfectly centered in front of the shams on the bed. The entire set had a gorgeous vintage look, and some bold accessories were going to make a lovely bedroom! As I, as seller, was packing the set for mailing to a buyer, I picked up the pillow to put it into plastic. Suddenly it toppled backward–one of those “wish I could undo it” moments, because it landed right on the butter dish, sitting on the dining room table! (Yes, I spent hours whipping myself that I had not moved the butter!)

I grabbed everything I could find in the next hour, trying to get the stain out; I “googled”; I prayed; I worked, used elbow grease, and every suggestion that anyone made! Finally, after it had had time to set for a day or so, it was about 98% perfect.

We’re so like that!! We go where we shouldn’t, or pass something we shouldn’t, and all of a sudden a worldly stain gets on us! Nothing the world can do will take it away–only by repentance, crying out to the Savior, will we be cleansed from anything unrighteous (1 John 1:9).

James tells us “for this is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God and man: to visit the widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the sins of the world!” (James 1:27, loosely quoted). And Ezra, many years before, had said the “children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.”

A holy life is the desire of God’s heart for believers who are living in the world! Have you prayed today that your hours would be filled with His will, and that His protection would keep your life from getting stained today? If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late!