I saw the older Bride I spoke of last week again, but wow what a change. She was nothing like the week before. She was vibrant and so full of life. She was open and free to express herself. What changed you ask? Simple
Those who surrounded her did so because they loved her and were more concerend with her needs than thiers. This always makes you feel better about yourself.
She was blameless. None of those who use her as an excuse for thier failures were around. Its nice to have people next to you who appreciate and love you.
The people who engaged her were loving, not only of her but of the others who have befriended her. They welcomed each other and gave life to each other. Oh how her heart was warmed seeing her friends love one another.
Now I don't know how those who came to her supported her, whether they gave crumbs or cakes, but I know that if she continues to love and be loved it is inevitable that people will give thier lives to make sure that she is cared for.
Did you see her?
Monday, January 21, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
"She" is the Church, His Bride, His Beauty
Yesterdays post spoke of someone whom I love very much, the church. She is worthy of that Love as she has changed my life ~in every way.
She gave me a Greater Purpose than myself.
Prior to meeting her, my life was lived for me and me alone. She taught me that I needed others and they needed me. As someone who struggles with people there has always been a strong desire to pull away and be selfish but she won't let me. She knows what I really need.
She gave me a Greater Power than myself.
While on the outside I may have looked as if I was very confident but the truth is I was very insecure and it came out as arrogance. But she wouldn't let my insecurities control me, instead she taught me to trust her with my heart. If I faced a fearful situation she would lovingly coax me to step into it because she believed in me. Through her I overcame my fear of people and of public speaking. She taught me of strengths that I never knew I had and weaknesses that I needed to overcome. She knows how Great I can really be.
She gave me a Greater Love than myself.
I know that sounds bad but lets be honest, when we don't feel cared for we tend to take care of ourselves as we are the only ones who are capable of love. Yet that love was sad and short lived and brought me nothing but bondage. Her love came in the form of acceptance as I am, appreciation for where I've been, and compassion for where I might be soon. There is no one that Loves me as she loves me. She knows how to love me for who I am, not what I do.
She has changed me, and I love her for that. This is why I pray that I never hurt her. I never want her to feel as if I have betrayed her and I never want to be abusive towards her. We need her, I need her, our community needs her.
She gave me a Greater Purpose than myself.
Prior to meeting her, my life was lived for me and me alone. She taught me that I needed others and they needed me. As someone who struggles with people there has always been a strong desire to pull away and be selfish but she won't let me. She knows what I really need.
She gave me a Greater Power than myself.
While on the outside I may have looked as if I was very confident but the truth is I was very insecure and it came out as arrogance. But she wouldn't let my insecurities control me, instead she taught me to trust her with my heart. If I faced a fearful situation she would lovingly coax me to step into it because she believed in me. Through her I overcame my fear of people and of public speaking. She taught me of strengths that I never knew I had and weaknesses that I needed to overcome. She knows how Great I can really be.
She gave me a Greater Love than myself.
I know that sounds bad but lets be honest, when we don't feel cared for we tend to take care of ourselves as we are the only ones who are capable of love. Yet that love was sad and short lived and brought me nothing but bondage. Her love came in the form of acceptance as I am, appreciation for where I've been, and compassion for where I might be soon. There is no one that Loves me as she loves me. She knows how to love me for who I am, not what I do.
She has changed me, and I love her for that. This is why I pray that I never hurt her. I never want her to feel as if I have betrayed her and I never want to be abusive towards her. We need her, I need her, our community needs her.
Ephesians 5:25
The Message (MSG)
25-27 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.
Let's bring the best out of her
Let's bring the best out of her
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Prayer Request
I met an older woman this week that broke my heart. Her husband who loves her so works out of town and she lives here in Astoria. She is a vibrant soul who loves all who enter her doors, always willing to give what she has to make their lives better.
But she is abused.
With her spouse gone many offer to help her with different needs but the truth us most of them are only doing so for their benefit. Helping only makes them feel good about themselves. They care little for her real needs.
Though she has never hurt anyone, she is often the target of peoples pain being blamed for a multitude of problems, even the lack of world peace.
Many come in and out of her life depending upon whats best for them. Few ever really think about her.
She is so loving that she just wants to take in everyone under her roof but many who live with her won't allow it making life difficult for those who don't live in her house their way.
At times she needs support but rarely does she get it. People eat cake while offering her crumbs.
Some even go so far as to Beat on her for no reason at all.
I wonder, how does her Husband feel about all of this?
Mark 13:34-37 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house (where His Bride Is) , and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Would you Pray for her?
Would you Pray for those who might be irresponsible towards her?
But she is abused.
With her spouse gone many offer to help her with different needs but the truth us most of them are only doing so for their benefit. Helping only makes them feel good about themselves. They care little for her real needs.
Though she has never hurt anyone, she is often the target of peoples pain being blamed for a multitude of problems, even the lack of world peace.
Many come in and out of her life depending upon whats best for them. Few ever really think about her.
She is so loving that she just wants to take in everyone under her roof but many who live with her won't allow it making life difficult for those who don't live in her house their way.
At times she needs support but rarely does she get it. People eat cake while offering her crumbs.
Some even go so far as to Beat on her for no reason at all.
I wonder, how does her Husband feel about all of this?
Mark 13:34-37 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house (where His Bride Is) , and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Would you Pray for her?
Would you Pray for those who might be irresponsible towards her?
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
May we have a Good Partnership for 2013
This morning of 2013 my son woke up in a strange place, Kandahar Afghanistan. Never in his young life did he ever believe that this is where he would one day be, but the truth is that is where he woke up.
My son has been married over three years and this morning of 2013 he woke up without his wife with him. She cannot go where he is and he does not want her there. But never did he believe when they got married that they would have to ever be apart like this, but the truth is that is how he woke up.
My son is in the Army and he personally chose this life. While he knew that these things would be a possibility, I think in the back of his mind he hoped it would never happen, but the truth is this is the way that he will wake up until his time is done.
I am proud of my son, but I know that this is not easy and so I pray for my son.
Many of us this morning are waking up in strange places.
I woke up this morning with my life unplanned. I am a planner and so this is very uncomfortable for me this living by faith.
Debra will wake up this morning without physical pain allowing her to jump out of bed for the first time in 9 years.
Gary and Cindy woke up this morning with their life split between family in Snohomish and ministry in Astoria.
Some of you are waking up today and for the first year of your life your sins are forgiven.
Some of you are waking up today and for the first year of your life you will not be alone as you will be walking through 2013 with Jesus.
Others woke up this morning farther from God than they have ever been. Choices that they have made have created a separation and they've never been so alone and so 2013 looks so dark to them.
Even the church is waking up to a strange place. We've never been here before.
We have never had two pastors like we do.
We have never had the number of worship leaders as we do.
We have never had so many saved at a Christmas service as we did.
I am thank God for all of you, I am thankful for the Church, but 2013 will not be easy.
And so as with my son, I will pray for you in those strange places that though our lives may not be where we thought they would be when 2012 started, its because of our choice to follow God into 2013.
Philippians 1:3- 6
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
It will be a Happy New Year
My son has been married over three years and this morning of 2013 he woke up without his wife with him. She cannot go where he is and he does not want her there. But never did he believe when they got married that they would have to ever be apart like this, but the truth is that is how he woke up.
My son is in the Army and he personally chose this life. While he knew that these things would be a possibility, I think in the back of his mind he hoped it would never happen, but the truth is this is the way that he will wake up until his time is done.
I am proud of my son, but I know that this is not easy and so I pray for my son.
Many of us this morning are waking up in strange places.
I woke up this morning with my life unplanned. I am a planner and so this is very uncomfortable for me this living by faith.
Debra will wake up this morning without physical pain allowing her to jump out of bed for the first time in 9 years.
Gary and Cindy woke up this morning with their life split between family in Snohomish and ministry in Astoria.
Some of you are waking up today and for the first year of your life your sins are forgiven.
Some of you are waking up today and for the first year of your life you will not be alone as you will be walking through 2013 with Jesus.
Others woke up this morning farther from God than they have ever been. Choices that they have made have created a separation and they've never been so alone and so 2013 looks so dark to them.
Even the church is waking up to a strange place. We've never been here before.
We have never had two pastors like we do.
We have never had the number of worship leaders as we do.
We have never had so many saved at a Christmas service as we did.
I am thank God for all of you, I am thankful for the Church, but 2013 will not be easy.
And so as with my son, I will pray for you in those strange places that though our lives may not be where we thought they would be when 2012 started, its because of our choice to follow God into 2013.
Philippians 1:3- 6
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
It will be a Happy New Year
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