shadow

Five Years of Truth: 2012 He Owns The World

Posted on: by: Comments: Leave a comment

I committed my life to Jesus five and one half years ago. Each year He has given me new and wonderful things to learn, to feel, and to do.

Join me in reminiscing.

 

2012 He Owns The World

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7

thursday2012 was a very special year for me. I went on a mission trip with ZMI to the Dominican Republic. Many wondrous things happened on that trip. God took me on a great adventure.

This was the year I learned that He is so much bigger than we can imagine. God owns everything, and He is in complete control of it, too.

Looking back on that trip I understand what He wanted me to see was not the geography but the people. There are approximately 7 billion people on earth. All of them created by God. All of them loved by God. Not even one does He want to perish, but He wants all to repent and be saved.

He wants us to love them, too. He wants us to love the people of the world. He wants us to love each other. For me it is so easy to love God. What about people? Don’t we sometimes find that a little difficult?

Jesus died a cruel death because He loved the people of this world. While He was here he taught over and over again about love. Before He left He gave us the command to go out into the world and tell all the people the good news of salvation.

I am so thankful for the missionaries of this world like ZMI that carry the Gospel to the darkest corners. How about the dark corners where you live? Where I live?

Lord Father, Help us to love those around us the way you do. Show us how to open our hearts and be your hands and feet.

If we open ourselves to others God will fill our own hearts with immeasurable joy.

I love that about God!

j

Five Years of Truth: 2011 “Tricks of The Trade”

Posted on: by: Comments: Leave a comment

I committed my life to Jesus five and one half years ago. Each year He has given me new and wonderful things to learn, to feel, and to do.

Join me in reminiscing.

 

“Tricks of The Trade”

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 
2 Corinthians 9:12

wednesdayThis is the year I began to learn about serving. I was asked to be on the leading team of  a women’s fellowship meeting at my church. It was called “Life Happens” and we met once a month. Boy, was I excited! Helping to organize this group function and working with the other leaders was a great learning experience.

I went to meetings, presented ideas, listened to the ideas of others. I helped make plans. I sent emails, kept records. At our fellowship meetings I welcomed our guests and made sure they were comfortable. Sometimes I would lead a small group. I even gave my testimony for the first time.

The fun part was meeting and getting to know more of the ladies I went to church with. We shared food, stories, and studied God’s Word together. It was wonderful!

So, what was God teaching me? I began to see in me a collection of skills and talents I had not noticed before. The same skills and talents I’ve been using most of my adult life at work, at home, at the grocery store. Gifts given to me by God. He gives them to all of us. Not for our glory but for His.

All we have to do is choose. Choose to use our gifts to serve Him. To serve others. When we do God will be honored.

God does not send us out into the world unequipped, but He does send us.

I love that about God!

j

Five Years of Truth: 2010 God Speaks

Posted on: by: Comments: Leave a comment

I committed my life to Jesus five and one half years ago. Each year He has given me new and wonderful things to learn, to feel, and to do.

Join me in reminiscing.

 

2010 God Speaks

The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
Psalm 50:1 

This is the year I learned God speaks to us in very specific ways to let us know He is alive and always with us. I want to tell you a story of one way He spoke to me in 2010.

In the office where I work my desk is on the front of the building right next to an all glass wall. I can watch people as they drive along and as they walk by on the sidewalk.

tuesday blue housecoatIn February of that year I noticed a women walking by I had not seen before. She caught my attention right away. She was very small but had a brisk energetic stride. What stood out the most though was what she wore. It was a blue housecoat. I have seen many people walk by with their best-fitting workout gear, but there she was, this little lady with her blue housecoat, head high and striding along.

I began to watch for her each day. I told my friend about her and he would watch for her, too. I said to him, “I would love to meet and walk with that lady. She strikes me as someone extremely interesting.”

March came. It was time for our Ladies Retreat. My first ever. I signed up alone so the retreat leader, Tami, had to assign me a roommate. She called to let me know she had found someone, but the lady was from another country and there might be a slight language barrier. Well, that was fine with me. I was heading out on a new adventure with the Lord and meeting someone from another country sounded pretty cool.

I got to the lodge and headed straight to my room. No one was there. “That’s good. I can pick which bed I want and hang my clothes.” What happened next is something I will never forget as long as I live. I turned my attention to the open closet and hanging there was a single item. A BLUE HOUSECOAT!! I recognized it tuesday me:Cimmediately. I had watched that housecoat stride down the street numerous times. My heart swelled as I began to realize what God had done.

That night I met Comfort. She was as delightful and interesting as I had imagined her to be as I watched her walk. We became fast friends, true sisters in Christ. She taught me many things. Mostly about loving the Lord and loving the people around us.

Please believe me, when you accept Jesus into your heart, God will speak to you. He will speak to you in a way that is so direct you totally know it is Him. I know from experience there is no denying our God is real and alive.

I love that about God!

j