Walking With God

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions in Genesis

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”  Genesis 5:21-24 (NIV)

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Hebrews 11:5-6 (NIV)

In Genesis 5:24, we read that Enoch walked with God and that then “he was no more, because God took Him away.”  I like to imagine Enoch and God just walking along one day, maybe like they had many times before.  Perhaps they were admiring the beauties of creation or talking about the state of men’s hearts.  But then imagine this; God looks at Enoch and says, “You want to come on home with Me?”

I’ve seen people pass away peacefully.  They seemingly are just asleep and simply take one last breath.  Then there are some who, unfortunately, have to experience a horrible death.  In talking with others about death, I’ve said I don’t fear dying, because I hold on to the truth that to be absent from my body means I will be present with the Lord.  But I do fear how I may die.  I long to be in Heaven, but like I’ve heard my pastor say, “I’m not getting a load up to go tonight.”

It must have been great to be so close to God that He decides to just usher you on into His heavenly home.  How wonderful it must have been to not have to go through death.  However, I think instead of focusing on the fact that Enoch didn’t experience death, it would benefit us more to focus on how close he was with God.  In Genesis 5, it says that Enoch walked faithfully with God and in Hebrews 11, it says he pleased God.  The key to Enoch not having to experience death was in how he lived.

Have you ever been around people who are so close to each other that they finish each other’s sentences?  I know some twins who do that often.  They are able to finish each other’s sentences, often talking in unison, because they have been with each other since birth (or you could say, 9 months before birth.)  My husband thinks I can read his mind because many times I know what he is going to say or do before he says or does it.  But we have been married for over 30 years so it’s easy to predict how we both will react in certain situations.

The Bible says we can have the mind of Christ.  If we have that type of intimate relationship with God, that daily communion, then we can cease being ourselves, but instead be one with God.  We can know how He would have us to act and what we should say in any situation.  We can only have the mind of God if we are filled with His Spirit and we can only be filled with His Spirit if we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”   1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (NIV)

So we can think the thoughts of God because the Spirit of God lives within us. The sad thing is that the opposite of this is also true.  For those who have not accepted Christ, not only can they not discern the things of God, but they are blinded by Satan.  The things of God seem foolish to unbelievers as it tells us in the following scripture:

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

As believers, when we strive to obey God and allow the Spirit to give us insight and wisdom into the things that He wants us to do, then we, too, can walk close to God.  In fact, walking with God is exactly what He wants us to do.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”   Micah 6:8 (NIV)

 

I want to walk with God daily like Enoch and the saints of old.  I don’t really believe God would simply transport any of us now from this earth to His home without us going through the process of death.  However, if we are His child, He will usher us into His home the moment we breathe our last breath here.  Even though God may not choose to simply take me like He did Enoch, I do hope to hear Him say someday, “Come on home with Me, good and faithful servant.”

When The Lord Comes to Visit

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions in Genesis

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.  3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”  5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”  8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel – because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.  Genesis 11:1-9  NIV

In Genesis 11:5, it says that the Lord came down to see what the sons of men were doing.  Of course, we know that God is all-knowing and all-seeing.  So why would He have to come down?  Matthew Henry’s Commentary gives a very good explanation of this chapter.  It is so theologically deep and covers way too much for me to be able to expound on it here.  (For those who want to study this further, the link is below.)  The Lord didn’t just come down to “hang out” with the people.  He already knew what they were doing, but as a result of them trying to do things on their own and without the leading of God, the Lord came down, “Before he gave judgment upon their cause, he enquired into it; for God is incontestably just and fair in all his proceedings against sin and sinners, and condemns none unheard.” [1]

I believe that the Lord wants to have fellowship with man.  Just like in the beginning when the Lord would spend time with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God desires fellowship with His creation.  But on this occasion in Chapter 11, the people were attempting to build a tower that would reach to the heaven in order to build a name for themselves.  When the Lord saw the works of their hands, He said that if the people continued to work together as one people, then nothing would be impossible for them to do.  He, of course, did not mean that they would be stronger than God.  If the people accomplished this act, then they would continue living in sin, giving God no thought or room in their lives.  With one language and united in the revelry of a sinful lifestyle, they would have had no reason to fill the earth as God had intended.  So God confused their language to cause the people to scatter throughout the earth.

We are not told if the Lord revealed Himself to the people or whether or not He talked with them.  It seems, though, that the people were not aware of His presence for they continued to work on the tower even after He came down.  However, He did observe them and carried out His plan for their lives.

This passage says several things to me:

  1. God wants to be involved in our lives. He sees every act that we do, knows every thought and intent of our hearts. Good and bad. Sometimes He meets with us to bless us with His mighty presence, but sometimes He confronts us with our sin so that we can repent and have our fellowship with Him restored.
  2. He knows what is best for us. If the people had continued to build the tower and as God said, tried to do everything on their own, they would not have learned to rely on God. Sometimes we need to be faced with our shortcomings to realize we can do nothing of real value without our Lord.  “He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.” Luke 1:51 NIV
  3. Even when we are not aware of Him, He is fully aware of us. He watches over us and orders circumstances around us for our own good. It may be confusing to us, but makes total sense to God.

As believers, we have the awesome privilege of having God living inside of us all the time.  We still at times, though, try to do our own thing and fail to listen to the leading of the Spirit.  When God visited the people in Shinar, He came for the purpose of confusing their language because of their sin.  That was a lasting change to the world because it led to the development of all the different nations.

At other times, God visits us by allowing His presence to become so real, it feels like He is standing right there in the room.  That’s the kind of visit from the Lord I long for.  His presence is always within me, but at those times when His presence is all around me, that’s the best visits of all.  My hope is that when God chooses to “visit” me with His presence, it will be for the purpose of fellowship and not to confuse my plans because they were not initiated by Him.

 

[1] Accessed 3/25/15: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Gen.11.5-Gen.11.9

Separation

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions in Genesis

The account of the fall of man is one of the saddest stories in the Bible, if not the worst.  Stop and think about it.  Had Adam and Eve not sinned, nothing else bad in the Bible would have occurred.  We could still be enjoying the Garden of Eden, meeting and walking with the Lord in the evenings.

Let’s read the account:

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”  Genesis 2:15-17 (NIV)

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Let There Be Light

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions in Genesis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.   And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.  And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.”  So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.  God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.  And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.  God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.  Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.  The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.  And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.  God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.  God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.  Genesis 1:1-19  (NIV)

Have you ever read a certain passage of scripture hundreds of times and then all of a sudden, when you read it again, you notice something new?  I love it when this happens.  I’m not a Bible scholar so I may not always catch on to things like some do.  Though I have read the creation account many times, one day I noticed the order of the creation was not what I had always envisioned.

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Have a Joyful Christmas

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

Thanksgiving and Christmas seems to be such a busy time.  I have often wished there were a few more weeks in between the two holidays.  I spend time planning the big Thanksgiving meal I prepare for my family and then Christmas seems to sneak up on me.  Unfortunately, I’m not one of those organized persons who starts preparing for Christmas before Thanksgiving even arrives.  I find myself in a rush to complete all the “things” that go with Christmas.  The decorating, the shopping, the cooking, the church events and family get-togethers all compete for time.

But while I was thinking about all of this, I began to think about those who have other more important issues to deal with.  There are some that are struggling with the loss of a loved one.  They are facing the holiday with sadness because it will not be the same for them with that special person gone.  There are those who are struggling with major illnesses and their time is spent receiving treatments, going to doctor visits or unable to get around at all.  There are some who have no family and will spend the holidays alone.

There are some who are financially unable to provide basic needs for their families, much less extravagant gifts.  Our church recently had an event called Clothing the Community.  The public was invited to come in and pick out free, gently used clothing.  There were people of all ages who were so appreciative of the items they were able to get.  Young families with small children were there and it was obvious they really had a need.

Why do we spend so much time on planning and worrying about the holidays instead of observing in our hearts what the holidays are really about?  Maybe I’m asking just myself this question, but with all of the emphasis on Black Friday (that now even starts right in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner time) and the commercialization of Christmas, I feel like I’m not the only one who struggles with a balance.

Consider Thanksgiving.  People will tell each other “Happy” Thanksgiving.  For some, the holiday is not happy.  People will say “Merry” Christmas.  It’s not always a merry time, either.  I am always so pleased when some cashiers or people you meet will say, “Have a blessed holiday.”  Those people seem to get it.  We are a blessed people.  It’s time we count our blessings instead of the presents under the tree.

I recently completed a group Bible study on the book of Philippians.  This book has often been referred to as the Joy book.  Paul wrote the letter while he was in prison.  Yet he stressed that his joy and contentment was in his relationship with Christ, not in his circumstances.

I can’t change society.  I can’t slow down the pace at which the holidays race by.  But I can, and I encourage everyone, to slow down our hearts and minds.  Whether we have plenty or are struggling, whether the holidays are happy and merry or not, we can have joy because of Christ.  And also think about this.  For some people, they may be happy and merry, but have no joy because they do not know Christ.  If you fit in this category, I hope that you will accept Christ as your Savior so that you can really experience the joy that He places deep down in your heart.  Joy that is present even in the midst of whatever struggle is being experienced.  Joy that goes beyond the “happy” and “merry” the world offers.

Out Of The Depths

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

Psalm 130 (NIV)

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

2 Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. 

 

Do you ever feel like you are as low as you can get?  Like you are in a pit with no way out?  I’ve heard some people say they would get right with God once they get some things straightened out in their life.  I think we sometimes feel like we have to clean ourselves up before we can come to God.  But the truth is that we can do nothing in our own strength to prepare ourselves to come before God.

David knew that he had to call on God from the “depths,” from the place where he found that he had fallen.  It’s not like we have to climb out of the pit to a certain point before we ask God to forgive us.  God already sees us where we are.  He already knows the condition we are in.  Even when we are feeling like we have messed up too much, if we will turn to God, He will lift us up.

In verse 3, David recognized that if God didn’t forgive sin, no one would ever be able to come to Him.  Even the person we may think is the most moral person we have ever met cannot stand before God without sin.  However, David went on to add verse 4.  God does forgive.  He cleanses us from every sin, no matter how bad we think we have messed up.

Then once we are forgiven, we should be like David said in verse 5.  Our “whole being” should be longing, desiring to be as close to God as possible.  After all, apart from God we are worthless.  But with God, with the blood of Christ covering all of our sins, we are as righteous before God as Christ.  So if we can go from worthless to royalty by receiving the wonderful gift of salvation, how can we not want to give all of ourselves to Him?  God’s love is unfailing and His forgiveness is complete.  All we have to do is say, “Out of the depths I cry to You, Lord.”

A Salute To Veterans

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our United States Veterans.  I appreciate the sacrifice and service that they have given and are still giving to our country.  I have to admit that since my daughter is a veteran, I now have a greater appreciation of anyone who has given themselves to the cause of protecting our country than I did before she joined the military.  I think when we personally know someone who has been or is still a part of the military, there is a better understanding of the sacrificial decision they made to join.  They took an oath to completely give themselves to our country and to obey the ones in authority over them.  I whole-heartedly admire and respect the men and women who are a part of that distinguished group of American citizens.

Here is a short article giving the history about this important day.

 “A Brief History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.” [1]

 

The word veteran can also be applied to someone who has had a length of time in experience in a certain occupation or was in some specific office or anything else for which they are known.  As I was thinking about the meaning of this word, I began thinking about how I would like to be thought of as a veteran for Christ.  If you read Hebrews chapter 11 (see below), you will find a list of Old Testament men and women who were used mightily by God.  Each time in this chapter when one of the individuals is mentioned, the verse starts with, “By faith..”

It is because of their faith that these people were recognized in this “hall of fame” listing.  They were not living in the time of Christ, yet they still lived their life in obedience to God without the aid of the Holy Spirit living within them as He does in believers today.  (See Hebrews 11:13 and 11:39 below)  I wonder how faithful we could be today without the aid of the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God giving us strength to remain steadfast?  Do we really, without any reservations, sign our lives over completely to Christ?  We often find it hard to be faithful even with the Holy Spirit and the Bible to guide us.

I want to have the kind of steadfast faith that those great saints of God possessed.  We are told in 2 Timothy that we can stand faithful by the grace of God.  We are to be soldiers of Christ.  We do that by not becoming too concerned about things of this world and by striving to please Him by obeying His Word.  Isn’t that like the ones who are a part of the military?  They give up living their lives for themselves and they do what they are told to do by those in command.

I want to make that oath to fully surrender to Christ. I want to be obedient to Him to the point of death.  And I hope someday that when I am “discharged” from this life, I can hear the Commander in Chief tell me, Happy Veterans Day.

 

 

[1] http://www.military.com/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day.html; accessed 11/11/14

 

Scripture References

 

Hebrews 11 (NKJV)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.  4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.  5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.  8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.  17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.  20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.  22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.  23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.  24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.  27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.  29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.  30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.  32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.  Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.  39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

 

2 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV)

2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Lights On, Lights Off

Published on by Joan Category: Devotions

The older I get the more I feel like technology is maybe taking over too many activities in our daily lives.  Some things, of course, are good; some others, maybe not so much.  I guess a lot of how much it’s appreciated depends on whether it is reliable or not.  I don’t trust the auto-correct on my phone’s texting feature.  It puts words in my message that I don’t intend to say.  I’ve learned to always re-read my message before I send it.

Other technological advances just simply take the fun out of doing things the old-fashioned way.  My Dad has always burned firewood.  It’s a lot of work to have to go out and cut down a tree, cut it up into pieces small enough to fit into the stove and haul it to the shelter.  Then someone has to keep the wood pile stocked, ready to put in the stove.  It’s a lot of work but worth it.  The fire burning in the stove always seems to me to feel warmer than other types of heating systems.  When the power goes out, the stove not only provides heat but can be used to cook on.  Now, people just push a button and flames magically start burning fake logs.  What fun is there in that? 

The office I work in recently moved to a new location.  One of the new and modern features is the motion sensors on all of the light switches.  You simply have to walk into a room and the light comes on.  Sounds good.  When it works.  Since it is a new system, a lot of the timers are not set right.  I was standing at my filing cabinet and since I was standing still as I was thumbing through some files, the light kept going off every few seconds.  I’d have to wave my arms to get the light to come on.  It would stay on a couple seconds and go off again.

There were some lights that would not go off at all unless you turn them off at the switch.  And there are some that won’t come on at all without touching the switch.  We figured out that on some we even had to turn the breakers in the electrical box off and back on to get them to work.  Everyone is still trying to work out all the bugs. 

When I am sitting at my desk working on the computer, the monitor is in between me and the sensor on the light switch.  The timer is now set on 20 minutes before it will go off, so if I sit there working for that long the light goes off.  I’ve decided that’s my cue to get up and move.  Best ergonomic office feature yet – a reminder to move.  If I don’t want to stop working at that moment, once again I have to wave my arms around to get the light to come back on.

I remember when I was small that my grandparents lived in a house that had a single light bulb in the middle of each room and to turn the light on you had to pull the chain coming down from it.  If it was dark when you entered the room you would just walk to where you thought the overhead light was and start waving your arm around until you finally felt the chain you needed to pull.  The motion sensitive lights in my office remind me of that.  I guess I just need to think of it as getting exercise when I have to wave my arms around.  It just feels silly having to do it.

When I get ready to leave for the day, I walk around and turn the lights off at the switch.  Yes, I know they will eventually turn themselves off, but I’m old-fashioned enough that I don’t like leaving lights on if there’s no reason for them to be on.  However, once you manually turn the lights off, if you re-enter that room before the timer has reset, the light doesn’t come on automatically anymore.  You have to turn it on at the switch.  I just don’t understand why someone wants to make something as simple as turning a light switch on and off so difficult.

Jesus said that we, as believers, are to be the light of the world.  We are to live our lives in such a way that it directs people toward Christ.  Sometimes I think we act like those high-tech lighting systems.  We “come on” when someone is around, but when we sense no one is looking at us any longer, we “turn off.”  We are not supposed to be on again, off again Christians.  We are supposed to be consistently shining our light, showing others the love of Christ.

Some Christians are like the lights in my office that are not working correctly.  They rely on others, a friend or preacher or music, to get them going or “turn” them on.  It’s like they are not connected properly to the Source of light.  We need to make sure our spiritual “breaker box” is in proper working order.  We need to keep our hearts in tune with God through communion with Him in prayer and Bible study.

Some are like the lights on the timers.  When something gets in between me and the sensor on the switch, the light goes off.  When we allow the things of the world to bog us down, to get in between us and our Lord, our light cannot be seen.  It takes us getting up and moving back toward God to once again to be able to shine for Him in this dark world.

The lights at my grandparent’s home are like the unbeliever.  When the Holy Spirit starts drawing them, they have to respond.  They need to go before God waving their arms in surrender and reaching toward Him.  Christ then puts His light in their hearts and they will “stay on.”

Then there are those who do consistently live a godly life, striving to allow God to always shine through all they do.  That’s what I want to be like.  I want to live so that the light always shines until God, at His appointed time, decides to “turn off” my light here on earth and allow me to live forever where there is no more darkness.  And no more light switches.

Matthew 5:16  (NKJV)

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Revelation 21:22-24  (NKJV)  (The Glory of the New Jerusalem)

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

I Think Of You Often

Published on by Joan Category: Poems

October 15 was Remembrance Day for Pregnancy and Infant Loss.  There are many who have lost babies due to miscarriage.  My daughter and her husband lost a child, and I lost a grandchild.  There is a void left in the parent’s life and in the lives of the whole family.  As a Christian, there is a source of comfort knowing the child that was lost in now back into the arms of their first and greatest Father, the Creator of their life.

 

I Think Of You Often

 

Everyday I wonder

Who you would be

A sweet little boy or precious baby girl

Who would you look like and what features you’d have

Maybe hair like mom and eyes like daddy

Would your smile show dimples in chubby little cheeks

Would curls crown the top of your head

Would your giggle be contagious

And your laugh fill the room

Would the sneaky little look

In your eyes shine through

Your small arms would perfectly wrap around my neck

And my heart would wrap around your finger

Yes I think of you often

And I miss each discovery you’d make

First smiles, first steps and first words to celebrate

Each day comes and goes and your face I imagine

I miss the warmth of you in my arms

It’s hard knowing these things I cannot have

But my baby you will always be

In God’s arms you’ll forever be safe and sound

You can see angels and ride on the wind

You can dance on top of the clouds

Your laughter I know can be heard

Ringing through the heavens

No sadness you have for the things you will miss

No tears you will ever shed

No pain you will feel or sickness fight

You are a child greatly blessed

Though sadness is felt down here below

Your presence is so greatly missed

But God, give us peace and let us know

This child was in your plan for us

We don’t understand, but help us to trust,

For I think of Your baby everyday

 

In Memory of Brighton Drew Carter, May 27, 2014

From your Bebaw – 10/17/2014

 

How Often You Bless Me

Published on by Joan Category: Poems

How often do You bless me

And I recognize it not

I take it all for granted

All the things I’ve got

You’ve given me everything

All my needs you’ve supplied

My family, my friends

And a place in which to abide

You’ve given me the strength

To live my daily life

To walk, talk and feel

My ears and eyesight

A voice to speak with others

To say what’s on my heart

I pray the words I say

Will to others Your love impart

But not only have You blessed me

With all the things I see

There’s unseen blessings also

That keeps me as I go

The harm that could befall me

The dangers all around

The storms that satan tries to send

With You I’m safe and sound

Even though there’re struggles

Through which I must go

You’re still blessing even then

Because You’re helping me grow

I love You, Lord with all my heart

My life is in Your hands

Help me stay close to You

Your will to understand

Give me wisdom from above

And spiritual eyes to see

And most of all, I thank You, Lord

For all Your blessings to me