Friday, October 25, 2013

The Fields are White Unto Harvest

So Jesus sends His disciples out to the mission field. Luke 10:2 tells us that ‘He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’

After being out of town last week, we drove down the country road coming to our home late Sunday night.  The truck lights sat high and spread out across the road and that is when we noticed it!  The cotton had opened up and it was as white snow along our path!  Oh, it is good to be home!

But then, the thought came to me....the light shining on the fields....it is like God showing us the fields are white unto harvest.  In reality it is like the love of Christ shining out to the ones that need to know Him, they are ready to receive Him!

In just a few days, Nov 7, 2013, it will be Billy Graham's 95th birthday.  He has had the burden of our country on his heart for several years now.  He will be preaching 'My Hope' across our nation for his birthday, sharing the gift of Christ's salvation.  He will be giving our country the hope and a chance to turn back to God.  People have been working and praying on this event for sometime now....and the time has arrived.

If you already know Christ as your Lord and Savior, we ask you to pray.  Pray for individual people you know, invite them into your home to watch this 30 minute television show.  Pray for a new awakening in the heart of our nation.  Pray that the Spirit of God will once again 'hoover' over America.
If you do not know Christ, you do not have to wait until Nov 7 to pray and ask forgiveness and ask Him to come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior.  Do that now before it is too late.

Look around your neighborhood, your workplace, your family...pray for them to believe in the one true God.  The fields are white, people are searching...help them find their way to Him.

Blessings,
gs

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Proverbs 31 ...Seriously?

Proverbs 31 Woman... Seriously?    


Show of hands... who's ever read the Proverbs 31 description of a virtuous woman and thought, "I can never live up to that"? I had to stop typing for a moment... because I raised both of my hands!
Some of you men would hopefully hold her hands down!! :)

Let's take a quick look at the woman in verses 10-31. By the way, my comments are identified by red italics.

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
(So far, so good. I can be trustworthy and not evil and we know we  can do this!)
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
(Um... I can buy yarn. And I can do stuff with my hands. But I'm not sure the two go together)
She is like the merchant ships,
(I do like ships, cruise ships especially!)
She brings her food from afar.
(All the way from the super market but prefer carry out)
She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household,
(Nope... that never happens in my house, well, unless grandchildren are visiting)
And a portion for her maidservants.
(Hold it right there... this woman has a maid! And not just one. She has maidservants... plural. This explains a lot)
She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
(Yes, she buys, plants and invests..well I do pay the bills)
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
(See, even in Bible times women were concerned about exercise and keeping up their bodies. Some things are eternal awg! do I really have to do this?)
She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
(yep, I paid the electric bill too)
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
(She is like an octopus!)
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
(That way, she can find them if they wander out in the snow)
She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
(This may be how the Red Hats started)
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
(Men still do this today. Super Bowl Sunday comes to mind or the liars table at Jacks every morning!)
She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
(Back to sewing again... I can sew on buttons. That's about it)
I admit, I've had some fun with the Proverbs 31 woman. But seriously, everything about her is admirable. And while most of us won't live out the specifics of this virtuous woman (there are no maidservants or vineyards in my future) the spirit of the woman is what's important. Let's finish off the chapter, and you'll see what I mean.
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
“ Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
It's really all summed up in this phrase: "But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." When we fear the Lord, when we seek Him and His will for our lives, we are headed in the right direction. Yes, we will still make mistakes. But when our hearts are set toward God, He will carry us through and make us the virtuous women He intended us to be.


I just felt this needed to be said this week.  Sometimes, we need to share what we as women need to strive for..and for you men, you need to be supportive to them.  Lift each other up in prayers, encouraging each other, for it is only in Him we can be better than we are. 

Amen and God bless you!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

The "Comma"






The "Comma"



Several years ago, I was reading John 10:10 and it bounced right off the page at me!  It hit me as never before...it was like I was reading it for the first time in my life!  Sure I had heard it said and even preached before:

" The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly,"

but had never really grasped what it meant.

Satan will steal, kill and destroy all the joy, peace and hope you have within you.  But Jesus came that they may have life......eternal life.  That is what He promised, so that those of us who are born again believers will have the joy, peace and hope that only He can give.   

But, He did not stop there...he put a comma in and then He said.. that they may have it (life) abundantly!!! That is what I am talking about!!! The part after we have accepted Him as our Savior, we are to make Him Lord..so He give us the ABUNDANT life!! 

Some Christians are satisfied, accepting Him as their Savior and having the security of heaven, but then they settle down in that hammock of life, the comma, and miss the abundant life here on earth!!

Now, I will admit, things happen in our lives....like having a motorcycle wreck, that put us in the hammock, but that is only short term...and even then, the hammock is swinging...being pushed by the love, prayers and encouragement of our friends and loved ones.  

My husband and I have discussed this many times before, that if there was no promise of eternal life or heaven, having the abundant life that He gives us and knowing Jesus is walking with us everyday, would be worth knowing Him.  I truly don't know how anyone can get through the heartaches this world throws at them, without Jesus.  Satan does seek to kill, steal, and destroy, but once you get to the hammock, it is like being in the arms of Jesus.  He folds up around you and holds your whole body, cradling you, being supported by the 'Tree of Life'.  He loves us so much, He wants even more for us, beyond the hammock...as good as it is...it gets better.  For He walks down every path we trod on this earth.

Where are you in your life with Him?  Do you know for sure you have the promise heaven?  Are you stuck before the comma?  Are you swinging in the comma of life, not reaching beyond to the abundant?  Look around you.....He is waiting to surround you, to give you His love, more than you can possibly comprehend.  

Hugging you all in my heart, 
gs