In Sunshine or in Rain

Trust is essential if a relationship is to be healthy and happy. Where there is no trust, there is also no growth. We know how true this is for human relationships, but sometimes it is easy to forget how applicable this is to our relationship with Jesus.  Do we truly trust Him, or do we merely profess to? Actions speak louder than words. It is one thing to claim to trust somebody, and quite another thing to show that we trust them. Too often we want to control the outcomes. I know for myself that I sometimes fail to trust Jesus 100%, While I may claim to rely fully on Him, my actions often belie my words. I want Jesus to lead, and yet so often I am afraid to let go because things may turn out other than expected. Oh how sad! Jesus has never let us down. There is no safer place for our hopes and aspirations than in His strong hand. Though He may lead us in paths we never imagined, we would not choose to be led otherwise if we could see the end from the beginning.  " Many w...

When I heard about the  disastrous earthquake that struck Nepal, and when I saw the suffering and turmoil these people are going through, it truly broke my heart.  What breaks my heart even more however is the fact that so often we are so satisfied with the things of this world. What does this world have to offer? Fleeting joys, empty pleasure, and a lot of heartache? Is that truly worth living and striving for? Oh how I long for my heavenly home. This world holds no attraction for me. I realize however, that while I am to keep my eyes focused on heaven, my heart needs to go out to the people around me. We are called to be Jesus' disciples, and this does not mean idly waiting for the Lord's return, but rather actively reaching a world in spiritual darkness. We have a hope to share, a light to bear, and a testimony to proclaim. The following poem expresses my heart cry. It is simple, unedited, but it comes from my heart. Oh how I long for heaven, How I long to se...

The closer we come to Jesus, the more we want to please Him. Does this mean that we will never make mistakes? Unfortunately not. It does mean however that we will listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and ever seek to please our Master. Yesterday I went shopping with a friend, and I bought two really cute dresses. Today however when I put one on, I just did not feel comfortable. It was a little too short, and just made me feel kinda uneasy. Many people would probably shake their heads and call me a little strange, but I firmly believe that it is important to follow our convictions.(Spirit led of course) This is merely an example. The point of this post is not to discuss modesty, but rather to point out that Jesus needs to be our Guide in all areas of the Christian walk. "Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest...

 " God has given us talents to use for Him. To one He gives five talents, to another two, and to another one. Let not him who has but one talent think to hide it from God. The Lord knows where it is hidden. He knows that it is doing nothing for Him. When the Lord comes, He will ask His servants, What have you done with the talents I entrusted to you? And as he who received five and he who received two tell Him that by trading they have doubled their talents, He will say to them, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. . . . Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Thus He will say also to him who has improved the one talent lent him..." My Life Today pg 118 Last night while laying in bed I was thinking about this quote, when all of a sudden a new perspective popped into my head. I love new perspectives, so I hope you don' t mind me sharing this with you. :) So often I am...

"The effort to earn salvation by one's own works inevitably leads men to pile up human exactions as a barrier against sin. For, seeing that they fail to keep the law, they will devise rules and regulations of their own to force themselves to obey. All this turns the mind away from God to self. His love dies out of the heart, and with it perishes love for his fellow men. A system of human invention, with its multitudinous exactions, will lead its advocates to judge all who come short of the prescribed human standard. The atmosphere of selfish and narrow criticism stifles the noble and generous emotions, and causes men to become self-centered judges and petty spies." -Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing pg 123 Oh how this quote struck home! It is easy to come up with 101 ways on how to resist temptation while completely forgetting that without the saving power of Jesus, I can never live a holy life. It is easy to think that as long as I use my power of choice wisely, an...

"Our influence upon others depends not so much upon what we say as upon what we are. Men may combat and defy our logic, they may resist our appeals; but a life of disinterested love is an argument they cannot gainsay. " DA 142 When I read this quote this morning I was struck by its beauty and challenge. Oh how easy it is to forget that our lives are the greatest testimony to the power of our Redeemer. I wan't to share this poem that I wrote a little while back: Just a little act of kindness, Just a smile or a kind word; Being willing to serve others Is a sermon that is heard. Instead of merely preaching, May we live it out instead, Because we preach the strongest sermons, When not a single word is said. Just a little act of kindness Can turn someone’s life around, Sometimes it only takes a smile, To cheer up someone who is down. If we live our lives for others, Our lives are not in vain. May we step into the darkness, May we comfort th...

We speak openly and freely against weapons of mass destruction, but I think we often forget that every single one of us possesses a weapon so powerful that it can cause eternal damage. I would like to argue that the human tongue is the most powerful weapon on the face of this earth. Just one little word spoken in haste, can ignite a wildfire that will destroy everything in its path. One little gossip that we share without second thought, can result in a harvest of most bitter fruit. The tongue is especially powerful because it can both enoble and debase. We can lift people up with our words, or we can tear them down. Our words can draw people closer to Jesus, or they can drive them away from Him. James 1;26 says : " Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless." The bible is very clear that our religion is worthless if we do not bridle our tongues. This is no light matt...

If passing through the flames will purify me, then why should I grumble and groan? If breaking me will make me stronger in the end, then why should I resist? If taking away things that seem so dear to me will make me lean more on Jesus, then why should I mourn my loss? If persecution will make me more firmly rooted, why should I not rejoice? Paul and Silas sang in prison, and Daniel trusted God even in the lion's den. The martyrs sang hymns while burning at the stake. These faithful servants were willing to endure anything for their Master, and they had praises on their lips even when their outlook seemed bleak. Oh that I may have this kind of faith and love for Jesus. Oh that I may count all as loss except the cross of Jesus. Now please don't think after reading this that I am going through rough times because that is definitely not the case. :) I just think about these things, and search my heart as to my attitude towards trials and suffering. I want my peace to be...