Quote - Vance Havner

If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.
— Vance Havner

Oswald Chambers

Paul, said, ". . . no one stood with me, but all forsook me. . . But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. . ." (2 Tim. 4:16-17). We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When "important" people go away we are sad, until we see they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do--to look into the face of God for ourselves (Chambers, April 22).

Works cited:
Chambers, Oswald; My Upmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today's Language. Grand Rapids: Discovery House Publications, 1992.

MY Schedule

What is your perfect day? Is the day scheduled and you know what you are doing at every given hour of every day or are you a free to roam as you see fit?

It has become that my days need to be scheduled according to what day it is. Some days we have things in the evening and if I get off kilter my day is shot. Tuesday and Wednesday are those two special days that must run like clock work. In hopes that the batteries are not running low to keep up with the pressing appointments.

Have you ever stopped to think that it's not you that runs your day? I have always known that but you fill your time with things you need to accomplish. If those things you schedule aren't accomplished how do you react? Sometimes it's the day to day things that show people how you live your life, for Christ or just act like you live for Christ.

I have had many instances in the recently that I could allow to ruin my day since I didn't get those things done or scratched off my list. Sometimes God brings the extra things into the day to make us more meaningful to others instead of what we want to accomplish. It's the other people in the world that matter not what you want for the day.

I think of Jesus as He was going from place to place as He traveled. When someone came to Him and asked for help did He say no it's not on my list of priorities for the day? No, he went or helped no matter what it was. Sometimes it's an ear and sometimes it's a "will you do", but all the time, it's we need to keep an eye open for the ones that God brings across our path to show them the love of Christ.

Remember we are to follow in His foot steps.

God bless...

Quote of Francis Frangipane

"Jesus lived for God alone; God was enough for Him. Thus, even in its simplicity and moment-to-moment faithfulness, Christ's life was an unending fragrance, a perfect offering of incomparable love to God."
— Francis Frangipane

Shouldn't God be "enough" for us? The example in Christ should be all that matters to us, being obedient to our Father in all things He asks of us. As we die to self we apply Christ to our lives and follow in the footsteps of our Savior, following Him as he leads us to sup with our Father in Heaven. Let's be the "perfect offering" to God.

God bless...

Quote from Richard P. McBrien

"Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love."
— Richard P. McBrien

Blessings From Above

Have you ever been delayed in leaving to get somewhere and it seems the list of things continue to pop up that need your attention? What about this, the phone rings as you are walking out the door; do you answer it or leave the machine to get the message for you?

That is the way it has been today. I needed to go to a friend’s house to help her do some things. At first, I thought I would only be a little behind and that would be okay. After the phone call telling her I would be delayed I remembered I needed to make an order online so I quickly placed the order and thought I am just a few more minutes later than before.

I was getting my keys and asking if Austin, my son, was ready to hit the door when the phone rang. Do I answer or just run out the door? I checked the caller and I answered the call. Now more than 45 minutes late, I decide it is time to get on the road. I get Austin out the door, fight the cat as he is trying with all his might to get inside the house and finally the door closes locked behind me and we scramble down the steps trying not to trip over the cat at this point and into the van we go.

Start the vehicle and back up, thinking something does not feel right. We hop out of the van and I begin looking at the tires, three good one to go... totally flat! I had to make some calls and tell people I was not going to make the schedule I was already late for. They in turn had to make some calls to let others know they could not make their commitments.

I was going to change the tire and run on with the schedule but my husband said, "No just stay where you are and I'll be home to do it later." I know I can and have changed a tire but there is something more to the story, the delay.

I will most likely never know why I have been kept from continuing my schedule for the afternoon and that is all right with me. I am just glad I listened instead of doing it my way. Sometimes we have to be thrown totally off before we stop what it is we are doing.

There was a time in my life I would be so flaming mad I could not see straight but as I welcome the Lord to adjust my life I also welcome Him to adjust my schedule. God is good and He watches over us.

Quote - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

When you find success, you find sacrifice.
— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Why did Jesus fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His
resurrection? I never noticed this....

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which
was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave
clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was
neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary
Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away
from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the
one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the
tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The
other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in
and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed
the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus'
head was folded up and lying to the side.

Is that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded
napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that
day.

The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every
Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he
made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was
furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait just out of sight,
until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch
that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the
table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up
that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear
the table.

For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his
napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the
table, because...........

The folded napkin meant,'I'm coming back!'

Praise the LORD, He is Coming Back!

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.

8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.

11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea [a] asunder
His love endures forever.

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

17 who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.

19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.

21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

22 an inheritance to his servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

23 to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

24 and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

25 and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Quote - Lewis B. Smedes

You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well.
— Lewis B. Smedes

Covenant Prayer of John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you,
Exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
- John Wesley

Quote - Charles Wesley

I want a principle within
Of watchful, godly fear,
A sensibility of sin,
A pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel
Of pride or wrong desire,
To catch the wandering of my will,
And quench the kindling fire.
— Charles Wesley