Blessings in Disguise

Everyone has heard the saying, I can complain because roses have thorns, or I can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
I want to talk about the blessings in disguise. Yes, God can hide blessings in the most unexpected places, like illness for example.
I have always been a very healthy person, other than the 2 x a yr I get bronchitis, but lately I have been so ill from antibiotic colitis, I have wondered if I would ever recover. It is in those times, when God gets you still, He can teach you.
Scripture text is Mark 6:47-54
47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. 53And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

The first thing in this story, they find themselves in the middle of a storm, and Jesus see's them struggling. (vs48) He always does; nothing escapes the Master's watchful eye. And even though Jesus is right there in the middle of the storm with them, they don't recognize him, their eye's were on the storm. That is usually the way it is, we are focused on what is bothering us. When Jesus showed up on the scene the storm ceased.(vs 50,51)They still don't recognize Him, they were amazed at what they were seeing. Immediately in verse 52 it talks about them forgetting about the past miracle of the loaves, their heart was hardened. Does that sound familiar? God works so many things out for us, but as soon as the next storm approaches all of that is forgotten. When they returned to shore(safe ground) they recognized Him. Hmmm, sounds something like being sick, while you are sick you are focused on the illness, when it is all over and you are on "safe ground" you look back and see Jesus everywhere, He was right there all the time through the struggle. Praise God! I am so thankful for Jesus, for His mercy and His grace. No matter how many things I go through, and how I act through them, He is still there, through it all, patiently waiting for me to recognize him. Can sickness be a blessing in disguise? I think it can.

Out of the mouth of babes...

A small boy lived by the ocean. He loved all the creatures of the sea, especially the starfish, and spent much of his time exploring the seashores. One day he learned that there would be a minus tide that would leave the starfish stranded on the sand. The day of the tide he went down to the beach and began picking up the stranded starfish and started tossing them back in the sea. An elderly man who lived next door came to down to the beach to see what he was doing. "I’m saving the starfish." The boy proudly declared. When the neighbor saw all of the stranded starfish he shook his head and said, "I’m sorry to disappoint you young man, but if you look down the beach one way, there are stranded starfish as far as the eye can see. And if you look the other way, it’s the same. One boy like you isn’t going to make much of a difference." The boy thought about this for a moment. Then he reached his small hand down to the sand, picked up a starfish, tossed it back into the ocean and said, "I sure made a difference for that one"
-Unknown

Kids Who Are Different...

Here's to the kids who are different,
the kids who don't always get A's.
The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,
and noses that go on for days...
Here's to the kids who are different,
the kids they call crazy or dumb.
The kids who don't fit,
with the guts and the grit,
who dance to a different drum...
Here's to the kids who are different,
the kids with the mischievous streak,
for when they are grown,
as history has shown,
it's their difference that makes them unique.


Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 19:14

Prayer Guide for the Election

Prayer Guide for the Election - Begin with Heart Preparation: Come into God's Presence with Worship. Thank God for his great mercy and many blessings. Ask God to extend his mercy to us and to our nation.
Pray for the upcoming election
1. Those running for office nationally: Instead of praying for specific candidates or political parties Pray that the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, would be selected in every congressional district, every senate race and for the office of President.
Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)
2. Those running for office at the state and local level: Pray that the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, would be selected in every elected office at the state and local levels. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)
3. Those voting: Pray that each person voting will be convicted to vote for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, in each elected office and in each ballot initiative. Pray for God's Presence to overshadow each person as they make their decision.
The Spirit of the Lord will be upon him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears. (Isaiah 11:2-3)
4. Those involved in the election process: Pray that every official involved in the election process would serve with honesty and integrity of heart. The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. (Proverbs 11:1)
5. Those praying: Pray that God would empower intercessors and people across the nation and around the world to call out to Him day and night in extraordinary prayer during this season. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a Spirit of grace and supplication. (Zechariah 12:10)
6. The Church: Pray that the Church would be fully awakened, engaged and empowered during this critical season. Pray that we would understand the urgency and importance of this election and the implications for the advancement of God's purposes in our nation and around the world. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:7)
7. Our nation: Pray that God's plans and purposes for our nation would be established during this election season. Pray that we would be a nation who follows God and is a blessing to the nations of the earth. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Reasons Not to Wash...

If you took the same excuses that people use for not going to church and apply them to other important areas of life you'd realize how inconsistent we can be in our logic.
For example:
1. I was forced to as a child.
2. People who make soap are only after your money.
3. I wash on special occasions like Christmas and Easter.
4. People who wash are hypocrites-they think they are cleaner than everyone else.
5. There are so many different kinds of soap, I can't decide which one is best.
6. I used to wash, but it got boring, so I stopped.
7. None of my friends wash.
8. The bathroom is never warm enough in the winter or cool enough in the summer.
9. I'll start washing when I get older and dirtier.
10. I can't spare the time.

The Greatness of America

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and ample rivers, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and vast world commerce, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there.
I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution, and it was not there.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.

Alexis De Tocqueville (19th century French writer and statesman)

Why did Jesus fold the napkin?

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN? Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? 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 out ran 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 was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers and mouth with that napkin and toss it on to 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 knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back."