Saturday, April 26, 2014

What God sees...in us...

 
Show me what it's like                                            
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be ~Nickelback~ 

I heard these words the other day, and they got me to thinking.  There are a lot of us in the world walking around beat up and broken down.  Just for once we want to be the "last one standing".  For so long we go day by day just barely hanging on to the cliff of life with all are might.  It is a struggle to climb back up and brush off the dust of despair. Yet if we look down into the abyss below us that doesn't look encouraging either.  We value our life enough to keep it and in the small part of our soul we knows that there is hope.    We cry out to someone/something begging for us to be taught wrong from right.  We know if only given the chance we could show people who we really truly are.  We could show people what we are made of and all the possibilities that we have.  The good news is that small hopeful part of our soul is right...there is someone not something, but someone who sees us for who and what we really are.  Ephesians 2:10 tells us...For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.  If we only realized that He looks over us with love.  He sees the potential that we have.  He is just waiting for us to turn to Him for He longs to show us His great love.  With Him there is no doubt or condemnation. There is only peace and comfort.  He truly desires to have us see ourselves as He see us...beautifully wonderfully made in His image!!  Think about that we are made in His images, not our own.  Meaning what we think of ourselves does not compare to what He thinks of us.  Next time when we are down and just not loving life. When we are just dragging ourselves over the coals for every single mistake made.  we need to realize this, we are God's masterpiece. 

 You build me up like a city of gold
The battles rage but I’m standing tall
You formed my heart like an empire
The wind and rain can’t stop this fire
If only I could see it from your perspective
The beauty and the grace of your architecture   ~Jonathan Thulin~
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RsozmX0B-I



When I look at this picture, I see all the wonderful colors in it.  To me it is a glimpse of how God sees us in color and not black in white.  Just as He created the colors of His promise in a rainbow, these colors show us His love.  Just my 2cents, Missie
 

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Happy Easter!!!




Happy Easter may you feel the blessing of the Cross and know He died so you may live.
 
 
 
 
 
Blessings Missie


Friday, April 18, 2014

Loss of a friend...



I  recently  lost a co-worker who I considered a friend...Greg was an amazing, smart, funny guy...not many people understood him, they did not understand his sense of humor.  Those of us who did will miss the laughter he would bring into the room with his off the wall comments.  These comments would come out of left field and yet at the same time were fitting.  I worked the swing shift with him and he would take the time and with much patience help me with my Math.  In his last days he was sickly, but never let us know how much pain he was in.  He was always kind and respectful to others.  He led a very private life but if you were his friend it seemed you would be his friend till the end.  His death was sudden and in his passing made me realize how much I did not know him.  This got me to thinking, I need to make an honest effort in being there for the people who God places in my life.  I am asking God to help me renew my efforts in being a friend or family member He has called me to be.  The legacy Greg left behind was one of laughter, friendship, and a willingness to believe the best in others.  Greg...I miss you and I am so thankful for the brief moment in time God placed you in my life.  Thank you for being who you were, I can learn a lot from you.  I pray now that you are sitting with Jesus and enjoying a pain free life.  Your friend Missie...

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Real Like Cheese??



I have often wondered when I read a product that the labels states, "made with real cheese".  I then think to myself why would anything be made with "fake" cheese.  Where am I going with this you? I am cheese is cheese right?   What does cheese have to do with life? So, I  decided to put this in real life relational perspective.  How real our we as Christians being?  Are we real like cheese, or does our label just say made with real cheese and we are not?

A lot of times we as Christians hide the realness of us...Meaning if we let people see the hurt, the anger, the disappoint that we feel we are not being Christ like.  We even have the belief system (not all of us, this is just a generalization.) that if we show what is really going on with us, we won't  win the lost for Christ.  We take this burden upon ourselves and try to present a cookie cutter life.  When in all reality we need to be real, open, and honest with everyone around us whether they know Jesus or not.  If you think about it that is exactly how He was, He never hid anything.   

I was talking to a co-worker a little about what this week's blog  post was going to be on.   The one thing she stated was, "what has turned me away from religion was the fakeness involved.  The people who where not willing to be real.  How could I have someone  help me get to know Christ better, if they themselves displayed a life that was perfect in all areas? I walked away with the feeling that I was unworthy of their God".  Her comments really got me thinking...then conviction set in...it is okay to be real and share our ups and downs.  I know that when we share our testimony to others we give the: I was broken and then God healed me talk, but then we stop sharing the trials we go through?  People need to see that we go through the same trials and temptations that they do.  That we like them are unworthy of the Cross.  It is okay to be frank and bold when we talk to people about what we are going through.  On some level it is healing for us to get it out and not keep it bottled up inside.  My challenge to you is to ask God to guide your conversations with the people who He places in your path.  He will let you know when to be bold, and when to be soft.  One more thing, in the area of prayer...just ask for it!  If you need someone to pray for you then ask. What you are asking for in prayer someone else might be needing prayer for the same thing.  Just my 2cents, Missie

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-4JSo93Bs

Monday, April 7, 2014

Can Christians date?



I have often wondered if as a Christian could I date?  I went to the place that I know I could find the truth, God's word.  What I found was not anything on the topic of dating, but rather how to have good relationship with people.  How to prepare yourself to be a husband or wife.  How to commit yourself and keep your eyes focused on God.  Also, guidelines on how to keep yourself pure. When my daughter's fiancĂ© asked me about dating her I told him, "keep God in it make Him the center of your relationship and to keep it pure".  In addition, when you are dating your potential  spouse keep the lines of communication open, don't put yourself in a position of compromise and have fun getting to know each other.  Where it gets tricky is if there is children from a previous relationship.  I would highly suggest that you keep the children out of it until you know for certain that it is moving to marriage.  If you are dating someone and the kids get involved then there is a break up it can do damage to the children.  Your kids are a gift from God and the time you have with them is precious.  Just keep that in mind when you are trying to start a relationship with someone.  The joy of feeling potentially loved by someone is glorious just ask God to help you keep it in perspective.  Just my 2cents...Missie

Here is a link that I found in research for this article that I found very helpful.

http://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/what-does-the-bible-have-to-say-about-dating.html