GOD'S GLORY

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: 1 CHRONICLES 29:10-13

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."

GOD'S GLORY

One of our lessons this week, in a Beth Moore Bible Study, was 'Created for His Glory'. We learned that God's glory always has an impact. That God makes Himself known through His glory and that God's glory is part of who He is.

Next came a simple activity: Write your own definition of God's glory.

God's glory reaches from the stars to the bottom of the ocean. God's glory wakes us as the sun rises and tells us to rest when the sun sets. God's glory begins with each birth and continues into eternal life.

Personally, God's glory puts tears in my eyes when my Spirit sings and His glory washes my feet when I walk the beach. God's glory makes my heart leap when I see love in another's eyes.

God's glory gives me comfort when I pray and encourages me as I worship. God's glory renews me as I take communion. God's glory refreshes me when I feel a gentle breeze.

God's glory guides me when others ask me to pray for them. God's glory surrounds and upholds me.

Yes, God's glory does make an impact and is how he makes Himself known to us. God's glory - well, God's glory just IS.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Where do you see God's glory?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Glorious God, What wonders you have given me. I see Your glory in the mountains and in the sea and in the birds. I see Your glory in the trees and the flowers and in the dirt surrounding their roots. I see Your glory in my own life as I understand and accept that you created me. Glorious God, plant me in Your kingdom and surround me so I may grow like the trees and the flowers. Let the dirt around my roots be strengthened and watered be Your glory. .………………………………… Amen

DON'T TELL -- YEAH RIGHT

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 9:27-31

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

DON'T TELL -- YEAH RIGHT

Picture this: You are blind. You hear a man called Jesus can heal. You think, "Wonder if he would give me back my sight?" Would you sit around or would you try to find Jesus?

The two men did not just sit around. They found him and followed him. I bet they heard many stories as they followed. How Jesus had healed the sick woman and how Jesus went to the house of a ruler. A ruler who's daughter had just died. I am sure the two men heard that the daughter got up after taking the hand of Jesus.

The two men could not see, but they began to believe. They believed they could be healed. They called, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." They said, "Yes Lord." They had their sight restored. They were told not to tell.

Yeah right. Now what person, that could see again, would be able to keep quiet. I would think they would be shouting from the top of the temple. I would think they would be looking at everything, with a smile that would go from ear to ear. I would think they would be running to see the faces of their loved ones. Don't tell -- Yeah right.

Now picture this: You have never had faith or your faith has been lost to the demands of day-to-day living. Then, as a miracle happens, you receive your faith. You understand. You say, "Have mercy on me, Son of David." And Jesus asks you, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" And you answer, "Yes Lord."

Do you tell? Or do you keep the miracle to yourself?

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you always believed or do you remember when you saw for the first time? Do you tell others? Not everyone is comfortable talking about their faith. But there are other ways to tell people. Do you tell people by the way you act? By the words you speak? By the way you treat others? How do you help spread the good news?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Jesus, I want others to know about your miracles. The miracles of healing. Healing the body. And healing the soul. Making me complete. I know I am a work in progress, but let my life be an example to others. Let me spread the news about you all over my little corner of the world. ………………………………… Amen

THE LABYRINTH

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:

This is he (Jesus) who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " Matthew 3:3

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

THE LABYRINTH

I read an article on labyrinths and remembered the three times I have walked a labyrinth. It is different than walking a maze because, when you walk a maze, you do not know where you are going. When you walk a labyrinth, there is a set path.

Each time I followed the path and headed to the center, I felt as if I was reviewing my life. Following the path out of the center, I felt like I was looking forward and contemplated changes I would like to make. Each walk was an amazing experience and I wish there was a labyrinth close where I could travel the path often.

I said three times, but actually, it was three and a part because one time when a friend, Barbara, and I started to walk an outdoor labyrinth. We did not finish because Barbara started pulling the grass and weeds out of the path. Not to be outdone, I started pulling too.

Barbara passed away, almost a year ago, from ALS. (I wrote about this March 23, 2007.) Pulling those weeds to clear the path was typical for her. She wanted to help make the path easier for others to follow.

We are told to follow the straight path to the Lord. Good news -- Jesus is the light that will shine on your path. He wants to make the path easier for you. Follow the light of Jesus and you will be on the set path of a labyrinth instead of trying to find your way out of a maze.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? How did it make you feel? As you walk the path of life, can you feel the light of Jesus making your steps easier?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

I am walking toward you, Dear Jesus. Each step I take is easier because I am stepping in your light. As I pray and learn more about myself and my relationship with you, I find the weeds disappearing. The path becoming easier to see. Keep your light bright and when I find it difficult to keep my footsteps going forward, stay with me until I can continue. ………………………………… Amen

BUCKET LIST

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MARK 8:31

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

BUCKET LIST

We took the afternoon off and went to see Bucket List. What a movie! As the ads told us, it is about two men who have been given the news that they have only months to live and they make a list of the things they want to do before they die. We laughed and we cried.

Got me to thinking -- If I knew I had only a few months to live, what would I put on my list? To see Paris? To meet an important person? To walk on the beach? To clean house?

Paris? No. Meet an important person? No. The beach? I would want to walk the beach one more time. Clean house? Laugh at me, but I probably would start sorting all those boxes that never seem to do anything but sit in the basement and I would get rid of that dress that is too good to throw out but that I do not like to wear anymore. I would not want to leave things for others to sort.

Other than that -- I would want to spend the time I had left being with my husband. And children. And Grandchildren. I would want to enjoy the comfort that home gives. I would want to look at every picture I have so I could burn each one into my memory. I would want to sing louder in church and not care about the person in front of me having to endure my joy. I would want to celebrate the future and cherish each moment.

I am glad I do not know when my last day will be, but Jesus knew. What would be on his bucket list? Give physical and mental healing. Help the disciples understand so they would be able to establish His church. To clear the temple and make it a place His Father would be proud of. To pray in the garden. To die. To be risen.

Jesus' bucket list can be summed up in one idea: Fulfill the plan My Father has for me.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

What would be on your bucket list?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, You came to earth for one purpose - to fulfill the plan your Father had for you. Thank you for doing that. I pray that this is my goal also - to fulfill the plan my Father has for me. ………………………………… Amen

HOLEY OVERALLS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

(Jesus is speaking) "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Farther will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

HOLEY OVERALLS

A long time ago, when I was a fairly new bride, I washed Bill's bib-overalls and hung them up to dry. It was winter, so I hung them in the basement. When I put the last clothespin on, I thought, "What a good day's work you have done. The laundry is finished. Everything is put away, except for that one pair of overalls." Yes, there they hung. All clean and just waiting to dry. In the basement, where our new puppy slept.

The next day, I went down to get the overalls. I was sure they would be dry. OH NO. They were dry, but they were full of holes. And under the overalls sat the puppy.

I was really mad at that dog. "Look at this. Do you know how much a new pair will cost? Do you even care? Did you have fun chewing all those holes? Wait till Bill gets home and I show these to him."

Bill did get home and I did show him the overalls. It was then that Bill said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you that I got battery acid on those. The holes didn't show up until you washed the acid away."

The dog smiled.

Our lives are a lot like those overalls. Our sins do not show up until they are washed by Jesus. Then there are many holes. Empty places where sin used to be. BUT never fear. Unlike the overalls, which were no longer of any value, the Holy Spirit moves into all those holes in our lives. It just wiggles and wiggles, until it fills our entire body.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Is your body full of holes where Jesus has washed the sin away? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you up? Clear to the top and running over.

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, How can I ever thank you for washing me clean? For taking my sins upon yourself. Then to send the Holy Spirit to fill me. To fill the holes in my life. To teach me. To remind me of you. Thank you. ………………………………… Amen