My best friend and I were coming home from shopping today and we managed to miss our exit more than once. At first I didn't think anything of it, but than when we managed to make it we got to see a BEAUTIFUL rainbow. I though, OH! When it had started raining I asked God to show us a rainbow, not in all those words, but He gave me the desire of my heart. I love rainbows because they are a sign to us that God keeps His promises to us.
This same friend got me a book called TRUTH. I believe it was developed by Bordon Books. I wanted to share one of the TRUTH(s) from the book. The World says : Promises are made to be broken.
God says : "I will never break my promise to you."
"But, Dad, you promised." The dejected son looks mournfully to the ground. "You said you'd watch my game today." The father hems and haws and explains away why he cannot honor his word to his son. The father goes off to do his own thing and the son grows up thinking that promises are meant to be broken.
Who hasn't been on the stinging end of a broken promise? It stinks! It hurts! And trust is compromised. Family memebers, coworkers, friends, and enemies all break promises. All relationships suffer when promises are broken.
All relationships suffer when promises are broken.
Consider God. Long ago He created a beautiful promise: the rainbow. This promise hasn't been broken for thousands of years. God established these great arches of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet as a physical reminder of the strength of His Word. For thousands of years, God has never destroyed the earth with a flood again. This beautiful promise happens frequently and regularly all around the world. With the rainbow, God says, "I'm not only true, I'm trustworthy. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say."
In the Bible, God calls promises covenants--binding contracts between HIm and His people. They are a record and pronouncement of His faithfulness to humanity. God issued numerous covenants to humanity throughout Bible times, and His final covenant of forgiveness of sins through Christ remains in effect today.
Another time God says, "I will never break My covenant with you." (Judges 2:1). Psalm 108:5 says, "He remembers His covenant forever." If God fulfulls a promise or covenant given thousands of years ago, will He not fulfill His promises today? Look closer. Can you see the signs of the promise of His love?
I love me some Jesus because He keeps His promises!
Take Care,
Pops
"Come, see a Man who told me all the things that I ever did."
Just a way to share with others some of what Jesus has shared with me. :)
Hey
Today is another day. Seems like forever since I signed into this blog.
What to talk about?
Oh I know, I know...
Israel Grace was born the Friday before last. She is such a doll, it is so good having a new niece. I am LOVING IT! Yessum.
And in more news, my little brother is going to be a Husband and a Daddy by May of next year. Not sure what to think about that, but I think the whole situation will grow on me.
We have a new worship leader at the church. And I am loving her, she is so anointed. And her and her husband both have GREAT plans for the church. Yay! And for the younger adults of the church...
Well, sorry for being so random. Just thought I would share a bit.
Take Care,
Pops
What to talk about?
Oh I know, I know...
Israel Grace was born the Friday before last. She is such a doll, it is so good having a new niece. I am LOVING IT! Yessum.
And in more news, my little brother is going to be a Husband and a Daddy by May of next year. Not sure what to think about that, but I think the whole situation will grow on me.
We have a new worship leader at the church. And I am loving her, she is so anointed. And her and her husband both have GREAT plans for the church. Yay! And for the younger adults of the church...
Well, sorry for being so random. Just thought I would share a bit.
Take Care,
Pops
Ahhh frustrated!!!!
Just wish You were there for me the way that I need You to be. Just wish I could find You the same way I find anyone else. Just wish I could come under Your warm embrace and be alright at any time. Just wish I could see You the way that You see me. It seems like You get the easier side of the relationship. It seems that Your side is too easy. I can hurt and hurt and hurt. Do you pay it mind? Um, sometimes it doesn't seem like it feels so, but You don't hurt anymore. You said You would always be there. You said You would always hear. Where are You hiding and why are You hiding? Is this some type of joke. Am I the only one not getting it. Is this like the Truman show. Everyone watches my life and gets some sick humor out of my failure and my disappointment? Just don't know what to do or to say. You knew that I was moving down here and You knew all of this, and so why didn't You stop it. Why didn't You make it healthy. What is up? Where are You and why not show up?
i hate flesh
i hate flesh
Change has been on my mind for the last few days. What's awesome is that I went in to listen to one of my Pastor's previous sermons and I selected the one entitled "Conform." I don't really know what I was expecting it to be about, but I know that I wasn't expecting it to be about change. Must of been a God-thing. I LOVE God-moments!
I think the first reason it has been on my mind is all the religious propaganda that I see here in North Carolina. At least half of the bumpers in my county alone have to have some sort of Jesus propaganda on them. There is nothing wrong with most of this propaganda, but it makes me wonder how many people with this type of propaganda are actually living their lives for Jesus Christ. It reminds me of this Steven Curtis Chapman song...
Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff's all well and good, yeah
I cannot help but ask myself ...
What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing the change, yeah
I'm undergoing the change
Well I've got this way of thinking that comes so naturally
Where I believe the whole world is revolving around me
And I got this way of living that I have to die to every single day
'Cause if God's Spirit lives inside of me, yeah
I'm gonna live life differently
I'm gonna have the change
I'm gonna have the difference
I'm gonna have the grace
I'm gonna have forgiveness
I'm gonna live a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change
What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
I want to live a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change
What about the change? Romans 8:29 says this:
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethern."
Conform in the Hebrew Greek means to joinly form or to be fashioned like unto. God wants to be joined together with Jesus Christ. You know how if you spend ample amounts of time around certain people you begin to "look" like them. That is what needs to happen with us and Jesus. We need to assume the qualities and the characteristics of Christ. I know that sometimes that is difficult, but He has given us a Helper. The Spirit is our Helper.
Romans 6:26-27:
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that can not be uttered. Now He who searches the heart knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the Will of God."
Our flesh is naturally weak, but the Spirit helps us deal with the weaknesses of the flesh. The Spirit personally makes intercession for us. He makes intercession with things that we don't know about. He KNOWS us!
As read previously. It is the Will of God that we transform into the image of His Son. That we become like Jesus. This change and this conforming happens through the renewing of our minds.
Romans 12:2 says this, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The Will of God being that we be transformed into the image of Jesus.
I believe we need to actively renew our minds with the Word of God. We need to be open to what the Holy Spirit has to teach because without His help their will be no conformation. When we came to Jesus Christ He began making ALL things new, but MAKING is the key. It is a process. Transformation to the image of Jesus Christ is a process. If we read the Word and we spend time with Jesus Christ and listen to His Spirit inside of us we will become more and more like Him.
This is good news. To me anyways. There are things in my life that I know need changed. I'm learning these last few days and few weeks about how when I get closer to Him. As John 3:30 says, when He increases and I decrease...that that is where changes happens, that that is where opportunity opens for growth, that that is where healing happens, and that that is when I begin to look more like Jesus.
Sorry if this is somewhat confusing. Sometimes I have a difficult time getting my thoughts organized...
Take Care,
Pops
I think the first reason it has been on my mind is all the religious propaganda that I see here in North Carolina. At least half of the bumpers in my county alone have to have some sort of Jesus propaganda on them. There is nothing wrong with most of this propaganda, but it makes me wonder how many people with this type of propaganda are actually living their lives for Jesus Christ. It reminds me of this Steven Curtis Chapman song...
Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe
I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain
And almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door
And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker
And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff's all well and good, yeah
I cannot help but ask myself ...
What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing the change, yeah
I'm undergoing the change
Well I've got this way of thinking that comes so naturally
Where I believe the whole world is revolving around me
And I got this way of living that I have to die to every single day
'Cause if God's Spirit lives inside of me, yeah
I'm gonna live life differently
I'm gonna have the change
I'm gonna have the difference
I'm gonna have the grace
I'm gonna have forgiveness
I'm gonna live a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change
What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
I want to live a life that's showing
I'm undergoing the change
What about the change? Romans 8:29 says this:
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethern."
Conform in the Hebrew Greek means to joinly form or to be fashioned like unto. God wants to be joined together with Jesus Christ. You know how if you spend ample amounts of time around certain people you begin to "look" like them. That is what needs to happen with us and Jesus. We need to assume the qualities and the characteristics of Christ. I know that sometimes that is difficult, but He has given us a Helper. The Spirit is our Helper.
Romans 6:26-27:
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that can not be uttered. Now He who searches the heart knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the Will of God."
Our flesh is naturally weak, but the Spirit helps us deal with the weaknesses of the flesh. The Spirit personally makes intercession for us. He makes intercession with things that we don't know about. He KNOWS us!
As read previously. It is the Will of God that we transform into the image of His Son. That we become like Jesus. This change and this conforming happens through the renewing of our minds.
Romans 12:2 says this, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." The Will of God being that we be transformed into the image of Jesus.
I believe we need to actively renew our minds with the Word of God. We need to be open to what the Holy Spirit has to teach because without His help their will be no conformation. When we came to Jesus Christ He began making ALL things new, but MAKING is the key. It is a process. Transformation to the image of Jesus Christ is a process. If we read the Word and we spend time with Jesus Christ and listen to His Spirit inside of us we will become more and more like Him.
This is good news. To me anyways. There are things in my life that I know need changed. I'm learning these last few days and few weeks about how when I get closer to Him. As John 3:30 says, when He increases and I decrease...that that is where changes happens, that that is where opportunity opens for growth, that that is where healing happens, and that that is when I begin to look more like Jesus.
Sorry if this is somewhat confusing. Sometimes I have a difficult time getting my thoughts organized...
Take Care,
Pops
Who Am I?
I listened to one of my Pastor's previous sermons this morning. It was entitled, "Who Am I?" One of the most compelling things that he said was, "the only way to find out who you are is to go to the One who knows who you are." He's pretty smart huh!
When I attended Mansfield University I had a friend named Lori. One day while we were in Cru(Campus Crusaders for Christ) she was talking about the way her life was before she came to know Jesus. She was sharing with the rest of us girls that she would fall short, but that she wouldn't know what to do it about it. She had all of these problems, but no solution to any of them. Most times she didn't know how to deal with her thoughts and it bothered her that she had no answers. She further explained that when she came to Jesus she had a Life-Changer on her side.
You shall know the truth and the truth shall MAKE you free! ~ John 8:32
Just like Jesus told and I am sure continues to tell Lori the truth about who she is--He tells me the truth about who I am. Sometimes I don't listen, but He does.
I was thinking about it today and there are some truths that I know for sure about myself. I've realized that those truths that I am sure of have been revealed by Him.
I am sure that I am a sinner. "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." ~ Romans 3:23. I only know that to be true because it has been revealed to me. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." ~ John 6:44
I know that I am saved. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." ~ Romans 10:10. I know where I will spend eternity. "In My Father's house there are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you...that where I am there may you be also." ~ John 14: 2-3.
When I was drafting this blog I learned more about the subject than I thought I would learn. This last week the Pastor gave a sermon on "fire." He said that we should talk to the Gift inside of us. At the time I wasn't too sure of how to go about doing that, but now I think that I understand better. You see while I was drafting the One who lives in me started talking to me. At first I didn't want to hear it because I was upset over a matter, but I heard none-the-less. He showed me that this was about time. About me spending time with Him.
"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For His Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 2:10
As I spend time with Him He will teach me more about who I am. My knowledge will begin to go from a HEAD knowledge to a HEART knowledge. There are many things that He says about me that I know are true in my head, but have yet to become true in my heart. One example would be that by His stripes I was healed.
I know that I am lost without Him. Lost in more senses than just one. Lost with no hope of life, but also lost with no direction, no release, no freedom....NO HOPE! Stuck...
I've decided that if it takes time spent with Him to discover who I am; I have the time!
He is the only One who sees many of my hurts. He is aware of all the issues that plague my heart. I will trust Him to show me the truth about myself and teach me what it means for Him to be my "Heart Healer."
Because really, "Who Am I?"
Who am I
that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I
that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Casting Crowns
Take Care,
Pops
When I attended Mansfield University I had a friend named Lori. One day while we were in Cru(Campus Crusaders for Christ) she was talking about the way her life was before she came to know Jesus. She was sharing with the rest of us girls that she would fall short, but that she wouldn't know what to do it about it. She had all of these problems, but no solution to any of them. Most times she didn't know how to deal with her thoughts and it bothered her that she had no answers. She further explained that when she came to Jesus she had a Life-Changer on her side.
You shall know the truth and the truth shall MAKE you free! ~ John 8:32
Just like Jesus told and I am sure continues to tell Lori the truth about who she is--He tells me the truth about who I am. Sometimes I don't listen, but He does.
I was thinking about it today and there are some truths that I know for sure about myself. I've realized that those truths that I am sure of have been revealed by Him.
I am sure that I am a sinner. "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." ~ Romans 3:23. I only know that to be true because it has been revealed to me. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." ~ John 6:44
I know that I am saved. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." ~ Romans 10:10. I know where I will spend eternity. "In My Father's house there are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you...that where I am there may you be also." ~ John 14: 2-3.
When I was drafting this blog I learned more about the subject than I thought I would learn. This last week the Pastor gave a sermon on "fire." He said that we should talk to the Gift inside of us. At the time I wasn't too sure of how to go about doing that, but now I think that I understand better. You see while I was drafting the One who lives in me started talking to me. At first I didn't want to hear it because I was upset over a matter, but I heard none-the-less. He showed me that this was about time. About me spending time with Him.
"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For His Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 2:10
As I spend time with Him He will teach me more about who I am. My knowledge will begin to go from a HEAD knowledge to a HEART knowledge. There are many things that He says about me that I know are true in my head, but have yet to become true in my heart. One example would be that by His stripes I was healed.
I know that I am lost without Him. Lost in more senses than just one. Lost with no hope of life, but also lost with no direction, no release, no freedom....NO HOPE! Stuck...
I've decided that if it takes time spent with Him to discover who I am; I have the time!
He is the only One who sees many of my hurts. He is aware of all the issues that plague my heart. I will trust Him to show me the truth about myself and teach me what it means for Him to be my "Heart Healer."
Because really, "Who Am I?"
Who am I
that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I
that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Casting Crowns
Take Care,
Pops
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
This past week has been rather frustrating and depressing to me. I think it started into a downward spiral when I learned that the Kid's Center at the church had hired someone only an hour before I had decided to finally apply. What irked me about it was that I was praying for God's will in that situation and I was sure it was God's will, but then the job was already taken when I got there. Anyways...
From this I started examining every reason why God wouldn't want me to have this job. After that spiral it just got deeper and deeper until I spiraled into a black hole of thoughts that included things that had nothing to do with not being hired at the Kid's Center. It went into the realm of you don't have a job because you're not talented. Then it went to you are not talented because you didn't finish college. Then it went to you are pretty much a failure because you couldn't finish college. Then it went into if you only had a vehicle you could get a job and you don't have a vehicle. After that is went into God not being fair and why do other people have things. Why have other people succeeded. Then I went into that because I choose to be faithful to God, but I see no blessing coming from it. Then it just kept going further and further away from the Kid's Center. I was soon thinking about how I had no boyfriend, no husband, no children, no family. I was examining my life and finding NOTHING good! Oh and I don't have a boyfriend because I am an UGLY girl. My mind even brought up my scoliosis. Just a rush of everything that is wrong with ME!
I realized tonight. It could be worse. I was thinking about what I do have. I do have a best friend who allows me to live in her house and is more than generous with pretty much all that she has--including herself and her time. She listens to me complain and cares enough to tell me the truth. I have a Pastor who I love with everything. Never had a Pastor like him before and I don't think I could find one like him again. At least on this side of eternity. I have Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ gave His ALL for me! Because I have Him I have all that I could ever want or even need!
No greater love has any man than this that he lay down his life for his friends...I am His friend!
It is my desire to give Him my all after all He chose to freely give me His all. He laid down His life for me on Calvary. He paid the price that I could never pay for my sins and He did it as a sinless Man. He calls me to share Him with the rest of the world and that is what I am going to do. To make Him MORE and me LESS. To invite more people to become His friends. He has called me to live my life for Him!!!
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
I say YES to Him. Yes to what He has given me and yes to what He hasn't given me! Yes because what I am lacking He supplies...
"You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, BLESSED be Your NAME."
"Blessed be Your Name JESUS!"
Take Care,
Pops
This past week has been rather frustrating and depressing to me. I think it started into a downward spiral when I learned that the Kid's Center at the church had hired someone only an hour before I had decided to finally apply. What irked me about it was that I was praying for God's will in that situation and I was sure it was God's will, but then the job was already taken when I got there. Anyways...
From this I started examining every reason why God wouldn't want me to have this job. After that spiral it just got deeper and deeper until I spiraled into a black hole of thoughts that included things that had nothing to do with not being hired at the Kid's Center. It went into the realm of you don't have a job because you're not talented. Then it went to you are not talented because you didn't finish college. Then it went to you are pretty much a failure because you couldn't finish college. Then it went into if you only had a vehicle you could get a job and you don't have a vehicle. After that is went into God not being fair and why do other people have things. Why have other people succeeded. Then I went into that because I choose to be faithful to God, but I see no blessing coming from it. Then it just kept going further and further away from the Kid's Center. I was soon thinking about how I had no boyfriend, no husband, no children, no family. I was examining my life and finding NOTHING good! Oh and I don't have a boyfriend because I am an UGLY girl. My mind even brought up my scoliosis. Just a rush of everything that is wrong with ME!
I realized tonight. It could be worse. I was thinking about what I do have. I do have a best friend who allows me to live in her house and is more than generous with pretty much all that she has--including herself and her time. She listens to me complain and cares enough to tell me the truth. I have a Pastor who I love with everything. Never had a Pastor like him before and I don't think I could find one like him again. At least on this side of eternity. I have Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ gave His ALL for me! Because I have Him I have all that I could ever want or even need!
No greater love has any man than this that he lay down his life for his friends...I am His friend!
It is my desire to give Him my all after all He chose to freely give me His all. He laid down His life for me on Calvary. He paid the price that I could never pay for my sins and He did it as a sinless Man. He calls me to share Him with the rest of the world and that is what I am going to do. To make Him MORE and me LESS. To invite more people to become His friends. He has called me to live my life for Him!!!
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
I say YES to Him. Yes to what He has given me and yes to what He hasn't given me! Yes because what I am lacking He supplies...
"You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, BLESSED be Your NAME."
"Blessed be Your Name JESUS!"
Take Care,
Pops
Smells Like Good Times
Just made a bonfire and it was enjoyable! I was remembering all the good times and somewhat interesting times I've had around bonfires. Too many to mention them all here, but I will tell you about one time back home when we had one...
The purpose of the bonfire was to keep the neighbors awake. You see earlier that day our ball rolled and hit the tire of their car and so they took our basketball. We wanted it back. They said that they weren't going to give it back and so we were picketting. My Dad was on his lawn mower mowing the one strip of grass that our neighbor insists on mowing each time he mows his lawn. (Weirdo) And us kids were at the bonfire. Some of my siblings made picket signs and were walking in front of the neighbors house shouting, "WE WANT OUR BALL BACK." Eventually the neighbors conceded as so they could go to sleep. That was such an interesting and fun-filled night. I enjoyed myself.
Sitting around the campfire always makes me examine where me and Jesus are at. Never fails...This time I thought about the fire and about passion. The Pastor gave his sermon on passion this last week. It was about rekindling our passion. We do this through spending time with the One who lives inside of us. "stir up the Gift that is within you."
I realized that when I kicked the side of the fire pit that the flames got bigger. So perhaps when your passion fades: kick it.
I just wanted to add that I love to sing around bonfires as well. And the song that came tonight when I was around the fire was this one:
I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I've been blessed beyond a curse for His promise will endure...
That His joy is going to be my strength
And though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning
I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my pain
I'm LAYING them down for the JOY of the Lord
I think Darrell Evans wrote that...
Take Care,
Pops
The purpose of the bonfire was to keep the neighbors awake. You see earlier that day our ball rolled and hit the tire of their car and so they took our basketball. We wanted it back. They said that they weren't going to give it back and so we were picketting. My Dad was on his lawn mower mowing the one strip of grass that our neighbor insists on mowing each time he mows his lawn. (Weirdo) And us kids were at the bonfire. Some of my siblings made picket signs and were walking in front of the neighbors house shouting, "WE WANT OUR BALL BACK." Eventually the neighbors conceded as so they could go to sleep. That was such an interesting and fun-filled night. I enjoyed myself.
Sitting around the campfire always makes me examine where me and Jesus are at. Never fails...This time I thought about the fire and about passion. The Pastor gave his sermon on passion this last week. It was about rekindling our passion. We do this through spending time with the One who lives inside of us. "stir up the Gift that is within you."
I realized that when I kicked the side of the fire pit that the flames got bigger. So perhaps when your passion fades: kick it.
I just wanted to add that I love to sing around bonfires as well. And the song that came tonight when I was around the fire was this one:
I am pressed but not crushed
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I've been blessed beyond a curse for His promise will endure...
That His joy is going to be my strength
And though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning
I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my pain
I'm LAYING them down for the JOY of the Lord
I think Darrell Evans wrote that...
Take Care,
Pops
Perfection In Patience
I'm not a very patient person. Recently, I've been trying to get answers from God and because of the lack thereof of responses I began to get angry. You and I know that getting angry gets you know where fast. My best friend kept telling me, "there is beauty in the waiting." And of course being upset I just rolled my eyes and had to believe she was wrong knowing all along that she was ABSOLUTELY right.
I woke up around ten this morning. Went outside to enjoy the outdoors for a while. Sometimes I like to just sit there and think in the morning. This morning there were two lovely, yellow butterflies flying around and they reminded me of one of the stories that the Pastor had told us at church recently. Not only that, but they also taught me something about myself.
At the beginning of this summer I tried and tried to catch a butterfly. Whenever I was outside and I saw one of them I was after it like it was nobodies business and nobody should get in my way. I will even admit that I prayed that I would be able to catch a butterfly. I would pray for it over and over again and it didn't happen. My prayer and my tries seemed unfruitful. All of this effort to catch a butterfly and it wasn't happening so I stopped trying. Sometime shortly after I had stopped trying my friend and I were sitting on the porch talking and then a butterfly came and landed on my lap. It was so satisfying! I was more than HAPPY.
In that situation I had to wait, but when what I wanted happened and I didn't even have to catch it--it was PERFECT!
Let me tell you the story my Pastor told us about butterflies. He said that one time he snipped the end of a butterfly cocoon and the butterfly came out, but that the butterflies wing was deformed. It was deformed because it was not yet ready to come out of the cocoon. That there was beauty in the struggle, in the waiting, that went on while the butterfly was in the cocoon and that ending the struggle too soon caused the deformation. If he had left the butterfly it would have been able to come out on it's own and it would have been beautiful, perfect, and ready to spread it's wings and fly.
I'm learning that there is purpose in the process. That waiting although frustrating sometimes, especially when I am struggling, brings growth in me and maybe not even growth that I recognize right away, but it does happen. Sometimes I have to wait in my struggle and sometimes I have to wait when I am not struggling.
The butterfly was pleasing to my eyes and many things are pleasing to my eyes. There are many things I want in Christ, but until I am ready for them. Until, like that butterfly, I've gone through the waiting process, it is probably better that I not have them because then like that butterfly who was deformed; there would be some deformity. There is PERFECTION in patience.
James 1:2-4
"My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Take Care,
Pops
