Tears

The flowers live by the tears that fall
From the sad face of the skies;
And life would have no joys at all,
Were there no watery eyes.
Love thou thy sorrow: grief shall bring
Its own excuse in after years;
The rainbow!--see how fair a thing
God hath built up from tears.
--Henry S. Sutton

I came upon this poem in my daily devotional. How amazing is it that our Lord and Savior is able to bring blessings - MIRACLES!- through tears? I love the line:

Love thou thy sorrow: grief shall bring
Its own excuse in after years: The rainbow!

Sutton is reminding the reader that through the pain you are experiencing now, through all the nights filled with tears, hope will reveal itself through God's promise! I can't imagine going through life not having that hope.

Slaves Set Free

I was just listening to a streaming radio station, KWVE Christian Talk Radio, and this man spoke about a story he had heard about a slave. This slave loved Abraham Lincoln and even carried a piece of paper with Lincoln's signature on it. Every chance he got, he'd share Lincoln's signature with people.

One day, however, he showed it to a certain gentleman who took the piece of paper and read it closely. He then looked at the slave in bewilderment and asked, "Do you know what this piece of paper says?"

The slave said, "Yes, of course. It is Lincoln's signature."

The man replied, "Yes, but it is a signed document stating that you are free. You are no longer a slave."

The slave couldn't believe this. All this time he had been carrying his ticket to freedom and didn't even know it.

This story wonderfully illustrates Christians. We are slaves. We have been given Christ's Word to set us free, and yet we don't even know it.

The Armor of God, Narnia & Job

Ephesians 6:11-18

6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. cb(6,12); 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. cb(6,13); 6:13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. cb(6,14); 6:14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, cb(6,15); 6:15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; cb(6,16); 6:16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. cb(6,17); 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; cb(6,18); 6:18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

As I read through these verses, I think of Narnia. C.S. Lewis was able to use this allegorical world and characters to entice readers, but I think, more importantly, to illustrate a spiritual warfare that occurs daily. I also think of Job. Poor, poor Job. Satan basically wagered with God that through heartache, death and poverty, Job would eventually turn against Christ. However, we know that isn't what happened. Yet what if that very same bet was made about us? Would we prevail through Christ, or would we turn bitter and vengeful? Honestly, I think I would be pretty upset at God if He took my husband, children, house, job and whatnot away in one fail swoop. But isn't that what happens to us daily? Maybe not in catostrophic ways such as Job's plight, but definitely in small every day things here and there. Satan knows where to attack us, and he manipulates our weaknesses on a daily basis.

This last weekend someone very close to me said something very hurtful about my physical appearance. I realize this person has rarely exemplified Christ in his/her life, but nonetheless, it hurt. It hurt so bad that my body physically and emotionally shut down. My faith was shaken over this one little comment. This morning, however, after reading this passage, I realized that Satan knows my weaknesses that's why it is so important for me to wear my armor.

I think about going through my day with this hurt inside, and honestly it kills me. A part of me wants to curl up in a ball and hide, but the other part of me wants to fight hard to 1) let go of the pain 2) let go of the anger 3) hold on to Christ 4) take refuge in His strength, mercy and love and 5) forgive!

I thank Christ so much for His word. He reveals himself if we seek after Him. He is my comfort and my strength. I thank Him for giving me the tools and the armor of God.

A Command from Paul

From the book of Ephesians...

4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, cb(4,18); 4:18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; cb(4,19); 4:19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. cb(4,20); 4:20 But you did not learn Christ that way; cb(4,21); 4:21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: cb(4,22); 4:22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; cb(4,23); 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, cb(4,24); 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

As I read this passage, I felt my heart drop in my stomach. One foot in the world. One foot in Christ. Will I be condemned on Judgment Day?

The pull I have recently been receiving from Christ is strong and pure. No longer am I to play the part of a working/soccer mom. No longer am I to anger my husband with my disobedience and deceit. No longer shall I care if I live in the right neighborhood or not. That life must die because it is no life at all. The way of the old life brings me nothing but pain and a shaky foundation.

My house was built on the sand, but thankfully, Christ is merciful. I am building my house on the rock! Thank you Lord for allowing us to repent. Thank you for giving a lowly sinner the opportunity of a full and rich life through You! Thank you Jesus! Thank you!

Here I am

Have you noticed how style makes a statement? As though we are identifying our simplistic labels through our dress. Even deeper than that, however, is how we use our statements to prove to the world that we exist. Cars, homes, the school your children go to are also use as identifiers of who we are and what we are about.

I’ve noticed Blogs are similar in that people journal their pontifications and opinions in an extremely open forum. As I read blogs, I get the feeling that people are proclaiming their identity. They are trying to prove their importance and even existence.

I do not exist simply because I blog. I exist because Christ brought me into this world. Furthermore, my purpose in the world is not to be a soccer/working mom, but rather a servant to my Lord and Savior, a loving wife and a nurturing mother.

Therefore, I PROCLAIM this blog shall be edifying to the Lord. I will use this forum to encourage other believers and nonbelievers. No post modern artistic rants here, unless the Lord of course calls me to do so! HAHAHA

Sue