TO CURSE OR BLESS THAT IS THE QUESTION

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:9 

Just when I had a great plan for repaying evil for evil, I hear this from Nancy Leigh DeMoss on her radio program "Revive Our Hearts".  OUCH!   Here's some of the text that followed the verse.

"What's that word, "bless"?  Eulogize, speak well of. Now, who's Peter talking about here?  Who are you blessing? You are blessing the person who's given you evil.  You're blessing the person who's reviling you.

God is saying when you are cursed, make sure you don't curse him back, and then ask God for grace to do what Peter say --bless. Look at the end of this, verse 9: "For to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing."

You reap what you sow, You sow blessings into the lives of your family members and friends, and you're going to reap blessings.  You sow cursing, and you're going to reap cursing.

"So as you sow blessings into your family, " Peter says, "you're going to fulfill your calling.  God wants to bless you" and He will; He can, and you'll put yourself in a position where God can and will bless you if you return blessing to those who revile and curse against you.

I guess it wasn't such a great plan after all.  

For all of the transcript go to www.reviveourhearts.com Search previous radio programs.

DARK NIGHTS

This is shared from "Journey" by Dr. David Jeremiah

La noche oscura del alma --The Dark Night of the Soul.  That's the name of the poem written by St. John of the Cross, a sixteenth century Spanish poet.  Written while St. John was in prison for trying to reform his monastic order, "the dark night" represents the difficulties and trials we experience on the road to heaven.

"Dark night" also pictures the isolation we feel during times of spiritual tests. We sometimes lie in bed at night, surrounded by darkness, longing for sleep, but consumed with our thoughts and questions.  The psalmists, expecially David, were candidly honest about their literal and spiritual dark nights. David made good use of his sleepless nights, crying out to God for relief and answers (Psalm 22:2; 42:8) And he relied on the natural order of things to remind him that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).

If you are in the midst of your own dark night, use the time wisely.  If there are tears, let them water the words you pour out to God, remembering that joy comes in the morning. 

"You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."  Psalm 17:3

WHY ARE GRANDPARENTS SPECIAL?

My son, Jason, named his son after his paternal grandpa. Today Jason posted his grandpa's obituary on Facebook  in honor of  his Papa's birthday. Several of the grand kids posted comments of love. What made Papa so special in the hearts of his grandchildren?  Was it his life's accomplishments?  No, because they didn't know about most of them until reading his obituary. If you knew Papa you know it certainly wasn't his kind, gentle spirit :)  

I imagine if you asked his grandchildren it would be the same answer I received when I asked several of my cousins what made our grandmother so special.   They each replied "because I was her favorite."   I knew that couldn't be right because I was her favorite.  When I came to visit, everything centered around me, she played with me, we cooked together, she asked about school and my friends.  She "showed me off" to her friends at church, at the beauty shop, in the stores. We went to the movies and always had a coke float at the soda fountain next door.  Funny, I found out she did the same things with my cousins when they came to visit, but she never talked about their visit, she never mentioned what they were doing, it was always "all about me". She made EACH ONE of us feel SPECIAL!  

I think when I ask Jason and Carly what made Papa so special they will answer the same way.  He made them feel special.  He made them feel they were important to him, and they were.  He loved having them around and knowing what was happening in the lives.

What a privilege, honor and responsibility it is to be a grandparent.  We have such a wonderful opportunity to leave a loving, spiritual legacy in our grandchildren's hearts.

I tell my son, that if I had known how much fun grandchildren would be, I would have had them first :)   Well, have to go now and get some rest, my three very special grandchildren are coming tomorrow to spend the night and I need some rest so we can play, read, have tea parties, pray and make memories.  Maybe years from now they will post my obituary on a social media in honor of my birthday :)   

Oh, did I mention my fourth grandbaby is to be born the end of July?  Pray for Carly and Joe as they prepare for this glorious event in their lives......and mine.  Grandchildren are a special gift from God. 

Happy Birthday Papa, rest in peace in the arms of our Lord and Savior knowing that you left a legacy of love and "specialness".

"May the LORD bless you all the days of your life; and may you live to see your children's children." Psalm 128:5-6

A WOMAN FROM SYRIAN PHOENICIA

I've always had a hard time completely understanding this passage.  Mark 7:24-30.  This explanation from Elisa Morgan made it very clear.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"We messed up yesterday.  We did worse the day before. We know we'll likely not make it through this day without error. It's not for lack of trying. We try.  Our failures have to do with who we are: human.

There was a woman who likewise knew she was undeserving.  Coming not from the chosen people of Israel but rather as a Gentile from Syrian Phoenicia, this woman approached Jesus, begging Him to help her daughter, who was possessed by an evil spirit.  Acknowledging that she could not fix the child herself, admitting that she didn't deserve His attention because she came from outside the faith....still the woman came.

But notice her request.  She wanted the crumbs.  The leftovers.  She wanted what would have been tossed aside or eaten by dogs.  She stood on a scrap of faith, believing that a scrap was enough for a miracle.

At first this request seems ridiculous. Undignified. Humiliating.  Looking again, we can find resolve, desperation and great hope in the request.  This woman trusted the saving power of Jesus to such an extent that she believed a crumb would suffice.  And Jesus declared her puny plea to be a stunning statement of faith.

Where, like this woman,might we beg for crumbs, knowing that in receiving them comes a feast because of faith?"

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through out all generations for ever and ever Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

A NEW YEAR BEGINS!

I read this in Robert V Dodd's Advent Devotions for 2011.  Thought it appropriate for the beginning of 2012.

     "Have you ever wished that you could start over and make a new beginning?  There are times when we find ourselves caught up in the consequences of our own choices and we feel trapped.  We need a power greater than ourselves to enable us to make a new beginning.

     Whenever we repent and turn from our sin, stop relying on ourselves, and start looking to God for guidance and strength, we too can make a new beginning.  This was what Jesus offered to the people when He began His public ministry after returning from the wilderness.  He took up John the Baptist's theme; He called the people to repentance, to stop living their way and to start living God's way. He is still calling people to repentance and faith."

The key here is we CAN have a new beginning BUT ONLY if we turn from our current ways.  God will not make good of our sin.  He will make good of our repentance, our humbleness and our sorrow.

Oh Lord,may we be a people and a nation who come to you in 2012 with a repentant heart.  I pray we will turn from our sin, repent and seek your forgiveness and your mercy. You are Holy, Faithful and True. In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

"The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with he people of Israel and Judah...I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sins. "  Jeremiah 3131, 34b.