Maybe we feel trapped by our circumstances, health, or finances. What contribution are we really making? Who will see us?

Maybe we feel trapped by our circumstances, health, or finances. What contribution are we really making? Who will see us?
The rock group Queen used to sing a song called, Somebody to Love. That’s true, we all do want somebody to love, but many times we just want somebody to listen. This amazing thing! God tells us that He wants to listen. He says to call on Him and He will show us great and might things we do not know. He also says that He is near to those who call on Him. God wants to be your someone who listens.
Yes, the God of the universe who created the galaxies, set the stars and earth in orbit, and made the animals and humans. How is it that He should take an interest in us and have the time to listen?
We are smaller than a speck for One who has the whole universe as His view. Yet He wants a relationship with me and you. I wonder how He can keep all of these singular relationships up. There must be millions of voices calling out to Him simultaneously, how does He do it? Yet, He listens and He speaks to each. He speaks just what He knows I need or wants me to know and He speaks to millions of others, too. Amazing!
He speaks to us and He’s also there to listen to our pain, grief, sorrow, and joy just like any good friend would. He’s the One who has the resources, power, knowledge, wisdom, and might to accomplish far more than we could even imagine. To think, all this is available through just talking and listening to Him.
Today, or even right now, take a quiet moment and tell Him what’s happening in your life, what you are concerned about and what brings you joy. He cares and will listen.
Wisdom from a country preacher series
– Matt. 16:21-28
The cross is an eternal symbol of an unadjusted personality in an evil world.
Daniel wouldn’t adjust to an evil world. John the Baptist wouldn’t, Paul wouldn’t and Jesus wouldn’t.
An Indian Chief sent four young Braves up a mountain to test their strength, bring back something to prove how high they got. The first brought back a spruce branch, the second brought a twig from a pine, the third brought an alpine shrub. And the fourth came back exhausted, feet bruised and cut, carrying nothing. He said, “I saw the sea!”
Oh, how we need people to see the sea! To see that holy, uncompromising life full of grace and truth. When you know the truth, the truth will set you free, free from the evils we deplore, set free to be all God intends you to be.
But it involves the certainty of a cross, believing the Jesus is the Crist and has the words to eternal life.
What is the sea? What is it Jesus went to the cross for us to see? By getting acquainted with Jesus we get a new concept of God. John says, “God is love.”
Love gives itself for others. Jesus is saying in verses 24-26, “I love you, I must go to Jerusalem and die for you.”
Jesus was certain of the cross. But he knew by his death on the cross, not for his sins but ours, we could have the Holy Spirit to melt our hard hearts so that we could love one another as God loves us.
How long has it been since you said or heard, “I am sorry.” “I am wrong.” “You are right.” “I love you.” ” I forgive you.”
The certainty of the cross. There is a cross for everyone.
Wisdom from a country preacher series
– Matt. 16:21-28
I feel privilegd to be able to share one of Dad’s Lenten sermons this Easter. Part 1 today, watch for part 2 tomorrow.
Think about the cross this Good Friday
Just as soon as Peter and the disciples acknowledged who Jesus was he started telling them about his and their cross. The cross was a certainty.
In verse 22, Peter says, “Never, Lord!”
There was a great preacher who said, “I can bear much but there are four things I hate like poison: 1) tobacco smoke, 2) lice, 3) garlic, 4) the cross. Like Peter.
So many believe Christians should have things better, easier.
This scene probably occurred about six months before his crucifixion. Why did Jesus set his face to go to the cross? For the joy set before him he endured the cross, despised the shame, sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)
He could have compromised a little. Kept quiet, not been so outspoken, not stirred up the Jews. He could have gone to Syria. Did he believe in a divine rescue like Abraham and Isaac?
See verse 21, he knew his fate. Legend has it he picked up a beam in the carpenter shop one day and a shadow was cast of him on a cross. He seemed to know his fate. Right after the transfiguration, the Father began talking to him about his death. He told his disciples, “I, if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me.”
He wouldn’t let his friends talk him out of doing what he knew to be the will of God (vs. 22-23). he had to be about the Father’s business. He had a mission in life and so do we.
He never made personal comfort his ambition.
He never made security his ambition.
He never left relationships deter him.
A cross is certain when we follow Christ. Sometimes we fail to take up our cross. We fall in step with the world, alter our course to avoid being different. We may fail to change habits that ruin our witness.
You may say, “I don’t have a cross to carry.” Well, maybe everyone around you has a cross to carry because you always have to have your way.
The unbelieving world tries to squeeze us into its mold.
The cross is an eternal symbol of an unadjusted personality in an evil world.
Part 2 continued Saturday. Please share thoughts above, just under the title.
Today is National Potato Day! A potato prepared any way is one of my very favorite foods, so I couldn’t let the day pass without including. What could be better than pairing tea with potatoes? The best, right? Almost heaven! Soooo this Tuesday is not only Tea Tuesday but Tea and Potato Tuesday.
1 stick butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons honey
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt
Mix together the sweet potatoes, butter and milk until well blended. Stir in the flour, baking soda and sugar.
Shape the dough into a ball and knead about 10 times on a well-floured surface. Roll the dough out about ¾ inch thick and cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter. (Makes about 18 biscuits.)
Bake on a greased pan in a 400 degree oven 15 – 20 minutes, until just turning golden brown.
Whip the honey cinnamon butter ingredients together in a small bowl. Serve biscuits warm with the butter.
Recipe from Mama Dip’s Kitchen cookbook
http://likemotherlikedaughters.com/2010/11/sweet-potato-biscuits-with-honey-cinnamon-butter/
Not many Christians of my generation can forget the impact a talented, bold , young Jewish man made on us. That sounds like Jesus doesn’t it — well, it’s not. It’s Keith Green. Keith was an outspoken Jesus follower who challenged us to live completely for God. To give out hearts, souls and mind to Jesus. He challenged us to live radically for Jesus. Maybe a little like Francis Chan today, but there was just something about Keith’s message, the urgency in his voice and words that captivated and convicted.
Keith not only spoke with power but his music was hauntingly deep and yes, captivating and convicting. I had the privilege of hearing his wife, Melody, speak yesterday in Elizabethtown, PA. She told stories of her life and challenged us to show compassion and really see those around us everyday, everywhere we go. It brought back so many memories of my late teens and early twenties when the Jesus Movement was happening. Many were making serious commitments for the Lord and coming to know Him. It made me long for that kind of spiritual outpouring to happen again.
I don’t know why God chose to take such an influential voice for Him home so early, why Keith had to die when he was only 28. But he left a lot of music behind, music that still stirs the soul and heart when I listen – and even when my Millennial children listen.
Here’s a couple of Keith’s songs I’ve been captivated and challenged by this week. I thought they might stir your heart, too.
And because it’s Easter- I must include The Easter Song:
Do you have a story of how Keith or his songs impacted your life? Please share by clicking ‘Leave a reply’ at the top of this post, just under the title.
In his book, Prayer, Tim Keller says we cannot pray until we understand the One we are praying to. In fact, he says all prayer is responding to God. God is the initiator. If we find ourselves wanting to pray, God is drawing us, It follows that we have some knowledge of God to even have the desire to pray. That one we are praying to is the God of the Bible, who speaks His Word, and reveals who he is through His Word.
So, to understand and know God better we would want to spend a lot of time reading, studying and thinking about His Word. Sometimes our reading can be a little boring, even exhausting, we put off coming to the Word because it doesn’t seem to fit us or come alive.
I got to thinking today that maybe it’s really a heart thing with us. Our daughter is dating a guy that she sees almost daily. Every night she heads to her room early, where I often hear her on the phone with her guy, chatting away. They want to talk, they make time to talk — they give up TV shows and activities to spend time talking.
Maybe that’s a picture of how we would be approaching the Word of God, if our heart was really devoted to Him, if we were in close relationship. These thoughts today are making me take a deeper look and admit that there must be something keeping me from wholeheartedly saying, ‘I want to meet (talk) with God tonight.’
Do you find yourself skipping out on reading the Bible, getting to know Him better, and so end up with a boring prayer life?
Once you’ve been to your first tea room, you’ll be hooked. My first experience was at Laura’s Tea Room in Ridgeway, SC. From the moment we pulled into the quaint community of Ridgeway, I knew it was going to be a treat.
Street view of Laura’s Tea Room
Through the front doors brings you to an old fashioned gift store. You can purchase anything and everything tea!
View from the front door
Up the stairs to find the perfect hat for tea.
Hats at Laura’s Tea Room
Then to choose your special tea cup and saucer for your tea experience.
Choose tea cup and saucer
Tea time is wonderful in this Southern style, light, airy room.
3-tier tea server
Laura’s Tea Room
Situated between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC, just a short drive off I-77, it’s a perfect destination on a Spring day! On a green, St. Patrick’s Day!