8 posts from February 2008

The Promise of Wisdom

Feb 29, 2008
Post a comment

Ron finished his bachelor's degree at Cal State Fullerton before we started our family. He was accepted for graduate studies at UCSD at La Jolla, where our daughter was born just prior to our third anniversary. So thrilled to have a precious little baby girl, we took her to see relatives in Los Angeles.

***

One of my Mother-in-law's friends, who was struggling with a rebellious teenage daughter, made the comment, "There is no way you can know how this baby will turn out. Just look at all the Christians whose kids have turned out badly." I don't remember what I said to her, but I am sure I was hyperventilating! The next day as I opened my Bible for devotions I prayed, "Lord, I will do whatever you ask me to do, but you have got to promise me that this little girl will grow up to love and serve you."

***

I opened my Bible and there in front of me was the answer: James 1:4-7 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (emphasis mine)

***

God himself was telling me that I was required to believe that He would give me wisdom! Obviously, this wisdom was going to come from His Holy Word.

My Testimony

Feb 29, 2008
Post a comment

To introduce my new blog, I have been journaling about the ways in which God has worked in my life to bring me closer to Him. Most of us who are believers can look back to milestones that led to our salvation, even before we knew we needed Him. Certainly we can see the influences that brought us to Him, both positive and negative.

***

The realization that we are sinners is the first real shocker that we have to deal with. Then we find that sinners are exactly who Jesus came to earth to save. He actually gave His life for us - but He didn't stay dead! Someone has told us these truths either in a Sunday School class, Good News Club or just in conversations about God. I first responded to the message of the gospel in a revival meeting when I was nine years old. I was old enough to know that I had a decision to make - and I wanted to receive Jesus as my personal Savior.

I think I already loved all that I had heard about Him. I was like one of those little children in the picture book who came to Jesus and then experienced having Him put His arms around them, saying, "Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not - because of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."

***

Have you received Jesus as your personal Savior? If so, how old were you and where did it take place?

IN THE BEGINNING GOD

Feb 28, 2008
Post a comment

Read Genesis 1:1–2:2, John 1:1–4 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:3 NIV

***

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:1–3 NKJV) We worship a God who brought forth an entire universe just by speaking. He is so powerful, and yet Jesus said, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered.”(Matthew 10:30) There is nothing that concerns me that He misses or ignores. This same Lord of the universe ─ Father, Son and Holy Spirit ─ will be with me throughout eternity.

***

Thank You, Lord, that nothing in my life goes unnoticed by You. As I marvel in the matchless beauty of the moon and stars on a cloudless night, how comforting it is to know that You see me. No matter how hectic life is, as I hurry about from day to day, You are always there to listen and guide my steps – And You will be there when my life on earth is completed and my faith becomes sight. For then I will see the “God who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)

***

"You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O LORD." Psalm 139:2–4 NIV

Answered Prayer

Feb 28, 2008
Post a comment

When Ron and I were first married, He was still a full time student. Two weeks before our wedding we were apartment hunting near Cal State Fullerton. Our budget was very limited, so all the apartments we looked at were depressingly run down or more than we could afford. We stopped for lunch and decided we had better pray about finding the right place to live. After lunch we went to a market for a paper, and as we sat in our car looking at the rental section, a man walked up to our car and asked us if we were looking for an apartment. We followed him to a beautifully landscaped apartment building, newly painted, quiet, two bedrooms, one mile from the college and just the amount we could afford to pay. Over the next month, God directly and speedily answered our prayers for various financial needs. In the years to come we would learn about waiting on the Lord for answers - but I think when we were starting out, He just wanted to point us in the right direction.

***

Do you remember a time when God obviously answered a prayer for help and guidance?

Steps Toward Faith

Feb 28, 2008
Post a comment

At middle school or junior high age I read the classic book "What Would Jesus Do?" by Charles Sheldon. That influenced me to think about the standards of Christian living. Later, I received more teaching about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives - helping us to live the Christian life. I especially responded to the idea that God had a plan for my life. I wrote a song in high school and sang it at a Youth for Christ ralley. My piano teacher helped me write the music. I was thrilled as I got a standing ovation after singing it. The words tell something of what was on my heart at about age 16.

***

"One day as I was out walking - a thought occurred to me; Perhaps the Lord up in Heaven is making plans for me. Maybe he's planning my every step - what I will do and say; Maybe he's planning some glorious things - if only I follow His way. Dear Lord, I call - I give You my all; please mold my life lest I fall. My vision is clear, and now I can see; I know that the Lord up in Heaven - is making plans for me."

***

Can you think of anything in your early years that led you step by step toward a closer relationship with the Lord

Consistent Christian life

Feb 27, 2008
Post a comment

In my last post I discussed the impact of my parent's decision to be faithful church attenders. I want to build on that in saying that they not only attended church, but they loved going to church to fellowship with other believers. They were not legalistic in their attitude, but they lived consistent Christian lives-Driving the speed limit, telling the truth, giving regularly - all practical evidences of their faith. They were the same at home as they were at church - there was no hypocrisy. What other people saw was the real thing. My father was a quiet person who did not talk about his Christianity very much, but he lived it. My mother was talkative, had a beauty shop in our home, and influenced her customers - who were also her friends- for the Lord. At their 50th wedding anniversary celebration there were many younger people who gave testimony of the influence my parent's life had on them. One woman, a friend of my sister, said that my mother gave her the first birthday party of her life.

***

In what way has the consistency of another believer influenced you?

Church Attendance

Feb 27, 2008
Post a comment

Before I begin to post my devotional articles, I would like to spend some time journaling about God's working in my life. I had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home - but that came about by difficult circumstances. My mother divorced and remarried before I was five years old. She was a Christian,but had not been attending church when she met my step-father. When they married, she said she wanted the kind of family that sat together in church every Sunday. That simple decision they made to attend church had a profound impact on my life, and eventually on the lives of my children and grandchildren. It was at church that I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour. It was at junior camp where I decided to rededicate my life to Him, praying, "Lord, I want to be what you want me to be." I will write more on this later.

***

How has church attendance or the lack of it impacted your life?

My first post

Feb 27, 2008
Post a comment

This is a totally new experience for me. I have been working on a devotional book and e-mailing devotions to friends and family. My computer-savvy son told me about this blog site - and here I am. I can't believe I just set up my own space in the bloggesphere! After a couple of hours of figuring it out, I am a bit exhausted, but at least wanted to enter my very first post. Now when they talk about blogging on Fox News, I will know what they are talking about. Charlotte