God Prepares the Way

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Luke 10:22

God Prepares the Way

St Francis of Assisi  said, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” 

The thought that our lives are to be the Gospel of Christ leaves the need for fancy words outside the door.  The very nature of Jesus is “the WORD” (see John 1:1). The spoken word became flesh. He was (is) the Word of God , incarnate; flesh and blood. He didn’t go around trying to prove Himself. In fact, He saw equality with Father God as “something to be used to his own advantage.” Philippians 2:6. Jesus went about His Father’s business, with no need to over-explain His mission, hammer the truth into people’s heads, beat them over the head…well, you get my point. He was on-mission, period. He recognized the urgency of being on-point.  I wonder how many of us spend our time on-mission?

You don’t watch the TV for very long to recognize a world that is in denial about its state of being. Evil has dressed itself up in celebrity attire, rampaged our streets, our homes, our very churches, even. It’s slick, slithery ways have become the “norm” in a culture consumed with self.  You need only live a counter-cultural life for a short while before someone takes notice. Yes, there are those who would poke fun at a life, a family, that will do it’s best to live in a Godly way. I’m not talking of those folks here, I’m talking about the people who are lost and broken and alone, desperate for another way, yearning for the good love of a parent, of Daddy-God. Pray that the Lord sends you there. 

We are living our eternities right here and now. The only thing that lasts forever are people, and God. I have found that in my life that everything matters; all that I say, do and present to the world. I am teaching others about the goodness of God each time I put change in a kettle, food on a hungry child’s plate, or give assistance to someone who may not have even asked me for it. I am Jesus today. You are Jesus today. We, are the body of Christ.

Prayer: Make my life a living Sanctuary for your Spirit, O God. May I be a light, Your light, in a lonely, scared, hungry world. Remind me that I don’t need fancy words or clothes, just an open hand to give and carry. In You, Amen.

Cheryl Garneau Wyatt

Additional Scriptures: Psalm 24:1; Mark 16:15; Acts 16:10

Half Measures

Half Measures

It seems that I’ve fallen into the great trap of complacency. 

Good-enough and not-too-bad have found a home in my soul.

I’ve grown accustomed to being sad and fat and making everyone around me stop asking me to do things again.  “At least I’m not as fat as I used to be.” I say. Last year,  I was running, 13 miles at a time, and now, I just sit and sigh and eat and cry.

Sit and sigh, and eat and cry. 

Who says I can’t be all that I envision? What has made me so satisfied with being dissatisfied?  Do I have to go all the way back and then some to only THEN turn around? That’s like getting lost, and having to go all the way to the coastline before I make the decision that I AM ON THE WRONG ROAD.

It’s been a pattern of mine to stop, start, stop, start. I hate it. It’s not a pattern I want to be involved with any more.  I remember when I was losing weight last year, I told a few people, “it’s going to really suck, and then it’s going to suck some more, and after that, it really really sucks. Then, you will smile.”

Right now I say, “enough, and I forgive you. Can we finish this, please?” 

No more regrets.

From Cheryl’s Noggin, November 13, 2011

It's Not All About You

"All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.” Ezra 1:6

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU

Your extra money, that is.  It’s not all about you.  It doesn’t seem like you have a surplus, but I bet you do, somewhere in your house.  What’s in your freezer? What’s in our cupboard?  Do you have extra time?  Have you ever found money on the sidewalk?  Me too!  Just this year I decided that any money I find is not mine to keep.  I have picked a friend and give her everything I find.  Mind you, so far it’s only been around 35-cents, but that could very well change, and I have a plan in place.  Last year, I found $40 on the ground!

My simple point is this…whatever you have is twice as much as someone else.  Be nice, share.  It’s easy to get to the end and think, “if I give this away there won’t be enough for my family and me.”  I have found that when I give money or things away, the amount that I have left goes twice as far.

Nothing can beat the feeling of helping someone else.  Make twice as much dinner tonight and bring a meal to a single mother.  Make a plan for your “found money” that doesn’t include YOU.  Rake someone else’s lawn, maybe even before yours.   To make it tricky, try not to get caught.

God, help me to get my eyes off of myself and onto others.  Teach me to give sacrificially and out of my abundance.  You own it all anyway—help me to  take my hands off and stop holding on so tightly to the things of this world.  I trust that you will provide for my family and myself.  Thank you, Amen.

Additional Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 9:13; Philippians 2:1-3; Matthew 19:21

HOW TO PRAY

I suddenly find myself unsure of my prayers.  Not that they might not be heard, but that they may not be sufficient.  What if I leave something out?  Everyone sems to want me to pray for something, and I am afraid I will forget something, so I get scared and grunt out a few lines here and there.  Also it seems that the list is growing.  Everyday it seems I am requested to pray for someone.  These aren't little prayers either;  they are big, big ones. I feel so feel inadequate to even attempt this holy task.  How am I supposed to remember to pray for everyone?

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

I know that God knows my heart, and He knows that I have been bothered by this.  For my birthday two days ago, a friend, whom I never told about my yearnings as of late, gifted me a prayer journal!  There is space for not only prayers, but the answers to those prayers.

I know that Father expects us to take prayers very seriously.  We can't forget to pray, so we must find ways to write them down. They don't have to be long, drawn out prayers, but just cries for help on our friends' behalf.

With the help of my friend, I can now do just that.  I can even pray about not wanting to forget to pray.  All prayers are fair-game to God.  All prayers.

Rain Rain

It's a very rainy day.  I know we need rain to grown things, but I'm done growing for now. I know that sounds counter-productive, but it's true.  I just want to enjoy what I have right now, even if only for a few days.  Bring on the sunshine!