Simple Gifts to God...

Good morning friends and fellow servants!

One thing I am SO grateful for is the ability to play the piano. I am not a virtuoso who can sit down at the piano and play without music for hours on end; in fact, if there is no music, I'm completely inept and lost! I never learned music theory, chord progressions or music composition, I just play the notes as I read them...but I do it with joy and love for the Lord and I know He is pleased!

No matter how developed or 'polished' our talent may be, when offered with a heart to serve and honor God, He smiles! Even the wrong notes are sweet "music" to the ears of our Lord when offered with a heart to worship and please Him.

Today I am overjoyed that God led me to a church where I can put my piano skills, simple as they may be, to use for His glory! The pastor of the church now emails me the hymn numbers during the week and then we (the organist, pastor or whoever the song leader is that week and myself) pray and rehearse the songs before worship. It is truly a blessing to put this talent to use to honor God as well as to serve the church...the body of Christ!

I pray that we all will utilize our talents for His glory and honor as we "Walk God's Way" today!

I Want to Tell the World!

I know...it's not the same as sharing the Gospel with an individual nor does it fully convey the Hope that we have through Jesus...but it IS a step of boldness and faith that I may not have done a few years ago! Today I placed a new decorative flag in my yard and I'm sharing a few photos with you! In this small way, I can share the message with all who pass by, that Christ is ALIVE!

I encourage each of you, in whatever way you are able this Holy season, to go beyond Easter bunnies and colored eggs and let others know WHO Jesus is and WHAT He did for you...and for them!

As I "Walk God's Way", I try deliberately to place little, if any, empahsis on the strangely rooted and unbiblical customs of the "world" that accompany our celebration and remembrance of Christ's death and resurection.

I will end this blog with Jesus's words, as recorded in John 8:12... "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." I pray that you will shake off all the darkness that the world has added to this Holy season and embrace and celebrate the One, True Light of the World!

"Walking God's Way"....to Worship on Sunday!

What a blessing it was to worship today! I love my little church family in Darien, CT. The people at this church truly seem to know Christ and are a warm and caring family. I have been attending this church since November of 2007 and am exactly where God wants me, for now.

Today God was edified in the music, the preaching (by a lay member as the pastor was on vacation) and by the fellowship. Over coffee and doughnuts, following the worship service, I visited with a woman who also attends this church and who has been absent for a few weeks. It was a joy to re-connect with her and see what God has been up to in her life.

I have been seeking, for some time, a church family where the Word of God is taught and lived and where a healthy balance of Grace along with that Truth is exhibited. I have been in fellowships where GRACE is quite disproportionate to TRUTH and vice-versa. It is rare to find a church family that realizes that critical balance.

I am thankful today for a fellowship of faithful Believers and for the opportunity to serve God in that fellowship. (I get to play the piano and accompany the organist during worship!)

Hope your Sunday was a blessing!

Bible Study at the Mall!

I just returned home from a great Bible study that we hold every Saturday morning at a local mall! We hold the Bible study, seated at tables in the food court, and I must say we attract a lot of attention! Of course, we pray always that the attention be for God’s glory and that through this attention, others will question and then be encouraged and pointed to or led to Christ. This Bible study is sponsored by Homeward Bound Ministries and the weekly lessons are taught by my dear friend and bother in Christ, John Payne of Milford, CT (wearing light blue at head of the table). This picture reflects the atmosphere of the study…we have a good time! Breakfast is ‘on the house’ (Homeward Bound) and Christ is exalted through the fellowship and the teaching. "Your's truly" is not pictured, as I took the photo!

I am convinced, from personal experience and because the Bible ‘says so’, of the need for every Christian to be engaged in a group Bible study of some sort. Through a group Bible study, I came not only to learn the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but more importantly, I came to know Jesus in a personal way, which ultimately resulted in my choice to serve Christ as Savior and Lord! The testimony, questions and shared thoughts of others in a regular group Bible study meeting many years ago, (thank you Jack and so many other friends at Christ Church in Beaver Springs!) contributed significantly to my decision to serve Christ and to my early instruction of “Walking God’s Way” as a newly saved Christian. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) instructs Christians by saying, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I am encouraging every Believer today to join a group Bible study; one that you know to be sincerely and devoutly seeking after Christ. If you are not currently part of a group Bible study, FIND ONE or START ONE! If you feel unqualified, remember that it is the Holy Spirit who works through willing and obedient people to teach and instruct in the ways of the Lord!

Be encouraged with others…and dig into God’s Word as if He is coming today!

Spiritual Visibility

FINALLY...a measurable snow fall in Connecticut! Our winter has been mild, which I like, but it is also a joy to watch the snow fall and enjoy the clean, white winter landscape. I took a few photos this morning, mostly to show my parents who are wintering in Florida, but also to use in this blog. This photo was taken from my living room window...I live on the second floor.

As I watched the snowfall, I immeidately noticed that visibility was not good. I was relieved when my employer called me and suggested I wait until later in the day to determine what my work schedule would be today! (Roads nor driveways have been plowed as of 11 am!) I listened to CBS News Radio early this morning and heard that the major metro NY airports had significant delays and smaller airports were closed due to weather and visibility issues.

As I sat down to spend some quiet time reading my Bible and studying God's Word, I prayed, as I always do, that the Holy Spirit would teach me and reveal Truth to me today. As I prayed, I was struck by the thought that, just as the snow causes visibility issues, so the 'snow' of sin causes 'spiritual visibility' issues. Ever feel 'distant' from God or feel that you just aren't 'connecting' with the Master as you know is possible? This is what I'm calling a visibility issue...it's like there's a cloudy flim shrouding the face and the person of Christ.

What causes the poor 'spiritual visibility' and what can we do about it? Matthew 24:12-13 (from the New International Version) states, "Because of the increase of wickedness (sin), the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." Wow....sounds pretty serious. We all can relate to the dangers of traveling on the highways or in the air in circumstances of poor visibility, yet too often we ignore signs of impending spiritual danger by 'traveling' in a state of poor spiritual visibility.

What can we do about this dangerous state of poor spiritual visibility in our lives? (and I'm speaking to the person who has previously turned to Christ as their Savior, Redeemer and Lord of their life.) When sin creeps in to cloud our connection and relationship with God, we must examine our lives and confess and clean up the known and unknown sin in our lives. Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we can, through Him, be connected with God. Get rid of the sin that's causing the visibility issues and you will find that God is there waiting to pour out His merciful, unfailing love on us. James 4:8 says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This is another promise from scripture that we can trust. When we draw closer to God and look to Christ in all things, God reveals Himself and draws close to us! If that isn't enough to motivate us to keep our lives clean and free from sin...nothing is!

May we all check the 'visibility' of the path as we "Walk God's Way" and may we take whatever measures neccessary to clear the path ahead of us!

Get Ready!

I read the Bible every day and pray that the Holy Spirit will teach and instruct me so I am fit and prepared to "Walk God's Way". I'm reading the book of Luke right now, as I read the Bible for the 5th time in it's entirety. As a side note....A dear friend, back in 1997, impressed upon me, by example, the benefit and the need for a Believer to read the entire Bible. Since the first reading, I have gained a whole new perspective in understanding the scripture. While much of what I read, I will admit, went "right by me" or "over my head", much aslo sank into my heart and mind. I was amazed how the Holy Spirit would bring portions to mind or would assist in 'connecting' events, characters and Truth as I read or heard God's Word later.

Back to the book of Luke... Today I was reading chapter 21, a dialog between Jesus and his disciples regarding the signs of the end of the age. I tell you now, as I read these passages, much of this I don't quite understand and am not able to 'piece together' just how and when the end of this age as we know it will occur. The scripture that speaks more to me regarding the end of the age is the parable of the ten virgins (NIV calls them 'bridesmaids'). Either way, Matthew 25:1-13 tells a story that relates to our own need to be READY for the coming of Christ.

May I advise anyone who reads this to not take for granted the state of your soul and your relationship with Christ! How easy it is to let the worries and tasks of the day overtake our Walk with Christ. Just as the foolish, unprepared maidens in the parable that Jesus told were not ready for the coming of the bridegroom, so we can find ourselves unprepared when Christ returns. I would encourage anyone who is serious about their walk with Christ and their eternal home to pray and ponder their 'readiness'...in case Christ should come TODAY.

As I wrote at another place on this blog, the road we walk (with Christ) is narrow and the gate through which we enter the eternal kingdom is narrow. Contrary to what you might tell yourself, or what others may tell you, JESUS said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Draw nearer to God; know Jesus better, obey His Word more strictly, love Him more deeply, serve Him more passionately, and walk with Christ as closely and as perfectly as you are able!

THINK SPRING!

I’ve been THINKING SPRING lately and recently bought some fresh cut Hyacinths for my home. I LOVE the fragrance of Hyacinths in the spring! Another flower that I associate with early spring are Crocus. You know…the small purple, white or yellow flowers that appear at first sign of warmth, even often peeking through snow!

Did you know that the Bible (if you read the New International Version) speaks about Crocus? Look up Isaiah 35 and read the first and second verses…

“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.” Isaiah 35:1-2 NIV

I have often associated this verse with my spiritual ‘awakening’. I was dead in sin (like we all are) until I was about 28 years old. It was then that a friend introduced me to Christ. Without making this blog entry too long, I’ll just say that my life changed radically, like winter turning into spring! Where there was cold, frozen ground, Christ melted the icy snow and shone His warm SON-shine into my heart! I was given a new life through Christ! Like the beautiful Crocus that shout SPRING and HOPE and JOY…my life took on new meaning and purpose! Praise God for changing hearts; for melting and softening and molding us as He desires!

May YOU know the HOPE I have found in Jesus Christ!

I Will SIng of the Mercies of the Lord...

I was reading Psalm 89;1 recently and was reminded of the importance of sharing our faith and love of Christ with the rest of the world.

Psalm 89, verse 1 reads: "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations." KJV

This scripture excites me, in my spirit, as I read it! It makes me want to SHOUT God's love and faithfulness from the roof tops! Now, I am not quite prepared to go to the rooftops to shout the Gospel, but as I ponder this scripture, I have to wonder just how committed I am to SHOUTING the Good News and the message of Hope that we have through Christ. (?) It's a bit scary, actually, because I feel almost as if I'm 'on the verge' of a huge step of boldness on behalf of the Gospel and God's Kingdom. I have been praying for boldness and His power to enable me to speak freely of the things of God and of His son, Jesus with others and now I think that this new annointing is upon me.

I was faithful to the call on Sunday during our worship service when I shared a brief testimony of my spiritual journey as well as challenged others to share the Gospel. However, that was in a very controlled enviornment and share with people who were receptive and open. I am not sure at all about sharing Jesus with 'the world'.... but I know I WANT to and I must...and I will!

I also found this scripture interesting because in the last few years God has given me opportunities to work directly with and on a daily basis with a variety of different generations of people. I am learning to share my love of Christ and His saving message with folks of all ages and in a variety of ways. It is definitely a thrill and a new challenge for me as I am sensing a new urgency to share the Gospel. I pray for boldness for every Believer...may we all unite to reach the world for Christ!