Ever notice how fresh the air smells after the storm, the trees seem to stand taller and the grass appears greener.  The sun shines brighter while fluffy white clouds dance across a blue sky. The storm winds brake away the bruised and broken limbs, dead leaves are gathered and the rain washes them away. Nature is renewed.

Every storm in the life of man is meant to bring regeneration and renewal. Cleansing of the character takes place with each storm, the process will continue until the character of Christ is revealed in each of his children.  As the sculptor chips away at the stone until the image of a master piece emerges, the filth of sin is removed as we repent and turn away from each sin that holds us captive.

The lying will stop, anger will flee, no gossip will pass your lips, your body will be cherished as the temple of the Holy Spirit and you will put all idols away from you. The Fathers loving hands will gently mold and shape you into the masterpiece he planned you to be when he whispered your name into existence. You were a perfect thought in his heart before sin separated you from him.

After each storm you are carried through his light shines into the darkness of your life. As the image is reflected by the mirror, your heart reveals the sin hidden within that you may confess it and be forgiven. You will be strengthen in your faith and prepared to withstand the storms to come. Your total submission to the sculpting of your life by the Holy Spirit will yield the perfect character of the Holy Only begotten son of God, who came to save the lost sheep and restore them to the fold of the shepard.

Often when we make the decision to change our lives, to do what we know is right ; we meet with turbulence.  First little drops of rain begin to fall, nothing major just inconveniences that seem to cause discomfort. It maybe our children making bad decisions, our family or friends needing help with their problems, it could be finances. We all experience shortages in our monetary funds from time to time.

These are issues that can cause us small amounts of stress. Thunder can be heard in a distance and we know a storm is approaching. The rain begins to pour, you realize you are in for a battle. You try to prepare yourself but how do you prepare for the unknown? The storms that cause major stress in our lives surface in many ways. Death of a loved one is a shock to the system sometimes causing despondency or depression.

A visit to the doctor for a routine check up just to hear “it’s cancer”. Suddenly you find yourself walking in a fog filled with questions. What can I do now? will I die? how long do I have? how will this affect my family? they consume your thoughts and become your primary focus. The clouds of life become so dark you want to give up, you can’t see how you can survive the onslaught you are facing.

It seems your entire world is falling apart around you. 25 years you gave  of your time and efforts to that job, of all people you can’t believe they would fire you; but they did. It was suppose to be your dream home, you raise your children under it’s roof. On summer days your grandchildren played on it’s lawns. Now it is gone and you are forced to move on with only memories.

Will the rain ever stop falling? When you made the choice to change your life, the enemy declared war. He wants you to self destruct, feel helpless, give up and stop fighting against him. No matter how hopeless the battle seems you must have faith that you can win. The battle is really not yours, it is between the Redeemer and the adversary. You are just a pawn in the conflict. Jesus the Christ is your champion, he is your umbrella protecting you from the storm.

Whatever you my lose in the storm of material value does not compare to the eternal gift he is willing to give to all who trust in him. When you choose to serve him,make him first in your life you can stand on his promises. You will be given everything you need in this life and in the life to come. Dwell not on fleeting material joys of this world but hold fast to the hope of eternal joy with a loving Savior.  He will carry you through the storm.

Yesterday is gone; tomorrow is not promised,we only have today. Only today can we begin a new direction that can last a lifetime. Change begins by just taking one step, shaking one hand or drying one someones tears. Little ripples turn into big rivers. It is not always the huge things we do in life that make the most impact but the small glimpses of love that come from a sincere heart.

We are all capable of making a difference in our world, our neighborhoods, our families and in whatever circumstance we might find ourselves involved. Each day of life is another opportunity to improve our environment,correct what is wrong, pursue what is just, find our purpose and extend our hand in assistance to those in need.

We walk not alone but are joined together in humanity. We all laugh, we all cry,we all hurt, we all bleed the same and we all face death. This is all part of life, it doesn’t change because we are different in complexion or heritage, wither rich or poor ,  prominent or unknown. We all share this commonality . The time is now for those who make hate their place of abode to change their address.

The time is now for those who govern to exercise justice. The time is now for those that have bounty to share with the less fortunate. The time is now for change.  Without change destruction for all will come. Hatred will consume everything in it’s path. We must nurture the seeds of love until they bloom into strong trees of hope. Hope that shatters the darkness of hate with it’s brilliance.

It is every mans duty to strive for peace cultivated in the soil of love. Soil rich from the blood of sacrifice. Blood that covers a multitude of faults. Blood that flows freely for all willing to bath in it’s cleansing power. Blood that removes selfishness, washes away hate, and allows the seeds of transforming  love to take root and grow.

Grow into a beacon of light that will transform the world. Light that elevates the down trodden, light that reaches from shore to shore, light that is inclusive and not divisive, light that looks beyond the exterior of man to see the essence of his worth and character.

“We the people” is the introit of a document which was meant to form a nation free of prejudice and persecution. A nation established to give people the opportunity to aspire to be all they were capable of becoming. The founding fathers fleeing persecution desired a nation greater than the sum of it’s parts.

A nation that would honor mans right to choose. A nation in which all men would be treated the same. “We the people” have strayed so far from the moral values on which the nation was formed under God. The once persecuted became the persecutors. Greed controlled the hearts of men, power their greatest desire. On the backs of other men they climb to their highest heights.

The years pass quickly while little changes, the brutality once done in the light of day now hides itself under the cloak of justice. Those who are chosen to lead on behalf of the people turn their heads to the peoples pain. The streets run red with the blood of the slain, our children die sitting at their school desk, hate has removed its mask that all may see its face and those with the power to make a change cry “shame, shame, shame.”

“We the people” have been asleep too long, it is time to awake and right the wrong. Time to ask God to heal the land, that peace of heart can dwell with every man. Time to break the yoke of the powers that be who cast aside whats good for you and me. “We the people” gave them the power to rule the land and we have the power to remove it from their hands. They have failed to recognize the need of the common man.

Hate  has assassinated  over time those who worked for the good of all mankind. “We the people ” it is time to decide, no longer can you stand on the sideline. Good people die while good people stand by. Yet, we claim to be children of God. The question is who is your God? Is his name power,greed,domination and destruction. Is his name love ,peace, understanding ,  and forgiveness.

“We the people” must choose, will we be counted as part of the solution or part of the problem. It is time to speak, time to heal, and time to stand in unity. Only when we stand  together can we become “We the people”

The mind of man can’t comprehend the beauty of the world at creation. Beauty personified beyond imagination. When God rested from his creative work he announced “it was good”.  Since the beginning mans choices have changed the complexion of creation. It’s original state marred by mans sins.

Sin that separated the creation from its creator. The penalty of death was pronounced on a sinful world, a penalty all mankind should pay. A world destined for destruction was rescued by love,”for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that through him the world might be saved.” Love paid the penalty of death that we might live  sin free.

God clothe himself in humanity and came to a world of sin to reclaim the lost as a babe. He walked the earth as a man touching the sick, teaching the word and raising the dead to life. Love flowed from him to all who would accept it. He was the good Shepard, the world his pasture and the people his sheep.

To the Shepard the sheep are important. For them he willingly lay down his life.  Against the back drop of Jerusalem on a hill called Calvary stood the blood stained cross of the good Shepard. The judgement was justified, the death penalty satisfied and man set free. That was over 2000 years ago and it seems we have forgotten the sacrifice on Calvary’s hill, the story of a special child and how it all began.

Violence consumes our world, hate grows stronger with each passing day and the value of life has been thrown away. Greed , indifference, and selfishness control the heart. The question is asked “is love truly lost?” The answer is “no”, there is hope. One hand touches another, one heart reaches out, one voice says forgive me, and one voice sings I love you aloud.

The light of Christ still shines bright. It’s light transforming the dark of night. The battles is not over it has just begun to win the souls of the wayward ones. He’s coming again  of that you can be sure, he can’t lie and he said he would.  Coming to claim his very own and return to his heavenly home. Sin eradicated the enemy gone, the world regenerated to the beauty that was once its own.

The sun had set, the moon shown radiantly against a star sprinkled sky. The wind swiftly blowing chilled the night air. Silence covered the earth like a blanket, it would appear the world was at peace and all was well. Yet, in the darkness of a alley between two buildings sit a hopeless child with a needle hanging from his arm.

His world so bleak,his heart filled with sorrow,no one who cared, no place to belong and no one to love him. Now, his life slowly slipping away from him. Under the amber street light stood a woman or was she a girl? The stress of life adorned her face, her lips red with the stain of passion untamed and her eyes cold and lifeless.

What was her story? why was she here? who stole her joy and caused her dis-pare? It was evident from her appearance she had lost all hope. The room was filled with laughter and music, in the corner of the room two people holding hands.  As they looked in each others eyes they both pondered their separation, knowing they would have to return to their own partners. They shared a lustful secret.

The darkness is consuming the lost,lonely, forsaken and the ignorant. They are bound by the evil one. Where is their escape? who will help them? where are you light bearers? They too are my children though they have lost their way. You are their way home, you can shine the light into the darkness. You can tell them of my love, forgiveness and grace.

I will love them through you, light bearer. Open your arms to receive them, open your heart to receive them and open your eyes that you may see them. You will be my hands and feet. You will feed the hungry, clothe the needy, shelter the homeless and through you I will free them from their bondage. Your light will penetrate their darkness with it’s power to dispel ignorance, give joy,bring hope, and lead my children home again.

I have delivered you from darkness that you can show others the way to my glorious light of love. Are you sleeping light bearer as your sisters and brothers are perishing? What have you done for me? Have you loved those deemed unlovable, have you given of your self to any of my lost sheep. Do you realize now is not the time for slumber, awake and shine forth.

The battle is raging, the enemy is attacking. You have the power to defeat him if you but let your light shine. I have feed you with my word, I have clothe you with my protection and I have covered you with my blood. You are ready for warfare, stand and shine brightly. I have called you to be a light bearer.

When a child is born the family gathers to greet the new arrival. Some say he or she looks just like it’s  mother while others say it looks like it’s father, then there are those who say some other relative in the family linage.

As the child grows the features become more pronounced. Eyes, nose,mouth,ears and even hands have distinctive characteristics familiar to the family linage. Those traits can be identified by all who know the family as being part of that family.

So it is with the family of God, there are many sons and daughters in this family. They are his children. They may not all look the same,speak the same language, or live together in the same place.  As they grow in his shadow the characteristics of the Father shine forth in the children.

Though they may be different they all love as the Father loves, they are compassionate as the Father is compassionate, they are forgiving as the Father is forgiving, they hate sin as the Father hates sin but they love the sinner as the Father loves the sinner.

Unfortunately, the heart of the Father is broken. He has children who have left home on journeys that have taken them away from him into dark territory. They have lost their way, they feel that the Father will not receive them back. Not realizing the Father is seeking them with love that is unconditional.

The Father stands ready to welcome them with open arms if they would reach out for his hand.  As sisters and Brothers we must assure our lost brothers and sisters of the love of the Father that is waiting for them to return home. Tarry not if you have lost your way and want to return home.

The darkness may have dimmed the light of the Father in you but you can recognize the light shining brilliantly from any of your brothers and sisters to lead you back to the love of the Father.  The Father’s heart aches for his children who are lost on the path that leads them far from safe harbor.

Only under his shadow is there protection from the destroyer, so his voice cries out into the dark waters of life to his children. “come home, come home” to all who will listen.

 

What did I say? These words are spoken by everyone at one time or another. In one context it is a question, in another it is an instruction. The assigned task has not been completed, it remains undone. You have failed the responsibility entrusted to you. You were distracted from your course of action resulting in defeat.

How do you stay the course and avoid defeat? How do you rise above the obstacles and avoid distractions? There is only one way to obtain victory. Before each battle we must prepare for war. Preparation is key for victory. Our preparation begins by constant communication with the Supreme commander.

You must immerse yourself in his word, open your heart to understand, lift your voice in praise and humble yourself in prayer. There is no victory that will come by your human effort. You must admit without the aide of the Divine One you will fail. He is the unseen presence that guides your path and protects from unseen danger.

Prayer from a sincere repentant heart calls him to action. When trouble surrounds you he will lift up a standard to give you victory over whatever comes up against you. He will give you clear vision to recognize the deceiver and all his distractions.  You will be endowed with strength to complete your assignment.

Rejoice in this glorious opportunity to meet your redeemer in prayer. The way to the Father was made available too you through the son. Therefore go boldly to the Throne of Grace in prayer  making your request known to the  one who can grant them.  He will hear, he will answer. In him all things become possible in accordance with his will.

Prayer is the key that unlocks the door of God’s heart to the repentant sinner who seeks his forgiveness and grace. Only through him can we have total victory over the enemy. So stay prayed up.

The coming of the savior was first told to a virgin girl named Mary by an angel. Joseph while considering not to marry her was told not to worry, his choice was still pure and they could be wed by an angel.  When we turn the pages of the inspired word of God  we find story after story of heavenly messengers coming to mankind. Some to bring revelations, some to aid, and some to defend but all of them to express the love of the Father for all his children.

No matter who you are, what you have done, or your station in life; he has created us to be who we are.  We are destined to be reunited with him when we choose to believe in his son.  Jesus the Christ was manifested to reunite the creation with it’s creator.His birth was heralded by the angelic host  to give man the message of hope, salvation from sin had arrived.

To some of us this is an abstract idea, however; we have angels among us. When you find your table & pantry bare there’s a knock on the door, you open it to your neighbor or even a stranger with the provisions you need. God has sent you and angel. When you just can’t seem to over come the sadness that has you feeling lost and alone, the telephone rings and someone gives you the encouragement to rise above the sadness. God has sent you angel.

When you are sick and someone prays for you and you recover, God has sent you an angel. Each time the heart of man is touched by the light of love and is impressed to help others who have a need they allow Gods love  to shine through them.  They become his earthly angels. They come in all sizes, from all walks of life, and all types of people. At a time when our world is in turmoil, children are starving and our economy is failing; we have the opportunity to reach out to someone.

You may feel you have nothing to give  or that you have so little how can you share.  Remember to those who have nothing a little given in love is much. Sometimes all it takes is a smile or a hug to let them know you care. You may not be able to give pretty gifts tied with a bow. At this special time of the year we can give from the heart a prayer of love. A prayer for the  Father above to allow his Heavenly angels to surround  us with the Love, Joy and Peace of his son Jesus the Christ our redeemer.

Be blessed this Holiday season….pray one for another

34 years ago 3 days after Thanksgiving I received the news my mother had made her transition from this life unexpectedly. I must admit I never thought my broken heart could ever be mended or the pain I felt would ever end. Time heals all wounds is what I have heard but it was the love of the Father that erased the pain and replaced it with joy. Each passing year and each new experience allowed me to see her in the light of Gods love for  me.

I remember looking at her hands and they looked worn, I had never given them much thought before however; in them I saw all the years of washing clothes and hanging them outside,all the meals they prepared, all the tears they wiped and every whipping the administered. I didn’t understand the emotion I felt I just knew I was thankful to have her for my mother. My life has been a journey and I see so much of her in my children, her smile and mannerism stands out in them .

She embraced everyone she came in contact with in love. Our door was never closed to anyone who needed and there was no limited to what she would do to help others. I am so thankful to have been nurtured by her radiant spirit. My mirror reflects how much like her I have become. There are not words adequate enough to portray how grateful I am to the Father for giving me to her, seeing her influence in my children, and for the tapestry of love she wove into our family.

Life is so uncertain and we must be thankful for each opportunity we have to share with those we love. There will always be reason to be worried about the circumstances we face in life but we must learn to be thankful even for the trials we encounter. The legacy we leave behind when we transition will speak volumes to everyone who shares our story. It is important how we live and how we love, that is what will be remembered.

Time can not change nor erase the beauty of images interwoven in a tapestry created by love. Its threads will remain strong with the passage of time, its colors brilliant and all who gaze upon it will be amazed by its charm. Be thankful for the story of your life, know that the Father made you special, allow his love to remind you each day to be thankful and never miss the opportunity to tell someone they are loved.