The Measure Of The Family

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Luke 2:16)

When someone rises to a high position in world leadership and influence, the first information the world wants to know is, "What is the family history"

Upon reading only a few of the volumes of biographies of well~known people, one will quickly sense that indeed the family~the home and the individuals in it~or the lack of family~greatly influence the actions and life~changing decisions of adults and young persons. It makes them who they are, and, in turn, the family molds and shapes future generations.

Name the person or persons who whave shaped our world in art, music, politics or science. Look beyond those persons to the families and homes that molded them. We cannot fully measure the effect of the family, any family.

Like the wake of a ship that leaves an unending ripple in an enormous sea, a family's influence can extend far beyond our sight or knowledge.

How can you and I measure the influence upon us of the families that lived before our time? Our ancestors? Or even those who are not in our direct line, but whose lives affected those who were?

Give Time To Quietness

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

The fight to which we have been called is not an easy fight. We are touching the very center of the devil's power and kingdom, and he hates us intensely and fights hard against us. We have no chance at all of winning in this fight unless we are disciplined soldiers, utterly out-and-out and uncompromising, and men and women of prayer.

So first, give much time to quietness. For the most part we have to get our help directly from our God. We are here to help, not to be helped, and we must each learn to walk with God alone and feed on His Word so as to be nourished. Don't only read and pray, listen. And don't evade the slightest whisper of guidance that comes. May God make you very sensitive, and very obedient.

Fill up the crevices of time with the things that matter most. This will cost something, but it is worth it. "Seek ye My face, my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8).

All this will be, if you walk with Him as with a visible Companion, from dawn through all the hours till you go to sleep at night. And your nights will be holy too, for He is watching over your sleep as your mother watched over it when you were a tiny child.

Why I say I Am A Christian

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not shouting, "I'm clean livin'" I'm whispering, "I was lost," now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far to visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner who received God's grace somehow.

Rainbow Gardening

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up...(Proverbs 12:25)

RAINBOW SEEDS~A miniature plastic bag with a teaspoon of colored sprinkles.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:

WHEN TO PLANT: Any season, but rainbows grow best just after a storm.

WHERE TO PLANT: In the light of the Son, preferably near a pot of gold.

HOW TO PLANT: Assume a kneeling position close to the earth. Dig a hole deep enough to hold the cause of your dark clouds. Place the cause and the seedss in the soil, cover with earth, then rise and stomp down with bothe feet. Walk away in faith.

HARVEST: When needed most.

I got to thinking about how a rainbow is a perfect picture of God's grace. It's a kind of refuge for our mind when storms threaten to rip us apart and flood our dwelling. In the rainbow we see God's promise that He will never again devastate life on earth.

Don't ponder over the "what-ifs" or "whys," neither question your abilities. Simply wait on Him and watch your garden grow.

When the mighty winds blow, and they will, God will miraculously place them at your back. When the floods begin to rage, and they will, He may tell you to keep paddling in faith, believing, while He calms the seas.

We don't have to worry about making a way. If it's His will, He works all things out in His own perfect timing.

He calls us through, around, over, and under. No foe can stop us, no poverty can starve us, no evil can diminish His call, for He has a glorious plan!

You can be a rainbow gardener by opening your heart even if your in pain yourself. Let someone know that although you don't have it altogether, you find comfort and help in the Lord.