Set Your Sights On Things Above
We so quickly get our eyes off God. Let's get back into
perspective.
perspective.
12/31/2014
Still Small VoiceSometimes we hear a still small voice - no really. I mean it's not audible, and I'm not talking about those voices that thrive in the heads of people who really should be on medication. (Which yes, is an actual medical need, and ought not be made light of...) What I'm talking about here is God impressing upon us something that we need to do or say. The other day my pastor made a reference to a difficult time in the beginning of his ministry at our church. During this time, when he was just starting out as a young preacher, someone wrote him a harsh and critical note. I don't know why someone would do this, except out of fear or their own insecurities - sometimes we say things we shouldn't and go off half cocked. Regardless of why, words hurt. And he was hurt by this letter. Thing is...on that same day, someone ELSE wrote a note to him, one that was encouraging and hopeful, uplifting. In fact, this second note praised him for the same things the first noted had judged him harshly for. Odd how pointed it was, right? Not really odd. Not when you remember Who was orchestrating things. You know, someone was listening to that still small voice that day. They wrote what God told them to write, maybe not even knowing why...just listening to what God had impressed on their heart to say. And God used it to give someone encouragement who desperately needed it. I know I've written about this sort of topic before, but I think we need to start the New Year off this way - remembering that words are important, and you just don't know how God is intending on using your words for good. For all I know, that note-writer wasn't in church Sunday to hear how they'd blessed our pastor. They might never hear the story - or they heard and didn't even know it was them pastor was talking about. Don't worry about finding out...just write the good note, say the good word, smile the sweet smile. Be someone's bright spot in 2015.
12/17/2014
Wednesday's Free Books on CrossreadsLast night I made banana bread - lots of it. Three round pans, and two muffin tins worth of banana bread. Some was plain, some had chocolate chips, and another batch had cranberries and chocolate chips in it, because everything's better with chocolate, right?
It was so good! Of course, with six kids, four adults and guests, I had to guard the last couple pans with my life to get them to last until this morning. I like it when people enjoy my food, but sometimes it feels so fleeting - what takes me an hour or more to create, is gone in a matter of seconds. (Unless you count the calories that go straight to the hips - those stay around forever.) Boy, if the banana bread hadn't turned out well, the after-taste would have lingered for hours...not to mention the teasing I'd have gotten for my culinary disaster. But isn't that always the way? What we enjoy only seems to stick around for a short time. When we have a mess-up it seems to never go away. So just imagine, when we get to heaven, only the good stuff will still be there. Eternally, the best things last. Because that's how God intended our reality to be. So if you see the bad things lingering here, just remember that God has eternity in mind, and He knows the truly good things last forever. Free book time! The first is This Time Forever, by Rachel Ann Nunes. Mickelle Hansen never realized marriage could be so challenging. Her husband's epilepsy has caused him to become cynical and verbally abusive, but with love in her heart and strength from her Heavenly Father, Mickelle is determined to make her marriage work. Then the worst happens. Can she ever pick up the shattered pieces of her life? Meanwhile, Rebekka Massoni arrives in America to work for handsome widower Damon Wolfe, leaving all her hopes and dreams back in her beloved France. She has loved and idolized Marc Perrault since she was five years old, but he can offer only her friendship in return. Can Rebekka forget Marc and learn to love another man? Both Damon and Samuel Bjornenburg, successful CEO of Corban International, hope to win a place in her heart, but Damon's daughter doesn't like Rebekka, and Samuel doesn't share her faith. To make matters worse, Rebekka's heart is still breaking over Marc. Suddenly she must make the most important decision of her entire life. Will it be the right one? * Second is The Candle Star, a Civil War era historical, by Michelle Isenhoff. Emily Preston has plans for her life; plans in direct oppostion to her parents' wishes. After a moment of high spirits - a tantrum her mother called it - she is shipped off to stay with her Uncle Isaac. But his Detroit hotel is nothing like the beautiful plantation she has always known. In Detroit, Emily meets Malachi, a son of freed slaves who has grand schemes of his own. Their abrasive relationship gradually challenges many of the ideas Emily has grown up believing. But when she stumbles upon two run-aways hidden in her uncle’s barn, Emily must make up her own mind. Should she turn them in to the slave catchers staying in the hotel? Or help Malachi escort them to freedom? * Next is a short allegory of the Christian life called Rescued, written by Tracy Higley. In an adventure reminiscent of the Christian life, one girl struggles to find her way out of the dungeon, beyond the perils of the journey, to the Kingdom that awaits. Each of the six chapters includes questions for reflection, suitable for individual use, or for discussion in a book club, Bible study or small group setting. * And last is a nonfiction by Andrew Murray, called Lord, Teach Us To Pray. http://crossreads.com/community/showthread.php?8316-12-17-14-Wednesday-s-FREE-Christian-Books
12/11/2014
Bloom Where You AreYou ever hear that saying about blooming where you're planted? Throughout my life I've tried to learn that lesson over and over. After moving all around California during my childhood, then nearly as much through 20 years of marriage, I've been 'planted' in quite a few different places.
Though one thing I used to always say was that I never wanted to live in the LA area - yes, right where I'm living now, and have been for the past 6 years. Now that I call this my home, I'm finding it's exactly where God wants me, and that it's actually a pretty nice place to be. We have a great church family, and get an opportunity to minister in an area that has a huge influence over the rest of the country - perhaps even the world. I don't know where He'll want me in another year, but I don't need to know that. I only need where I'm supposed to be right now - and tomorrow if I need enough drive time to get there. :D So, Thursdays books are a little of this and that. First is Lost and Found, a collection of Inspirational Christmas short stories by Wendell Mettey. These sound like the perfect way to really get into the spirit of Christmas this year. Next is the historical romance, To Have and To Hold, by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller. When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage. And last is a non-fiction story called Rescue the Captors, about a missionary being held captive in the jungles of Colombia. Held at gunpoint deep in the jungle and with little else to occupy his time, Russell got ahold of some paper and began to write. He told the story of his life and kept a record of his experience in the guerrilla camp. His “book” became a bridge to the men who held him hostage and now serves as the basis for this incredible true story of how God’s love penetrated a physical and ideological jungle. Enjoy! THURSDAY'S Free Books on Crossreads
12/10/2014
Storm Clouds RollThe Storm Clouds Roll
I love a stormy sky. The kind that makes you wonder what’s coming next, lends rise to thoughts of running for the storm cellar and hunkering down with a good book and a radio nearby. The sort of skies that blow and rage at you, bringing rain and thunder, and whipping your hair in your face just enough to make you feel like something new is coming. Yes, that kind. It’s weird…I know…but there it is. You know my secret now. Is it ok for me to love the stormy skies? Sure, why not. I can’t make the storm come, can I? But then I wondered…is Heaven going to have storms in the sky? Probably not. But I really do enjoy a good storm – though not the destruction that comes with some storms, no I don’t enjoy that at all. You know, it’s like that in life sometimes too. We love the excitement of something, but then after it’s done there’s destruction left behind that’s just not as enjoyable. Sometimes as Christians we can get in this mode of anything we enjoy will surely be in Heaven someday because God has allowed us to have these feelings – we love something, so surely it’ll be with me forever in eternity. Where did we get that notion? Certainly not from the Bible. In fact, God tells us to learn to enjoy HIS priorities, and HIS things, precisely because that’s what Heaven will be filled with. God isn’t obligated to place things in Heaven that we’ve enjoyed here on earth. He isn’t obligated to have stormy skies just because for some reason I find them fun and exciting. In fact, I think I should work on learning to love the peaceful blues, the gentle and kind weather, because I just don’t think God’s going to have destruction and mayhem in Heaven. I Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. God created us to love, but He then tells us to love the things HE loves. God created us to form friendships, but He tells us to form Godly friendships. God created us to enjoy life, but He then tells us to enjoy the things of God, living life to HIS glory and not our own. So I have to remember, just because I like it, doesn’t mean God likes it. And my like-meter needs to measure up to God’s. Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: The free books for today include a contemporary women's fiction, a short holiday inspirational, and a nonfiction book by CH Spurgeon.
First is After Anne by Roxanne Henke. This is the story of two women who gradually form a friendship through trials and hardships. This is the first in a series. Second is A Sandy's Seashell Shop Christmas - a very short story, about a special Christmas Eve. Lastly is Eccentric Preachers by Charles Spurgeon. Anyone struggling to find their own identity in ministry will appreciate this book. Hope you enjoy! http://crossreads.com/community/showthread.php?8206-12-3-14-Wednesday-s-FREE-Christian-books |
AuthorI'm Sherry Chamblee, aspiring author of Christian fiction, mom of six, wife to a cool dude, and caregiver to his granny. Besides that, I am just little old me - it's just a phrase, I'm not really old, honest. Check out my new release!
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December 2019
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