So my husband has been moved to a new district. It's not that far away, but it still requires us to move our family to a new home. We are still looking for the perfect spot for us.
We've made phone calls that haven't been returned. We've visited places that left my stomach reeling and places that were too good to be true, but we've haven't found the right place yet.
The problem is that even though we don't know exactly where we are moving to, we still have to pack. We still have to go through things and decide if we really want to take them with us to the new home or if they would be better off sold at a yard sale, donated to a thrift store or even thrown in the trash.
As we have visited various places for sale and for rent, I've imagined our family and all of our current belongings in each home. Which one had room for it. Which one did not? How would we store our camping gear, carefully accumulated over the years? How would we store the clothes from our oldest son that we are saving for our youngest son?
As we go through this process, I am clearly reminded that I must sort out things in my life as I prepare to move to heaven. It's not so difficult to pack for that move! It's all going to be new so I don't have to take a thing or worry about whether or not it will arrive at the destination without breaks or other damage.
But in reality, it is more difficult. I have to be resolved to let everything go. I'll type it again. I have to be resolved to let everything go. Am I holding on to anything so much, that it would keep me from enjoying a most incredible journey to heaven?
With that in mind, my packing right now is made easier. I don't need so much stuff. I can't take it to heaven with me. Might as well not go so attached to it now. So it's time to get busy. Happy Packing!
musings and cogitations
Monday, January 24, 2011
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Under Law or Under Grace
Under Law or Under Grace? Visualize the Hebrew Tabernacle as described in Exodus and Leviticus. Put yourself in the Most Holy Place, with embroidered curtains, golden furniture and light from God's presence. Sense the holiness and mystery and grab hold of the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Now you are under grace.
What are you thinking about?
Are you thinking about how awesome it is that the King of the Universe is full of grace and mercy toward you? Or are you thinking about your next planned sin. Under grace doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. It means grabbing hold of the mercy seat and being covered by God's grace instead of being crushed under the weight of the law - under law.
Jesus said it best when He said, If you fall on the Rock you will be broken (as in breaking you free from sin and giving you a new life). But if the Rock falls on you, you will be crushed (as in that's it folks). So, would you rather be under grace, on top of the mercy seat, falling on the Rock Jesus Christ, or would you rather be under the law - bearing the full penalty of your deeds because you refused mercy from God?
What are you thinking about?
Are you thinking about how awesome it is that the King of the Universe is full of grace and mercy toward you? Or are you thinking about your next planned sin. Under grace doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. It means grabbing hold of the mercy seat and being covered by God's grace instead of being crushed under the weight of the law - under law.
Jesus said it best when He said, If you fall on the Rock you will be broken (as in breaking you free from sin and giving you a new life). But if the Rock falls on you, you will be crushed (as in that's it folks). So, would you rather be under grace, on top of the mercy seat, falling on the Rock Jesus Christ, or would you rather be under the law - bearing the full penalty of your deeds because you refused mercy from God?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Leave it Alone!
Once again I'd like to share from my good friend, Gene Cowden. He often sends me little gems of thought and I'd like to share this one.
When "The oxen stumbled, and Uzzah . . . steadied the Ark ," his intentions were good. He didn't want it to fall. But he overstepped his bounds and touched what belonged exclusively to God. Sometimes your "strength is to sit still" (Psalm 46:10), and take your hands off what you've entrusted to God's keeping. Even when your "oxen stumble" and things don't go the way you think they should, God doesn't need your help. He understands the situation better than you ever could, and when the time is right He'll "do wonders never before done" (Exodus 34:10 NIV). Sure, it's frustrating to have something within your grasp and not be able to reach it, especially when others who seem less deserving are enjoying what you so desperately want. But the Bible says: "Be patient . . . trust the Lord. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things" (Psalm 37:7 CEV). The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said, "Often there is nothing as Godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will."
Paul writes, "Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient . . . and . . . prayerful" (Romans 12:12 TLB). Long-range purpose will stop you from becoming frustrated by short-term delays. That's why God said, "Whoever believes will not act hastily" (Isaiah 28:16). In Acts we read: "Paul and his companions . . . [were] kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching . . . in . . . Asia " (Acts 16:6 NIV). Why? Because:
(a) the timing wasn't right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork;
(b) God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere;
(c) He wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission.
Thanks Gene! I always appreciate your great contributions. On another note...I hate trying to log in to update my blog. Since I originally started this blog under my yahoo mail account, it has created all sorts of interesting hoops I have to go through now that it is associated with google mail. It is insane that I have no google blogs, but I have to be signed in under google mail to log in to the dashboard of this blog. Ahh, but it's worth the effort to share on this blog. Please forgive the last few weeks of frustration of not being able to get in to my dashboard because of this snafu.
When "The oxen stumbled, and Uzzah . . . steadied the Ark ," his intentions were good. He didn't want it to fall. But he overstepped his bounds and touched what belonged exclusively to God. Sometimes your "strength is to sit still" (Psalm 46:10), and take your hands off what you've entrusted to God's keeping. Even when your "oxen stumble" and things don't go the way you think they should, God doesn't need your help. He understands the situation better than you ever could, and when the time is right He'll "do wonders never before done" (Exodus 34:10 NIV). Sure, it's frustrating to have something within your grasp and not be able to reach it, especially when others who seem less deserving are enjoying what you so desperately want. But the Bible says: "Be patient . . . trust the Lord. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things" (Psalm 37:7 CEV). The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said, "Often there is nothing as Godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will."
Paul writes, "Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient . . . and . . . prayerful" (Romans 12:12 TLB). Long-range purpose will stop you from becoming frustrated by short-term delays. That's why God said, "Whoever believes will not act hastily" (Isaiah 28:16). In Acts we read: "Paul and his companions . . . [were] kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching . . . in . . . Asia " (Acts 16:6 NIV). Why? Because:
(a) the timing wasn't right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork;
(b) God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere;
(c) He wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission.
Thanks Gene! I always appreciate your great contributions. On another note...I hate trying to log in to update my blog. Since I originally started this blog under my yahoo mail account, it has created all sorts of interesting hoops I have to go through now that it is associated with google mail. It is insane that I have no google blogs, but I have to be signed in under google mail to log in to the dashboard of this blog. Ahh, but it's worth the effort to share on this blog. Please forgive the last few weeks of frustration of not being able to get in to my dashboard because of this snafu.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
