Remember the Sabbath Day

Deuteronomy 5:12 > "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you." (NIV)

     Even as a child I knew this to be one of the Ten Commandments. I didn't know which one I just knew it was one of them. My take away on this was to rest on the Sabbath because the Lord did. That was enough for me. That meant I could have a wonderful excuse to do nothing all day! But it meant so much more than I expected.
     This morning that fourth Commandment opened my eyes. Verse 15 says: "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." There is a reason we are to remember the Sabbath. In twenty two words it summed it up for me. It became very personal. Remember that you were slaves...the Lord your God brought you out...with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Do you see it? We are to remember what the Lord has brought us out of.
     Egypt became a place of slavery for the Isrealites. A place of bondage. They were worked so hard. Despair had even crept in. This caused me to remember my personal Egypt, my personal place of slavery and bondage. We have all had one. To remember must mean that you've gone through it; that you're no longer there. Now that is something to shout about! 
     Have we forgotten what the Lord has brought us out of? We need to remember who or what we used to be. We need to remember just what the Lord has delivered us from! And don't forget that He did it with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. The Sabbath should be filled with praises to the Lord. How could we possibly not? That really humbled me.
     Have I truly praised Him when I look back and remember just what He's brought me out of? He loved me so much that He brought me out with His mighty hand (nails driven into both) and an outstretched arm (to die on a cross).  I know that I will never be able to thank God and praise Him nearly enough for what He has done for me. Oh, there's still much work to be done in my life. But God is not finished.

In awe of Him,
~Vonda


***Heavenly Father, I just want to say thank You for loving me so much that You did not leave me in Egypt. Thank You Lord for Your mighty hands that You allowed man to drive nails into, for stretching out Your arms to die on a cross. I can never repay such a debt. But Lord I surrender my life for You to use for Your glory. Help me to always remember who You are and that there is nothing that You cannot do.  Deliverance is just one of Your many attributes. Thank You Father for still working on me......Amen

There Are Times When "Martha" Is Needed

Michelle had been mentally side-tracked for a few days. She knew that "this" was not a good idea. However, even though she prayed about the situation it was still not her decision to make. She had to let go and give it to the Lord. He gave her the strength to do just that. It was not easy! But she had to surrender "this" to Him. Six days later, Michelle would be tested. 

It was an ordinary work day for a propane company in February. Hectic! It was cold and the night was going to be even colder. The phones had been ringing off the hook. Finally, the day had come to an end. It was time to go home. (Had she known what was going to take place at home, she might would have opted to stay at work!) The breaking news on the radio that afternoon had been about a robbery close by. I'm not sure if she really heard the news or if she was too afraid to really hear it. One thing is for sure, it didn't matter if she heard it or not, "it" still happened.

Mom called to tell her, "You need to turn on the news right now. You need to watch it." Of course, she had no idea why. And then she saw. Things were about to become very scarey. Before she knew it, there were men carrying flashlights in her yard. She never had time to think. (Perhaps that in itself was a blessing.)

The only thing that I knew to do was to go and be by her side. When I got there I could tell she was close to having a breakdown. Who could blame her? There were men in law enforcement everywhere! She didn't fully understand what was happening. Yes, she had seen the news and she knew why they were there. Yet, it wasn't really clicking in her mind. She knew part of the story, she just didn't know all of it. She was scared.

As the night wore on so did the bitter cold. I don't think I will ever forget it! I know that Michelle won't. I'm not sure the officers will either. God was there that night. And He was at work. Up and down the ramp she and I went and not once did we fall. No one did! Not once did it ice over. Which was a miracle! The ramp leading up the back deck would always have ice whenever it was cold. But, not that night. 

I had been reminded of Luke 2:8-9> "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear."(ESV) The shepherds were afraid. Their normal night had been disrupted. No, it wasn't law enforcement that showed up! But, they were caught off guard. They never expected anything to happen. Michelle had never expected what happened that night at her house either. Just like the shepherds, she too, was afraid. Her night had been disrupted. The incredible thing is this, the shepherds did not run. They stayed! Fear tends to cause people to run. And yet they didn't. Because they didn't, they heard the most amazing news.

Well, Michelle didn't run either. And ya know what she did?? She made coffee. Two pots of coffee! Her goal was to make sure that everyone there could have a hot cup of coffee on such a cold night. Even though her world was turning upside down, she took the time to think of them, to serve them. After all, they were only doing their job. It wasn't personal.

She had become Martha. Martha always busied herself doing things. For Michelle that night, it gave her purpose. In Luke 10:40 it says: "But Martha was distracted with much serving." The thing I have heard most about this particular passage in the Bible is how Martha missed it. She was so busy preparing things that she missed hearing what Jesus had to say. I think that at first that she just wanted everything to be nice. But then it got the best of her. It became more important. In essence, Martha allowed herself to become too busy to sit, to listen, and to learn. She didn't have to be. She could have sat like Mary did at Jesus' feet. Martha's choice in being busy was never needed. However, for Michelle that night, being "distracted with much serving" was truly a good thing. She didn't have to think of what was happening. That particular distraction enabled her to serve with grace.

 In John 12:2 it also says: "Martha served". This time, her serving was a good thing.

 That night Michelle stayed busy serving. Up and down the ramp she went carrying cups, cream, sugar, and two coffee pots. Her night had been interrupted and she was scared.  Oh she wanted to run!!! Her legs just wouldn't allow her, too. Instead she chose to stay and to serve. Yes indeed, Martha was needed that night!

I caught myself watching her and absolutely admiring her. I received a greater blessing just being there to serve beside her.


     

The Gift

Luke 1:31-33> "And , behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Luke 2:6-7> "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."


It's Christmas time. People are doing their shopping. Some have made a list that they are going by. Some have requested a list that they're frantically looking for. And there are still some who do not have a clue what they are going to give. I fall into that last category. I don't want to rush out and purchase gifts that no thought has gone into. Money is very limited, therefore, it really needs to have meaning. I want it to come from my heart, not just my wallet.


God knew exactly what Gift He was going to give us. It was very dear to His heart. He had so much thought and love wrapped in it. This Gift He planned for us would be one that would last forever. It would give us eternal life.

God knew what His Gift was going to cost. He didn't question if He should pay such a high price. He knew that if this Gift was going to be given it was going to be expensive. There was just no other way. He was going to have to pay the price. Only, God didn't look at it as having to pay the price... He wanted to!! 

He wanted to give this wonderful Gift to everyone!! He knew some would not want it. It wouldn't be what they were looking for, what they were expecting. He knew some would hold on to it with the intention to open later. He even knew that some would try to give it back knowing they didn't deserve such a gift. Yet, He still wanted to give this Gift. No matter what.

Since the Gift was coming from far away God had to have a way to get it here. He chose a young girl to carry the Gift to us wrapped securely in her womb. When the time came for her to deliver such a precious Gift, her surroundings were not exactly the way expected. Neither was the timing. But for God, it was perfect! His heart was revealed to the amount of love He has for us!

John 3:16> "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
What a gift! What love! God gave us His only begotten Son! It cost Him so much to give this wonderful Gift to us! All because He loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him.

What's the catch? Simple. We have to receive the Gift. We have to open the gift today. We can't place it to the side and wait for later. We may not have later. No, we do not deserve such a costly Gift, however, He still wants us to have it.

What are you going to do with this wonderful Gift?

In awe of Him,
~Vonda

**Heavenly Father, thank You Lord for this Gift that You have given us. This wonderful gift of Your only Son. Lord, help us not to take this Gift lightly. Help us to humble ourselves and search our hearts. Lord, I know I do not deserve such a costly Gift, but I thank You. Thank You Father for Your love. I receive this precious Gift from You. May my life reflect thankfulness and gratitude for what it cost You and why. ~ Amen

A Cracked Pot

Jeremiah 18:3-4> "So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."

The Lord had told Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house and He would give him a message. So Jeremiah went. He saw the potter working at the wheel. The pot he was shaping was marred. The potter could have thrown the piece away. He could have even set it aside. But he didn’t. There was potential. It wasn’t just a clump of clay to him. He could see a pot. A beautiful pot. So he shaped it as he saw fit.

I needed to understand what happens to clay as it is being shaped. So I began to look on the internet for clues. I learned that clay is refined dirt. That makes perfect sense! After all, God did make man from the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7). No wonder working with it is messy!

 To make clay that is useable you have to have the right mixture of dirt and water. If you add too much water the clay won’t harden. It will be too weak to shape into anything. If it’s too dry it will crumble and break apart and be just as unusable. It’s important to have the right combination of dirt and water in order to make something with it. That is true even in God molding us. He did not create us to be too weak to be shaped into anything; nor did He create us to crumble and break apart. He knows the right mixture needed to make us into something beautiful.

 Once you get the mixture right the clay has to be kneaded to mix them together. What does that mean? To be kneaded? Webster’s 2003 New World Dictionary defines ‘knead’ as: “to work into a pliable mass by folding, pressing and squeezing”. I don't know about you but I have most definitely felt folded, pressed, and above all, squeezed!! 

 Why is this process of kneading so important? So that all the air pockets can be removed. If you don’t remove all the air pockets from the clay the piece will explode when it is being fired in the furnace or oven to dry the clay. The same goes for us. I have proved that over and over. There have been air pockets in me; empty spaces unfilled. When things heated up I simply exploded!

 Another reason for the kneading process is to get rid of impurities, of junk. If any is left in the clay it will create imperfections and cause the clay to weaken and fall apart when it is being thrown on the wheel. This is something the potter can feel in the clay as he works it with his hands. Doesn’t that also describe our Potter? Not only does He see our imperfections He feels them, too! He wants to get rid of all the impurities, the junk in us. He doesn’t want us to weaken and fall apart. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan for us. He wants to prosper us and not harm us. He wants to give us hope and a future. To do that He has to knead us in order to get rid of “self”. He can’t get rid of the air pockets and impurities as long as “self” is in the way.

 During the kneading process the potter handles the clay kind of rough in order to work out the impurities, the junk. At first the clay itself doesn’t respond to the kneading. The more the potter kneads it the more pliable it becomes. Isn’t that so true of us as well? There have been times that I have felt as if God was kind of rough with me. As if He had turned against me. The whole time He was simply working out the impurities, the junk in me. Even if it meant separating me from others, to the point of feeling all alone. I was so full of junk that the Potter could not use me. There was a lot of kneading that had to be done, no matter how painful it was going to feel. You see, He saw something in that lump of unmolded clay, in me. Something that could be beautiful when finished. I had to be willing. Even if it meant it was going to hurt. It is the Potter who does the molding and shaping of the clay, of us. He knows what He wants the finished product to be and what He wants it to look like. He will keep kneading until the clay, until we, are useable. Not 50% useable, not even 98% useable. The clay has to be 100% useable!! Otherwise it will not hold up in the fire. The Potter wants to make something beautiful with us. He knows what the outcome can be. We have to be 100% willing to be molded and shaped His way. No matter how painful it may become.

 That is what God was doing with me. He was kneading me. I was marred. The only way I could be shaped into something with potential, was to be in the Potter’s hands. He didn’t start over, He simply went to work on what He’d already begun. He wasn’t finished. I was like a cracked pot. Not by His doings, but by my own. God was shaping me the way He had wanted. But I fought against Him and bent in my own direction. The loving God that He is, had allowed me to make that choice. Do you see what happens when we go in our own direction? We lose the shape that He had planned for us. He wants to make us into something beautiful. We can’t even begin to imagine just what that something beautiful is.

 As for me, I saw brokenness. God saw potential. I felt empty. God wanted to fill me. So He went to work on this piece of clay. I finally chose to surrender...

 

Have you?

 

In awe of Him,

~Vonda

 

**Heavenly Father, we thank You Lord for Your love. We thank You Lord for not giving up on us. For never throwing us away. Thank You Lord for the potential that only You can see. Father continue to mold and shape us into the pottery that You are designing us to be. When the kneading process feels painful help us to see that it is for our good. Total surrender is what is needed. It is in Your Holy Name that we pray, Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best One For The Job

John 3:16> "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     I am blessed to work where I work. My co-worker's are like family. In fact, one of them is! My sister and I have worked together for about 5 or 6 years. She judges the years by how many winter's she's been there. Our job is very stressful in the winter. It is very demanding. We work for a propane company so you can imagine what it can be like in cold weather!
     This is the beginning of our busy season. People are coming in or calling to pre-order propane for the winter at a very good rate. We get to see a lot of folks! Some are so friendly that they want to stay a while, and some just want to get in and get out! We have some that will come in and ask us to remember them or a loved one in prayer. Some will even come in and we'll ask them to remember us or a loved one in prayer. (Did I mention I am blessed to work where I work?)
     On one particular day, a gentleman came in to pre-order his propane. As soon as he walked through the door you could feel joy in the room! Joy always comes with him, that part is really not new. We just needed his joy at that particular time. He always has a big smile on his face. I mean the kind that draws you in! It's like his very pores just ooze joy!
     Several times he asked us to add up how many gallons he used last year and what the cost would be. And several times we got carried away talking and laughing! (Notice I said "several"?) This wonderful gentleman enjoys talking about the Lord. His smile gets even bigger and his joy oozes even more. It's what he said that grabbed hold of my heart; "Do you know why God sent His only Son to die for us?" Well, of course we knew it was to die for our sins. No one else could do it. But his answer is what I will never forget; "He wanted to send the very best that He had for the job. If you had an important job that had to be done, wouldn't you send the very best that you had to do it?"  Suddenly, how much God loves us became completely different. It was a whole new level I had never thought of. "The very best that He had for the job." Then he said, "God couldn't send an angel to die for us because, Jesus, His only begotten Son, was His very best." (Do you see why we love for this man to come in?)
     It was as if I had just eaten an entire plate of comfort food PLUS dessert. (You know the kind of food that makes you happy, content, satisfied, and full on the inside!!) My insides felt so much comfort. It was as if I had just eaten something new that my taste buds fell in-love with. It was better than meatloaf, fresh peas, rice and gravy, broccoli casserole, squash casserole, slice of cornbread, warm peach cobbler with a scoop of Blue Bell's Moo-llennium Crunch! 
     That's a lot of love that God has for us, for me. He knew exactly what it was going to require to get the job done. He even knew that some would never choose what He had to offer. Some would never believe that He was even real. Some would never believe that His blood could make the darkest heart clean. Yes, it is hard to comprehend that kind of love. However, He does send little morsels for us to taste it. God chose His very best to do what no one else could do. And then He raised His very best from the dead so that the job would be finished. Let that soak in............

 What was the job? A sacrifice for our sins so that we could have eternal life with Him. God's plan was for us to live with Him forever. He sent His very best to be that sacrifice to get the job done!!

***Heavenly Father, what great love You have for us. As undeserving as we are, You chose to send Your ONLY Son to do what no one else could do. Thank You Lord for such great love. Open our hearts to receive Your love daily, Lord. Reveal the areas of disbelief so that we may repent. We praise You Lord for there is none like You. Thank You Lord for sending Your very best for such a job so that we could have eternal life with You. May we never take it for granted. It's in the name of Jesus, Your only Son, Your very best, that we pray ~ Amen.

God Has Hands!

     Do ya’ll remember the song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”? I sang that song as a child and hummed it a few times as an adult. Catchy little tune, I must say. All the time I sang it I never really gave it much thought. Not the part about God having hands. To be honest, I’ve never really thought about God’s being. He was God, I wasn’t suppose to imagine Him with hands. That would seem too human. To be human would mean that He was like you and I. That would totally reduce God from who He really is! God just couldn’t have hands. Could He?
     MANY years ago, when my husband and I were just dating, his hands are what attracted me the most (strange I know!). The way he gripped the steering wheel while he drove sent a tingle down my spine. He had the kind of hands like someone who has done hard manual labor. His hands even looked like he’d been in a few fights in his life; like he could ‘hold-his-own’ so to speak. He had big, strong hands. I knew those hands would protect me. After we had been married for several years, I had gotten a glimpse of his hands once again gripping the steering wheel. The same feeling came over me. He has lived with chronic pain for so many years but yet those big, strong hands were once again taking care of me.
     That got me to thinking of God’s hands. “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span…?”(Isa 40:12) A span is the distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger. That is usually about 9 inches. But we’re talking about God’s hands. His hands measured the waters, the ocean. That’s pretty big!!
     Isaiah 48:13a> “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens”. Not only does that describe how big God’s hands are, it also describes strength. Enough strength to hold an entire world! With that being said, God’s hands are real. If He can measure the waters in the hollow of His hand, measure heaven with a span, and lay the foundations of the earth, then you can bet He can take care of us!
     Even though my husband’s hands are big and strong, they are weak compared to God’s hands. They can’t even come close to His. In my husband’s hands I feel protected, I feel safe. Yet to a degree his hands are somewhat limited. God’s are not. There is nothing to big for God to hold in His hands. When my faith feels torn and tattered, I am learning to remember that God has me in His hands. He has whatever I am facing in His hands. Isn’t that comforting? Yes indeed, God has hands!!
In awe of Him,
~Vonda

Looking For the Living Among the Dead

Luke 24:5-6 > In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee:"

     How we pray is important. I have recently been reminded of that. I have found myself praying like it's something I can check off my list. "Yep, I prayed today!" Chances are I said, "Lord, IF it's Your will." There's a little difference for me to throw "if" in there instead of just flat saying, "Lord, Your will be done." It's my "safe" prayer.
     I had prayed my safe prayer for so long that I didn't realize I was doing it. I had mentally placed a living God among the dead. I certainly wasn't expecting much from Him. I was treating Him as if He were still in the grave. My prayers had become rehearsed. Night after night there just didn't seem to be much of a difference in them. Because I didn't expect much from God, I didn't get much. I was treating Him like someone you would ask a favor from. Not like the powerful God that He was; that He is. The sad thing is, I really had no clue that is what I was doing.
     One night I was laying in bed and it was as if the Lord whispered in my ear, "Do you believe that I can?" It took my breath. I knew what He was talking about. I hadn't said anything nor had I thought anything. But somehow I knew what He meant. The true test...did I believe that this living God was alive? Risen? A grave conqueror? Or did I simply believe He was living among the dead?
     The next word the angel spoke after announcing that Jesus had risen was "Remember". Had I forgotten? Somehow I had. I had forgotten what kind of power it took to suddenly have life breathed into a corpse!! I had forgotten what kind of power it took to walk out of a grave without ever moving a stone!! But that precious night lying in my bed... I had remembered!!!!!
     What have you been afraid to ask God for? Do you believe He can? Or have you somehow left Him in the grave among the dead? Remember...He's not there!!!! He is risen!!!!! Just remember.....

In awe of Him,
~Vonda

Oh Lord Jesus I cannot contain the joy I feel at this very moment! It was with such great and majestic power that life breathed back into a body that was once dead! Nothing could stop Your plan! Lord help us to not set limits on what You can or cannot do. Help us to remember that You are no longer among the dead, that You are truly risen! If death could not stop You then there is absolutely nothing that can! Oh how we praise you Lord! It is in the living and breathing name of Jesus that we pray ~ Amen.