“One evening, after yet another of his magnificent concerts, world renowned pianist Van Cliburn was approached by an admirer who had been in the audience.
Obviously touched by the performance, the emotional fan grasped Cliburn’s hand and said:
‘I would give my life to be able to play the piano like that.”
The pianist smiled and replied, “I DID”
Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Have a great day!!
I realize it’s been a while since I have posted. There have been many distractions, including the ice storm, that have taken my focus away from all reading and writing.
You know, the valley doesn’t always have to be very deep, but it’s still a valley. I think I’m on the upward climb back to the mountain top.
I read a quote today that means a lot to me.
“Life is not about the breaths we take, it’s about the moments that take our breath away.”
-Anonymous
I’m thankful that I serve a merciful and forgiving Lord and Savior. His love and grace take my breath away!!
God Bless!!
How vivid is your memory?
Do you remember specific details about life events?
When Father God is speaking to you, do you write down the details of your conversation?
Over the last couple of years, I have been keeping a journal (hand written and blog).
Here is a sample:
This is part of a prayer that I wrote on September 6th, 2006.
“Father, thank you for your presence. I sense and feel your Holy Spirit encouraging me. Thank you for your Word. Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. Life brings stress and anxiety, but you bring calmness and peace. I worship you Father God. My soul rejoices, my heart yearns for you, my mind needs to be filled with the knowledge and understanding of your word.”
Without my notebook, I would never remember the details of this season in my life.
Scripture calls upon us to write our thoughts and conversations with God.
Habakkuk 2:2 The Message
2-3And then God answered: “Write this.
Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
so that it can be read on the run.Habakkuk 2:2 NASB
”2Then the LORD answered me and said,
”Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That the one who reads it may run.”
Try writing down your thoughts and prayers for a couple of days. Return to your journal in a couple of weeks and revisit your thoughts. It has been a blessing to be able to return to my journal and to see how God has answered prayers that I do not remember praying.
Allow Father God to speak with you today. God Bless!!
Driving the interstate and parkways requires us to pay attention to road signs or we get lost or spend time backtracking to get to our destination.
Driving throughout our Christian life requires us to pay attention to God’s road signs or we get lost or spend time backtracking to get to our destination.
God provides the road signs for our life in his Word.
He gives us clear direction in times of stress, anxiety and worry.
Philippians 4:4-8
”4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
God wants to direct our paths by helping us with our thinking….
”We are all searching for truth”
“We are all looking for God”
“We crave meaning”
“We long to trust”
“We need to believe in Something”
“We need to believe in Someone”
“We need to believe in God”
“Is it possible that God is like a father waiting for us to read the signs?” McManus
Read Philippians 4…..this passage is full of road signs, it has meaning, and isn’t that what we are looking for?
As I finish the book “Soul Cravings” by McManus, the word “truth” is mentioned several times.
I searched www.biblegateway.com for the word truth and realized that the phrase, “I tell you the truth,” is found 78 times in the NIV.
Jesus is all about the truth. In fact, in John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life…..”
Check out some of the lines from “Soul Cravings.”
“Jesus didn’t come advocating a better idea.”
“Jesus’ claim was nothing less than “I am the truth.”
“He moved from rational to relational. He was tell the disciples the truth is not an answer, it is a PERSON………..No matter how many true things you come to know, they will never leave you satisfied until you find your way to the ONE who is the very source of truth.”
“Jesus invites us to know him as the One who is the way, the truth and the life.”
Our search for truth in this world is a natural and internal desire for Jesus. He is the cool water that quenches our thirst. He is the calm in the storm. He is that still small voice in the quiet and that same still small voice in the chaos of our lives.
McManus finishes a section with this: “When we are drowning in the counterfeit, our souls become sick. When we are immersed in what is true, we begin to experience wholeness and health. Even when you feel like you’re driving blind, full spead ahead in the middle of the night, you have to keep going; you have to continue searching for truth; you have to keep looking for meaning; you have to keep trying to make sense of life. When life doesn’t make sense, it becomes all about trust. Sometimes you’re driving full spead down a very dark road. All you can do is trust the driver and let him take you home.”
Jesus is with us as we enter the storms. Trust the driver!
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
That truth is Jesus.
“Then you will know Jesus and Jesus will set you free!!”
My search in this life is ultimately about truth. It’s a natural craving to find truth. It’s tough to find because this world is full of deception. Deception is easy to find and the truth seems to be a challenge. It’s only a challenge to me because I take my eyes off of the TRUTH.
Jesus says, “I am the way, the TRUTH and the life…”
I tell you the truth…….I make it harder than it should be!
