New Month – June 2020 Clearer Vision Because of the Coronavirus

A couple of weeks ago, I met with some of my sisters at a reunion group meeting (Reunion groups are meetings of people who have attended a Via de Cristo weekend) some were talking about the restrictions with the Coronavirus and the negative impact it has had. I feel the opposite. Let me explain.

I feel that the institutional church has become so inverted that God is using this to tell us that church IS NOT about a building and that we are to get our butts into the world and do what he told us to. Make disciples of ALL nations. Can not really do that sitting in a pew.

I also feel that God is telling me that my gifts are for the use of building HIS kingdom not someone else’s. I have devoted so much time to the church I attend that I have actually allowed MY family and home to suffer.

Going forth I have put things in the perspective that God wants:

1. God
2. Family
3. Church

I challenge you all to use this time for clarity and a clearer vision – I mean it is 2020 so check what your vision is geared towards.

God Loves You And So Do I

 

Michele

 

 

Sick of Me – Book Review

Wow, once again Whitney Capps has walked us on a journey of self discovery – NOT, The path she takes us on is one that leads straight to God and how we, as a society, focus on what can I do to make myself better instead of allowing God to make us better.

There are 11 chapters in the book that very easily lead from one plane of discovery about our missteps to another.

I could probably write a review much longer, but I will not. I will tell you to buy the book and read it for yourself,

Best quote: “I spent most of my Christian life doing the right things so that other people will think the right thing about me.”

I do not think I need to say anymore. I give this book 4 Stars.

I have received a free copy of this book in return for an honest and fair review – Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR Part 255

A Bike Ride With God

I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him. But later on, when I met Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus was in the back helping me pedal. I didn’t know just when it was He suggested we change, but life has not been the same since I took the back-seat to Jesus, my Lord. He makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at break-through speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!” I was worried and anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. And when I’d say, “I’m scared”, He’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord’s and mine. And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away; they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found in giving I received, and still our burden was light. I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus. And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more, He just smiles and says… “Pedal.” (Author unknown)

Created to be Creative

The Bible tells us in the Book of Genesis:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;  male and female he created them.”

Since God is the Creator, doesn’t it make sense that humankind, the children He made in His image, would also be creative?  God gave us “dominion” over the world and blessed us with the instructions that we should “be fruitful and multiply.”  This reminds me of the parable of the talents …. the master trusts his servants to be good stewards of what they have been given.  I guess we could take these words superficially and say, well, we’re supposed to populate the earth and work diligently to receive a good return for our labor, but I think God meant for us to go beyond that.

God blessed each one of us with a unique personality and abilities.  Some of us will be artists, writers and craftsmen, but creativity doesn’t stop there.  We can all imagine creative ways to do what we love to do.  There are creative parents, teachers, business owners and cooks.  There are people who get creative about ways to be generous, ways to relate to different cultures, ways to invent useful gadgets.  I think people feel most completely fulfilled when they’re getting creative about the things they find fascinating and enjoyable;  the things God created them to do, to understand or to learn about.

What gets your creative juices going?  What are the talents God gifted you with?  Are you spending your time on them?  If not, why not?  Start now.

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:  if prophecy in proportion to our faith;  if service, in our serving;  the one who teaches, in his teaching;  the one who exhorts, in exhortation;  the one who contributes, in generosity;  the one who leads, with zeal;  the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”  Romans 8:6-8