It's Just A Little Dirty Water

Earlier I posted that my husband and I had a nice and relaxing getaway weekend recently. While it's true we did have a wonderful and relaxing time, the trip was not without some drama. One morning we decided to go to breakfast at a popular national chain known for it's pancakes, French toast and waffles. It was a busy morning and the place was bustling with vacationers and locals alike. Our waitress was a pleasant young woman with a bright smile and friendly demeanor. She was quite attentive to us in spite of the busy hour. We were about half way through our breakfast when I noticed a liquid drop onto my plate. I looked up to see the air conditioning vent above us was dripping. Within minutes, several drops of the water dropped on both my omelet and my husband's. We stared at each other in disbelieve. That was truly the most disgusting thing I had ever experienced in a restaurant. There was no way I was going to finish that food. It was only a few drops of rusty A/C vent water but it had contaminated my entire plate of food! Isn't sin a lot like that? We often think that a "little sin" is no big deal but in fact, it only takes a little sin to separate us from a holy God. Our human nature deceives us by making us think that the good we do will out weigh the bad, thereby getting us into heaven. Maybe you think God grades on a curve so that only the really bad...the Aldolf Hitlers and Osama Bin Ladens go to hell. Maybe you don't even think there is a hell. The Bible tells us differently. The truth is that our sin is even more disgusting to God than that dirty water on my omelet was to me. The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned and falls short of God's standard. (Romans 3:23). Scripture makes it abundantly clear that there is not one person who is good enough...who does good...who is righteous in his own right. (Psalm 14:3, Psalm 53:1-3 and Romans 3:9-11). Even the smallest of sin will separate us from a holy God. Just as those small drops of dirty water contaminated my omelet, so a small sin contaminates the human soul. Just as my omelet was no longer fit for human consumption, so does a little sin deem us unfit for heaven. Unlike the manager of the restaurant in question who was unwilling to do anything about the dripping vent, our loving God made a provision for you and for me. He provided a way for us to get into heaven in spite of our sin. (John 3:16) Jesus  came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life (the only one to ever do so) and died an agonizing, humiliating death on a Roman cross so that you and I could have eternal life in heaven. (Romans 10:9-10) My hope and prayer is that you have, at some point in your life, made a conscious decision to put your trust and faith in Jesus for forgiveness of your sins. If you have, you have the unspeakable joy of forgiveness and an eternity in heaven with God, our Creator and Father.

If you have not put your trust and faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, why not do that today? Take a look at the prayer below. Speak it out loud to God. Today is the day of salvation. Do not harden your heart. (2 Corinthians 6:2 and Hebrews 4:7)

Blessings,
Teresa

Hope

Hope can be an encouraging word. It should be an encouraging word. Hope is what sustains us when all else seems lost. Hope is what allows us to get out of bed when all around us seems mired down in the muck of this world. Hope...a simple four letter word that whispers "you will get through this" to your soul. For some reason, I've been thinking about hope a lot lately. "I hope it doesn't rain today." "I hope I don't get caught behind a school bus on the way work." "I hope my friend comes through her battle with cancer with a full and complete recovery...this side of heaven."  We all hope for and hope in a lot of things.  All of this "hope" got me thinking about what or who my hope is in. My hope should not be in the stuff of this world or in what man can or cannot do for me. My hope is in the Lord. He is One who provides my daily breath. My daily bread. My daily needs. He is the One who secured my eternal salvation through His brutal death on a Roman cross. He is the One who knit me together in my mother's womb. He is the One who chose me before the foundation of the world and predestined me to adoption into His family. In light of that, it really should not matter what happens to me here on this earth. I have a savior who loves me and will never leave me nor forsake me. I have a God who sees all that goes on around and to me. He is El Roi-the God who sees. He will uphold me with His righteous right hand! What a mighty God we serve. Amen? AMEN!

Blessings,
Teresa

Relaxing Getaway Weekend!

This past weekend, my husband & I were blessed to be able to go away to the beach for three days. I found a great deal on a hotel right on the beach and we both took Friday off from work. My parents kept Hannah Grace for us so we were "child free" as well. I had almost forgotten how precious time away from the hustle and bustle of life can be. There were no urgent emails or text messages from a colleague or boss. There was no ringing telephone while trying to eat lunch. There was no alarm clock to awaken us before dawn each morning. There was no schedule...no special place to be at a special time. It was glorious! It was a chance to play tourist, to go to bed when I felt like it and wake up when I felf like it. It was chance to walk along the beach at sunset and see the sun resting on the horizon. It was a chance to lie on the beach  and just enjoy the sound of the waves crashing on the beach. It was a chance to sing the theme song from "Green Acres" until my husband laughed so hard he almost cried. I love moments like that. Moments that remind me that life is good and worth living. Moments that remind me that I am loved and blessed far more than I deserve. It was a wonderful weekend. One that was long overdue and much appreciated.

Blessings,
Teresa

St. Pete Beach, Florida
 

In The Shadow of the Cross

Our ladies discipleship class is going through Chuck Swindoll's book "Esther: A Woman of Strength & Dignity".  I've studied Esther a number of times but have still learned so much more from this study. One of concepts Swindoll brings out in our most recent chapter is that our lives are in the shadow of the cross. That idea kept coming back to me for days after reading it. I started thinking about shadows and what it would look like if I truly lived my life in an awareness of the shadow of the cross. I've been deeply touched by some of the things I think God has been showing me so I want to share them with you.

I first started thinking about a shadow: what is it and how is it formed. Shadows are formed when an object blocks a light source. You can't have shadows without a light source. As Christians, Jesus is our light source. One of His "I AM statements" is found in John 8:12 when Jesus said "I am the Light of the world." Because we are secure in Him, we do not walk in darkness but have Him to guide our path. We don't have to stumble through life, but have a clear path in which to walk.  Shadows also provide relief from the direct heat. When we are intentional about our walk with Him, paying close attention to stay in His shadow, we find relief from the heat and burdens of life. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. We can lay our burdens down in the shadow of the cross and trust that He will lighten our load. Whatever is weighing us down: anger, bitterness, illness, financial trouble, rebellious children,...whatever it is, we can leave it in the shadow of the cross. It may not go away but He will provide rest for us in the midst of it.

So what is weighing you down today? Do you have a child that is on a path that you know if not God's plan for his or her life? Do you have a job in which too much is demanded of your time and energy? Do you have a spouse that is cold and distant? Are you struggling to come to grips with an abusive past? Is there a life threatening illness lurking in your mind or body? Is your family on the verge of financial collapse? Whatever it is, give it to Jesus. Lay it down in the shadow of the cross. Enjoy the relief of laying down your burden. I'm going to make a concerted effort to daily live my life in the shadow of the cross.  Won't you join me?

Blessings,
Teresa