Harvesting was in full swing so I drove to the field where my husband was at work to take pictures of the combines in operation. As I walked through the freshly-cut grain field I spotted two red roses like gems hidden in the golden stubble. Though this was late in the season, the tall wheat stocks had shielded the blooms from direct sun that would otherwise have faded their deep-rose colour. Their proximity to the ground had protected them from getting chewed up by the teeth of the combine.
As I paused to admire them and reserve their beauty on film, I contemplated the purpose for which the Creator caused this tiny bush to blossom where until a few minutes ago it was hidden from view by the crop. Certainly it is the Creator’s purpose for a plant to bloom and produce seed after its kind. But why in a spot where no one would have delighted in their beauty if I had not happened along? Did God tuck these little flowers here just for me to discover and enjoy?
I thought of the myriads of flowers that bloom on forest floors or tucked away in crevices where no human eye ever sees them. For whom is their beauty displayed? As I ponder the reason, the words of Sir Isaac Watts came to mind. “There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glory known.” True, God delights in His creation and He placed them there to bloom for His glory. He derives pleasure out of the beauty He has made as He did when He created the world and proclaimed it good. His angels see it and praise Him. The devil’s troops observe God’s handiwork and realize that despite all their efforts to thwart God’s purposes, the splendour of His creation continues. Nothing good is ever lost. Standing there in the sun-soaked field, I prayed that God would keep me faithful in whatever purpose He has for me.
All this came back to me much later while flipping through a pile of old and faded clippings that had been passed on it me. I came across a poem by an unknown author that brought back the memory of my prayer that day when I stood in the stubble admiring the roses.
“Father, where shall I work today
And my love flowed warm and free
Then He pointed out a tiny spot
And said, “Tend that for me.”
“Why, no one would ever see
No matter how well my work was done,
Not that little place for me.”
And the word He spoke, it was not stern
He answered me tenderly,
“Ah, little one, search that heart of yours,
Are you working for them or me?
Nazareth was a little place,
And so was Calvary.”
InScribe Writers Online Blog - Where members share their writings with each other and the world
June 18, 2010
June 16, 2010
Do We Know When God Disciplines Us?
Scripture: Hebrews 12: 1-13
Since we can become so entangled in sin, the Bible tells us to throw off all that hinders us. God knows what those things are, and we ought to be aware of any sin that may be a hindrance to our walk with God. If we become all wrapped up in sin, we become entangled. When we become entangled, where are our thoughts? In the web or heart of sin of course.
God says to throw it off and make a run for it. Throw off the sin and persevere or chase the plan that God has marked for us. When our focus is on Jesus we don’t have to become entangled. Jesus disentangled the web of sin on the cross. With the joy set before Him, “He endured the cross scorning its shame.” (Hebrews 12:2b)
This is the same joy and hope we can now possess and are running toward. Consider how our Savior endured opposition from sinful men. Let us not forget that like Jesus, we too face temptation and scorn. Do you hear him saying, don’t lose heart, I will encourage you until you finish the race?
How do we stand the test of faith when we are persecuted or struggling with sin? Paul endured hardship to the point of being chained like a criminal. Hebrews 12:4 says, “Have you not resisted to the point of shedding your blood?” Have you not let go and dealt with your sins? Jesus, the sinless One submitted His will.
Can we surrender our all and be like Jesus? Why do we sometimes resist and continue to struggle with sin? Have we forgotten God’s promises of encouragement and truth? We must allow God to discipline us lovingly. He disciplines us for our own good, that way we may share in His Holiness. What a delight!
As God disciplines His dearly loved children as true sons and daughters, He picks us up by the collar and offers reassurance that He is in charge and corrects us when we do wrong. Hebrews 12:8b says, “If we are not disciplined we are illegitimate, we are not true sons.” God disciplines out of love. We ought to allow God to lead us aright. We cannot live a holy life in a web of sin. We must throw off all that hinders us and get right with God so that we can know His holiness, righteousness and peace. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Thoughts:
-Gods Word tells us to be aware of the devils schemes. Are you aware of any type of tricks that the devil may have attempted with you?
- Are you open and honest with God with your shortcomings or perhaps unconfessed sin?
-Are you trusting God to help you with your brokenness? How?
-Can you witness to the harvest of righteousness that came out of a personal trial?
June 15, 2010
Mother Knows Nothing
I know nothing. My daughter lets me know this whenever we are at that photo computer in Walmart and I begin pushing buttons to develop my pictures. “Mom,” she says, turning around to see if anybody is watching. “Don’t you know anything?”
My son also reminds me of my lack of competence whenever we are driving. “Didn’t you forget to do something, Mom?” he asks. “You really should drive with both hands on the wheel.” I do hope they remember their own advice when they take the wheel.
“Don’t say anything, Mom. Please,” begs my older daughter when her boyfriend comes to pick her up. Apparently I’m from the Middle Ages and he wouldn’t understand my language.
Funny, though. My daughter burst in the door at noon hour the other day and said “I have a project due right after lunch, Help!”
I translated words from English into French for her so quickly that I forgot how dumb I was. My daughter must not have noticed either. And then there’s the case of that butterscotch square I baked for her and her friends. Awesome, she called it. Again, a momentary lapse on her part. I may have to take her to a counselor. She's showing signs of schizophrenia. One moment I’m the simpleton mother that is only good for driving her gym clothes and lunch to the school on the days she forgets and the next moment I’m amazing. She may need to be medicated to straighten her out. After all I find it confusing. Some days I actually have thoughts of grandeur. Perhaps it’s me that needs the drugs.
No, come to think of it, I’m sure it’s my daughter that needs the doctor. Today when I attended Track and Field day to watch her compete, she couldn’t hear me calling her name, though she was only a few feet away. The other girls turned and looked but she seemed totally unaware that I existed. Poor hearing does run in our family, it seems. I finally caught her by the arm as she was running by. “Did you apply sunscreen?” I asked, facing her directly so she could read my lips if necessary.
She rolled her eyes up into her head. I immediately took her temperature. Sun-stroke, I was sure of it.
“Where’s your water bottle?” I asked, hoping that a drink of cool water would revive her from the heat.
“You were supposed to bring it. Where is it?” she asked.
Oh dear. She believes I actually know something. She’s accrediting me with knowledge. She really must be going into shock.
I was tempted to retrieve the water bottle for her that she’d left on the grass by the 100 metre run. After all, she needed cool water. But I didn’t want to embarrass her by saying that I actually knew where it was. Besides, I was getting confused at that point. Did I actually know something? Couldn’t be. She must be tricking me. She’s hallucinating, I’m sure.
“Is it possible that you left your water bottle back there on the grass?” I asked with my head down, ashamed to one-up her.
At this point her hearing seemed to return, her eyes focused on me and she even managed a weak smile.
“That’s my girl!” I said, reaching out for a hug. I leaned in and she leaned away, as if I had forgotten to use hand-disinfectant. At that point she mentioned the fact that she needed more money. “To buy a hot dog,” she said.
“I thought I gave you enough money this morning.”
Her jaw clenched and she fixed her blue eyes on mine. “Mom.” She spoke slowly so I could understand. “I want to buy a frozen yogurt too. Do you want me to eat nutritiously or not?”
Hmmm, I thought as I watched her long jumping from a distance. She had pointed out the bench to me half a mile from the long-jump pit. She’s learning something – she’s eating yogurt, staying away from germs, and she’s discovered my name. Not bad for a day’s work.
That night as I rubbed aloe-vera lotion onto the back of her sun-burned legs, she pointed out that I missed a spot. It felt so good to settle back into the familiar security, that once again, I know nothing.
My son also reminds me of my lack of competence whenever we are driving. “Didn’t you forget to do something, Mom?” he asks. “You really should drive with both hands on the wheel.” I do hope they remember their own advice when they take the wheel.
“Don’t say anything, Mom. Please,” begs my older daughter when her boyfriend comes to pick her up. Apparently I’m from the Middle Ages and he wouldn’t understand my language.
Funny, though. My daughter burst in the door at noon hour the other day and said “I have a project due right after lunch, Help!”
I translated words from English into French for her so quickly that I forgot how dumb I was. My daughter must not have noticed either. And then there’s the case of that butterscotch square I baked for her and her friends. Awesome, she called it. Again, a momentary lapse on her part. I may have to take her to a counselor. She's showing signs of schizophrenia. One moment I’m the simpleton mother that is only good for driving her gym clothes and lunch to the school on the days she forgets and the next moment I’m amazing. She may need to be medicated to straighten her out. After all I find it confusing. Some days I actually have thoughts of grandeur. Perhaps it’s me that needs the drugs.
No, come to think of it, I’m sure it’s my daughter that needs the doctor. Today when I attended Track and Field day to watch her compete, she couldn’t hear me calling her name, though she was only a few feet away. The other girls turned and looked but she seemed totally unaware that I existed. Poor hearing does run in our family, it seems. I finally caught her by the arm as she was running by. “Did you apply sunscreen?” I asked, facing her directly so she could read my lips if necessary.
She rolled her eyes up into her head. I immediately took her temperature. Sun-stroke, I was sure of it.
“Where’s your water bottle?” I asked, hoping that a drink of cool water would revive her from the heat.
“You were supposed to bring it. Where is it?” she asked.
Oh dear. She believes I actually know something. She’s accrediting me with knowledge. She really must be going into shock.
I was tempted to retrieve the water bottle for her that she’d left on the grass by the 100 metre run. After all, she needed cool water. But I didn’t want to embarrass her by saying that I actually knew where it was. Besides, I was getting confused at that point. Did I actually know something? Couldn’t be. She must be tricking me. She’s hallucinating, I’m sure.
“Is it possible that you left your water bottle back there on the grass?” I asked with my head down, ashamed to one-up her.
At this point her hearing seemed to return, her eyes focused on me and she even managed a weak smile.
“That’s my girl!” I said, reaching out for a hug. I leaned in and she leaned away, as if I had forgotten to use hand-disinfectant. At that point she mentioned the fact that she needed more money. “To buy a hot dog,” she said.
“I thought I gave you enough money this morning.”
Her jaw clenched and she fixed her blue eyes on mine. “Mom.” She spoke slowly so I could understand. “I want to buy a frozen yogurt too. Do you want me to eat nutritiously or not?”
Hmmm, I thought as I watched her long jumping from a distance. She had pointed out the bench to me half a mile from the long-jump pit. She’s learning something – she’s eating yogurt, staying away from germs, and she’s discovered my name. Not bad for a day’s work.
That night as I rubbed aloe-vera lotion onto the back of her sun-burned legs, she pointed out that I missed a spot. It felt so good to settle back into the familiar security, that once again, I know nothing.
Pam Mytroen
June 12, 2010
Reading the new way - Violet Nesdoly
It's only been about four months since I downloaded the (free) Kindle app onto my iPod touch. In that time reading on this handy little device has found a very secure place in my reading habits. Here are some reasons I love this new way of reading:
1. Adjustable font size
Whenever I tell people I read on this 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch gadget with its 2 x 3 inch display, they ask: Isn't it hard to see? My answer: Not at all.
Unlike when you read other materials on the iPod and need to adjust the tiny font size with a finger motion on the touch screen, the Kindle program comes with five pre-set font sizes. You can choose the size that's comfortable and never worry about it after that.
2. Backlit
I can read in bed - and with the lights out! However, it is hard to read on a backlit display in bright sunlight.
3. Highlightable and Notable
I stumbled across the highlight and notation function quite by accident. During the reading of my first Kindle book, I noticed once in a while as I was "turning a page" (done by sweeping a finger across the screen to the left to go forward, to the right to go backward), a symbol. Under my swooping finger appeared what looked like a magnifying glass. When I lifted my finger from the screen the word from under the glass remained selected with dots - handles - attached. I discovered I could then touch those handles, stretching the selection to cover many words and choose to "Note" or "Highlight".
If I chose "Note" the keyboard appeared and I could type and save some text to identify the spot. If I chose "Highlight" the selected text turned yellow as if I had used a highlighter on it.
You can later find the spots marked this way in 'bookmarks' (appears as a book icon in a toolbar when you touch the bottom of the screen).
4. Easy to save my spot
Dog-ear the page by touching the right upper corner of the screen. (Un-dog-ear it by touching it again.) The program also 'remembers' the farthest place you have read or paged to in the book.
5. Many books with me all the time
I love never being without a book. I can tuck this virtual library into a tiny pocket of my smallest handbag. My little iPod book collection has helped me pass the time while waiting in restaurants, at the doctor's office, whenever I have a minute to read. It includes writings by Andrew Murray, George Muller, G. K. Chesterton, Charles Spurgeon, and ten classic children's novels.
No, my little reading device doesn't smell like a book, or feel like a book. But I have grown quite fond of it anyway.
- By Violet Nesdoly
*********************
Website: www.violetnesdoly.com
1. Adjustable font size
Whenever I tell people I read on this 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch gadget with its 2 x 3 inch display, they ask: Isn't it hard to see? My answer: Not at all.
Unlike when you read other materials on the iPod and need to adjust the tiny font size with a finger motion on the touch screen, the Kindle program comes with five pre-set font sizes. You can choose the size that's comfortable and never worry about it after that.
2. Backlit
I can read in bed - and with the lights out! However, it is hard to read on a backlit display in bright sunlight.
3. Highlightable and Notable
I stumbled across the highlight and notation function quite by accident. During the reading of my first Kindle book, I noticed once in a while as I was "turning a page" (done by sweeping a finger across the screen to the left to go forward, to the right to go backward), a symbol. Under my swooping finger appeared what looked like a magnifying glass. When I lifted my finger from the screen the word from under the glass remained selected with dots - handles - attached. I discovered I could then touch those handles, stretching the selection to cover many words and choose to "Note" or "Highlight".
If I chose "Note" the keyboard appeared and I could type and save some text to identify the spot. If I chose "Highlight" the selected text turned yellow as if I had used a highlighter on it.
You can later find the spots marked this way in 'bookmarks' (appears as a book icon in a toolbar when you touch the bottom of the screen).
4. Easy to save my spot
Dog-ear the page by touching the right upper corner of the screen. (Un-dog-ear it by touching it again.) The program also 'remembers' the farthest place you have read or paged to in the book.
5. Many books with me all the time
I love never being without a book. I can tuck this virtual library into a tiny pocket of my smallest handbag. My little iPod book collection has helped me pass the time while waiting in restaurants, at the doctor's office, whenever I have a minute to read. It includes writings by Andrew Murray, George Muller, G. K. Chesterton, Charles Spurgeon, and ten classic children's novels.
No, my little reading device doesn't smell like a book, or feel like a book. But I have grown quite fond of it anyway.
- By Violet Nesdoly
*********************
Website: www.violetnesdoly.com- Personal blog promptings
- Writerly blog Line upon line
- Daily devotions for children Bible Drive-Thru
- Daily devotions for adults: Other Food: daily devo
- A poem portfolio
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