Thoughts Along the Journey

I don't think any kid ever wrote a "what I want to be when I grow up" school report entitled, "I Want to Be a Brick". At least I hope not! Read this Scripture, though. "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2:5) We are all part of this "building" God is making. With Christ as the Head, we are all part. Right now, I'm praying about what my part in the local body of believers should be. Where do I fit in? What place does God want me to step into? Where can He best use the gifts He has given me? I can't just warm a pew. It's not part of the deal. If a brick or stone decides to jump out of place in the wall of a building, there can be some serious consequences! If I decide, as one of the "bricks" in this building called the Church, to just step aside and let everyone else fill the places of ministry, the...

You can check out my new blog, called Ramblings of a Freckled Mom . Something different , anyway. (Which describes me pretty well, now that I think about it!) :o)

If you're wondering about the title, refer to the earlier post "What's In a Name?" I hope I'm not alone in having one of those moments (hours, days, weeks...) when I feel like I've blown it. I mean, in every area of life-responsibility God has given me, I have just made a mess of things: as a mom, as a teacher, as a wife, as a woman...the list could go on, but why bother. My impatience, anger, words, actions--none of them have been in the "What Would Jesus Do" category! The "stuff" of life has really gotten me down today. So, I'm sorry this post is such a downer. You can pray for me. I know this "funk" won't last. It sure is a bummer while it continues, though. Maybe you can give me some sage bits of advice on how to go on from here.

I think the shootings in Virginia have made many in our country (and probably other countries) take a long, hard look at how precious life is. And how quickly it can end. None of those young people expected Monday to be their last day. It makes me ponder ways I can make my life count every day and every moment--a life of no regrets. After I finished my post yesterday, I blog hopped a little. I found the blog of a new mom in England, who is struggling to know how to raise her new little son in the right ways (schedule or no schedule, snack or no snack, etc.). It was refreshing to read about a new little life. One full of all the possibilities of the years ahead. Then today, the front page of our paper had two great stories. One dealt with a man being freed from jail, after serving 16 years for a crime he did not participate in. The other story was of the U. S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the ban on partial-birth abortion. Both spoke to me of life. The man who is now free ...

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15) If you read my blog on any semi-regular basis, you have probably noticed that I haven't said a single word about the shootings at Virginia Tech. It is not due to my lack of care or concern. It is simply because I'm still trying to process it all. How can our little hearts and minds wrap themselves around a tragedy so immense? It has affected me somewhat the same way 9/11 did: shock, grief, confusion, and a strong desire to pray, pray, and pray some more. The verse I quoted above is actually in the context of the Christian community, and how we should relate to one another. I don't feel I'm doing the verse any injustice, though, by using it to refer to this situation, as well as any other time we need to minister to those who are hurting. How will the world know we are His disciples, unless we walk in His love and show it to those who need it most? It is not the time for us to stan...

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:...'I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead.' " (Revelation 3:1a, 2) The church in Sardis had the right name. Everyone thought they were full of life. But, through the Spirit, John wrote to them the truth of how God saw them: dead. Ouch. There is a man mentioned in Acts that had a name, too. (I know that sounds funny, but read on.) "Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet." (Acts 4:36-37) You have to admit that Joseph is a great name. It means "He adds". The first reference to this name is seen in Genesis. (30:24) Rachel's firstborn son. And, of course, it was the name of our Lord's earthly father. That name carries some honor, I would say. The apostles saw something more ...

My two kiddos have created their own blogs. They are really "into" it! They make sure they post something every day. They respond to comments. The truly beautiful thing about it? They're honing their writing skills and having fun. Imagine that: education that's fun! They have inspired me to be more diligent with my own blog, while at the same time limiting my time to do that! Oh, well. They're enjoying it.

I saw a great post on Patrick's Ponderings . It is entitled, "The Many and the Few." Take just a moment to hop over there and read it. It's well worth your time!

Today, we celebrated the Feast of Divine Mercy. It was proclaimed a feast by Pope John Paul II a few years ago. The whole point, as it follows so closely after Easter, is to remember the Passion and Resurrection--His great mercy poured out for the world--and to pray for His mercy for both ourselves, and for all the world. To quote our parish priest, Fr. Joe: "It is very important for us to celebrate this feast because the mercy of God is at the heart of the Gospel. This is why God became man, suffered, died on the cross, and rose from the dead, so that we might know the great love and mercy of God. How sad that so many in the world do not know of the mercy of God. If we believe in what we celebrated last Sunday, then we must believe in God's love and mercy; and if we believe in His Divine Mercy, then we must seek that mercy and proclaim it to all we meet." (quoted from our church bulletin) The focus of our prayers this morning was to ask God for His mercy for us (...

I wanted to share the words from a song we often sing in church, which was also sung at the Easter vigil this past Saturday night. Our family took a big step that night...a wonderful step, though. Now to see what is ahead! Christ Be Our Light v. 1--This is the night of new beginnings. This is the night when heaven meets earth. This is the night, filled with God's glory, Promise of our new birth! Refrain: Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in Your church gathered today. v. 2--This is the night Christ our redeemer Rose from the grave, triumphant and free, Leaving the tomb of evil and darkness, Empty for all to see. v. 3--Now will the fire kindled in darkness Burn to dispel the shadows of night. Star of the morning, endless as heaven, Dawning throughout the earth. v. 4--Sing of the ...

We had a busy, busy week last week and weekend. I'm just trying to recuperate from all of that. New posts are on the way...once I can think straight again! :o)

Another addition... "My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Cleave to Him and do not depart, that you may be honored at the end of your life. Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in Him, and He will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in Him." (Sirach 2:1-6)

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

I will let the Scripture speak for itself. ______________________ "...He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7b) "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' " (John 1:29) "Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, 'Behold the Man!' " (John 19:5) "And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!' " (Mark 15:39) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and ...

Today, another quote from Let Go by Fenelon. Trials are inevitable. Walking through them, we can either grow or let them overwhelm us. "None of us are wise enough to properly apportion grace and suffering. We cannot see the extent of our future trials, nor of the vast supplies of which God is storing up in us so that we can meet them. And because we cannot see those future trials, nor the grace that will be needed for them, we are tempted to become discouraged and despondent in our present situations. We see our trials rolling in toward us like great, overpowering, ocean waves. Our hearts fail us with fear at the prospect of drowning. We do not see that we stand within the point at which God, with a steady finger, has drawn the boundary line. Beyond that line the waves cannot pass. God often allows us to be tested as one is tested by a stormy sea. God stirs up the sea, and makes its great billows seem to threaten destruction. But He is always at hand to say, 'Thu...

I received the following prayer request from a friend of ours. Please keep Winkie in your prayers. --Joni ____________________ Winkie Pratney, well-known minister, author and conference speaker is in critical condition in a hospital in South Korea and needs our prayers. Septic shock is currently threatening his life. Winkie went to a conference in South Korea last week and was admitted to a hospital after a fall. Upon hospitalization he underwent two serious surgeries that have led to a series of complications. The following details are from a prayer update by Steve Loopstra, Executive Director of Prayer Transformation Ministries: "His first surgery was on the 26th and was a herniotomy. The next day it was clear there was more at play than a hernia, so on the 27th Winkie underwent major surgery on his whole abdominal cavity. They found several adhesions of his bowel which were causing intestinal obstruction. The condition of his transverse colon was very severe, so t...