It has been about a month since the 3rd session of Maywood Christian; but I looked forward to it for quite some time before it finally came around. My plan for the week was to fully savor each moment. I wanted to store treasured memories in my heart. It turned out to be one of the best weeks I ever had!
It began on the way to camp. Our great nephew rode with me. As any 9 year old would be he was excited to be on the road. He talked non-stop all the way there. Naturally his enthusiasm fueled my own.
"I've been waiting ever since I woke up this morning!"
"Oh, I can't wait to get there!"
"Will Nathan be there this year?"
"I wonder if any of the other friends I made last year will be there."
"Do you think I will be in the same cabin as last year?"
These were just a few of the questions and comments tossed my way. About three quarters of the way to Maywood, he started recognizing landmarks. I thought it was amazing he could remember so much when he'd only been that way once - and a year ago at that.
"We don't take this exit do we? It's the second one right?" he asked.
"That's right," was my reply.
"Hey, Aunt Robin - we've been on this road before."
"Yes - about a year ago," I said. He smiled.
It became our running joke. He would say something like - "we were here before" or "I remember this." And I would say, "about a year ago." I could see his smile; but I only knew he was laughing because his shoulders were shaking. Hunter is a great kid. I love being around him. We were both happy to finally arrive at Maywood Christian Camp.
Now, imagine longing for a place filled with joy and love - where beautiful songs of praise are heard on a regular basis. Everyone is happy to see everyone else - there is no hatred - all prejudices are gone. The worries of the world are gone. This place is full of love and light.
Am I talking about Maywood Christian Camp? No. I am not talking about this great place on earth, although much of what I described is true. I have never seen the place I'm talking about -- I have never been there; but it is real and I long to go someday.
Heaven is a REAL place - a wonderful place filled with mercy, and joy and love- a place of indescribable beauty where peace abounds because God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are all there. Oh how I want to be in this place prepared from "before the foundation of the world" for those who choose to serve Christ!
The good news is we can be there. It is not an impossible dream - if we are willing to love Christ enough to follow His commands. See it takes more than saying we love Him. As the apostle John says,we must not only love in word; but in deed and truth. Love is an action word.
Consider a young couple who have dated for several months. Perhaps the young man tells the young lady he loves her. He treats her with kindness. He respects her body. He encourages her dreams and ambitions. In other words, he shows her he loves her by his actions.
But what about the young lady? Perhaps she says she loves him too; but she does not return his kindness. She demeans him and expresses no faith in his abilities. She dashes his dreams and expects him to pay attention only to her. Does she love him? What do her actions say?
So many times our actions show the exact opposite of what we say!
Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments."
"Oh, but I do love you, Jesus."
"Whoever has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
So what are the commands of Jesus? Love God above all else. Seek His kingdom first. Love others as yourself. Treat others as you would have others treat you. Forgive others - even your enemies.
Umm, what was that? Forgive my enemies? Surely Jesus didn't say that? Yes - yes He did. I know it is not an easy thing to do - sometimes it is the most difficult thing we will ever do; but through the love and strength of Christ we can learn to forgive.
These are only some of the basic tenets of the Christian lifestyle - one that is fully focused on loving God and living for Him. There are others such as repenting of any unrighteousness in our lives and being baptized to wash away our sins.
The thing is we have to study the Word of God to know what Jesus tells us to do and how He wants us to live. In order to get to the place we long for, we have to know what Christ wants us to keep (obey).
We learn this through the gospels and the other books of the Bible. This is where we learn about Christ, His love and His commandments. The scriptures are the only thing we have to go by in order to get to that beautiful place called heaven. Nothing else can get us there. Nothing.
Yes, heaven is real. God is real. He is the one true and living God. Jesus is real. He reigns in heaven with God. The Holy Spirit is real too.
The thing is we have to choose. We have to choose to believe in God and Christ and the Spirit. We have to choose to believe heaven is a real place waiting for those who make this choice. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (ESV).
God will reward the ones who believe in Him - who seek Him. Jesus declared oneness with the Father. He said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Just a few verses later Jesus said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (v.15) - which is about where we started. :) So we've gone full circle on this.
Hunter and I (and a lot of other folks) wait all year long for one wonderful week at Maywood Christian Camp. This year my week was very special indeed. I have many precious memories stored up in my heart. I will always cherish them.
Yet the place I long for most is more wonderful than even the best week at Maywood. Let us show our love for Christ by keeping His commandments. Let's study the Word so we can know all about Him and what He would have us do. Remember heaven is our goal and it will be so worth it!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Saturday, April 27, 2019
All That I Can Do
For the past two Sunday mornings we sang "Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed." It's a beautiful song and I've sung it many times; but two weeks ago the words touched me differently and perhaps more strongly than ever before. They hit home with me.
I'm sure many of you know the words. It is about the Savior's love and sacrifice as He was crucified for our sins. The words are beautiful and sad at the same time. They bring our attention to the terrible agony He suffered. They remind us of the awesome love of Jesus.
We should be reminded of Christ's death more frequently. His death and resurrection should be at the forefront of our minds and embedded deeply in our hearts. As Christians it should be what shapes our thoughts and guides our lifestyle every day.
God loves us. Jesus loves us. The Holy Spirit - the Comforter - loves us. The Bible tells us so. The hymns we sing emphasize this truth. The words which touched my heart so strongly are in the last verse. "Here Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do."
These are the words which occupied my mind for two weeks now. I was glad we sang it the second time. The words are so true. Giving ourselves to Him really is all we can do.
We are most certainly not able to save ourselves. We are totally dependent on God for our eternal life. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. His blood paid for our sins and His resurrection conquered death. It is the resurrection which gives us a confident hope of eternal life in heaven with our Savior. Sadly so many people fail to recognize this.
The fact is what we do for Jesus will never come close to what He has done for us. But our love for Him should prompt us to do just what the words of the song say - give ourselves to Him. Nothing else will do. God is not impressed with riches or monuments, or feats of strength, or worldly fame.
Jesus does not concern Himself with the size of our home or the kind of car we drive. The Father and Son only care about our hearts (minds). Our good works are done in God's name so He might be glorified. The light we shine in this dark world is His light.
In short, Jesus wants us to want Him. He wants us to desire heaven so we can be in fellowship with Him. From the time God created man all He has ever wanted to do is be with us. We should want the same thing.
He doesn't expect us to climb the highest mountain or strive for something we cannot do. God only wants us do as much as we can -- in His name -- for His glory; not for our own. If we are willing to give ourselves to Him, we will gain plenty of opportunities to serve Him.
Still I don't suppose many of us like this idea - the idea of giving ourselves away. That's asking way too much, isn't it? It is so much easier just to live our own lives and do our own thing.
Our time is our own. We don't want to spend an afternoon going to the hospital or cooking a meal for a family in need. It takes too much energy to sit with a young mother during worship while her husband is away serving our country. And no one likes to go to the funeral home to be with someone who has just lost a family member.
What about the song? Is giving ourselves to Him totally necessary? We know. The answer is a resounding yes!
We all have good intentions. As Christians, we want to serve God even when it requires time and effort - and even when it means doing things we don't like to do.
These are small prices to pay compared to our Savior's sacrifice. The apostles and other early Christians gave their very lives for the cause of Christ. So many others have too, from that time until now.
It makes me think about all the things I should be doing. Still, it isn't about the things. To be honest, it never has been. It has absolutely everything to do with our hearts. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13 it is not what we do but why we do it. It is the LOVE we have for God that matters. We do what we do out of love.
It doesn't matter how small or big our acts of service are. What matters is the love we have as we serve Him! It is love that guides our walk with Him. It is love which prompts our study of God's word so we can know what to do to serve Him. It is love which leads to obedience and service.
Giving our love causes us to give ourselves away. It isn't always easy and it may actually involve suffering; but it is always worth it! God promises us that.
Christ above all things,
Robin
I'm sure many of you know the words. It is about the Savior's love and sacrifice as He was crucified for our sins. The words are beautiful and sad at the same time. They bring our attention to the terrible agony He suffered. They remind us of the awesome love of Jesus.
We should be reminded of Christ's death more frequently. His death and resurrection should be at the forefront of our minds and embedded deeply in our hearts. As Christians it should be what shapes our thoughts and guides our lifestyle every day.
God loves us. Jesus loves us. The Holy Spirit - the Comforter - loves us. The Bible tells us so. The hymns we sing emphasize this truth. The words which touched my heart so strongly are in the last verse. "Here Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do."
These are the words which occupied my mind for two weeks now. I was glad we sang it the second time. The words are so true. Giving ourselves to Him really is all we can do.
We are most certainly not able to save ourselves. We are totally dependent on God for our eternal life. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice. His blood paid for our sins and His resurrection conquered death. It is the resurrection which gives us a confident hope of eternal life in heaven with our Savior. Sadly so many people fail to recognize this.
The fact is what we do for Jesus will never come close to what He has done for us. But our love for Him should prompt us to do just what the words of the song say - give ourselves to Him. Nothing else will do. God is not impressed with riches or monuments, or feats of strength, or worldly fame.
Jesus does not concern Himself with the size of our home or the kind of car we drive. The Father and Son only care about our hearts (minds). Our good works are done in God's name so He might be glorified. The light we shine in this dark world is His light.
In short, Jesus wants us to want Him. He wants us to desire heaven so we can be in fellowship with Him. From the time God created man all He has ever wanted to do is be with us. We should want the same thing.
He doesn't expect us to climb the highest mountain or strive for something we cannot do. God only wants us do as much as we can -- in His name -- for His glory; not for our own. If we are willing to give ourselves to Him, we will gain plenty of opportunities to serve Him.
Still I don't suppose many of us like this idea - the idea of giving ourselves away. That's asking way too much, isn't it? It is so much easier just to live our own lives and do our own thing.
Our time is our own. We don't want to spend an afternoon going to the hospital or cooking a meal for a family in need. It takes too much energy to sit with a young mother during worship while her husband is away serving our country. And no one likes to go to the funeral home to be with someone who has just lost a family member.
What about the song? Is giving ourselves to Him totally necessary? We know. The answer is a resounding yes!
We all have good intentions. As Christians, we want to serve God even when it requires time and effort - and even when it means doing things we don't like to do.
These are small prices to pay compared to our Savior's sacrifice. The apostles and other early Christians gave their very lives for the cause of Christ. So many others have too, from that time until now.
It makes me think about all the things I should be doing. Still, it isn't about the things. To be honest, it never has been. It has absolutely everything to do with our hearts. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 13 it is not what we do but why we do it. It is the LOVE we have for God that matters. We do what we do out of love.
It doesn't matter how small or big our acts of service are. What matters is the love we have as we serve Him! It is love that guides our walk with Him. It is love which prompts our study of God's word so we can know what to do to serve Him. It is love which leads to obedience and service.
Giving our love causes us to give ourselves away. It isn't always easy and it may actually involve suffering; but it is always worth it! God promises us that.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Let's Be Weight Lifters
So I've started exercising .... again. It's been several months since I was on any kind of regular routine. Yesterday, after using the elliptical I used the gym training station for a little weight lifting. It was only two sets of 15 reps with 20 pounds. That's really all I can handle for the time being. I will have to build up to more.
Anyway, while I was working with those weights, I thought about how good it felt when I stopped. Haha! How good it was not to be bearing all that extra weight. My thoughts turned to all the other extra weights we carry around with us.
The cares and concerns we deal with in this world can become quite burdensome. The weight can wear us down.
But we aren't meant to bear these burdens alone. We are supposed to help each other. We've all experienced tough times. And we know they are easier to get through when we have friends to help us. The church needs weight lifters!
Do you remember when Christ talked about the extra mile? The concept was probably quite shocking for those who heard it. At the time, the Jewish nation was under control of the Roman Empire. It was law that a Roman soldier could require a Jew to carry their gear for a mile. Needless to say, this law was not in favor among the Jews.
Yet, Jesus said - "if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Knowing this, can you imagine how some of His audience reacted? Yet if we combine the commandment and concept of the extra mile with the commandment to love one another we become weight lifters. We willingly bear one another's burdens.
We are not to be like the Pharisees were. Jesus condemns them for being hypocritical and prideful.
"For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up
heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing
to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:3b-4).
Can you imagine causing more burdens for a brother or sister in Christ? No!!
Instead we are supposed to lift one another up. Help those who are weak. Again, combining the extra mile concept with love we strengthen one another. We build each other up. Those who follow Christ should always be willing to do this for another.
In the gym, I can only lift 20 pounds right now. I don't have enough physical strength to do more. But if someone helped, we could probably double that or more. Sometimes, the devil finds us in a weakened state. We don't have enough strength to face a struggle on our own. So we ask for help and our strength increases!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another, and build one another up." And Galatians 6:2 tells us "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We know from the scriptures Christians are to help one another with all sorts of burdens.
We should be there for one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We need to be able to lean on someone when we feel we can't go on.
As members of the same body, we should realize when one is suffering, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). Think about our own bodies. When we have a stomach ache or sore throat or headache, we hurt all over. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, certainly we will hurt when they hurt or in need -- physically, emotionally or spiritually.
So reach out to someone who is lonely -- pray with and for one another. And I'm not talking about only during the worship assembly. If you remember some kindness - some act of grace and mercy given to you, then find someone else who needs a similar act of kindness and grace.
There are so many ways to lift someone up. Sit with the mother of young children who brings her family to worship without her husband. Make sure you spend a few extra minutes with the widow or widower who attends worship alone week after week, month after month. Let the parents of a child serving overseas in the military tell you about their child.
These are not new ideas. When we know someone needs help --whether it be buying a bag of groceries, cooking a meal or crying with someone who lost a loved one we should show them we care. Be there for them! Be a weight lifter!!
Just like in the gym, I can only do twenty pounds at a time right now - we may have to start off small. Remember though, exercise makes us stronger. The more we help others the stronger we will be. Another thing to remember is we are not working alone. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is right there with us.
We help ourselves when we help others. It is simply a fact. The gratification which comes from being a weight lifter cannot be measured!
I could go on and on about this topic; but it is already getting late. Maybe another time. :) For now, I will leave you with a two more passages from God's word.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10b).
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Anyway, while I was working with those weights, I thought about how good it felt when I stopped. Haha! How good it was not to be bearing all that extra weight. My thoughts turned to all the other extra weights we carry around with us.
The cares and concerns we deal with in this world can become quite burdensome. The weight can wear us down.
But we aren't meant to bear these burdens alone. We are supposed to help each other. We've all experienced tough times. And we know they are easier to get through when we have friends to help us. The church needs weight lifters!
Do you remember when Christ talked about the extra mile? The concept was probably quite shocking for those who heard it. At the time, the Jewish nation was under control of the Roman Empire. It was law that a Roman soldier could require a Jew to carry their gear for a mile. Needless to say, this law was not in favor among the Jews.
Yet, Jesus said - "if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." Knowing this, can you imagine how some of His audience reacted? Yet if we combine the commandment and concept of the extra mile with the commandment to love one another we become weight lifters. We willingly bear one another's burdens.
We are not to be like the Pharisees were. Jesus condemns them for being hypocritical and prideful.
"For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up
heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on
people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing
to move them with their finger" (Matthew 23:3b-4).
Can you imagine causing more burdens for a brother or sister in Christ? No!!
Instead we are supposed to lift one another up. Help those who are weak. Again, combining the extra mile concept with love we strengthen one another. We build each other up. Those who follow Christ should always be willing to do this for another.
In the gym, I can only lift 20 pounds right now. I don't have enough physical strength to do more. But if someone helped, we could probably double that or more. Sometimes, the devil finds us in a weakened state. We don't have enough strength to face a struggle on our own. So we ask for help and our strength increases!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to "encourage one another, and build one another up." And Galatians 6:2 tells us "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We know from the scriptures Christians are to help one another with all sorts of burdens.
We should be there for one another in times of sorrow. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." We need to be able to lean on someone when we feel we can't go on.
As members of the same body, we should realize when one is suffering, we all suffer (1 Corinthians 12:26). Think about our own bodies. When we have a stomach ache or sore throat or headache, we hurt all over. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, certainly we will hurt when they hurt or in need -- physically, emotionally or spiritually.
So reach out to someone who is lonely -- pray with and for one another. And I'm not talking about only during the worship assembly. If you remember some kindness - some act of grace and mercy given to you, then find someone else who needs a similar act of kindness and grace.
There are so many ways to lift someone up. Sit with the mother of young children who brings her family to worship without her husband. Make sure you spend a few extra minutes with the widow or widower who attends worship alone week after week, month after month. Let the parents of a child serving overseas in the military tell you about their child.
These are not new ideas. When we know someone needs help --whether it be buying a bag of groceries, cooking a meal or crying with someone who lost a loved one we should show them we care. Be there for them! Be a weight lifter!!
Just like in the gym, I can only do twenty pounds at a time right now - we may have to start off small. Remember though, exercise makes us stronger. The more we help others the stronger we will be. Another thing to remember is we are not working alone. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is right there with us.
We help ourselves when we help others. It is simply a fact. The gratification which comes from being a weight lifter cannot be measured!
I could go on and on about this topic; but it is already getting late. Maybe another time. :) For now, I will leave you with a two more passages from God's word.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10b).
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, April 6, 2019
The Singing Farmer
I suppose many of you heard about the old farmer who loved to really sing out during worship assembly. He sang with great zeal. Unfortunately, the poor fella didn't have a pitch perfect voice. He was just about tone deaf.
Some of the men of the congregation decided they were going to see the old farmer and talk to him about his loud off-key singing. When they got to his place they found him out in the field plowing. He was happily and loudly singing praises to God as he walked behind his old mule.
His happiness and devotion touched the hearts of the other men. They were a little ashamed of themselves. How could they tell him to curb his enthusiasm during worship when he obviously loved singing to the Lord so much? It would be like stealing his joy and they couldn't bring themselves to do that. So they quickly left before the old farmer ever knew they had been there.
Now I must admit I am somewhat like the old man. I love to sing during worship and I love to sing out loudly. It warms my heart to sing songs of praise to our God and to our Savior. Unfortunately, I am also like him in that I cannot sing well at all. I can't carry a tune - I just can't. I'm pretty much tone deaf. Ask any member of my family and they will all tell you the same thing.
The good thing is it doesn't matter to the Lord what my voice sounds like. He only wants me to praise Him. I don't think the Lord really cares if we hit all the right notes.
How softly or loudly we sing is not nearly as important as the fact that our hearts and minds stay focused on Him while we do. He loves it when He knows we are singing with joy in our hearts.
As much as I love to sing, sometimes when we are singing a song we've sung a thousand times, I do find my mind wandering a little bit. It takes discipline to concentrate on the words of the song and what they mean. But if we put forth the effort, we will be truly blessed.
Our singing is a vital part of our worship! We can influence and encourage one another as we lift up beautiful words of praise to our all powerful and all merciful Heavenly Father. It cheers our hearts (or should anyway) to sing songs about heaven and how wonderful it will be. When we sings songs like "Stand Up for Jesus" or "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" or "Faith is the Victory" we are encouraged to face another day of fighting the good fight of faith.
Singing has a great impact on us. There is something about the words of a song (maybe with the rhythm). They become embedded in our memory and soak into our hearts and souls. They lift our spirits and reinforce our learning.
So many songs spiritual songs come directly from scripture and most of us have our favorites. Other songs tell stories - many of the children's songs do that. Some 'adult' songs do too. I will never forget the first time I heard "Thomas's Song" by Ken Young. The words were so powerful, I cried when I heard it. If the song is unfamiliar to you, copy and paste the highlighted section below into your browser. It should take you to the lyrics of the song.
https://dennistcg.com/2010/02/01/thomas%E2%80%99-song-by-ken-young/
I love many different songs; but I suppose my favorite is - and always will be - "Jesus Loves Me." It is timeless because His love for us never changes. No matter what is going on in our lives, if we are on the highest mountaintop or in the deepest valley, the love of Christ will never change! It is the one thing on which we can always depend!
One thing I love about singing scripture, hymns, and songs of praise is we can do this anytime. Just like we can pray and study anytime. We do not have to wait until Sunday morning to sing. Our Lord will love hearing us whenever we praise Him in song.
We can sing on the way to work or on the way home from a child's basketball game. We can sing while we are cooking or sewing or working outside. We can sing at home or when we fellowship with others.
How wonderful it is to know we can be like the old farmer - to know we can praise our God through song at so many different times! Isn't wonderful to know whether we are singing or praying or studying God knows? And it doesn't matter to Him what we sound like.
I think the old farmer was so full of joy and thanksgiving he couldn't help but love to sing. Maybe he knew James 5:13 - "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (ESV).
I love to hear beautiful spiritual songs. I love it even more when beautiful souls are singing with love and joy in their hearts. God does too.
Some of the men of the congregation decided they were going to see the old farmer and talk to him about his loud off-key singing. When they got to his place they found him out in the field plowing. He was happily and loudly singing praises to God as he walked behind his old mule.
His happiness and devotion touched the hearts of the other men. They were a little ashamed of themselves. How could they tell him to curb his enthusiasm during worship when he obviously loved singing to the Lord so much? It would be like stealing his joy and they couldn't bring themselves to do that. So they quickly left before the old farmer ever knew they had been there.
Now I must admit I am somewhat like the old man. I love to sing during worship and I love to sing out loudly. It warms my heart to sing songs of praise to our God and to our Savior. Unfortunately, I am also like him in that I cannot sing well at all. I can't carry a tune - I just can't. I'm pretty much tone deaf. Ask any member of my family and they will all tell you the same thing.
The good thing is it doesn't matter to the Lord what my voice sounds like. He only wants me to praise Him. I don't think the Lord really cares if we hit all the right notes.
How softly or loudly we sing is not nearly as important as the fact that our hearts and minds stay focused on Him while we do. He loves it when He knows we are singing with joy in our hearts.
As much as I love to sing, sometimes when we are singing a song we've sung a thousand times, I do find my mind wandering a little bit. It takes discipline to concentrate on the words of the song and what they mean. But if we put forth the effort, we will be truly blessed.
Our singing is a vital part of our worship! We can influence and encourage one another as we lift up beautiful words of praise to our all powerful and all merciful Heavenly Father. It cheers our hearts (or should anyway) to sing songs about heaven and how wonderful it will be. When we sings songs like "Stand Up for Jesus" or "Soldiers of Christ, Arise" or "Faith is the Victory" we are encouraged to face another day of fighting the good fight of faith.
Singing has a great impact on us. There is something about the words of a song (maybe with the rhythm). They become embedded in our memory and soak into our hearts and souls. They lift our spirits and reinforce our learning.
So many songs spiritual songs come directly from scripture and most of us have our favorites. Other songs tell stories - many of the children's songs do that. Some 'adult' songs do too. I will never forget the first time I heard "Thomas's Song" by Ken Young. The words were so powerful, I cried when I heard it. If the song is unfamiliar to you, copy and paste the highlighted section below into your browser. It should take you to the lyrics of the song.
https://dennistcg.com/2010/02/01/thomas%E2%80%99-song-by-ken-young/
I love many different songs; but I suppose my favorite is - and always will be - "Jesus Loves Me." It is timeless because His love for us never changes. No matter what is going on in our lives, if we are on the highest mountaintop or in the deepest valley, the love of Christ will never change! It is the one thing on which we can always depend!
One thing I love about singing scripture, hymns, and songs of praise is we can do this anytime. Just like we can pray and study anytime. We do not have to wait until Sunday morning to sing. Our Lord will love hearing us whenever we praise Him in song.
We can sing on the way to work or on the way home from a child's basketball game. We can sing while we are cooking or sewing or working outside. We can sing at home or when we fellowship with others.
How wonderful it is to know we can be like the old farmer - to know we can praise our God through song at so many different times! Isn't wonderful to know whether we are singing or praying or studying God knows? And it doesn't matter to Him what we sound like.
I think the old farmer was so full of joy and thanksgiving he couldn't help but love to sing. Maybe he knew James 5:13 - "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise" (ESV).
I love to hear beautiful spiritual songs. I love it even more when beautiful souls are singing with love and joy in their hearts. God does too.
Sing on ye joyful pilgrims!
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, March 30, 2019
This Past Sunday
Last Sunday was a great day! Anytime we are able to see goodness and love in action, our day gets brighter. Sunday was one of those days for me.
Love doesn't always show itself in some big outward gesture. Oh sure, the big things do happen- like marriage proposals during halftime at ball games, or surprise birthday parties - or special wedding anniversaries. Those things don't happen every day.
So what about all the other days? Love still shows itself in so many forms - countless tiny acts of giving. We find it in the little things we do for each other. These are the gestures which keep us going .... keep us believing there is good in this world.
This past Sunday, I was with 40 other Christians who took the time to attend a Sunday morning devotional at the nursing home. They could have been speeding off to lunch; but they didn't. They chose to show kindness to others who really needed it.
I saw my Christian friends spread a little cheer through song. I saw the residents join in singing praises to God - singing with enthusiasm and joy. They had no song books; but they didn't need them. Those sweet ladies knew all the words and the joy it gave them was written all over their faces.
I saw two sisters speak ever so gently to a woman who seemed overwhelmed and confused. I saw gentle smiles and hands holding hands. And hugs - I saw hugs this past Sunday. Human touch can be so comforting - physical contact is a show of love in and of itself.
Sometimes an act of love is so subtle it is easy to miss. Yet, if we make ourselves aware of what's going on around us we will be able to see love in action. We don't always take the time to look for it; but it is definitely worth the effort.
When our devotional ended, most of us stayed a few minutes to visit with the residents. As I leaned over to speak to one sweet lady, she looked up and smiled. Then she leaned her head on my shoulder as she drew herself into my hug. She had the most cheerful smile!
The men didn't seem to want hugs; but they were happy to shake your hand. There were other greetings between the two groups. Giving them the respect they deserved, we called the men 'sir' and the women 'ma'am.'
I left feeling much better than I did when I got there. I always do when I visit the nursing home. It started raining on the way to the car. I noticed men holding umbrellas as a couple of our ladies got into their vehicle. Another gentleman (and I mean gentleman in the truest sense of the word) loaded a walker into their car. That was indeed love in action!
Everything that went on this past Sunday morning was about love. From Sunday school class to the lesson during the worship hour. By the way, the lesson (sermon) was about love. The point was love should be the symbol for Christians. People should recognize a Christian through their acts of compassion, mercy and love. It should be 'our sign.' I enjoyed the comparison.
The demonstrations of love followed us to the nursing home. And love traveled home with me to a quiet peaceful lunch with my husband. As I reflected on all the things I saw, I couldn't help but smile. It was a good - no, it was a great morning!
Remember love isn't just something you say. It is an action word. Think about this ----
God loves, so He gave us His Son. Jesus loves, so He gave His life for us. The Holy Spirit loves, so He is a Comforter and a Helper. "The Spirit Himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26b). This kind of love is what we should strive to show one another.
So the next time you go out and about - look for love. Recognize it when you see it. You will find it when someone lets another someone in front of them in the check out line at the grocery store. You might see love when someone pays for a veteran's meal at a restaurant.
Love might show itself when the person in front of you in the drive through buys your breakfast; or when a parent tells their child they are a good boy or girl. You might see it when a family buys groceries for a neighbor in need.
Love is all around if we only take the time to look for it.
Recognize it when you see it. Enjoy it. Revel in it when it is given to you. Be thankful for it! More importantly be the love other people need. And be thankful for that, too.
We go to the nursing home again tomorrow. I can't wait!
I John 3:10 -- See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
I John 3:18 -- Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Love doesn't always show itself in some big outward gesture. Oh sure, the big things do happen- like marriage proposals during halftime at ball games, or surprise birthday parties - or special wedding anniversaries. Those things don't happen every day.
So what about all the other days? Love still shows itself in so many forms - countless tiny acts of giving. We find it in the little things we do for each other. These are the gestures which keep us going .... keep us believing there is good in this world.
This past Sunday, I was with 40 other Christians who took the time to attend a Sunday morning devotional at the nursing home. They could have been speeding off to lunch; but they didn't. They chose to show kindness to others who really needed it.
I saw my Christian friends spread a little cheer through song. I saw the residents join in singing praises to God - singing with enthusiasm and joy. They had no song books; but they didn't need them. Those sweet ladies knew all the words and the joy it gave them was written all over their faces.
I saw two sisters speak ever so gently to a woman who seemed overwhelmed and confused. I saw gentle smiles and hands holding hands. And hugs - I saw hugs this past Sunday. Human touch can be so comforting - physical contact is a show of love in and of itself.
Sometimes an act of love is so subtle it is easy to miss. Yet, if we make ourselves aware of what's going on around us we will be able to see love in action. We don't always take the time to look for it; but it is definitely worth the effort.
When our devotional ended, most of us stayed a few minutes to visit with the residents. As I leaned over to speak to one sweet lady, she looked up and smiled. Then she leaned her head on my shoulder as she drew herself into my hug. She had the most cheerful smile!
The men didn't seem to want hugs; but they were happy to shake your hand. There were other greetings between the two groups. Giving them the respect they deserved, we called the men 'sir' and the women 'ma'am.'
I left feeling much better than I did when I got there. I always do when I visit the nursing home. It started raining on the way to the car. I noticed men holding umbrellas as a couple of our ladies got into their vehicle. Another gentleman (and I mean gentleman in the truest sense of the word) loaded a walker into their car. That was indeed love in action!
Everything that went on this past Sunday morning was about love. From Sunday school class to the lesson during the worship hour. By the way, the lesson (sermon) was about love. The point was love should be the symbol for Christians. People should recognize a Christian through their acts of compassion, mercy and love. It should be 'our sign.' I enjoyed the comparison.
The demonstrations of love followed us to the nursing home. And love traveled home with me to a quiet peaceful lunch with my husband. As I reflected on all the things I saw, I couldn't help but smile. It was a good - no, it was a great morning!
Remember love isn't just something you say. It is an action word. Think about this ----
God loves, so He gave us His Son. Jesus loves, so He gave His life for us. The Holy Spirit loves, so He is a Comforter and a Helper. "The Spirit Himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26b). This kind of love is what we should strive to show one another.
So the next time you go out and about - look for love. Recognize it when you see it. You will find it when someone lets another someone in front of them in the check out line at the grocery store. You might see love when someone pays for a veteran's meal at a restaurant.
Love might show itself when the person in front of you in the drive through buys your breakfast; or when a parent tells their child they are a good boy or girl. You might see it when a family buys groceries for a neighbor in need.
Love is all around if we only take the time to look for it.
Recognize it when you see it. Enjoy it. Revel in it when it is given to you. Be thankful for it! More importantly be the love other people need. And be thankful for that, too.
We go to the nursing home again tomorrow. I can't wait!
I John 3:10 -- See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
I John 3:18 -- Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Being Thankful
Dad and I went to Wal-Mart together. I don't even remember the reason for trip or what we bought while we were there. What I do remember is that we got a great parking spot. It would be a short walk to get into the store. As we pulled into the spot I thanked the Lord for getting to park so closely. I don't know if he was testing me, or what he was thinking, but he looked over at me with a smile and said, "Robin, what would you say if we didn't get a good parking spot?"
I smiled back, "Well then I would thank God for giving me legs to be able to walk into the store."
Dad laughed. "Very good," he said.
Thanksgiving is not just an emotion. It isn't just a happy feeling when something good happens. Of course it is certainly a part of it. We should definitely find joy in the good things God gives us in our lives.
But that isn't all of it and maybe that is what Dad was getting at. Giving thanks to our God is so much more than that. For one thing, it is a command. Maybe sometimes we don't think of it like that but it is.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV). These verses are pretty clear. They leave no room for misunderstanding.
"Give thanks in all circumstances..." Wow -- think about that phrase for just a moment. 'All circumstances' does not mean we say 'thank you' only when we feel like it. God did not say -'please remember me when something good happens in your life.' He certainly did not say - we can skip out on being grateful on those very ordinary days. He said in ALL circumstances. That leaves nothing out.
Being thankful is not always easy - mainly because as humans we are easily distracted. Sometimes we are just careless and forget. We go about our busy days and never think of counting our blessings.
We often let petty annoyances cloud our minds and affect our attitudes. Negativity and doubt are certainly deterrents in developing a grateful heart. It is easy to complain when something goes wrong.
A few years ago in another conversation with Dad, I complained about the car trouble I had experienced. He reminded me I should be thankful I had the money to get the repairs done.
Being thankful has a lot to do with how we frame our thoughts. It should be an elemental part of our Christian life. Christianity involves retraining or renewing our minds. Colossians 3:10 tells us we put on the new self and we are being 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.'
In the verses following the inspired Paul talks about things we are to 'put on' as Christians. He mentions thanksgiving three times. It is rather lengthy but consider Colossians 3:15-17:
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
To 'rejoice always' is not easy either. That is another thing we don't always think of as a command. Maybe that is one reason 'pray without ceasing' is sandwiched between these two verses. Prayer is the glue between rejoicing and being thankful.
So much is packed into these three short verses. For those seeking to live a godly life they are powerful. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving are woven tightly together.
Still how difficult is it to be thankful when you are at a low point in your life? How can you rejoice when you are going through a painful divorce? How can we be thankful after losing a loved one?
Sometimes life brings such sorrow and pain we don't think we can go another minute let alone another hour or day. We all go through deep dark valleys and we feel small, lost and alone. During those times how can we read these verses and follow these commands?
I don't presume to be able to answer that question. But I do know what the apostles did after being beaten for preaching Christ. They "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name (of Jesus)" (Acts 5:41). And I know what Paul and Silas did after being beaten and put into stocks. They prayed and sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened (Acts 16).
I imagine in both situations the rejoicing included thanksgiving, don't you? The two are so closely related to one another. Paul rejoiced even in the torment and affliction he suffered for Christ and often reminded us to be thankful.
In fact Paul uses the words thanks, thankful, thankfulness and thanksgiving about 50 times in the 13 letters he wrote.
I know it is difficult to give thanks when the storms of life are raging. The thing is even in those times we can find things to be grateful for -- we just have to make ourselves see that. And yes, I know it is much easier said than done.
It takes the kind of endurance both Peter and Paul speak of in their writings.
So what do we have to be thankful for when we seem to be at the end of the rope for whatever reason?
1. It is temporary. "For this light momentary is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17) If we hang on there is a life of glory awaiting us.
2. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us - Romans 8:26.
3. For those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28
4. Christ Jesus - the One who conquered death also intercedes for us. Nothing we face-nothing can separate us from His love. verses 34-36
5. We are more than conquerors through Him. verse 37
These are only a few things to be thankful for. We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7).
My favorite may be this:
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
This friends, is something we can always be thankful for!
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
I smiled back, "Well then I would thank God for giving me legs to be able to walk into the store."
Dad laughed. "Very good," he said.
Thanksgiving is not just an emotion. It isn't just a happy feeling when something good happens. Of course it is certainly a part of it. We should definitely find joy in the good things God gives us in our lives.
But that isn't all of it and maybe that is what Dad was getting at. Giving thanks to our God is so much more than that. For one thing, it is a command. Maybe sometimes we don't think of it like that but it is.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV). These verses are pretty clear. They leave no room for misunderstanding.
"Give thanks in all circumstances..." Wow -- think about that phrase for just a moment. 'All circumstances' does not mean we say 'thank you' only when we feel like it. God did not say -'please remember me when something good happens in your life.' He certainly did not say - we can skip out on being grateful on those very ordinary days. He said in ALL circumstances. That leaves nothing out.
Being thankful is not always easy - mainly because as humans we are easily distracted. Sometimes we are just careless and forget. We go about our busy days and never think of counting our blessings.
We often let petty annoyances cloud our minds and affect our attitudes. Negativity and doubt are certainly deterrents in developing a grateful heart. It is easy to complain when something goes wrong.
A few years ago in another conversation with Dad, I complained about the car trouble I had experienced. He reminded me I should be thankful I had the money to get the repairs done.
Being thankful has a lot to do with how we frame our thoughts. It should be an elemental part of our Christian life. Christianity involves retraining or renewing our minds. Colossians 3:10 tells us we put on the new self and we are being 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.'
In the verses following the inspired Paul talks about things we are to 'put on' as Christians. He mentions thanksgiving three times. It is rather lengthy but consider Colossians 3:15-17:
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
To 'rejoice always' is not easy either. That is another thing we don't always think of as a command. Maybe that is one reason 'pray without ceasing' is sandwiched between these two verses. Prayer is the glue between rejoicing and being thankful.
So much is packed into these three short verses. For those seeking to live a godly life they are powerful. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving are woven tightly together.
Still how difficult is it to be thankful when you are at a low point in your life? How can you rejoice when you are going through a painful divorce? How can we be thankful after losing a loved one?
Sometimes life brings such sorrow and pain we don't think we can go another minute let alone another hour or day. We all go through deep dark valleys and we feel small, lost and alone. During those times how can we read these verses and follow these commands?
I don't presume to be able to answer that question. But I do know what the apostles did after being beaten for preaching Christ. They "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name (of Jesus)" (Acts 5:41). And I know what Paul and Silas did after being beaten and put into stocks. They prayed and sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened (Acts 16).
I imagine in both situations the rejoicing included thanksgiving, don't you? The two are so closely related to one another. Paul rejoiced even in the torment and affliction he suffered for Christ and often reminded us to be thankful.
In fact Paul uses the words thanks, thankful, thankfulness and thanksgiving about 50 times in the 13 letters he wrote.
I know it is difficult to give thanks when the storms of life are raging. The thing is even in those times we can find things to be grateful for -- we just have to make ourselves see that. And yes, I know it is much easier said than done.
It takes the kind of endurance both Peter and Paul speak of in their writings.
So what do we have to be thankful for when we seem to be at the end of the rope for whatever reason?
1. It is temporary. "For this light momentary is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:17) If we hang on there is a life of glory awaiting us.
2. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us - Romans 8:26.
3. For those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28
4. Christ Jesus - the One who conquered death also intercedes for us. Nothing we face-nothing can separate us from His love. verses 34-36
5. We are more than conquerors through Him. verse 37
These are only a few things to be thankful for. We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7).
My favorite may be this:
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
This friends, is something we can always be thankful for!
Christ above all things,
Robin Whitley
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Where Does Your Strength Come From?
A couple of weeks ago I went to the birthday party of a precious little girl who had just turned 1! It was so much fun. The decorations were beautiful and everything was set up perfectly. Most of the young children who came were having a great time!
I love watching children. They have a unique way of looking at things. We can learn a lot from them. A child goes at whatever he or she does 100%. They are usually all in or all out.
There was one little girl though, who was sticking very close to her mother. She was probably three or four and didn't know any of the other children. I totally understood her hesitance. I spoke to her, but she wasn't remotely interested in speaking to me.
Just a few minutes later things changed. In an attempt to startle me, the same little girl jumped in front of me and shouted "Argghhh." I jumped. She giggled and ran to the other children now ready to play.
What made the difference in such a short time? It was a mask. Someone gave all the children a mask. Having the disguise on her face allowed her to be brave enough to approach me. When all the children had on one too, it enabled her to approach the group on an even playing field. It only took a few minutes and she was fine even without the disguise.
It may be a little strange, but for some reason I thought of Philippians 4:13. Most of us know that verse by heart. You may have quoted it before I could even type it. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It is among the favorite verses of many Christians.
With the mask on, that sweet little girl had the courage and strength to join in the party. Being in Christ should give us the strength to do all things good! We don't have to be afraid. With the love of Christ in our hearts we can do what we need to do -- even if it pushes us out of our comfort zone -- even if it means doing something we've never done before.
Jesus would not want us to live our lives in fear. Paul encourages Timothy "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Wow! How great does that sound? God didn't give us fear - He gave us power and love and a sound mind. With these three things we are able to conquer our fear.
Can we speak up against bullies at school or at work? Do we have enough courage to step out and say 'What you are doing is wrong'? Do we tell our child's coach she will miss or be late for a Wednesday night practice because she will be in Bible study?
It does take strength to say no - but through Christ we can have that courage. However, sometimes 'doing all things' means saying yes to something good rather than no to something bad. It might be asking someone to attend worship with us.
Someone might ask us to give the devotional at the next ladies' meeting. Or we might want to comfort a sister in Christ who just lost a loved one, but we are afraid because we don't know what to say. (By the way, most of the time just being there is what is important.)
In any of these situations and so many more - if what we are doing is for Christ -- to bring someone closer to Him -- to give glory to Him -- He WILL give us the strength to do it. Through His love and power we really can do all things.
It is not always easy - I know that. This world is tough and it seems nowadays there is opposition to Christianity at every turn. Yet, we have the potential to do so much good for our God if we can only get past the fear of doing so!
I leave you with two beautiful passages.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"Now to Him who is able to exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
Christ above all things,
Robin
I love watching children. They have a unique way of looking at things. We can learn a lot from them. A child goes at whatever he or she does 100%. They are usually all in or all out.
There was one little girl though, who was sticking very close to her mother. She was probably three or four and didn't know any of the other children. I totally understood her hesitance. I spoke to her, but she wasn't remotely interested in speaking to me.
Just a few minutes later things changed. In an attempt to startle me, the same little girl jumped in front of me and shouted "Argghhh." I jumped. She giggled and ran to the other children now ready to play.
What made the difference in such a short time? It was a mask. Someone gave all the children a mask. Having the disguise on her face allowed her to be brave enough to approach me. When all the children had on one too, it enabled her to approach the group on an even playing field. It only took a few minutes and she was fine even without the disguise.
It may be a little strange, but for some reason I thought of Philippians 4:13. Most of us know that verse by heart. You may have quoted it before I could even type it. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It is among the favorite verses of many Christians.
With the mask on, that sweet little girl had the courage and strength to join in the party. Being in Christ should give us the strength to do all things good! We don't have to be afraid. With the love of Christ in our hearts we can do what we need to do -- even if it pushes us out of our comfort zone -- even if it means doing something we've never done before.
Jesus would not want us to live our lives in fear. Paul encourages Timothy "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Wow! How great does that sound? God didn't give us fear - He gave us power and love and a sound mind. With these three things we are able to conquer our fear.
Can we speak up against bullies at school or at work? Do we have enough courage to step out and say 'What you are doing is wrong'? Do we tell our child's coach she will miss or be late for a Wednesday night practice because she will be in Bible study?
It does take strength to say no - but through Christ we can have that courage. However, sometimes 'doing all things' means saying yes to something good rather than no to something bad. It might be asking someone to attend worship with us.
Someone might ask us to give the devotional at the next ladies' meeting. Or we might want to comfort a sister in Christ who just lost a loved one, but we are afraid because we don't know what to say. (By the way, most of the time just being there is what is important.)
In any of these situations and so many more - if what we are doing is for Christ -- to bring someone closer to Him -- to give glory to Him -- He WILL give us the strength to do it. Through His love and power we really can do all things.
It is not always easy - I know that. This world is tough and it seems nowadays there is opposition to Christianity at every turn. Yet, we have the potential to do so much good for our God if we can only get past the fear of doing so!
I leave you with two beautiful passages.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"Now to Him who is able to exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
Christ above all things,
Robin
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