 |
|
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 15:13
-----------------------------------
Alice in Wonderland
In Luke 13:23-30 I was reminded of something
that was sooo cool!
"And someone said to (Jesus), 'Lord, are there just
a few who are being saved?' And He said to them, 'Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek
to enter and will not be able..."
It goes on to say that there is a head of the house, and he'll shut the door, and those on the outside will
be left knocking, and they will not be permitted to enter. In addition, they will "see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and
all the prophets...," and that others "will come from east and west, and from north and south..."
So, in my mind, I had a picture of a doorway, and
many people coming to enter through it. Like a flood of people coming from every direction. And I was to
enter through the door as well. Immediately I thought of Alice in Wonderland. And how she was supposed to fit through
that tiny door, but she was so big. Like Alice, I would drink from the bottle and be reduced to just
the right size to fit through the door. It's what all the other people who would fit had discovered as well. (Oh!
and what a beautiful garden awaited Alice through that door!)
There were others who tried to get through. But
they were so puffed up (with themselves) that they would never fit. They refused to let go of all the things the world
had to offer. Those who thought they knew the owner of the house had pride and service and gifts (or so they thought).
They found themselves to be more important and took themselves far too seriously. Oh, but I could be like them,
too. It's as easy as taking a bite from a cookie. A couple nibbles is all it takes to blow up to the size
of a house. The roof drawn to be my hair, and each foot sticking out of a doorway all it's own.
Ok, so Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, knowing that
He will be murdered - unjustly - and says '...enter by the narrow door...' Was He simply talking about walking in obedience?
I don't think so. Drinking from that bottle - living water - means dying to myself. Making myself
smaller in my own eyes, and not becoming puffed up with all that He has made me to be. Or that I think I'm supposed
to be. Sure we are made new, and He is doing an awesome work in my life. But it is all for His glory. Not
mine. The key is to be selfless, not selfish.
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find
it." Matt.16:24-25
Alice in Wonderland - the wonder of God's grace and
who He's called me to be. wow!
|
|
|
10/5/01
The Bible says that man was made in the image of God. Today, however, man is more likely to create God in his
own image. This is a type of idolatry that leads to a mistaken identity for man, and a lack of understanding of who God is.
First of all, God is love. He loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die so that those who believe
in Him would be with Him for eternity. He loves every person on earth. And it started way back in the beginning.
At the beginning of creation, God walked and talked with man (Adam). He gave man the freedom to choose to obey God
or to disobey Him. Man chose to disobey and this caused a separation between man and God. Sometime afterward, God chose a
man named Abraham, and through him established a plan for man to be reunited with God. Abraham's people became the nation
of Isreal - the Jewish nation. These are God's chosen people. And the one who would bring about reconciliation would be born
from Abraham's descendants - the Jews.
This brings us to Jesus. The promised One. Jesus said, "No man
comes to the Father, but by me." He wasn't speaking metaphorically. You see, just as one choice (to sin) caused division
between man and God, so one choice (to follow) reunites us with God. Because of God's mercy, we can be saved from ourselves.
Just before the flood occurred, God acknowledged that all the thoughts of men were only wicked all of the time. God had to
intervene.
The Lord is righteous, and we are only made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible
says that it is by believing that we are justified and are saved. God is just, and will not tolerate rebellion. AND He is
merciful, and will provide for those who love Him.
The Bible says that the "Lord is near to all who call
upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life." Only when
we call on His name will we be saved.
"[Jesus] said to them, 'But who do you say I am?' And Simon Peter answered,
'You are the Christ, the Son
of the Living God.'" Matthew 16:15-16
Have you ever thought about the implications of being the "Son of the
living God"? Jesus was the only, literal, Son of God. As humans, we have the blood of our mother and our father running through
us. In the same sense, Jesus had deity dwelling within him. Mary, a mortal woman, was "found to be with child by the Holy
Spirit." (Matt. 1:18) For this to be true, you must believe that the Holy Spirit is divine. It all fits together so beautifully!!
If one has deity dwelling within, as Jesus did, then He must be deity, as well. But, wait a minute... The Bible says that
there is only one, true God. Anyone who makes himself out to be a god, is a false god. The Bible says so. And if we make someone
out to be a god, who is not, then we are guilty of idolotry, or idol worship. The Lord knew what He was doing when He established
commandments #1, #2 and #3! (see Exodus, chap 20)
At this point we might go back to the original sin... The serpent
told Eve that if she were to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, she would be "like God". Satan was expelled from heaven
because he tried to be "like God". The people who tried to build a tower to heaven were scattered because they were trying
to be "like God". The funny thing is that there are religions, today, that say that you can be "like God". Some even say that,
when you die, you will actually "become" a god. It's the same, old lie. And it's a lie that gets us into trouble! Did you
know that even when we deny God, we are essentially saying, "I am my own god"?
Think about this... The Bible says
that those who believe in Christ are being conformed to His image. Isn't that the "same, old lie"? No. This is a completely
different concept. One that is focused on God and others, not on ourselves. We will not be "like God", in that there will
be many mini-gods. Instead, our image will be like His. An image is what others see, what is reflected. We reflect God's image
when we exhibit His characteristics in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 says that the "fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..." There are many other wonderful Christ-like qualities
displayed throughout the Bible. These are the godly characteristics that will begin to mark your reflection as you follow
and walk with the Lord. It's a path that resembles the "Footprints" poem. And as my aunt reminded me, there is a dance that
occurs when you are walking in step with the Master. Sometimes, though, we break stride, and others can't tell that we are
a child of the King. But He is always faithful to see our journey through to the very end.
The next time someone knocks
at your door ask, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
...He is the Christ, the Son of the living God...this answer has eternal
implications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11/24
Kathryn (Kathy) Segalla
Jan. 14, 1959 - Nov. 16, 2001
Aaron & I
got the call about Kathy late on the night of the 16th. We were told that she had fallen and was taken to the hospital. We
prayed. We asked God to begin to heal her body and to restore her, just as He had done for our friend, Debbie, earlier this
year. I was confident everything was going to be alright. We didn't know that she was already gone. About a half an hour later,
we got a second call. "She didn't make it."
This time, God said no.
Why would He do that? I don't think I'll ever
really know why. Just as Job tried to figure it out, we also want answers. Just as God answered Job, He answers us. "OK, Man...where
were you when the earth was formed. Did you see the place from where the sun arose? How far is the ocean allowed to go?" We
may only get a brief glimpse into the mind of God...
Kathy was a wonderful mother. She was incredibly devoted to the
well-being of her children. She prayed fervently for them. She lived her life as a fragrant offering on their behalf. Her
life was a selfless gift to each of them. She was also a loving and faithful wife. Ed's brother said, "She made him a better
man...right from the start."
One friend told me that she had recently made a decision to get to know Kathy better.
Wanna' know why? Because she saw things in Kathy's sons, Brian & Billy, that made her want to know her more. My friend
wanted to pick up whatever it was that Kathy had managed to instill in her children.
Could I not have gleaned more
from Kathy while she was alive? Probably. But, somehow I am forced to examine those things about myself that are selfish.
I am forced to dwell on the things that made Kathy a great lady. Oh boy, will she be missed!
My last memory? Just
four days before she died, I dropped Brian off at his home. Kathy came out to the car and, with a smile, wanted to know what
I had done to get the boys to help clean the house. You see, they wanted to go to a skateboard park and I was busy with my
housekeeping. Arin, Tory and Brian came in and asked if they could help so that I could finish and take them to the park.
My answer, "Yeah, you can help. But you have to clean like girls - not like boys." That answer made Kathy laugh. She had a
terrific sense of optimism. Her smile is what I remember (and miss) most.
More than a year and a half later...
6/2/03
Dear Kathy,
What's it like to sit at the feet of the Lord? Do you miss us? We miss you so
very much. Kathy, I'm praying hard for Brian. I know his little heart is so badly broken, but it is not beyond
repair. Do you plead at the Master's feet on His behalf? Oh, Kathy, I know I should. Are you at peace because
you know how it will all work out? Has Jesus assured you that Brian is going to be okay? As I recall the statement
about how Caryse wanted to get to know you because of the character of the boys, I'm challenged to share that with Brian when
he comes to visit...
Dear Lord,
Please help me to honor Your name, and Kathy's memory. Father, please bless Brian with
a heart of courage... restored in love by Your great hand of mercy. I love you, Lord.
In Jesus, name. Amen.
p.s. please tell Kathy I said hello today. I can't wait to join her there at Your
feet.
with tears,
tami
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lessons from Dad (6/02)
from my father, i learned to laugh... and i learned to cry.
from my grandfather, i learned stability and strength. i learned of
unconditional love, and of commitment to one woman and to one faith.
from my first step-father, i learned about abuse. i learned
that people can be one way in public, and very different in the darkness of night... much later, i learned how to forgive.
from my uncles, i learned what it means to stick up for the ones you
love. i learned fun and laughter, and unconditional love... and i learned that you don't call a thirteen-year-old in to dinner
by using his full name when he's out front with all of his friends. :)
from my girlfriends' dads, i learned that not all dads leave or abuse.
and some care very much what their daughters are up to.
from my second step-father, i learned how to trust. i learned the
meaning of the word 'provision'... i learned how to measure and cut pipe for sprinklers, and the joy of working hard and accomplishing
a great task. i also learned that it was okay for me to have my own opinion at the dinner table. ;)
from my 'big brother', i learned that there are guys out there
who like you for who you are on the inside, and are not interested in taking advantage of vulnerabilities. (we met in high
school, and are still friends today)
from my husband, i've learned, from 'start to finish', what a
real dad is. i've learned commitment and calm in the midst of a storm. i've learned how to be angry and how to forgive. i'm
learning how to love. and i've learned that there is no greater gift than for a woman to know love on earth. (i luv u, hunny)
from my sons, i've learned true joy. i'm learning peace, patience,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
from my Heavenly Father, i've learned that there is no greater love
than to give your life. i'm learning to abide in Him, and allow Him to abide in me. i've learned that there is One who sticks
closer than a brother, and who is always on my side. i praise You, Lord, for all You've done for me.
thank you, Abba.
author's note: the relationship a girl has with
her father helps to shape relationships for the rest of her life. i'm grateful that, at 23, i discovered the love of
a perfect Father. looking back, i can see how He provided for me in spite of the odds
*****
|
|