Easter and Eggs

In the past couple weeks, when you go to the stores you'll notice all the Easter-themed items on display. I saw one such item in the store..I took a picture of it to share with you because it confirmed my previous leading to write about this "Easter egg" traditon that is creeping into our lives.

To an extent, I agree with the words on this wall decoration but not with what was intended. From all the research I've done - within and outside the Bible - there is no scriptural basis for Easter eggs. In fact, I'd rephrase it to say:

"Easter is the time of the year that reminds you it's perfectly safe to put all your eggs in one basket."  

The fact that Jesus rose again gives us assurance that we have a bright future ahead of us. The only way to have and enjoy that life fully & truly is to put all your eggs in God's basket. "Putting all your eggs in God's basket" starts with accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

As we celebrate Easter today, I encourage you to receive God's gift - accept Jesus Who said:

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."**

Today is also the last day of the first quarter of the year -  what a great day to "close and old chapter of your life" and open your heart to Jesus in faith.*** 

May this Easter be one that you'll never forget for good.

References:
*http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/02/this-is-life.html

http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-1-this-is-life.html  

http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-2-this-is-life.html  
http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-3-this-is-life.html  
http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-4-this-is-life.html          
** John 10:10b - Amplified          
***Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch. ~Ramona C. Carroll

MFM - 4

So far we’ve talked about success and failure. Let’s move forward to talk about one thing that is common to both success and failure - challenges, obstacles etc ...

Joshua J Marine put this so well: "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Proverbs 24:10 - If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. (NLT)

If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems and find you are ready for greater challenges.

~Pat Riley

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity. ~ Albert Schweitzer

“Even the most daring and accomplished people have undergone tremendous difficulty. In fact, the more successful they became, the more they attributed their success to the lessons learned during their most difficult times. Adversity is our teacher. When we view adversity as a guide towards greater inner growth, we will then learn to accept the wisdom our soul came into this life to learn.” ~Barbara Rose

Personally when I face a stumbling block – or a set of them, rather than see them as a setback, I try to step back and ask myself, “How can I turn these to stepping stones or better yet building blocks?”

Whatever comes your way, once you are someone who truly loves the Lord not just by lips but through our lives, remember that: “God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves Him.” (Rom 8:28 – Contemporary English Version)

Whatever comes your way, keep marching forward in March and even beyond this month.

Toffee or toughie?

Last year, a very dear family friend gave us a very special type of toffee - oh they were so good that I almost felt bad taking more.

In a way I can't explain (I guess I can't explain everything), this topic popped in my head - possibly because of various things I'd heard or read...and unknown to me, things I was going to encounter...

Keep growing...

...going, and glowing

The Word of God serves many purposes... summarizing them in a phrase: God gave us His Word so we keep growing, going and glowing... 

When I found this picture, it couldn't have been a better fit. Let's talk about each element:

Growing: Can you imagine having a child that doesn't grow - God forbid. Likewise, God forbid that any of His children don't grow. In various verses, God tells us some of the areas we need to grow in.

Ephesians 2: 20-21 told us that: "You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]." (Amplified)

2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and [a]recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! (Amplified)

Going: When you grow (i.e. the Word grows in you), the Word will be with you wherever you go. We all too well know this instruction to "go" with the promise of Divine presence:

"Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”" Matthew 28: 18-20 (The Message)

When we go as instructed Acts 12:24 happens:

But the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] continued to grow and spread. (Amplified)

Glowing: As we grow and go, we must glow. Isaiah 60: 1-4** and Matthew 5: 15-16*** say exactly the same thing - "Glow wherever you are - to God's glory" (my paraphrase).

It's interesting how God talks to us about the same thing* over and over again. It is my prayer that we will hear and heed so His glory will be seen in and through us. God bless.


References:
*http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2011/03/grow-glow.html
**Isaiah 60: 1-3 - “Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you. For see, darkness will cover the earth. Much darkness will cover the people. But the Lord will rise upon you, and His shining-greatness will be seen upon you. Nations will come to your light. And kings will see the shining-greatness of the Lord on you.” (New Life Version)
***Matthew 5:15-16 - “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Amplified)

It's very bad...

...and deadly...yet we can learn a lot from it.

I must confess that this piece has been bubbling in my heart for a couple of weeks and I'd been resisting writing it. This morning as I went through the same experience that inspired the piece, the struggle began because I definitely never want to or be seen to commend or even condone something God condemns. As I discussed, rather debated, this with the Holy Spirit, I heard Him say:

"Make your stand clear from the start then proceed to the 'message from that mess.'" 

MFM - 3

This week I’ll focus on some more quotes, or “definitions” as I like to call them, of failure.

I remember a few years ago I shared how John Maxwell’s book “Failing Forward”* helped me to continue marching forward. If you haven’t read it, I strongly recommend that you read it.

Failure can be a hard thing to deal with. I know because I’ve had the privilege of failing...

The Whistling Kettle

During our Holy Communion Service, the words "Whistling Kettle" dropped in my spirit... and I wrote them down in my notebook.

As I pondered on the words it just hit me that God had a word for me. I got it but decided to take some time to research into the origin of the Whistling kettle. So here's what I found out...

MFM - 2

As I said last week, the word, more like the “Marching orders,” I received for this month is “MFM.” For those who didn’t read last week’s post, I can imagine that some of your minds are already racing wondering: “What is she going to say about MFM?” I can imagine how you feel – I also felt that way to an extent when I was given that word or shall I say those 3 letters.

Thank Him in Advance

I got this this morning and couldn't resist sharing it - it's a great lead-on from my MFM* post:

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines...Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria:
We all have dreams and goals that God has placed in our hearts, things we’re believing for, situations we’re praying will turn around. These promises start off like seeds. They don’t come to pass overnight. There’s always a period of waiting involved. From the time we pray till the time we see it come to fulfillment, that’s called the trial of our faith. This is when many people get discouraged and give up. They start believing the negative thoughts, “It’s never going to happen. It’s taken too long.” Now, that seed is lying there dormant, but it’s still alive. It still has potential. You have to do your part and start watering the seed. The way you water it is by thanking God in advance and declaring His Word. You can’t wait until you receive the promise. You have to thank God that the answer is on the way!

Today, no matter what you are facing, know that God is greater than all of it. He has the answer and is working for your good behind the scenes. All through the day say, “Father, thank You that whatever I touch prospers and succeeds. Thank You that Your favor surrounds me like a shield.” Thank God in advance, water those seeds of faith, and take hold of every promise He has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I choose to rejoice in You. No matter what my circumstances look like, I know You are greater than my circumstances. I trust that You are working behind the scenes to fulfill every one of Your promises in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen

Reference:
*http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2013/03/mfm.html

Get some donkeynality

When I added the last question to the "Tale of 2 donkeys"* I quickly asked myself:  "Really?"

The major thing I seem to remember about donkeys from my childhood is that they are "Beasts of Burden." Remembering it made me ask: "Wait a minute - did I just set myself up?" Afterall, Prov 6:2 which I like quoting tells us that:

"You might [or will] get trapped by what you say;

you might [or will] be caught by your own words [or what you say]."

(Expanded Bible)

Wisdom demands I acquire knowledge so I'm better aware of what I'm getting myself into - hence this piece on "donkeynality." What else would you call a donkey with "personality"? :)

MFM

Happy New Month. Welcome to the beginning of the end of the first quarter of the year. Including today, we have exactly 300 days to go before this "New Year" is history.

I wonder if you're feeling the way I have been feeling this year. After all I went through last year, I was really looking forward to this year. God has also given me so many words and pointers to confirm how amazing this year will be for me...so I've been very expectant.

The days are going by rather quickly...and as I looked forward to this month, I heard the Lord say: "MFM." I can imagine that some of you are already thinking about what "MFM" means - possibly based on the fact that you know something that MFM stands for.

Weather wisdom

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~ John Ruskin

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” ~Anne Bradstreet

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

~Dolly Parton

“Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carrry an umbrella.” ~ Terri Guillemets

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”

~ J D’Angelo

 

May God bless you and yours with the right weather for His Word to thrive in your life.

See Isaiah 55: 10-11
For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Amp)

What a great idea!

The first week of this year I listened to a piece of news that was the best I'd heard in a while...

It was nice to watch the process on TV - however I found the article so you can read it for yourself so we're all on the same page: