RING A BELL PHRASES

BUT GOD blog entries, probably most of any---approx 150, always ring a bell when I hear that phrase! His love and mercy reminders spring forth!

Family and friends often share phrases and acrostics to "ring my bell" metaphorically to trigger my memory. Those ring loudly---think Terry @ Bryson City FBC LOUD!

Don't settle for safety; Jesus offers security. Amanda McElrath

God's Grace 

Keeps Pace 

with what we face. Brother Buddy

Gaze at God! Glance at all else. Carolyn W.

Let's let Acts go through us. 

Togetherness (fellowship) fulfills a longing for belonging. Son Buddy

W atch

A nd

I ncrease 

T rust        Bernie

Use Roundup on your bitterness rather than fertilizer. Scottie Smith

What I make much of is much to me. Andrew Beach

Be kind to one another. Nō-ah who was "fō-ah" 2008 (Eph. 4:32) 

authentici-TEA

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NASB) 

"Tea is a balm for the soul, don't you agree?" Mrs. P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) asked Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) on the Malco big screen where "Saving Mr. Banks" was showing.

Mr. Disney accepted the tea and the sentiment BUT he understood beyond that. He saw Mrs.Travers, whom he insisted on calling by her given name, for who she was. He also sought to help her not only see her true self, but to accept it as well. 

Accepting one another, warts and all, is authentici-TEA in relationships.

The Lord models that. He genuinely loves us and accepts us. He provides forgiveness as the balm we need. 

The old African-American spiritual,"There is a Balm in Gilead," says it well.

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead 

To heal the sin sick soul.

 Accepting each other and sharing our own cuppa of authentici-TEA, is a good basis for a genuine relationship. It might even provide a balm for one who is hurting.

Measuring Up

8/3/13 Measuring up. Isn't that what we all try to do? Too often, we continually try to "measure up" to a parental expectation, a culture/society benchmark, or self-induced standard. It's as if "measuring up" will bring esteem and love from others.

For some, it's a life long pursuit that is never quite attained. Adolescent girls want to be shorter or cuter, boys (in our family) tend to want to be stronger and more athletic. Everyone seems to want to be smarter or more successful by the world's measuring stick.

As I watched John Parker (5) stand on his tip-toes by the NASCAR measuring stick, all those thoughts came to mind. 

From his tip-toed positioned feet, he said, "See. I'm big (tall) enough!" 

I know that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and with God "there is therefore now no condemnation" for believers, and that He "loves me with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3 & Romans 5:8) Yet, how easy it is to see myself trough the world's eyes instead.....causing me to stand on my tip-toes as once again I "try" to measure up.

I need to trust God's measuring stick. Thankfully, because of Christ, I'll always measure up.

3-D Vision

3-D Vision

4/9/11 “Seeing God’s Hand” portion of this blog started the awareness, during my ’09 cancer journey, of the fact that most of the happenings of my life are out of my hands. Bobbie McCarty, at Houston High, encouraged me to see God’s hand in my life and to trust Him for the outcome. Today’s My Utmost for His Highest entry recalled for me the importance of that pursuit. Ten times in the entry, Oswald Chambers wrote of Seeing Him/Jesus.

How does one go about “seeing Him Who is invisible?” Through creation. Through the kindness and compassion of others who become His hands and feet.

As I mulled this today, I realized that often we see with our heart, especially as we read God’s word. We need to “see” Him with the eyes of our understanding. We need to put on our 3-D spiritual glasses if we cant to see His depth, His doggedness and His duration.

Depth---His love for us is deep and nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Doggedness---God first loved us (while we were yet sinners) and continues to pursue a love relationship with us. He doesn't give up on us. What a comfort that is. (Romans 5:8)

Duration---Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared……saying, ”I have loved you with and everlasting love.

I can’t “see” Him for you, nor you for me. We all have our own spiritual 3-D glasses. Let’s wear them today and then share with others, what we have seen for ourselves.