God Says...

By Ginny (MAD21)

Awhile back, I was discussing topic ideas with the guys who have been writing for my series on Mondays. We had started organizing one of the ideas but stopped when Jay came across a fabulous article on faith by Donald Borsch, Jr. called, "Sonship: The Reality of Faith." After reading his post and seeing the "God Says" list he included, we decided we wanted to expand on what he shared, by making his list (and a few more we added) the topic for our next series.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 that even if we can do all kinds of amazing things, if we do them without love it means nothing. The lesson here is obvious. But when preparing for this series, I read: "if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." I wondered... what if you love, but you lack faith? What happens when you've been beaten down by a situation so far, for so long that you really begin to question how strong your faith is?

We have all been there. That place of doubt.

"I'm not good enough."

   "It's impossible."

      "I can't."

         "I'm afraid."

            "I can't resist."

               "I can't forgive."

                  "I want."

                     "I feel all alone."

Many of us put on a good face no matter what we are going through in our lives. I think for the most part we all just "go with the flow" and deal with things as they come along. But there are those times when doubt, or a lack of faith, get the best of us. It can last for a moment, a day, or much, much longer. It's for those times that we must prepare ourselves. We must work hard to build our faith before it's tested, before we face the challenges. If we can build that strong foundation, it won't matter what comes our way. Because with faith comes it's companion: hope.

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God's Trinket Boxes

By Pat

In my china cabinet is a little pottery item made for me by my daughter many years ago when she was a child. It consists of misshapen cords of varying lengths and widths, all coiled together into a little round trinket box, complete with a lid perched precariously on the top. Separately, these pieces amount to little except a seemingly jumbled mess, but together it is solid and strong. It has withstood several moves and endured many bumps, but yet it as sturdy as it can be. It sits proudly in the china closet holding...nothing. It is empty. I have no need to place anything in it, although if needed, I certainly could. But I like it just the way it is.

When my daughter gave it to me, she thought it was just beautiful. She knew exactly what it was and she worked hard to make it. The flaws were invisible to her...all she saw was that the pieces all somehow fit together and it was ready for me to use. She saw it exactly as it was meant to be. She was very proud of her handiwork! And, as a mother, I loved it.

In some ways, this little trinket box reminds me of me. I, too, am made up of a variety of things that make me who and what I am. I, too, at times am a jumbled up mess. I have strong points, weak points, broken parts, scars and battle wounds. Although to the world (and to me) I may not seem to be perfect and beautiful, God sees me differently. He made me, and to Him I am a work of art. To Him, we are ALL works of art. The pieces that comprise us may not be perfect, but somehow they fit together exactly the way God meant them to.

Like little empty pottery vessels, we must remember that no matter what we look like, or how we appear to the world, we have to trust that God knew just what He was doing when He put each of us together, and as long as we remain empty each morning, God can use us and fill us with exactly what He wants us to hold. He keeps us right there in His china closet and fills each of us as He sees fit. So be ready! Let God fill you up!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Waterworld

By Jay Cookingham (Soulfari)

"Filthy water cannot be washed." - African Proverb

Depending on our body size, our bodies contain 55% to 75% water. Experts suggest that approximately two liters (around seven glasses) of water a day is the minimum to maintain proper hydration and health.

Our bodies are walking, breathing water worlds.

Today many kids will die because the water in their world is unfit to drink. They will die from waterborne illnesses that are cause by drinking dirty, contaminated water.

charity: water reports it this way...

4,500 children die each day from diseases caused by a lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation. In Sub-Saharan Africa, a baby’s chance of dying from diarrhea is almost 520 times greater than here in the US. Illnesses like diarrhea are caused by drinking contaminated water and kill more than 2.2 million people each year. That’s the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing every day. Children under five are the most susceptible to water-borne disease; their developing bodies often fail to withstand the amount of parasites normally found in contaminated water sources. 

God reports on it this way:

"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them." (Isaiah 41:17)

God’s heart is moved and so should ours. Let’s not forsake them.

charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Just $20 can give one-person access to clean water. Pray and then please go and support the 30-Day project over at charity: water.

God bless you…Jay

I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, just about 80 miles north of the Big Apple. My family and I live in Hyde Park, New York, the former home of Franklin Roosevelt, but I didn't let that stop us from living there. Seriously, it's a real nice town, rich with history. My wife Christine and I have been happily married for 28 years and have seven (yes seven) children, five boys and two girls. I am passionate about my relationships, with God and my family, they are the fuel for my creativity and the drive to finish strong.

Worthy

By Pat

As part of a recent morning devotion, I read Luke 7:1-10. This is the story about the Roman officer, called a centurion, who had a highly valued servant who was gravely ill. The centurion sent some elders to Jesus in hopes of Jesus healing the servant. Now, the theme of this particular story is usually that of the centurion's great faith by sending someone else to plead his case, and knowing that Jesus didn't have to come in person to provide healing. His faith was strong, and Jesus, impressed with his great faith, healed the servant. But when I read it, something else popped out at me.

Verse 4 tells us that the elders approached Jesus and earnestly pleaded, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." They made sure Jesus knew the centurion was a good man, worthy of a "favor," a blessing. But don't we all think like that sometimes? Our mindset is sometimes that the more good works we perform, the more worthy we are to have our prayers answered our way, and favors granted. This, however, is not the case. Regardless of who or what we are and what we've done, God loves us equally and, by virtue of that great love and mercy, we are not required to keep tabs of our good deeds in order to receive a blessing from God. We don't need to remind God how good we are, or have others remind Him on our behalf, for He already knows our good and our bad and He treats us as we treat our children; equally and fairly.

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:6-9)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

The Undesirables

By Pat

I have been feeding the birds for a very long time. I get so much enjoyment out of it, and I have spent a good deal of time and money through the years buying assorted feeders and seeds that will attract the birds I love to see...the cardinals, chickadees, goldfinches and woodpeckers are my favorites. I go to great leanths to make sure they have food every day so that they will continue coming to the feeders. But unfortunately, they're not the only birds who enjoy eating in my yard! (And we won't even mention my endless battles with squirrels!)

I get really upset when I see the "junk" birds eating the sunflower seeds; the starlings, grackles, red-winged blackbirds and brown-headed cowbirds are delighted when they discover the feeders in my yard, and they come in droves, devouring every seed in sight with very little effort, and it drives me crazy! They throw the seeds this way and that, and in no time at all the feeders are empty, and they are so aggressive that the "desirable" birds end up with nothing. No matter how many times I chase them away, they come back. Fortunately, eventually they move on because they come in spells, but during the times they're here, I am really determined to scare them off.

Isn't it a good thing God isn't like that? What if He only wanted to feed and care for the pretty ones, or the ones who sang well? What is those who are more financially successful gained more favor with God? What if those who were of sweeter nature were treated with special by God? What if God chased away those of us the world deems as "the undesirables?" Wow. That's a scary thought to me. I can't say I'm sure I would be welcome at God's feeders if that were the case! I certainly have plenty of traits that God must surely view as undesirable, but thankfully, God doesn't operate that way. We are all beautiful to God. We are all desirable to God, and He wants to feed each one of us. All are welcome at God's feeders. I thank God every day for his great, fair and unbiased love.

"As for those who seemed to be important-whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message." (Galatians 2:6)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.