~THE APPLES DIDN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

I've been enjoying reading the Living Proof Ministries blog lately.  In case you didn't know, not only does the amazing Beth Moore post there, but her two daughters are blogging as well.

Melissa has recently received her second master's degree; check out her fascinating and impressive post about the translation of a Greek word from the New Testament.

Read Amanda's poignant and equally impressive posts about her trip to Guatemala on behalf of Compassion International here and here.  You may also want to visit her own personal blog, Baby Bangs; the meaning of the blog's title is so neat and can be found on the blog's home page.

Many thanks to them for sharing with us! ☺

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~A COLORFUL LIFE

In my last post I wrote about visiting at a church.  At the beginning of the service, a girl got up on stage to share.  I was really touched by what she had to say and by her compassionate and kind presence.  I don't recall the anecdote she related word-by-word, but I'll try my best to relate it...

She had recently been to a poetry reading at a coffee shop in downtown Raleigh.  Instead of sharing a poem, one attendee talked about a dream he'd had.  He would touch the wall, and it would turn red.  Then he'd touch the ceiling, and it would turn purple.  His touch caused beautiful colors to appear.  He touched the ground, and flowers sprang up.  The young woman went on to say that this dream reminded her of what Christ does in our lives.  To me, she was saying that He takes our lives and fills them with His light and life, making regular things beautiful.  She said that we all "have our own darkness," whether it be a job we don't like, or an illness, or whatever it may be that is an affliction to us.  However, Christ is there for His people to help them through the darkness.  This sweet anecdote really brightened my morning, and I thank her for sharing it. 

From reading Scripture and from observing the world around us, we know that sometimes Christ removes afflictions entirely, but if not (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), He will help us to handle them and to cope with them.  Moreover, He'll help us to handle them in a way that is pleasing to Him.

I can't help but think of a story I've recently read.  It's a story of amazing faith that reminds me to keep problems in perspective and to refrain from making mountains out of molehills.  It also teaches us that God can bring good out of anything.  In fact, some of our most beautiful gifts will be the result of trying times
(Romans 5:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)... 

A young girl of twenty years was afflicted with spinal meningitis.  She knew that her case was incurable, and that her life would be one of chronic invalidism.  A friend, calling on her, seemed to see the dark side only, and remarked in a commiserating tone, "Affliction colors everything in one's life."  "Yes," the young girl replied brightly, "but I choose the colors."

I'm also reminded of part of a song by Kenny Rogers entitled, "You Decorated My Life."  It's most likely a song about what another person can do in one's life.  We all know people and things can inspire us and enrich our lives.  However, when I heard the song, it made me think of what the Lord (the true Artist) can do in our lives...

Like a rhyme with no reason

In an unfinished song

There was no harmony

Life meant nothing to me

Until you came along

And you brought out the colors

What a gentle surprise

Now I'm able to see

All the things life can be

Shining soft in your eyes

And you decorated my life

Created a world where dreams are a part

And you decorated my life

By painting your love all over my heart

You decorated my life

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The Lord adorns the sky with rainbows in order to remind us of His covenant with the earth (Genesis 9:11-17).  Likewise, His touch infuses each of our lives with beautiful colors, reminding us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33), that He is with us (Matthew 28:20b), and that all good things come from Him (James 1:17).

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"You lifted him high and bright as a cumulus cloud, then dressed him in rainbow colors."
~Psalm 21:5, MSG~

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."

~Ecclesiastes 3:11a, NIV~

"We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out for the long haul--not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.  It is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."

~Colossians 1:11-12, MSG~

"And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald."
~Revelation 4:3, NKJV~

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~MOVIE THEATER SABBATH (MEETING JESUS AT THE MULTIPLEX)

A few Sundays ago, I visited at a church that is meeting at a movie theater.  I have noticed that several churches in Raleigh that don't have their own buildings are doing the same thing.  I liked the casual atmosphere, which I expected because of the nicely worded welcome I had read on their website.  I had to smile to myself when the collection was taken up in one of the theater's popcorn buckets. Little happenings such as that make life more
grace-full.

I wonder if God smiles to Himself when someone drops into a church service at a movie theater when that same person wouldn't have gone had the service been held in a "regular" church.  I'm reminded of a song by Sara Groves, "Tent in the Center of Town."  The lyrics follow:

There's a tent in the center of town

And the people are losing their frowns

'Cause they think they'll go there and see lions and bears

In the tent in the center of town

But it's all about the winning of souls

Say the signs on the telephone poles

They say if you are blue Jesus is calling you

To the tent in the center of town

The preacher is preaching his best

And he barely takes time for a breath

And their hearts are complete in the bearable heat

In the tent in the center of town

And the gentlemen give up their seats

To the women who've been on their feet

'Cause it's standing room only when the Holy of Holies

Blesses the center of town

There's a tent in the center of town

Where the people can gather around

Who wouldn't step foot in a church

But who aren't afraid of a Good News crusade

In the tent in the center of town

And they say they're drawn in by the stripes on the awning

And the beautiful music inside

But they're drawn by the Spirit that's pouring down

On the tent in the center of town

And revival hits like a wave

And hundreds are joyously saved

And the thief and adulterer lay it all on the altar

'Cause there’s grace in the center of town

In this tent in the center of town

Where the people can gather around

Who wouldn't step foot in a church

But who aren't afraid of a Good News crusade

In the tent in the center of town

The time has come to move on

To the next hurting throng

And they hope as they tear it apart

The tent will live on in their hearts

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Because of a tent in the center of town

 

I'm also reminded of a book by Max Lucado entitled, Next Door Savior.  This book explores how God is a personal God who inhabits every part of His children's lives--especially the regular, commonplace parts. He left the glories of heaven to become flesh and dwell among us (John 1:14), and the circumstances He was born into were anything but flashy.  Now, He continues to be with us in our day-to-day lives through His indwelling Spirit (John 14:15-27).  In a chapter entitled, "A Cure for the Common Life: Ordinary Places," Lucado quotes Frederick Buechner: "There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it."  Whether it's a tent in the center of town or a movie theater in the middle of the suburbs, Jesus will be there to meet us....

"My God of mercy shall come to meet me."
~Psalm 59:10a~

"Let me assure you that as you penetrate the labyrinth of life in pursuit of Christian duty, you will often be surprised and charmed by meeting your Master Himself amid its windings and turnings and receive His
soul-inspiring smile.  Or, I should rather say, you will always meet Him, wherever you go."
~Elizabeth Prentiss~

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
~Matthew 18:20~

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