Saturday, March 1, 2008

Another Reason Why We Need Each Other!


Who doesn't love good stuff first thing in the morning?
This morning I (sans coffee) bopped and clicked my way over to Leslie's.

PLEASE go read that post!
I can't completely explain what happened when I read that post.

But, trust me when I tell you I was bubbling with inspiration afterwards.

It was as if a match had been struck and set
to a powder keg of thoughts, ideas and realizations.

Photobucket


Things that were inert inside me, until the spark was added!
I ran around doing some chores, got ready and went to our monthly Ladies meeting.

(Our group is called Women With Wings).
Great meeting.
Our Pastor is wonderful and I appreciate so much the gift of God in her,
and how she is faithful in all that she does, including bringing out the best in us.

Anyway, on the drive home, I was thinking about the cross,
and how impressed I have been lately with the fact
that the arms of the cross are reaching out to us.

I know, Captain Obvious strikes again.
But, I have really been impacted
by the R - E- A- C- H- I- N- G
of the arms of that cross lately.
How all encompassing they are.
How much sin those arms bore the weight of.
How many, many people it was intended for.

And these thoughts led me to the song I posted here.
And all that led me to remember what I wanted my faith to mean,
that I want it to accomplish something.
And I thought about some things about my past, and how God helped me get out of some ruts, that were not good for His name or me or anything.
He's real good like that!


And all that reminded me of Life in the Cave!
Which is a message God put on my heart about a year or so ago.
That will be my next post!

This one was to say that this whole post
was fueled by sparks set to bits and pieces of good stuff
just floating around inside me, not doing anything.
Not until I read some inspirational thoughts from a friend, a Godly, fun-loving woman!
And THEN I went and spent time with a bunch of other women,
excited about the goodness of God,
and the purpose of God to work IN us,
so that we can be all that we are meant to be.
For our good, and the good of all those around us.
All that fellowship, all that discussing God's Word,
and understanding what that looks like in each of our lives,
lit up a fire inside me.
We all need that periodically.

We need the quiet times, too!
But the quiet times would suffocate us, if we didn't follow that up,
with interaction with
other people of faith, zeal, integrity, joy of life.


"And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
Hebrews 10:24-25

5 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

Yes. As the body we all work together. We cannot do it alone. God uses each of us to spur one another on to love and good deeds! Amen dear sister.

Sharon Brumfield said...

"It only takes a spark to get a firer going-and soon all those around will warm up to its glowing......."

That is what blogging helps me do on a regular basis. I see other women pushing forward. And it PUMPS ME UP!
And then I go to women's group and church and when the Spirit moves--it LIGHTS ME UP!
I think of us like a bunch of coals. We are lit and all glowing nicely--sparking off the heat of the one next to us. But if you take that coal and move it off by itself in a cold world--before long--coldness.

Karen Hossink said...

Yes, yes, yes!
We are better together, and I am so glad God has allowed my path to cross with yours and Leslie's, and so many other godly bloggers, that we might spur one another on!

And on another note - your talk of the arms of the cross reminded me of Jesus' arms around the cross in The Passion of the Christ. Did you see that movie? When I watched it and saw Him embracing the cross, and one character yelled at Him something like, "Why are you embracing that cross???!!!" I imagined myself in the place of that wood, and saw Him embracing ME. He loves us that much! And I am so thankful!!!

She Rose Up said...

Leslie, (I have a lot of favorites) but,I really DO think this is one of my favorite aspects of faith. It's in the top 5 anyway! Thanks again for your wonderful post on the need to permeate to be effect as salt! That will stay with me a long,long time! Much to learn there!

Sharon, I so very much agree! A big me TOO!

Karen, I am so grateful, too! It has just been such an unexpected gift! We went to see the movie, but I don't remember that specific part. I think we might need to see it again, it's a good time of year for it. It's hard to comprehend how much He loves us. We could spend a life time learning! That is a beautiful thought you had! Thank you for that!

Thanks for all the sparks, Ladies!
Maria

Denise said...

Thanks for being one of my daily sparks friend.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!