Happy Birthday USA! Let's Celebrate our Liberty in Christ!

Our flag proudly waves in front of our house.



Today is the Fourth of July.  Independent Day.  Happy Birthday USA!  I smell barbeques already cooking in the neighborhood.  Family and friends will gather to celebrate our wonderful nation.

I am grateful to God who by His grace made me a citizen of this great country.  My father and his brothers served our country in the military; my twin sons, Justin and Jonathan, serve our country in the Army; Cory, my daughter-in-law, serves in the Air National Guard.  Need I say more about how very proud and patriotic I am.

I know I am blessed to be an American.  But spiritually, it makes no difference where I hold my citizenship...in which zip code I live, on which piece of earth I've staked my claim. 

God is God of the whole world. 

Our liberty as believers is all about Jesus Christ and the victory He won on the cross at Calvary.

        Jesus said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed," John 8:36.

Paul preached the message of the good news of Jesus Christ.

"Now the Lord is that Spirit:  and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty," 2 Corinthians 3:17.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage," Galatians 5:1.

If we cooperate with God, Jesus Christ can free us from any entanglement.  When Christ is our Master, there is no need to be in bondage.  I can live in the freedom that is mine because of Him. Life's burdens need not be heavy, because He has already carried them all to the cross.

So today, in addition to celebrating the liberty I have as an American, I want to celebrate the glorious liberty that is mine as a child of God.  With my focus on Jesus Christ my Savior, I am free to be all He created me to be.  Free to be who He intended me to be from the foundation of the world.  That's really something to celebrate!

My wonderful sons Jonathan and Justin

 

Jonathan and his beautiful wife Cory

 

I hope you will celebrate the liberty that is yours today because of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Today is the perfect day to honor as well those who serve our country in the military.  We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.  May you celebrate with your loved ones and enjoy a happy and safe 4th of July.  Don't forget to say a prayer for our military, their families, and our nation.

Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  I appreciate you so much.  

I Am Satisfied with Jesus

On my cozy deck see my Mother-in-law's tongue plant which was taken from a cutting
of my Aunt Francis' plant.  She passed away in 1985. I consider my plant an heirloom.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.  Psalm 34:15

On Friday, Doc Savage came out for the routine maintenance on my heating and air unit.  It reminded me to share this story which I first told you in November.  I hope you enjoy it.

I want to share this story about a kindness the Lord did for me many years ago when I was a recently divorced, struggling single parent.  I needed to make a big purchase.  The heating and air conditioning system for the house had broken beyond repair and I had to purchase a new system.  I had no money and no credit (because I had been a stay at home mom). 

I don't remember how I heard about Doc Savage Heating and Air, but I remember the journey in search of the business. This was before Map quest or gadgets guided the way. It seemed so far away from my home, located in south Augusta, on the other side of town, in unfamiliar neighborhoods.  I felt vulnerable and unsure of myself.

 

I had prayed for fair treatment, and that the owner would sell me a unit without a down payment, with monthly payments same as cash.  I was unused to making business deals, and I knew the best I could do would be modest monthly payments.  I asked God for His favor. 

While I was driving the twelve miles to the business, an uncommon old hymn that I hadn't heard for years came into my mind.  I sang it over and over with all my heart.  Here are the words.  (I'd like to know if you are familiar with this song.)

 

Satisfied with Jesus by B.B. McKinney

 

 I am satisfied with Jesus,
He has done so much for me:
He has suffered to redeem me,
He has died to set me free.

Chorus
I am satisfied, I am satisfied,
I am satisfied with Jesus,
But the question comes to me,
As I think of Calvary,
Is my Master satisfied with me?

He is with me in my trials,
Best of friends of all is He;
I can always count on Jesus,
Can He always count on me?

 

Chorus
I am satisfied, I am satisfied,
I am satisfied with Jesus,
But the question comes to me,
As I think of Calvary,
Is my Master satisfied with me?

I remember driving down the dirt road to the little rustic building.  I entered the quiet shop and introduced myself to the only person I saw.  The receptionist said she would tell Mr. Doc Savage that I was there.  As I stepped aside from the window, I noticed a framed picture on the wall.  It was a page torn from an old hymnal.  The name of the hymn--"I am satisfied".  The very song I sang on the way to the shop.

Along with my astonishment, joy arose in my heart.  Gone were my doubts and fears, and perfect peace and confidence filled my heart.  I did purchase a unit (I've bought a second unit from them and still do business with them.)  The owner kindly gave me monthly payments, same as cash, as if it were the most natural thing for him to do.

God knew this man.  Apparently, we all knew the same song.  And of course, our God knew I'd see that song on the wall of his shop.  God had directed my path, even though I hadn't realized it at the time, and He gave me special confirmation with a song that He was looking out for me.

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3: 5-6

 

I am so thankful that He watches out for me, and He cares about the things that concern me.  The everyday moments of my life.  Yes, I am satisfied with Jesus.  I pray He is satisfied with me.

Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  I appreciate you and pray that you are blessed by the meditations and stories you will find here.  Please feel free to add your thoughts below.  May God direct all your paths wherever you go.

My devotional journal God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea: Experiencing God in the Midst of Everyday Moments is available on Amazon.  I've added the picture of the devotional on the sidebar and you can click it to read more about it on Amazon. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about book give-aways and prizes for the big launch next week.  I think you are going to love it. 

The Message of the Cursed Fig Tree

 

Unripened Figs ~ Google Image

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.  Mark 11: 12-14 NIV 

Yesterday while I was taking my morning walk, I noticed a fig tree covered in green fruit.  I thought of the story of the cursed fig tree.  And I came home to look it up in my Bible and think about it some more.

This story from Scripture has always bothered me.  I’ve studied over it many times.  My sympathies have been for the poor fig tree, because I couldn’t figure out why Jesus would curse that tree when it wasn’t even time for the fruits to be ripe. 

Jesus was hungry!  Oh, the humanity.  He was subject to like passions as we are. Just the thought of Jesus being physically hungry makes tears come to my eyes. 

So, I can’t see Him stopping to think, Oh, I’ll use this tree for an object lesson on the power of the spoken word!  Or I’ll use this tree as a symbol of the nation of Israel.  (Bear with me friends.)

Knowing full well though that Jesus did nothing contrary to God’s will--nothing that wasn’t it perfect harmony to the LIGHT and GRACE and TRUTH that is God’s Word made flesh--I knew there was something in this story that I needed to understand.  I can’t conceive of Jesus ever having done anything haphazardly.  His action sprung naturally from His nature as God and Man. 

 

So, what is the message of the cursed fig tree for us?  Feel free to share your thoughts and shed more light on the subject.  (Many candles burning together will make a bright light.) 

And in the morning, when they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.  Mark 11: 20-21. KJV

The tree had “withered away” and “dried up from the roots”. 

There seems to me to be a strong connection between this event and Jesus’s parable of the true vine in John 15.  (If you have the time, see John 15: 1-8.)

A vine that is abiding in Him will bear much fruit. 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit…John 15:8a 

 

Jesus looked to the tree for fruits to serve His needs!  But when He looked, He found nothing there…it was not what He expected…there was just a show of leaves.

The tree had not served its purpose for the time that Jesus needed it.

 

 I pray that when the Lord looks to me to serve a need that He finds actual fruits for His use, and not just an outward appearance of fruitfulness.

                                                                       Ripe figs ~ Google image

 

Please feel free to add your thoughts below.  Click comment.  I appreciate what you have to say.  Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.  May God bless you with an abundance of spiritual fruits for His use.

Is There Any Way To Know God?

I love this picture.  I took this in Quebec City, Quebec, June 2011.

When my twins, Justin and Jonathan, were little boys, we had an ant farm.  It was fun to watch the tiny industrious creatures forever busy running their lives.  (Yes, my boys were that, but here I am referring to the ants.) These social creatures cooperated with one another building tunnels and chambers oblivious to our watchful eyes.  In their own universe (with no way to comprehend their marvelous masters) they lived their busy lives until they died too quickly, and the whole ant farm sat strangely still.  Our perspective gave us a good understanding of them, but there was no way they could fathom us.   

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,

and its people are like grasshoppers. Isaiah 40:21-22 

Like grasshoppers! Isaiah said. That perspective mirrors our own with the ants.

The truth is God is far above and beyond our comprehension. He knows us, His creations. We may try in our finite minds to conceive of Him, but in reality we have no basis of comparison.  God is marvelous and majestic.

 

Is there any way we can know Him?  God made a way for us when He sent us His son Jesus Christ.

 

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!  Philippians2:6-8

 

Our gracious heavenly Father sent His son Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, to live amongst us as a man, to understand us, to be our brother, our advocate, our Savior, that we might know Him and by so doing, know the Father as well.

 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7

 

Thank God for Jesus Christ. He makes a way for us to know God and to see God.  Thank God for my Savoir.  Otherwise, I might have lived and died as clueless as a grasshopper. . . or even as an ant.

 

Today I hope you will take the time to consider what a great big God we have, and what a wonderfully gracious thing He did by giving us His Son. Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  Please consider leaving your thought below.  I love to hear from you.

(Those you read this blog every week will recognize this as a post from earlier in the year.  It has been very popular, so I thought I'd feature it again.)

It's Time to Seek the LORD until He Comes and Rains Righteousness on You

My Gerber daisies that thrived through the storms

 

 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.  Hosea 10:12

 

It rained for eight days straight in my Georgia town, then we had a reprieve for five days.  Now it’s been raining for the last four days.  Summer showers are buffeting the earth, watering the thirsty soil.   

Sometimes it seems trials and troubles fall down on us like the rain.  A deluge of disappointments wash out our plans.  When we think surely nothing else can go wrong, the bottom falls out.  (Which means in Southern talk that it comes down like a flood.)  

What do we do in times like that?  We seek the LORD.  And patience grows.  We pray, pray, pray, and ask for His mercy.  Our faith grows stronger.  We consider the sufferings of others.  Our heart of compassion grows.   

The storm of trials has served to bring spiritual nourishment into our lives. We draw near to God; He draws near to us.  Our soul is thirsty for Him. 

And when the rain stops, the flowers appear like garlands, and the world has put on a vibrant green garment. 

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

 

Birdie Lyda playing in the rain  

     ~ courtesy of Julie Roberts Lyda    

My sincere thanks to all of you who have visited today.  Please consider leaving your comments below.  I love to hear from you.  No matter the sunshine or the rain today, I pray you will seek the LORD.  He is there for you.                                                   

Who Needs Salt? Can you relate? PLUS winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card

Salt & Pepper shakers

 

 

Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.  John 6: 32-33

I’ve been meditating on the gospel message of Salvation and the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ. God supplies every need through His grace.  The presence of Christ in us makes all the grace of God available to us, and that grace is a blessing not only to ourselves, but to others who are touched by our lives. 

 I don’t feel skilled enough to pull all my thoughts together today as I’d really like, but maybe you can take something from this and continue to meditate on these thoughts yourself.  I pray these words will be seeds which produce spiritual fruit in your soul.  Please feel free to add to this and share your thoughts.

Moses is referred to in the verse I’ve quoted from John.  I believe it’s a reference to Exodus 16, when God fed the children of Israel in the desert with manna.  Manna was food from heaven sent down for their physical bodies.  It sustained their lives.

Jesus is the Bread of Life from heaven which was sent to give life to our eternal souls.

In Our Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray “give us this day our daily bread”. Every man needs food. Just as we must take food into our physical bodies to sustain life, so must we take Christ into our bodies to sustain our spiritual life.

Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone.”  

Salvation has come to every man through Christ Jesus who is the Word of God made flesh.  We are made alive in Christ, when we accept Him as Our Lord and Savior.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

So, I read Matthew 4:4, Jesus speaking of Himself as the Bread of Life, then I noticed so many other references throughout the gospels to common ordinary things: 

Bread, water, wine, salt, seeds, grains, fruits, figs, vineyards, sower and harvests, fish and fishermen, mustard seeds, trees and vines. 

Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, lived God’s word and taught in parables using common ordinary things to teach the Kingdom of God in terms that all men could understand.  We can all relate to these common things that represent life—bread, salt, seeds, fruits, etc.  Not only can 21^st century man relate to it, but the whole world from all time past, across continents and centuries. 

What brilliance!  I got excited just thinking about the wisdom of God---that He could send Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, to preach the message of Salvation and that the message will have enduring significance to all men, everywhere, from generation to generation, not only because of its Plan and Purpose and Power, but because of the simplicity of its humble presentation.

As long as time endures, man will understand what it means to be laborers in the harvest. 

Yesterday, as my family and I were sitting around the dinner table, someone asked, “Who needs salt?” 

Another one of those plain, ordinary things that Jesus used as an object lesson. 

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  … Ye are the light of the world…. Matthew 5:13a, 14a.

 

an elephant from Cambodia ~ a gift from my son

Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  You are a blessing to me.  I want to thank everyone who visited and commented last week.  I really appreciate your kind words.  For me, my writing is a ministry.  I pray you are blessed by these meditations and reflections about our living Lord and what He means to me.

Congratulations to Lisa Vanderbilt, chosen by random drawing, as the winner of the $25 Amazon gift card.  I hope you enjoy it, Lisa.



Believe God's Love and Dwell in it ~ Celebration Week ~ $25 Gift Card Give-Away ~ Winner of June's Book Give-Away

Let's celebrate ~ all images are from Google image

 

I hope you will bear with me today because I might seem to ramble.  I want to share a write moment with you as usual, plus there’s even more.  This is a celebration week for me, and I want to celebrate with you.  I’ll be giving away a $25 gift card as just a tiny token of my appreciation for you, readers and friends.  Plus, I’ll be announcing the winner of last week’s book give-away.  More about that after the meditation.

 

 

 

I figured out a long time ago that we are free to be our very best in an atmosphere of unconditional love.  Pure love, not because of anything we deserve, but because of the nature of the giver, brings out the best in us.

This revelation first came to me during a time when my small children and I were staying temporarily with my daddy between military moves.  He loved us being there with him.  Everything about us delighted him.  He loved the meals I prepared and relished our time together.  I thrived  in that atmosphere of love and acceptance.  It wasn’t due to anything I did or deserved.  It wasn’t because we were perfect.  It was due to the nature of his love for us.

There was no anxiety.

There was no self-condemnation.

There was no fear of failure.

 

Everything was covered with unconditional love.

 

Love covers all sins.  Proverbs 10: 12b

 

In our relationships and dealing with others, that kind of love is rare.

But, we as believers have something to celebrate.  God’s love for us is

 

 

unconditional.

 

 

Christ accepted death on the cross for us—for the unloved and unlovely and sinners of this world.  And the love that He demonstrated was more powerful that sin, more powerful that death, for Christ rose again to Life everlasting.  And He offers His Love to us.  (See John 3:16)

There is no greater love. (See John 15:13).

Christ has called us to share in His love.  He is our model, and He commanded us to live by the same principles when He gave us the greatest commandments. (See Matthew 22:36-40).

 

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us.  God is love: and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we many have boldness in the day of judgment:  because as he is, so are we in this world.  1 John 4:16-17

 

So are we in this world. 

If we believe God’s love for us, and accept His Love, then we can dwell in that love.

Dwell ~ where you are right now, whatever your circumstances

·         Stuck in traffic

·         Waiting in the doctor’s office

·         Short on money to pay the bills

·         Exhausted from a long day at work

 

Dwell in God’s unconditional love for you and cover your situation with His love.

 

My prayer for us is that we will accept God’s love for us, that we will realize it, and apply it to all circumstances in our lives.  You will experience yourself becoming the best you can possibly be because of His unconditional love.

 

 

 

Now, as promised, more reasons to celebrate.

1.  Congratulations to Jeanette Levellie, who is the winner of Michele Howe’s book, OneSize Fits All.   Many thanks to Michele for being our guest last week and graciously providing a copy of her book.  First Monday author meet and greets have been very popular this year.  Yes, I said year.

2. Happy Anniversary to Write Moments with God.  One year ago, June 13^th, with butterflies fluttering in my tummy, I posted the first meditation here.  Your unconditional love and encouragement has meant so much to me that today we can celebrate

* 95 posts

* almost 700 comments

* over 25,200 visits.  

I hope you’ve found encouragement, compassion,  and strength for your journey at Write Moments with God.

3. (I suppose I have to mention that June 12^th is my birthday.)

4. I also want to mention my devotional journal, God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea which will finally be released on July 11, 2013.  It’s already on Amazon.  If you like this blog, you'll love God, Me, and Sweet Iced Tea and find it even richer and more refreshing.  Next month, I’ll be giving away copies of the devotional to celebrate its launch.

 

Now, what must you do to qualify for the $25 Amazon gift card.  It couldn’t be easier!  And I'll be thrilled to read all your lovely comments!

 

Leave a comment below about what you like about this blog.  I’ll leave the first one so you can click there.  Tell me what you will do to tell your friends and others about this give-away and Write Moments with God—such as through Facebook shares, Twitter, comments on your own blog, word of mouth.  Then, leave your email address (if I don’t have it already) so I can contact you if you win the random drawing.

Do this before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013.  The winner will be announced on June 17^th. 

God bless you and thank you for celebrating with me.