CHANGE ME, LORD

But we all, with open face beholding

as in a glass the glory of the Lord,

are changed into the same image

from glory to glory, even as by

the Spirit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 3:18

In today's culture, it's easy to look around at others, often Christians, judging regarding changes they need to make in their lives. We can dwell too often on the shortcomings of others instead of looking in our own spiritual mirrors.

In 1977, Evelyn Christenson wrote a book that totally blew my mind only next to the Word of God itself. I have a very old copy of it that book that I still pull out every now and then. Because my first few readings of this book had such an impact on my life, I still learn from it every time I read it. The title of the book is “Lord, Change Me.” It's such an old book, and I'm not even sure it can be purchased in a regular bookstore anymore but might be ordered.

Evelyn had been a wonderful conference speaker in prior to 1977 and to my knowledge continued to do so for several years. She wrote even more books on the subject of prayer. This book had prayer scattered throughout but the main subject of the book had to do with Evelyn and her coming to the recognition of needing the Lord to really change her instead of her family and friends.. When people like Evelyn do a lot of teaching, they can get lost in subjects and lose their depth with the Lord. Evelyn came to that recognition of that in the 1970's and was devastated, but determined to get on track with the Lord.

Evelyn went before the Lord over several days and weeks. She was to the point of being willing to totally give up all conferences and writing if it meant her getting back to the relationship with the Lord where He could make real changes in her life. She was saturated with the things of God, but she realized that she wasn't saturated with God Himself.

That can happen so easily. We are faithful to read our Bibles in a scan-like way, pray the usual memorized prayers, faithfully attend church, giving and service. We know about God and His expectations but perhaps fail to really know Him intimately. He so wants a close relationship with you and me. We must be willing to let Him change us into His will and image. I've heard people say that no one really likes change. This kind of change, however, can turn our lives upside down for the Lord. He would be so pleased.

Dear Lord...I know my life isn't what it ought to be for You. My desire is to be changed more into Your image but I can't do it myself. I must have Your power to make the kind of difference in my life that is needed. Help me to not look at changes others need to make, but those that I need to change. Thank You for Your love, patience and forgiveness. In Jesus' precious name.....Amen

 

SO VERY BLESSED

Blessed be the LORD, Who daily

loads us with benefits, the God

of our salvation!

Psalm 68:19

At the beginning of this calendar year, I came to a decision. For the first New Year, I was without Brian and for most of 2022. It had been most difficult adjusting to being alone without the earthly love of my life. I can't tell you the family, friends and neighbors who stepped up to see to my well being in every way. God used each one of them in different ways that led me to reaffirm what I already knew....that God is still on His throne and has promised to never leave or forsake me.

Many days seemed darker because of emotional difficulties and a phone call would come or mail from some folks I didn't even know very well. I loved being in my house, just looking around at all that was so familiar. I had never hung one thing on the walls of our house. Brian had always done that because it just wasn't my thing. It felt good seeing those things.

By the middle of Januy, it dawned on me one day how very blessed I am despite missing Brian so very much. I was being blessed all over the place but rarely tracked any of those things. I decided to make a BLESSED notebook. It started with January of this year.

You and I are blessed all the time and often just chalk it up to daily circumstances. I'm amazed at the things I've written in my BLESSED notebook. I put down the date and then write only one or two brief sentences that describes a special touch from the Lord I want to remember.

In the beginning of my book, I copied several verses from Psalms that contains at least one reference to blessing. Many of my blessings would make no sense to anyone and might sound very much on the strange side but were blessings to me such as: “Neighbors brought me some good potato soup for supper.” Some might refer to special blessings from a sermon or just in reading ones Bible.

All in all, I'm amazed when thumbing through my notebook on perhaps a difficult day how I'm blessed and brought to remembrance the wonderful goodness and love God has brought into my life and using others to do the same. In this Thanksgiving season, we shouldn't be counting our blessings just in one holiday time. We can be doubly blessed by staying aware of God's goodness and blessings each day even if we can't begin to write them all down.

Bottom line is that we are so very blessed in so many ways every day of our lives, and not just on one day in November.

Thank You Father for the way You bless us every day of our lives. Forgive my not having a spirit of gratitude for all You do in my life. I'm so blessed to the point I lose track of all You pour into my life every day, not just on a holiday. I love and appreciate you. Thank You Jesus for Your loving sacrifice and I pray these things in Your sweet name....Amen 

LET THE SON-SHINE IN

Ah, Lord God! You have made

the heavens and the earth by

Your great power and outstretched

arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Jeremiah 32:17

Fall is dwindling here where I live but there is still some beautiful color along the highways and the mountain hillsides. Visitors come from all over the country to take pictures and just inhale the Fall air. They are mostly gone now getting ready for the holidays.

I was sitting in a parking area that had a wonderful view of mountains near and far where folks were parking there as well. I saw there was often some disappointment because there didn't seem to be as much color on the mountain sides nearest to us. Some would wait awhile and then reluctantly take pictures half-heartedly.

I had sat there for awhile prior to some tourists arriving and had noticed something very interesting. The mountains we were looking at looked as green as could be. It was a rather dull day with darker clouds hovering. When the sun managed to peek through in small ways on the seemingly green areas, those areas lit up with the beauty of Fall colors. When the sun withdrew, things were dark on the mountain sides again. It was the warmth and beauty of the sun's rays bringing out the Fall beauty...perfect for picture taking.

How often do our lives loose their luster and beauty of our spiritual walk. Problems of all types come into our lives and can bring a dullness in us that we might not even notice. Our sunshine is different...it's our SON-shine. Our lives can be colorful and beautiful when we walk in the light of Jesus and maintain a close relationship with Him. So....let the SON-shine in.

Thank You Father for Jesus and all He means in our lives. Help us to love and appreciate Him more. May we allow Him to so shine in our lives that He will be seen in us. In His precious name...Amen 

 

KEEP GROWING

As you therefore have received Christ

Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

rooted and built up in Him and

established in the faith, as you

have been taught, abounding in it

with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6,7

I recall as a little kid that we had the best of neighbors. One of my favorites was old Mr. Rennie. Everyone in those days were”old” in their 60's. He always had a huge garden and in the summer I would go to his backdoor and ask if I could eat a tomato. He had taught me how to pick just the right ones for eating. We would both get a tomato and then sat on his back porch steps and each ate our tomato's...with salt of course.

When I would see him just sitting on his front porch, enjoying a tall glass of iced tea during warmer days, I would stop in front of his house while on my tricycle and simply ask, “Mr. Rennie, whatcha doin'?” I can't tell you how many times he would answer me with the same words, “I'm just watchin' the grass grow.” I always just took for granted that it was exactly what he was doing without questioning the purpose of it all.

Lately, I've been thinking about the personal growth of Christians in general, of which I are one. At this time, Fall has all but fallen and growth of anything in nature is coming to almost a standstill. Mr. Rennie wouldn't even be able to watch any grass grow with all the weather changes, let alone sit on his front porch.

My prayer for us is that in these cooler, more confining days, we will make every effort to continue to grow in the things of the Lord. Perhaps more indoor time can be spent in the Word, reading healthy materials, praying, or contacting folks we know are in need of some attention. People speak of wanting to know God's will for their lives when everyday of life God gives us is His actual will. His callings for special activity will come, but our growth should be a very daily thing.

Remember: We can't let the grass of the world grow under our spiritual feet.

Thank You Father, for Your patience with us and loving us beyond measure. Keep us growing in You, knowing that's Your will for us....because of Jesus...Amen