This came to us in a forwarded email.....it gives us reason to think and ponder the people in our lives and our relationships with them. I brings to my mind..... I need to focus on those relationships! May you be blessed as you think of the people in your life!
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.!
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Let the Heavens Declare!
By John Hensman
I got my inspiration based on a Solar Eclipse that West Africa recently experienced (Wednesday 29th)
Scripture:
"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat." Ps 19:1-6 (NAS)
We are a strange people. Many times we look to our own physical abilities and believe we have the aptitude to control any situation; we slap each other on the back when things go right, stating, “look at me…I did this!” When things go wrong, however, we complain and try to place blame on others as to not hurt our own reputations. Sometimes we may even be so bold as to question God asking “why He is not cooperating with our efforts to complete a certain task.”
Scripture again always places our abilities into the correct perspective. Yes, we can build widgets that proclaim our knowledge in technology, but we should always be humbled by God’s power.
On Wednesday the 29th of March 2006 there was a Solar Eclipse. Unlike others that have happened before, this one should hold some significant meaning to Mercy Ships. The Eclipse’s path came across West Africa, almost directly above Ghana. If one believes in a “glass half-empty verses half-full”, they would tend to look at the dark side of this event as those in this area have for centuries. But for Mercy Ships, we believe in God’s power to control events. Remember, “Let the heavens declare the glory of God.” God still expresses His power and shows His glory in everything…even heavenly bodies. For us, it might take an Eclipse once and awhile to acknowledge that He is still God and we are not. So, whether your day goes well or not, never stop giving Him the glory He desires.
There will (without doubt) be some additional unanswered dark days ahead for both the Anastasis and Africa Mercy that may force us to question why! Remember, for every dark day experience, it is but a prelude to God’s Son, who gives all light. God is still in control; we just need to just keep believing…there will be a brighter day tomorrow…in fact it is just around the corner.
To all who reads this…please continue to pray for our ministry as we move forward in Him, especially for resolution to ship concerns!
I got my inspiration based on a Solar Eclipse that West Africa recently experienced (Wednesday 29th)
Scripture:
"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat." Ps 19:1-6 (NAS)
We are a strange people. Many times we look to our own physical abilities and believe we have the aptitude to control any situation; we slap each other on the back when things go right, stating, “look at me…I did this!” When things go wrong, however, we complain and try to place blame on others as to not hurt our own reputations. Sometimes we may even be so bold as to question God asking “why He is not cooperating with our efforts to complete a certain task.”
Scripture again always places our abilities into the correct perspective. Yes, we can build widgets that proclaim our knowledge in technology, but we should always be humbled by God’s power.
On Wednesday the 29th of March 2006 there was a Solar Eclipse. Unlike others that have happened before, this one should hold some significant meaning to Mercy Ships. The Eclipse’s path came across West Africa, almost directly above Ghana. If one believes in a “glass half-empty verses half-full”, they would tend to look at the dark side of this event as those in this area have for centuries. But for Mercy Ships, we believe in God’s power to control events. Remember, “Let the heavens declare the glory of God.” God still expresses His power and shows His glory in everything…even heavenly bodies. For us, it might take an Eclipse once and awhile to acknowledge that He is still God and we are not. So, whether your day goes well or not, never stop giving Him the glory He desires.There will (without doubt) be some additional unanswered dark days ahead for both the Anastasis and Africa Mercy that may force us to question why! Remember, for every dark day experience, it is but a prelude to God’s Son, who gives all light. God is still in control; we just need to just keep believing…there will be a brighter day tomorrow…in fact it is just around the corner.
To all who reads this…please continue to pray for our ministry as we move forward in Him, especially for resolution to ship concerns!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Scriptures:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:4)
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:21)
Devotion:
Lately it seems I’ve been reflecting more and more on lesson’s that the Lord has already taught me…and this has caused me to be thankful and a little wondering at the same time. Thankful for the lessons that I’ve been taught…yet wondering what message is there in bringing these lessons to my memory at this time?
Sometimes I have a thought or desire to set out to accomplish this task or that. Along the way am reminded of how if it wasn’t for the faithfulness of the Lord in our lives, His daily protection and provisions for us, we wouldn’t even be in a place to consider doing some of the tasks that come to mind. I guess that is a long winded way of saying I’m thankful for a changed heart.
Early on in my walk with the Lord there was a young minister named Clarence who saw much more of the potential God had placed in me than I saw myself. He told me one day to ask the Lord for the desires of my heart and He would give them to me. I wasn’t very comfortable with this statement and couldn’t believe that God actually would give me the desires of my heart, that there had to be a catch…a condition somewhere that must be fulfilled and I just kind of dismissed it as an over zealous preacher.
From time to time this seed planted so many years before has come back again and again to my thoughts. Each time I’d ponder it a little and then move on to something else. Slowly I’ve come to the point in my life and a relationship with Jesus to understand that as He has changed my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh that along the way I’ve come to love Him more and more…and now the desires of my heart are to love Him and to please Him, to love my wife and family more and more. It would not seem possible, but please believe me when I say it is so.
He has shown me forgiveness and along the way shown me how to forgive those who had hurt me in the past. He has shown me, His desires for Denise and me, as husband and wife, and empowered us to live a life for Him. We don’t have all of the answers, but are confident as He continues to mold us into His likeness that we will continue to grow in wisdom, love and understanding.
We pray that if you haven’t already come to this place in your life that this devotion may serve to plant a seed, such as the one planted for me so many years ago, and given time and love from Him the seed may grow to full maturity in each of you.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:4)
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:21)
Devotion:
Lately it seems I’ve been reflecting more and more on lesson’s that the Lord has already taught me…and this has caused me to be thankful and a little wondering at the same time. Thankful for the lessons that I’ve been taught…yet wondering what message is there in bringing these lessons to my memory at this time?
Sometimes I have a thought or desire to set out to accomplish this task or that. Along the way am reminded of how if it wasn’t for the faithfulness of the Lord in our lives, His daily protection and provisions for us, we wouldn’t even be in a place to consider doing some of the tasks that come to mind. I guess that is a long winded way of saying I’m thankful for a changed heart.
Early on in my walk with the Lord there was a young minister named Clarence who saw much more of the potential God had placed in me than I saw myself. He told me one day to ask the Lord for the desires of my heart and He would give them to me. I wasn’t very comfortable with this statement and couldn’t believe that God actually would give me the desires of my heart, that there had to be a catch…a condition somewhere that must be fulfilled and I just kind of dismissed it as an over zealous preacher.
From time to time this seed planted so many years before has come back again and again to my thoughts. Each time I’d ponder it a little and then move on to something else. Slowly I’ve come to the point in my life and a relationship with Jesus to understand that as He has changed my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh that along the way I’ve come to love Him more and more…and now the desires of my heart are to love Him and to please Him, to love my wife and family more and more. It would not seem possible, but please believe me when I say it is so.
He has shown me forgiveness and along the way shown me how to forgive those who had hurt me in the past. He has shown me, His desires for Denise and me, as husband and wife, and empowered us to live a life for Him. We don’t have all of the answers, but are confident as He continues to mold us into His likeness that we will continue to grow in wisdom, love and understanding.
We pray that if you haven’t already come to this place in your life that this devotion may serve to plant a seed, such as the one planted for me so many years ago, and given time and love from Him the seed may grow to full maturity in each of you.
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