My Dinosaur Dream - Journal Nov. 1995

In a dream I had,  My family and I were living in a Jurassic age with dinosaurs yet with modern amenities.  I was watching several children play in my backyard, but had to leave to deliver papers. (strange, I know)  One parent, in particular, began fussing at me because she felt I did not keep her son safe from the dinosaurs. She did not like the way I protected the children.
I finished my paper route and as I approached a place (not sure where or what place) there was a T-Rex standing at the door. I entered through the back door and ran to find my children. (I remember feeling scared for their safety thinking they had been left alone). But as I entered, the placed changed to a sanctuary. There were many friends, family and strangers gathered here. I found my family and hugged them all and told the "Momma's back".

There are many things in the world and in our life that are ready to devour our children, our family, even us. We've got to watch for the dinosaurs in our lives that will hinder our relationship with God. The sanctuary represented that.  Though I was distracted for a bit, I'm back  and watching for the dinosaurs.

What dinosaurs are in your life ready to devour your relationship with family, friends and God.

Mercy

Love is great, grace is good and mercy is precious!

A while back,I wrote about grace. God's grace covers our sin but so does mercy. So what's the difference between grace and mercy. Grace covers our first time sins.  That sin that we didn't know was sin until it was revealed.  Then Mercy takes over.  We know about that sin now. We really don't have any excuse for committing that sin again but if we do God's mercy covers us. We repent, and we continue.

Here is something now the God has shown me. Mercy continues to cover our sorrowful hearts, but if we continue the same sin, discipline will be inevitable. Our flesh is strong and a bad habit is hard to break, God understands that.  But we can't become complacent trying to break it thinking always mercy will cover it.  God does not want us to continue in that sin.  Love Him and seek His wisdom.  He will show you the way out from understand your sin.  

"Seek Me and know me."  says the Lord. 

Keep Reflecting

Daughter, I have called you by name.  I have created you for my glory. Keep reflecting my light.  Don't be afraid, I am with you.  Don't let it flicker in the darkness, but let it shine as bright as the sun itself.  I'm here with you, in you, and beside you...day and night. How I long for time with you. Don't forget in the mist of your shining, you make time for me. I enjoy you taking time to be with me. I enjoy you!

Sin and Grace

All my life I have heard grace explained as 'God's riches at Christ expense'. But, I'm sorry, what the heck does that mean.  It's a cute allegory of GRACE but I don't think it explains what grace is very well. I thought I had an understanding when I heard a preacher explain grace. He said that when we sin, we fall down, we fall short of God's standards. But then Christ comes along and picks us up, brushes of the "dirt", and tells us 'Ok, now, no more of that. Continue doing my will.'"  I like that. But lately God had been giving me a knew understanding of grace.  

Sin is ugly. I, personally, don't like thinking about it, so often I don't. But today I am.  I love my Jehovah God. He is good and holy and righteous - aka perfect. I - am not.  Being human I fall short of his standards.  I just can't meet them.  But it is a goal to continue to reach for. In the mean time, God can't look on my sin. In a nut shell- He hates sin, but he loves me to much to leave me hanging.  In the old testament, people would have to kill  and sacrifice animals to cover their sin and God would pardon them. But that way had it's problems, God people saw it as a tradition, a have-to, practice to make God happy. They would bring their sacrifice and nothing would change inside of them.  So.... God had a better plan for man to atone of sin. His son, Jesus, would sacrifice himself.  Now, all people needed to do was repent, no more bundle-some animal to carry around.

Now, think about this, Jesus said I am the vine and we are his branches. He plucks off the branches that aren't doing anything for him; and he fine tunes those that are loving him believing him, trying to succeed so they will love him more,believe him more, and succeed at trying. 

Here is what he has been showing me.  Grace covers the pruning time. Many think they are doing OK.  They go to church, tithe, pray, do good for others, but God says we can do better. Because we didn't know we could do better, HIS GRACE was covering us then. Now he is pruning us, so we can believe greater, pray greater, love greater, but it is still not going to be as great as HE, so until that day, His grace will be sufficient. 

Christ blood holds alot DNA for our SIN.  His blood covers much!  Thank you, Lord, for your grace. 

Speak Truth

For  my morning devotions, I am going do to a study on Character traits. I want to be a good branch on the Vine.

Truthfulness - Ephesians 4: 25(NIV)  Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

(The Message)  What this adds up to, then is this: no more lies, no more pretense.  Tell your neighbor the truth.  In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all, When you lie to others, you end  up lying to yourself.

Being truthful 100% of the time is a goal to reach. It's being honest on a consistent bases. Be honest with one another, be truthful.  Just keep trying, and grace will cover you for the times your not.  When you wake in the morning determine in your heart, today I will be truthful in all occasions, whites lies included.
God desires us to be truthful in all that we do. We don't have to be hateful or hurtful but we do have to be honest.

God, give us the words to speak as we learn to speak truth to our fellow man, especially in times when we feel fearful of backlash or we want to save face.  We want to be better people in your sight. I love you, Jesus.

Listening to God

As the eagles soars over the mountains so I soar with you. 

So as the moon reflects the sun's light so I reflect in you. 

You are my beloved daughter, How proud I am of you.

How glad I am to know you. So much I want to share with you.

Come up, Daughter of Zion, Come up.

The mountain awaits where Love and Tranquility lay waiting for you.

Where my peace is absorbed in your very being.

Know that I love you, MY daughter, and I have called you by name.

Hear Me.....Listen......