Christmas eve has arrived at the Haliski house bringing with it many different goodies. A special dinner is prepared, consumed with many 'yuuum' utterings, much to the delight of the cook. All things cleared away. the cozy living room is where you'll find us for the remainder of the evening. A small Christmas tree in one corner, lights up the rest of the room in all it's splendor, and under it awaits presents from far away. We've taken time to read the story of Christmas, given thanks, and for a little while ribbon is carefully untied, wrapping removed with much effort put in to not ripping it, oohs, aaahhhs and statements like " this is just what I wanted" or " wow, look, this is cool" float through the air.
One question though, is asked over and over again............
Who is it from?
James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
I read a story - a friend of mine received an unexpected and at first, unwanted gift. This gift would replace the contact lenses she had destroyed in an act of faith in hope of healing. Healing hadn't happened yet, and she didn't want to accept the gift as that also would have meant accepting defeat and suggested a lack of faith. But she trusted the one who had sent the gift and based on that, bowed her head and prayed to her heavenly Father - then humbly received the gift.
Who is it from?
A gift can be many things; - materialistic, money, a word of knowledge, prophesy, teaching, instruction, a hug, a meal .....
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "Don't despise prophesy, but test everything: hold fast to what is good".
This is Paul's version of : Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Sometimes we get a 'mixed bag' - but let's sort through it, keep what we discern is from our 'Father of lights' and 'hold fast to' it, because that is good.
When I struggle with accepting a gift presented to me, based on who is delivering it - my hope and desire is, that I too will bow my head and pray to my heavenly Father for discernment - then humbly receive what He chooses to give me.
-b
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Living under the Rainbow
There is something about rainbows!
Whenever one appears on the sky with its colorful streaks, it creates wonders below.
People stop in their tracks, from their busyness, point and crane their necks in odd angles to get a glimpse - that, to me, is wonder-filled behavior.
Have you ever walked under a rainbow?
I came pretty close to that experience one morning (or so it seemed - I think they look closer than they really are).
It was one of those mornings -on the track running my loops- with sluggish legs, a body with no spring in it and my mind in the same kind of state. As I rounded the corner to finish a loop a huge, vibrant colored rainbow was right there in front of me. So close, it seemed I would be under it within 3 steps, maybe even reach up and touch it. Beautiful it was.
It changed my morning run completely. My legs were still sluggish and what not, but the attitude of my heart did a 180, and my face turned smiley.
Rainbows always make me smile, you see, because I do believe what the Bible says, that God put it in the sky as a sign of his promise. Gen. 9:13
The Bible is packed with promises - somebody, not I, knows the exact number - promises for today, promises for tomorrow.
Some I discovered as if they were spoken into my heart while reading them, and my heart grew light and soared in joy.
Some make me bow my knees before the one and only God Almighty.
Others make me fall apart, at loss for words to express my love and gratitude toward my Lord and Savior.
So many, many more are waiting for me to find them, be led to them and hear them whisper in my heart.
I may never walk under a rainbow - but you see, I realized that God has invited me to walk in his promises every day! How can that but put a smile on my face?
-b
Whenever one appears on the sky with its colorful streaks, it creates wonders below.
People stop in their tracks, from their busyness, point and crane their necks in odd angles to get a glimpse - that, to me, is wonder-filled behavior.
Have you ever walked under a rainbow?
I came pretty close to that experience one morning (or so it seemed - I think they look closer than they really are).
It was one of those mornings -on the track running my loops- with sluggish legs, a body with no spring in it and my mind in the same kind of state. As I rounded the corner to finish a loop a huge, vibrant colored rainbow was right there in front of me. So close, it seemed I would be under it within 3 steps, maybe even reach up and touch it. Beautiful it was.
It changed my morning run completely. My legs were still sluggish and what not, but the attitude of my heart did a 180, and my face turned smiley.
Rainbows always make me smile, you see, because I do believe what the Bible says, that God put it in the sky as a sign of his promise. Gen. 9:13
The Bible is packed with promises - somebody, not I, knows the exact number - promises for today, promises for tomorrow.
Some I discovered as if they were spoken into my heart while reading them, and my heart grew light and soared in joy.
Some make me bow my knees before the one and only God Almighty.
Others make me fall apart, at loss for words to express my love and gratitude toward my Lord and Savior.
So many, many more are waiting for me to find them, be led to them and hear them whisper in my heart.
I may never walk under a rainbow - but you see, I realized that God has invited me to walk in his promises every day! How can that but put a smile on my face?
-b
Friday, June 15, 2012
One more drop.....
I forgot an important part in last weeks post "Who waters on a rainy day" and it keeps 'nagging' at my heart - so here it is.....
I can't count how many times I have heard how "we", believers in Jesus, are labeled as weak - and how often our avoidance of certain places/things/viewings are labeled the same. If we were truly strong, then these wouldn't be a problem or temptation........
Listen as I jump on a soap box at 'Speakers Corner' for a moment here!
Somebody very close to me, has been substance free for over 10 years - and it is impossible for me to find words to tell you just how immensely proud I am of this person. Would you call it weak, that alcohol is no longer a part of "his" life - not even a little sip? Guaranteed there was many times, when the easy way would have been to give in to that craving. But to say no - to avoid even, the places that are filled with the 'aroma'......
I call that courage!
And that, is exactly what I see when "we", believers in Jesus, make decisions on what we choose to let in our lives, or not - what to part take in, or not. Instead of giving in to what ever cravings are in our heart, that would ultimately pull us down, - we withstand them!
I call that strength!
Why? - to guard the LIFE and FREEDOM that has been given us.
That takes courage & strength!
-b
I can't count how many times I have heard how "we", believers in Jesus, are labeled as weak - and how often our avoidance of certain places/things/viewings are labeled the same. If we were truly strong, then these wouldn't be a problem or temptation........
Listen as I jump on a soap box at 'Speakers Corner' for a moment here!
Somebody very close to me, has been substance free for over 10 years - and it is impossible for me to find words to tell you just how immensely proud I am of this person. Would you call it weak, that alcohol is no longer a part of "his" life - not even a little sip? Guaranteed there was many times, when the easy way would have been to give in to that craving. But to say no - to avoid even, the places that are filled with the 'aroma'......
I call that courage!
And that, is exactly what I see when "we", believers in Jesus, make decisions on what we choose to let in our lives, or not - what to part take in, or not. Instead of giving in to what ever cravings are in our heart, that would ultimately pull us down, - we withstand them!
I call that strength!
Why? - to guard the LIFE and FREEDOM that has been given us.
That takes courage & strength!
-b
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Who waters on a rainy day?
Do you remember how much rain we've had, even all through April?
The vast amounts of rain wasn't what was on my mind this day in the very beginning of May, so when I was out in the front of our house watering the lawn, I wondered why somebody slowed down, starring as they drove by! Then it hit me, aah, yes, guess it must have looked a bit like water-wasting - unless of course you knew what I knew: the fact that my husband a few days prior, had scalped and reseeded the lawn. The weather then switched from April rain to August sun, made everybody put in their air conditioner, and put me on the front lawn with a water hose in hand, because to keep the seeds alive, they needed to be kept moist.
I started thinking what I do as a child of God, that must look weird to others - unless of course they know!
What can you ever really know of other people's souls -
of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles?
- C.S. Lewis
Former alcoholics stop going to bars, and I doubt you'll find beer or other alcoholic beverages in their house - but of course, you say. People starting a certain diet, tend to avoid invitations to dinners until they have a good handle on the should, should-nots and self discipline - well yes, that is understandable you say.
So it also is for me as a believer. Some things are pretty general and common for all believers. For example; you will most likely find us in church on Sunday mornings. Not so much in dark bars, smoking and drinking the night away. Reading material includes the Bible and so on.
But then there are things I do or avoid, unique to me as an individual, because of what I have walked through in life.
God has rescued me, healed and set me free.
And in order to protect and keep alive -so it will grow- what God has given me, would I not be willing to look odd and 'water the lawn' ?
Paul writes to Timothy, (whom he calls "my true son in the faith" 1 Timothy 1:2) "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2nd Timothy 1:14.
I have learned many lessons due to my unwillingness, at times, to guard what God had done for me. At last I have become not only older, but also wiser - and grown to value so much more what He has entrusted to me, than what others might think of my, in their eyes, odd behavior.
So with this, I urge you....
Protect what God has done for you - don't let it be stolen.
Keep alive what God has deposited in you - don't let it dry out
-b
The vast amounts of rain wasn't what was on my mind this day in the very beginning of May, so when I was out in the front of our house watering the lawn, I wondered why somebody slowed down, starring as they drove by! Then it hit me, aah, yes, guess it must have looked a bit like water-wasting - unless of course you knew what I knew: the fact that my husband a few days prior, had scalped and reseeded the lawn. The weather then switched from April rain to August sun, made everybody put in their air conditioner, and put me on the front lawn with a water hose in hand, because to keep the seeds alive, they needed to be kept moist.
I started thinking what I do as a child of God, that must look weird to others - unless of course they know!
What can you ever really know of other people's souls -
of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles?
- C.S. Lewis
Former alcoholics stop going to bars, and I doubt you'll find beer or other alcoholic beverages in their house - but of course, you say. People starting a certain diet, tend to avoid invitations to dinners until they have a good handle on the should, should-nots and self discipline - well yes, that is understandable you say.
So it also is for me as a believer. Some things are pretty general and common for all believers. For example; you will most likely find us in church on Sunday mornings. Not so much in dark bars, smoking and drinking the night away. Reading material includes the Bible and so on.
But then there are things I do or avoid, unique to me as an individual, because of what I have walked through in life.
God has rescued me, healed and set me free.
And in order to protect and keep alive -so it will grow- what God has given me, would I not be willing to look odd and 'water the lawn' ?
Paul writes to Timothy, (whom he calls "my true son in the faith" 1 Timothy 1:2) "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2nd Timothy 1:14.
I have learned many lessons due to my unwillingness, at times, to guard what God had done for me. At last I have become not only older, but also wiser - and grown to value so much more what He has entrusted to me, than what others might think of my, in their eyes, odd behavior.
So with this, I urge you....
Protect what God has done for you - don't let it be stolen.
Keep alive what God has deposited in you - don't let it dry out
-b
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