The Merry Month of May!

I know May is the month for Mother's Day and I should probably have something a little more condusive to that on the blog but I just couldn't resist when I saw this little guy! April showers DO bring May flowers, you know and flowers attract bees! I have a nearby neighbor that raises bees and sells the raw honey so I see them often as they make several visits a day to my yard and my flowers. They work so hard for no pay and no recognition! I just can't help but think that maybe I should be more like a bee in my relationship with Christ; work hard, use my time wisely and realize that it's not all about ME!

Not a popular concept, I know but it's one Jesus himself tried to familarize us with while He walked on this earth.

Item #1: Work hard. The disciples got that one! 2 Thessalonians 3:8 "nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you."

2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

In the days before government healthcare and welfare programs, people knew that an honest days' work afforded you an honest days' wage. (Don't EVEN get me started on assistance programs!) I know there are people that can't work because of disabilities or age. Whatever happened to each family taking care of their own? Just a question.

Item #2: Use my time wisely. Revelation 12:12 "Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

I have to continually remind myself that 'no one knows the day or hour' that our Lord will return and I am reminded to "make hay while the sun shines" (an old adage my grandma used to use often!). We wake up, we go through our day, we come home, we eat, we go to bed and sleep. Next morning, we wake up again...yada, yada, yada. Things become so routine that we forget that we just might NOT wake up one morning or this day might be the one that's anything but routine!

Item #3: It's not all about me! 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." and Revelation 4:11"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

As sons and daughters of the Most High God, we should be realizing that our lives on this earth (however short) are to be lived in relationship with Christ and to point others to that relationship as well. Whether you realize it or not, my friends, people ARE watching you. "You are the only Bible some folks will ever read!" (another zinger from Grandma!). I know we will make mistakes and stumble; we are not perfect. But we've got to start live "like we were dying" (thanks, Tim) and realize that this very day may be the day that we will do or say something that will point someone else to Jesus.

That reminds me of the precious young man that is, as you read this, walking all over the United States, carrying a cross. He's making a statement of, not only his faith in Christ, but his willingness to visit others and share his faith with them so that they might be saved and spend eternity with the Father. Pretty powerful, if you ask me!

Well, there is May! (ha-ha!) Not very much about Mothers and I apologize for that but...as much as we all love and appreciate our moms, it is time we give at least a little thought about "seizing the day", "pressing on towards the mark" and living for HIM like there was no tomorrow!

Standing with you,

Pam

Political or PaPaw?

I guess you already know that Eldon's running for mayor in Lowell this November. As such, we began to take some pictures for his announcement piece in the paper, etc. and CeCe caught this one of her dad and Jackson, hamming it up for the camera! I don't think I would consider putting it out for public consumption but it just brought home to me how "human" we all really are. It's good to look your best when you are in public but there are some times you just have to "let your hair down", as the saying goes. Well, this is PaPaw and Jackson just being buddies and clowning for the camera. None of us is perfect, nor will we be until we are standing inside the gates of that "beautiful city" in Heaven. I can only hope we remember that all our candidates and officials are only human too.

April Showers

I always wondered about the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers" when I was a little girl but, as I get older, I'm beginning to realize that there is probably more there than "meets the eye" (as another old saying goes.)

The "rain" in our lives is just like physical rain in a sense, if you consider it. It's messy, inconvenient, uncomfortable...the list goes on. But, just as the physical rain is also a good thing - makes things grow, gives us water to drink, cleans the atmosphere, etc., it is good for us in our lives. I know, I know. That's a hard precept to agree with and those of us that have had much "rain" in our lives can attest all too well to the adjectives I mentioned earlier.

But as Easter Sunday approaches, I've had some time to consider Jesus' life and ministry more in detail this week. Anyone that works for the Lord will tell you "ministry is messy" and, although Jesus was hailed as a prince upon His "triumphant entry" into Jerusalem, we know that His popularity was short-lived. The crowd turned on Him and the mob became an angry, swelling mass of people, shouting and clamoring for His crucifixtion. Have you experienced the mob mentality lately? Maybe you have been someone's "darling" for a short while, only to have them suddenly turn on you without warning or good cause. Hurts, doesn't it? Can you imagine the pain that Christ must have felt? I'm not talking about the pain of the scourging - although that caused almost lethal pain. I'm talking about the pain of a broken heart.

Whether you've had your heart broken because of cruel words, bad intentions or mis-understandings or your heart was ripped in two by a terrible loss of some kind, it is still painful. Remember that Christ knows pain and suffering. He knows all too well.

When asking an employee to sweep the showroom floor or clean and dust in the shop, my husband used to say, "I would never ask you to do something I haven't already done myself, many times." I thought about that as I was reflecting today on the cross at Calvary. Aren't you thankful that God didn't ask US to pay the penalty that was/is required for our sin?!? You bet! In fact, thankful is probably not even the right word. Maybe it is more like relieved or glad. Whatever the descriptor you would use, I pray that we all spend time tonight and tomorrow on our knees, even for a short time, thanking God for His unconditional mercy and grace and then on our feet, rejoicing and praising the resurrection of our Lord; King of Kings, the One that conquered death and the grave, our victorious Savior! Hallelujah! HE IS RISEN!

Blessed Easter, everyone.