What Is It All About?

     I started out in life so carefree and happy. I was like a little butterfly with beautiful wings and a world of flowers to see. Life seemed wonderful as I looked to the future.
     It didn't take long and my views changed. I realized I had to perform to be accepted. Life seemed like a circus. There were hoops held out far into the future. If I jumped through the rings I received approval. If I didn't--well everybody else did.

     Life became a performance. Leap through the rings; make the football team, or the cheerleading squad, or the honor roll. Go to the right college and get a degree. I did some things I wished I hadn't, but everybody else did them--so--go on and hope to forget. Get a good job and make lots of money. At the right time get married, have the correct amount of children, buy a house--a nice big house, and a better car. I think I'm getting tired. Join a club--jump, jump, jump. Retirement, I have to think about retirement--buy stocks--hit some bumps, go, go, go.
     And suddenly, I stand before the last hoop. But, it isn't round, it's rectangular, and it's in the ground. The grass stops at the ragged edges. Here is where it all ends.
     What happened to me anyway? Life wasn't supposed to be this way. Where is the little butterfly with the beautiful wings? What happened to the flowers? Was I truly happy? What about my soul? Is this what it's all about?
     "God, what happened?"
     "I'm glad you finally asked," God said. "I will take you back and show you what went wrong and what your life could have been, if you would have chosen my way.
     When you were a child, I was with you. All children are in my care. (Matthew 19:13-14) Don't you remember the little butterfly with the beautiful wings?"
     My heart ached as I recalled those happy innocent days--gone, forever gone.
     God continued, "The time came when you became responsible for your decisions. Do you remember that argument you had with your Mom? It made you feel terrible, but you wouldn't admit that you were wrong. You chose to take your own way.
     I tried to stop you. Do you remember when your closest friend died? The lonesome feeling you had--that was me, talking to you. Deep in your heart you knew things weren't right, but you were afraid to change. You were afraid of what your friends would think, so you ignored me, and drifted farther away from me."
     God's voice grew sad. "Do you remember your years in college?"
     "Oh! God, don't remind me. I'm trying to forget those days," I begged.
     Gently, God said, "Forgetting doesn't take care of the sin (Ecclesiastes 12:14) I would have been glad to forgive you if you would have asked--but you never asked. (1 John 1:9) All those times you felt lonely and sad, that was me, calling you, but you didn't listen. Do you remember when you landed that good job? The pay was terrific, but did it do for you what you thought it would? (1 Timothy 6:9) I tried to tell you that contentment comes only from me. For a while you did consider taking my way, but it seemed too hard so you followed your own way. Oh, if only you would have come to me, I would have given you what you were searching for--peace in your heart, peace in your home, and confidence about the future." (Matthew 11:28)
     God continued, "You were so busy. I tried talking to you on those cool beautiful evenings, but you didn't hear. I tried to get your attention during the storms. I thought you might be listening, but you weren't. If only you would have listened, I could have helped you solve those problems between you and your spouse. It would have prevented so many heartaches. (1 Peter 3:7)
     If you would have prayed and asked me for wisdom, I would have helped you to deal with your son. It could be so different now. (Proverbs 29:17) But no, you were too busy, too wise, too big a man to turn to me."
     As God turned away, He said, "You wasted your life on your own selfish whims, and now you are lost forever." And then I felt myself slipping away from God, away . . . away.
     Lost--forever lost! What does it mean? It means being away from God--forever--in a place of torment prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 14:41-42) But, you can change this. If you know things are not right with your life, admit it. Turn to God, repent of your sin, and surrender your will to Him. (Acts 2:37-38) God loves you, and wants to forgive you. (John 3:16) The price has already been paid. (Romans 5:8-11) Jesus died on the cross in your place. He paid the ransom so you could be saved. You can have peace and rest in your heart, and in the end--heaven. (John 14:1-3)
     This is what it is all about.

JESUS CALLING OCTOBER 10, 2015

TRUST ME ENOUGH to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax, and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love. My Love-Light never dims, yet you are often unaware of My radiant Presene. When you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. This is a subtle sin--so common that it usually slips by unnoticed.

     The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself. Don't divide your life into things you can do by yourself and things that require My help. Instead, learn to rely on Me in every situation. This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently.

PSALM 37:3-6;  PHILIPPIANS 4:19

Funeral Service

A funeral service is being held in a church for a woman who has just passed away. At the end of the service, the pallbearers carrying the casket accidentally bump into a wall jarring the casket. They hear a faint moan. They open the casket and find that the woman is actually alive. She lives for another 10 years and then dies.  A ceremony is again held at the same churh and at the end of the ceremony the pallbearers are again carrying the casket out. As they are walking, the husband calls out, "Watch out for the wall!"

Sunday School

At Sunday School they were learning how God created everything, including human beings. Johnny was especially intent when the teacher told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.
     Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny, what is the matter?"
     Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."

JESUS CALLING OCTOBER 9, 2015

YOU HAVE BEEN on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent. Though you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand. I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me. There is one thing, however, that displeases Me: your tendency to complain. You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following. I understand better than anyone else the stresses and strains that have afflicted you. You can ventilate safely to Me because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you see things from My perspective.

     Complaining to others is another matter altogether. It opens the door to deadly sins such as self-pity and rage. Whenever you are tempted to grumble, come to Me and talk it out. As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and My song in your heart.

JEREMIAH 31:25;  PHILIPPIANS 2:14-15

JESUS CALLING OCTOBER 4, 2015

I AM THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH: Lord of all that is and all that will ever be. Although I am unimaginably vast, I choose to dwell within you, permeating you with My Presence. Only in the spirit realm could Someone so infinitely great live within someone so very small. Be awed by the Power and the Glory of My Spirit within you!

     Though the Holy Spirit is infinite, He deigns to be your Helper. He is always ready to offer assistance; all you have to do is ask. When the path before you looks easy and straightforward, you may be tempted to go it alone instead of relying on Me. This is when you are in the greatest danger of stumbling. Ask My Spirit to help you as you go each step of the way. Never neglect this glorious Source of strength within you.

JOHN 14:16-17;  JOHN 16:7;  ZECHZRIAH 4:6.

A Shimmering Quality

Verse: Genesis 1:27
Passage: Genesis 1:27-31

Just thinking about Eden gives me an ache in my chest. I find myself wondering about the pure and shimmering quality of life there that somehow slipped through our fingers.

     Just picture it. It was nothing to begin with. Nothing. And then God opened his mouth and spoke, and when he did, everything started taking shape. He used his words to make a world! He called forth forces of symmetry, beauty, and great power. He laid boundaries of order and balance and proportion. With the precision of a master clockmaker he set in motion the weights and wheels of a perfect creation. And then, seeing the beauty of his own handiwork, he proclaimed with pride, "Good. Good." And "Very good."

     Light, darkness, sky, land, water, winds and tides; plants, trees, sun, moon, stars and planets. And animals--flying, soaring, swimming, loping, crawling, galloping. All things in their vast array he created.

     Then finally he created human beings, both male and female--his shining glory, whom he put in charge of it all.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Psalm8; Psalm 148:1-6; Isaiah 40:25-26; Revelation 4:11

AUTHOR: CLAIRE CLONINGER