It is kind of gloomy outside today. Looks like it is going to rain, but at least it is warmer! I was praying and trying to decide on my devotion today when I came across this story that seemed to fit the weather! I am not sure who wrote the original story, but I love it!
WINDSHIELD WIPERS
One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly my son spoke up from his buckled-in position in the back seat. "Mom, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all this his 7-year-old mind had discovered. I was anxious to hear.
"What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain," he began, is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away."
After the chill bumps raced up my arms, I was able to respond. "That's really good, Matthew." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation?
So I asked..."Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you." Matthew didn't hesitate one moment to answer: "We keep on sinning, and God keeps on forgiving us."
Just like the mother in this story, I got goosebumps when I read this story. This 7-year-old child had such a wonderful answer to the rain and windshield wipers! Let us all thank God that He is like windshield wipers, continually wiping our sins away!
Thank you, Lord, that You always wipe away our sins no matter how hard it rains! Thank you that by your grace we are forgiven. Thank you for the wonderful thoughts of children who help us remember your wonderful glory!
---This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24
Showing posts with label Romans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romans. Show all posts
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
A MAN OF LEADERSHIP
Everyone, except West Virginians, said it couldn't be done! The WVU Mountaineers could not possibly beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl. Especially not with all the distractions of the once beloved head coach leaving in the circumstances he left. How could our players possibly keep the focus on the bowl game??
Well, they DID keep their focus and they DID win!! They shocked the nation and won 48-28!! They looked fantastic! They made WVU and the entire state of West Virginia proud!
How did they do it? Of course they are an extremely talented team! I won't even begin to list all the talented players they have! But I believe above all was the leadership they had! Bill Stewart, who had been named Interim Coach, proved to be an outstanding coach! He made terrific calls and just coached a great game. But what I was most impressed by was the leadership he was showing! When watching him on the sidelines, you could tell that he truly cared about his players. There were many hugs, many pats on the helmets, many talks to his players. And at the end of the game, there were many tears - from coaches, from players and from fans.
In listening to the interviews after the game, all of the players talked about Coach Stew and how they hoped that he would be named Head Coach. Their wish came true today when Coach Stew was named Head Coach of the Mountaineers! I truly believe that this is a day to celebrate! Coach Stewart truly has a gift of leadership and compassion, and I believe that he will bring the leadership that is so desperately needed for this team. I believe that he is a man to be respected and that he will respect his team, the university, and the state.
God has given us each gifts, whether it be leadership, serving, mercy, encouragement, compassion. While we may not all be coaches, let us all try to use the gifts that God has given us. Let us all honor our commitments and be compassionate to others. Let us show mercy when needed and let us all be generious whether it be with our time, our finances, our hearts.
Lord, thank you for the different gifts and talents you have given each of us. Let us use these gifts and talents to honor You and to show You to others.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach, if it is encouraging, , let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
Well, they DID keep their focus and they DID win!! They shocked the nation and won 48-28!! They looked fantastic! They made WVU and the entire state of West Virginia proud!
How did they do it? Of course they are an extremely talented team! I won't even begin to list all the talented players they have! But I believe above all was the leadership they had! Bill Stewart, who had been named Interim Coach, proved to be an outstanding coach! He made terrific calls and just coached a great game. But what I was most impressed by was the leadership he was showing! When watching him on the sidelines, you could tell that he truly cared about his players. There were many hugs, many pats on the helmets, many talks to his players. And at the end of the game, there were many tears - from coaches, from players and from fans.
In listening to the interviews after the game, all of the players talked about Coach Stew and how they hoped that he would be named Head Coach. Their wish came true today when Coach Stew was named Head Coach of the Mountaineers! I truly believe that this is a day to celebrate! Coach Stewart truly has a gift of leadership and compassion, and I believe that he will bring the leadership that is so desperately needed for this team. I believe that he is a man to be respected and that he will respect his team, the university, and the state.
God has given us each gifts, whether it be leadership, serving, mercy, encouragement, compassion. While we may not all be coaches, let us all try to use the gifts that God has given us. Let us all honor our commitments and be compassionate to others. Let us show mercy when needed and let us all be generious whether it be with our time, our finances, our hearts.
Lord, thank you for the different gifts and talents you have given each of us. Let us use these gifts and talents to honor You and to show You to others.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach, if it is encouraging, , let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
Monday, December 31, 2007
ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S EVE!!
Here we are again, another New Year's Eve. This is definitely not my favorite holiday. It was 9 years ago on New Year's Eve that my husband told me he was leaving. Not that there is ever a good time to hear that news, New Year's Eve is a particularly bad time. You just can't escape all the revelry of the night, even when you don't feel like celebrating!
I will never truly understand the reason God chose for this to happen on this date. But all of these years later, I am starting to see the good that God has done in my life on this date. Tonight I am going to a party that a singles group through my church is sponsoring. I have never been to this group before and, as anyone who knows me can tell you, I don't do well in new situations. I really am scared to go, but I truly feel like God is leading me to this group and to a new start for the new year.
The Scriptures teach that God will use suffering to build character and to purify our faith. I can certainly attest to the fact that I have become a much stronger person and my faith has definitely grown by leaps and bounds because of what I have gone through, and for that I am forever grateful to God!
Let us never question God's actions or His timing. He is always in control!
Lord, I thank You not only for the wonderful gifts You have given me but also for the trials You have put in my life that are making me the person You would want me to be! Help me to always praise You, through good times and bad, because You are always in control!
---Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3
I will never truly understand the reason God chose for this to happen on this date. But all of these years later, I am starting to see the good that God has done in my life on this date. Tonight I am going to a party that a singles group through my church is sponsoring. I have never been to this group before and, as anyone who knows me can tell you, I don't do well in new situations. I really am scared to go, but I truly feel like God is leading me to this group and to a new start for the new year.
The Scriptures teach that God will use suffering to build character and to purify our faith. I can certainly attest to the fact that I have become a much stronger person and my faith has definitely grown by leaps and bounds because of what I have gone through, and for that I am forever grateful to God!
Let us never question God's actions or His timing. He is always in control!
Lord, I thank You not only for the wonderful gifts You have given me but also for the trials You have put in my life that are making me the person You would want me to be! Help me to always praise You, through good times and bad, because You are always in control!
---Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3
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