tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364608752024-03-12T18:01:10.904-10:00Sandy's Refreshment SpotA grandmother's view of applying God's Word to daily events and passing on to others what God reveals to her through each new daySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-35259625119524246692008-04-29T07:08:00.002-10:002008-04-29T07:51:46.451-10:00Catching UpTo all my loyal readers, I apologize for not blogging recently. My mind is getting older, my thinking not as fast as it used to be; therefore, in the past month, I've had to deal with too many things, in too short of time, and thus, neglected my blog. <br /><br />My niece, Aline, arrived from West Virginia to live with us at the end of March, and we have tried to introduce her to Maui and all it has to offer, have gotten her settled in the house, and she has also found a job that she loves at an animal refuge taking care of special needs rabbits. She loves it. My great-niece, Arley, has also been living with us almost a year and is attending beauty school, so with all that company brings to a household, I've been just trying to keep up with meals, laundry, shopping, sight-seeing, etc. <br /><br />This morning in my devotionals, though, I read scripture that I just had to share with you, busy or not. The picture of the shepherd and his sheep was in almost every scripture I turned to this morning. The picture that remained with me is in Isaiah 40:9-11, and Revelation 7:17:<br /><br />"See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power; and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:9-11)<br /><br />"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev. 7:17)<br /><br />Jesus told his disciples that He was the Good Shepherd and often called his followers sheep, or "little flock." But God also called Jesus "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world." Jesus was both Shepherd and the Lamb. As God's sacrificial Lamb, He paid for our sins by His own blood. As the Shepherd, He will lead his flock to springs of living water in eternity with Him forever. Isn't that a marvelous picture. I love the Isaiah scripture and the picture it offers---Jesus carrying me in his arms close to his heart and leading me to the river of life that flows through the middle of the city of God.<br /><br />Let's worship the Shepherd and the Lamb today!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-65665500124983358292008-04-05T11:16:00.003-10:002008-04-05T11:49:49.560-10:00Bradley's BirthdayYesterday my youngest grandson turned 10 years old--double digits already. Where has the time gone since that eventful day as a newborn, our newest addition to the family? Bradley is one with a song in his heart. Even as a tiny infant, when fussy, he would quiet down immediately if you started humming in his ear. It was if he stopped crying or fussing so he could hear every note. He loved the little Christian songs he learned in the church nursery and later in Sunday School and would sing them word for word back to you if you but asked. On his 9th birthday last year, he asked for an iPod so that he could listen to his Christian praise songs any time he wanted without disturbing others. This year he got an iPulse, a fancy little gadget that he can plug his iPod into and beautiful lights pulse to the beat of the music throughout his room. Yes, God created him with a song in his heart and he hasn't stopped singing since his birth. I know that God can use that gift of song someday to bless others and bring joy to Bradley throughout his lifetime and bring glory to God through his love for music. <br /><br />In this month's Readers Digest, I saw this quote and liked it very much: "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song." God put a "song" in everything he created. The heavens and earth declare the glory of God. (Ps. 19:1) The trees of the forest sing for joy (Ps. 96:12) Rivers clap their hands and the mountains sing together for joy (Ps. 98:8). "All you have made will praise you, O Lord.." (Ps. 145:10a) "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day." (Ps. 96:1-2) There is a continual new song that will be sung forever in heaven: "You are worthy, our Lord and God." (Rev. 4:11).<br /><br />As you count your many blessings daily from the Lord, let a song well up in your heart and give God the proper glory due to Him, just as every part of his creation does. Even the stones will cry out. <br /><br />Happy Birthday, Bradley, and take good care of those cute little white rats you got for your birthday!<br />Nana (Sandy)Sandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-8078184406970016762008-04-01T06:38:00.002-10:002008-04-01T06:56:58.707-10:00MemorialsGod has granted most of us as humans with the wonderful gift of memory. However, because we are human, sometimes our memory fails us, such as a name of someone we know as well as our own, an address where we used to live, the name of a place where we have been, etc. Today we have unbelievable ways of preserving memories. We have digital cameras, computers where we store our memories, letters that we save from long ago that we can reread when we want. We put up monuments with the name and dates of birth and death of our loved ones as a form of memorial. Our memories of past people and events come flooding back when we go back and review these "memorials" and we have joy (or sadness) recalling the people and places God has placed in our lives over our life's journey.<br /><br />In biblical times, God had his people put up altars built of rocks to remind them of His protection and provision for them during a particular time in their journey of life. Whenever they came upon those altars of rocks, they were to remind them of how they had gotten to that particular place and how God had blessed them in the past. In the Book of Joshua, we are told that when the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land, the people built an altar to remind them of how God had stopped the flow of the river until every Israelite was safe on the other side. When all were safe, the river went immediately back to flood stage. A miracle that God had performed on their behalf was to be remembered as a blessing and that would give them hope that God would always be there to work another miracle in the future if they needed one.<br /><br />Joshua 4:23-24 (NIV): "For the Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." <br /><br />What reminds you for what the Lord has done for you in the past? Do you have a method of recalling your blessings from God? A journal? Paragraphs written in your Bible? A treasure you have placed aside to remind you? An album of pictures? By remembering what God has done for us in the past helps us to stay on the right path with Him in confidence of His faithfulness and love toward us for the future. <br /><br />What a precious gift God gave us in giving us our memories!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-5849819174281737222008-03-26T06:16:00.002-10:002008-03-26T06:35:43.164-10:00The Blessing of WorkEvery human on earth has experienced work in some capacity one way or another in their lifetime. I would hazard to say that most of those people have also grumbled and complained about their work many times during their lifetime. After all, work is labor. It is toilsome and occupies most of our waking hours. It becomes mundane, oftentimes, boring, and probably is the cause of most of the stress in our lives. <br /><br />Work starts early in our lives with having to do chores as children. How often do you hear a hearty, "Yes, Mom, I'd love to take out the trash." or "Yes, Dad, there's nothing I'd rather do than mow the lawn for you." Don't parents usually hear a groan instead, or deal with procrastination by having to repeat their request over and over again? <br /><br />How about adults? Are we any different? Do we walk into our place of employment kicking up our heels eager and happy to get on with whatever we are expected to do? Do we anticipate a great day whistling while we work? I would say that most people drag their feet to work dreading to face the day and all the problems that come along with the work they do. Work becomes dull, mundane, oftentimes stressful, and something that HAS to be done to provide for their families. Why else would we anticipate vacation time so expectantly----ahhhh, a few days away from this toil and labor!!!<br /><br />In the beginning, God Himself worked six days in creating the heavens and the earth and everything in them. Did He groan, moan, complain after His work was completed? No. He looked at his work with satisfaction and said it "was very good." When God placed man in the Garden of Eden, God put him there to "work it and take care of it." (Gen. 2:15). There was not the sin issue then to deal with in the Garden. Adam toiled with complete and utter enjoyment in his work. He did not have weeds, thorns, disease, insects, etc. to battle to keep the Garden perfect. Adam walked with God in the garden in perfect unity and fellowship as they enjoyed their creative work of their hands together. <br /><br />Then Eve ate the apple and everything changed. The ground was cursed, and work became painful, hard and toilsome. Thorns and thistles had to be dealt with. Work brought sweat to the brow (stress). No longer was work a joy for Adam or the generations that followed.<br /><br />Yet, in Ecclesiastes, Soloman discovered work as a blessing---a gift from God. "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too I see as from the hand of God." (Eccles. 2:24) "That every man may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil---this is the gift of God." (Ecc. 3:13).<br /><br />Work can bring satisfaction and contentment if we do what we do "as unto the Lord." It is our way of saying thank you to God for the skills and abilities He has given us in order to make the world a better, safer place to live for everyone. If we see work as a means of only satisfying our own greed, then we have missed the whole point of God's gift of work to us. He has given each of us different talents, skills and abilities to benefit mankind as a whole so that we can enjoy life more fully. <br /><br />We can work grimly or gladly. We can do our work "heartily" or "hardly". We can give our all-out effort with a good attitude, or we can grumble and complain and accomplish little. Thank God for the job you have. You are there for a purpose. Fulfill that purpose to the best of your God-given abilities and trust that He will bless you for your toil and labor. <br /><br />Enjoy your day and do whatever you do "as unto the Lord."<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-41162258415477861642008-03-23T06:23:00.002-10:002008-03-23T06:29:49.181-10:00Our Living Hope"Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er his foes...."<br /><br />HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!<br /><br />"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who..has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (I Peter 1:3)<br /><br />"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22)<br /><br />We have hope today because we serve a RISEN Savior!<br /><br />"For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16<br /><br />May this Easter be most blessed for you and your family as you harbor that blessed hope in your heart of eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-62588618636713458712008-03-22T07:04:00.002-10:002008-03-22T07:26:09.001-10:00I Told You So!During Jesus' three years of ministry on earth, Jesus taught the disciples so many things about Himself and tried to prepare them for what would take place in His future and in the future of all generations. In his last week before His crucifixion, He so wanted them to grasp the message He was trying to get over to them: that His time on earth was drawing nigh, that He would die, and that He would be resurrected on the third day, and then ascend into heaven, and that He would come again and receive them to Himself. They just didn't get the full picture! They knew Him as Lord and Savior, but they expected Him to set up His kingdom and proclaim Himself as Messiah without having to pay the penalty for mankind's sin by His own shed blood.<br /><br />So when they experienced the terrible day of Christ's death and burial, they were disillusioned, devastated, sorrowful, and defeated. They gathered together in a room to mourn and wondered what would become of them now that all their hopes were dashed and ruined. Their Master was dead!<br /><br />How could they have forgotten the words that Christ had so very carefully explained to them over and over again that yes, He would die, but that He would rise again on the third day and ascend into heaven to go to prepare a place for them. <br /><br />As they were gathered in the room together having their own pity party, can you imagine what took place when Jesus appeared to them and began to rebuke them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him afer he had risen? It was as if the Lord was saying, "See, fellas, I told you so!" <br /><br />Luke 24:44 says "He said to them, this is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms." Now do you believe Me (my addition). <br /><br />"Then he opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures." ( vs. 45)<br /><br />From that moment on, the disciples changed completely. They became bold, courageous, fearless witnesses to all that Jesus had taught them and shared the good news of a risen Savior that awaits to save them according to their faith. The news spread through the land and is still being shared faithfully down through the centuries today. We serve a risen Savior!<br /><br />Don't be one with a stubborn heart and a closed mind. He wants you to know the truth, and the truth will set you free. He is in heaven preparing a place for those who will accept Him and receive Him as Lord here and now. Don't wait too long to experience the joy of having your mind opened to understand. He is coming again as He promised.<br /><br />Have a wonderful Easter celebrating the new life in you, the hope of glory!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-46075190445159382832008-03-21T06:49:00.002-10:002008-03-21T07:00:32.696-10:00The Sun StoppedWhen I was small living in Nebraska, I remember a day when we woke up to a pretty sunny day, but as the morning passed, the skies began to get an eerie darkness, and by noon it was as black as if it were midnight outside. My mom called my dad at work and asked him to come home as we were frightened wondering what was happening. Only a short time later, the blackness dissipated and the normal light of day returned. Dad suspected that a tornado had passed close by and we took a drive to investigate. Sure enough, the path of destruction proved that a tornado had passed through a nearby town.<br /><br />There was another day in history where the sun stopped at the noon hour and lasted three hours. Blackness came over the whole land. It was at the very moment in time when Jesus, having been crucified and hung on a cross, gave up his spirit and died. His death was a voluntary act on his part, an obedience to His Father's will, in order to accomplish redemption for you and me. In response to the death of the very One who had created them, the sun stopped shining, the earth shook, and the dead rose from the tombs and walked about in the holy city. Also, the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, the curtain that once separated the people from the Holy of Holies. Now free access was made possible to all.<br /><br />Was this man who died on the cross truly God? How could anyone even utter a doubt when even the very sun obeyed him and quit shining, the earth obeyed his command and shook, and the dead rose up and walked again!!! He truly was the Son of God who gave His life for the ransom of your sins and mine. Even His creation recognized and obeyed their Master.<br /><br />Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-51219273059449958082008-03-20T09:35:00.002-10:002008-03-20T17:29:26.857-10:00Cup of Blessing or Cup of SorrowI look forward to my first good cup of coffee in the mornings. It gets my eyes open, my day started, and sets my attitudes on the right track to start a brand new day.<br /><br />In the Bible cups are often mentioned as cups of blessing or cups of sorrow. In the Old Testament time, kings used to appoint cupbearers to test any drinks offered to the king first so that no one could slip anything harmful into the drink to harm the king. If the cupbearer died, the king knew he could not drink out of that cup. Definitely that would be a cup of death.<br /><br />Remember Joseph placing a silver cup into the bag of his youngest brother to deceive his brothers into thinking it was stolen from the palace? It was a deceptive act on Joseph's part to assure that the brothers would return to Egypt with his father. Eventually, Joseph was able to save his entire family from the famine. So you could trace back to that silver cup as being a cup of blessing for Jacob and his family.<br /><br />Remember the widow's cup of oil that lasted through the famine and did not run out? A cup of blessing.<br /><br />Psalm 23 promises an overflowing cup to look forward to in eternity. A cup of blessing.<br /><br />Jesus promised a reward to those that gave a cup of cold water given in His name. A cup of blessing.<br /><br />As we approach the Easter season and read of the events prior to Christ's death and resurrection, there is no greater event that moves our hearts more than Christ praying in Gethsemane prior to his arrest and crucifixion. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but thine be done." A little while later, Peter became very angry with the crowd that came to arrest Jesus in the garden and he struck a high priest's servant and cut off his ear with his sword. Christ rebuked Peter and said "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me." Christ knew that he alone could drink the cup of suffering that he was facing--there was no one else that could drink of it. Christ knew that it was His Father's will that, He, the Father's Only Son, would be the only One that could redeem the lost human race. It was He that must drink that cup of sorrow and suffering. And he did so willingly. Because of Christ's willingness to fulfill His Father's will, and drink that bitter cup of suffering, we now have the awesome privilege of drinking the sweet cup of blessing. <br /><br />When you lift your cup in the morning to drink your first cup of coffee, let that be a reminder to praise God for His bitter cup of suffering that He drank for you and me!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-14222932538552957282008-03-17T08:02:00.002-10:002008-03-17T10:22:22.883-10:00St. Patrick's DaySt. Patrick's Day was always a special day around our house growing up as a child. My little sister, Sheila, was born on St. Patrick's Day on my Aunt Eva's birthday, so we always celebrated two birthdays of two special people in the family on the same day. Mom always baked a white cake with a great big green shamrock on it to help celebrate the event. Sheila always got little "shamrock" gifts to let her know she was born on a special day. Happy Birthday, Sheila! Hope you have a wonderful day. Aunt Eva is in heaven celebrating her life with God for eternity.<br /><br />We've all heard the wonderful Irish blessing that warms our hearts on St. Patrick's Day:<br /><br />May the road rise to meet you,<br />May the wind be always at your back,<br />May the sun shine warm upon your face, <br />May the rain fall soft upon your fields,<br />And, until we meet again,<br />May God hold you in the palm of His hand.<br /><br />Yesterday I received from an e-mail friend this beautiful thought that I would like to leave with you today, and hopefully it may help you to turn your focus away from whatever problems you may be facing to see the hand of God at work in and through them.<br /><br />"Once there was a man who asked God for a flower and a butterfly.<br />But instead God gave him a cactus and a caterpillar.<br />The man was sad, he didn't understand why his request was mistaken.<br />Then he thought: Oh, well,, God has too many people to care for...and decided not to question.<br />After some time, the man went to check up on his request that he had left forgotten.<br />To his surprise, from the thorny and ugly cactus a beautiful flower had grown.<br />And the unsightly caterpillar had been transformed into the most beautiful butterfly.<br />God always does things right! His way is always the best way even if to us it seems all wrong.<br />If you asked God for one thing and received another, TRUST.<br />You can be sure that He will always give you what you need at the appropriate time.<br />What you want is not always what you need!<br />God never fails to grant our petitions so keep on going without doubting or murmuring.<br />Today's thorn is tomorrow's flower.<br />God gives the very best to those who leave the choices up to HIM!<br /><br />May God truly bless you on this day and every day and meet your every need in His way and in His timing!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-22857016692348957382008-03-16T06:06:00.002-10:002008-03-16T06:25:33.186-10:00Hosanna in the HighestOn Palm Sunday long ago, our Lord Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem humbly riding on a donkey so that He might fulfill prophecy. The people joyfully sang "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest" as He entered the city. They recognized Him then as the Messiah, as "hosanna" means "Save, I pray." Only one short week later, the same crowd of people cried, "Crucify Him!"<br /><br />How do you view Jesus Christ today? Do you know Him as Lord and Savior, as the Messiah, the one who saves? Or in your heart, are you denying the truth and with the world of unbelievers saying "Crucify Him!" <br /><br />Almost 40 years ago, I recognized Christ as my Lord and Savior and accepted Him into my heart. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. This morning in my devotional time, I read Psalm 30, 31 and 32. In those psalms I recognized anew what Christ accomplished for me on that day when I was still a young woman-----and I praise Him for the changes that have taken place in my heart since then. Many verses in the psalms I read today say how I felt on that life-changing day in my life. Maybe you can identify with the verses also, and praise our Savior today along with me:<br /><br />"O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."<br /><br />"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever."<br /><br />"Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth."<br /><br />"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place."<br /><br />"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God'; my times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant, save me in your unfailing love."<br /><br />"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."<br /><br />"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found;... You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."<br /><br />Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!!!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-22764080712291270162008-03-15T12:38:00.002-10:002008-03-15T12:47:28.167-10:00Palm SundayTomorrow we remember Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem with the crowds shouting "Hosanna" as He rode the back of a donkey stepping on palm leaves that were placed on the path into the city. I found a poem that I appreciated and would like to share with you:<br /><br /> SHOUTS OF HOSANNA <br />The shouts of Hosanna came loud and clear<br />As our Saviour on a donkey drew ever near,<br />It was as if the whole earth proclaimed His name,<br />Many voices claiming Him for glory and fame.<br /><br />Robes strewn before the humble donkey’s feet,<br />Palm branches waved their noble King to greet.<br />Oh, how the rafters of the heavens did sweetly ring<br />And with what resounding voices did children sing.<br /><br />They knew He was the Master who had healed the lame,<br />Cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, now he would claim<br />His rightful place, cast away enemies, restore His throne,<br />Would they have shouted Hosanna, had they known?<br /><br />What were they expecting on that mighty day He came<br />Into Jerusalem, their songs of joy so loudly proclaim?<br />Not that one week later they would scream, CRUCIFY!<br />And watch while He hung on a cross for them to die.<br /><br />I know I would have shouted Hosanna to His holy name,<br />But not crucify, I would have bowed my head in shame,<br />Trembled at the sight before my unbelieving sad eyes<br />And think in my aching heart, ‘The son of God dies.’<br /><br />I would have ran so fast to the tomb on that morn,<br />Just as excited as on the wondrous day He was born,<br />Wept for pure joy when I saw my beloved Lord there<br />And remember that sacrifice with never ending prayer.<br /><br />by M Ann Margetson March 23, 2002<br /><br />The crowds were expecting Christ to claim his rightful place as King of the Jews, but He had to take a much different path than what they expected. We can truly sing Hosanna to the King today as we realize what the road to the cross that Christ would trod only a few days later would mean for our eternal future!<br /><br />Hosanna to the King!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-21322309956437166372008-03-11T15:01:00.003-10:002008-03-11T15:19:04.104-10:00Public SpeakingToday I volunteered to be a judge at a local Christian school for their annual speech meet. Since public speaking was always such a hard thing for me when I was in elementary school, I could feel the nerves and the tension of the children as they anticipated their turn to get up in front of the microphone and deliver their speech. I wanted to somehow convey to them that their nerves were unfounded as I was not a mean, old, nasty person that was going to condemn their every flaw. However, instead of being able to put my arms around them and comfort them, I had to sit and allow them to deal with their own nerves in their own way. My motherly instinct wanted to protect them from their awful inner turmoil, and yet I knew that allowing them to get through it, whether good or bad, would further their ability to accomplish greater things in the long run. Two to four students did an excellent job, as if they were natural-born orators. Most were good to very good, stumbling here or there, and mastered their speech with grace and relief. My heart ached for one little girl who got through half of her speech very well, but she came to a spot where her mind went totally blank and could not continue. Bursting in tears, she had to take her seat. One little boy could not even get on stage and literally got physically sick and had to leave the room. The teachers were such comforters to the last two-mentioned students understanding that public speaking was not their forte. I know by next year their self-confidence and courage will be bolstered and encouraged by their teachers. <br /><br />How are we similar to these little children when God asks us to perform a task that we feel totally unable to accomplish? The fears build up inside and we inwardly balk against God's will for us and want to tell God, "I can't, Lord." But God says, we can. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of HIS might." God never gives us tasks that He does not give us the means to accomplish those tasks. If we need courage, He'll give us courage. If we need our hearts calmed, He'll give us His peace. If we need means, He'll provide for us. All He wants from us is to say, "Yes, Lord, with Your help, I will." Obedience to His commands is greater to Him than our weaknesses. If we are weak, He is strong. We just need to put aside our fears, and allow God to prove Himself faithful!<br /><br />Our confidence lies in the ability of our Almighty God to work through us!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-39172613907857165192008-03-09T14:11:00.002-10:002008-03-09T14:40:35.295-10:00PeaceHave you ever noted that when God wants to bring home a point to you that every time you pick up anything to read, it is usually on the subject that God wants you to hear for your particular need? It has been that way for me this week about God's peace. One verse in particular kept coming to me all week:<br /><br />"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."<br /><br />I have been studying the book of Colossians with a friend and find it most interesting that God has led us to study the subject of His peace at a time when probably I need it the most. Isn't God amazing when He brings to you just what you need just when you need it the most????<br /><br />My first encounter with the subject of peace this week was a small article called "Peace is a Person". Ephesians 2:14 starts out "For he himself is our peace." The ancient Jewish prophets called Him "the Prince of Peace." When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His imminent resurrection, He told them, "Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you, not as the world gives you, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) He is the Only Person that can guarantee us true peace, because He is Peace. Peace is a Person. <br /><br />When we went to church this morning, lo and behold, our message was entitled "The Path to Personal Peace." The gist of the message was that we need to 1) acccept what cannot be changed; 2) Trust in God's loving care; and 3) Surrender to God's loving control. For the things that enter our lives that we have no control over, we need to accept what God wants to teach us through it. Acceptance is a choice on our part, but peace is only possible by Christ's supernatural power working in and through us. The pastor quoted the Serenity Prayer that we see on plaques all the time, but did you know there's more to the prayer than the first line? It goes like this:<br /><br />God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day a time. Enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that you, God, will make all things right if I surrender to Your will. So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with you forever in the next. Amen.<br /><br />There are several aspects of obtaining the peace that only Christ can give and I thought Colossians 3:12-17 said it better than anything I heard or read this week.<br /><br />We need to make a conscious choice to let the peace of God rule in our hearts, to love one another, bear one another's burdens, forgive each other, be thankful in all things, and allow the word of God dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs together as one body, and to do all that we do in the name of Jesus, always giving thanks to God through Christ. (Synoposis of Col. 3:12-17) As verse 14 states so clearly, we are called to peace. The only way we can have that supernatural peace is through a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Peace. <br /><br />If something is overwhelming you right now, and you can't seem to claim victory over it, I suggest you pray and ask Christ for that supernatural peace that only He can give you. This world will bring troubles, sorrows, and pain, but Christ offers something so much greater that the world could never give us---His peace as we trust Him to be the Sovereign Ruler of our heart. He will never disappoint you!<br /><br />Jehovah Shalom (I am the God of Peace)!<br />Grace and peace be to you!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-49417211937659022572008-03-08T05:53:00.002-10:002008-03-08T06:31:13.034-10:00Feet WashingMy niece is going to beauty school and I volunteer to be her model as she studies different stages of her lessons. Yesterday I was blessed with a manicure and a pedicure. I had never had a pedicure before in my life, so I felt very pampered. A pedicure is quite a process. I had my heels filed with a coarse file, my legs and feet massaged and rubbed with a smooth lotion, and my toes went through about 4 or 5 stages of cleaning, clipping and polishing. <br /><br />During the whole process, so many verses from the Bible concerning feet came to my mind:<br /><br />"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,<br />who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)<br /><br />"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; and set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."<br />(Psalm 40:2)<br /><br />"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights." (Psalm 18:33)<br /><br />In the New Testament, Christ asked his disciples to look at his hands and feet to verify that He truly was risen from the dead:<br /><br />"He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me, and see..." (Luke 24:38-39)<br /><br />No verses in the Bible about feet, however, are more powerful than the picture Christ gave us as He washed the disciples feet in the Upper Room as they celebrated the Passover together prior to His imminent arrest and crucifixion. As my niece worked on my feet yesterday, I noticed how she was always bent down, stooped low to work on my feet as I sat in my chair comfortable, at ease and rested. She put herself in a humble position before me in order to accomplish her goal of making my feet beautiful. As Christ washed the feet of each one of His disciples, He placed Himself as a humble servant giving them an example of servitude toward others. "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:15)<br />Christ's cleansing of the disciples' feet was a humble act of service that He wanted to pass on to His disciples after He left them. He wanted them to know the joy of cleansed feet (and hearts) of those that they would become witnesses to about the Christ after He was gone! "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." (John 13:14)<br /><br />Our humble service to others, without thought of gain or praise or glory for ourselves, will accomplish more for the kingdom of God than you will ever know. Some day we will cast our crowns of reward at the feet of Jesus in eternity in worship, adoration, and praise and will sing for eternity: "Worthy is the Lamb!"<br /><br />"How beautiful are the feet of those...who proclaim salvation!"<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-12635949569132779812008-03-07T06:36:00.002-10:002008-03-07T06:59:31.805-10:00The Seriousness of SinAt the beginning of the year, I pledged to read the Bible through during 2008. I chose a reading chart to follow in which I read 3 chapters of the Old Testament and a bit of Proverbs every day, and two or three chapters of Psalms on Sunday. I am now in the book of Numbers. This is the book where most people get bogged down and groan as they plod through endless names, tribes and geneologies and lots of numbers. I am no exception.<br /><br />However, in reading today's chapter in Numbers 25, I was impressed with two people that God gave as an example of the seriousness of open sin in His eyes--Zimri and Cozbi. God had warned the Israelites to remain true to Him alone and not to follow after other gods of neighboring cities and countries. They did not heed his warning and began to "indulge in sexual immorality" with neighboring Moabite women. This stirred up God's anger and God ordered Moses to kill the leaders of all the tribes who openly disregarded his orders. 24,000 men were killed in one day. Zimri was named specifically as an Israelite who brought Cozbi, a Moabite woman, openly into the Israelite camp. Phinehas, as a priest, took immediate action and drove a spear through them killing them instantly, and thus atonement for the sins of all the Israelites was paid and the killing spree ended. God made a covenant of peace with Phinehas that day and verse 23 says, "He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."<br /><br />Is God any less a jealous God against the sins that are so openly displayed in our society today? I don't think so. He is just as serious today about open and blatant sin as He was with His chosen people, the Israelites. In the New Testament in Hebrews 10:26-31, God's word says: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay', and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."<br /><br />It appears that people today take a very lax view of "sin". Our societal problems prove that. However, God's grace and mercy is still so available to claim if we confess our sins and turn back to Him for forgiveness. "If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14) If you are struggling with an area of your life that is pulling you under, then admit it as sin, turn to God, and God's mercy will flood your soul and bring such cleansing and release. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)<br /><br />God's mercy is boundless!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-69595256121100485572008-03-05T05:50:00.002-10:002008-03-05T06:16:09.926-10:00Going Down Memory LaneYesterday I was cleaning out drawers and a closet for my niece who will be arriving in Maui to stay with us for a while. In the bottom drawer of the dresser I kept my "Keepsakes" box, which held those things that had meant something very dear to me through the years that I had tucked away as treasures. I set the box down on the floor and started going through it looking at one memory after another. It took a couple of hours and a lot of shed tears before I finished. <br /><br />Inside were countless homemade cards that my son had made me for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc. Some were when he was very young and others were sent to me after he was married, but all held such precious words that touched my heart so much. There were little handmade notes and drawn pictures from my niece, Arley, who was such a big part of my life in her early years of growing up. There were special cards given to me by my dear husband and mother for various occasions that held such endearing words.<br /><br />There were several articles that had been written about my special high school friend who died in her early thirties of cancer but had been such a dynamic Christian witness to her whole community and touched so many lives by her courage and faith in God. There were obituary notices of so many dear family members that had passed on but had touched my life so dearly through the years. There were handwritten letters to me of dear aunts that I had saved that spoke of their love for the Lord. <br /><br />There were postcards sent to me from friends who had taken trips overseas. There was a signed card of all the members of a Singles Group that we had led for years. There was a copy of an article in our church bulletin giving the testimony of Dick and me. There was a worn copy of a Lord's Supper performance given by the church in which Dick played Thomas. There was a copy of piano recitals that I had given while taking piano lessons from a dear friend.<br /><br />There was a tiny pair of pants that I had saved that my son wore when he was just a toddler and a bathing suit that my niece wore when she was two years old. There was a small bottle of perfume inside a little heart---the very first gift given to me by my husband on our first Valentine's Day.<br /><br />So many other things were inside that box that had tugged at my heart's strings over the years, remembrances of kindnesses and love shown to me by others. In Philippians 1:3, Paul said "I thank God for every remembrance of you." Paul knew the importance of remembering how God had blessed him through others. There is nothing so wonderful as the reminder of the fragrant love of Christ that flows to you daily through your own family and through the hearts and lives of Christian brothers and sisters. God truly blesses us with each other. Let's not take any of that for granted!<br /><br />I love you because you have loved me through the precious bond of Christ!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-55436029997499705222008-02-26T06:33:00.003-10:002008-02-26T06:48:38.623-10:00Safety InsuranceI've been reading Proverbs in my devotions recently and was impressed by how many verses indicate that God truly provides for our safety and promises His presence, His help and His security to us. I just wanted to share a few of these verses with you and hopefully they will bring encouragement:<br /><br />"He holds victory in store for the upright; he is a SHIELD to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." (Proverbs 2:7-8)<br /><br />"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." (Proverbs 3:25-26)<br /><br />"The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." (Proverbs 19:23)<br /><br />"My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment....then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble."<br />(Proverbs. 3:21a and 23a)<br /><br />"My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words; do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body." (Proverbs 4:20-22)<br /><br />"He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge." (Proverbs 14:26)<br /><br />God's Word and our obedience to it promises protection, freedom from trouble, health to our bodies, and security and safety as we go through life. If you aren't in the habit of reading God's Word every day, you are missing out on truth that could be profitable to you and your whole family.<br /><br />Go in safety today as you trust God to place that hedge of protection around you and your children!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-37739307365518693542008-02-25T07:48:00.002-10:002008-02-25T08:25:32.713-10:00God's Magnificent CreationSaturday Dick and I took a break from our normal routine and decided to spend the day relaxing on the beach. We took a cooler full of snacks to nibble on, I brought a good book to read, and Dick brought his snorkeling gear and we sat up our perfect spot in the sand with the waves of the ocean lapping against the shore. Aaahhh!!! <br /><br />In just a little while after settling in, we were mesmerized by the playful antics of the whales far out in the ocean. With binoculars, Dick watched a number of whales flapping their tails, jumping out of the water, the water would spew high into the air as the whales jumped and splashed and played all afternoon. What beauty---it's indescribable. Such magnificent creatures who come to Maui waters during the winter months to spawn their young before heading back up north in the spring. <br /><br />I read a booklet this morning summarizing a book by naturalist Dean Ohlman that stressed how important it is for us as humans and caretakers of God's creation to take care of it with utmost care. Creation and all of its immense complexities can never be fully explained or understood, but we are to nurture and care for the natural wonders around us to the best of our knowledge and wisdom. We are to fully comprehend that nature is part of getting to know God in a deeper, more meaningful way. God's works through creation, and His Word, His written revelation, are the two means by which God has revealed Himself to us. By studying and experiencing nature, we learn so much about God and His character.<br /><br />Nature itself praises God and God rejoices in His creation and delights in all of His creatures. When we purposely seek to see God through nature, we are astounded at the creative beauty, order, and complexity of every living thing. How can we even think that everything just evolved? It was through the mighty spoken Word of God that all came into being and was made for His pleasure and for our good pleasure as well.<br /><br />Henry VanDyke, the writer of the hymn "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" said it beautifully:<br /><br />All Thy works with joy surround Thee,<br />Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,<br />Stars and angels sing around Thee,<br />Center of unbroken praise.<br />Field and forest, vale and mountain,<br />Flowery meadow, flashing sea,<br />Chanting bird and flowing fountain<br />Call us to rejoice in Thee.<br /><br />Wherever you are today, notice the scenery around you, then look even closer at the complexity and beauty of what you see.<br />If you see a tree, you see a trunk, branches, leaves, maybe a nut or fruit produced on it. Pick a leaf off the tree and study its makeup. Notice the bark on the tree and how it is distinguished and different from other trees around it. Take a fruit and smell its odor, open it up and see the seed inside---could that have been by chance that all of it came together as it did? No, it was by God's creative power, design and wisdom that all was created and is now held together in perfect harmony. A peach tree cannot produce an apple; a tulip cannot become a rose; a dog cannot produce a cat---you get the picture.<br /><br />Psalm 8:3-9 by David explains the difference between people and other created things:<br /><br />"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen---even the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!"<br /><br />Take in the beauty and the magnificence of God's creation around you today. Listen for the song of the birds, the chirping of the crickets, the breeze blowing through the trees. Then praise God!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-53322917344354095812008-02-23T06:54:00.002-10:002008-02-23T07:41:04.004-10:00Wise CounselThere is so much heartache in the world today with people dealing with so many personal issues in their lives--everything from depression, addictions, stress, abuse of all kinds, eating disorders, and rebellion against authority, whether it be the law, parents, bosses, or God. My personal viewpoint is that the underlying cause of all these issues is ignorance of the foundational truths of God's Word, and/or rebellion against it. There's a verse in Proverbs 19 that says "A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord."<br /><br />I looked up the word "rebel" in the dictionary and it was defined as "a person who resists any authority, control, or tradition."<br />Most of our social problems in the world today, in my opinion, are people who are "rebelling" against something, and the deep underlying reason of their rebellion lies in their ignorance and/or disobedience of the truths for which God set up for His people since the beginning of time. God gave us direction in His word to protect us, but we insist in our own human frailty that we know better than God how to run our lives. That ultimately leads us into trouble.<br /><br />Proverbs 11:14: "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." If we don't have any guidelines to follow other than our own selfish desires, we will ultimately fail in whatever we pursue. It shows a lack of wisdom when we think we know it all and don't need anyone else's help. God has set up the body of Christ, His church, for that very purpose. He gifted each of us with different gifts so that we can help others in different and diverse ways. There are pastors gifted to teach us God's truth to us; there are people gifted with compassion, a listening ear, a hospitable spirit to offer us comfort when we need it; there are people gifted as evangelists to go out and tell others the good news about Christ; there are people gifted with generosity that can help meet the needs of others within the body of Christ. <br /><br />There will always be rebels in our sphere of influence, but they will come to a point in their lives where the folly of their life choices will begin to destroy them and they will call out for help. We need to be there for the rebellious spirits so that we can be a "fragrance of Christ" to them. II Cor. 2:15: "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." God did not place us in the position to be a judge of their wrong decisions or choices. He placed us to be a sweet aroma to those that need to know Christ. Just as the aroma of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven draws our senses to the smell, the aroma of Christ within us as Christians needs to draw the rebels of our world to us so that we can "speak the truth in love" to them. <br /><br />We need to be very wise in our counsel to these troubled souls. Most of us are not trained as professional counsellors, but we can open our hearts to love them and nurture them with Christ's love and wisdom until they learn themselves how to lean on Christ and gain reliance on Him to meet their needs. We are to help them "bear their burdens", but we are also to teach them how to "cast their cares upon the Lord." Our counsel is to direct them to the "Wonderful Counsellor", our Lord and Savior, who alone can provide them with strength and wisdom and courage to combat their problems in the right way.<br /><br />If there is someone you know that is hurting, be a wise counsellor---love and nurture them and allow the aroma of Christ in you permeate their senses and open their hearts and minds to take in the fragrance and be soothed by your compassion and love for them. Gently lead them to the One who alone can meet their every need!<br /><br />"The fear of the Lord leads to life; THEN one rests content, untouched by trouble." (Proverbs 19:23)<br /><br />May your patient and wise counsel be always available for others!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-28854972508323610852008-02-17T08:27:00.002-10:002008-02-17T08:32:52.364-10:00Encouraging Verses of ScriptureTo soothe my impatient and hurting heart, God gave me scriptures today from Psalm 20:<br /><br />"May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you." (vs. 1)<br /><br />"May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." (vs. 4)<br /><br />"We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your requests" (vs. 5)<br /><br />"Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand." (vs. 6)<br /><br />"Answer us when we call!" (vs. 9b)<br /><br />God is at work to bring about HIS perfect plan, and I just need to be patient and wait upon Him to work my concerns out according to HIS plan, HIS timing, and HIS perfect way.<br /><br />God is good---all the time!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-27592077620018838432008-02-16T07:58:00.002-10:002008-02-16T08:24:19.059-10:00Spiritual DisappointmentsI got up this morning with a dark cloud over my spirit. It has been hard for me to understand why some days are so full of God's grace, mercy, and goodness to me and I can see Him so clearly; and then some days He seems so distant and far away and my heart aches with discouragement and disappointment. What makes the difference?<br /><br />In analyzing my moods this very morning, I realized the anticipation of expectations from my prayers to God have not come. Not only have answers to my prayers not been answered, the very thing I prayed for suddenly seems so unattainable and I feel sad about it. When I place such high expectations of God working on my behalf and the answers to my prayers seem so far away, or even worse, seem impossible, my spirit falls so low. Does that mean God has failed me? Does it mean my faith has failed me? No, it means my feelings have failed me. The selfishness of wanting my own desires and my being not willing to wait upon God for His timing is the problem. In my human nature, I can't understand why God would delay in answering something that means so very much to me. What brazen boldness on my part! God is not a vending machine to fill my every desire! <br /><br />When we feel God is too slow in answering our prayers, we are demanding God change His perfections to accommodate our whims. God is never too slow. We need to go slow with God and wait for Him.<br /><br />I just read this prayer written by Grace Noll Crowell:<br /><br />Dear Child, God does not say today, "Be strong." He knows your strength is spent, He knows how long the road has been, how weary you have grown; for He who walked the earthly roads alone, each bogging lowland, and each rugged hill, can understand, and so He says, "Be still, and know that I am God." The hour is late, and you must rest awhile, and you must wait until life's empty reservoirs fill up as slow rain fills an empty upturned cup. Hold up your cup, dear child, for God to fill. He only asks today that you be still."<br /><br />So as I wait patiently for God to work on my behalf and answer the prayers of my heart that means so much to me, I pray I can be still and wait for His will, His timing, His perfect plan to be worked out on behalf of those whom are the subjects of my prayers.<br /><br />Trust and obey, for there's no other way for God to lift my spirits!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-14264585995918151412008-02-15T08:44:00.003-10:002008-02-15T08:56:10.293-10:00The Miracle of New BirthI just learned this morning that I became a great-great-aunt. How special is that!!! Alexis Paige Swiger was born yesterday on Valentine's Day weighing 7lb.15oz to my niece's son, and what a beautiful little valentine she is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4-4yhzY75FTjoY6zXsjlyNEzW4H2-NMhdniN5CQrlKiFr-i_JVrfG_kmbmS8V5QIbNajD6tahqd7QuA1JqSmWMnWdB70OUsfUGtSysjHf6scm-Pz5VmG-IRUoNAx-oYjOOjL2g/s1600-h/437433800112_0_BG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4-4yhzY75FTjoY6zXsjlyNEzW4H2-NMhdniN5CQrlKiFr-i_JVrfG_kmbmS8V5QIbNajD6tahqd7QuA1JqSmWMnWdB70OUsfUGtSysjHf6scm-Pz5VmG-IRUoNAx-oYjOOjL2g/s200/437433800112_0_BG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167280283340517074" /></a><br /><br />After seeing the perfect formation of a tiny newborn baby just out of the womb, how could anyone doubt there is a God? God's word tells us that babies are knitted in the mother's womb by God. God foreknew little Alexis would be born, and He created her with a very special unique God-given gift and a purpose for her birth. To ponder that wonderful truth can take your breath away! Every parent has been given the awesome responsibility for nurturing the gift of their children to become all God wants the child to be. Alex and April, congratulations on the precious birth of your daughter. I pray God will allow you to see what a treasure He has given you and that you will assume your responsibility as her parents to raise this child knowing God and His love for you as a family.<br /><br />Congratulations and we are so proud to have little Alexis Paige in the family!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-84125838374826093622008-02-14T07:11:00.004-10:002008-02-14T07:22:30.279-10:00Happy Valentine's Day!In reading my devotions this morning, the Daily Bread had this wonderful acrostic perfect for today:<br /><br />For God so loVed the world,<br /> That He gAve <br /> His onLy<br /> BegottEn <br /> SoN<br /> ThaT whoever<br /> Believes In Him<br /> Should Not perish,<br /> But have Everlasting life.<br /><br />If you look closely at the capitalized letters in the middle, they spell Valentine. God sent us the greatest LOVE mankind will ever know when He sent His One and Only Begotten Son to die for us on the cross. We will never receive a more loving Valentine than Jesus!!!<br /><br />Enjoy the valentine in your life and may God show you beyond measure how much He loves you today!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-89008086993720914652008-02-13T14:35:00.002-10:002008-02-13T15:26:59.904-10:00Love in ActionEvery day, if we look with open eyes and hearts, we can see needy people all around us. Some people don't display their needs as openly as others, but if we keep alert and tuned in to our surroundings, we will be able to discern the needs of the people in our sphere of influence. As Christians, we should be alert as to how God wants us to help meet the needs of others. We can either ignore the needs around us, look the other way, and go on our merry way, or we can ask God how He would like for us to be His vessel to meet the need in another person's life.<br /><br />Deuteronomy 15:7 says: "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted and tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.......Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to...Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."<br /><br />However, we must have a pure motive in our giving to others. We must do it:<br />1. willingly (Matt. 10:8- Freely you have received, freely give.")<br />2. generously (II Cor. 9:6- "whoever sows generously will also reap generously")<br />3. in love (I Cor. 13:3- "if I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, and have not love, I gain nothing.")<br /><br />James tells us that if we see a brother or sister without clothes or daily food, and do nothing, what good is it? Then he says in James 2:18b "Show me faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." In vs. 22, he continues "you see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."<br /><br />If we are to be God's servants and follow Christ's example, we will have open eyes to see a need, a compassionate heart to want to meet the need, and by our love, act and do something to help. <br /><br />There's a Christian praise song that ends "And they'll know we are Christians by our love!" When we openly extend Christ's love to others through a servant's heart, others will be drawn to that love and want what we have. In John 12:26b, Jesus told his disciples that "The Father will honor the one who serves me."<br /><br />Let's follow the example of the Macedonian churches in II Cor. 8:2--"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."<br /><br />It is a privilege to give out of our love for Christ to the needy in this world. It brings overflowing joy and may even result in everlasting life to those that do not know Christ as Saviour, and are allowed to see Christ through our giving and want to know our Savior and Lord for themselves personally.<br /><br />"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (II Cor. 9:11)<br /><br />Serve others and give generously out of your love for God in return for all He has done for you!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36460875.post-10911406531695954002008-02-09T19:44:00.000-10:002008-02-09T20:10:20.161-10:00Prayer Changes UsI just read an interesting quote by CeCe Winans:<br /><br />"They say 'prayer changes things', but the truth is, through prayer, God changes us so that we can change things."<br /><br />We know the power of prayer as Christians. When we receive an answer to prayer, it's time for great rejoicing because we know the God of the universe wanted to bless us by giving us what we asked for. He loves to "give us the desires of our heart", but there is a condition that we "delight ourselves in the Lord." When our hearts delight in Him, He in turn delights in us. <br /><br />The Lord has ordained that our prayers play a key role in the carrying out of the purposes of His kingdom. Through prayer we seek His will, surrender to His purposes, and mighty things can be accomplished through faith believing that God will work in and through us according to His will. Therefore, we need to pray that we "be filled with the knowledge of His will" (Col. 1:9). If we prayed that prayer alone for ourselves and our family every day, what great and mighty things could God accomplish through us.<br /><br />Through prayer, God changes us....He changes our will to match His. Through prayers of confession, we are made clean vessels for God's use. Through prayers of thanksgiving, we are made so much more aware of who God is when we focus on His attributes and character and we begin to desire that we be conformed to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through prayers of intercession, we bring our needs and the needs of our loved ones to the throne of grace for God to intercede and work on our behalf according to His will. Through prayers of surrender, God uses us for His kingdom purposes. We can only change things if God has first changed us. <br /><br />In this week's Daily Bread, I read this quote: "The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to become what God wants." Our prayer every day should be that God will conform our will to His and that we will delight Him by living out His will in the power He gives us through the Holy Spirit. A surrendered heart is all that God desires! "Obedience is better than sacrifice."<br /><br />I pray that you might be filled with the knowledge of God's will each and every day!<br />SandySandy Fewellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18420456611353240754noreply@blogger.com0