Monday Writings......6/27/16

Good morning...
      I attended a 50th anniversary party for some special friends today. It is hard to believe that I am in that category minus two  years. I remember as a young girl reading the announcements of "elderly couples" on their 50th. I remember that I used to wonder if such OLD people even kissed each other good night...LOL  Silly little girl!!!

Hope your Monday is a marvelous
God bless from
Corinne


The Devotional component in the Friday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, "WELCOME BACK" and was in the WFM archives, It was written by Mary M, Wilkins, who is still in the hospital recovering from a recent surgery. (Please continue to pray for Mary as she recuperates.) The topic is the Prodigal Son, and Mary shares how she felt about the fact that the son  was welcomed back so nicely after he has left and hurt his father. Mary wrote, "Suddenly I could appreciate the prodigal son’s situation as I needed forgiveness myself. Instead of considering the father soft and foolish I was thankful for his mercy and his acceptance of his wayward child."

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  Today's Devotional   

"WELCOME BACK"

written by

                                                                Mary M. Wilkins                                                                                                                                   ...and WELCOME HOME

When I first heard the story of the prodigal son I was 11 years old and it ticked me off. I was the oldest child in our family and the most obedient, not perfect mind you, but I looked good. I did lots of right things, but honestly I did them because I liked how doing them made me feel. I enjoyed the praise and compliments. When I heard the story of the disobedient son who claimed his inheritance early, broke his parent’s heart, and then was welcomed back as if he’d done nothing wrong: I was in disbelief!

My first thought was: “That’s not fair.” How come he can get everything he wants, then come back, and the father runs to meet him on the road, puts nice clothes on him (and a ring!) and then calls for a major feast and celebration. My thoughts were very dark and brooding as I pondered “What’s the point of being good, if being bad still gets the same reward?” The next verses show that the prodigal son’s brother felt the same way! Even though the father assures his older son that everything the father has belongs to this son it just never seemed to make sense to me. Then two things happened.

First of all, I got older and my choices and experiences proved that I wasn’t “all that good” after all. Suddenly I could appreciate the prodigal son’s situation as I needed forgiveness myself. Instead of considering the father soft and foolish I was thankful for his mercy and his acceptance of his wayward child.

Second, I was blessed with children. An awareness of the overflowing love of God washed over me as I held my child in my arms. Then I was worried during my second pregnancy that I wouldn’t be able to love this child as much as I loved the first one. Little did I know that a parent’s heart expands with each child. Then I began to truly understand the open and loving arms of the Father for each one of us.

Luke 15:10 
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence

of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

(NASB)

1 Timothy 1:15
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

—of whom I am the worst.

 (NIV)

Romans 8:38-39 

For I am convinced that neither

death nor life, neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,  neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us

 from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(NIV1984)

Dear Father, thank You for the example of the prodigal’s father as a picture of Your unconditional love for us. I still find selfishness hiding inside of me. Thank You for Your Word that reassures me that I can never fall so far away I can’t get back to You. Please help me to remember all You have forgiven me for so that I may have the courage and loving attitude to extend open arms and a welcome home to everyone You bring across my path. In Your name, amen.

Written by Mary M. Wilkins

A very cool song by the band Unspoken, titled “Who You Are”: 

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   Today's Inspiring Graphic  

(reprint)

This was my favorite doll, called Little Bear. In June of 2011 He "died" in a fall from a high place...the shelf on which he was standing. Some dry walling was being done, and I guess he leaned out too far to watch the worker. His porcelain head smashed into hundreds of pieces. I left him up on the shelf for a while with all the broken pieces of his poor little head and his crown of hair (still in one piece) in a small basket. I tried to locate his maker to no avail. I finally took him down, and he has been living in a file drawer in my office. I never gave up on my little darling.

You know that what God does for us. We get broken in many pieces due to our mistakes, choices, and things that have been done to us. God never gives up on us, and He waits for the moment when He can help us become whole again. He slowly moves in our lives, and we improve from His loving care.

Little Bear never knew that there was a future for him. Jan Andersen (the WFM Sunday Devotional writer) found an almost identical doll on eBay. That happened because I accidentally called him Gentle Bear, and that it the name of the bear she found.  Gentle Bear will be at my house on July 2. I went to great expense to acquire this little Gentle Bear. You won't believe my cost...$40

Just think of what price God was God was willing to pay for us. He sent His son to live as a man on earth and give His life for salvation for those who accepted His son.

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   Quotes of Famous Christians   

   Past and Present   

Jesus was either a liar, lunatic or Lord.
     ~ C. S. Lewis, Author 

All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine Book.      ~ David Livingstone, Missionary 

Jesus never pussyfooted
     ~ Elisabeth Elliot, Missionary & Author

Good intentions and earnest effort are not enough. Only Jesus can make an otherwise futile life productive. 

     ~ Chuck Swindoll, Pastor 

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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