Sunday Writings.....5/1/15

Good morning...
  Here are some Sunday snippets...

• Today I planted my garden...four tomato plants...lol. Super farmer! What motivates me is the delicious taste of tomatoes straight from the garden. There is nothing like it.
• First day of May, my birthday month. My aunt used to make me a cake every year that had a maypole in the middle with ribbons draped down to the edge of the cake. In a real may pole children would hold a ribbon an dance around the pole until the ribbons were wrapped around the pole. 
  
• Off to church soon.

Have a sunny Sunday!


The Sunday devotional is written by Jan Andersen about what we focus on each day and how sometimes we need to change that focus.  

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  Today's Devotional   

"TINY MIRACLES "

written by

Jan Andersen

Sunday Devotional for 5/1/16

Have you ever driven along a road and not really seen what was on each side because you were so focused on the destination? Have you ever been in a boat and spent most of the time looking out to the horizon and forgotten to look right over the side to see some of the amazing things that might be right under the water's surface? Have you ever looked out over a large field, admiring the peacefulness of the pasture, but never looked down to see what was right at your feet? 

I went on a retreat several years ago in the mountains in Arizona. One morning I arose shortly after sunrise and took a hike up a gravel road. I had been told there were beautiful views of the rim of a canyon at the top, so my mind was looking forward to that scenery as I trudged up the steep incline. My eyes were searching through the trees to get a glimpse of that rocky edge. They were right - I found many gorgeous views along a road at the top of the hill. I took my time taking pictures of the rocky rim to one side of the road and forested hills on the other until I came to the end of the road. On my way back I decided I would look to the sides of that same sloping pathway as I returned. My eyes this time were searching for the small things on the ground that I may have missed on the way up. Sure enough, I was rewarded with seeing some beautiful, delicate little flowers. Some were hardly bigger than a large pinhead on scraggly ground cover peaking out through the crevices of some rocks. Others were taller wildflowers in brilliant hughes of orange, yellow and white. These flowers were there on my way up the road too; they did not suddenly spring up within an hour to greet me on my return trip.  I had simply failed to see them the first time.

This same scenario can play out in our lives. We may be so busy looking ahead, hoping and planning for the future, or being apprehensive about what tomorrow might bring, that we miss the little joyful moments along the way. We may be so focused on looking at the big picture that we miss the little things. God has created an amazing world - both in the big picture as well as in the tiny daily miracles. We can learn to appreciate the beauty in both. Sometimes we just need to change our focus to today and remain present so that we don't get too caught up in worrying about the future, or even bemoaning our past.  God has our best interests at heart, and it is all in his capable and loving hands.  May we forever praise his holy name for all he has created and given us, especially the gift of faith and forgiveness of our sins through his Son, Jesus Christ!

Deuteronomy 10:14, 21 (NIV) To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it... He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Dear Father, creator and sustainer of all things, help us to keep a healthy balance in our focus in life.  Keep us present so that we can see and enjoy your tiny daily miracles, while not losing sight of the forest for the trees.  But remind us that our future is always in your loving hands so that we do not worry.   Help us also to remember that our past is forgiven and our salvation is sure because of the sacrifice of your son, Jesus.  Help us to remain faithful and teach us to be the "tiny miracles" in the lives of other people, sharing your loving kindness and good news with them through the power of your Holy Spirit.  All praise and glory to you, the Triune God.  Amen.

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   You say /  God says   

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

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   "SIFTED"   

   May Writing   

  by Cathy Friberg     

  Member of our Monthly Writing Staff   

In Luke chapter 22:31 Jesus declares, 

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift
all of you (all of the disciples) as wheat." 

Can you identify? I certainly can. There are times when I feel as though I have been shaken to my very core. There are trials which endure so long that my spirit, soul and body are battle worn and weary. I have felt as though I were a tattered and torn dish rag which has been wrung out one too many times. 

The sifting which Jesus spoke of had to do with the grave remorse, sorrow, guilt, and grief which Peter would feel after he denied the Lord successively three times. Peter had been so confident in himself that he would remain true to The Lord no matter what. Then in his human fear and frailty he went back on his promise and vehemently declared that he did not even know this Jesus. 

Peter could have fallen into such a spirit of condemnation that he might have completely turned away from his Master for all time. He could have, like Judas, been remorseful for his actions, but not had the faith to even continue living. Instead, Peter was totally restored toward His King and went on to fulfill his Divine destiny. For Jesus also told Peter that he had prayed for him that his faith would fail not. Furthermore, Jesus had prayed that after Peter had repented and turned back to God that He would strengthen his brothers. Luke 22:32

When we are faced with formidable tests in our Christian walk let's remember that our Lord is interceding for us as he did for Peter. Romans 8:34 says

"Let us not lose heart but be grateful that we will be restored and
renewed in the end. And let's remember, too,
to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ." 

When we see them suffering, let's pray that their faith not fail. Destruction of our faith is Satan's ultimate goal. He wants us to be so broken that we lose heart and turn away from the "lover of our souls". However, with prayer and encouragement from our fellow Christians we can remain strong and carry out our destiny. May we never be like Job's comforters, criticizing those who are walking through the fire. The longer I remain on this journey of faith, the more I realize that we cannot judge others. Only God can see our hearts and truly know all the circumstances in another person's life. We can, however, be loving, supportive, and prayerful. "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8  Let's pray for grace to carry out this simple yet powerful command. Then we will be strengthening the Body of Christ, and empowering our sisters and brothers to victoriously finish the race which has been set out before them.

By Cathy Friberg

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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.