One movie my husband and I enjoyed very much was "Field of Dreams" with Kevin Costner. My husband particularly liked the baseball aspect of the movie. I particularly liked Kevin Costner. Anyway, the concept of the movie is Kevin Costner's character Ray is persuaded to build a baseball field in the middle of his cornfield. He does so while everyone including his wife questions his sanity. The bank wants to foreclose on the farm but Ray continues trying to hang on. The movie unfolds bringing baseball players from the past that only he and his family can see to play ball on the field that was built. The players include his Father.
I can't help think how similar my life is to Ray's. I too am interacting with the invisible. I'm interacting with an invisible God and an invisible Holy Spirit on a daily basis. Some think I'm crazy. I try to explain it to others but they do not understand. What is invisible is real. What is unseen has substance. You can't see it with your eyes. You see it by interacting with the substance of what is unseen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
My hope is in what is unseen….eternal. I pray that others will choose to interact with the substance of what is unseen. You are invisible but real. Like Ray in the movie I feel like I'm having this incredible awesome experience and I want others to see it too…but they can't. Open the eyes of others to see how truly awesome you are.
In Jesus Name,
Jane
2 Corinthians 4:18 (New International Version)
18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Hebrews 11:1 (King James Version)
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
1 Timothy 1:15-17 (New International Version)
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
24-36- Hut
I didn't play much football as a kid. I couldn't really kick it, throw it or punt it. I remember distinctly how rotten I felt when other kids were doing so well at the kick, throw, and pass contest at school and I wasn't GRRRR!
Even though I don't play football well, I do know what it is like to carry the ball. Each day I have the ball of my life passed to me and I'm expected to get it to the end zone by bedtime. It's exhausting.
I wanted to describe to you what it sometimes feels like to carry the ball of my life.
The ball is snapped…I take it to the left….fake a pass…and then charge up the field. I break a tackle. I'm free running for the end zone. I could…go…all…the…way. NOOOO! Number 56 Mean Green Stress Machine is right on my tail. Will he catch me? Don't look. Keep running. FASTER! I feel him on my heels. POW! I'm down. Air has left my lungs. I can't breathe. Take a breath. I can't. BREATHE! I can't!! Finally a gasp returns air to my lungs. My chest hurts. I have turf in my face guard. OK huddle up, let's do it again.
Such is the game of life. We huddle up in the morning and then run as fast as we can during the day hoping we won't get tackled. Mean Green Stress Machine is my biggest adversary. He constantly wants to tackle me and hurt me. Is there a way to avoid this daily assault from Mean Green? I believe there is.
God's word says:
1 Peter 5:7 (New International Version)
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Matthew 11:28 (New International Version)
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
I have found when I daily cast my cares on him through prayer he watches my back. It's usually when I don't come to him that I get tackled pretty hard.
Jesus is a pretty good football player. I would highly recommend him on your team.
Dear Heavenly Father,
May I daily cast my cares on to you. May you watch and protect my back so that evil does not over take me. May I live the abundant life you came to give me and walk in obedience to your words.
In Jesus Name,
Jane
Even though I don't play football well, I do know what it is like to carry the ball. Each day I have the ball of my life passed to me and I'm expected to get it to the end zone by bedtime. It's exhausting.
I wanted to describe to you what it sometimes feels like to carry the ball of my life.
The ball is snapped…I take it to the left….fake a pass…and then charge up the field. I break a tackle. I'm free running for the end zone. I could…go…all…the…way. NOOOO! Number 56 Mean Green Stress Machine is right on my tail. Will he catch me? Don't look. Keep running. FASTER! I feel him on my heels. POW! I'm down. Air has left my lungs. I can't breathe. Take a breath. I can't. BREATHE! I can't!! Finally a gasp returns air to my lungs. My chest hurts. I have turf in my face guard. OK huddle up, let's do it again.
Such is the game of life. We huddle up in the morning and then run as fast as we can during the day hoping we won't get tackled. Mean Green Stress Machine is my biggest adversary. He constantly wants to tackle me and hurt me. Is there a way to avoid this daily assault from Mean Green? I believe there is.
God's word says:
1 Peter 5:7 (New International Version)
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Matthew 11:28 (New International Version)
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
I have found when I daily cast my cares on him through prayer he watches my back. It's usually when I don't come to him that I get tackled pretty hard.
Jesus is a pretty good football player. I would highly recommend him on your team.
Dear Heavenly Father,
May I daily cast my cares on to you. May you watch and protect my back so that evil does not over take me. May I live the abundant life you came to give me and walk in obedience to your words.
In Jesus Name,
Jane
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Fragrant Hugs
I go to a church where the people like to hug. In fact, part of our church culture is "hug and howdy" time during the service. This is where we greet one another with a hand shake or a hug. The "church hug" can be classified into two categories.
Type number one church hug (bottoms out): One bends at the waist, hands are placed on the shoulders and then you press your cheek to the other person's cheek.
Type number two church hug (side by side): You stand to the side of a person, place your arm around their shoulders and give a little squeeze.
This morning I greeted a very special person who I admire very much. We used type number one hug….cheek to cheek…no body parts touching. As our cheeks touched, the aroma of his cologne filled my olfactory sense. It was delightful. I purposefully took a deep breath so I could enjoy his fragrant scent and then we departed. As I walked away I noticed his scent stayed with me. Even now, I can still smell him.
The experience reminded me of this passage of scripture:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (New International Version)
14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
I'm asking myself this afternoon when people come into contact with me, do they walk away from me with a sense that they have come into contact with the fragrance of life?
Dear Heavenly Father,
May my life be a fragrant offering to you. When others come into contact with me, may they walk away from me sensing the aroma of Christ.
In Jesus Name,
Jane
Type number one church hug (bottoms out): One bends at the waist, hands are placed on the shoulders and then you press your cheek to the other person's cheek.
Type number two church hug (side by side): You stand to the side of a person, place your arm around their shoulders and give a little squeeze.
This morning I greeted a very special person who I admire very much. We used type number one hug….cheek to cheek…no body parts touching. As our cheeks touched, the aroma of his cologne filled my olfactory sense. It was delightful. I purposefully took a deep breath so I could enjoy his fragrant scent and then we departed. As I walked away I noticed his scent stayed with me. Even now, I can still smell him.
The experience reminded me of this passage of scripture:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (New International Version)
14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
15For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
I'm asking myself this afternoon when people come into contact with me, do they walk away from me with a sense that they have come into contact with the fragrance of life?
Dear Heavenly Father,
May my life be a fragrant offering to you. When others come into contact with me, may they walk away from me sensing the aroma of Christ.
In Jesus Name,
Jane
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