More Puzzles

Greetings!!!

Have you ever put a jigsaw puzzle together? What is the first part of the puzzle that you do? I always start by doing the border. It give a frame for the puzzle. As I was putting my last puzzle together, it struck me that as I got sections done and connected each section to the border the puzzle got stronger and it shifted less. The picture made more sense and it was easier to see where each piece belonged. As I struggled with the stripes on the zebra, the Lord spoke to my heart and said that this was a lot like the body of Christ. Immediately, 1 Corinthians 12: 11-21,27 came to mind.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because i am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

Is there something going on in your life that is making you feel like you do not belong, like there is no place for you? In the same way that it was difficult for me to see the zebra in the loose pieces of my puzzle, sometimes it is difficult to see where each of us fits into the body of Christ, but that does not mean that you are not a part of the body, or that that you do belong. Like trying to put puzzles pieces together, sometimes you just have to try to see if you fit in a particular place. If it does not work, just keep trying. If you have a relationship with Jesus, you are a part of the body of Christ, there is a place for you, and the body of Christ is not complete without you.

The LORD bless you with finding your place in the body of Christ and being persistent until you do.

I love you,

Ruth

Puzzles

Greetings!!!

Do you like to do puzzles? Jigsaw puzzles are my favorite kind of puzzle. As I sort the pieces I am force to think about what I see in each piece. Often times my sorting process is incorrect because I sort by what I see which is mostly the colors of each object or parts of the shapes. It is funny how far off I can be in the placing some of the pieces in the different piles.

As I was working a puzzle this morning, Isaiah 55: 6-11 kept coming to my mind. Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, An He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. "For My thought are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Do you realize that your life is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle? Do you think that you hold it in your hand? Are you trying to force your piece of the puzzle where you think it needs to be? Are you frustrated and stressed about the things going on in your life? Maybe it is time to hand over the puzzle of your life to the One who knows exactly how your piece fits with all the other puzzle pieces in your life. I know that it can be hard to let go. In letting go, there can be an overwhelming fear of falling uncontrollably. Let me remind you of Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." So, even if you do fall, you are safe for the LORD God will be there to catch you. Go ahead. Let's count to three and take a leap of faith.

The LORD bless you with giving Him total control of your life.

I love you,

Ruth

Those In Authority

Greetings!!!

What do you think about President Obama? How do you feel about his political agenda? Actually, these are rhetorical questions. My questions are not really about the individual so much as about the office. Did you know that you are commanded to support those who are in authority over you?

Take a look at 1 Timothy 2:1-6. "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time."

Whether or not you like the President of the United State is not important. Whether or not you agree with his policies really does not matter. You are commanded to support your leaders in government by praying for them. You should pray that they will come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because God our Savior desires that all men be saved and come to know Him personally. As government leaders get right in their relationship with God, they will have God's wisdom to use their authority in a way that pleases God and brings peace and joy to the people of their nation. So... supporting the governmental authorities by praying and fasting for them is ultimately in your best interest! When was the last time you fasted or prayed for your President? Today would be a good day to start. Skip a meal and spend the time praying that God would work in their hearts.

The LORD bless you with lifting all your words about those in authority to Him.

I love you,

Ruth

picture from www.barack-obama-timeline.com/

When Is Enough, Enough?

Greetings!!!

Are you pursuing a career? Are you a slave under the taskmaster of education or your work in this process? Have you fallen into the trap of believing that having more money and more stuff is equal to success? The United States culture and media has really pushed this idea so much that those who do not fall in line with it are considered rather odd. Are you among the people who have wondered when will enough be enough and would like change this in your life?

As I thought about this, the Holy Spirit brought Matthew 6: 24-34. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we cloth ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

When is enough, enough? Enough is enough when what you have becomes your master, and what you want becomes your driving force. If you are not enjoying the abundance of provision from your Holy Father, if what you have only makes you want more, maybe it is time to downsize!

The LORD bless you with joy and peace in the place He has you.

I love you,

Ruth