Wednesday, February 29, 2012

"Simple" Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

A dear friend and special sister in Christ shared a verse of scripture with me that was on her heart this week.

It’s a verse we’ve all looked at, probably numerous times. Sometimes on a certain day or during a particular situation, a part of God’s Word will specifically speak to us a bit louder.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

I was reading the verse over several times, realizing how powerful the words are. And tremendously simple. God doesn’t try to make things complicated. Don’t worry; (Notice how God keeps bringing TRUST to my attention recently?) pray; ask; be thankful. Trust. Pray. Ask. Thank.

Philippians 4:4 - 7 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Monday Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

Last week, I referenced a classic hymn, “Trust and Obey”. My conviction of trusting and obeying God has grown to a higher level since then. I took a leap of faith and obeyed God, trusting His direction and provision, although in the natural, I couldn’t comprehend.

A friend and dear sister in Christ emailed me stating the hymn has such meaning to her. It was her “grandmother's favorite hymn. She was a Christian for 95 years, and that song was her life message. She accepted Christ at age eight and lived to be 103, still loving Him and serving Him. She never wavered in her faith.”

As we journey through the years, various people, books, songs, scripture, etc., signify things differently to us as our situations change in life. As a child, a particular hymn we sang in church was not my favorite. It wasn’t a “happy and fun” song. The song had no meaning to me.

About six years ago, I heard the song in a different way. The music and lyrics haven’t changed since I was a child. But I have.

I was in a church service and we, as a congregation, sang the song. Tears welled into my eyes. The realization of the truth of this song became very alive to me. A once “boring and slow” song captured life.

“Because He Lives” was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither over fifty years ago. (As my father is a Gaither’s fan, I should have known this, right?) The Gaither family was experiencing an extremely traumatic time. They were facing illness, difficult family situations, broken relationships, fear and sadness. A friend of Bill’s prayed with them and the Gaithers immediately felt the strength of the Holy Spirit. They were assured the future would be fine if left in God’s hands. The song was written with a grateful heart because of the hope they had with the uncertainty in life -- God holds the future and life is worth it!

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives."

Psalm 39:7 “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My hope is in you.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Happy Ash Wednesday from "His Kindness Year Round"!

We’ve come upon my favorite time of year! I get extremely excited and passionate about the Lent season, entirely and especially through Resurrection Sunday. What this period represents to believers is phenomenal!

With today, Ash Wednesday, beginning of the season of Lent, I look forward to this time of deep prayer and reflection and direction for God’s will in my life.

I recently was reading in Matthew 26. We understand that Jesus’ own disciples, His very followers, let Him down. Judas betrays Him. Peter denies Him not once, not twice, but three times. (Even after adamantly saying “No!”, he would not deny Jesus, he knowingly did so.) When Jesus asked the disciples to pray for Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, rather than praying, they fell asleep.

Today, we may wonder how Jesus’ disciples could have been so heartless, so disobedient, so disloyal to their Savior and friend.

Obedience is an on-going attainment for a believer. We are not unlike His disciples. I truly would not want to see a list of the times I’ve disappointed or disobeyed my Savior, yes, THE Savior Who died for me. I’ve betrayed Him, been disloyal to Him, denied Him. But He loves me unconditionally anyway. In spite of . . .

And it is truly my desire to be as obedient to Him as I possibly can be.

John 8:31-32 “Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Hello from "His Kindness Year Round"!

The Lord has repetitively been bringing situations to my heart the past couple of months.

I need to remember, and possibly you as well, that we can help someone, but we cannot make them change. Our job is to plant the seeds, encourage and support as God leads (not as we may want to lead), but we are no one’s Savior. I can lead someone to water, but I can’t make them drink. A dear friend and sister in Christ summed it up well when she said “It is always good to remember we do not toil for the results, but for the sowing.” Very well said. I hope she shares this thought with others, as I feel I am not the only person who needs to be reminded of this. I need to place situations in God’s hands, rather than trying to eek my “fix” on the situation myself, and then “let it go”. No need to be frustrated if someone isn't doing what I spiritually know (think) is correct. But pray. And trust. And obey. Everything is possible is God's hands.

The classic hymn “Trust and Obey” has been on my mind. I find myself waking up singing it. The story goes that during an evangelical meeting with Dwight L. Moody in the late 1800’s, after the service a young man stood to give his testimony. He realized he didn’t know a great deal about the Bible, and concluded his testimony with “I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey.” Daniel Towner, a music director, heard these profound yet simple words of the testimony, and wrote the words and music to “Trust and Obey”.

“Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Thank you for allowing me to share these thoughts. I hope they give you something to ponder in particular situations in your life as well.

Check out yesterday’s post about Emergency Chaplains. And stay tuned for tomorrow -- the first day of my favorite season of the year!!

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Monday, February 20, 2012

Hello Readers of "His Kindness Year Round"!

All believers have been blessed with talents, abilities and gifts from our Heavenly Father. Two dear friends in Durham have the extraordinary gift of giving of themselves and sharing comfort and care to others. They are priceless servants of our Lord.

“Chaplain Ralph” and his wife, Carter, established Emergency Chaplains after receiving the calling from God. Years prior, God called Ralph to leave his job and pursue full time ministry. Both Ralph and Carter are well prepared with years of training and years of experience in dealing with people who are in need of chaplaincy and counseling.

The primary responsibility of Emergency Chaplains is to provide chaplaincy comfort, care and counseling, 24/7, to first responders of any public safety agency, mostly (at this time) in the Durham County area.

Through God’s divine guidance and their obedience to Him, the ministry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Praise God! The need for these services to first responders is vast. The duties each chaplain on the team provides is beyond measure. From having a father who was a first responder for over 30 years and co-workers and friends in the same capacity, I, personally, am grateful for the services of all the Emergency Chaplains. I thank God for their obedience in His calling each of them into the ministry.

Check out the website at www.echap.org or face book as Emergency Chaplains.

I’ll share what the Emergency Chaplains website affirms:

1 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

Good morning!

Love. One of the best words in the language.

Today is a day devoted to love. We know we should possess and display love year round, just as kindness, and not just on a particular day or days.

Luke 10:27: "He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Lamentations 3:22 - 24 “Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

John 3:16 ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

As I recently heard from a minister, if your heart isn't the way God needs it to be, always remember HE can (and will!) change your heart! Ezekiel 36:26 "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."

I thank and praise God for giving us love!

Express your love for others not just today, but everyday. Jesus said so.

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Friday, February 10, 2012

Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

Happy Day to all!

If you’ve read about “my star”, this will probably have more meaning.

I don’t know about anyone else in internet world, but I seek more laughter in my life (“clean” and not at someone else’s expense. (And hugs.)

Laughter is indeed a great medicine. Do you need to make a stronger effort to choose laughter, as I do? Let’s “take time to smell the roses” and laugh more this year!

We do face trials and difficulties which are not very cheery. (And I don't always remember to praise Him in the storms.) But, as another “point on my star” reminds Christian siblings, we also require balance to have a healthy life.

I will pursue balance for a better maintained me. I look forward to more laughter in 2012 (and hugs)!

Thanks to all the points on my star! You brighten my days and my life and are truly appreciated. Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!


Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

Greetings from “His Kindness Year Round!”

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to share with you several local North Carolina ministries. From time to time, you may see me post or share a link from these ministries and I'd like to introduce you.

Taking a moment to present the Prince family . . . . a "local" NC ministry . . .

Well, actually, they are in South Africa, just a few miles from NC. But before moving to South Africa, they were ministering in Raleigh.

Casey and Sarah Prince, and young daughter, Kieren, left their cozy home, friends and family to move to South Africa to pursue the ministries God led them to plant, nurture and grow. Sarah is involved in many ministries and outreach programs involving local women and children of Ocean View (near Cape Town), including pastoring a Methodist church. Casey is very connected with Ubuntu (neat word, huh -- check it out!) Sports Outreach and very involved with local youth as well. Both are extremely passionate about their work for the Lord.

The Prince’s website shows the phrase at the top: "living life with purpose". As someone reminded me this week, our purpose is to stay in alignment with God’s will and grow and mature our relationship with Him. This family certainly lives for the purpose of God.

Check out the Prince family on their websites: www.looklistenlove.org and www.ubuntusports.org.

And stay tuned for more local ministry news.

Genesis 12:1, 4a: “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . . . . So Abram went, as the LORD had told him;”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

At a recent gathering (blog post) I mentioned that God will get right to the point. No beating around the bush. (In fact, if we would listen more carefully, we would probably hear these direct comments more often than we do.)

I wrote this weeks ago, but kept it until God has given the “go ahead” to post. It’s time now.

Before Christmas, a dear friend and sister in Christ gave me an analogy. (She knows I like “visuals”.) In ways, our lives are like a star. She began to tell me how each point on the star meant something different in my life. Later as I was thinking about “my star”, I took it a step further. God has brought important friendships and spiritual family God into my life, especially the past couple of years. Each person is a point on “my star”. Each has special qualities and gifts. Some are encouraging. Some help me seek God’s strength. Some have a great shoulder to cry on or an open, listening ear. Some are strong prayer warriors. Some are willing to share their wealth of knowledge with me. Some will always give me an honest opinion. And on and on.

I am to be Christ like and solely dependent upon God and God alone. I understand that through His Word. Yet, He provides friends and family on earth for us to support each another, to help provide for each other as the different occasions arise.

Here’s when God “turned on the light bulb” for me.

If I’m in need of a special “point” on my star, and I choose not to seek the person(s) for the need I have, that’s my choice, not His. He gives us spiritual family for a reason. He is always there first and foremost with any situation that comes my way. He is the first One I am to lean on and seek for guidance. But I also need to reach out to the “points on my star”. No one on earth is a mind reader. No one knows my heart as God does. I have to seek what God has already provided. I have to be willing to express my need. (That is a difficult adjustment for me to ask for help. But I am doing it.)

I hope you seek Him first, and then those in your life He has placed there for you.

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

Hello, all,

“Firecracker Blessings” . . . . A term I use to refer to the different blessings God may pop our way in a day or even a short span of time. Exciting blessings from God.

I am so grateful to have received several particularly wonderful firecracker blessings in the past couple of weeks. A co-worker brought me coffee on a day in which I truly appreciated the comfort. I received a beautiful surprise gift from very special and wonderful friends and family in Christ. Friends invited me into their home for homemade soup and a relaxing evening -- ah. A dear family bought me a rotisserie chicken, knowing how much I love chicken! (OK, you’re probably thinking I’m low maintenance, but I’m so grateful and appreciative of every warm thought for me that I do get excited!) I received two particularly kind and thoughtful emails -- for no reason at all. In the mail at work, I was blessed with Christian CDs from another friend and sister who knows I love listening to Christian music. I have had the opportunity this past week to see many long time friends and co-workers and to meet new ones. And hugs! I love hugs and have been rewarded an extra supply this week!

And on time. God’s timing is always on time. Just when I needed a little extra TLC.

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

God is always there. I cannot physically see Him. But I do see the existence of His grandness every day. What a beloved Heavenly Father!

Do you ever watch God’s artwork in a sunrise or sunset? What blessings and precious gifts from Him! A full moon or smile or laughter or a hug -- more valued blessings. Most firecracker blessings are small -- someone in the grocery store allowing you to go first in the checkout line or someone holding a door open for you. But these blessings are there -- seek them out.

God knows life isn’t easy on earth for believers. I also am aware He never told us life would be easy. In fact, He told us the opposite; that we would have troubles. As I read last week in Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” devotions, “Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life.” But God and His mercy and grace and goodness and love are ALWAYS there. Open your eyes and see Him work! To God be the glory; GREAT things He has done and will continue to do!

Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Greetings from “His Kindness Year Round!”

As each new year arrives, (yes, I realize it’s now February) I set goals for the year.

As I was in the car listening to a minister’s message on CD, He asked the question: “If you were to ask God to do one thing for you today, what would it be?” And then he followed up with “And do you believe He can do it?” I spoke aloud, which I will do frequently, and replied, “God I just want to be happy. Is that too much to ask?” I want to be happy, and can He do it? Absolutely, of course He can do it!”

I began to ponder my own two answers to Pastor Scott’s questions. Happiness. Or peace. Or joy. Easy requests, right? I immediately began to hear the words of the Lord leading my heart. “You have everything. You already have happiness.” As I’ve heard others refer and have heard a minister say, God has already given us everything He is going to give us. That hits between the eyeballs. God gets to the point. We have to make the decisions and choices ourselves to be happy or peaceful or joyful or physically healthy or, etc. When we accepted Christ and became believers of Him and His Word, God equipped and blessed us with happiness. If we allow others to make choices and decisions which make me unhappy, we are not using the wonderful gift of happiness God has already given us. God reminds me again of something He shared well over a year ago -- I’m not on this earth to please man, but to please HIM. I am to please Him! I need to be responsible to the decisions God leads me to follow, and not what man wants me to do. It certainly will be God’s way -- the ONLY way. Before any decision, no matter how large or small, ask God what HE wants us to do.

I’ve been repeatedly reminded of the quote from Joyce Meyer, “Hear what others have to say but listen to God.”

Readers, please choose to receive all the gifts and blessings God has already given you. Strive to please Him, to praise Him, to thank Him. He is worth it!

James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Greetings from "His Kindness Year Round"!

Anyone in "my boat" today? Thank God we can reach for the hem of His garment!

Matthew 11:28 - 30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Prayerfully (and thankfully), your sister in Him,

Robin