Just a thought by coppi

Just a thought by coppi – written in 2015

A light house does not blow fog horns but it only shines.  

When I read the above I thought of our walk as Christians.  Does our life reflect the light  of Jesus.  St Mark 4:21: and he said unto them, is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick?  A candle beams its flickering light so we may find our way in the dark as does the Lighthouse.  As Christians we should let our light shine & walk in the light of Christ.  We need not blow fog horns but just shine & let the Holy Spirit beam through us.  Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord……i grew up in a very legalistic religion & if we did have a little light, it was totally blown out with dos & don’ts & lots of fear. 1 John 4:7: Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God….10: herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us & sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4 is filled with scriptures of love.  The pendulum swings both ways but should be in balance.  I guess my desire is not to be a fog horn but a flickering light for our Lord.

Just a thought by coppi

C.S. Lewis wrote in The Weight of Glory, “We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.” 

“My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, Lord, I am coming.”

Psalms 27:8 NLT

You can know that you need solitude for one reason—Jesus needed it. All over the New Testament we see examples of Jesus going off on his own to pray. One example, Mark 1:35, tells us that Jesus, “rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark . . . departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.  Greg Denison First 15 2/10/18

15 2/10/18

Richard J. Foster said, “Loneliness is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment.

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Being still is something that alludes me.  My engine starts churning early in the morning with “you gotta  – you gotta” and out comes my list of “you gottas”. Then I think ‘you didn’t take time to be still, read, pray, and listen’.  I stop.  Put my list away and start my daily devotions.  My list is put away, but my mind will not let me forget my list of what I have to do that day.  I pray “Lord, how can I stop this habit and be with you the time needed.  I know my day is much better when I do”.  Now, what I try to do is arise very early in the morning before the day starts.  I take my reading materials and prayer list and find a quit spot to be still and alone with Jesus.  I need that time.  It’s important to me.  If Jesus needed to be alone with God, I certainly need to be alone with Him. (Ps 46:10)

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“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”

Psalm 103:2-4

One of favorites.  Bless the Lord oh my soul:

Forget not all his benefits:  Oh so many

Who forgives all your iniquity:  Yes, many

Who heals all your diseases:  of the soul, and body

Who redeems your life from the pit:  He has and will

Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy:  oh, so faithful

Just a thought by coppi

“Love says: I’ve seen the ugly parts of you and I’m staying.”

The phrase “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is a biblical promise found in several places in the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments. It is a message of God’s faithfulness and assurance of His presence and support for His people.

I only knew of one person in my long life that her husband never saw her unless she was fully made up and perfect.  She was my cousin through a marriage of long ago.  I thought that to be odd, and wondered if he would divorce her if she would just be herself.  I think of Jesus and His love for us – He says “ I will never leave you or forsake you” several times in the Bible. I speak for myself of the many times I have come to him with “uglies” I have done or said.  I ask forgiveness and, for him to make my crooked path straight.  Love speaks volumes.  God is love.  Now, my husband loves me, but his love goes under the umbrella of “acceptance”, because I certainly do not appear perfect in anyway.  He has seen the ugly part of me, and he is still around and is staying. lol.  And, Jesus is too!

Strong Christians see God in both the good & the bad. The mature believer sees God not only in pleasures & palaces, but also in the barnyards & stables of life. (John Maxwell)

Just a thought by coppi

Wise men follow the star but the star did not lead them to a palace but a barnyard. I have often wondered why bad things happen to good people but it does. I, myself, have walked through many barnyard experiences and wondered why but being a Christian or good person does not eliminate me from the pain of living. Mt 5:45 – for he makes his sun to rise on the evil & the good, and: sends rain on the just & the unjust. Let us never become exclusive by imaging ourselves the only recipients of grace. How could grace include everyone but them without losing its essential meaning? Yes, we will have barnyard undergoes – I call them them the valleys but I also know there is mountain top experiences too. I have encountered them both but when i reached the top of the mountain, I realized I was carried by the Savior who was born in a manager, a barnyard, but became the Savior of the world.

Just a thought by coppi

There’s a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. Your future matters more than your past

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14 TLB:  “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us”.

Isaiah 43:18 -19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!….”

God says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” This is where Godchanges the past of all who commit their lives to Him. He forgives our sins and forgets them!

Have you ever regretted something in your past?  Gee, I have.  My past regrets weighed me down when I dwelled on them.  I finally had to seek the Lord and I truthfully said to him “ there are so many things I regret in my past, I am so sorry for them and wish I could go back and have a “redo” of my actions”.  I would have hugged more, loved more, have more understanding, laughed more, and the list goes on and on.  But I can’t.  But as Warren W. Wiersbe says “Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: Yesterday’s regret and tomorrow’s worries.”  I do not want to crucify myself with regrets – I want to make amends when I can and when I cannot, I will commit the “undo” to God with a contrite and thankful heart to Him for healing. Reading Scripture with the Holy Spirit brings God’s word to life. The Bible isn’t just a book of rules. It’s not just a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s meant to be read with the understanding that its words were inspired by the One who dwells within you. “May your heart be stirred to meditate on God’s word that it might produce peace and joy in your life today.” Greg Denison

I want to look through the windshield and not the rear view mirror.  That’s my desire.  My regrets are in God’s hand and so is my future.

Just a thought by coppi

There’s a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. Your future matters more than your past

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14 TLB:  “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us”.

Isaiah 43:18 -19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!….”

God says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” This is where God changes the past of all who commit their lives to Him. He forgives our sins and forgets them!

Have you ever regretted something in your past?  Gee, I have.  My past regrets weighed me down when I dwelled on them.  I finally had to seek the Lord and I truthfully said to him “ there are so many things I regret in my past, I am so sorry for them and wish I could go back and have a “redo” of my actions”.  I would have hugged more, loved more, have more understanding, laughed more, and the list goes on and on.  But I can’t.  But as Warren W. Wiersbe says “Most Christians are being crucified on a cross between two thieves: Yesterday’s regret and tomorrow’s worries.”  I do not want to crucify myself with regrets – I want to make amends when I can and when I cannot, I will commit the “undo” to God with a contrite and thankful heart to Him for healing. Reading Scripture with the Holy Spirit brings God’s word to life. The Bible isn’t just a book of rules. It’s not just a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s meant to be read with the understanding that its words were inspired by the One who dwells within you. “May your heart be stirred to meditate on God’s word that it might produce peace and joy in your life today.” Greg Denison

I want to look through the windshield and not the rear view mirror.  That’s my desire.  My regrets are in God’s hand and so is my future.

Just a thought by coppi

John 14:27 – I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 

I remember years ago, I went to visit, Bill, my deceased husband (lots of years ago) in the hospital right after a very serious surgery. The surgery he had was not perfected at that time, but it was needed to save his life.  He was very fearful and afraid and knew he would probably die on the operating table, but he had no choice. Afterwards,  I was allowed in to see him. I remember his first words to me when I saw him was: “Someone  touched me and ministered peace to me and told me I would not die”.  I replied “Are you sure that was not a doctor or nurse”.  “No, he said no person can give you that kind of peace”.  Jesus said In John 14:27…”The peace I give, the world cannot give”.  Bill experienced that peace, the peace that passes all understanding.  It’s a gift from God and can not be bought, because it’s free.   I have sung the course in Wonderful Peace many times in my walk with God, and I have felt that wonderful gift of peace:

“Peace, peace, wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above!

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray

In fathomless billows of love!”  

It’s a gift wrapped in the love of Jesus for our taking.

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”

ISAIAH 58:1

“Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.”

‭‭The people of Isaiah’s day had the same problem as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. They trusted in empty ritual, apart from the spiritual reality. Real fasting – fasting that is partnered with real repentance, and isn’t only about image – has great power before God (Matthew 17:21). But God sees through the hypocrisy of empty religious ritual, including fasting.  It isn’t that Isaiah or the LORD are down on fasting. They are down on any empty religious ritual. The answer isn’t to stop fasting, but to get right with God and make your fasting more than superficial.   Those who serve God with sincere hearts and actions enjoy a health and life of the soul that is impossible for the superficial follower of God to know.(Quote from Enduring Word)

Our God does not like any part of hypocrisy.  I have pondered why, because God knows our hearts and all He asks is that when we come before Him is to be truthful without deceit.  If you desire to be a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes, I guess you better leave all deceit, etc behind and come before God with honesty and truthfulness; then He will listen and start you on the path of restoration of walls and homes. 

Just a thought by coppi 

As Pastor Buddy Owens said, “When you fix your thoughts on God, God fixes your thoughts.

As you go about your day, say to yourself, “I am strong in the Lord. I am not afraid. For God has not given me the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7)

Thoughts if not based on truth can mess one up.  Why?  I speak for myself, but I know my thoughts are tainted by different happening in my journey in life so I have to fix my thinking on God for truth, directions, and let Him fix my thoughts.  My only problem is I have to have patience & wait on God to erase my wrong thinking which He will do if I will be still and patient.  God has never given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.  God will fix your wrong thinking and thoughts – go to Him for help.

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭36‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Enough said…….