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

“Each step you take brings you closer to home. Before you know it, you’ll enter the City. You’ll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And maybe, just maybe—in the back, behind the crowds—the One who would rather die than live without you will remove his pierced hands from his heavenly robe and…applaud.” Max Lucado 6/1/19

Yes, that’s one of our Lord’s promises that we will see our loved ones again. Not only my beloved family and friends, but also my dear little pets who loved me and I them. I believe there will be a lot of rejoicing and love among the redeemed – it will be quite a celebration of joy and delight. But I also want to see Jesus and His nail print hands applauding and hear his voice say “welcome home”.

Jeremiah 33:3 – Call upon the Lord and He will answer you with great and mighty things you have not known.

Ps.34:4-8 –  I sought the Lord and He answered me……

I am on a medication for my cancer treatment that is so expensive that I doubt a  CEO of a successful company would want to shell out the dollars for it.  I have been on it since 2011 and it has been very helpful in keeping me in remission along with the many prayers flying my way.  But, every year I have to apply for a grant to help/pay for it.  And, every year I put myself under a lot of angst of going through the process of getting another grant.  I have been blessed since 2016 of being given the same grant, but this year I did not get that grant and had to proceed another avenue.  Pray, yes, – bargain with God, yes- put out a fleece (like Gideon did), yes – then, I finally prayed “your will be done”.  You know, ever since my husband of thirty-two years caused the biggest tsunamis in my life the year of 1997, I truly had to learn to really pray and trust God.  He answered me through different people put in my life, by miracles, etc.   but, It was not immediate – But, He walked with me with His hand of peace – And,  He answered in His way.  A lot of changes were made in my heart and soul.  A lot of things I thought were so important didn’t seem so paramount anymore – life was better.  At times, I think God put me back into the same settings I was in in 1997.  But, the difference is I am not the same person I was back then.  The things that upset me, I look at differently.  My reactions are completely different and I say to myself “Yes, God, you did do an overhaul in my heart of hearts and I thank you.”  Not to say all is perfect, I still have emotions that are upsetting, but I go immediately to Jesus and confess truthfully what’s going on.  Well, I didn’t mean to go on and on about this but sometimes as I write thoughts crop up and I let them happen as I communicate to my ‘just a thought’ readers. Anyway, I end with a blessing of gratitude “I got another Grant”.  

Just a thought by coppi

2022

Col 1:17. He himself is before all things & all things are held together in him & that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice & death of Christ….

There is a protein molecule in the human body called “laminin”.  Laminin is a cell-adhesive protein molecule that literally holds us together.  This molecule is in the shape of a cross.  I googled laminin & was so excited to view and read about a protein molecule in our body & reflect on the fact that the very cells of our body that hold us together are in the shape of a cross. I listened to Louie Giglio & would recommend all to click on his Website & listen to him.  You will be blessed I promise.  Ps 139: We are indeed fearfully & wonderfully made…I read & quote “the human body is the most complex & unique organism in the world, & that complexity & uniqueness speaks volumes about the mind of its Creator – every aspect of the body, down to the tiniest microscopic cell, reveals that it is fearfully & wonderfully made.”  

Now, let this wonder fill you up….I did!

2022

He gives us strength to turn our messes into momentum and our battles into victories.(Robert Morgan).

His strength, His guidance, and His love is a rock I heavily lean on.  In all my “messes” I have created, if I will totally surrender to him, He is faithful to walk me through from the valley to the mountain top.   In the tabernacle study, on the day of atonement, the altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to be cleansed by the blood of an innocent creature. For a sin offering, a person had to bring an animal — a male one without blemish or defect from the flock or herd.  Do you think for one moment, an animal sacrifice went to the altar without kicking. I don’t think so.  As, Jesus told, the apostle Paul (then known as Saul) on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians, “Paul, Paul, it is hard for you to kick against the pricks”, which is a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick, and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered.  The same analogy can be for us.  When we kick against God’s guidance and do our own thing, we incur a mess.  Only when we totally surrender, can God intervene and lead us to the mountain top.  I have asked myself many times, why do I kick against God’s will – I presume, I think I know what is best for me, and if I insist on following my will, hoping God will eventually agree with me, I usually find myself in a “boiling pot” cooking with stress.  It’s only when I truly surrender and stop kicking do I find peace, love, joy, and out of the stress-boiling water pot to the fresh springs on the mountain top.  I know I need to stop “kicking” and start believing that my Abba Father wants more for me than I want for myself – will I ever learn, I ask?

2022

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 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.

“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. 

2022

“Dear God, thank you for today”.

This is not a dress rehearsal – this is it!   Dear Jesus help me to live each day, each minute/ moment of this day in gratefulness & love of the beautiful life you gave me.

2022

Just a thought by coppi

“God finds us in the holes we dig for ourselves. We see failures; He sees foundations.” — Bob Goff

When I think of holes, I think of the holes little-creates dig to hide from mankind and other dangers to them.  The most well-known burrowers are probably mammals, especially the mole, gopher, groundhog (also known as a woodchuck), and rabbit. Bears are most likely the largest burrowing animals.  I think the holes I dug to hide my pain, confusion, rejection, etc, would compare to the bear hole, because whatever I hid from was that painful and big for me.  An example:  “ I am tucked deep into my bear hole, journaling my emotions and feeling, praying to Jesus to help me through the agony I have caused myself or another caused, I then sense my Shepherd, Jesus, looking at me through this bear hole saying “Coppi why are you hiding?  “I am hiding because I can’t deal with the situations that are engulfing me.”  “Jesus I have been praying asking you to help me”.  Then Jesus gives me an example from the Bible.  It was about when Lazarus died.  Jesus said to Lazarus when he died and was buried” (John 11:38-44): “Come out!” and the dead man. Lazarus,  came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  And, just as Jesus said to Lazarus “take off the grave clothes, He is saying to me “take off your sorrows, angst and anything else that is causing you grief give them to me and leave them there, I will help you”.  And as the scripture says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Mt 11:28-30).  Leave your hole filled with sorrow and come out and trust and believe your Shepherd will do what He says.

Just a thought by coppi

According to a national organization dedicated to the study and aid of mental health, holiday stress is a widespread occurrence that plagues more of the population every year, for more time each year. “Americans are stressed during the holidays, we’ve long known this,” said David Shern, president of Mental Health America. “However, on January 2, when a person may expect the stress let up, they instead find themselves feeling down, physically ill, or anxious. This is because stress takes a serious toll on a person’s overall health—both physical and mental.”And the phenomenon is hardly unique to America. (Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.)

Standish, my deceased husband and who was a surgeon, used to tell me that stress and emotions can affect your physical health.  I totally agree.  I remember in the distressful times in my life, somehow someway my health suffered.  But I was struggling to survive the tsunami that hit my life, I did not have time to be sick.  I usually have very low blood pressure, but during those times my blood pressure was off the charts.  I was put on blood pressure medicine to lower it.  Migraines, I never suffered with them either, but they too showed up.  Issues I never suffered with happened, because I was so strewn out with stress and emotions.  It was not a good time in my life, and I hope never to encounter again.  The lesson I learned was I had to depend on prayer, scriptures, and Jesus.  He guided my life through the storm.  He put good people in my life to help me, and after all the darkness, a glimmer of hope and light broke through and I was able to see the sun.  I try and remove myself from anything that will cause me stress and emotional havoc by making good choices, but I also know I cannot avoid living and things happen but I try and not live under the circumstances.  

2022

Just a thought by coppi’

I was led to believe that doubt is the opposite of faith.

But the older I get, the more I realize that couldn’t be further from the truth. I recently saw an amazing quote from Cole Arthur Riley of @blacklituries that said, “Doubt is not a threat to faith: it’s faith that has finally taken off its mask.” Rachel Denison 6/23/21

“As God’s people, we’ve got to become comfortable with holding doubt and belief in tension. God never once asked us to be anything more than human. He doesn’t even have one unrealistic expectation of us, though we have many for ourselves and others. And when we shy away from the questions, when we hide our truest selves from others and the Father, when we numb out and silence the doubt

within, we are left pretending. We are left stagnant, never moving forward, and we strip our faith of the mystery, beauty, and wonder it was always meant to hold

May you know that you will always be met by love no matter how it is you approach him. You can come before him just as you are.”