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

Truth is like a lighthouse on a storming, pitch-black night that steers us clear of the feelings that would wreck us.

My friend, Diana’s, father founded the Lighthouse in Riverview, Fl some 63 years ago.  This ministry has steered many women & men from wrecking their lives.  I have gone to some of their graduation ceremonies & have listened to their stories of living on the streets & in the back of a pickup trucks & wherever they could find a place to sleep waiting for the next fix or whatever they are addicted to.  Beautiful young ladies & handsome men with a habit they cannot turn loose of.  Sad; yes indeed.  Many find a way out when led or someone has directed them to the Lighthouse.  They stay in the program eighteen months & then are given the opportunity to continue their education or the ministers of the Lighthouse will help them find work to steer their lives away from slipping back into the world of drugs, etc.  These men/women when leaving the Lighthouse are equipped with the strength of the Lord through studying the Bible, Bible studies, working on the grounds of the ministry, sitting under the tutelage great teachers, etc.  They know evil is out there so they must put on the whole armor of God to protect them.  (Ephesians chapter 6:10-18). Yes, some fall by the wayside but the majority are in the world – “as new wine skins”. One very important ingredient that I have noted in ministries of “a way out” is truthfulness & honesty with yourself & others. You have to admit you are a drug addict, alcoholic, etc.  Truthfulness is very important for healing.  As Jesus said you will know the truth & and the truth will set you free.  “John8:32”. Also He said (John 8:12) “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  The world will leer you but Jesus will steer you.

Proverbs 25:20:  singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.

When the winds blow – whence did it come – no one knows.  When bad news blows in & brings in sickness, pain, financial problems, or whatever you are facing today, do you need someone singing a cheerful song in your ear?  Your heart is heavy overwhelmed with fear, pain, tears, sorrow, & the unknown.   Please don’t overwhelm me with anymore.  I only need you; yes I do.  

Really, that is the cry of many facing a big challenge.

“For out of the insignificant comes the extraordinary.  I am grateful to the one true God who lifted me out of the depths of an ordinary life into an extraordinary depth of understanding about my own worth & value”

When I read the above, I thought of the song “He raised me up” by Josh Groban.  He Jesus, raised me up to more than I could ever be.  I remember Standish, my husband would often sing this song when he was asked to give talks at various organizations.  He sung it with such a compelling feeling, and then He would say “Jesus did this for me”…..yes, Standish, He did it for you, me and many, many others.  He is a God of loves & wants the very best for us.  “Live out of the bag God gave you & you can be everything God wants you to be” – quote: MaxLucado

Just a thought by coppi

Just a thought by coppi

As blind Helen Keller said, “I am only one, but still I

am one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do

something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do.

By unknown author: 

 One SONG can spark a moment,

    One FLOWER can wake the dream,

    One TREE can start a forest,

    One BIRD can herald spring,

    One SMILE begins a friendship,

    One HANDCLASP lifts a soul, 

    One STAR can guide a ship at sea, 

    One WORD can frame the goal, 

    One VOTE can change a nation, 

    One SUNBEAM lights a room, 

    One CANDLE wipes out darkness, 

    One LAUGH will conquer gloom, 

    One STEP must start each journey, 

    One WORD must start a prayer, 

    One HOPE will raise our spirits, 

    One TOUCH can show you care, 

    One VOICE can speak with wisdom, 

    One HEART can know what is true, 

    One LIFE can make a difference. 

May that life be yours.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14)

C.S. Lewis said, “All joy emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings.” As pilgrims on the journey to boundless communion with our heavenly Father, we are called to be marked by a sustaining and transcendent joy. Our God is a God of joy. He is the creator of fun and the giver of abundant life. He longs for his children to taste and see his goodness (Psalm 34:8). He longs for us to open our hearts, cast off the cares of this world, and receive the joy that comes from living for heaven.  Craig Denison 10/31/20

John 10:10. – I have come to give you life more abundantly.

Those who look to God for help experience radiant joy.

Have a joyful day and week….filled with unspeakable joy.!

Corrie ten Boom said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.” All of us will at some point in our lives face unforgivable sins against us or those that we love. We will all wrestle with whether or not we will forgive anyway or not. I have been there and you have likely been there, too.

So, how can you and I live our lives like Jesus? How can we better “rejoice with those who rejoice [and] weep with those who weep?” It all starts with encountering the heart of God ourselves. Only in seeing the incredible compassion and love God has for you will you be able to have his heart for others.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” — Matthew 11:28–30 The Message Bible”.

Mt 7:12- Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law & the prophets.

Mt 7:1-do not judge others, & you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

The standards in the Bible sometimes are difficult to do & my flesh rebels.  Yet again, as I read & re-read the above scriptures, I did note the dos that is required of me, but I also noted they were put there for my good.  If I do to others what I would like them to do for me, that’s for my benefit.  As, if I do not judge others & treat others with disgust, I will will not be judged in the same way.  In the Bible there are standards to live by – some, I will say to myself, I don’t like –  I will throw it out.  But, no, all are there for my benefit – the flesh says I will do it my way; the spirit says yes, Lord, I know your way is right & for my good, I will follow.  Life is full of choices.  Believe me, I have reaped from wrong choices I made; but thank God I have a redeemer, Jesus, who has & will lead me out/through them.  Lord, give me wisdom & knowledge to make the right choices in life.  Thank you for the Bible & it’s directives.

Sent from my iPad

Written in 2015

These little/big challenges in life, which I call my bumps in the road crop up when I least expect them to.  I have the disease of multiple myeloma & so far since 2011 after extensive treatments I have been blessed with the wonderful word ” remission”. Then out of nowhere I hit a bump in the road. My doctor at Shand’s called & said I needed to come see him. He found something suspicious on a MRI I had taken on my shoulder & wants to do more testing.  Another “bump”.  I am now having to take more drips, etc to combat the little bad (devil) cells that want to kill my good (Godly) ones.   Interesting, we live in a fallen world of good & evil  – but, I know from reading the Bible who wins in the end.  I am told in the Bible Eph 6:10-18  – finally be strong in the Lord & His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…I am putting on my armor & standing in HIS mighty power – not mine His!

Praise the Lord, I am in remission again since 2015.

Just a thought by coppi

Mt 5:13 (MSG) let me tell you why you are here.  You’re here to be salt & seasoning that brings out the God flavor of this earth.

Have you ever thought you are doing nothing for the Kingdom of God.  I certainly have.  I guess I was under the impression one must be out evangelizing, giving out tracts, feeding the homeless, – the list goes on & on for me.  True, God has called ones to do exactly that & thank God for them, but when one does works thinking they will win God’s favor it becomes work & not grace.   Everyone has their own calling, and that calling might be a simple smile, hug,encouraging word, prayer, laugh – whatever seasonings that God gives you to brighten another’s heart with His love – maybe just maybe  that’s evangelizing for The Kingdom of God!

Allow God to define your identity & purpose.  Experience the joy & fulfillment that can only be found in wholehearted communion with your Heavenly Father.

When I read the above, my mind drifted back when I was in a grief counseling regarding the death of my husband.  I wanted to fill the void I felt with something, anything to stop the pain.  I remember her words explicitly- “the hole in your heart has to be filled with God, not another person, place or thing”.  I look at our world today with all the activity, movement, & hoopla & I wonder if many are running away from feelings of pain, unhappiness, & whatever’s.  I caught myself saying too many times in my life, “if I run real fast, I will not hurt” & so off I went – activity, activity.  I finally had to stop & smell the roses….i was tired.  I also wanted to have a relationship with the God of the Bible.  To know him for myself.  I wanted that hole filled with Him & not what I thought would fill it.  I have found, for me, that spending time alone with God has filled a big portion of the hole in my heart…..not all, but I have given that hole to him & I am confident that He who began a good work in me will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6).