Apron Strings Devotional for12/8/99

12/8/99

Good Morning....
Jesus loves You!!

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Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or it's flames will burn low.
-Henry Ward Beecher-

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Hi Dear Friends!!

I pray this finds you doing well in our Lord Jesus Christ!! And by the way, Merry Christmas!! ( Big ole smile! )

One thing I want to mention before you cut loose into the meaty sections: I added a new portion to Apron Strings, and it was totally impromptu and at the very last minute. It's called "Pics 'n Pans." It will consist of stuff by YOU! ( Didja hear that? )

You guys send me awesome letters, and there may be one sentence or paragraph in there that just jumps right into my heart and I know that it is God speaking to me through you. I suddenly realized that I may be hoarding these nuggets and it is too awesome to do that!

Now, please take note that whatever you send me "personally or in confidence" will not be a part of this. I will ask permission in advance if I see something I would like to use. Well 'nuff said, and see ya at the end!! And do me a favor.. Be BLESSED!! ( smile )

Ps 23:2
...he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Before the advent of the automobile, the horse and buggy was the preferred choice of personal transportation. Once there was a young couple riding home late one even from all day Sunday church when a sudden storm hit. The horse was getting spooked and the dirt road was filling with water, turning to a bog of mud.

This young couple knew they had to get home quickly or risk drowning. The rain was falling in horizontal blinding sheets and they feared a gully washing flash flood. As they raced for home, the young husband, a skilled horseman, held tightly to the reigns guiding his horse towards the haven of home. There was one narrow bridge remaining between them and their farm. Visibility was almost gone but the horse and his master knew the route and trusted each other.

As they approached the bridge, there was water all over the road and the young wife was terrified that the bridge had been washed away. She panicked and grabbed at the reigns trying to stop the horse from attempting to cross the bridge. Her husband wrestled with her for a moment but stopped when she managed to grab hold of one of the reigns. He calmly took her hand and gave her the other reign.

She shrieked because she wasn't the horseman that her husband was and tried to hand back one reign to him. He refused it saying, "Only one of us can drive. Hand me both or you must take us across." She returned the reigns to him and they made it home safely.

Really trusting and resting in God is a lot like this. We invite Jesus to be the Lord of our lives and promise to trust Him. Then pressure and contrary circumstance hit and we panic. We grab at the reigns of our life and try to reassume control. We wrestle for the Lordship of our lives again for fear of what might happen. Our faith in God begins to shake.

God says the same thing to us that the husband said to his wife: Either take both reigns to yourself or hand back what you have attempted to control to God and let him drive. He alone knows where the road is going and can direct you on the path that will finally bring you home to Him.

"Taking The Reigns"
-Author Unknown-
Received from: Curler7@aol.com
Thanks again Glendia!!

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I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God's purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.

-Oswald Chambers-
From: My Utmost For His Highest: Daily Devotional

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I cannot pray "OUR", if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray "FATHER", if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN", if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.

I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME", if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.

I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME", if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.

I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE", if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN", unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's
service here
and now.

I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD", without expending an honest effort for
it, or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread which I receive.

I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS
AGAINST US", if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION", if I deliberately choose to remain in a
situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL", if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.

I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM", if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY", if I am seeking power for myself and
my own glory first.

I cannot pray 'FOREVER AND EVER", if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.

I cannot pray "AMEN", unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY will be done, so let it be.

" But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do: for they think that they shall be
heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your heavenly Father knoweth
what things ye have need of before ye ask Him. -----Matthew 6:7-8

-Author Unknown-
Received from: rwtaylor@graceba.net
Thanks Tammy!

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-Pics 'n Pans-

ALL OF YOU are loved by God... He loves you and he wants to use you to reach this desperate world. A world in urgent need of Love, truth and salvation. A world full of darkness, a people filled with hopelessness...its a sad sight. But God wants to use us to spread light and love and fill the people with joy and restored hearts!!!

-By: SillyLinze@aol.com
Thanks Lindsay!!

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Me again!

Here in south Alabama, there is a tendency for people to make eye contact and say "Hello" in passing. Even a smile is not unheard of during this encounter. There is something so awesome about being the initiator of this gesture. It's like you are blowing on embers that need some air, and before you know it, it sets off a small flame. With a little faith, you could visualize that flame growing and catching other pieces of wood that are about to die down.

During this holiday season we could so easily miss the mark and forget about what is really important. We can get so self-absorbed and worry about every jot and tittle of the less important stuff when there are so many embers around us dying down. Jesus said:

John 10:10
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

That life is given and shared through us, those that have the honor of housing His Holy Spirit. The time is too short to worry about things that are corruptible. The Spirit of God so yearns to operate through us, sharing the Gospel of Jesus.

I remember a story that Patsy Clairmont once shared. ( Now I am paraphrasing here ) She said that her aunt was in a hospital corridor and a woman on a gurney was being wheeled past her. Patsy's aunt said that the Spirit of the Lord spoke to her heart and said, "Take that woman's hand." She argued in her heart and said, "Lord, I can't take that woman's hand. I don't know that woman." Well, the window of opportunity passed and woman was wheeled through the double doors. A short while later, word came out that the woman passed away. Patsy's aunt realized that she was supposed to be the last one to show God's love to that woman on this earth. After this episode, she grieved in her heart and stated through tears, "Now, when the Spirit of the Lord speaks to me and says to take someone's hand, I take their hand, their arm, their neck!"

Jesus gave his life for us. What is the obstacle that keeps us from doing the same thing for Him? Is it fear? He is capable of removing that fear. It is necessary to abide in Him on a daily basis so that we can be in tune with His Spirit. As He becomes more everything else becomes less, INCLUDING fear.

One thing that is so precious about abiding in Christ, is that you will find yourself DESIRING to reach out to others. It's a God-given response to the outpouring of His love into you. If we abide in Christ, and are filled with His love on a daily basis, there is NO way we can contain it!

We can give gifts and money all season long and that is a wonderful gesture. Sometimes it's easier to do that. But, let us not miss the real Gift. If Jesus IS the reason for the season, then I pray that His life's example and His Holy Spirit will convey that reason to the core of our hearts. The truth is, He is the reason for EVERY season.

John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

I think I get it now! "Lord, you love me so much, and you want me to share this love with whoever you put in my path today. Yes Lord. Not my will, but Thy will be done. Please help me to be sensitive to your Spirit today and use me to touch another life. Help me not to pick and choose who it will be. If it is someone that I don't like, please..help me to love them. If it is someone that has offended me, I give the pain to You, so that this offense is not an obstacle. Touch my heart today so that I may touch another. You are not only the reason for the season Lord, you are the reason I wake up every morning. Thank you for loving me. I will share that love today and bless the life of another. What a gift that will be! In Jesus' name, Amen."

God Bless You All!!
And remember..
Jesus loves you and I do too!

In Christ!!
Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

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