Apron Strings Devotional for 2/4/98

2/4/98

Good morning....
Jesus loves You!!

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The measure of a man is not what he does on Sunday, but rather who he is Monday through Saturday.

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Good Morning Brethren!

Hope this Wednesday finds you ok. I have something special for you today. Please..read on.

....that you may live worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work...
Colossians 1:10

In Growing Wise in Family Life, Charles R. Swindoll has written: "You know what's helped us in the Swindoll home? To think of where we live as a training place, not a showplace. The home is a laboratory where experiments are tried out. It is a place where life makes up its mind. The home is a place where a child is free to think, to talk, to try out ideas. In a scene like that, God fits very comfortably into the entire conversation. And at any place where His name is inserted, it fits....

"Isn't that comfortable? Ready for a shocker? It's supposed to be comfortable! Christianity is designed for everyday living. Society has made it a 'Sunday religion.' But true-to-life Christianity is designed for Tuesday afternoon just as beautifully as Saturday morning or Sunday evening. Thank goodness, you don't have to dress up for it. It fits after a meal as well as before bedtime."

Christianity is meant to be a spill-over religion---to fill up a person to overflowing. Our faith is meant to spill over into every day of the week, every action we take, every word we speak, and every relationship we have. It's meant to spill over from our hearts to the hearts of others.

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Sometimes I am a thermometer--with all the needs around me, I go down. But we must be thermostats, not thermometers. A thermostat feels coldness and immediately restores the missing heat by bringing the room in contact with the heater. That is what we must do.

Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be,
That they have no heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me."
Elizabeth Cheney

......Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:32

Father, keep us close to Your heart that although we are alert to needs around us, we will not be depressed by what we see, for You make us able to act and help.
Corrie Ten Boom

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THE LEGACY
By Kelly

If you didn't have assurance
that tomorrow you'd be here,
would you waste your day with sadness
or fill it up with cheer?

Perhaps 'tis how we ought to act
each morning when we rise
as if it were the very last.
It might be very wise.

For when we came into this world,
there was no guarantee
how many days we'd have, my friend,
before we ceased to be.

No one really wants to be
a burden in the mind
of all their dearest loved ones
that they have left behind.

If happiness and kindness flow
to all we chance to greet,
then thoughts of us will ever be
"Oh, what a joy to meet"!

Poet's Note: I wrote the poem right after I was born again. I wrote a number of such poems although I had never been a poet. I believe that it was the Lord's way of showing me that He could write through my hands... as He has done ever since.

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Me again..

If it's ok with you, I'd like to throw another challenge in your direction. You are probably thinking at this point..."Come on, Carol, I'm still reeling from the last one!"

I am impressed to share something that the Lord has put on my heart back in '93. July of '93 to be more specific. You see, that was the month that my mom passed away. Those of you that know me already, know this story....but there is one point about it, that bears mentioning again.

I did an article in the "Morning Coffee" last Mother's Day. The Morning Coffee is put out by Bobby Ruff, a.k.a. "Imfreendd" Bobby has allowed me to use his devotional many times as a forum for my "ramblings"...and that has, without a doubt, been a running board for Apron Strings. He and his wife, Tiziana, have been extremely supportive of this ministry...and for that, I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Bless You Guys! \0/

Anyway, the article I am referring to...posed a question. And I would like to pose it again. Here is the question:

"If you knew that you were not going to see your mother, father, husband, child, etc..tomorrow, if you knew without a doubt, that they were not going to be here...How would you treat them? What would you do differently today?" And whatever answer came out of your heart...I would take that, and say..."Do that. Do it today. "

You see, that was something the Lord worked out in my heart back then...and I walked in it...for awhile. Then somehow, I allowed the flesh and the cares of this world to come back and be in charge for awhile...and I lost sight of a valuable pearl.

I know that I know, that I don't have the guarantee of tomorrow...but, honestly, sometimes I act as though I do. I am reminded of a recent incident and it deals with a bad attitude that I took on, in response to something that I didn't agree with...and I allowed my husband to walk out the door, with it unresolved. I had no way of knowing that he was going to come back....safe and sound. But, Praise God he did!! It was God's Grace and Mercy that allowed him to.

You might be thinking..."Carol, you just don't know MY...mother, husband..etc. They are so HARD to deal with." Let me impart to you something the Lord put in my heart after mom died. He showed me that I was "reacting" to HER...instead of being "hidden in Christ."

Col 3:3 3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

You see, I was drawing from my own "righteousness." The Word says that my righteousness is as "filthy rags" <Isaiah 64:6> As we are drawing from the "Well of Life"...as we are being "hidden in Jesus"...and His righteousness...He will put the qualities in our heart...that will enable us to endure difficult times..and difficult PEOPLE. That's why it is soo important to have that intimate time with Him. He is doing "soul surgery" while we are communing with Him.

The point is...my sweet, precious Brethren........Please, don't let bitter words and strife cause a gulf between you and your loved ones. The time is short. We must make amends while the "gittin is good."

Mom just hit the floor with a heart attack. No warning whatsoever. Don't you think....that if I had known...I would have lingered longer in my last moments with her? Instead...I rushed out the door....because I really didn't want to spend any more time with her than I had to. God has really healed my heart in this area. He used His Holy Spirit..and He used time.

Pride is a bitter pill to swallow, but I tell you this. When I look back in retrospect, and see all those things mom used to do that annoyed me...I would welcome them now..because I miss HER.

I know she is with Jesus now...but there are other family members and friends..that are still with me...and at this moment...I still have time to hug them, to kiss them, to tell them I love them.

If you can pick fruit off this tree, please...go ahead. Pick all you want...and go forth and make amends with those that may not be there tomorrow. I know this one is heavy. But I sense it needs to be said. Go to the Father DAILY, and open your heart up to Him...and He will pave the way for you to walk in this direction.

I wrote this right after mom died...July 27, 1993

HE'LL GIVE IT TO US

A new day is dawning; if it's ours, He'll give it to us.
A new sun approaching; if it's ours, He'll give it to us.
A new void needs filling; if it's ours, He'll give it to us.

Too many things we take for granted, too many places we want to see.
too many people we assume we'll encounter.
If it's ours, He'll give it to us.

Time is not certain, Jesus is real.
He's drawing me closer, His presence I feel.

All things work together for good,
He said so in His Word.
The thought of losing Mom so soon, never occurred.

I look into the eyes of my remaining family,
and only in this moment I can voice the words, "I love you."
There's no time for hate, we must cast it aside.
and be there for each other, with arms opened wide.

I find myself calling for Mama now, and Mama's not here.
Dear God, please strengthen me, she was so dear.
I took it for granted that, I would have time to say things to her,
to do things with her, to introduce her to a new grandchild.
I repent for that.

We assume we have time to mend broken relationships,
or to apologize for bitter words.
If it's ours, He'll give it to us...

I love you and God Bless!!

In Christ!!

Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

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