Call me clingy

Yesterday I heard two of the best sermons.
Jeff Ivey preached in the morning service on Deuteronomy 30:11-20 and then Chris Plunkett in the evening service shared from Exodus chapter 33.

Both of the messages were right on target for me. 2008 was a hard year for me and yesterday morning before I left for church I prayed that God would give me a fresh word. One that I can ponder in my heart and hold on to. One that would breath a freshness in to these seemingly frail bones.

So as I listened and soaked in the words being shared here's the one verse that resounded in my heart was Deut. 30:20. "that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life..."

This year I want to cling to Him more and know more in 2009 that He is my life.
Without Him there is no life. I want to cling to His Word, His work and His side.
I am not big on New Year's resolutions but this year I want to be BIG on resolving myself to Him, my Creator, Father and King.

What are you looking for in 2009? What is your focus in your walk with God?


His clingy daughter,

Cynthia

Welcome to our world.

Merry Christmas!

Cynthia

Shine Bright

One thing that I really enjoy is to look at all the stars in the night sky.
Although I don't know one constellation from another, I simply love gazing at a sky filled with the tiny glimmers against the black backdrop.

Recently, my family and I was driving home from my husband's home town. We were traveling well after the sun had set and the sky was clear of clouds. The stars were brightly shining. For a long time we would be driving between towns where it was pitch black. The only lights around was what illuminated from our car or the cars that we would occasionally meet.

As I sat in my seat looking up at the sky, I started to think about the star spoken of in the Bible. You know the one that led the shepherd's to the birth place of our King, the one that the wise men followed for a long time (possibly two years) seeking the Christ and the one we remember as we top a Christmas tree.

As traveled further down the road, I looked for the brightest star I could find. Once I found it, I began to see if we would ever come to a place where I felt we were directly underneath it. Do you know I never found that place? The further we drove; that star seemed like it never got closer. It was similar to never being able to find the end of the rainbow.

Doesn't that make you think about that star so very long ago? How did those shepherds and wise men find the exact spot where the star was pointing? How?
Only by the Creator's handiwork could that come about. He is the One that knows that star by name, the One would gave that star the privilege of leading others to His son. He was the One that allowed these seekers to find the exact place the star was pointing to.

We've been told in Daniel 12:3, "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

Are you shining brightly for Him this Christmas?

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Cynthia

Even to cold for the Polar Bears

This morning I pulled myself out of bed to check the weather and to see if school would still be in session.

As I read through the closings, I got the biggest chuckle.
There on the screen in front of me read, "Polar bear plunge canceled due to the weather being to cold." Now that just tickled my funny bone. I mean isn't that part of the reason for it to be called the polar bear plunge.

Just the thought makes me cold. I would never take part in a polar bear plunge because although I like winter I can't stand being cold down to the bone. I've always just shook my head and shivered when someone talked of jumping into cold water. There is only one time it makes sense to me to jump into cold water and that is on a hot 100 degree day.

If you have taken the plunge, my hat is off to you.

Enjoy your day and remember that no matter how cold it is outside a nice chat with Jesus does wonders to warm the heart.

His,

Cynthia

The River of Life

Francis Chan in the book "Crazy Love" writes:
"If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream."

This really jumped off the page when I read it. I don't know about you but when I'm not actively following God it is like I'm being swept downstream.

If you've ever been in a rolling river and lose your footing it can be hard to find a place to regain control. The current presses hard against you and you just keep getting pushed further down river and out of control. It really takes effort to regain your footing and make the trek back to where you were before the slip.

Even if you slip, it is well worth the effort to make the trek of pursuing God.

We watch a lot of Animal Planet and Discovery Channel at our house. Many times I've watch a show about Salmon swimming up stream to lay their eggs. It amazes me how they can get anywhere with that current that is pushing against them. But the ones that are determined, fight and swim with all their might to get to their destination.

When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were not called to a life of luxury or even complacency for that matter. We were called to take up our cross and follow Him. We are called to be determined to swim up stream with all our might to get to our destination.

What's our destination you ask? To be more like Christ!

Don't get swept downstream!
This world bombards us with the ideas of taking the easy way, get rich quick, and it's all about me. Don't let the current of the world sweep you under. Instead swim, ladies, swim. Pursue God with all your might.

While we're strengthening our swim strokes, let's encourage every Sister in Christ to become active pursuers of God and great swimmers with us!


Hosea 6:3

Cynthia