Study with Sara

Resentment
brings______________? Does Resentment make you feel offended or aggrieved? Does Resentment give you a dose of bitterness? If so, watch out you may be in for some troubles according to Hebrews 12:15: “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many..
At times I feel aggrieved when I see a lack of integrity, or dishonesty, from others and or myself. I stand in my own circle and think, why in the world are they or me wasting time being of such character? Why? This is not to even mention the chaos in one’s mind when a politician proves to have no integrity after spending so much of their time making a hullabaloo over how great their character is, when it isn’t.
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Jesus Our Anchor still holds Jesus Our Anchor Still Holds

Today, Tomorrow, and Always
I have had a friend who for many years has so touched my life by her caring hands. When I came to visit I felt like a queen. Towels and soaps neatly folded. Music at my fingertips. Beauty everywhere with books of interest to me and scattered dolls and stuffed animals with tole painting here and there. I was like a small child with delights all about. It seemed like each article was placed just for me. Breakfast was always made and served on a tray. No matter what I was going through – death of parents – problems with health – problems on the home front – all where washed away with the visit. Yes – healing in the hand of the person who ministered to me – healing for my whole being.

This week, I thought of all the many things that person had done and how I had even been able to breath in the aromas of her house long after I had left and returned home. Somehow those visits sustained me. The life giving words spoken of Jesus’ way strengthened me year in and year out.

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Jesus Our Anchor Still Holds”

“On the Wings of Heroes”

I just finished reading “On the Wings of Heroes” written by Richard Peck. As my Dad, named Bill, had fought in World War II and often talked about his life on the farm and the times of that period, memories flooded back as the author descriptions unfolded. The story concentrated on those who were left behind while their sons or fathers/husbands went off to war. The times were really tough and the people on the home front had to make many sacrifices while they waited to hear from loved ones fighting abroad. Everything was rationed. The boy in the story worked hard to gather papers and metal for the war effort. When his brother Bill came home from the war on leave, he tried to model him stride for stride for Bill was his hero. His Dad had fought in World War I and had hurt his shoulder and years later still had to have it iced from the pain.

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Christ is Risen

Matt 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Matt 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Palm Sunday and Easter is a holiday when people think of the Easter bunny, decorating eggs, and maybe dressing up in a new outfit and going to church. What do you think of when you think of Palm Sunday which is tomorrow? Or, Easter, which is Sunday, March 23?

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Mary and Martha / Book or Broom

This year in reading through the bible with a checking off of the scriptures in a booklet prepared by Gary I decided to read Max Lucado’s Devotional Bible. I was reading in Luke 10 when I came across Max Lucado’s insight into Mary and Martha. He says Mary had thoughts to think and Martha had things to do. Is that any of us? Guilty of picking up that broom and off you go! Yes!

Pastedgraphic-11

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My Book Review-Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break is a book that I just finished reading by Lensey Namioka. It tells about a young girl who decided to stand up against a century old custom of having feet bound. As a result of her stance, her engagement was broken off. No engagement for a girl who wouldn’t consent to her feet being bound. She then went on to a missionary school where she learned English with the hopes of becoming a teacher. Very few Chinese women ever became teachers. When her father died of tuberculosis her uncle gave her three choices, none of which she liked and it certainly didn’t include finishing school. She ran away and went to work taking care of two missionary children. She became a fine teacher and later moved to America never to see her family again.

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Sing a hymn with me

After our gospel lesson at Christ C. International on Luke 10 this morning I was asked to read Oh Zion, Haste. As our team huddled in prayer before the service praying for this glorious web site, I could not help to think that God knew long ago of the site and placed the words in the heart and soul of Mary A. Thomson in 1868. I thought you the reading audience would enjoy reading it as well. If you have any doubt of sharing your love for Jesus to touch others in the nations, read the hymn again.

O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
To tell to all the world that God is light,
That He who made all nations is not willing
One soul should perish, lost in shades of night.

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Giving Seasons

I suppose the “giving seasons” are officially over….like Christmas and Valentine’s Day and I would venture to guess that many people heave a sigh of relief. Like relief from searching for the right gift for the right (or wrong) person. Like anxiousness over budgets and expenses. And many of us say that we are just not going to go all out with giving and and presenting , anymore! Plus, we get myriads of pleas in the mail for missions and soup kitchens and children’s disease funds and Girl Scout Cookies with precious little pumpkins looking innocently into your narrowing eyes, their big eyes pleading with you to please buy their wares. Do we need MORE cookies? Of course not, but who can resist these virtuous little entrepreneurs?

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POP-UP Art

I am not a Shakespearian by any means. But, at times while struggling to read Shakespeare, there would be a ‘pop up’ that my mind would believe he wrote just for me.
His words would shake and spear my soul. One of my very favorites always sounds loudly in my ears, “…it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” (Macbeth-Shakespeare)
One of my ears would hear Shakespeare and one of my ears would hear Jesus as recorded by Matthew…
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)

Read this Passage from the Message with me, “You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” (Matthew 12:34 -37)

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