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Showing posts from January, 2018

Equally Black and White

All colors visible in shining light give the appearance of clear, white light. Think about a prism. The rainbow actually creates bright white light. All colors visible in paint give the appearance of a thick black color. Picture a paint pallet. The rainbow actually creates a brown-black blob. I was once told that Christians view things too "black and white." Your either in or out. Heaven or hell. Right or wrong. I've watched people view the world as beautiful, hopeful, and unchanging, believing God can make all things new and completely change ugliness to artwork. Then I've seen those same people start to view the world in such a dim light. Everything seems bleak and hopeless. Satan can use many lies to completely change a mindset. What once appeared bright white, turns dark black. Do the vantage points change over night? Not usually. It's a slow, steady process of numbing, much like fresh fruit  or bread turning sour or stale. That said, what are we doin

Sharpening iron

Iron  is an enigma – it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. 90% of all metal that is refined today is  iron  ( www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/26/iron).  Refinement of metal seems purposeful;  if a knife isn't sharp enough it can actually be more dangerous than a perfectly sharp knife. My kitchen utensils are proof of this enigma.  Sharpening knives keeps them useful.  So it is with a human being. Without the refinement, or straining process, we become useless .  If we seek to live a life with as little change, disturbance,  or strain as possible, we will inevitably render ourselves useless.  We can actually become more dangerous in our lives and our relationships without subtle or major changes. Yet, so often we are seeking peace, comfort, and a waveless life.  When will the weekend arrive; when is the next vacation; when will the kids grow up; when will retirement start?  Because so many of us lack the internal ability to sharpen  ourselves, (b

Royal Service

For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,   I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’   Matthew 25:42-45 Sometimes we know something to be true, but its truth doesn't settle into us as a reality until an epiphany or revelation occurs. In my instance, the epiphany spoke from the Holy Spirit directly to my heart during a time of sincere, self-centered frustration.  I've always known the importance of taking care of the hurt, helpless, homeless, and hungry, but for some reason, I never pictured my children as those people. The ins and outs of motherhood ca