tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35250698053482339742024-03-12T15:59:57.190-07:00Rebecca Wills RobinsonRebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-51907378963069996832023-12-11T14:30:00.000-08:002023-12-11T14:36:20.927-08:00After the Parade<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What happens after the parade? Book Launch is
over. Five years have been spent writing, editing, rewriting, and more editing.
Hopefully and prayerfully, I have put out a product that will do what it was
meant to do. That is, to do more than entertain the avid reader. It was meant to
direct the reader to think about the characters within the books in relation to
their own lives and the struggles which they may be going through or went
through. Is there a positive message within the books which will give one
person a little hope to continue in their faith or maybe make a life change,
freeing themselves from the things that bind? If the answer is yes, then I have
accomplished what I set out to do. I have no aspirations of saving the world
through these books; The Savior Christ Jesus is the only one who can do that.
I did want to implement a biblical message within my books because I truly
believe that the bible is the inspired word of God. When we try to follow the
biblical teachings, I honestly believe we can live better lives. I'm not going
to give a sermon on that today. <o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
Writing these books called me to walk a fine
line. The topics within my books are about emotional and painful issues of which many people
can relate. Much healing is needed to overcome such experiences as the topics intertwined throughout my books, whether they are bad experiences from
our past or in the present. I cannot apologize for
attempting to write in a descriptive manner as to paint a realistic picture in
a fiction story. These are adult topics for the young adult and older. They are
not Mary Poppin books. Each book in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Narrow Road Series</i> is meant to help the reader experience some
healing which may pertain to any individual need. They are meant for the young
twenty year old who is sitting in a one room rental, smoking crack and addicted
to drugs, deceived into thinking that this is the only lifestyle they can ever have. The Narrow Road Series of books are for women who have been emotionally and physically abused
or even raped. They are for those who are coping with infidelity within their
relationships. Real topics for real people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Some people may even be offended by some of my descriptive phrases which I have woven into the storyline as to bring the reader to the same place as the characters. It is easy to be offended when we allow our imaginations to interpret more than is written. One person may look at someone swimming naked and see it as sinful. Another, may look at it and see it as pure, natural or innocent.<o:p> It all depends on the mindset of the person reading the story.</o:p><br />
<br />
I like to think of these books being like a small branch extended to the youth of today. Danger, deception and difficulties are pulling us in many different directions. In our modern day society, biblical values are being slowly chipped away. My books are subtle reminders to hold onto these values because they give wise guidance. </span><br />
Do you need to find freedom from an addiction? Do you find it difficult to accept who you are, what you have done in the past and move forward? Are you holding onto unforgiveness toward someone who has hurt you deeply? Do you feel like you have a cancerous tumor sitting in the pit of your stomach ready to explode? Perhaps you feel little self-worth, not relevant to this world or to anyone? If only for a second, you had to think about the answers to my questions, then you will relate to the topics and the characters within <em>The Narrow Road Series</em>. There is a God message within each book waiting for someone. Maybe that message is for you? <br />
<br />
Check out the Narrow Road Series:<br />
<br />
Roseway the Road that Never Ends<br />
Ripley the Road to Acceptance<br />
Jenn the Road of Sacrifice<div>Joseph the Mountain Road <br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now after the parade, I'm sure; I will listen to
the reviews, good or bad and I will learn from the experience of writing these
four fiction books. If one life is changed for the better by the story lines
within these books, then I will have reached my goal.</div></div>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-55887076280967248962021-07-22T12:16:00.004-07:002021-07-23T06:32:55.863-07:00Turning Back the Clock<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVfV-MHVbfJ6-N32-nrcRgJKZcN9lNvSbMsitxU_U7Cu9P1bBRfDN1JbtpNPlifJtKJpQv2DR91FbrnaPuY0w16PV819OnJEB9A5hBRXqlQhTu-pqbe0EojtvCtGytlH7LnfM_I4enQdc/s960/220719810_10159723711417090_8869575572571147805_n.jpg" style="background-color: #3d85c6; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cooks Bay, Ontario" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVfV-MHVbfJ6-N32-nrcRgJKZcN9lNvSbMsitxU_U7Cu9P1bBRfDN1JbtpNPlifJtKJpQv2DR91FbrnaPuY0w16PV819OnJEB9A5hBRXqlQhTu-pqbe0EojtvCtGytlH7LnfM_I4enQdc/w240-h320/220719810_10159723711417090_8869575572571147805_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> <span><span face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Can we turn back the clock?</b></span><span style="color: #1d2228;"> </span></span></span></span></span><div><span><span face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Seems like a silly question because the answer is an obvious NO! I can only speak for myself because in my mind, I tend to turn back the clock by reminiscing about my childhood. Many memories can bring joy for a brief moment: Memories bring loved ones back to life who are no longer here with us. So many people are gone. They live within our heart and minds. I confess it brings me some kind of momentary peace to think of a memory, smile at that memory. However, there is lingering sadness that it was just a memory and nothing can bring them back. I can sit in my alone time and talk to God, and allow my mind to wander off. Having a relationship with Jesus, my Saviour, I can understand that He is the only one who truly knows all about my memories. He knows all about me and He knows all about you in the same way God knows our comings and our goings, when we rise and when we sit. He knows our thoughts from afar. He knows who I am.</span></span></div><p></p><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Yesterday, I had the blessing of going out in a kayak with my husband. He paddled his kayak and I paddled mine. Together we created another moment in time. We put the kayaks in the water at an old swimming hole from where I lived as a child. Upon arriving, I immediately recognized the smell of the seaweed strewn along the shore. Of course, I noticed the changes to the landscape from then to present day. Today, there are newly built, big modern houses that replace the little bungalow cottages which once lined the Lake Drive road. A road that used to get so hot in the summer that the tar would melt and burn the bottom of our feet. The alternative was peddling our bikes.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">The little harbour we used to swim in, now seems less wide than it did then. Not as deep as it was when we were 10 years old and swam across the channel to reach the big wall on the other side. At that time it seemed to be a big deal to swim to the wall and back without drowning. It was a place we truly lived life and enjoyed so many freedoms. I never knew any different. To be blessed to live where I lived having all the ability to enjoy having the lake as our backyard. I could go out in a boat, swim, fish any time I wanted. I didn't have to pay for the fun. Although my parents worked hard for us to live at a summer resort renting boats and cabins. Customers always coming and going.<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Now, 50 years later, I returned the bay and had to pay for parking to put my little kayak in the water. Ding, ding another wake up call. LOL! Yesterday, I found myself turning back the clock. As I paddled over each big wave, so many memories flooded my mind. The water was choppy and rough with white caps. Back in the day, that is how we would have described the waves. As we paddled toward the weed-bed, I couldn't help but allow my mind to go back to a time when I drove that old aluminum boat with the six horsepower engine on the back. Full throttle, the boat hitting each wave while trying to keep up with my brother Terry who was driving his boat in front of me. We weaved a path through the weeds turning the boat from one turn to the next. Our hair was blowing in the wind and our faces wore a smile from ear to ear. That was one of many memories.<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Paddling a kayak, the pace is somewhat slower than it was when we pounded those aluminum boats through the waves. Slower, more graceful, quiet, tranquil. Within the quietness we noticed a jungle of different birds living in that weed-bed. Everything from ducks, swallows, cranes, swans. The Lilly pads covered the calm waters with white flowers meticulously planted amongst the bright greens, water and bulrushes. It was awe inspiring. To be sure it is God's majestic hand at work.<br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">Like a dry sponge falling into a lake, I soaked up every moment, each breath of the fresh air, the sounds and sights all around. The waves of yesterday, folding over and over, one after another like the memories within my mind. The overwhelming senses tantalized by the air, the water, wind and it's caresses. As the water dripped from my paddle down my arm and the waves dispersed it's splashes over me, I felt like I was being washed by my Father God's hand. The flood of emotions swept over me with such gratitude to God. I couldn't help but verbally praise God, tears streaming down my face, mixing with the splashes from the waves. I thanked God again and again for giving me another moment in time, to be able to revisit my childhood even if only for a couple of hours. I praised Him, feeling blessed once again to embrace the wonder of yesterday - </span><span face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228;">today</span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">. A continuous roll of the waves pushed me over the water, along with the synchronized strokes of my paddle toward a place I once called home. There was a new dock waiting in place of where the old shaky dock once stood. Most years the dock had to be rebuilt every spring, by a band together of family and friends: A dock that represents many a wet footprints over the years. If a dock could talk, a book of stories could be written. A</span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"> memory my mother shared with me comes to mind. </span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">She tried not to laugh as she told me the story. </span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">Oh, how bad she felt for poor Mable. </span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">Mable, was dressed in her Sunday best and her nice white hair looked so lovely as she walked along the dock. Before anyone could notice our dog walk by her and </span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">knocked Mable right off the dock by</span><span face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> sending her right in the middle of dead fish and seaweed. I'm sure many could tell a story about that dock: The first kiss, the moonlit skinny dip, the string of fish along with the stories told as fishermen pulled up in there boat with a full string of fish or t he story of the child saved from drowning. Chapters could be written. I have my own memories which come to my mind. There are many cherished times as children. A place where we swam for hours, diving over the white crests of the waves, throwing seaweed at each other while laughing and just having so much fun.</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">That being said, I was compelled to take my little kayak to that time and place once again. I tied it to a dock that was no longer my own. I got out and slipped myself into the water. <i>For a moment I was back 50 years in time - swimming with my grandfather, who dove off that dock at the age of 89. I went under the water like one being baptized again. For a few moments in time, I was swimming with my friends, Billy and Tommy. I was swimming beside my mom and dad as they did the dog paddle. I was swimming with my brothers, sister in-laws, and cousins. Though the boats no longer sit in their stalls and bang against the dock, for a brief moment I refreshed in the waters of childhood and soaked it all in. Then I pulled myself up on this stranger's dock and got back into my little kayak, came back into this time of 2021. </i>A time, I could never have imagined as that ten year old child. As a child, 2021 seemed like a century away. In reality within what seems like a blink of an eye, it is a half century since then. Time has changed many, many things. In reality, I can't turn back the clock. I can look ahead and enjoy this day. Even as I write this blog a day later, I cannot relive yesterday but can enjoy today. We can only hope there is a tomorrow. More important is that the times are a changing. The simplicity of then, to now, is gone. The world seems to be going down a different rabbit hole that make less sense every day. That can be depressing if we allow ourselves to go there. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: white;">There is a hope and future</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span><b><span style="color: #666666;">Far</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: #1d2228;">beyond our imagination or our memories of the past. It is a hope that God offers to all of us. This time on earth is written like a scroll,</span><span style="color: #1d2228;"> to be read and understood. The time we are given to live on this place we call earth, is a time to get to know the Creator, the Messiah, Christ Jesus our Saviour. He is our hope for today and eternity. He calms waters and the storms of life. He wants to be in that kayak with us. This is a time to connect us to the eternal.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">It makes me think about eternity and heaven. Life after this world. Not that I am so heavenly minded I am no earthly good. In reality, who does not want to have an assurance and a hope of something even more amazing to look forward to when we pass from here to there? I sure don't want to perish. God does not want any to perish but all to receive the gift He offers through the Son Jesus. The gift of eternal life for those who believe. Is it so hard to believe or receive such a gift? Not really. God has revealed his mysteries to us in so many ways (Bible). Clearly the Old Testament prophesies have been fulfilled by the Son of God, Jesus. There are some New Testament prophecies still to be fulfilled. The Return of Jesus is one. There are others. That is why I have embraced Jesus and His gift of salvation. He died for me and my sins. He took my punishment which is death. Why? So I could have life in Him. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">If I could escape for two hours yesterday and lose myself within a weed-bed and see some of God's creation on a different level, it only makes me wonder how amazing Heaven must be, how marvelous this place that Jesus said He is preparing for us who seek Him and answer His calling to follow Him there. I can only hope and pray to my Heavenly Father, that He forgives my transgressions, grants me salvation and redeems my soul, to enter into His paradise for eternity, in a place where neither rust nor moth will destroy and where no one grows old or dies anymore. I pray, He leads me in the way everlasting and beside the still waters. If those still waters I floated through yesterday are any indication take me to the river of life. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, and He is the gate to get entrance to that place where there is no need or want to turn back the clock. Jesus is coming back one day for those who believe. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open. May the Lord by His Holy Spirit bless you and pour out upon you and also lead you through each day. God Bless!</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Click on the song below. It is beautiful. Be Blessed.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GGFb6LcX3U" target="_blank">Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)</a><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div></div>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-62443529398827094722021-06-05T11:32:00.000-07:002021-06-05T11:32:26.980-07:00<p> I was talking to a friend today and she mentioned a conversation that Nicodemus and Jesus had. How Jesus told him that his battle is not with Rome. It struck me quite profoundly. Because I have felt like I have been battling with my own Rome. Battling with the world and all the corruption, lies, the overwhelming changes taking place which come against Christians, against God, and against His Word, the teaching of Christ Jesus. Each day I only get more angry. So many messages and just so much sin infiltrating our daily lives. What is sin?</p><div dir="ltr">Sin - an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law: a sin in the eyes of God/the human capacity for sin. An act regarded as a serious or regrettable fault, offence, or omission: he committed the unforgivable sin by rejecting His plan for salvation.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">The ways of the world have a tendency to draw us toward sinful behavior, away from what God instructed His people from the very beginning of Creation. After the fall of Adam and Eve, their sinful choice of disobedience and pride, birth was given to a sin nature which has gripped humanity with what is called the flesh. (Ephesians 2:2,3 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts.")<br /></div><div dir="ltr">We tend to be drawn by many worldly desires. Daily we are being bombarded from every direction.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">For centuries since Satan tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, Satan continues to use temptation to fight God, as he also tempted Jesus and using the same tactics and temptations on us today. We can learn from how Jesus responded using the same weapon that Satan the devil used to tempt Jesus. Jesus used the sword of God's Word to rebuke the devil.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Matthew 4<br /></div><div dir="ltr">4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">“‘He will command his angels concerning you,<br /></div><div dir="ltr">and they will lift you up in their hands,<br /></div><div dir="ltr">so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”<br /></div><div dir="ltr">7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">It goes against the answer Jesus gave back to him in verse 4,7,10. "<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">There are many instances where Jesus instructed us to pray and not fall into temptation. Jesus knows the battle that we would have to fight for generations to come. The battle against a worthy adversary, who seems to exist and has been allowed to run a muck throughout this earth with the sole purpose of destroying our souls. His weapon is mostly the lies he tells us as to kill our lives, destroy our faith in the one who can give eternal life. There are reasons why Jesus tells us:<br /></div><div dir="ltr">Matthew 38 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">All this being said, there are many things which can consume our thoughts, and they influence our actions good or bad. I have felt myself slowing changing from a fairly mild and meek, person into a ravenous lion at times. I have felt the anger in me grow like a fire out of control at times. You know how a fire burns nice and steady with a flickering flame and then when gas is thrown on it, it turns into a blazing bush fire. In the time since Covid began like a slow fade I began to lose the inspired passion that used to shine in my eyes. The joy of life at times felt quenched. It reminds me of a glass of pop with a little sip left at the bottom. The glass never made it back into the dish-water for a cleansing. So it sat on that forgotten shelf and the pop turned hard and stuck to the bottom of the cup.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Today, when that friend prayed for me, I was like a ripe old prune shriveling and ready to fall off the branch. From time to time in the past year, my prayers had been a spontaneous reaction to whatever the need. God does not leave us even when leave Him our of our life equation. However, we may reap the consequence of what we sow. Suddenly, her prayer was watering that prune. As she prayed, I realized that everything I have been doing and saying was my way of venting or fighting the battle without God's Spirit leading me on. I was taking years of bottled up emotions, anger, rejections and turning them into a method of releasing all my frustrations onto an open forum for the world to read. Thinking that I needed to be the world's Savior trying to be the one warrior who would speak up when everyone else seemed so silent and uninterested in what is going on. The lie had become my truth. The truth is, I am not Jesus, and I am no one's Savior. I could never be that. There is truly only one Savior and He is Jesus Christ. That is my truth. Truth without love is no truth. Truth that is mean, arrogant or without grace or mercy is no truth. Truth is Christ. He is the Way the Truth and the Life. Truth sets us free when we pray to him and lay all our burdens down at his feet. Truth helps us to help others pick up that cross when they are too weak to pick it up themselves. It is okay to be a lion if the Lord is the one holding onto your mane. The lion of Judah, in me, speaking by the Spirit and glorifying God in whatever we do. Sadly, in my attempt to speak an opinion whether right or wrong it is how you speak and that is why many Christian's keep a reign on their own tongue.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">The message of this world is all about speaking your truth. Many who have read my posts would say, my truth is not their truth. The danger in any one of us giving such power to our truth is that it may not be God's truth. That is a dangerous mountain to fall off of. It is a hard climb back up that mountain. That is my Rome and that is my battle.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"> </div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">What Rome are you fighting? I don't think I am the only one in a battle of some sort. Solomon said in Ecclesiastics there is A Time for Everything- <a href="https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes 3:1-8" target="_blank">https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes 3:1-8</a> </div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Someone has to fight the fight. This is true. We can't be fighting the battles that belong to the Lord. We can only shine His light and speak when He directs us to do so. In the process of a Spiritual battle it is best to have an army of prayer warriors behind you. No weapon formed against you will prosper. Any battles done in the Bible had God's army along side and God was the Commander and Chief. We should not expect help from God when the war is not ours to fight as much as it is God's battle to win. It is easy to forget that God is in control. God is all powerful. God has a plan far beyond what my feeble little mind can even comprehend. I have been like Nicodemus, a Pharisee. He knew the Jewish rulings and council and Old Testament teachings yet he never truly understood the fulfillment of the Scriptures when Christ Jesus sat right in front of him having a conversation with him.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">It was no coincidence that Jesus met with him and began to teach him about the Kingdom of God which is far greater than the Roman Empire. So, the scales I have been wearing on my eyes for the last little while are slowly being removed. Like Nicodemus I am familiar with the scriptures. Knowing them is one thing, but even the devil knows the scriptures. Living them is another thing. So many times, I have been reminded over the last couple of years that our battle is not against flesh and blood, it is against the powers of darkness. But I put that scripture on the back shelf, so to speak.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">The Bible reference I am talking about is from the book of Ephesians. 6:10 ("Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.")<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Seems like the message below is more applicable to everything I have just spoken of. If it does not speak to anyone else, it surely speaks to me. I am convicted.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Instructions for Christian Living<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.<br /></div><div dir="ltr">20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.</div><div dir="ltr">25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.</div><div dir="ltr">29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">MAY GOD FORGIVE ME AND MAY ALL THOSE WHO I OFFENDED FORGIVE ME ALSO.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">So, summing up my long awaited blog. Let us contemplate the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus. Because this is a conversation Jesus is having to all of us also.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Jesus Teaches Nicodemus<br /></div><div dir="ltr">John 3 - New International Version</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”<br /></div><div dir="ltr">3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”</div><div dir="ltr">4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”</div><div dir="ltr">5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.<br /></div><div dir="ltr">Biblegateway.com<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Our Father who is in Heaven, Holy is your Name. Let you Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us. Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, forever and ever. Amen.<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Thank you for your grace and mercy and the forgiveness of my sins through your Son's death the redemption (the action of saving us from the penalty of our sin, error, evil ways, and for giving us the opportunity to have life eternal when we deserve the penalty for our sins (death). “in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,—in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, unto the praise of his glory.”<br /></div><div dir="ltr">Ephesians 1:13-14 ASV<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">You died to give life paying the penalty for those who repent and believe. Praise be to Jesus. Amen!<br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LfFwwc_2Bhg" width="320" youtube-src-id="LfFwwc_2Bhg"></iframe></div><br /><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /></div>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-80496071831509830232021-04-09T09:15:00.000-07:002021-04-09T09:15:24.753-07:00Obituary<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. Until 1982, July 1 was celebrated as "Dominion Day" to commemorate the day that Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Today it is officially known as Canada Day."</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to her. Born in 1867, she lived a wonderful life for generations. She possessed the qualities of the new world - a world that flowed with milk and honey. Adorned with the greenery of the tall pines of British Columbia, her jewelry box always full. Her dresses were made of the magnificent blues with shades of the Great Lakes, small lakes, mixed in about the colours of the Canadian Shield. She made her dresses from resources found within the mountains of splendor from Alberta and British Columbia. Her hair dances like the wheat fields of the Grande Prairies.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">She spent many years sharing generously. Many families immigrated, to live on her homestead. Young men went to battle against the evils in past world wars to prevent those whom would try to harm this free, dear lady of peace, love and beauty. They would not allow others to come and steal away her riches. The yarns she weaved, spread out like a carpet draped across her body to be shared and traded for the world to enjoy.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Others desired all she had to offer. They would come from far and wide, from one country to the next. Every race and creed, journeyed across oceans in their quest to enjoy her beauty and the freedoms she offered. Sadly, many died in the battles. Gallant Men raised their weapons. Some worked, building the railroads while others built big cities.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sicknesses also took the lives of many early settlers who came to her land. For a century, many have enjoyed the sacrifices of those long gone. The flag stood tall in remembrance and an anthem of song sung in unity, a prayer for her, 'God keep our land glorious and free. We stand on guard for thee.' This land, she shared with all, from her early native settlers who for generations lived off her bounty.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Time would tell the rest of her story. The infrastructure grew and covered her land. Over time, the people who dwelled on her land slowly took all she had given them for granted. They forgot the hardships which the first early pioneers endured to reach those destinations and build a homestead - forgetting the tyranny many of them fled from to come and stay in her land.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The ebbs within time, took it's toll on her beauty as she aged. The citizens who once took great care and patriotism, slowly fell asleep in the cooking pot of socialism, <i>"(in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of communism."</i> chiseling away her freedoms like a disease, afflicting years of character. She lived a good life. However, today she has past and no one stood by her bedside, or fought for her freedoms. Thus she died of neglect and a broken heart. The anthem is no longer adhered to. The flag sits frayed and faded, half staff.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sadly we say good by to this beautiful Canada. The land once flowing with milk and honey. She began her journey raised on Christian values. Now her churches are chained, closed and fenced. Lines of draught now cover her once beautiful face as she awaits the grave. A remnant of patriots try to fight. The powers of a totalitarian government hold the future in their hands.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Challenges of the past years can still turn back to victory. Will an army rise to defend her once again to sing together in unity an anthem to keep the garments of rights and freedoms. Remember the dead and live again. Raise her from the grave, for all to enjoy for centuries to come. <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-50350839009174995692021-02-03T07:09:00.001-08:002021-02-03T07:32:50.594-08:00Explosion of Thoughts<p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-size: 13px;">Christian music is playing in the background songs with messages of salvation - Jesus, hope, and songs with prayers. I think, now would be a great time for prayer. The other day was Bell let's talk day. A day when people can talk about their mental health issues. Why do they call it that? For most people it is depression. Why are so many people depressed? There are many reasons. Sometimes, it would seem there is no reason at all. or an unbalance of chemicals in the brain?? For me, depression feels like a dormant lump that sits in the pit of my stomach. There are triggers or certain keys that unlock that door awakening the monster of emotions.</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Simply, I believe people really do need to talk and not once a year. Even more, is the need for someone to listen and truly care. We live in a time that suppresses free speech. If you do say what you really think, the verbal backlash comes like a pack of starving wolves waiting to devour it's prey. I heard that depression is really bottled up anger suppressed. Bottled up anger from a lifetime of rejection, grief, loss, confinement of some sort, loneliness, hurt, insecurity, emotional or physical abuse. I'm sure the list of reasons go on and on.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We live in a digital age of computer APPs, TO GENERATE A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so many others. People don't talk to one another anymore and if they do, they haven't learned the art of listening. What would the answer be if we asked ourselves, 'who did I talk to today person to person?' The answer may be, no one. We live in an age of thumbs up, happy faces, angry faces, rolling eyes and sometimes a little dialogue on messenger. Problem with that is, it is so easy to say things you would not say to a person if they were face-to-face. There is so much room for misinterpretation. Not all dialogue goes in the right direction. These platforms offer little substance of truth. A person may have three hundred Facebook friends and even family members, yet on a day when they are feeling like dying, there is not one of them he/she would reach out to for help or conversation. I wonder why? Perhaps it is fear? Not wanting to bother someone or look weak? Heaven forbid we don't have it all together especially if you claim to be a Christian. or Is it that we don't think anyone cares or would understand? </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is true that with so many changes going on in the world, there is so much division. It would seem there is either one way or another. It is difficult to find the middle ground. There is little bending of the branches. This is a sad reality of how the sign of the times has changed the true meaning of relationships. I find most people ignore you, snooze you, or even delete you from their Facebook because what you post offends them. They realize by what you post, you really have little in common. Your views are totally opposite. At a click of the button you are erased.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For a virtual computer game that would be normal. The new normal is not normal and the old normal already had many flaws. Behind the click on the keypad is a real person. Someone you may have once shared a wonderful real friendship. Others may be acquaintances, people you may have met in public school but you don't know anything more about them than, that they sat in the desk beside you during history class fifty years ago. One can even scroll through comments and find a new friendship with a complete stranger who thinks just like you do. A soul mate from another dimension? Zoom relationships, face times are now means of trying to regain a connection during these times of lockdowns. For someone like me, there is still something unnatural about it. From beginning of time - to it's end, the human race has needed person - person conversation, not virtual hugs and prayers. People need to feel connected, loved, valued, appreciated and heard. People need purpose. Just that one thumbs up can be enough encouragement to help that person live through another day.<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The days of looking in someone's eyes as they tell a story or notice a smile light up a face in response to something silly they said, is fading away like an old black and white movie coming to an end. Up come the credits with a crescendo and the words, 'The End'. We miss out on each other's quirkiness and the essence of real connection easily gets lost in cyberspace along with the translation. In a new era of computer generated relationships. iPhones can take pictures that makes you look like a professional photographer. With a tap of the finger, I can easily photo shop a new face in place of the aging one staring back at me in the mirror each morning. Not that it matters what we look like because everyone has their faces masked now. I often smile at someone in a store, but then realize they can't see my smile. The fake smile hidden behind the mask when you really want to rip it off you face and breathe. Then echoing in in the background noise are the people who just disregard how you might feel and say things, like, "don't be selfish and where the . . . mask."</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A year of lockdowns does not help build real relationships. It does the opposite. People scroll through the pages staring at a little black device watching one video after another or reading everyone's comments. Relationships become public entertainment for the world to hear your thoughts. They interpret them however they perceive them. Reply and attack. Everyone has an opinion and the world in all it's craziness leads one to conclude the world will end soon in one way or another. People get drawn in, caught by a collage of thoughts and believe everything they hear on whichever spectrum of the pendulum they lean toward. Other's can't handle the stress of politicized debates between the two. They would be the ones to post a song with a message asking "Where is the love?" Or a funny video or a picture of Buda eating cheese cake. One side thinks they know truth and if you have another view, you are a conspiracy theorist or in a cult. Do those so called conspiracy theories have more truth in them than what is heard on the daily regurgitated news? Some say yes and others laugh and mock. Just another reason to put you down. Everyday we hear the same Covid -19 numbers, fears, mandates controlling our lives. It is more like counting straws after you drop a box on the floor and count them as you pick them up, day after day for more than 365 days. If you count them enough times, you believe the sky is purple and not blue. Soon it won't matter because they are banning plastic straws so the world can be greener. The world is spinning out of control, drifting into a new galaxy of insanity and who can keep up? So, what day is it anyway, because I don't even know anymore. Every day is the same as the one before. Like a bad rerun. </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Just shoot me. Pass the euthanasia bill again so on a bad day, people can take the easy exit. (Not) Debbie downer or am I the new Karen who appears to have lost all sight of any good, overwhelmed by the bad? The joke of the day? I can't find the love or the joy of self. It appears, I only help to fuel the same foreboding emotions to others. In doing so they also only see my lack of empathy, love, joy and the Spirit that once enveloped me. Yes, it is easy to see the change in someone and even easier to add to an already wounded spirit. It is about now I would write a sermon and some scripture to raise others out of this kind of thinking. It is easy to speak the words of all wisdom from the Bible to others. Easy to preach to the congregation. How can I do that unless I preach it to myself first. Seek God on bended knees and cry out to Him for help like I have done so many times in my life. He is the lifeline. NO One else can make a person take hold of that lifeline. It is something we each have to do for ourselves. </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Saturday, I laid on the couch with a blanket and all I wanted is for God to take me away. I wanted to die. That is the truth. I have experienced suicides in my family, friends, and neighbors. There have been times, I related a little to the absolute feeling of such darkness. There are actually many reasons. That Saturday, all I wanted was to die as I asked God to take me. Then, one little ding on my iPhone awoke me from my slumber. A message with an attached picture of an adorable smiling face. One of our little blessings, David, our third grandchild. Attached was a message from my daughter with a love icon and an interest in what I was doing? I knew my state of mind was not good. I wasn't going to call her, but I did. I poured out my heart and as I did, it slowly began to melt once again from the ice cold stone it had become. Days later I know, I don't really want to die. Like many we just want that feeling of sadness to go away.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So, to those who feel insulted by my opposing views. I'm sorry. We all have to care more about what God thinks. What God thinks is more important than what other people think. I'm working on it too. It is my prayer that all who suffer with these same problems - emotionally, physically, will seek God who is truly the only one who can light a fire in us, rekindle an old flame. I pray He does exactly that. Light a fire of love, compassion, empathy, care, understanding and His wisdom. "His" name is Jesus. Our only Savior, healer, redeemer, our righteousness full of Grace and Mercy. He is the God of all understanding and Love. He knows our every thought and burden. He can transform the darkest blot into a wonderful display of light. That is my bell let's talk moment. I have to wonder, how many read to the end? Next year, we will talk again on the next Bell let's talk. I'll email you.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Until then pray for me as we pray for one another. Amen</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F9hetEFcjGM" width="320" youtube-src-id="F9hetEFcjGM"></iframe></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-49661314885690511252021-01-01T08:18:00.211-08:002021-01-03T10:07:33.495-08:00Here is to 2021<p><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"> Happy New Year</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I told my Facebook friends I would
post one of my blogs rather than one of the regular posts which I have shared throughout
the year of 2020. Many of which fueled a lot of anger within myself and others. Many of
the posts meant to be informative. However, to some people, they are controversial topics or conspiracy theories. To
me they hold a lot more truth than the regular televised news casts. All of 2020 makes one thing clear, we all have a lot more praying to do. We sure do need God’s help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I looked at my BlogSpot
website the other day and was surprised to notice that I haven’t written a blog since 2019. Now, that the year of 2020, along with all of the upheaval in our lives has ended, we look forward to 2021 while holding on to a glimmer of hope for better things to come. 2020 is somewhat of a blur or a blip which
erased a year of many lives. For some people it is an ink blot in the obituary section of the news paper, representing each of those who lost their lives to
Covid 19 and other causes of death. Another life lost amongst the numbers given out on the daily broadcast. The picture we see is that of a flawed healthcare system, worldwide. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For my family, the year of 2020
came in like a lamb as God gifted us with our third grandchild, David. Many days he spread sunshine into our home, through the daily pictures my daughter sent
me through text message, along with the videos and pictures of our other two rays of sunshine, Lucas and James. Sunshine that many times got me through the dark days
of lockdown in the early spring. We thank God for the many blessings we do have even when there are other trials, worries and fears which try to steal our joy.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The year 2020, was a year of
changes which have brought with it much fear, death, pain, loneliness,
uprisings, rebellion, controls, restrictions, anger, division, addictions,
poverty, strife, times of insanity, and so many other emotions and thoughts. The Lord Jesus told us to lay
all our burdens at his feet and that He will carry us, walk with us through the
storms of life when we trust in Him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Truly, it was a year many are happy to see end. Many of us have found ourselves tested in ways we never
imagined could happen. There are some charitable stories of people who have shown a
better side of humanity. The long days and months apart from loved ones, tore at
our heart strings. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Businesses shut down, lockdowns, wearing
masks, as our freedoms were taken away. People suffered mistreatment and discrimination because they did not comply to wearing a mask even though they had their reasons and rights. This became the new normal. But is it really normal at all? Some
accepted such abuses of power by police and even applauded them. Others snitched on someone, maybe a neighbor or a kid skating on a pond. who didn't comply to mandates. A troublesome growing reoccurrence. Even still, many comply while others, say enough, to these suffocating restrictions and mandates as they lose their lively-hood. Two camps who can't compromise or see the other side. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The world changed in
a flash. Life as we knew it crumbled. A different kind of world war began. It
started with a war against a virus. Over time it turned into a war between
people, friends, families as some fought for the freedoms being taken away. A
new kind of intolerance happened to people. At first everyone was all working
together against this virus. Then as the months dragged on and the tides began to shift, taking many people spiraling
down into some void of darkness, we in North America, have not had to experience before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> At least not since the early century world wars. </span>Even for people who seem to have all the
answers with their word speak, deep down, they too find themselves flailing from
within the deepness of depression, trying to find their way back to some
normality. 2020 has left us with so much distrust, not knowing what is true and
what is not. The devil is always in the details. Now we enter a new year 2021. Usually it would be a time to sing, Auld lang syne.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I didn’t sing that song this New Years Eve. I felt more like singing "Bye by American Pie" I
was not surrounded by family or friends, holding hands nor taking a sip of
champagne. I was in bed as I heard this muffled voice from my husband coming
through the cracks in the floor boards. “Happy New Year.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I replied with a tone of little excitement, “Happy New Year”. 2020 is over and another year gone. I turned off the light and went to sleep. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">For many years, this song has been sung at New Year celebrations, I imagine many of us never knew the meaning of the words we sung. It always had a melancholic tone that brought a tear to the eye. It was not originally
written in English. Translated literally it means “old long since,” but the
meaning is more like “old times” or “the olden days “Should ole acquaintances
be forgot and never brought to mind? It asks a question. Of course the answer
is, we should not forget all those who are no longer here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘We drink a cup of kindness dear and sing of
ole lang syne (the olden days). Song written by Robert Burns also known as
Rabbie Burns, born in Scotland 1759.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Just maybe it is the right time to sing this song if there ever was a time to sing it. As we flip through the calendar year when most of us didn't have a clue what day it was because every day became the same. We take a moment of reflection to remember the great things that happened, what we have learned and just for a moment forget all the crap. Think of your loved ones you can still hold and hug or talk to on the iPhone. Just for a few moments "sing, sing a song, make it simple to last the whole night long. Don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing." by Karen Carpenter. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Think of all the rest of 2020 as fully past and gone, days of old long since. For tomorrow is a new day on a new calendar year. "May God Bless you each and everyone." Tiny Tim or you could always tip toe through the tulips of spring. Even better, Let us all pray for this country and ask God to keep our Land Glorious and Free. </p><p class="MsoNormal">"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,</p><p class="MsoNormal">And never brought to mind?</p><p class="MsoNormal">Should auld acquaintance be forgot,</p><p class="MsoNormal">And days of auld lang syne?</p><p class="MsoNormal">And days of auld lang syne, my dear,</p><p class="MsoNormal">And days of auld lang syne.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Should auld acquaintance be forgot,</p><p class="MsoNormal">And days of auld lang syne?"</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;">Onward we go into 2021 </span></b> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-61404648276253410412019-11-25T10:00:00.001-08:002019-11-25T10:00:48.838-08:00Sounds of silenceThe summer flew by as quickly as a snowbird jet on it's way to the CNE air show. The months of summer had moments of heat and sweat, dead grass and well, just the daily things of life which come and go. The politics, election issues and an election were on the minds of some of us. Every season has it changes from one to the next. That being said, I witnessed the last red leaf fall from the enormous Maple tree in my front yard. Larry the leaf gently fluttered like a butterfly landing to join all his friends on the ground. The pool is closed and the ice sits on top of the cover like it is waiting for a hockey game. The season of fall turned into early winter as the snow fell way too soon. We say goodbye to yesterday yet with hope and faith, we pray for the tomorrows to come.<br />
<br />
The world seems to be in upheaval as so many changes occur on a daily basis. I can't keep up with the technology. I imagine my mother must have felt this way years ago when the dial-up internet began. Too many apps to download, don't know how don't want to know-how. It all exhausts me to try. Flipping to the next page of my calendar to the next month, the thoughts of this over-thinker exploded again. Snap, crackle, pop, Rice Krispies. Christmas is only a month away.<br />
<br />
The clock never stops ticking unless there is a power outage. It would be nice if we never lost that time. Truth is the sun sets and hopefully rises again. We live our lives in the same way we breathe. Like we have billions more breaths to take. Instead of being thankful that our feet get to touch the floor one more time, or realize we get to hear one more love song on the radio, pour one more cup of coffee for our loved one, we act like robots doing the same routine. It becomes so obvious to me that many of us are simply stuck in a cyber system of technology and in the digression of the human race are becoming very robotic. Sit and watch a movie on television if you don't have Netflix and watch the same commercials over and over again ten-twenty times. If that is not being transformed into brainwashed, time-wasting robots, I don't know what is.<br />
<br />
I ask myself, why do we do this? Are we so bored or lazy or are we simply seeking to fill some empty void with garbage? Whether we spend hours on facebook looking for some gratification, some kind of human connect or texting to people rather than phoning them, it all really just shows a changing human race controlled by cyber technology which gives false gratification. I am not a phone person. Go figure, I would rather write. So it is definitely easier to text message and fall into that trap. Can't say I get together with friends very often. Possibly that draws me and maybe you to twitter, facebook - like water draws a horse to the trough.<br />
<br />
When I think about the last year, I can't help but notice the great disconnect between people. We see it as we scroll through the Facebook news feeds. People crying out for some kind of love, recognition, one more like one more love heart, one more smiley face. Months can go by and we never talk to those who are closest to us. The more time that passes, the wider the disconnect. Where does this lead? When does this get better? Or Does it get better? The longer we slide down that slippery slope, the steeper the decline. Then we find ourselves sitting on the roadside, sitting in the dumpster of denial. Lost in the garbage, thrown out like yesterday's leftovers. Sounds a little negative, I know. When we examine these truths we will discover that disconnect. Haven't we all done it? Sat in the same room with someone and both people looking at their iPhones while they scroll. People are sitting in the same room but they are not present. The sad realization of the message being conveyed is that your newsfeed is more important than the person beside you. This might be a good time to take an inventory of life. Your life. Your family's life. How can we climb out of that dumpster of denial long enough to clean the stench off of our own clothing and smell the rose sitting beside us? Time to appreciate the sunsets and the sunrises in our lives and share it with each other.<br />
<br />
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Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-87966839807035999042019-03-08T08:58:00.000-08:002019-03-08T08:58:55.121-08:00Passover
<br />
As we are coming up to the season of Spring and with Spring
many people celebrate Easter, which is really a pagan word to distort or take
away from the original celebration of Passover which took place in the early
ages, reported in the book of Exodus (Old Testament Scripture) which gives the
account of the Passover. You can read this below.<br />
<br />
<br />
Exodus 12<br />
<br />
The Passover<br />
<br />
<b>12 </b>The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land
of Egypt, <b><sup>2 </sup></b>“This month shall be for you the beginning
of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. <b><sup>3 </sup></b>Tell
all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man
shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. <b><sup>4 </sup></b>And
if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor
shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat
you shall make your count for the lamb. <b><sup>5 </sup></b>Your lamb
shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or
from the goats, <b><sup>6 </sup></b>and you shall keep it until the
fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of
Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.<sup>[<a href="https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+12&version=ESV#fen-ESV-1823a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup><br />
<br />
<b><sup>7 </sup></b>“Then they shall take some of the
blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which
they eat it. <b><sup>8 </sup></b>They shall eat the flesh that night,
roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. <b><sup>9 </sup></b>Do
not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs
and its inner parts. <b><sup>10 </sup></b>And you shall let none of it
remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall
burn. <b><sup>11 </sup></b>In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt
fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall
eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. <b><sup>12 </sup></b>For I
will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of
Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. <b><sup>13 </sup></b>The
blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the
blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when
I strike the land of Egypt.<br />
<br />
<b><sup>14 </sup></b>“This day shall be for you a
memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your
generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. <b><sup>15 </sup></b>Seven
days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven
out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day
until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. <b><sup>16 </sup></b>On
the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy
assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat,
that alone may be prepared by you. <b><sup>17 </sup></b>And you shall
observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your
hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day,
throughout your generations, as a statute forever. <b><sup>18 </sup></b>In
the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat
unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. <b><sup>19 </sup></b>For
seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is
leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether
he is a sojourner or a native of the land. <b><sup>20 </sup></b>You shall
eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened
bread.”<br />
<br />
<b><sup>21 </sup></b>Then Moses called all the elders
of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to
your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. <b><sup>22 </sup></b>Take a bunch
of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel
and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go
out of the door of his house until the morning. <b><sup>23 </sup></b>For
the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood
on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and
will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. <b><sup>24 </sup></b>You
shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. <b><sup>25 </sup></b>And
when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you
shall keep this service. <b><sup>26 </sup></b>And when your children say
to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ <b><sup>27 </sup></b>you shall
say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses
of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our
houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.<br />
<br />
<b><sup>28 </sup></b>Then the people of Israel went and
did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.”<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Now we
live in a modern era. If I had to guess, I would say a small percent of the
world population still remember the original intent of the Passover. Some
Jewish people still celebrate the original Old Testament observance of this
statute. (Observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever).
They would do this if they did not read the New Testament. Evangelical Christians
study the Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures, and in doing so, have
followed the lineage of Christ from beginning of the Bible to the end of the
Book of Revelation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see the importance
of continuing to observe this significant time in history as it relates with
the Biblical New Testament teachings of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As Christians we have been liberated from fulfilling all
the laws written within the Torah, first five books of the Bible. This is only
because the promised Saviour, King, Messiah has come in the flesh and fulfilled
the requirement of those laws. The Perfect Lamb of God. That being Jesus
Christ. He came as the example of the perfect lamb being the only one who could
die to take away the sins of the world. His prophesied death and resurrection
completed and fulfilled all the laws which man could not keep. I must also say,
that Jesus left us with two laws to fulfill </i><br />
<br />
“Matthew 22 <b><sup>36 </sup></b>“Teacher,
which is the great commandment in the Law?” <b><sup>37 </sup></b>And he
said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind. <b><sup>38 </sup></b>This is the great
and first commandment. <b><sup>39 </sup></b>And a second is like it: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. <b><sup>40 </sup></b>On these two
commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In essence all the old laws are wrapped up in these two commands. If you can keep
these two commands, then you are fulfilling all the others. We know that we are
just as incapable of always fulfilling these laws to the full extent as much as the Israelites could not keep all the OT laws. That is why Christ Jesus (lamb) died for our transgressions.</i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For some it is a nice story. To
some it is meaningless. In this world we live in, some would say, “What
does this matter now?” I am saddened to look around me and see many of my loved
ones who live oblivious to what the Bible (God’s Word) says. There just does
not seem to be much interest to know these truths. How often can we sit down and talk about the Bible without arguing? Because I study His word on a
regular basis over the last thirty years, since giving my life to Christ. (Not
that my life was my own. It always belonged to Him who created me). At one
point in my life the message clicked and I realized that I am a sinner and was
dead in my sins. Yes, I always believed in God. But never had a relationship
with God the Son “Jesus”. One day sitting in a church service and hearing the
sermon from the Bible, I realized I was not truly saved. The message never went
from my head to my heart. That day it did. I asked forgiveness of my sins and
became born again in my spirit. </i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yesterday, I was walking out back behind our home. A vast couple of
hundred acres of nothing but quiet, serenity and beauty for me to behold. Blue
skies, ponds, white fluffy clouds, trees. As always, when I go to that place away from
all the distractions, the noise, I can take a breath of fresh air. His air. A
time of just God and me. That is relationship. I can’t help but praise HIM. And
then just be silent before HIM. I wonder how many of us today can actually do
this? Don’t most people fill their days with all kinds of things to do? I confess,
many days I am too busy (being under satan’s yoke). How many of us never give
God a thought, never ever learn that this life is temporal and it is really
just a short time and then what? We live for today and not for eternity.
Because I know what the Word of God says, I have learned that God is love, God
is also a God of wrath and He will one day judge each one of us as he judged the
Egyptians. The Egyptians had kept the Israelites in bondage, working them as slaves
for hundreds of years. God said, “Let my people go”. The Egyptians were full of
pride and they worshipped their own gods and rejected the one true God. The
blood the Israelites had to put on the door posts was so important. The
obedience they showed was of great importance. If they did not put the blood
over the door posts, their first born sons would have died too. Was that God’s
fault? No! It would have been their own fault. They did obey God and their sons
were saved, but the Egyptians first born sons died. Very sad indeed. Can you
imagine? </i></div>
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I say this to show that God is
God and He does not change. God in His great love never gave up on the people
(all of us to whom He gave that same free will to choose). God’s love for us
came at a great price. (Not money). God coming in the flesh as a human/God to
once again use the Passover week, as the exact time of Christ’s death on the
cross. His shed blood (Lamb of God). It was a brutal death in every way
imaginable. Yet, we have closed our eyes and our hearts and minds to the
Greatest Gift that God has given to us. HIS SON, the forgiveness of sins and the opportunity to choose Him and receive eternal life rather than death. This coming Easter, maybe we can all think just a little more about God/Jesus dying on the cross. Think about the
thorns on HIS head and the blood and sweat dripping into his eyes. Think about
the four inch spikes through His hands and feet. Oh, you got a sliver. Wow!
That must have hurt. Next time drive a spike through your hand. Then hang on a
cross naked in front of the mocking crowd. Think for a minute, would you do
that for your worst enemy? Would you do that for someone spitting on you or
punching you in the face and laughing at you? Would you do that for someone who
puts sour wine to your lips when you are so dehydrated you couldn’t spit
because of the lack of blood which drained from your body? I think not. I think
most of us have a hard time forgiving a loved one because they offended us on
facebook. Jesus was not like us. He is God and loves us and wants none to
perish or go to eternal destruction. No, God loved us so much He gave His only
Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. We
today, have a choice. We can choose to follow that ONE Jesus who endured the
Cross and in His dying breath said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do.” </i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My friends and family, it is not always easy to follow Jesus. It is easy to say, I believe and it is easy to post some
scripture or a song and maybe once in a while when we really feel like or when we
need God’s help, say a little prayer. The more I study the Word of God, the
more I realize the need to sacrifice more things in my life to follow Jesus.
But they don’t compare to what God sacrificed. I don’t sacrifice out of fear of
the Lord, although the Word says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of
Wisdom.” I sacrifice little really. What I do for God is out of Love and admiration.
If anyone deserves my admiration and love, it is Jesus Christ. What a great
time to remember what Jesus did for each one of us. Many of you may not go to
church for Good Friday Service or Resurrection Sunday. I know, it is hard to give up a couple hours of your weekend when you work all week. I realize that going to church does not make you a Christian any more than driving a Honda into a garage makes it a Porsche.
When we don’t go, we miss out on capturing the magnitude of what Christ did and
what was accomplished by His death on the cross. We miss out on experiencing the depth of His love and also
the fellowship of other believers. Most of all we miss out on worshipping and
giving thanks to the One who deserves all Honour Glory and Praise. Our Saviour
Jesus the Messiah. (Christ)</i><br />
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Luke 22:1 English Standard Version (ESV)<br />
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The Plot to Kill Jesus<br />
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<b>“22 </b>Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near,
which is called the Passover.”<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As you read through
the New Testament of the Bible you will learn the full account from Passover
through to the death of Jesus and His resurrection, teachings of Jesus, and
disciples. </i><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-91814401984543054412018-12-31T11:01:00.002-08:002018-12-31T11:10:45.659-08:00Happy New Year in 2019Hello 2019<br />
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<br /><br />I had a dream last night. In that dream, my deceased aunt and uncle came to visit me. We shared great conversation and laughter. They looked younger than I remember them. None the less it was a nice dream because it was just so nice to see them again. Disappointment came when I awoke to reality. Who knows but God, why we dream what we dream? It does seem that the years go by quicker as each year goes by. The world changes, people change, every thing changes. One could hope for the better. Today, December 31, 2018, some of us will celebrate the New Year tonight, the changing of the clock as we watch the minute hand come to a stop at midnight. What happens during that stop? Are we celebrating the passing of another year of life gone by? Are we celebrating as to say "Thank God that Year is over and I sure pray that 2019 is better?" or "That was a great year of many wonderful happenings within our lives." Yeah! We made it through the struggles and came out stronger for them. Yes, there are still challenges ahead but this is a new year and a new beginning to make the changes we failed to make the previous year. We celebrate going forward in our lives, reaching new heights, conquering the giants which plagued us the year before. Is it a time to take New inventory of our lives to see where it is we are to go in 2019, what positive changes can we make to see progress within our lives which help the lives of those around us even better?<br /><br />Well, I'm not sure. I imagine the clock will strike midnight and whether or not I am surround by many loved ones or sitting by the fire with my husband toasting in the New Year, hopefully, the clock won't stop at midnight and that minute of celebration will continue all throughout the coming days and year.<br /><br />I remember the years of old and singing "Ole Lang Zine". Reflecting back some years, I also remember seeing in the New Year with my brothers and Dad shooting their shot guns up into the air while Mum and I were clanging the pots and pans as the New Year rang in loud and clear. Not sure why that was our tradition, but I remember it. Maybe in some way we were waking up the dead. As if to say, "Happy New Year!! everyone. May 2019 be a great one. May this world we live in, become a better one. (by God's great grace)<br /><br />So, Happy New Year everyone. For me, I thank God for each day of 2018 and the years which have come and gone because within those years, I lived life. In doing so met many wonderful people who have come and gone. It has been a journey of learning of which there is still much to learn. God has always been a part of my journey all the way. To have that Saviour God the Christ Messiah to walk with me and help me, is of great significance. I am thankful for what He (God) has taught me through the ups and downs along that road. I thank Him for another day, another year ahead which may be full of many surprises. It is great to celebrate the life we have, especially the life we can have in Christ our Saviour. So I start out this New Year, not with a shout, but more of a whisper and a prayer as Jesus Himself taught an example of how to pray.<br /><br /><br /> Matthew 6:9-13<br /><br />9 Pray then like this:<br /><br />"Our Father who is in Heaven. Holy is your name, Let thy Kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread (what we need). Forgive us our sins (trespasses) as we also forgive those who trespass (sin) against us. Lead us not into temptation (to not fall to the temptation to do evil) But deliver us from evil (Jesus is our deliverer) For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen!<br />
<br />Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-37870088014453765562018-11-28T06:58:00.003-08:002018-11-28T06:58:58.694-08:00Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.<br />
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Yes, another year has come around. The stores are stocked, the Christmas carols are playing songs all about Santa. As a child, I never really thought that much about the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Yes sometimes we did go to church at Christmas. We enjoyed the school plays about Mary and Joseph giving birth to baby Jesus.<br />
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Mostly I remember Christmas being about family and friends getting together, food and more food. My mother's baking of sausage rolls, shortbread cookies, mince meat tarts with whip cream and listening to all the oldies: including Elvis, Bing Crosby. Decorating the Christmas tree with my mother. Even back when I was a child the same shows that air today, came on our black and white television set. Shows like "The Grinch" or "Charlie Brown Christmas" and who could forget "A Christmas Carol" or "The Miracle on 34th Street"? Well sometimes, I do forget. I forget many things of the past. Some things I cling to with a smile of the memories. I watch the old videos and recognise how young we were then. There are many cherished moments of togetherness which spanned over years.<br />
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Part of the Christmas celebration is trying to recapture that love and miracle of the season. Many of those loved ones from my childhood are now gone. I was thinking this morning of my sweet sister Penny who left us in December a few years ago . I was thinking well, now she is with her Mum and Mum has been reunited with her in paradise along with many others. This is the hope we have in Christ our Saviour. We have that hope because Jesus was the true "Miracle" who is often forgotten or simply left out of the all the Christmas celebrations. It is easy to do. So, as I sit and think about the past and the present time, I can't help but tear up a little because I miss those loved ones. It does not seem the same without them.<br />
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It is now a New time and a New season. I am where my mother was, what seems like only see a few years ago. I am a mother, wife, and a grandmother. Of course it is a desire to share all the love of Christ (CHRISTMAS) with each one. To capture the miracle of it all. While there is the fun of Santa for the little children, it is my prayer that my grandchildren will get to know the one behind the miracle. The true miracle of Christmas and what the greatest gift of all really is. Merry Christmas to all. Maybe this Christmas will mean something more. Enjoy the link video below.<br />
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<a href="https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=utube+Christmas+songs+about+Christ&&view=detail&mid=6D5B449099BA486356656D5B449099BA48635665&&FORM=VDRVRV" target="_blank">https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=utube+Christmas+songs+about+Christ&&view=detail&mid=6D5B449099BA486356656D5B449099BA48635665&&FORM=VDRVRV</a><br />
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<br />Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-37930500864427917992018-01-06T09:54:00.000-08:002018-01-07T08:42:22.818-08:00Excerpt from "When Time Stands Still" by Rebecca Robinson (Pen name Rebecca Hickson)<br />
It is a New Year. I spent much of 2017 trying to figure things out. A quiz came up on my Facebook news feed today. My curiosity got the best of me and I attempted to answer the questions on the quiz to see if I am really an evangelical Christian. Doing the quiz,<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> made me think. Even though I only got 88% on the quiz, I still passed. </span> I did get a couple questions wrong. Like watching an episode of Veggie Tales meets the criteria. LOL! One of the questions, I guessed the name of the boy band who sang a Christian song. Got that one wrong. LOL! At the end of the quiz, I was congratulated because I could answer most of the questions correctly. Yeah! LOL! There was a disclaimer written at the end. It told me to - "now celebrate, but don't do anything fun because it will be sin." Ha! Ha! Was there some truth to what it said? Sometimes it does seem that anything fun is sin. I've heard this statement made, or one like it - <i>Christians can't have fun</i>. <br />
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The other questioned posed to me, "Are we not to be genuine?" What is genuine? Does being able to answer all the Bible questions correctly make me a genuine? No. If I can answer all the questions, but don't have love in my heart then I think I need some serious self examination.<br />
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I remembered this chapter I wrote some years back - at a time, when even then, I was trying to figure out how to be a genuine person while trying to figure out all the do's and don'ts. When it comes down to it, are we not all trying to figure out who we are, and what our purpose is in life? In a world of extreme cyber technologies, it is easy to lose ourselves in the fantasy world and become a fictional character to those we meet. Why do people do that? Is it because we honestly believe that in our minds that people won't like who we really are? People become a self projected image of someone they are not, in order to find acceptance. Isn't that all part of the masquerade party?<br />
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When Time Stands Still </div>
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by Rebecca Hickson</div>
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Chapter 34</div>
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The Mask</div>
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. . . Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 Is the world one big masquerade party? Daily we see people masquerade behind a mask of pretending imagery trying to be accepted by the status quo. Why do we think we have to hide our real identities and personalities behind a mask? Is there so much fear of rejection in the world, or just too much rejection? Why do we persist in the game? What does it take to be who God created us to be? Will the real John Doe please stand up? Without saying much babble, the direction I would point you to is to the Almighty Counselor, Jesus Christ. It is crucial that we as children of God know our identity in Him. By knowing, believing and having faith in Him, we can learn to accept the fact that God totally accepts us and we are exactly who God created us to be. He formed us in our mother’s wombs. Let us look behind the masks; remembering that the first mask we need to remove is the one we are wearing. Have you ever experienced relationships where it has taken more than a couple years before you get to know the person behind the mask? Perhaps years have passed and you realized one day that you never even knew the person you called your neighbour, brother, spouse or friend. The masks wear out over time and fall off. Have you ever experienced a broken relationship? The mask is off and your relationship has ended. You are left holding a mask full of questions and tears. We wonder what on earth happened, surprised by the mask of deception we never knew existed. When we try to build our relationships, it is important to build the foundation with real materials like honesty, love, reality and truth. Any imitation materials will not persevere the stormy weather ahead. If we look at an imitation flower compared with a flower filled with life, what might we notice? From a distance both look the same. Some imitation flowers look so real, you cannot tell until you touch or smell them. Nothing can replace the natural beauty of a flower, fragrant fresh with silky softness and vivid colours. Without the fragrance something is missing. They are beautiful on the outside yet fragrant less, never growing or spreading life. No seeds can fall from an imitation. Even sun and rain will not enhance its beauty. In fact sun and rain will only enhance the fraudulent reality of the emptiness held within a stem without roots. Without growth, without life, it is dead. In the same way God’s light will eventually reveal the things in our lives, which are imitation. Truth will always uncover the lie. We frequently hear on the news about horrendous crimes committed. People are left in disbelief of the offender. We cannot believe our neighbour could have done such a crime. After all, he was such a nice guy. We are left shocked. I always wonder, did anyone ever really take the time to get to know the person behind the mask? Maybe he had been crying out for such a long time. No one noticed, or cared enough to help or listen to the cry behind the mask. Does that make us accomplices to the crimes?</div>
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The originality of these masks began a long time ago in the Garden of Eden. God had created everything perfect and it was all very good. The first mask maker was Satan, who was also in the garden. Satan the devil gave Eve the first mask as a lie. He told Eve what God had given her was not enough. She needed more. Eve swallowed the lie along with the fruit from the forbidden tree. Today we are still swallowing Satan’s lies. You have to be funny. Your nose is too big. You are fat and ugly. You will never be able to succeed. They will not like you if . . . And on and on the lies go. Satan wears the craftiest mask of all. The bible says that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. He would like nothing better than for us to wear his masks and be like him, deceiving and being deceived. We have not lost. There is victory in Christ Jesus. We can learn from the mistake Eve made and we can learn from the mistakes we make. It is time to take off the mask and be who God created us to be. Allow God to change us into His image. In the changing process learn to accept and praise God for who we are in Christ Jesus. In Christ, we are so much more than the surface appearance. Behind every face is a beautiful spirit and soul that God loves so very much. He is waiting to shine out and shine in and melt off the masks of deception. He wants to end the masquerade party. Jesus never hid behind any mask. He made no false pretences. Christ lived truth all the way to the cross, the grave and back to heaven. Praise God. Be real! Be free! Be all that God intended us to be!</div>
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What does the Bible say?</div>
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When Time Stands Still</div>
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The Mask CHAPTER 34</div>
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1. What are the names of Satan? (Deuteronomy 13:13, Matthew 10:25, 1 John 3:8, 12:30, Luke 8:30,)</div>
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2. What are some characteristics of Satan? (Genesis 1, 3:1, Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6, Revelation 12:10)</div>
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3. Who are you in Christ Jesus? </div>
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4. One of the main ways Satan tries to attack us, is in our thoughts. Study these scriptures and write down how we can battle and defeat Satan and his tactics. (2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 12:1-2, James 5:16, Psalm 150:6)</div>
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5. Read Revelation 12:11 and write down the key way in which we can overcome Satan? </div>
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Remove the negative thoughts and replace them with the word of God and His truth. Prayer is important because your relationship with the Lord will grow in intimacy and His power will strengthen, protect and free you. Praise is also a big weapon against Satan.</div>
Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-51617627060319441572017-12-04T06:08:00.001-08:002017-12-04T06:08:34.319-08:00Time To GrowTime to grow up<br />
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I’m still crawling along at a snail’s pace as far spiritual maturity goes. Everyday, I look in the mirror to see the subtle changes of aging – only to realize that my maturity level is not catching up with that mirrored image. You would think we would learn from our mistakes and immaturity. One would think that the little slips of the tongue would help us live with tongue in cheek. Sometimes the tongue behaves like it is still frozen from being at the dentist. When it is frozen you can bite your tongue right off and not even feel it. However, like in life, when the freezing comes out and the damage is done, it is hard to sew your tongue back on. Often times the hurt and damage is done and the dentist and care providers have left the building, leaving you to wipe up your own saliva. <br />
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We have heard the sermons. We know how and what we are supposed to do as Christians. Speaking for myself, I always fall short. My human efforts are not enough. Many days I seem to say something I should not say. Sometimes I make a judgement I should not make. Often I realize this, too late. When that happens it always seems to lead me back to repentance. That being said, I believe the first step would be: getting on my face and praying, seeking God with all my heart, soul and mind. That being said, knowing and behaving are two different things. There is a long distance from the head to the heart.<br />
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I just watched a video last night called “More than Dreams”. It was about five people at a crossroads in life – crying with all their heart for a deeper understanding of God. It is said that in every person’s heart there exists a void only God can fill. For these five Muslims their cry to God brought them new discovery and a relationship with Christ Jesus. They found the truth they were seeking to find. They discovered more than superstition… more than magic… more than ritual… more than religion… more than dreams… They discovered Jesus. Their lives were radically transformed. God can change all of our lives. I couldn’t help but notice that within each person’s story, they had one thing in common. They each had a desperate desire for God and His truth. Desperate seeking of God, is the best place to start in our pursuit of Spiritual Maturity. Start on our knees before the God of the Universe. Allow His transforming power to work. He is the heart transformer. He can change a heart full of hatred, jealousy, anger, addiction, pain, judgment, depression into a heart of Christ-like love and Spiritual Maturity. When we receive Jesus in the truest sense – it is like being born again. Being changed to a new creation. God becomes the rudder of our ship. We will not go anywhere if don’t get on board, all the way. We can’t have one foot on the dock and one foot in the boat.<br />
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It struck me – a lightbulb moment as I watched that DVD. It occurred to me that I seem to want to protect certain areas of my heart; fill that void with other things or people, rather than give all my heart to the Lord to fill. No wonder I struggle with Spiritual maturity. After examining my own heart, I repented, prayed and ask Jesus to fill that area of my heart that I had not given over to him. I know that has to be my constant prayer. It is a life long process.<br />
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Maybe you have a void in your heart and you feel that desperation, but you don’t know what to do with it? Think about what Jesus did on the cross and ask Him to fill that void in your heart.<br />
Did you know that it is God’s will that every person become spiritually mature? It’s true!<br />
God wants us all to grow to spiritual maturity. Paul scolds the Corinthian church for their lack of maturity. He treats them as if they are babes in Christ. One scripture verse comes to mind.<br />
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<strong>”I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”(1 Corinthians 3:2-3)</strong><br />
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Some of us have been following Jesus for years and it is easy to slip away from what we know to be right and true. Like looking in the mirror and the moment we look away forget what we look like. Or we don't want to face the mirror of change. Reality is that we need positive change to grow and mature. That is why they say that we become wiser with age. Life's experiences teach us much. Or at least they should. </div>
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I think of my grandchildren and how much they have grown in the last year. From a baby and eating breast milk to now eating more solid food. That one little verse teaches us that it is the same for us spiritually speaking. Often we stay on a diet of little spiritual nourishment. Satisfied with the basic messages of God's Word. Maybe a verse we memorized when we were a child. Or we may have said a little prayer to accept Christ Jesus as our Saviour at one point in time, but have not grown in that relationship with him. We are still like babes satisfied with the milk. </div>
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It is so familiar to me, that place where we often get stuck in life, spinning our wheels so to speak. The bowl of baby food gets empty and we don't replenish it with Spiritual food. The only kind of food that will grow us. The bread of Life. I believe there comes a time in each person's life to think about God as these people in the video did. Often we wait until a crisis happens in our lives and in our desperate cry we call out to a God we hope will hear us. He hears. He waits. He loves. It does not have to take a plea of desperation to bring us to our knees. How much better it is to look in that mirror and take an inventory of our life and seek the one who came to save us so that we may have life eternal. </div>
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Christmas time is approaching. It is a great time when our hearts are warmed and the best of all of us seems to generously exude from us, even people like the Grinch. It a time such as this, to unwrap the greatest gift ever given. That gift is God the Son, our Saviour who emptied Himself of all His power and came to earth as a baby, to one day take our sins upon Himself on a cross. Let's seek God and find Him in our quest for maturity.</div>
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Yesterday I saw a little 2 year old boy sing, "Holy Holy, Holy is God Almighty" It melted my heart as he closed his eyes to pray. A babe in Christ, yet so much older in His spiritual maturity than many adults. Praise be to God.</div>
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<br />Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-59763569455628714142017-10-10T09:16:00.000-07:002017-10-10T09:16:00.771-07:00
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<span style="color: #5a5a5a;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Boldly Go<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Early in the morning, I could hear the rain dripping from
the Eaves trough. The rooster’s crow rang loud through my open window. There I
lay in the dark with my eyes open, snuggled cozy in my bed. Then my mind starts
to wander. I am reminded to pray for this person and that person. Next, my mind
is off on a star trek type journey. <strong>This is a lifelong mission, to
explore this strange planet, to seek out life for all, to boldly go where many
have gone before</strong>. I know it is not the same wording as the Star Trek
introduction.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I memorized it when I was
a child. My brother and I watched that television show every day after school.
Yes, back then, it was in black and white. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Where
is this journey taking me? I don’t know. I just know that I had to get up out
of the dark bedroom and come and write this down while the rooster still crows.
Did I count the rooster’s crows? No, but he actually has been crowing nonstop
since about four o’clock this morning. There is no correlation that I am aware
of to the disciple Peter who denied Christ three times. Each time he denied
knowing Jesus, he heard the rooster crow. Every morning, I hear that crow. Lord
help me if I deny Christ Jesus that many times or at all. I know Jesus forgave
Peter because<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Peter became the rock that the Christian church was built on. Jesus, after his resurrection from death, met with Peter and the other disciples. Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Peter
was extremely convicted of his sin and he truly did love the Lord and Peter answered
Jesus with an emphatic, “Yes Lord, I love you”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">See reference in John 21. Click on link</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21&version=ESV" target="_blank">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21&version=ESV</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peter served God for the rest of
his life. He certainly had many trials and testing during his life of service
to God. Jesus had promised He would leave a helper to be with his disciples. That
would include those who died for their faith. </span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, I believe God was there at
the end of Peter’s life when they hung him upside down on a cross. While there
may have even been times when he questioned, his faith remained to his last
breath. The same can be said of Paul and others who have been martyred for
their faith. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am told that when people
are martyred for the faith in Christ that God (HOLY SPIRIT) is there with them
and does help them endure. We have heard of many martyrs. The first one
mentioned as the early Christian Church began was when they stoned Stephen to death
because he preached a very convicting message from God to the people. They did
not want to hear the message God had for them. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can read the entire account
of Stephen in the New Testament- Book of Acts chapter 6 and 7. </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7&version=ESV" target="_blank">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7&version=ESV</a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Stoning of Stephen</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">54 </span></sup>Now when they heard these things they
were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">55 </span></sup>But he,
full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">56 </span></sup>And he said, “Behold, I
see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">57 </span></sup>But
they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7&version=ESV#fen-ESV-27162b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #0563c1;">b</span></a>]</span></sup> at him. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">58 </span></sup>Then they cast
him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments
at the feet of a young man named Saul. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">59 </span></sup>And as they were
stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">60 </span></sup>And
falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this
sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Wow! That is
amazing Grace)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my research when I typed in
martyrs, this website came up. I found it interesting to see these priest who were
martyrs and this was in Ontario in the 1600’s</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<a href="http://martyrs-shrine.com/about-the-shrine/the-story-of-the-martyrs/noel-chabanel/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://martyrs-shrine.com/about-the-shrine/the-story-of-the-martyrs/noel-chabanel/</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many have travelled the globe to
give the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the great commission to every
believer. We don’t all have to go all over the world. We can begin right in our
home town. I am thankful also to the brave apostles who went out in boldness to
spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many men and women have also been martyred
for their faith over the centuries for fulfilling that great commission. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<a href="http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/whatever-happened-to-the-twelve-apostles-11629558.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/whatever-happened-to-the-twelve-apostles-11629558.html</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is the Great Commission?</b> This phrase is taken from the Words
of Christ Himself as instruction to the disciples who became known as apostles.
These men by spreading the gospel and teachings of Christ Jesus formed what is
called Christianity. Basically, the word Christianity covers a great many
people who use this name. For the early church, to be called a Christian, held
great responsibility. A Christian was to follow and live out the teachings of
Christ and not just recite them to the people. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Great Commission – Matthew 28:18-20 English Standard
Version - The basic doctrine of every Christ centred Church is based on these
verses.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: #F2F2F2; border-bottom: solid #F2F2F2 3.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #F2F2F2 3.0pt; margin-left: 46.8pt; margin-right: 46.8pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 242; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 242; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-themeshade: 242; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); margin: 16px 0px;">
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">18 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. <sup>19 </sup>Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%2028:18-Matt%2028:20#fen-ESV-24211a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: blue; margin: 0px;">a</span></a>]</sup> the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, <sup>20 </sup>teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have attended so many funerals and it always seems the
preacher uses the verse from John 14:1-7. I sit and listen and because I know
Jesus I am comforted. I often wonder how many people sitting there also know
this truth within the words. We have come to lay our loved one at rest and we
are given the great words of hope and eternal life to comfort us in our grief. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For some, we have lived our lives
and explored everything on the planet and now our proud song is played. “Regrets,
I’ve had a few. I’ve travelled each and every byway, but more, much more than
this. . . . The grand finale’ “I did it my WAY”. We are called to do life “God’s
Way”. In doing life our way, we all must ask ourselves where does God find a
place in the “my way” of our lives?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are not told to do things our way. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John 14: 1-7</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="background: #F2F2F2; border-bottom: solid #F2F2F2 3.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #F2F2F2 3.0pt; margin-left: 46.8pt; margin-right: 46.8pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 242; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-themeshade: 242; mso-border-top-themecolor: background1; mso-border-top-themeshade: 242; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
<div style="background: rgb(242, 242, 242); margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">14 “Let not your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God;<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26658a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: #0563c1;">a</span></a>]</span></sup> <span style="background: yellow; margin: 0px;">believe also in me</span>. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></sup>In my Father's house are
many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that <span style="background: yellow; margin: 0px;">I</span> go to prepare a place
for you?<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26659b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #0563c1;">b</span></a>]</span></sup> <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3 </span></sup>And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am
you may be also. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">4 </span></sup>And you know the way to where I am going.”<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26661c" title="See footnote c"><span style="color: #0563c1;">c</span></a>]</span></sup> <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">5 </span></sup>Thomas said to him,
“Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6 </span></sup><span style="background: yellow; margin: 0px;">Jesus said to him, “I am the
way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">7 </span></sup>If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14&version=ESV#fen-ESV-26664d" title="See footnote d"><span style="color: #0563c1;">d</span></a>]</span></sup> From now on you do know him and have seen
him.”</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are the words I was inspired to write about this
morning. Part of my life long mission to explore this planet and spread the
words of life and seek out new generations to also go out for generations to
come and spread the Word of Life. I suppose that if all those who have died for
their faith in Jesus, would have lived different lives, the gospel would not
have been spread across the globe for the last 2000 years. If they had lived
their lives their way, instead of <u>the way of Christ</u>, what would the
world look like today? Would it still be here? We can also ask ourselves if we
lived our lives according to how God has called us to live, how would our lives
be different right now? </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-16686300026450243162017-10-06T06:21:00.002-07:002017-10-06T06:21:57.717-07:00Handmade Dish Cloth<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Briefly, through the corner of my
eye, I saw the red tinge covering the horizon as the sun began to rise early
this morning. The fog lay over the fields like a nicely folded blanket percolating
from the lowlands. Hundreds of black birds sat on the branches intermingling
with the colourful leaves as they sang an extra loud symphonically orchestrated
song. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I stepped outside to take a breath
of the morning’s freshness while I watched our dog get the newspaper. Mornings
like this bring a wave of appreciation to God’s magnificent ingenuity.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All these wonderful gifts to experience so
early in the morning set the stage making it a great start to the day.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
cannot always stop and smell the fragrances of autumn for too long. Life brings
with it, many jobs which need to be done. It was not long before I busied
myself with my daily routine of feeding chickens, doing dishes and hanging a
load of laundry out to dry. There is something about seeing the clothing blow
in the breeze. Perhaps a nostalgic memory of my own childhood when my mother
hung all her clothing and bed sheets out to dry. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wiping off my countertop, I
couldn’t help but notice the holes in my dish cloth which had been well used.
How often I had also washed that cloth with my laundry and reused it again and
again. They are very hardy those handmade dish cloths, these ones that my
mother had knitted together with her loving hands. Maybe that is why I
hesitated for so long to discard it. I remember in her later years as aging had
made its changes to her body, much like that aging dish cloth. Her hands lost
their flexibility, her eyes dimmed by macular degeneration which made it difficult
for her to see the stitches on her needles. I remember her frustration she
experienced making those cloths. They didn’t come out square. She took such pride
in whatever she did to make sure it was done right. Smiling at my memories, I
also realize the love she poured into ever knit and pearl. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I looked at the huge hole in the
cloth and saw the unraveling of the wool. It was no longer a nice white cloth.
It had been used so much it was a dingy gray. That morning it had wiped its
last countertop. With some sentimental attachment I had to put that dish cloth
to rest. It accomplished its grand purpose. It just plumb wore out. Much like
that dish cloth, my Mother’s body just plumb wore out too and she died a couple
years ago. Needless to say those cherished cloths she gave me have such
sentimental value. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After reluctantly discarding that
old dish cloth, I went on with my day. Sometimes it is difficult to keep on
track as my eyes seem to wander to something else I could do. If I rearrange
all my potted flowers or change a picture on the wall, move some furniture or change
a table cloth. Then one thing leads to another. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As I
was digging through my over flow of stored blankets and table cloths, two
little pure white handmade dish cloths fell out from the bottom of my jam
packed Chester drawer. My mother had knitted them together with her loving
hands. They were not square, somewhat distorted in shape and probably two of
the last ones she had made. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Little
things like this sneak up on us when we least expect them. The two cloths I
held in my hand, took me back once again to those reflective memories of my
mother. I asked myself, should I use them or put them back in amongst all the
table cloths and blankets and leave them there and save them? Or Do I use them
knowing full well that they will wear out and eventually also finish their
purpose.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sometimes
it is hard to completely let go of these earthly treasures which we hold so dear
to our hearts. In letting go, we somehow think we are letting go of the person
connected to those earthly treasures. The sentimental value I attach to these
things, other people don’t have to them. Long after I am gone, one of my
children may pull out those two dish cloths that are imperfect.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To them, the dish cloths might look like rags.
So, I pause for one more moment in time and ask what my mother would suggest. My mother would probably say, “That is why I made them, for you to use.” </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible tells me the answer to my peril. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 11px 48px;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 6:19 – 20 ESV - <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">19 </span></sup>“Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal, <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">20 </span></sup>but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in
and steal.</span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Reference
-Biblegateway.com </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.7skC0LRVm-8B7WCb2B12cAEyDL&w=256&h=170&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="256" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.7skC0LRVm-8B7WCb2B12cAEyDL&w=256&h=170&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.7" /></a></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-21259143066633901452017-09-27T08:19:00.001-07:002017-09-28T11:11:09.855-07:00The Figurine <div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">While sitting at my kitchen table, I noticed the glass figurine with words etched into the glass. Don’t we all have the odd nick nack sitting on one of the shelves or set in just that special spot? Perhaps it was a gift from someone very special to us. Maybe it is just a simple quote that has words that will pick us up when we are feeling down? Just at that moment when you need a little encouragement it catches our eye and we read it. Whatever the saying, it’s words have some kind of power. Like maybe a footprints poem written on an old clock. For years it sat on that wall and perhaps you never read it. Because the right time had not come. The clock catches our eye and we </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">read that poem which says:</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Footprints</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One night I dreamed a dream.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I was walking along the beach with my Lord.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One belonging to me and one to my Lord.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When the last scene of my life shot before me,</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I looked back at the footprints in the sand.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There was only one set of footprints.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This always bothers me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You,</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You would walk and talk with me all the way.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There is only one set of footprints.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, </span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You leave me.”</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">He whispered “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever,</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">During your trials and testings.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When you saw only one set of footprints,</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It was then that I carried you.”</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Margaret Fishback Powers.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Once in a while these ornaments catch our eye. We pick it up, dust it off and read the message. Whether by some divine leading or not, today, is that day when the words come alive. It is a day when you are overwhelmed by many emotions - you can’t sleep because the thoughts roll in your mind one after another: Why questions? Where questions and how questions? How will I get through tomorrow, if I don’t know if I can make it through today? Years ago, after the loss of a close family member, I wrote a song with those words. It was on a day when I was alone, sitting in a canoe with no one else around. My song had all those questions. My heart felt broken. I never heard some of the answers until years later. Even still, there are many things I don’t understand.</span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The grief we feel at the loss of a loved one can linger for a long time, feeling like a big rock tied to our kite strings. We may wonder, how will my kite ever fly again without that person in our lives? That is how we might feel because of what I call the great disconnect that leaves a hole in the heart. We don’t have a crystal ball which tells us the future. We can’t fathom that one day we will smile or even laugh again. </span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Time goes on and eventually the ached in the heart seems less and the heart begins to heal. The kite begins to catch a breeze and begins to slowly lift from the ground. </span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
All that being said, <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I sat today with the sun shining through my kitchen window, music playing, my heart feeling a mixed bag of emotions. The sun shined on the little glass figurine that was sitting on my table magnifying the words which read: </span><br />
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“MOTHER You have filled OUR LIFE with unforgettable memories of laughter, LOVE and a wonderful place called HOME." </span></div>
<br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;" />
<div dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">My heart cracks a little more as that Love pours in to my soul. It is like nourishment to my soul. The words hold so much meaning. In life we all take a journey and we have unforgettable memories of laughter. We reminisce and remember those great times we have enjoyed along our journey. Of course, we who have lost our mother’s can appreciate what those words mean. Maybe those words apply to someone dear to you who is not your mother? During times when I was feeling depressed or just upset about something, my Mother would give me wise words. She would tell me to pray. Count my blessings and take one day at a time. </span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As I read the words of the poem "Footprints" I recognize they are very much familiar to the Words Jesus also spoke to us when He said, “Never will I leave you nor forsake you.” May we find peace in knowing that even in the most despairing times, we are not alone. When we invite Jesus into our despair, grief, loneliness or simply into every part of our lives, we have a Saviour who hears our heart cries, knows our pain. God wants to bring us comfort and also carry us during those times.</span></div>
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<br />Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-49634927197297334812017-09-25T06:48:00.001-07:002017-09-27T07:28:38.886-07:00The White Birch Tree<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">The
White Birch Tree</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Just the other day I walked my dogs around the neighbour’s
pond located at the back of our house. The long grasses and weeds filled the
field, still a little wet from the morning dew. The unplowed corn stalks stood
tall as the dogs and I walked through the rows, pushing their leaves out of my
face, and swatting away the bugs at the same time. Who says, I can’t multitask?
Finally we made it back to the starting point. I sat in the chair overlooking
the pond noticing all the trees which clustered along the pond’s edge. In ten
years they have grown from small saplings into tall trees. A variety of trees;
cedars, pines, tamarack. My, how abundantly, they have grown along with the
weeds in the surrounding field. Over the summer even brown patches of weeds and
algae has also grown throughout the pond. What was the cause of these changes?
Was it the steady rains, hot days combined with the runoff from the chemically
sprayed corn field? Whatever the cause, the pond is looking like it is dying. The
pond which once looked blue as the sun and clouds clearly reflected from the
blueness of the sky onto the calm of the water.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Flocks of geese gathered daily. The geese don’t land in the pond much
anymore. I don’t see them bathing their wings or hear the synchronous honks of
the flocks as they land. So the pond sits, somewhat stagnating. I noticed the
changes. Nothing is ever done. Doesn’t seem like the owners care or even
inspect the ponds or see the damage being done from the poisons seeping their
way into these waters. Some of the causes could also be environmental. I’m not
a biologist, so I only look from the perspective of what I see and not what I
know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I sit
in the little white chair taking a moment to talk to God about the things I
see. After all this is our little garden that we share. It is my quiet place. I
must confess that this summer, even I, have neglected going there. My path to
that quiet place actually grew over with weeds too. The narrow path to my quiet
place, where I often met on a regular basis to talk to my Heavenly Father was
almost difficult to find, until one day my husband took the lawn mower and cut a
path. The creep of simply having too many things to do which pull us away from our daily devotions, is perhaps
one reason?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I continued to talk to God our Father, and to my surprise, I also noticed one little
tree amongst all the other trees around the pond’s edge. The sun was shining
bright on that day, the sky was blue and this white tree stood amongst the evergreens.
It stood looking at me from across the pond. It did not have a leaf on it. Just
a white leafless tree standing out in the crowd. It came to my mind that I too,
had become like that tree. I was not a pine tree full of lush green needles
sitting at the water’s edge, full of life. I was like the white dead tree, with
no fruit, no leaves. I stood out, but not in a good way. It was a dead tree. It
still had a beauty about it as the sun shined on it, magnifying it. It was a
surreal moment, where God showed me a picture of myself. That white tree still
had a purpose. It had a voice for God to speak to me, in our quiet place. I
believe he did speak to me as I looked at that tree, not in an audible voice,
yet I recognized the voice of my Heavenly Father.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>His gentle voice paints a picture so vivid.
God did not yell at me and throw guilt trips at me for the things that I did or
did not do this summer. God our Father was loving in His gentle rebuke, His Holy Spirit showed me a picture. As a Father, I have known His discipline. As a father disciplines his children, so God the Father at times disciplines those He loves. Our talk was not about God's discipline, it was the voice of my Heavenly Father telling me to take notice. It was about me finding the discipline in my daily life to make time for God. It was as if I
could hear God tell me, Daughter, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I AM
still here</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have missed our daily
visits, and your prayers. I know your struggles, how you busy yourself, your
questions, your doubts and fears. You don’t have to be like a dead tree. You
can be like the tree whose roots goes deep into the water. I know that often
you feel separated from other people and like you don’t fit in. I know your
loneliness, frustrations, and worries. I am here to help you overcome them.
Often you try to take control and cope with these things on your own. How is it
working out for you? I still come to this garden every day. You stopped coming.</i></span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-65999340233524434072016-02-27T07:09:00.001-08:002016-12-23T06:51:33.673-08:00BeliefMark 9:24 - "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."<br />
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I have been a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ) for over 26 years. As far back as I can remember, I always believed in God. I remember as a child playing outside by myself and sitting in the snow fort. The wind outside the fort was a blizzard. Back in that day, we did have snowdrifts as high as our snack-bar roof. It was a lot of fun making snow caves. Nice clean healthy fun. One day I was in the fort just talking to God. I was a child and I had childlike belief. The years went by.<br />
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It was not until later in my adult life when I actually had this need embedded within me to want to know more about God; to somehow find answers to the many questions in regards to the meaning of life, and of death. You see, my brother Larry had passed away that year. When he died, all these thoughts and questions came to my mind. I went on a quest for answers. The avenues varied. Long of the short, the answers had been there all along. When I looked back to years before his death, I remembered a book my brother Larry had given to me some years ago. It is a book called "Jesus". At the time, I flipped through the book and put it aside. I was busy with my two young children and just interested in other things; like writing depressing poetry and songs. You know the kind of songs country singers write and sing. That was my way of filtering through my emotions whatever they were. We all have them and the thoughts, the worries, insecurities, questions which bombard us. In one way or another,we cope through whatever it is.<br />
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During my walk with the Lord, I have travelled many roads while always trying to remain on the narrow road. Sometimes the road can seem so narrow, more like a little path. That is because the things of the world can be like weeds choking the road and making it more like a cow trail. It is during times like these when I have had to pray "Lord help my unbelief". <br />
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There are times in our lives when we are faced with major problems, concerns, anxieties, fear and we worry about the outcome of these problems. I think it is natural to worry. We may think that the problems will never end. Over my twenty six years of following Jesus, I have experienced many trials: The feeling of grief, helplessness, fear, depression. Some of these emotions due to sadness felt from - death of my brother, suicide of my brother in-law Steve, the death of my sister in-law Laurie, one by one our Aunts and Uncles passing - (a generation of family, my Dad, Mum, sister). There was also the feeling of helplessness watching other loved one's coping with sickness like cancer. Significant to myself was the loss which came from experiencing broken friendships, divorce, and the feelings of rejection which accompany. Then came the empty nest syndrome and so on. Many changes and experiences which have come and gone. As life continues so do the struggles which come in many forms.<br />
<br />
Many of these trials have brought me to my knees, sometimes screaming out loud. At times feeling like no one hears my cries. Then I remember the snow cave and I remember my childhood belief and talking to God. The reassurance that through all these trials I was not alone. It was His strength that held me steadfast and faithful. It was God's loving arms that pulled me along and up the hills and through the briars, through the thorns along the path. Today, I'm still on that narrow road. Jesus is still there with me and I have God's promises that whatever happens along that road, I am not alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me. Where ever I go, He goes with me. I'm human and sometimes fear can be a thorn which tells me that I can't help myself or help anyone. I can do what I can do. With God's help, I can do so much more, through Christ who gives me strength. I know who holds my future in His hands. I know what I believe. I believe what Jesus said. In the days when fear seems bigger than belief. When the pain of rejection raises it's ugly head and on days when I wonder why I bother, That is when I continue to pray. <br />
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"Lord help my unbelief." My unbelief is not in what God can do for me, it is not in what God can do through me for others. My unbelief is when I think in the natural and not in the Spirit of a Mighty and Amazing God. Unbelief is like a flame to an empty Styrofoam cup. It melts and leaves one hopeless. True belief stands the test of time like a piece of metal being transformed into a strong and sharp blade, purged and shape by the fire.<br />
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If we fill a Styrofoam cup with water (faith) then even if you put it in the middle of the fire the cup will not melt. Try it some time. I was amazed when someone did this. They filled a Styrofoam cup with water and put it in the middle of the fire. The cup sat there for a long time in the middle of the fire. It did not melt. The water evaporates over time. What do we do? We keep asking God to fill our cups. He will.<br />
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If you are feeling like the path you are walking on is choked by the briars of the world, and you are filled with all those same questions and fears and thoughts and feelings, I pray the Lord will fill your cup with his living water. May you truly find peace in the midst of the fire and believe and take hold of Jesus hand. He will give you the strength to overcome one day at a time. The years will pass and you will look back and see just how you made it through.<br />
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Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-30567105167782875842015-01-24T05:51:00.000-08:002015-01-24T06:02:54.987-08:00The Pond<br />
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It is winter, the season with the reason to be miserable. Is this true? Many people live life like winter gives us some permission to let out all our frustration on others. I was talking to someone the other day and he said, "It must be winter because everyone seems to be so miserable." One person comes home from work all stressed, angry and acting like she lives in bitch city. Her poor husband and children have to live with her bad moods day in and day out. Then there is another guy who wants to throw his computer out the window because it won't download fast enough. Someone else is all depressed and lonely because they have been staying indoors for the last few weeks, determined not to go outside in the minus zero temperatures. What are the root causes? Not enough vitamin D? Not enough social interaction? Not enough sex? Just asking.<br />
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The overcast grey skies creep into our souls and people become miserable. The news forecast is a daily re-run of bad news and horrible world events. That is not even mentioning all the other personal things people endure each day. We don't know how the mind works. I've been feeling the winter blues myself; feeling like I desperately just want to escape everything, everyone and go lay on a nice sand beach, soak up the sun, feel it's warmth and the gentle breeze and yes have a nice refreshing drink to sip. Sounds dreamy to me. That is about where my imagination stops and reality kicks back in.<br />
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Yesterday the sun actually shined and the sky was a beautiful blue. Go figure the pond had frozen over nice and smooth. It is a big pond. Without anyone to join me, I went out back, put on my cold rusty skates. I pulled out an old hockey stick that had been leaning against a tree for the past two years then I threw down the little black puck. For the next hour I skated from one end of the pond to the other. My beautiful dog Camber ran by my side the entire time. It felt invigorating and refreshingly wonderful. While skating, I had a lot of time to listen to God and also talk to God in the quiet of the great outdoors. It was our time.<br />
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That is what I did. I said to The Lord, "Okay, if there is anything you want to tell me Lord, I'll just be quiet and listen. There was no one else around. It was so quiet. I thought, <i>well I can't lay on the nice warm beach, but I will just lay in the middle of the pond and wait on The Lord.</i> There I was - looking up into the vast canopy and all I could see was blue sky with some rays of sunlight. I felt the same warmth, I once felt as a child. This was not my first time laying out in the middle winter looking up and experiencing the presence of God with me. It really could not have been much better if I was on a nice sandy beach. Did I hear God speak to me in an audible voice? Many would like me to say yes. No. However, I have to tell you, there was more than once where I heard the moaning and grumblings of the ice upon which I lay. It was almost scary. For a moment I thought, the ice<i> could break open and swallow me up. Not likely since the ice is about ten inches deep. </i>Then my thought drifted off again for another moment. I even thought, <i>Oh, I wonder if God will just rapture me. </i>That is how much I believed that God was with me<i>. </i><br />
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Then I thought, <i>how incredible the sounds of the ice</i>. Then I heard a crow squawking in the distance and the sound of whistles of the wind piercing my ears. Somehow to me, it seemed that God was speaking and letting me know that he was there. There was no loud deep voice speaking Moses (Rebecca) you must do this or do that. In my prayer and meditation with God, I did share with Him many things, which he already knows anyway. What more can I say? It was a refreshing time. Once again I realized how great winter can be when we choose to enjoy it rather than complain about it.<br />
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So many of us, would rather look out the window rather than open the door and look with a new perspective. I'm guilty as charged. Now that I realize it. I'm going to go out that door again today. I could go skating again. I think. . . instead, I'll take my mum out and let her get some fresh air too.<br />
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Guess what? If you look out your window today, you will see once again the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Why not get out and enjoy it. Even if you are at work or many things to do. Consider taking a break. You could go outside for a minute or two and clear out the cobwebs, release the stress and while you are at it - talk to God. Don't be surprised at what you might hear in response.<br />
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You might not have a pond in your back yard. Come over to the one in my back yard or look around and you will find the equivalent. May God Bless you today and may He lift up your spirit to find the sunshine and help you through these winter blues. Amen! I think it is going to snow today. I might have to build a snowman instead of skating on the pond. Want to build a snowman?Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-21455628234920243592015-01-16T08:54:00.002-08:002016-12-23T07:16:21.191-08:00Life on the Back Burner<br />
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Yes it is a New Year. Another year, 2014, and another one gone and another one gone and another one bites the dust. Glad to see 2014 go. It was one hell of a year with many twists and turns. Times of trial and testings. A few exciting events to help. I can recognize many times when God's hand was at work.<br />
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There were many mornings of wondering what the future holds. Mornings of tearful prayers fuelled by frustration. The Bible says, "The Lord disciplines those He loves." Was 2014 a year of discipline? I believe yes, in some ways God was teaching many things, and changing me in the process. In some ways, it has been a year of sacrificing my own wants and desires. It can be a difficult time in life to enter. For me it was bringing mother home to live with us. It changed the dynamics of our lives in many ways. For others it may be different types of priorities and sacrifices. It is human nature to want to have freedom and control of our lives. I always thought that freedom meant - being able to do what ever I wanted to do. If I want to go weed in the garden, write a book, go shopping, have coffee with my bff or whatever I want to do, when I want to do it, I can. This year, I felt I could not do many of the things I wanted to do.<br />
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Many women are good at juggling the many aspects of their lives. It seems that when I was younger and my children were at home, I could do that without feeling much stress. Now that I am older, and going through the reversal of puberty, I can't seem to juggle as many things. Or maybe I'm juggling more. I can't really figure it out, but over the past year I have felt stressed, overwhelmed and at times like I was losing my mind with not being able to cook six pots on a four burner stove. Are some of those feelings symptoms of menopause thrown into the mix? It has been a year of disconnect with all my close relationships except one. That relationship with my mother (Mum). The constant flower in my entire life. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
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I realized about a year ago that my mother won't be here forever and our precious relationship could come to an end any time. Only The Lord knows. I could not be here tomorrow. I know life can change on a dime when we least expect it. I was fearing that one day I would get that dreaded call? Many times throughout my life of ups and downs, my Mum has always been one of the few who always cared about how I was doing, she sincerely wanted me to be a part of her life. All the years of my life I have depended on her to help me through all the storms of life. Over the last few years the tides have turned. As she gets older, she has depended on me more and more. I'm thankful for my family who also help our mother.<br />
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We share a wonderful mother and daughter relationship. I have always known she loves me and that I love her whole heartily. I tend to love deep those in my circle. When my circle gets broken, I get broken. Mum has always been there for me to cry on her shoulder; always there with her wise advice. Sometimes that advice has been hard to receive, even though she is almost always right. Over the past few years it has become my turn to be there for my mother to care for her, love her, listen to her. This year even more so with her failing health.<br />
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God has been with us. My mother and I share a main ingredient and that is our faith in Jesus Christ. There have been many times of prayer, especially over this past year. I recognize God's hand at work in me and in my mother. I see Him preparing us for whatever the future holds. He is lighting our path along the journey.<br />
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I reflect on 2014. I know that many of my needs were put on the back burner. We all go through different stages in life. Our lives are like a stove with four burners and there are usually four pots boiling. There are many needs to care for, people to see, places to go and things to do. It is hard to watch all the burners. I know this because I constantly let the pots come to a boil and overflow all over the stove. We try and make the perfect meal in life. Individually, we try to fit into the pots of those relationships closest to us. So often because of the busyness in everyone's lives these days, sometimes we get placed in the pot that gets put on the back burner and left there to simmer. That is the pot that is often forgotten. The water comes to a slow boil and eventually just boils dry. So, my conclusion as I enter a New Year is that I feel like that dry pot melted to the back burner. I've spent years trying to keep the pots topped up with enough water and nutritious food. Sometimes the pot boils dry. Just ask my husband how many times I've burnt rice.<br />
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Just the other day, I put a pot of water on the stove. I was going to cook some pasta in it. I turned up the temperature and the water came to boil, and it boiled and boiled until it was dry. I got busy doing something else and totally forgot about the pot of water boiling. For a moment, I even forgot what I was boiling the water to cook.<br />
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The slow boil which evaporates over time and there is nothing left in the pot. Relationships can be like pots too. The relationships/friendships drift apart like vapour. Usually it is the one who feels like the back burner pot who is left with that lost feeling of neglect. In the end result, it is easy to stay melted to the stovetop. Easy to become a recluse. Stop cooking. Give up. Keep the pots shiny and new sitting in the cupboard. Stay unscathed. That way, one does not have to feel the pain of neglect one more time.<br />
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On the flip side, now my Mum has chosen to live in a convalescent/ nursing home with many others who have aged. That is not easy to watch either. It would seem to be another stage in life. Once elderly people go to live in these homes, many of them tend to be put on the back burner by their family and friends. Many don't get visitors. I see this every time I go visit my mother. Some families put them in the home like they are a pot. Then they get busy with their lives again and don't visit. I'm happy to see my Mother having visitors.<br />
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Sadly in this world, often people are treated like they are recyclable. Throw out the burnt pots and replace them with the new pots. We live in a recycle society. Many times, I've gone through the recycle box too. When that happens, it tends to leave a person feeling insignificant. It feels like being a pot on the back burner.<br />
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I don't know what I would do being an empty pot if I didn't have my faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pot maker and the one who fills our clay pots with living water. Many people struggle with similar challenges. Whether we have faith or not, sometimes we don't feel strong or joyful. I don't believe that we can always maintain human strength with the power of positive thinking. God knows when we are weak and all about our struggle. He can make us strong. We don't have to pretend. We can't live a life in pretence. We live life in truth. Yes, we can make better choices on a daily basis. We have free will to choose right or wrong. I believe that relationship with Jesus is one pot that will never run dry. When I feel the water in my pot starting to evaporate by life's struggles, I cry out to God - Fill my pot Lord. I lift you up Lord. God gives great cooking lessons.<br />
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Going forward into another year, I think I'll do less cooking and more eating out. Hopefully, the spills will become less and the pots will remain sparkling and clean and full. I'll leave the cooking to the Super Chef.<br />
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To update Post - My mother passed away that following year. I am grateful for the time on earth we shared. Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-69877243576869815342014-12-05T09:08:00.002-08:002014-12-05T09:08:42.417-08:00Morning Prayer<div class="MsoNormal">
I was up early this morning, made the coffee, my husband’s
lunch and kissed him goodbye, before he went off to work for the day. Then I
took my coffee down stairs and for a moment thought about turning on the
television and veg out, maybe watch the depressing news cast - just relax
before my niece arrives and my Mum gets up. It was so quiet and the fireplace
was burning a soothing flame, and the house was warm and cozy. I thought, <i>No!</i> <i>I
have some quiet time. I should pray and talk to God.</i> I have slowly been
drawn away from the discipline of prayer and other Spiritual priorities. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to pray.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
With the sermon notes on the subject of prayer from the last
few Sundays, still fresh in my mind, I began to exalt God and acknowledge my
Holy and Heavenly Father, Creator and Savior. Many of us in my generation grew
up starting our day at school by saying the Lord’s Prayer and then singing 'O Canada', at
the sound of the 9:00 school bell. The Lord’s Prayer is a format example of how
Jesus told the disciples how to pray. It is a helpful instruction for those who
don’t know how to pray or communicate with a Holy and Just God. If you want
more information on the topic of prayer in this regard contact <a href="http://www.hopefortoday.ca/">www.hopefortoday.ca</a> and I’m sure Pastor
Bryan Vaughan will send you a copy of his sermon notes which will direct you to Bible scripture on the topic.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
This morning, I began praying for others, who I know are struggling.
I find, as I begin to pray for others, topics or thoughts will come to my mind.
It is important to pray. <u>See sermon notes</u>. It should not surprise me
that during prayer, often God responds. For me, I don’t hear God speak in an audible
voice per say. It is more within my inner thoughts and inspirations. I just
know it is His voice. His answers, add to the prayer, instructs with
inspiration, direction ideas of action, obviously not contrary to The Word of
God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, after that little prelude. After praying, I was inspired to write again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Often, people reach for other things to meet their needs and
desires rather than reach out through prayer to God. People bury themselves in
paperwork or a multitude of other things. After a long day at work, the couch is a very inviting place. Even
this morning, I would have turned on the television to find some rest rather
than rest in the Father God and talk to Him through prayer. Ridiculous, since I
just had eight hours sleep. How many people are no different than me? I know of
so many who are struggling with trials, anxiety, worry, addictions. It seems
easier to reach for the quick fix: Turn
to other people, your job, success, prosperity, fame, alcohol, and cigarettes,
Tim Hortons or MacDonalds to fill that graving. We get the picture. <o:p></o:p></div>
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People line up for a half hour to buy a coffee. Thus the new
jingle. <u>“You always line up at Tim Horton’s”</u>. A half hour of prayer
would fill your cup with a better replacement than coffee, wine, or the cravings of the sinful heart. On and on I could go. People are trying to
ease the pain of their real struggle, with some or all of these types of
things. It is so true. I think it is called comfort food. What is my comfort
food? What is your comfort food? Can you ever eat enough of it? We are getting
fat consuming the wrong foods. I’m not talking about whether or not we should
eat pork. I’m talking about what nutrients are you consuming for your
Spiritual, Physical and Emotional needs? Are you going to Tim’s or MC Doo Doo’s
for it, or are you turning to God and a relationship with God through His Son
Jesus Christ. Tis the season to be Jolly, Fa La La La La La, La La La La. Tis
the season to know and understand that Christ is the Greatest Gift of all, and
through Him, you can have a minute to minute communication with the God of the
universe. Give Him all your worries, anxiety. Rest in Him Merry Gentle Men.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I know that there are so many unanswerable questions about
God, about faith. There are also many answers in the Holy Bible. I can see many
eyes rolling who are reading that line. The Holy Bible is the infallible Word
of God. The Bible is proven, tried and true with many fulfilled prophecies to date
and a few more Biblical prophesies still to come. Example - the return of God the
Son for those who believe, repent and receive that greatest gift of all <u>Jesus
Christ</u>. The Bible is full of God’s good advice, instruction which can give
those who seek Him and ask Him for help a means to find that help on a daily basis. The “BIBLE,
yes that is the book for me. I stand on guard for the Word of God. The BIBLE”. How many people even pick up the Bible or have
a Bible these days? If you want a free Bible also contact <a href="http://www.hopefortoday.ca/">www.hopefortoday.ca</a>. They will give you a new Bible.</div>
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Many know how to turn on the tap, but don’t turn on the tap
of communication with God. Or maybe it has become a slow drip. To some God is
not real. To others, they can put way more faith in a man in a red suit named
Santa. (Satan) Same letters used. Isn’t he a sly devil that father of lies? We
tell our children the same lie then wonder why they don’t believe in God when
they get older. If Santa was a lie then God must be a lie too. That is probably one of the biggest lies of all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We pray for God to speak to us, but in reality within the
Word of God, He tells us how to receive all these things and so much more. Why
is it, even for Christians who know and study the word of God, the first signs
of trouble or problems, even just business; reading the Bible, studying it and then
prayer and application is the first things to be put aside?<o:p></o:p></div>
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All stop there and continue my prayer. <o:p></o:p></div>
Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-7217586322255202052014-12-02T07:06:00.000-08:002014-12-05T09:09:06.839-08:00Dreams<div class="MsoNormal">
Dreams<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is one of those mornings when you wake up, make your cup of coffee and sit staring at the flames in the fire place; one of those mornings
when you look into your coffee cup and begin to analyze your life,
wondering -<i> what on earth, am I here for</i>? Feeling lost in a moment of scattered
thoughts. Thinking that I spend more time in my thoughts than I do actually
doing something of significance. What is significant? What is my life about?
What dreams do I have? Do dreams come true?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Years ago, or was it yesterday? The days go by so quickly.
One day goes into the next and the calendar pages flip by year after year. When
I was about fifteen years old, I was given a poem written by someone in the
family. The title of the poem “Dreams Don’t Come True”.</div>
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Lying here feeling lonely</div>
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Because its something that I do</div>
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When I finally realize</div>
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Dreams don't come true</div>
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But I'm constantly seeing a vision</div>
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Of the person I'd like to find</div>
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But it always stays an image</div>
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A prisoner of my mind</div>
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When I try to go to sleep</div>
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Dreaming I refuse to do</div>
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Because its not worth the pain</div>
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If dreams don't come true</div>
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Written by the late: Norman Hand 1982</div>
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Years ago, I actually turned the
poem into a song using minor chords to fit with the words. Even at that
young age, my melancholy personality thought the poem had such a sad perspective
on life, but I could relate to the words. The poem was written, as are
all songs, with the depth of that author’s feelings, thoughts, and cries of the
heart. For him, dreams did not come true.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This morning in my reflections about life, that old song or
poem came to my mind. In reality, I have to confess, I tend to believe that in
this life, dreams don’t really come true. What are dreams? Dreams are our
imaginary wants which enter into our subconscious mind and eventually filter
their way into being. Or at least we strive in life to make those dreams or
subconscious thoughts come true. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How often do we think that our dreams have come true, only
to find years later, that dream was not all it was cracked up to be. It
actually has led to another big disappointment in life. Within our subconscious
dreams, we usually never get to see the outcome. The dreams change somewhere
between thoughts or snores. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many people have their own definition of success. One example could be - getting that
mansion on the hill, with the corvette sitting in driveway with sunroof open
and the sun shining and the gentle breeze blowing. The white picket fence is sturdy and the
mortgage is paid - the dream has come true. In reality there is an empty void
in the heart and still in that subconscious mind that no dream on earth can
fill. The mansion has many empty rooms.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So often in life, we try really hard to make our dreams come
true. That is the purpose which motivates people to get out of bed in the
morning to drive their cars to a job they don’t enjoy, so they can make money
to pay the bills which keep piling up. On weekends, for some people, they
squeeze some enjoyment into their down time. That is if they don’t have to
spend the weekend playing catch up. Sounds depressing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We spend our lives striving to fill the voids with dreams,
but the dreams are not all we had imagined. The fairy tale ending never comes.
The disappointments in life pile up higher and higher until you find yourself
looking into that empty cup or watching old black and white movies with the
volume on full so you can hear it. The worn- out electric recliner is where you
spend the end of your dream. Body bent from years of striving, working and the body is aching and sore.
Your eyes are dim, your pain is old. Oh, yes, Keith Green already wrote that
song. “My eyes are dry, my faith is old, my heart is hard, and my prayers are
cold. I know how I ought to be. Alive to you and dead to me.” A song expressing what we should really be focusing our lives on. We can all feel like the words in Keith's song when we make this world and everything in it our God - thinking this world has anything to offer. It never fully satisfies.<br />
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The years go by and some people out-live their
friends, spouse, siblings and sometimes even their children. When that happens
we tend to cling to the good memories and life can seem more like one big
dream. Years of yesterday did not really happen, did they? That memory is just a
dream of the subconscious mind that we thought happened. It no longer feels
real. That was someone else’s life. The great disconnect begins to happen.
Slowly, the last remnants of this life are seeping away one day at a time. Life
and its dreams almost seem like cruel temptations. The cycle of life will
continue long after I am gone. Unless Christ Jesus returns by then. It will seem like my life was just in someone
else’s imagination. And time moves on. Eventually, you become two thoughts
away, then three, then you become that old black and white movie clip from days
long past which fades with time until it is no more. Ecclesiastes King Solomon wrote nearing the end of his life. "Everything is meaningless under the Sun." There is meaning when you bring the Son (Christ Jesus) under the sun and into your life. Solomon was the wisest of men. Looking over his life he came to the conclusion that we should fear God with loving reverence. This is the foundation of wisdom.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many people are looking into their empty cups these days and
sadly don’t find any hope or meaning. This time of year is difficult for a lot of people to cope.
This season seems to bring much joy to some and much sadness to others. Some
can’t find that happy perspective while trying to live life clinging to hope found in the achievement
of that dream. Some people can seem to have it all, but have hit rock bottom. </div>
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I've
heard of four suicides in the last two weeks. I've felt the pain of that loss
within my own family years ago. I don’t live in my dream world as much anymore.
Sure, sometimes my dream world seems like a better place to get lost in once in a while.
It seems to ease the pain from years of disappointments. The reality of life
can be painful enough at times. To me, dreams don’t come true. Dreams
disappoint. Life and all that makes up our little worlds can disappoint. Why? Because everyone is all
caught up in their own world of dreams of which you may have a very
insignificant role. To God you are significant.</div>
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Is this life perfect? Absolutely not. We live in a fallen world with much pain and suffering and sin. My hope is in the Lord
my God. Without that eternal hope for something better, for perfection, we are
all lost in that time warp where dreams are just a mirage, but His joy comes in
the morning while looking into the empty cups and watching the fire. His Hope
is an everlasting hope for a new day and a new heaven with a perfect God. Until I get there. Jesus commands my destiny.</div>
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"In
Christ Alone. My hope is found. He is my light my strength and my song."</div>
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Do you have that hope in your life which can far exceed any dream for this life? Fill your cup this morning with HOPE! Here is a great song lyric. May you find your light, your strength and song to get you motivated this morning and every morning. Check out the utube song. "In Christ Alone".</div>
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Blog Author - Rebecca Wills Robinson</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-11231826254610410402014-07-10T06:17:00.001-07:002014-07-10T06:19:14.000-07:00The Rubber Room<br />
The Rubber Room<br />
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Do you ever feel like you are trapped in a rubber room. In that room you just keep bouncing off the wall. Do you remember those Indian rubber balls we used to play with when we were children? They bounced so fast and if you threw that ball against the wall it would quickly bounce back and forth from one wall to the next. It was difficult for the eyes to keep up to the speed of the ball.<br />
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That rubber wall is there wherever we go and we keep banging our heads against it day-after-day. Some drive the road to work early in the morning, racing all the other cars and traffic. You arrive at work and sit at your rubber desk and bang your head off that rubber desk three or four times a day. You put in your eight to twelve our shift and by the end of the day you feel like Gumby. I'm showing my age now. When I was a child, my generation played with two toys called Gumby and Pokey. They were made of rubber. I could bend and twist them and they would always go back to form. They would not break.<br />
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What do we do to get out of that rubber room? Good question. Things made of rubber usually bounce back. It softens with each blow. It conforms to whatever it touches. It is strong. Perhaps that is why someone invented the phrase, "that is where the rubber hits the road." What does that mean?<br />
<br />
It's an expression, a figurative one, that means when or where something will be tested. It's derived from, I think, the contact point of automobile tires with the road. As currently used, it means the conditions in which something will demonstrate how good or effective it really is.<br />
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"Think about driving along in a car. All that keeps the car going in the right direction, steering round corners and stopping when you want it to, is a very small area of contact between the four wheels and the road. That's where the real business of controlling your car is happening, where the rubber meets the road, - where it really matters, where it counts, generally."<br />
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Okay, I'm thinking in the context that because at this current time of feeling like I'm trapped in a little rubber room and bouncing around like a little Indian rubber ball. My Gumby is being tested to see if I will continue to bounce in the right direction. Will I allow gravity to take the ball wherever it wants to go or will I run after that little ball and finally catch up to it, grab it, control it, by putting it in my pocket? Will I keep hitting my head on that rubber wall or rubber desk or whatever the rubber is that is hitting the road in my life?<br />
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Where is the rubber hitting the road for me personally? Do I allow God to come into that rubber room with me? Do I invite God's peace to fill that rubber room? Do I stop chasing that ball around the room, sit down and then wait for it to stop all on its own? Can you visualize the picture with me? Eventually the rubber ball will stop if we are patient and still before God. Sit back and lean against the rubber wall, breathe, talk to God and wait for Him to escort you out of the rubber room. I imagine God will show me that there is an open door if I stop banging my head long enough to see it. No more banging my head against that rubber wall. Don't let my Gumby conform to the rubber walls in this world.<br />
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For a biblical perspective - Romans 12:2 New English Translation (NET Bible)<br />
"2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."<br />
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Let my Gumby to bend to His will and not my will. The two toys Gumby and Pokey could play quite well together.<br />
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What is your Gumby doing today?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jj1e3UhQIMA" rel="nofollow">Gumby and Pokey utube link </a>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-78728335760735187182013-07-09T14:13:00.001-07:002013-07-15T13:28:02.707-07:00Hell's Half Acre<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>HELL'S HALF ACRE</strong></span> – Is an expression I have heard many times.
One could say it is a bit of a slang phrase. “Oh she is driving all over hell’s
half acre.” Once we drove to California and 'we took a wrong turn and ended up
driving all over hell’s half acre trying to find the right road.'</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ddohy0MLWAOTilDc2HN_QKyUHwrnFXgNKm8mBo_y9a1RwRflVtBZXYTMMhArxLKF_w4wu1QO1kDp0yALhYRRkrVHeQDhOExOiM-rBfi27HT9v_RyQi5uduvf61OdvajksRmZUxZL3CkP/s1600/DSCN0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ddohy0MLWAOTilDc2HN_QKyUHwrnFXgNKm8mBo_y9a1RwRflVtBZXYTMMhArxLKF_w4wu1QO1kDp0yALhYRRkrVHeQDhOExOiM-rBfi27HT9v_RyQi5uduvf61OdvajksRmZUxZL3CkP/s320/DSCN0847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I decided
to look up the phrase. To my surprise, I did not find much information about it.
What I did learn is that 'hell’s half acre' has been referenced to a place in
California and a place in Texas. It is also described as being a wild,
desolate, or dangerous place. You may be wondering why I have been thinking
about that phrase? Or Maybe you couldn’t give a hoot because you are too busy trying
to find your way out of your own hell’s half acre? Many a time, I’ve felt lost
in that little parcel of land. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I have experienced this myself, I recognize many other
people spinning their wheels on their travels. I can envision the dry dusty
road, the air, a cloud of dirt seeping into the car’s air vents, windows down
and the driver spitting out the dust. Their optical vision is somewhat obscured
from the dust and cracks on the windshield. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a dangerous place many of us get
lured into. Once we take up residence there, it can be very difficult to
escape. For some reason, I always equate the word<em> hell</em> to go hand-in-hand with
the devil. The devil is that big, mean, ugly dude, who many imagine to be dressed in red
with pointed horns protruding from his head and standing with a pitch-fork in hand,
trying to intimidate us to never leave that parcel of land. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my reality, that devil has a name and is very real. He
does not wear a red super-man suite but actually comes in many disguises. Some
of which are quite inviting, deceiving, or shall I say enticing? One particular
weapon used against every human being is called <em>busyness</em>. His subtle ways
of working within our lives, whispers into our deepest weaknesses and tells
us we have to do this or do that, until there are so many things to do, we
couldn’t possibly have enough time to get them all done. At the end of the day
we fall into bed, tossing and turning thinking about the next day’s events.
Morning comes and we get back into that car and drive the rubber onto the roads,
doing all the things we think we must get done. That makes me ask myself, who
is really in the driver’s seat? Maybe a question we all need to ask ourselves? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It occurred to me the other day that there is a word in our
vocabulary which is often difficult for some of us to say. I remember my
children at a very young age had no problem saying the word <em>NO</em>. I think it
was the first word they learned. In fact, that little two letter word can have
such an impact on how long we drive all over <em>hell’s half acre</em>. I think many
times we don’t do ourselves or others any good service by not saying <em>NO</em>. I'll label it as being the <u>Mr. Nice Guy</u> or <u>Christian Nice Girl</u> syndrome. I am
beginning to think that other people see those titles written on our foreheads and some
people abuse people for their niceness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m learning a very difficult lesson, but it is actually
very freeing and good for my sanity (emotional well-being) and my physical
health. What I have been learning is actually better for the relationships in my
life. I’m learning the word <em>NO</em>. That little word <em>NO </em>may disappoint other
people in the initial response, but in the end it will be better. When you do
say yes, they will appreciate your efforts. When you say, <em>NO</em>, they will learn
to understand that <em>NO </em>does not mean never. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It simply means that today, I cannot do that
one thing. How about tomorrow we arrange to do that? Or maybe for today, you
will have to ask someone else, because today, I’m driving some place else. I’m leaving ‘<em>hell’s half acre’</em> behind. I love you, but I'm going to drive through the gates from slavery into freedom. I’m not going
back. Think of it as putting on a life jacket. How can you save someone else if you run yourself ragged trying to please everyone else? For Christian’s reading this blog. I know many have been taught to always be nice to everyone. Your being nice can actually give people the freedom to abuse your niceness. Think about this. . . . There are many
examples where Jesus, may not come across as so nice. A quote for women – from <u>No
More Christian Nice Girl – written by Paul Coughlin & Jennifer D. Degler .</u>
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t let the title fool you. The book talks about being
good which is better than being nice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is the quote from <u>No More Christian Nice Girl</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Though Jesus was not a model of
compliance or “good behaviour,” often women try to put a positive,
nonthreatening spin on everything he did, acting like public relations spokes women
covering for a bungling political candidate. They end up doing damage control
for the Son of God – and damaging themselves in the process. Fortunately, Jesus
Christ doesn’t need damage control or help from an image consultant. As
presented in the Gospels, Jesus is most definitely not one-sided. He is the
complete embodiment of healthy, balanced human personality; thus, Jesus is
immensely compassionate, kind, and gracious while also being assertive,
forceful, and firm when necessary. He is good, but he’s definitely not “nice”
or as safe as many Christians want to believe.” There is so much more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> Please don't </span>
get all freaked out about that one paragraph you just read. I’m not disrespecting Jesus. I'm just encouraging you to look at both sides of who Jesus is and who we are to be.
I've been learning it is best to first have a parallel relationship with God. (Me and Him) and then the horizontal relationships follow, but find the balance. Enjoy the
journey and quit wasting time driving around 'hell’s half acre.' Don’t let that
devil steal your joy, peace, strength any longer. You have permission to say <em>NO</em> once in a while. Spend some time doing what is
best. I think deep down in your Spirit, you will know what that is. If you don’t,
ask Jesus. Prepare to receive a good answer but not necessarily one that feels nice. Enjoy your new found freedom.</span></div>
Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-59388890153725823642012-11-06T09:05:00.001-08:002017-09-28T11:26:05.990-07:00Oil In my LampI remember singing a song from years ago when I went to Sunday school. It was a fun upbeat song. Did I ever think about the words which I was singing? Did I know that they are scriptural? No, not until now. This morning, I was reading the gospel of Matthew as a continuation in my bible devotions. "The Parable of the Ten Virgins " As I read the parable, that song of old, popped back into my head. After all these years, I had to look up the words again. Here they are below. <br />
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Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning<br />
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray<br />
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning<br />
Keep me burning 'til the break of day<br />
(Chorus)<br />
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna<br />
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings<br />
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna<br />
Sing hosanna to the King of Kings<br />
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising<br />
Give me joy in my heart, I pray<br />
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising<br />
Keep me praising 'til the break of day<br />
Chorus<br />
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting<br />
Give me peace in my heart, I pray<br />
Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting<br />
Keep me resting 'til the break of day<br />
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Give me love in my heart, keep me serving<br />
Give me love in my heart, I pray<br />
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving<br />
Keep me serving 'til the break of day<br />
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There are at least five very important messages in this song which could help us keep that oil in the lamp burning. Here is what I came up with:<br />
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1. The first message; is praying to God for Him to keep your lamp burning. The Holy Spirit fills your lamp. By praying, we are communicating with God. We need a relationship with God the Father which can only be found through the Son Christ Jesus. <span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: black;">The song asks Jesus, to keep us burning until the break of day.</span></span> (Until He returns) The message is taken from this parable which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25. They are words written in red to stand out with great importance because Jesus is giving us a very important message through His words. (Jesus speaks of ten virgins. Five were wise and five were foolish. The wise took jars of oil with them. The foolish ran their lamps dry because they thought they had all the time in to world to run around, while wasting their oil away. The delay in the bridegroom coming made them think that the bridegroom (Jesus) would not return yet. When He returned, the five foolish ones were desperately trying to scrounge around and borrow oil so they could then fill their lamps. Sadly, it was too late. The Bridegroom took the wise virgins with him to the wedding banquet (to the new Kingdom with the Lord) because their lamps were full of oil The foolish ones were denied entrance, even though they pleaded to be let in. Jesus finishes the parable by saying "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." <br />
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On a side note, there is another song from my childhood I remembered. That song was inspired from <strong><span style="color: #660000;">Psalm 120:<span class="text Ps-119-105" id="en-AMP-16004"><sup class="versenum">105 "</sup>Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-AMP-16004A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span>" That song is another prayer.</span> </strong>The bible says <span style="color: #660000;"><strong>John 8:<span class="text John-8-12" id="en-AMP-26392"><sup class="versenum">12 "</sup>Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life." </span>When we receive him as Saviour, He becomes that light in us. We are to be His light in the darkness.</strong> <span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
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2. The second message in the song is praying for the joy of the Lord. The bible says that the Joy of the Lord is our strength.<br />
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3. The third message in the song is praying for peace. The peace that passes all understanding.<br />
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4. The forth message in the song is praying, for love in my heart to keep on serving the Lord)<br />
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5. The fifth message in the song is praising God (Hosanna) in the highest (giving God that place reserved for only Him the King of Kings (Christ Jesus). <br />
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When I meditated on this parable, again, I had to ask myself, "Am I like the foolish virgin or am I being like the wise virgin? Is my lamp full of oil and do I have my jars overflowing? <br />
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1. Do I pray to God everyday and have a relationship with Christ? (A relationship much like the kind you would have with your bridegroom to be?<br />
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2. Do I have the joy of the Lord, His strength? or Do I go about my daily business doing what I want to do, in my own weakness? <br />
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3. Do I have the peace of God? or do I go around burdened by the cares of this world rather than rejoicing in all that the Lord has given and offers to me? Do I fill my lamp with worldly treasures: (things like money or the pursuit of it, worldly pleasures like drugs, alcohol, worldly possessions, fame, fortune) rather than fill my lamp with the oil of joy, oil of peace, oil of love and service?<br />
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4. Do I live for Christ, by seeking to know Him, serve Him, follow Him and live a life for Him? or Do I live for myself? Choosing (disobedience, deception, dishonest gain, delusion, denial, doubt) which all lead to death and deplete the oil from lamp? <br />
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God through His Grace, compassion, His mercy and His love, gave each one of us a lamp. God has given us plenty of oil. Because He loves us, He desires to fill our lamps to over flowing. He can't do that unless we lift up our lamps to Him and ask Him to pour in. We must be wise and knowledgeable in the way we use our gifts and talents. Are we serving God or serving ourselves (our own selfish ambitions?)<br />
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Perhaps this simple little song is a good start? <br />
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Oh Lord, Jesus, <br />
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning<br />
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray<br />
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning<br />
Keep me burning 'til the break of day<br />
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Jesus said,<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><strong>"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."</strong></span> <br />
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Are you ready for the wedding banquet? Have you prepared yourself? If you would like to read Matthew Chapter 25 click the link to bible gateway just below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:1-13&version=AMP">http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:1-13&version=AMP</a>Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3525069805348233974.post-37347920679344613992012-11-02T11:53:00.000-07:002017-09-28T11:29:00.432-07:00Matthew Chapter 24I was at a women's retreat on the weekend. I heard a message given from the pulpit. The speaker moves in the gifts of the prophetic. She gave a message for these current times. It was a serious message. <br />
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We look all around us and we can see the signs of the end of the age. Whether it is scientific calculations, astronomers, Nostradamus followers or following the Myan calendar - people are watching and expecting something to happen to our planet. I follow the bible , I believe that "God" the Creator of the Universe, created everything and inspired the writings of the bible. Old testament prophets, spoke of the day of the Lord, hundreds of years before the prophesied Messiah (Christ Jesus) even came. It was prophesied that the Messiah would come and offer salvation and redemption from death. It is all documented in the Holy Bible. We have seen many of the prophesies come to pass. There is definitely more prophecies to be fulfilled. These are spoken of by the prophets Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and through the visions of John spoken of in the book of revelation. The signs are written out throughout the bible. <br />
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If you don't know what they are, Jesus himself spoke of some of these signs, found in the gospel of Matthew Chapter 24.<br />
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The speaker at the retreat got my attention. It was a wake-up call, again. Sometimes we need to be awakened. I don't want to come across as a doomsday fanatic, but I do want to be alert to what the bible teaches about the coming of the Lord (the day of the Lord). I want to be ready when the Messiah (Christ Jesus returns) That is why I'm writing this blog. If I believe the bible and say I believe in Jesus and do not share about Him and His second coming, I would be living in disobedience, by not fulfilling the great commission. <br />
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Matthew 24:14<br />
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<span class="text Matt-24-14" id="en-AMP-23972"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup><span style="color: #990000;">And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.</span></span><span style="color: #990000;">)</span> </div>
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I believe, I have a responsibility to tell others. If a house was on fire, would I stand there and watch it burn, if I knew someone was inside? I think at the very least, I would call the fire department or dial 911. Well, I'm dialing 911 right now. I can only present the biblical truth to others and give an opportunity to receive knowledge to biblical teaching. Whether you are interested or not, is the choice of each individual person. </div>
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For me, there is proof in the pudding. We have seen it. It has been written for centuries. Read Matthew chapter 24 to get started. Please don't stop there. Look around at the world news and consider the validity of the word of God. </div>
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Consider that the time of the Lord may be near. Hypothetically speaking, if there is a fifty percent chance that the bible is what it is claimed to be, by Christians, all over the world, is it worth investigating? If given a choice, would you gamble your eternal destiny on the other fifty percent? I'm 100% sure I would not play the odds against God.</div>
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Matthew Chapter 24 - tells of the end of the age, a time when Christ will return. There are many things Jesus tells His disciples will happen. Over this last century, we have seen many of these signs. Even today, if we turn on the news casts, we see an increase of activity. Lawlessness, hearts of believers growing cold, (people turning from the bible and toward modern beliefs) wars, rumours of wars, (war has become a national event in the last two centuries) the gospel will be preached in all the world (Internet, modern transportation) has made this possible. false prophets, teaching UN-biblical doctrines. Jesus warns us to be alert. We must know the bible so that we will not be deceived. Read further in Matthew 24. If you do not have a bible, a great bible reference is Bible gateway.com. See links belows.<br />
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Reference: <a data-mce-href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024&version=AMP;CEB" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024&version=AMP;CEB">http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024&version=AMP;CEB</a><br />
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For more bible study, here is a great link.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thestreamtv1.com/PUT/bdtv_academy_002.htm">http://www.thestreamtv1.com/PUT/bdtv_academy_002.htm</a><br />
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<br />Rebecca Wills Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11488109747475743875noreply@blogger.com1