Anna, the prophetess.... a widow for eighty years never left the Temple but worshipped there night and day....at the very moment that Simeon was praying ( for the infant Jesus) Anna showed up and broke into an anthem of praise to God and talked about the child (Jesus) to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem. ( Luke 2:36 - 38 The Answer.)
If doting grandparents and cooing aunts and uncles welcomed the infant Jesus we are not told about it. In fact it would seem that Jesus was welcomed by outcasts (the shepherds) foreigners who were not Jewish ( the wise men) and the lowly animals. The infant Jesus was welcomed and recognized in unexpected ways, by unexpected people like Anna and Simeon.
One might think that Anna would be ready to retire. Leave the Temple duties to others whose hands are not bent with work or whose knees bent with greater ease. Not our Anna. Anna served and was rewarded. Once she saw her Redeemer she knew Him! She had waited expectantly for Him all her life. She wasted not a second but raised her voice in thanks to God Almighty and began telling everyone all about the infant Jesus!
Whether we are young or old there is always ministry waiting for the sensitive person. Even if our hair is gray and our knees are arthritic there still remains a vital and important responsibility for us. We have the responsibility and ability to help shape the generations that follow ours.
Lord, keep our hearts open to Your arrival in our lives. Keep us expectantly looking for You in the everyday activities of our lives and most of all keep words of praise and thanksgiving always on our tongues for all to hear of Your wonderful works. Amen
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Clouds Over My Head
“And the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3b
Are there clouds hanging over your head today? Are you in a place of uncertainty or indecision? Are you struggling with illness or a financial strain? Are you concerned about your friends, spouse, children or grandchildren? Do you fear where our great nation is headed?
When you see a cloud, small puffy fluffs of white or a multitude of ominous dark grey storm clouds that obscure the whole sky, Don't fear! Smile!
Clouds are the dust stirred up by God’s feet as HE acts.
Remember Paul and Silas in jail, their feet chained in stocks. The jail is a dungeon. It is dark. It stinks. Most likely there are rats, bats, spiders and all kinds of pestilence.
What do our friends Paul & Silas do? Do they whine or doubt or fear?
Not our guys. They pray and sing praises to their God and King.
Suddenly there is an earth quake and the doors are opened and their chains drop away. (Acts 16: 25 & 26)
Why?
Well, God heard their praises and he began to tap his feet. We know that God sits on his throne and that the earth is His footstool. (Isaiah 66:1) So, when God taps His feet things begin to happen here on earth.
When you see the clouds over head or feel that you are shrouded in clouds of uncertainty, pain, or fear, know that HE is there and actively working on your behalf. Sing a song of praise to Him, even if it has a whinny sound, and you will be amazed at the way HE will act in your behalf.
Dear Ones, now go on and read the first part of Nahum 1:3
“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm….and the clouds are the dust………”
Never fear dear ones of the Lord. HE is active in all your situations! The clouds are the dust under His mighty feet as HE stirs things up.
With overwhelming praise and thanksgiving to the ever-present Lord who acts on our behalf. With a smile of deep gratitude; I remain His child ever in need of reminders of who HE is..the I Am that I Am…..
mary schmerker
Bible verses from NKJV
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Singing to The Lord in a Foreign Land
How can we sing songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4
It is hard Lord to sing a joyous song to you when we are in an uncomfortable place or surrounded by uncomfortable circumstances. It is hard Lord to remember to sing when those around us are not singing or are difficult personalities, or see things differently than we do. It is hard Lord to remember that you are with us when we are surrounded by so many things that pull at us and attempt to influence our thinking and attitudes.
I am reminded Lord, that singing of Your goodness, Your greatness, Your provision for us and Your great love for us is the only way to be whole. Singing Your praises Lord, reminds me that surrendering to Your will and following You is the only path to true peace, joy and contentment.
I thank and praise You for all you have done in my life. Keep me singing Your praises all the days of my life Lord. Keep my memory of Your faithfulness and goodness ever awake and active. Remind me Lord, that You are present with me always and that You live in my praises. Remind me that when I praise You I enter not only into Your gates but travel all the way through to Your inner courts.
Thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ who makes it possible for me to approach you and to call Him Lord, savior and friend. Amen
It is hard Lord to sing a joyous song to you when we are in an uncomfortable place or surrounded by uncomfortable circumstances. It is hard Lord to remember to sing when those around us are not singing or are difficult personalities, or see things differently than we do. It is hard Lord to remember that you are with us when we are surrounded by so many things that pull at us and attempt to influence our thinking and attitudes.
I am reminded Lord, that singing of Your goodness, Your greatness, Your provision for us and Your great love for us is the only way to be whole. Singing Your praises Lord, reminds me that surrendering to Your will and following You is the only path to true peace, joy and contentment.
I thank and praise You for all you have done in my life. Keep me singing Your praises all the days of my life Lord. Keep my memory of Your faithfulness and goodness ever awake and active. Remind me Lord, that You are present with me always and that You live in my praises. Remind me that when I praise You I enter not only into Your gates but travel all the way through to Your inner courts.
Thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ who makes it possible for me to approach you and to call Him Lord, savior and friend. Amen
Friday, September 14, 2012
Keep it Simple Sweetheart
Last month I started a file cleaning project and with that project decided to type and put in written form some scattered notes I had made for various Bible teaching assignments over the years.
After a time spent struggling with what to share all those years ago, in faith, I felt a nudge from the Lord saying, and correcting me: “Keep it simple sweetheart.”
The Lord frowns when we degrade ourselves or when anyone degrades us. We are His creation and He loves us intensely. He did not like having me call myself stupid. So, He sent correction. Keep it simple and understandable my child was the direction I heard all those years ago. The words were loving and affirmative. While admonished, I never felt shame, just love and encouragement. The Lord never ever shames us. He might bring correction but we know we are loved beyond all reason when He does bring correction. (Proverbs 3: 11 & 12 “My son do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
Thank you Lord. I'll remember to keep it simple.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Becoming God's Colleague, Elijah
From the very start I want to note that I have no idea if I wrote this during a Bible Study or If I liked it and copied it. My apologies to the author if I copied it! I have been cleaning out my files and came across this and felt it was timely so I am sharing it.
Elijah lived in a difficult time.
He felt that God was far from him.
Elijah went into the desert and asked God to speak to him.
There was a great and powerful wind like a hurricane but God wasn't in the wind.
There was an earthquake but God wasn't there.
There was a fire but God wasn't in the fire.
Elijah was ready to give up hope.
Finally there was a tiny invisible breath, a quiet whisper.
The breath of the Unstoppable One, The Lord Almighty.
In that calm, invisible breath, God was found.
Elijah chose to do what God requested.
The decision to change was Elijah's.
Elijah became God's colleague in action.
From me today: We are in difficult troubled times. We need to listen for the quiet invisible breath of the Unstoppable One, God Almighty, listen for His voice saying: This is the way, My way, walk in it."
Lord, help us to humble ourselves and pray so that you will come and heal our land. Amen
With praise and thanksgiving to the almighty Unstoppable One who is willing to whisper in my ear, if only i will listen.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
THE NET - Working
National news in the last two weeks has been filled with the Olympics, politics and tragically, the shooting rampage in Aurora, Colorado. Reports about the alleged shooter in have begun to paint a picture of a lost young man who had become a loner.
Why and how that happens is a mystery. We can be surrounded by people on a daily basis and still not be in relationship with one another. Numerous studies site the benefits of being in relationship with one another.
I will site my favorite: Matthew 22: 37 - 40: Jesus said, " Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God's law and the Prophets hangs from them." The Message
Clearly we are hardwired to be in relationships, first and most important with the Lord God Almighty and next with each other.
In the spring of 2008 I wrote the following which appeared in Sugar Land First United Methodist Church's Care and Prayer Newsletter.
Care "Net Working"
Several years ago Charlie and I had the privilege of owning a beachfront home in Galveston, Texas. Following a storm a net from a large fishing vessel washed ashore and was partially buried in the sand. It fascinated me. I tugged as hard as I could trying to dislodge it from the sand dune. When it would not budge I briefly considered returning to the house to get a saw and cut off a piece of it. I discarded the idea thinking that it would always be a sandy mess. Since that time I have been sorry that I did not try to preserve a portion of the net.
Why?
As I continued my walk that day and in the years since I have thought about Jesus telling His disciples that He would make them fishers of men and I have thought about that charge to us as His followers. I have thought about the net and how it relates to our charge to be fishers of men.
The net was huge. Each rope, in my memory, was as large as a man's wrist. The ropes were a florescent color that would be very visible in the worst weather conditions. The net was woven in such a way that each part moved so that if a strain was put on one portion of the net the rest would be drawn toward the strained area.
Caring for each other in a Christan community of believers is like that net. We should be highly visible so that we can be seen in the storms that assault people's lives. Like the net we should be joined together and flexible enough to move to give support to those who are experiencing storms in their lives. We may be the next one to weather a storm and we may need the net to move in our direction.
I wish I had saved the net! Sandy mess and all it would have been worth the trouble to have the visual as a reminder of our call: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as your self. When trouble comes you will be glad you had help or were there to help another.
Prayer:
Lord, first, thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus the Christ who gave His life in exchange for ours so that we can confidently approach You. Please, make us highly visible, glaringly fluorescent, in the midst of the storms that assail the lives of our friends and neighbors. Show us which direction to move so that we support our brothers and sisters in Christ when they need us and finally keep our hearts open to see and move towards those who need to know You. Amen
Why and how that happens is a mystery. We can be surrounded by people on a daily basis and still not be in relationship with one another. Numerous studies site the benefits of being in relationship with one another.
I will site my favorite: Matthew 22: 37 - 40: Jesus said, " Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God's law and the Prophets hangs from them." The Message
Clearly we are hardwired to be in relationships, first and most important with the Lord God Almighty and next with each other.
In the spring of 2008 I wrote the following which appeared in Sugar Land First United Methodist Church's Care and Prayer Newsletter.
Care "Net Working"
Several years ago Charlie and I had the privilege of owning a beachfront home in Galveston, Texas. Following a storm a net from a large fishing vessel washed ashore and was partially buried in the sand. It fascinated me. I tugged as hard as I could trying to dislodge it from the sand dune. When it would not budge I briefly considered returning to the house to get a saw and cut off a piece of it. I discarded the idea thinking that it would always be a sandy mess. Since that time I have been sorry that I did not try to preserve a portion of the net.
Why?
As I continued my walk that day and in the years since I have thought about Jesus telling His disciples that He would make them fishers of men and I have thought about that charge to us as His followers. I have thought about the net and how it relates to our charge to be fishers of men.
The net was huge. Each rope, in my memory, was as large as a man's wrist. The ropes were a florescent color that would be very visible in the worst weather conditions. The net was woven in such a way that each part moved so that if a strain was put on one portion of the net the rest would be drawn toward the strained area.
Caring for each other in a Christan community of believers is like that net. We should be highly visible so that we can be seen in the storms that assault people's lives. Like the net we should be joined together and flexible enough to move to give support to those who are experiencing storms in their lives. We may be the next one to weather a storm and we may need the net to move in our direction.
I wish I had saved the net! Sandy mess and all it would have been worth the trouble to have the visual as a reminder of our call: Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as your self. When trouble comes you will be glad you had help or were there to help another.
Prayer:
Lord, first, thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus the Christ who gave His life in exchange for ours so that we can confidently approach You. Please, make us highly visible, glaringly fluorescent, in the midst of the storms that assail the lives of our friends and neighbors. Show us which direction to move so that we support our brothers and sisters in Christ when they need us and finally keep our hearts open to see and move towards those who need to know You. Amen
Friday, July 20, 2012
Precious in HIS sight
Tuesday the tenth of July, the following scripture started to ring in my ears:
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15 NIV & NKJV
The NLT puts it this way: "The Lord's loved ones are precious to him; it grieves Him when they die."
In the NASB: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones."
July 10th one of the members of my church family was suddenly called home to be with the Lord. He was called home while completing a mission trip to Ukraine with his wife and other church members. A Ukrainian Student died in the same accident and a missionary was seriously injured.
This raises the proverbial question: Why do bad things happen to good people?
If we were concerned only with our church member it might be simply answered. Going home to the Lord is not a bad thing. Having committed our lives to the Lord, being baptized, confessing our sins and following Jesus Christ means that we do not die. We simply go from life on earth to life eternal. We slip the confines of our earthly bodies with all their limitations and complications and find ourselves in Heaven at the feet of our Lord.
What about the family left behind to cope without their loved one? Does God care? Did God ignore the prayers offered for safety of those on the trip?
Wasn't this man doing Your work, Lord?
Weren't all three doing Your Work, Lord?
Why?
Why this man?
Why now Lord?
Didn't your hear our prayers for safety?
Did you just ignore them, God?
What gives Lord?
On earth those questions remain unanswerable.
In His mercy God sends us comfort, the strength to go on, and others from His family of faith to surround us with their love and with His love.
God also sends us HIS Word to edify us. In Ephesians 6 we learn that God, in His wisdom has given us many kinds of protective armor and one offensive tool, the sword. We are told: "take up the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17b Amplified)
So I lifted up the sword, God's Word, for help in answering the unanswerable.
Consequently, another scripture immediately came to mind:
"All creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19
As we used to sing this: "All creation is straining on tiptoe just to see the sons of God come into their own."
That song and scripture always paint a word picture for me. In my mind's eye I see all of Heaven's company leaning over the balcony rails of Heaven looking down on us, eagerly waiting to see what we will do next for the Kingdom of God. I imagine them cheering us on, shouting their approval of our efforts and then giving us a victorious welcome when we reach the gates of Heaven. In the throne room our heavenly Father, with Jesus seated at his side, gives us a high five with the words: "Well done my good and faithful servants."
So, yes, our prayers were heard. Our ultimate safety is not remaining in this world but in having a place at our Heavenly Father's table waiting for us with our name on a card stating: This place is reserved for_________." (insert your name here.)
Psalm 116:15 assures us that God is close to us and we are precious to Him. He chooses the time to call us home, into His presence. Each life is valuable to Him.
In Matthew 10:29 -31 Jesus himself tells us: "Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows."
Where does this leave the family left behind?
They are loved and protected by their family of faith, watched over by their heavenly father and cheered on by the whole host of Heaven as they walk forward day by day.
Psalm 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (NLT)
God is intimately acquainted with our lives. Every aspect of our lives, no matter how minuscule is of concern to Him. We can confidently and joyfully participate in all of life knowing that God is compassionate and aware of the disappointments, frustrations, anger or grief as well as the joys and triumphs we face in life. Each one of our tears is collected by Him, inspected carefully and treasured. They are as valuable to Him as precious jewels. Enduring under His care has a purpose and glorifies Him.
We can rest assured that having accepted the gift that defies description, the gift of the life of His very own Son, Jesus the Christ, in exchange for our lives; He will wipe away all the tears from our life forever. Revelation 21:4
Finally, God's Word gives us additional assurance: "None of this fazes us, because Jesus loves us. I am absolutely convinced that nothing - living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8; 38 & 39 (The Message)
A HUG!
A hug from God Almighty. Our loving Father in Heaven sends us a hug and the assurance we are HIS!
Lord God Almighty, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to walk this earth in flesh and blood, to experience all that we experience and then to return to You leaving us with the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to edify and guide us. Thank You for your Word to use as a guide and as an offensive weapon. All praise be to Thee for saving a place at Your table for those who have accepted the gift of Your Son, Jesus, as their Lord, Savior and Friend. Amen.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15 NIV & NKJV
The NLT puts it this way: "The Lord's loved ones are precious to him; it grieves Him when they die."
In the NASB: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones."
July 10th one of the members of my church family was suddenly called home to be with the Lord. He was called home while completing a mission trip to Ukraine with his wife and other church members. A Ukrainian Student died in the same accident and a missionary was seriously injured.
This raises the proverbial question: Why do bad things happen to good people?
If we were concerned only with our church member it might be simply answered. Going home to the Lord is not a bad thing. Having committed our lives to the Lord, being baptized, confessing our sins and following Jesus Christ means that we do not die. We simply go from life on earth to life eternal. We slip the confines of our earthly bodies with all their limitations and complications and find ourselves in Heaven at the feet of our Lord.
What about the family left behind to cope without their loved one? Does God care? Did God ignore the prayers offered for safety of those on the trip?
Wasn't this man doing Your work, Lord?
Weren't all three doing Your Work, Lord?
Why?
Why this man?
Why now Lord?
Didn't your hear our prayers for safety?
Did you just ignore them, God?
What gives Lord?
On earth those questions remain unanswerable.
In His mercy God sends us comfort, the strength to go on, and others from His family of faith to surround us with their love and with His love.
God also sends us HIS Word to edify us. In Ephesians 6 we learn that God, in His wisdom has given us many kinds of protective armor and one offensive tool, the sword. We are told: "take up the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17b Amplified)
So I lifted up the sword, God's Word, for help in answering the unanswerable.
Consequently, another scripture immediately came to mind:
"All creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19
As we used to sing this: "All creation is straining on tiptoe just to see the sons of God come into their own."
That song and scripture always paint a word picture for me. In my mind's eye I see all of Heaven's company leaning over the balcony rails of Heaven looking down on us, eagerly waiting to see what we will do next for the Kingdom of God. I imagine them cheering us on, shouting their approval of our efforts and then giving us a victorious welcome when we reach the gates of Heaven. In the throne room our heavenly Father, with Jesus seated at his side, gives us a high five with the words: "Well done my good and faithful servants."
So, yes, our prayers were heard. Our ultimate safety is not remaining in this world but in having a place at our Heavenly Father's table waiting for us with our name on a card stating: This place is reserved for_________." (insert your name here.)
Psalm 116:15 assures us that God is close to us and we are precious to Him. He chooses the time to call us home, into His presence. Each life is valuable to Him.
In Matthew 10:29 -31 Jesus himself tells us: "Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows."
Where does this leave the family left behind?
They are loved and protected by their family of faith, watched over by their heavenly father and cheered on by the whole host of Heaven as they walk forward day by day.
Psalm 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (NLT)
God is intimately acquainted with our lives. Every aspect of our lives, no matter how minuscule is of concern to Him. We can confidently and joyfully participate in all of life knowing that God is compassionate and aware of the disappointments, frustrations, anger or grief as well as the joys and triumphs we face in life. Each one of our tears is collected by Him, inspected carefully and treasured. They are as valuable to Him as precious jewels. Enduring under His care has a purpose and glorifies Him.
We can rest assured that having accepted the gift that defies description, the gift of the life of His very own Son, Jesus the Christ, in exchange for our lives; He will wipe away all the tears from our life forever. Revelation 21:4
Finally, God's Word gives us additional assurance: "None of this fazes us, because Jesus loves us. I am absolutely convinced that nothing - living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8; 38 & 39 (The Message)
A HUG!
A hug from God Almighty. Our loving Father in Heaven sends us a hug and the assurance we are HIS!
Lord God Almighty, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to walk this earth in flesh and blood, to experience all that we experience and then to return to You leaving us with the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to edify and guide us. Thank You for your Word to use as a guide and as an offensive weapon. All praise be to Thee for saving a place at Your table for those who have accepted the gift of Your Son, Jesus, as their Lord, Savior and Friend. Amen.
Monday, May 7, 2012
An Ordinary Day With Jesus
Several years ago my Pastor, Martin Nicholas of Sugar Land First United Methodist Church announced a sermon series on ordinary days with Jesus. The title sparked memories of trips to the Houston Medical Center with older friends and parking places that seemed to appear when needed, grocery money extended, conversations that seemed guided by the Lord himself and many other ordinary but extraordinary every day occurrences that just seemed touched by a grace that could only come from the Lord Himself.
I sat down to type but what emerged was far different from what I imagined. Although, at the time my grandchildren were only a dream what emerged was a children's poem about all that the disciples of Jesus Christ witnessed as they followed Jesus' call to: "Come follow me!"
So, Avery, Nathan and Cooper, here is your poem.
AN ORDINARY DAY WITH JESUS
An ordinary day with Jesus
It's extraordinary to be sure
People come in droves
Filling highways and the roads,
They even climb to mountain tops
And crowd the seashore beaches
Some come to see
Some come to scorn
Some frown with displeasure
Others find great pleasure
Some will be rich
some poor
some will have reputations less than pure
Some will be dirty
Other will be clean
Some will wear rags
And some will will wear royal garments
Some will limp
Other will be blind
Some are quite strange,
Well, out of their minds
Some will look
And their eyes will be open to see
Others will remain unseeing
Some will hear
What HE has to say
Others will turn away
There will be men
Children and women
There will be brothers
Sisters and cousins
To numerous to count
Some will share their lunch
Others will keep what they have
And go away sad
Some are proud men
Of great importance
Some Synagogue teachers
Others will be preachers
Some are humble fishermen
Some carpenters
Some tax collectors
Despised to be sure
Others are just as ordinary
As you and me
Come join Jesus
on His path
See for yourself
What He has will last
Crystal clear water
That satisfies every thirst
Bread that is fresh
and fills every need
Every care can be placed at His feet
Hurry children
Come while you can
He is ready
He is waiting
Don't delay
This might be your big day
An ordinary day with Jesus
Extraordinary to be sure
Incomparable to anything
You might endure.
It will be curious
You will experience the incredible
The day will be amazing
Of that you can be sure
It's an ordinary extraordinary day with Jesus
Come sit at His feet
come crowd around
Listen with ears that hear
Open your eyes to see
Allow your heart to be touched
You will receive so much
Open your hands to serve
You have so much to gain
You'll never be the same
He sent His Spirit
To come along side
To comfort and edify
Invite Him to walk with you
To be at your side
Today and always
It is the delight of Jesus
To be with us
He'll show you the way
Don't delay
Come, come right away
Jesus is waiting
He's asked you to come
To join Him in life's
Greatest adventure
You'll never be the same
Don't you hear Him?
He is calling your name
Every ordinary day with Jesus
Of this you can be sure
Will be an extra ordinary extraordinary day!
with gratitude to my savior, Jesus the Christ, who invited me to join Him in extraordinary, ordinary days.
mary schmerker
I sat down to type but what emerged was far different from what I imagined. Although, at the time my grandchildren were only a dream what emerged was a children's poem about all that the disciples of Jesus Christ witnessed as they followed Jesus' call to: "Come follow me!"
So, Avery, Nathan and Cooper, here is your poem.
AN ORDINARY DAY WITH JESUS
An ordinary day with Jesus
It's extraordinary to be sure
People come in droves
Filling highways and the roads,
They even climb to mountain tops
And crowd the seashore beaches
Some come to see
Some come to scorn
Some frown with displeasure
Others find great pleasure
Some will be rich
some poor
some will have reputations less than pure
Some will be dirty
Other will be clean
Some will wear rags
And some will will wear royal garments
Some will limp
Other will be blind
Some are quite strange,
Well, out of their minds
Some will look
And their eyes will be open to see
Others will remain unseeing
Some will hear
What HE has to say
Others will turn away
There will be men
Children and women
There will be brothers
Sisters and cousins
To numerous to count
Some will share their lunch
Others will keep what they have
And go away sad
Some are proud men
Of great importance
Some Synagogue teachers
Others will be preachers
Some are humble fishermen
Some carpenters
Some tax collectors
Despised to be sure
Others are just as ordinary
As you and me
Come join Jesus
on His path
See for yourself
What He has will last
Crystal clear water
That satisfies every thirst
Bread that is fresh
and fills every need
Every care can be placed at His feet
Hurry children
Come while you can
He is ready
He is waiting
Don't delay
This might be your big day
An ordinary day with Jesus
Extraordinary to be sure
Incomparable to anything
You might endure.
It will be curious
You will experience the incredible
The day will be amazing
Of that you can be sure
It's an ordinary extraordinary day with Jesus
Come sit at His feet
come crowd around
Listen with ears that hear
Open your eyes to see
Allow your heart to be touched
You will receive so much
Open your hands to serve
You have so much to gain
You'll never be the same
He sent His Spirit
To come along side
To comfort and edify
Invite Him to walk with you
To be at your side
Today and always
It is the delight of Jesus
To be with us
He'll show you the way
Don't delay
Come, come right away
Jesus is waiting
He's asked you to come
To join Him in life's
Greatest adventure
You'll never be the same
Don't you hear Him?
He is calling your name
Every ordinary day with Jesus
Of this you can be sure
Will be an extra ordinary extraordinary day!
with gratitude to my savior, Jesus the Christ, who invited me to join Him in extraordinary, ordinary days.
mary schmerker
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars
We have this treasure in fragile clay jars! (2nd Corinthians 4:7 and Jeremiah 32:14.)
An incredible thing happened yesterday. Ladies came to a Bible Study called JOY in Sugar Land ,Texas.
You would be justified to ask: "Why is that so incredible?" "Why on earth is attending a Bible Study remarkable?"
Well, for one thing, our average age is probably in the neighborhood of 70. Some come with walkers. One comes in a motorized wheel chair. Several are recently widowed. These factors by themselves are not what makes the attendance remarkable.
Some remarkable attendance factors: One person came yesterday after receiving a diagnosis of Breast Cancer the day before. Another came even though her husband is very ill. The mother of another attendee is was hospitalized and being very difficult. Others came with problems I don't even know about. They came!
Some arrived late. Others left early. Some chatted by the coffee pot even though their small groups had already begun. Others lingered by the coffee pot long after most had gone home.
All this is remarkable and wonderful. The ladies came. They shared what was happening in their lives. It wasn't a gripe or gossip session. They shared their lives with one another in the context of studying God's Word. They loved each other. They cried with and for each other. They laughed with each other and their burdens lightened.
When they left they carried the light and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ out into the world with them.
Now, that is remarkable. That is an achievement!
Lord, help us to always carry Your light and love out into the world. Amen.
An incredible thing happened yesterday. Ladies came to a Bible Study called JOY in Sugar Land ,Texas.
You would be justified to ask: "Why is that so incredible?" "Why on earth is attending a Bible Study remarkable?"
Well, for one thing, our average age is probably in the neighborhood of 70. Some come with walkers. One comes in a motorized wheel chair. Several are recently widowed. These factors by themselves are not what makes the attendance remarkable.
Some remarkable attendance factors: One person came yesterday after receiving a diagnosis of Breast Cancer the day before. Another came even though her husband is very ill. The mother of another attendee is was hospitalized and being very difficult. Others came with problems I don't even know about. They came!
Some arrived late. Others left early. Some chatted by the coffee pot even though their small groups had already begun. Others lingered by the coffee pot long after most had gone home.
All this is remarkable and wonderful. The ladies came. They shared what was happening in their lives. It wasn't a gripe or gossip session. They shared their lives with one another in the context of studying God's Word. They loved each other. They cried with and for each other. They laughed with each other and their burdens lightened.
When they left they carried the light and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ out into the world with them.
Now, that is remarkable. That is an achievement!
Lord, help us to always carry Your light and love out into the world. Amen.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Do You Believe in Miracles?
Yes!
Yes Lord I believe in miracles.........
Because I am one.
Each heart beat follows the previous heart beat.
Each breath follows the one before it.
The sun hangs in the sky and we do not burn up.
The moon lights the night sky and we do not freeze to death.
The planets hold to their prescribed courses.
The stars hang in the sky and do not crash to earth.
When the Stars fall they are a beautiful sight to be hold.
Year after year winter fades, spring arrives and the earth turns green once again.
All the while we watch in wonder from our place in this temporary island home ,
Planet Earth created by You Lord, for Your Glory,
We watch and wait with bated breath for You to return and take us to Your home in glory.
Yes Lord I believe in miracles.........
Because I am one.
Each heart beat follows the previous heart beat.
Each breath follows the one before it.
The sun hangs in the sky and we do not burn up.
The moon lights the night sky and we do not freeze to death.
The planets hold to their prescribed courses.
The stars hang in the sky and do not crash to earth.
When the Stars fall they are a beautiful sight to be hold.
Year after year winter fades, spring arrives and the earth turns green once again.
All the while we watch in wonder from our place in this temporary island home ,
Planet Earth created by You Lord, for Your Glory,
We watch and wait with bated breath for You to return and take us to Your home in glory.
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