Month: January 2019

My granddaughter, Rhiannan, gave me this for Christmas. It is hanging on my wall above the dining table. I think she was thinking of some memories made around that table.  So was I when I opened her perfect gift.

When I was growing up we all ate at the table for every meal, unless you were sick. Then my mom might bring some food to whoever was sick. Otherwise, the table was the meal place. I think some families are missing that today. When our girls were growing up Wayne and I expected the family to eat together also. We celebrated birthdays, discussed the day’s events or problems, and sometimes enjoyed our giggly girls when something stuck them as funny.  I remember playing Monopoly and other games with them around the table.

We always made Christmas Eve dinner a special candlelight dinner, and for many years we continued that when our girls, with their families, came home for Christmas. Grandchildren’s birthdays were celebrated around the table. We played games with them around the table. The grandchildren couldn’t wait until they were old enough to join the adult game, Contract Rummy, which was a carry-over from the Murphy side of the family.  Almost all of the grandchildren are adults now and we still enjoy that game when we’re together-I think we had 10 or more playing a few times this past Christmas!

Twelve members of our family can mingled a lot of conversation in with our meals. As the grandchildren grew and changed so did the conversations. And, I might add the food has changed some, too. No more spaghetti Os!

I remember meals when our girls began to cook and sometimes they’d do the meal for us.  I remember special treats such as pizza nights. After the girls were married and had their own families, I especially remember Wayne’s surprise for me one evening.  He would often prepare most or part of the evening meal when I worked full time.  As we finished one particular meal he reached over to the chair opposite of where I sat and picked up a plate of chocolate covered strawberries that had been hidden by the table. He had prepared them himself! Happy memory enjoying those strawberries–just the two of us around the table!

Jesus instituted a memory around the table with His disciples. Using the bread and wine He gave a way for us to remember the price of our salvation.  Psalm 23 reminds us our great Shepherd prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. I picture God providing a banquet table for us as he shelters and protects us from our enemies. God provides and protects us here on earth and He’s issued an invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb! What a table of memories that will be!

“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Revelation 19:9

Enjoy your table memories!

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24).

As I read my emails this morning I was most interested in what Jason Yates  (My Faith Votes) had to say about a sermon by Martin Luther King, Jr.  He included in his post a lengthy quote from that sermon. I will spare you the lengthy read, but I want to share the worthy points he made.  Mr. King said there was something wrong with our world. Oh, my! If he could see our world now, I wonder what he’d say.  Mr. King went on to say we had forgotten some “mighty precious values that we’ve left behind.”

Value 1:  “All reality hinges on moral foundations.”

Value 2:  “All reality has spiritual control . . . there is a God behind the process…”

Well, Mr. King, it is apparent that we still need to remember those principles.  Morality (Or should I say immorality?) today has gone beyond what anyone in 1954 would have thought.  Many have lost their moral foundation because they do not want to accept the truth of God’s Word. 

It is God who will judge our life here on earth and He will base His judgment on His truth, not ours.  God is in control and no matter how far out-of-balance our world seems to be, God has the final word. The cross proves He wants us to belong to Him. The resurrection proves He is the only Way to the Father. Every human will live–either saved for eternity or lost for eternity.

Are we forgetting God set the standard for morality? Are we forgetting we have a God to whom we must be accountable?  You had it right, Mr. King, there is something wrong with our world, but thank God, there is a cure!

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'” (John 14:6).

You can read or listen to Mr. King’s sermon by going to www.myfaithvotes.org and click on “Rediscovering Lost Values.” 

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). 

I’m familiar with the vine and branches passage in John 15, or so I thought. This time, when I read the passage, verse 8 got my attention.  I know the part about Jesus being the Vine and we need to stay connected and bear fruit or we’ll be cut off, and the branch that bears fruit will be pruned in order to bear more fruit. In verse 8, Jesus gives us the purpose for our fruit bearing—to bring glory to God our Father! In truth, I know my life is to bring glory to God—to make God look amazing, but I fail to live like I know it.

There is often too much of me in my life. Branches do not thrive without the vine. Why do I think I can thrive on my own? I cannot. God chose me to bear fruit for Him: remain in His love by obeying  His commands, and to love others. God wants His joy in me so that my joy is complete.  This only happens when I give God first place and my selfishness becomes less.

Fruit bearing is God’s work in me. Paul, in Galatians 5, calls this the fruit of the Spirit.  Peter exhorts us to add to our faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; etc as a participation in the divine nature. (See 2 Peter 1:3-8)  This fruit is what I desire so I must seek and learn more of Jesus. I must submit my will to His.  Not easy. That’s why I must read and study the written Word so the Living Word can live in me.  And Jesus has promised to help. To God be the glory!

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7).

Another year gone, and I can’t help but wonder what things of value I accomplished in the past year.  When I think about that I’m reminded I didn’t accomplish anything without God’s help.  Beyond that, I’m sure God was ready to bless those ventures I bypassed and left undone. He has power beyond what we could ask or think.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

These verses from Ephesians are convicting! God is able to do all I ask Him to do and He is able to do what I imagine, but do not ask. God’s power is at work in me. God’s power is available.  I lack confidence and am uncooperative at times.  What could God do through me if I abandoned my will and surrendered to His?

Many folks make resolutions at the beginning of a new year and give up on them before long.  I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions, but I have set some goals for myself—goals that state who I want to be in family relationships, my writing, and my church and spiritual life. My prayer is I will surrender these goals to God and cooperate with His work in me. This will be a daily task-a daily surrender. A new year is a new beginning, but I like to think of each new day as a new beginning.  When I fail God does not. He is faithful!

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Happy New Year!