THE ROOST

An Empty Tomb

It says it all....

Luke: 24 1-7   On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lighting stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again."

It IS A Good Friday!

G- God reconciled to himself those who believe in the life, death, burial and resurrection of His son as payment for their sin.

O- Once dead in trespasses and sin I am now Alive to Christ Jesus and no longer a slave to sin.

O- Opposition to God was exchanged for entrance into the very throne room of God.

D- Delivered forever from the hand of the enemy with nothing seperating me from God.

Ps: 69:4  I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

2 Corninthians 5:21  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I pray it is a GOOD friday for you!

It's All In A Smile

Chicks, I wanted to give you something to smile about over the weekend.....

•  Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.  
•   When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier.
• It gives the message that you are a receptive person and can improve relationships, with loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors. 
•  It takes more muscles and effort to frown, where a smile relieves stress, a frown or perplexed expression can induce more stress. 
•   A life full of smiles also exercises muscles in the face that help to prevent drooping, saggy skin in old age.   
• A smile can increase your immune system, lowers your blood pressure and release endorphins into your system.     

 

I can tell you're smiling right now! :0)

Embracing the Day

This is the last week in Feb. and I have to say I am really glad.   Even though it is the month of "love" it is also one of the coldest months of the year and I am just not doing cold so well anymore.  An age thing I am sure!

I am so ready to replace my winter gloves for gardening gloves, open windows, hear birds sing & enjoy longer days. 

But for today I will pray for contentment in yet another week of cold, grey skies. Fighting the urge to allow the weather to determine my mood....  Enjoying this day without wishing for the next.......Slowing down and looking around for the blessings that this very day holds.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.   Ps 118v24

 

The Voice of Nature

Sunset on the North Pole.

Ps 19 v1--4  The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Read that verse again SLOWLY and let it soak in......  

 The heavens are speaking to us.....giving glory to our Creator.  Speaking of His Holiness, Greatness beyond compare, Wisdom & Might and much, much more!  Their speech is understandable by all men who choose to listen....It is spoken in every language and tongue to the entire earth.  There is No man without excuse for it has been spoken to all.

Praise be to God on High!

Grey Days

There are many things I love about winter.....the holidays, warm fires, cozy sweaters, occasional snowfalls when the world just seems to stand still.

But then there are those grey days.......I think you know what I am talking about. Those cold, overcast periods that just seem to hang on & on & on....

During those times I can feel my mood change.  I do pretty good on the first day and maybe even two but after that I have to work on not being as downcast as the weather is overcast.

I don't know if any of you deal with that or not....  Some people call it seasonal depression.  I just know how I feel and really don't care what it is called just how I handle it.

I am sure there are extreme cases that need medical attention and I am not pretending to know a pat answer to rid you or me of the blues.  But I do know what has worked for me in the past.  

• Get busy on a task at home:  I choose one that I can see some relatively quick results from.  Clean a closet,  organize a couple of drawers in the kitchen....using my energy in a positive way.                                                              
• Choose to have my mind set on Praise:  Thanking God for small and large things that pass my path all day long.  
• Have a friend meet me for lunch or come over for coffee or tea .  Up beat conversation is always helpful and gets your mind on others and their lives.  
• Spend time on a project or craft:  Maybe a photo album, knitting, painting or redecorating a room.       
• Play really upbeat music in my house as I go about my chores and task. 
• Shop with someone special in mind.  Looking for just the right little gift for the next person on your gift giving list. 
• Go to a matinee with a friend.....see a comedy! 
• Call someone that you know could use some help on a project or task.  You may just offer to run an errand for a new mom or older person.  Helping others always lifts our spirits. 
• Wrap up and go for a walk.  It helps someway medically I am not sure how... it just works!   

 Grey days are pretty much a part of life but how we handle them makes all the difference.  When we get "down and out" we usually pull others along with us and that is never good. 

I am really glad my bible study starts back today.  That will cure any ole grey day!

  

A Reason to Celebrate

Jealousy, anger, selfishness, impatience.....are just a few things that make up our human nature.

I know I am guilty of excusing these traits (and many others)  in myself and others by saying it is merely human nature to act or feel that way.   While it may well be human nature I now have a divine nature living in me that enables me to act in a divine way and not a human way.

That is what Christmas is to me.....  Christ came to give me abuntant life, eternal life and a new nature to replace the old.  He came to give me a new way of life to restore what had been destroyed through sin.  

Oh the ole human nature still raises it's ugly head but it doesn't have to have power over me anymore.  Through excepting Christ as my savior I can now have victory in those areas.

Christ divine birth was the promise of a new birth that would take place in those who put their faith in Him through the corridors of time.....  I have been "born again" with a different nature in me.   No, I am NOT a little god, I am human with the ability to behave as Christ would have me behave.  

One day I will not have a struggle between the two natures any longer.  I will celebrate forever my complete wholeness in Christ.  But for now I celebrate too...The new nature brought to me through the birth & then death of the sinless Christ as well as the restoration of life eternal with Him that had been stolen away through sin.

Ps 69:4......I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

2 Corinthians 5:21...God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Thankful Hands

Stability In The Face of Change

This time of year there is change going on all around us......Not only in nature....

but with the weather & cooler temperatures.

Along with that we have the time change with longer nights and shorter days.

Also many of the animals change their normal habits and hibernate. 

Then there is the changes in government........

We have the change in the economy....almost hour by hour at times.......

What about change in your personal life?  Have you added a child to your nest or sent one off to college?  

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest changes we ever face.....

Maybe you find yourself looking for a new job or alone after a long relationship.

Have you changed houses or towns or states? 

Health changes may be what you are facing......Or just body changes.....Yuck!

In the face of all that change.....There is ONE "thing" that NEVER changes.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever".  Hebrews 13:8

While people, the world, situations, governments, finances, circumstances, our health all change..... He alone is consistent.  

Thank God I can face the change in my life because He NEVER changes!

I just needed to remind myself of that fact today!

How I Handle The Election Stress

I know today is a very important day for our country.......In fact I have already exercised my right to vote by early voting.  It is that important to me.

I am sure we will all be on the edge of our seats waiting for the returns to come in. We may be in for a long wait.

Regardless of what the out come may be I must remind myself of several things.

1.  God sets up kings and disposes them....Dan 2:21  HE is in control!

2.  Man is not the answer to our problems God is!  So my faith is in God not man.

3.  Since God is in control I am not to fear or be dismayed.  

4. Nothing.....surprises,confuses,challenges,or disrupts God's plan. Nothing or Nobody!

5.  I belong to and serve the King of Kings & Lord of Lords!  You can't get any higher up the ladder than that.  He is HEAD over all.   Bottom line end of story.

So I vote & pray & go on serving the ONE who remains in charge!  My "mission" does not change because of an election.

As important as this day & election is........ it pales in significance to the greater purpose I was called in Christ Jesus.