by Carol Roberts | Nov 20, 2017 | Hope
There once was an attic full of old forgotten relics. They were stored there because they served no purpose for that household. Over the years each relic collected coats of dust to the point where they were unrecognizable for what they were or for the purpose they were intended to serve.
One day the family decided to have a yard sale. They practically gave away those dusty old attic relics. Somehow there seemed to be no purpose in keeping any of them.
An old man bought them all and took them home. The relics looked like only a pile of dust in the back of his pickup truck. Once he got home he started to clean and polish each relic. Layer after of layer of dirt and dust was removed and each relic was one not only of great beauty but one that served an important purpose in the old man’s house.
There were beautiful antique plates that he displayed in his finest china cabinet. Silver forks, spoons and knives were glowing with a beautiful shine waiting for special guests in his home to be used. A music box was fixed up to play a tune that is rarely heard anymore. Some of the notes were not quite in tune but the music brought a special feeling of acceptance when it was played. Each relic got used in a unique way that otherwise would not have happened if the old man had not of taken the time to notice.
You may have been overlooked for months or even years. You are talented and you work hard to help others. Others get picked each time and receive recognition while you continue to pray and ask God to use you. You feel that your purpose in life is to be a dust collector and the frustration of being overlooked for so long becomes a harsh emotion.
The good news is that God created you for His Own divine purpose and He will display His beautiful workmanship through you at the time He chooses. You may feel it’s getting late in years for your lifetime but remember, the last person to run the torch is the one who lights the flame. God knows what He is doing. Smile, you are loved. You have a purpose and God Himself will open a door for you to shine for Him.
Ephesians 2:10 New Living Translation
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 17, 2017 | Encouragement
There are lessons to be learned from the church organ. One of the main points to the organ is that it has only one player yet many keys. Each key has its own unique sound that can be enhanced according to the organist’s preferences. While he can make some keys sound like a melodious flute he makes other keys blast like a trumpet. There are keys beneath the organ that are used by the feet of the organist. Most people do not see these keys but without their use many songs would be very shallow sounding because their bass foundation is not heard.
The contributions in life is similar to that of an organ. Each of us is our own unique key producing special praises to our Lord. When we fully obey God He can use us to His fullest. We make ourselves available to be adjusted according to His preference.
Many of us have experienced hearing an organ played that has keys missing or out of tune. All focus goes on what is wrong and the keys that are in tune lose their value to the listening ear. Imagine if that missing or out of tune key were us. Most of us do not realize the value of obedience to God and the damage it does to the big picture when we are disobedient.
While some may think their key on the organ doesn’t matter because of the particular tone it produces, God hears the entire song. If a key is not there, it matters because each one is equally important.
Romans 12:4-5 New Living Translation
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 16, 2017 | Love
If we were to take a golfball and place it in the palm of our hand then place our other hand on top and clasp, it would represent God’s ability to touch the whole at once. His divine protection has everything covered.
When we consider the tallest mountains and the effort it takes to reach the top, it’s all simple to God. Many ships are lost at sea never to be found, the waters are too deep or too filled with sea mountains yet it’s not beneath God to reach the lowest point. Some forests are packed full of trees and underbrush where people become lost yet God knows every leaf and location.
Human beings are made in the image of God and we are far more valuable to Him than the greatest wonder of the world. While He has His hands clasped over the whole world, He has His loving arms around us.
Psalm 95:4-5 New Living Translation
He holds in His hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to Him, for He made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.
by Carol Roberts | Nov 14, 2017 | Hope
God is very specific when He tell us that vengeance is His. He will give the paybacks for the evil done to us.
That is easy to read and understand yet one of the most difficult things to endure. A person wrongs us in a horrible way while we watch them enjoy life. They enjoy our misery or even worse have no clue they destroyed our mood.
As we continue to pay consequences for the things someone else set up for us it’s challenging to keep a smile like everything is ok. There becomes a day when we can no longer act like everything is ok when it is not. How do we pray to get results when we have no spiritual authority to retaliate?
How can such a painful hardship have such a simple answer? Prayer is the key. It’s not just any prayer, it’s a prayer of praise. Our focus is placed on God and His glory only. We ask that His glory rain down on our situations and our enemies. This is where we will find our peace. The light of our Lord cannot fully shine until the evil is removed. Therefore He will make the situation one that He can be bless. The vengeance will take care of itself once the loving light of our Lord shines on the object of our prayers.
Psalm 94:1 New Living Translation
O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let Your glorious justice shine forth!
by Carol Roberts | Nov 13, 2017 | Encouragement
There are people who come into large sums of money left to them by relatives who have passed on. Sometimes these inheritances come from distant relatives unknown to them. We often wonder how it is that some people can come into such a great gain. However money isn’t the only inheritance that can be passed down to us.
Peter passed along to us the example that all things can be accomplished when we remain focused on Christ. He takes a lot of criticism for his open mouth insert foot habits of speech but how many people focused on Christ long enough to walk to Him on water?
Abraham is remembered today for his obedience to God. He is the father of descendants too numerous to count because he left his own country to go where he was told. He got ahead of God by fathering a son through Sarah’s servant and we remember that as an example of what happens when we get ahead of God. At the same time Abraham is the one we often refer to when we speak of obedience.
Joseph is one who leaves for us an example of how patience can reward us many times what we lose. Joseph had a habit of prideful boasting to his family which got him sold into slavery but it’s his patience that benefits us the most. He suffered one hardship after another but he trusted God in each one and became second only to Pharaoh.
There are many examples of legacies written to us that benefit us far more than countless dollars. Job, David, Esther, Ruth, Jacob and the Disciples all leave us priceless legacies which benefit us today.
How do we live our lives? Today we create a memory for tomorrow based on how we conduct ourselves during hardships. How do we respond? What is our tone of voice? Do we give up? Do we complain? People are watching. People have modern ways to communicate to each other about us. When we move on to heaven will we have a legacy that will benefit the generation to come? It’s important to consider God in all things in order to prevent our legacy from being that of an example of responses to avoid.
Proverbs 13:22 New Living Translation
Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth passes to the godly.