The Feather

Looking onto the lake, that summer morning, I noticed a small downy feather floating on the water. Having a supple spine, allowed it to form a cup-like shape. Its whiteness was unmarred and its tiny veins were perfectly aligned, preventing water from seeping in. Wispy pieces at the quill end, looked to be the softest fibers on earth as they fluttered in the gentle breeze. Floating so peacefully, with no apparent destination, the feather was gently rocked by the ripples on the water. I imagined myself lying within it’s silken body, protected from the breeze and the cool water. The sun warmed my skin, and the gentle undulations from the ripples soothed me like a mothers rhythmic rocking. I watched a butterfly flutter silently by and listed to the call of a whippoorwill, wondering if its mate would answer. The sky overhead was a cloudless deep aqua. It seemed so vast, as it stretched from one side of the lake to the other. As I laid in the feather cocoon, the sereneness of nature seeped into my senses. It was as if nothing else existed. I closed my eyes, completely satisfied, and drifted off to sleep.

When I awoke, I realized that I was in my lounge chair curled in a fetal position. Remembering the tiny feather, I sat up in anticipation of seeing it still adrift. But I was met with disappointment. Resting back against my chair I looked at the lake again. Water bugs skipped across the top of the water and the rich scent of pine filled my nostrils. The flowers growing in a nearby bed, seemed more brilliantly colored than before. Even the grass seemed greener. A smile spread across my face, and a warmth filled me, as I thanked the Lord for the beauty of His creation. How often do we overlook God’s handiwork in our everyday comings and goings? Do we take the time to be quiet... to really see and really hear?

As I began to gather my belongings and head for the house, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. I turned and saw the beautiful feather lingering at the edge of the lake. I stood there surprised for a moment, before scooping it out of the water. I cupped it my hand and lightly ran my finger along its edge. I realized that God holds us in His cupped hands too. He protects us from the waters and winds that come our way. He also comforts us like a loving mother and gives us a peace to lie down and rest.

The feather now lays inside a clear glass bottle on my kitchen windowsill. In the mornings, the sun shines in and catches it in its rays. Seeing it, reminds me of my heavenly Father. His strong hands, his embracing arms and His desire for me to "be still, and know that He is God."

Be blessed-

Jeanine Black

Clinging to Crutches

A woman I know recently broke her leg in a skiing accident and has had to rely on crutches for a while. This type of crutch is not only helpful but necessary. However, there are other types of crutches that are not so helpful. Relying on something other than God to support us through our pain is called a crutch, and it actually extends the healing time. Many years ago, I had a crutch to help me with a fear of being alone, only I didn’t recognize it until God took it from me.

Over a period of two and a half years, I lived with a sense of fear and dread whenever my husband would travel. It started as a fear of being home alone and developed into a fear of him not returning. Just the thought of him going away sent me into a panic. The crutch I relied on was to stay with my parents, even though I didn’t sleep well there and cried every night after my husband's phone call. My day of liberation did finally come though, and I went from being crippled with fear to being crutch free.

Three days before one of my husband's trips, my parents announced that they would also be away. Panic immediately set in as I scrambled to find other crutches. I found none. Once I determined that I had no choice but to face this fear head on, I started praying. I shared my fear with a few women, not knowing if they would think my fear was ridiculous or take it seriously. They listened, prayed for me with sincerity and committed to pray for me while my husband was away. What an amazing gift I had received! Those women actually took my deep concern seriously and prayed for me in earnest. In the early evening of my husband's departure, I started to feel anxious and began to pray and read my Bible. A peace started to grow inside of me that I never had in that situation before. Later that evening one woman who had prayed for me called so I wouldn’t feel alone. The phone call and the prayers of my friends gave me strength to keep praying and trusting God. Whenever I awoke that night and felt fearstarting to creep in I would pray "God, please help me," and the fear would immediately go away! The sense of freedom and joy I had in the morning was incredible! I am so glad He took away my crutches so I had no choice but to trust Him.

Do you use crutches that keep you from relying on God for support? Perhaps you talk about your "problems" with friends, over and over again. Maybe you use alcohol to mask pain or overeat to soothe your emotions. There are many crutches but none of them can give restoration and joy like God can. I know that learning to trust God takes time and courage. An important step to developing trust is getting to know His character, how He has cared for people throughout time and the promises He has made to those who love Him. All of this can be found in the Bible and can often be heard in the testimonies of others. With God, you can be crutch free.

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Be blessed-

Jeanine Black

Amazing Grace

(Please view the 20 -30 second video attached)
Twenty Five years ago today, I entered a drug rehabilitation program. I had been to several others that past year or two. I didn’t have any actual hope or desire to stay sober; I went to rehab in an attempt to get away from myself. Instead, I left there thirty days later believing in my gut that one day at a time, I could stay away from a drink and a drug. Rum had been my drink of choice but I drank anything. Cocaine was my drug and I took it straight into the veins but actually I used everything, anything to get high.

No, I am no longer crying poor me and didn’t understand that I was back then, all I knew was that I hurt. Everyone I believed was supposed to love me, had hurt me, used me and left me, except my mom. Her only “crime” was that she didn’t rescue me. Suicidal would have described me best, I think; however my attempts were weak and obviously didn’t work. Frankly, I just wanted the emotional pain to stop, wanted to shut off my brain, wanted to just be numb. Yet- deep inside - I longed for love, for friendships, for meaning and to know who I was made to be.

I was tough, inside and out. When I arrived in a twelve step program, grown men told me I frightened them. It was something I had practiced for years. I seethed anger- it hung over me like a thick cloud. No one came close – until I met Annie. She would come to the same meetings as I did, all dressed up in her pretty clothes, looking all happy and confident and she would plunk herself down in the seat next to me day after day. She saw past all the anger and the hurt. Worst of all, she would touch me when she spoke to me. Placing her hand on my leg or brushing the hair out of my face. She told me things would get better. It wasn’t anything I wanted to hear but I eventually began to believe her and one day at a time, they did. Annie was an angel, I believe.

I managed to stay sober and straight while I dealt with my past abuses, both the self inflicted ones and the others. I learned to forgive, other people and myself. I had the opportunity to return to school and got a degree. I met wonderful man and got married. I had one child from “before”, he came with two of his own and we had one together. (No, it’s not an episode of the Brady Bunch) Getting sober/straight was the toughest thing I have ever done. Praise God it’s not a struggle anymore but it was. I had buried tons of stuff – tons.

There have been many victories and challenges in my life since back then but I have learned along the way to take the lessons and the wisdom and to leave the emotions. Do I do that perfectly? No. I have learned to love and to allow others to love me. Do I allow it always? No. I have dispersed that cloud of anger and have found peace. Do I still get angry? Yes. I am not perfect although I am striving to be. What I am most pleased about is the amount of forgiveness I have in my heart for those who hurt me so badly as a child. They remain in my life to this day and I can say quite honestly that I love them. I give God all the credit for that.

It’s a day to be very grateful. It’s a day to remember that someone needs me to be their “Angel” and that’s why I am writing. Sorry it’s a bit long. Again, please watch the 20- 30 sec video attached.

Blessings,

Alane D Brown

http://www.christianwomennow.com/

Secret Societies: Inclusive or exclusive?

You are now a member of the secret society of Jeep Wrangler drivers . . . there was no initiation, no handbook, no warning. It came out of the blue one day as I was driving my Jeep Wrangler and noticed other drivers waving to me. It happened several times that week before I realized all of them had been driving the same type of Jeep as I was. "Hmmm," I thought, "that’s silly" and decided I wasn’t going to do it. Soon, though, I did find myself returning their waves and it became a habit. A month later as I was driving a different vehicle, I waved to a Jeep Wrangler driver and received no greeting in return. I was surprised and felt slighted until I realized I wasn’t driving the Jeep!

I know this sounds silly but it made me think . . . I was still the same person even though I was driving a different car but the others drivers only acknowledged me when I drove a vehicle that looked like theirs. It brought to mind the experience I had when I was looking for a church home and visited many in my area. They may have been biblically sound and offered many programs but almost all of them lacked the same thing, an absence of connection with visitors. Other than an usher greeting me, rarely did anyone speak with me before or after service. People tended to gravitate toward those who were familiar and I was not familiar. I knew I was a person just like them, even if I didn’t "drive the same type of car as they did," and I yearned for a connection, a reason to stay, a validation that I was worthy to be there.

Do you find yourself talking with the same people every week at church? You’re probably not intentionally ignoring anyone, but visitors and even people within your own church feel ignored! Without connection they will usually not return more than twice or for regular attendees, they may become less and less involved in ministry.

God made this real to me just yesterday. I had partly written this blog on Saturday and when I arrived at church yesterday there was a woman who said she was sick and wanted to find peace with God. As we began singing, I was flooded with the words of this blog and was overcome with knowing that I had to go sit with her. I felt inept at being able to meet her needs in any way but I couldn’t shake the overwhelming ‘burden’ to move, so I did. After service we began talking about general things and before I knew it, there were things she shared that I could counsel her on because they were part of my own testimony. I hadn’t planned anything, I only wanted to make her feel welcome in a new place, God did the rest! Was it easy to move during service when others would see me? No. Did I feel stupid and completely inept? Yes. Did God give me the words and heart to talk with her? Yes! Was she blessed? I believe so.

I'd like to challenge you to speak intentionally, next Sunday, with a visitor or another member of your church family whom you don’t normally spend time talking with. It may feel strange to you but it speaks volumes to them! They are yearning for connection and that may be where they first see God’s love for them. You, too, will be blessed.

Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' (Matthew 25:34-36)

Be Blessed-

Jeanine Black

A Sabbath Days Walk

A Sabbath Days Walk

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. (Acts 1:12 NIV)

A Sabbath days walk is approximately ¾ of a mile - (about 1,100 meters).

This verse made me think back and had me remembering when. There was a time before I knew Jesus when I was addicted to drugs. Do you know - I would walk miles to get those drugs? In fact, I would plan my whole day around it if I had to. During those days all my thinking was wrapped up in addictive behaviors. It was very self serving behavior. Praise God, I am healed and no longer need to behave in that way.

The questions that arose from remembering back were these. Do I willing walk the distance that God asks me to walk? When He says, “go” do I move willingly without even questioning it as I did when I was seeking drugs?

Sometimes God asks us to walk great distances both physically, emotionally and Spiritually. He wants us to grow in Him and go tell others. Some of us are called across the globe and others to our neighbors, friends and relatives.
My questions are – Am I going in the direction God is calling? Am I in self serving mode or God serving mode? Am I walking that Sabbath Days walk for the Lord?

Trusting

The Wind

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
(Acts 2:2 NIV)

References to the sound of wind blowing, in some Biblical Scripture, is often times used to represent the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Isn’t that cool? Many times, when I’m out walking and the wind blows it reminds me of God’s love, His very presence in my life. Frequently, I can’t actually hear the wind but I can hear the fluttering of leaves caught up in its current. I can see the branches of a mighty Oak tree blowing, swaying and bending as they become caught up within the gusts and movement of the wind.

It reminds me how strong and powerful the Lord is. It reminds me to be at peace because just as He is moving the branches of those trees, He is moving the branches of my life. I can rest, knowing He is in control of all things and therefore, I do not need to be.

Be a Christian in Action

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." – (Acts 1:7-11 NIV)

Wow! All this took place after Christ died on the cross and rose again. He was physically standing there and speaking with them. Imagine the awe the apostles must have been experiencing. Then, having been told they are His witnesses, Christ just disappears into the Heavens.

I don’t know about you but I would have been standing there staring at the sky for some length of time just as they did! Praise God for the angels He sent to tell them Jesus would come back someday. Most likely their appearance encouraged the disciples to go ahead and be the witnesses they were asked to be.

Since the very day I came to understand that Jesus is Lord and Savior and He entered my heart, I have been looking to the sky and waiting for his return. However, standing there gazing upward does not accomplish what God has asked me to do. I am to tell others of Him. I must be a Christian action.