Cinema of Remembrance

 

Last week I looked through one of my memory boxes. Maybe I did it because we lost our Jo last week, and I just needed to remember some good things that happened through my years. I don't know. But I do know, reminding yourself of good memories can cheer you and help you continue on through life, no matter what you're going through.

I’ve been putting items in my memory boxes for 40 years. Things I want to remember, good things, accomplished things, grateful things, that I have done through my life.

My memory boxes help to encourage me, inspire me and to be thankful for all God has done for me. There will come a time when my memory will fade. The items I have saved will help me remember what I went through and what I did. In some ways it’s like a journal where you record the happenings in your life.

My memory boxes help me to see how I've grown and how events in my life have affected my future work. Perhaps it seems a little egotistical, but I believe we need to be reminded of what we’ve done, reminders of the good things that have shaped us and melded us into the person we are. When I saw the above graphic, I liked it!

I don’t know about you, but I seem to recall mostly negative things from my life, and I try to get rid of them as soon as I realize it! I’m thankful I have something I can go to that is filled with positive things for me to reflect on.

My sister crocheted me a brown blanket for my queen size bed in my late twenties. My favorite color is brown. I loved that blanket. The picture I found in the memory box showed I had that brown blanket when we moved to PA. It was on a chair we purchased after we moved here. I hadn’t seen that blanket in a while, so I went searching for it, pulled it out, and it’s now folded on a bed in the small bedroom.

I found two poems I wrote when I was 28, the first year I was saved. Writing poems were my first attempts at writing. I have an envelope filled with most of those poems. I was in my twenties when I started writing poems.

I found cards and notes that were sent to me during my cancer treatments in 2015. Seeing the notes, I  immediately touched base with a friend that had encouraged me during that time.

A copy of the copywrite for the book I wrote is in there and a post card of the front of my book. My life dream was to have an article published and write a book. My first published article was about Jerry’s truck, and I was paid $100. My self-published book, where I learned all you go through to publish a book, was a dream come true. Guideposts created a Unit called Inspiring Voices. They helped me publish the book. A CD of the class I gave on note writing to encourage is in there. 

Things friends had done for me through the years that touched my heart are in the box. They showed me what friends do for each other, like the poem my friend, Diana, wrote about me.

Wedding and anniversary pictures of Jerry and me through the years. A copy of the certificate that Jerry gave me on our first anniversary when he had a star named after me. Somewhere out there in space, there is Carol Ann Mc Giffin shining bright!

A copy of a staff recognition in the church newsletter when I worked in a church office. It is especially meaningful because I never thought I could work in a church office because I was divorced.

A diploma for the course I took with Writer’s Digest on “Writing to Sell Non-Fiction.” I had an article published while I was taking the course. I was so proud to tell my instructor about it!

The invitation I sent to my friends for my “Celebration of Friends” party for my 55th birthday. That brought back wonderful memories.

My favorite envelope! “Make a mailbox happy, send a card!” My first writing room where I started writing notes to encourage.

Seeing all these things gave me multiple reasons to thank God for what He has done in my life. I truly don’t think I would have achieved most of the things I’m thankful for if I hadn’t found Jesus and became a child of God.

So, I thank Him greatly for working in my life and giving me reasons to be happy and productive for Him.

Those are just a few of the things I was reminded of when I looked through my memory box. If you’ve never started keeping items that mean a lot to you, or writing in a journal, I highly recommend it. There is enough in life to keep us down, and we’ve all experienced those sad and heart-breaking times. Instead, fill your heart with pleasant memories and thank God for giving you something to do. I sure do!

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought

Since Jesus came into my heart!

I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,

Since Jesus came into my heart!

Refrain:

“Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.”

By His Grace . . .

Let's Go to Higher Ground

I read a devotion recently in the book, “100 Favorite Hymns” on the hymn, “Higher Ground,” that beckons us to be lifted up to greater heights! It caused me to consider: “Just what is higher ground?”

We’re familiar with the song lyrics: “I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day; Still praying as I’m onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Stacy Edwards, author of the book, wrote: “Higher Ground is a call to every believer to seek a more mature faith and a deeper connection with the Lord . . . to know Him more intimately and to follow Him more closely. It accurately describes the ideal course our faith would take as we mature in Christ.”

In Philippians 3, verses 13-14, Paul wrote: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

The upward way is the straight and narrow path that leads to life. We have chosen this way and must do all we can to be fit for our God.

“Higher Ground” is reading our Bible and meditating on the words. It’s listening to music that tells the gospel story. It’s sharing our faith in hope of turning hearts to God. It’s considering our home in heaven when God calls us to be with Him. “Higher Ground.”

The refrain in this hymn reveals what we want--to be lifted up and standing for our faith: “Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven’s tableland, A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

This is one hymn to joyfully sing with all our heart. We all seek the same thing. More of God. More of God’s power and presence in our lives. More sincere love. To know Him more.

We must simply keep on running the race with our eyes on Jesus, looking upward to Him to help us continue on to "Higher Ground." Our goal is that someday we will scale that utmost height which will take us home to be with the Lord.

Are you pressing on? May that be our aim. Plant your feet on “Higher Ground!”

By His Grace . . . 

Humbly Speaking

The other week in Sunday School, a story was used as an illustration of Paul and Apollos being co-laborers for Jesus, and not competitors. Paul was the one who had “planted,” while Apollos had “watered.” The Scripture was from 1 Corinthians 3, beginning at verse 10: “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.”

The story told in Sunday School was about John Wesley and George Whitfield. Most of us will be very familiar with the name of John Wesley who was an English theologian and evangelist who was a principal leader of a revival movement with the Church of England known as Methodism.

George Whitfield was a Church of England evangelist who, by his popular preaching, stimulated the 18^th century Protestant revival throughout Britain and in the British American colonies. These two men of God were at the forefront as leaders of England’s Evangelical Revival in the 1700’s.

Yet there was a great conflict between them. Wesley held strongly Arminian beliefs (emphasizing free will), while Whitfield was a Calvinist (emphasizing predestination). Both men led countless thousands to faith in Christ, but they were at odds theologically.

In addition to their theological differences, there were some methodological issues as well. Wesley had a number of manifestations that occurred in his meetings, such as people falling out, crying out under conviction, and shaking. Whitfield was uncomfortable with these, and suggested that Wesley was inappropriately encouraging these manifestations

Even though they never came to terms over their theological differences, they eventually learned to respect each other.

One of Whitfield’s followers (who obviously still held great animosity against Wesley) said to Whitfield, “We won’t see John Wesley in the heaven, will we?” Whitfield humbly replied “Yes, you’re right, we won’t see him in heaven. He will be so close to the Throne of God, and we will be so far away, that we won’t be able to see him!”

Can you relate? Putting someone that we disagree with in front of us before God? That really caused me pause. I have been pondering it ever since I heard it. The tendency of human nature, when any type of conflict occurs, is to defend oneself. After all, “every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 21:2).

At one point, when Wesley appeared to be near death, Whitfield wrote him and said, “…a radiant throne awaits you, and ere long you will enter into your Master’s joy. Yonder He stands with a massive crown, ready to put it on your head amidst an admiring throng of saints and angels.”

Wesley, though, recovered from his illness, and Whitfield eventually died first. At Whitfield’s request, Wesley preached at three memorial services held for Whitfield in London. Wesley spoke lovingly and respectfully of Whitfield and said, “There are many doctrines of a less essential nature with regard to which even the most sincere children of God are and have been divided for many ages. In these we may think and let think; we may ‘agree to disagree.’”

We are all in this walk of faith together. All of us have a certain job God has assigned for us to do. One is not more important than the other. We all want Jesus to be known throughout the world, and in our own backyards. Let’s remember this powerful illustration as we work and serve with other Christians. God calls each of us to do the work He’s assigned us.

Remember Whitfield words: “Yes, you’re right, we won’t see him in heaven. He will be so close to the Throne of God, and we will be so far away, that we won’t be able to see him!”

By His Grace . . .

🔆   Most of this article was written by Tony Cooke. His website is: tonycooke.org

Spiritually Prosperous

Color of summer

Recently I read a devotion about trust and came upon the words "spiritually prosperous." I stopped and looked up the definition for prosperous to get a better idea of what was meant and came across the words successful, strong and vigorous.

"David claims that the person who makes the Lord his trust will be blessed, utterly happy, spiritually prosperous, envied, and honored. This kind of trust requires a certain amount of courage . . . but believes that God, as He is revealed in His Word, will act toward us as we have been told He will." Psalm 40:4, Chris Tiegreen

There are so many ways to be prosperous: through knowledge . . . gifted with a certain skill, or financial wealth. These are just a few. So, when I read the words "spiritually prosperous" it stopped me. What are the benefits of being spiritually prosperous?

Being strong in spiritual matters makes it possible to withstand attacks from the devil. My courage would be filled with God's strength, and I could make decisions easily to help me through any situation.

We have the confidence of knowing our God is faithful. He is all knowing. He is strong in mercy and grace. He never fails.

Being successful in spiritual matters helps see us through difficult times and confusing situations, leading us to the words in the Bible we need at just the right time. Being vigorous about our spiritual life draws others to us because of God's strength shining through.

A happy garden.

I think the best reason to be spiritually prosperous is the close walk that would be developed by walking with our God. Trusting Him fully and completely, whatever the path we're on.

"Jesus did not say, 'Come to me and get it over with.' He said, 'If any man would come after Me, let him take up his cross daily and follow Me.'" Louis Cassels

Daily is the key word. Our commitment to Christ, however genuine and whole-hearted it may be today, must be renewed today, tomorrow . . . and the day after that . . . and the day after that. Then we will be "spiritually prosperous."

By His Grace . . .