|
August 31, 2009
A Cup of Cowgirl InspirationFootwear
Made to LastAnd I
have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your
feet. DEUTERONOMY
29:5 NKJV
You’ve heard of good quality products, but have you ever heard of a pair of sandals lasting
for forty years?
Normally a good pair of shoes or sandals can last
up to a few years, depending on how often they’re worn. However, with children, sandals that last even one summer season
can seem like a miracle in itself.
The Israelites means of transportation were two feet, taking one
step at a time. Can you picture a large group of people walking around in a wilderness for forty years?
Suddenly, the first thing
you notice is the condition of their sandals. They weren’t ragged, tattered or even the slightest bit frayed. Yet, you
know there wasn’t a Super Center or a Saks Fifth Avenue to stop and shop for a new pair of sandals along the wilderness
route.
One must conclude then, that products stamped. “Made In Heaven” takes quality and workmanship
to a whole new level. It’s no wonder; the Master Craftsman makes all things well. You can also rest assure that God
will make provision for your every need.
Dear Lord, Thank you for always supplying the very best for me. Amen.
Until Next time, Happy Trails and May the good Lord take a liken to you.
11:03 pm
August 24, 2009
A Cup of Cowgirl InspirationLosing
To WinThen He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke
9:23-25 NKJVPastor Jason preached
on being a loser yesterday. I sat there and listened as he explained that we as Christians have to lose in order to win.
My mind went back to when I was in the 8th grade. I’ll never forget that particular day and what happened in my gym class.
The teacher had us girls doing all kinds of activities that day from stretching to running. She then made us pick two teams. Two girls at a time, one from
each team had to stand in one of the small circles out on the basketball court with hands grasped playing tug-of war.
The first girl to pull the other girl out of the circle was the winner.When it
was my turn, I stood there facing a girl not popular in school. In fact, most of the kids made
fun of her. She was kind of hefty looking and her hair was a dirty blondish color. When I use the word dirty, I mean literally
just that.
I can see still
see her face today, but the thing I remember most about her was not what all the kids made fun of, but the smile she always
wore. As we gripped each other’s
hands, we began to pull with all our might. We were both stout and must have had close to the same strength, because it appeared
that neither of us was going anywhere.
All the other
girls in the gym started yelling at me, “Go Tracy, you can do it.” I immediately felt a big boost of confidence grow within me. Yet at
the same time, I felt a pain within my heart that I just can’t explain. The pain I felt was for the girl, whose hand
I held tightly in mine. Cheering for me only meant that once again, they were picking on her. Without any further hesitation, I quit pulling and lost the competition.
I walked away that day as the loser. Yet, I knew in my heart that God had showed me the true meaning of being a
winner.
Just
in case you're wondering about the winner, well let me put it this way; she walked away with the biggest smile that
I ever saw on her face.
The scripture
tells us that Jesus said we must lose our lives for His sake in order to save it. That means daily dying to self and the things
of this world. But it also means to daily commit your life to Jesus and His perfect will, no matter what the cost may be.
I’m reminded of
these words to a song I heard many times as a child, “only one life, so soon it will pass, only what’s done
for Christ will last.”
Friend,
you may have to lose sometimes in order to win. But in the end, all that really matters is that you’ve lived your life
for Jesus and that your decisions are based on eternal things, not on things of this world.
Dear Lord, Help me to be a loser, so I can be a winner for you. Amen. Until
Next time, Happy Trails and May the good Lord take
a liken to you.
August 6, 2009
A Cup of Cowgirl InspirationTrue
Commitments Take 100% And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding,
loving-hearted),
forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. EPHESIANS
4:32 AMP
A
wise woman once shared these words of advice to a newly married couple. “A successful marriage involves
two people who put Christ first and foremost. Both partners must be willing to make
a total commitment to each other. There’s no 50/50 in a successful marriage. It takes 100% from the husband and 100%
from the wife. Love and forgiveness must be available 100% of the time.”
That same advice applies to our relationship
with Christ. If you totally commit your life to Him, unconditional love and forgiveness will always be available. Give
Christ 100% and He will give you 100% plus. It doesn’t get any better that!
Dear Lord, I want to give that same love and forgiveness to others as you have always given
to me. Help me to be 100% committed to my relationships with others and most of all 100% committed
to you. Amen.
Until Next
time, Happy Trails and May the good Lord
take a liken to you.
|
