Mental Belief or Personal Intimacy

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus said,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."    ~ Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)

Pondering thoughts and choices that we all have...

                          ALL of our decisions that we make today affect tomorrow...

Being busy? OR Being purposeful?...
Short-term pleasures? OR Long-term differences?
Social media? OR Real life experiences?
Surface relationships? OR Really caring and loving?
Pleasing me? OR Pleasing others?
Hundreds of Facebook friends? OR Genuine friends to listen and care?
Instant gratification? OR Lifelong fulfillment?
"Freedom" of non-commitment? OR The ULTIMATE FREEDOM of commitment?
Receiving love? OR Giving love?

Whether we all ponder these thoughts is an unanswered question...

               What we CHOOSE is a deliberate decision that we make whether we THINK about it or not...

Our amazing God created the human mind so intricately complex...no one can understand it! It is powerfully at work! As significant questions arise in our thoughts, it serves us well to ponder these thoughts and to take action. It is convicting to understand that taking "no action" is really a conscious choice that is in practice life-directing, life-changing action. In response to some very thought-provoking reflection, there was a time in my life that I realized that I KNEW that I KNEW that I KNEW--but, I didn't really KNOW! This moment IS life-changing...coming to an overwhelming passage in our circumstances where our "program" of belief is changed forever into "personal" belief. To believe is to commit not in terms of the world's definition of commitment but abandoning all that is not related to personally believing. In personal belief, the greatest choice we can make is to walk with Jesus Christ and make Him Lord of our lives. It is a conscious choice to accept the free gift of salvation and to choose to grow in personal intimacy with Him.

Oswald Chambers writes in My Utmost for His Highest, "I find that faith is as natural as breathing, and I'm staggered that I was so stupid as not to trust Him before." 

We all have choices to make in life and one of those choices is to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior and to walk and grow with Him. The world is enticing and seductive, and not to make a decision is to not choose JESUS and eternity with Him!


Jesus?     OR     False beliefs and illusions and ultimately death?


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."     ~Philippians 4:8  

Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges

Loads of Laundry

Loads of Laundry

 

 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward. It is the LORD Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

In C Squared, also known as College Cottage and appropriately “named” by my university college freshman daughter, we have somewhat of a division of labor. It is my job to gather, sort, wash, dry, and iron the laundry. Her job is to put it away (which can take on different meanings at different times!)…. Recently, she and I were having what we call a “murmuring heart” day. I had commented that the loads of laundry seemed infinite—sorting, washing, and starting over again with only a brief glimpse of an empty washer and dryer. Both of us were having a “complaining moment” mentioning the huge tub of towels and our disproportionate disenchantment. Following some discussion and each of us asking forgiveness for our lack of gratitude that had manifested as heavy sighing, we were given grace to complete the tasks at hand doing our best. Later, with time to reflect, I thought about how God gathers His flock—US—gently leading and empowering each one to use the talents He has so graciously given. Surmising that it is best not to let the dirty laundry pile up, the same principle is at work in our lives. Vigilance is required to “gather” by reading God’s Word, “sorting” by listening with sensitive ears, “washing and drying” by immediately taking our thoughts captive, and “ironing out” the wrinkles as we ask forgiveness and continue on life’s earthly journey. Folding or molding and placing us where we can be used as empty vessels to work for Him fosters peace and a sense of accomplishment that comes from doing our best for the Master.

                                                

Dear God, we pray that today and every day, we will do EVERYTHING you have for us with joy and gratitude for your glory! 

Whether it is “loads of laundry,” listening to a friend, doing a job we might not “really” like, studying, cooking gluten-free, diligently practicing music, or ministering in your name, I pray to do it with all my heart—working for you, my Master!

Copyright © 2013 by Dr. Donna Earl Bridges

God's Love

 

 

Gazing at the multi-colored landscape and fiery pink sunset in the foothills of North Carolina fosters gratitude to our awesome, one and only true God! What marvelous wonders to behold…what joyful pleasures to be in the presence of God amidst His creation. The herd of deer congregating last night only feet away from the back door, the Canadian geese changing formation in today’s early morning sky—the sounds of honking to spur the lead goose in their flight! What simple pleasures reminding us of the profound beauty of God’s handiwork, His greatness, His incomparable power! To KNOW Him is to love Him and to love Him and call him “Lord” is an indescribable gift! As we rest in the arms of Jesus and His love, we can be certain that HE, and HE alone, will satisfy our longings…

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”    ~Psalm 17:8

                                                                                                  Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges

In The TIME We Have

It’s hard to believe that this is Week 45 in the year of 52 weeks! WOW! Time has a way of passing so quickly. Grandparents tell us that it appears to pass even more quickly as we get older…The adage, “time waits for no one,” seems to bear more truth as we continue our earthly journeys. There have been countless “popular” songs about time, and one in particular mentions “bottling time” and “making time last forever.” As believers in Jesus Christ, we can’t really save time, and we can’t make it last forever. We can, however, be certain of the promise that we will spend eternity with Him forever. That eternity begins now as we eagerly await the Lord’s return. It’s important to take frequent inventory of how we are spending our time. One of my favorite demonstrations of this is taking a two gallon jar and trying to place as many rocks as possible in the jar. Big rocks, small rocks, gravel, sand, and water are set aside. To get everything in the jar, the only way that it will all fit is to put in the “big rocks” first. Any effort to put in the sand, water, or small rocks first will not leave room for the big rocks! When Jesus Christ is our ROCK, he is first in our lives…HE is our first love! As we journey, we love others including our family in Christ, our husbands, wives, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends—these are “big rocks” in our lives. Often tempted to put in the “stuff” that so easily usurps our time stunting our personal spiritual growth—the tyranny of the urgent if you will—does not leave room for the “big rocks.” There is actually no way to get the “big rocks” to fit if the small rocks, gravel, sand, and water are placed in first. If you try this, you will see that it is a great demonstration both literally and figuratively!

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…all other ground is sinking sand!

 

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ~Matthew 7:25-26

 

Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges

 

             

Hand-Tailored Grace

The misty, early hour of dawn was most certainly an unlikely time to spy the rare find of a four leaf clover. It has been estimated that there are 10,000 three leaf clovers to every four leaf clover. But, there it was nestled among literally hundreds of its kind. However, it was distinctly different. It was a reminder of the "hand-tailored" grace of God. An extra leaf defined its uniqueness and despite it being surrounded by others that appeared the same at first glance, this special little clover had something more! Joyfully delighting in the discovery of a four leaf clover created a smile of wonder and amazement. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have not only "something more," we have "everything"--the Holy Spirit of God in us. Unlike that little clover, green and vibrant today with its rare and special feature of an extra leaf, we will not wither or fade. So as we journey, wonder and amazement are ours beyond comparison reminding us that God's grace is unique to each of us. He knows us by name; He knows our circumstances; He knows the needs and desires of our hearts. The grace that God gives is exquisitely "hand-tailored" for each of us!

Ephesians 6:24

"Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love."

 
 

THANKING YOU GOD FOR YOUR "HAND-TAILORED GRACE!

 

Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges

Real Stuff or Fluff

"Real Stuff" or "Fluff"

In today's culture, this is not a popular topic even among those who claim to be Christians. A quick glance at the weekend newspapers lists literally hundreds of choices for "worship" and "Bible study." Some entertaining; some liberal; some imparting false truths to appeal and appease....Those with a passion for the "real stuff" are often ridiculed as narrow-minded or thought to be self-righteous prigs often lacking happiness or humor or fun when nothing could be further from the TRUTH. The truth in God's Holy Word is very clear on this topic--as authentic followers of Jesus, we are to love the Lord with everything in us--our heart, soul, mind, and strength. As much as our human selves may desire or even dare to think we deserve to be happy all the time and that life is about having fun, fitting in, getting approval from others, and pursuing our own ambitions and desires, the Bible specifically teaches meekness, humility, sacrificing "self," and hungering and thirsting for righteousness! The world view that many hold is saturated with false beliefs and deception--a fairy tale which even Merriam Webster defines as "a made-up story usually designed to mislead...a story involving fantastic forces and beings...in which improbable events lead to a happy ending." A glance through TV channels and the frenetic pace of facebook and media steal the time and rule the mind to the point of not being able to even think REAL thoughts. The world has plenty of "made-up" stories to mislead us from the truth. When we place our faith in "improbable events" hoping or wondering if there will be a happy ending, our lives become meaningless. Some are even deceived in to believing that being busy and having hundreds of "electronic friends" will fill the emptiness (ironically that they don't even notice). With Jesus Christ, there is no uncertainty that there will be a happy ending for all who believe and accept the free gift of salvation that God offers...those who believe and trust in the Lord will spend eternity in heaven...living happily ever after! The Bible is clear about this absolute TRUTH. Why trust the "fluff" of the world designed to mislead and full of empty promises? when you can choose...  

...what is REAL !

 

 

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."   Ephesians 5: 6-8 

 

Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges

Bearing Fruit

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galations 5:22-23

As the COG crept up Mount Washington, the brakeman narrated as we passed a multicolored landscape of pure beauty. God’s handiwork was never more visible to me as we passed green firs, yellow birches, and glimpsed evidence of the permafrost layers beneath the earth. As the train descended, we stood at an acute angle although trying our best to stand straight—such a visual reminder of how we cannot defy the laws of gravity or the guidelines that God’s Word gives us. We try to straighten up and pull up our bootstraps, but no matter how hard we try—we just cannot do it!

In our daily lives, we are like passengers on that train. We need the conductor to get us up the mountain and down the mountain so that we can stand on level ground. We need Jesus to walk upright, stand straight, and bear fruit. As believers, we are called to bear fruit in much the same way as one of the trees on the mountainside of Mount Washington. This tree has leaves that turn a golden yellow and brown. It looses its leaves, but it continues to display the most vibrant, red, round, juicy, edible berries that the eyes could behold. But, it only has these berries every other year. God’s Word clearly tells us that we are to bear fruit like this tree. We, ourselves, may never see the fruit firsthand even as we enter our golden years and experience the changes in seasons or age. But God promises that when we follow Him in obedience to His commands, the fruit will be evident in due time—in His time.

 

Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges