A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Just the other day I met a little girl in our neighborhood. She is in the first grade. We began to talk and my heart broke when I mentioned heaven. She had never heard of heaven and knew almost nothing about God. I think we forget…..if people have not heard …..they don’t know!!

I was thinking of another girl I met on a plane. She was a chiropractic school graduate and as we talked, she began to reveal that she had gotten her belief system from a fiction book she had read. She knew almost nothing about Jesus and what she did “think” she knew was skewed.

They are all around us, and we cannot stay silent! Here is why…..Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Now you may not think of yourself as a preacher…..but if you are a Christian…..you have at least a testimony and some truth. A testimony of how Jesus changed your life is powerful and personal. We must not stay silent.

I prayed about the little girl and got a book on heaven called “Heaven is Real for children” We sat on the swing and she read that book at least a half dozen times. I have peace that now she knows. She stated that she believes in Jesus now and I hope it will carry over throughout her life and pray that it does.

I think my first touch of God’s love and presence, that had an impact, came from a woman that cleaned our house once a week. She hid tootsie rolls in her pockets and would slip them to me. I don’t remember how she said it….but I knew that she knew Jesus. I felt so much love from her. The rest of the world was busy…..but I knew this lady named Willie, “saw” me. I felt important to her. What powerful characteristics of God she showed me with her quiet gentle ways and tangible love. She prayed for me too. I got a card from her when I graduated High School, long after she had retired from her work. Maybe no one but me and God saw it. But that lady was a powerful witness.

May God open our eyes to see the opportunities and give us the boldness to speak and testify. Look….you don’t even have to be a churchgoer to tell folks what you have experienced with Jesus. You don’t need a degree or special language. Just ask the Holy Spirit to open the conversation up and help you. His answer is “Yes”! And your efforts will have eternal value for you and whoever you speak to. God help us not be silent. Only through You can we obey your command to preach the gospel to everyone. These days are moving by so quickly…..

Well that’s my two cents and the burden on my own heart. I have such a powerful testimony and I have let discouragement and resistance cause me to hold back many times. May God forgive me and open doors and empower me to keep going. Thanks for your prayers as well! 🙂 Love you all and have a great day. Look for that Divine Appointment…..they are all around.

YOU ARE NOT A FAIR WEATHER FRIEND – Poetry

When all hope is lost
There You are
Shining on me like a beautiful star

Though I scream
With angers rage
Not understanding the current page

It doesn’t deter You
You can handle my pain
You never leave me, You remain the same

When my broken heart
Is bleeding mad
You stay with me, Lord, just like You said

You are not fickle
Don’t run away
Like so many others, yet You choose to stay

How can you love me
When there’s ugliness there
You look right past it, see my heart laid bare

You’d rather have an honest spit
Than a fakeness that comes
From lying lips

It’s with You Jesus
That I can get real
And not be afraid that You’ll leave me still

You’re promise is
That You will stay
And see me through another day

Your love so deep
We’ve never seen
Even when we’ve been so mean

You are not a fair weather friend
Your love so deep
That it never ends

Beyond the veil
We must go
And not be afraid our truth to show

Be it bad or be it good
You will still love us
That must be understood

Our problems seem great
But to You it’s not so
Because Your commitment is more than we know

In the morning You will be there
The price You have paid
Our sins to erase

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Hebrews 13:5  “For Jesus has said, ‘I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.”

LEAN INTO THE STING – Poetry

Lean into the sting of things
The cutting and the knife
Let the Maker of our souls
Shape and mold our life

It’s not the pleasant things that bring
True and lasting change
But painful blows that pound our souls
With power to rearrange

Rearrange our carnal self
And bring us into light
The pounding of the anvil
Unveils and makes things right

This life it is no picnic
Our time here short and sweet
But honey comes from creatures here
That also contain a sting

If we choose not to run away
From the anvil and the sting
Let it shape our destiny
And the goodness that it brings

The beauty of the mystery
Will far outweigh the pain
As God reveals His plans for us
Our pain will bring such gain

So learn to lift your head up high
Lean into the sting
Let it shape you deep inside
God’s treasures it will bring

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee

Isaiah 64:8   “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”

 

(Youtube channel – Jean Chamblee – Passing The Torch)

RAINDROPS FROM HEAVEN – Poetry

Sweet candy raindrops from heaven will fall
Bringing blessings unexpected for things you did not call
Things from My heart to say you are loved
A moment in time with peace like a dove

I love to spend time with you
Have so much to say
Yield over your time
Your energy, your day

Peel back the veil
Between you and Me
I am happy with your progress
You reflect what is Me

So much more to go
It will be fun you will see
As we laugh in the face
Of God’s enemies

So much strength to endow
It’s all on it’s way
You will understand now
Why things happened that way

Your life like a puzzle
Will come together again
In ways so much better
Than how it began

Come to Me, seek Me
Be with Me much
And your spirit will fly free
Where no enemy can touch.

copyright 2009 Jean Chamblee

Growing In Trust Pt. 2

What Is Missing When Vacation Brings No Rest?

 

It is not in me. (Job 28: 14)

I remember saying one summer, “What I really need is a trip to the ocean.” So I went to the beach, but the ocean seemed to say, “It is not in me!” The ocean did not do for me what I thought it would. Then I said, “Perhaps the mountains will provide the rest I need.” I went to the mountains, and when I awoke the first morning, I gazed at the magnificent mountain I had so longed to see. But the sight did not satisfy, and the mountain said, “It is not in me!”

What I really needed was the deep ocean of God’s love, and the high mountains of His truth within me. His wisdom had depths and heights that neither the ocean nor the mountains could contain and that could not be compared with jewels, gold, or precious stones. Christ is wisdom and He is our deepest need. Our inner restlessness can only be pacified by the revelation of His eternal friendship and love for us.

~ Margaret Bottome  “Streams In The Desert”  Aug. 26

Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

 

REFRSHING RAIN

God, He loves you so very much

He wants you to come to Him

So He can fill your cup

The cup of your soul cannot be satisfied

Only in the spirit where His love for you abides

No longer chase the earthly things

For what cannot be attained

Only In our Father can come refreshing rain.

by Jean Chamblee   2017

In His Eyes I’m Known – Poetry

I am poured out
Like water that flows
Hoping somehow
My life in Christ shows

Wanting to bless
Sometimes I fall short
But I get up and try again
His love to report

Mercies are new
Every morning they are
Satan tries hard
To remove mornings Star

Battle upon battle
In prayer I must go
Thanking our Father
For the Holy Spirits flow

Without Him I am nothing
Nor ever shall be
But in His arms safely
My soul shall be free

He made me uniquely
Like all of His own
It makes me smile sweetly
That in His eyes I’m known

copyright 2017 Jean Chamblee Thomas

HEAVEN’S KISS – Poetry

Across the starry night He calls
Laying out myriads of bright glowing balls
Singing His story the birds make their way
Flying in glory if only to say

Hello I love you
Can you hear Me call
I made all this for you
I gave you My all

Fields of bright flowers colored array
Bright sunshine’s dew drop painting the day
Smells so desirous catching your breath
Hoping you’ll look up and know I’ve not left

Cuddly fur balls of all different size
For you to enjoy and to tickle your eyes
Loving affection creation does show
I so want to show you all I do know

Hello I love you
Can you hear Me call
I made all this for you
I gave you My all

Saving the best, I sent you My Son
To show you my heartbeat, He and I are One
Was hoping you’d accept Him there’s no other way
I made Him the door so you could come to Me and stay

Hello I love you
Won’t you walk through the door
Jesus is waiting
And there’s so much more.

copyright 2016 Jean Chamblee
John 6:37-38
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

SECRETS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN SEEKING INTIMACY WITH GOD…

In my experience and opinion…..there’s nothing like a deed done in secret that only your Creator, heavenly Father, Lord and Savior sees…..in my 37 years of having a relationship with God…..nothing has brought me closer than a secret.

“It’s a prayer in an empty room
Little things we do when nobody’s around
A hand reaching out
To a heart in doubt
It’s the smallest spark
That can light the dark”    ~Newsboys

 

Matthew 6:6    “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

CLAY – God’s Artwork

The “Potter and clay” relationship is not always pleasant….but when He is finished…..even after the heat of the kiln….we will be a shining piece of original pottery, with the fingerprint of God as the signature Artist!

#worthit #nogreaterlove #surrendertotheprocess

 

Isaiah 64:8   “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”