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blogs 2008
Spring Things
April 19, 2008 at 8:30am
After muddling through the worst winter we've seen in
at least 35 years here in the Milwaukee area, with record snowfalls, super
freezing cold, schools closed several times, I am SGIS (So Glad It's Spring!).
As the sun rises now I hear the birds chirping, the grass is finally turning
green, and leaves are about to burst on the 7 trees around our home.
I don't think I've ever appreciated Spring so much as this year. God gloriously
brought us through that long winter: so many other things happened/is happening
besides the weather--
My Grandpa John Pickl passed away just before Thanksgiving, my Pastor was
diagnosed with Rectal Cancer right around Christmas time (but God healed him!
His testimony is posted here:
http://www.alc1.org/prayer/rkielley/ ); my
mother-in-law has a severe case of Melanoma/cancer, and may not last much longer
(
http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16919 ), our
good
friend Bob Sprang is also severely sick, and may not last much longer, too-we're
going to visit him in the hospital today.
Two weeks ago tomorrow, our cat died while we were at church--she was 19 years
old.
Then, looking ahead, June 20 MAY BE my last day at work.....but I believe God is
intervening! (see
http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17147
Through it all, I smile, stand and say, "Praise God!" "God is good", knowing
ultimately I am NOT a citizen of this world, but of the world to come. If my
faith and hope were just in this world, I would indeed be a man most miserable.
Did you hear that? What kind of bird was that? :)
A new poem: Spring Things
http://www.pickl.com/timandmarsha/poetry/spring_things.htm
God bless your Spring day.
God's Love,
--tim
+++
They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about
shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are
citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly
waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and
change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which
he will bring everything under his control.
Philippians 3:19-21 (NLT)
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 Corinthians 15:18 (KJV)
Great Sunday -
April 20, 2008 at 7:45am
Something great is going to happen today--
Ever get that FAITH-expecting feeling--a knowing deep in your spirit that
something great is going to happen? This happens to me some mornings....and
today is one of them.
God makes it an adventure as I think to myself throughout the day, "Was that the
something?"
Then, WHEN it finally happens, it hits me, and I smile, thinking ohhhh...that's
it! God, You're so great!
Remember, my friend, when you hear the Word of God today, faith is strengthened,
and those expecting/knowing feelings are refreshed.
Have a GREAT Sunday, in Jesus!
+++
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word of Christ."
Romans 10:17 (NIV)
Anticipating Unexpected
Expectations
April 21, 2008 at 10:05am
This ever happen to you?
You're going about your business, and everything's going along really well--at
least you think so and it seems to be that way. Good and great days surely
outweigh the bad. There's a song in your heart, and perhaps you whistle while
you work.
"I'm singin' in the rain...."
Then, suddenly someone just takes the wind out of your sails--could be a boss,
or a spouse, or a best friend. They were expecting you to be doing or saying
something else--but you honestly didn't know--and you we're just going about
your business.
Anticipating these unexpected expectations is a part of life. A course
correction comes and the shock and awe of the change can be overwhelming.
But, it's usually for our own good when we stop, pray and think about it.
Because, it's in those situations our Hevenly Father corrects us in His perfect,
wise, loving way. He changes the direction we're going in, again, for our own
good, and ultimately for the furtherance of His kingdom.
I long to be in the will of God, and I know you do, too. We want to please our
heavenly Daddy, because when He's smiling, we're happy.
When we reflect His love back to Him--even during a course correction--our
relationship with Him deepens.
Picture Him now, wiping away your tears, hugging you.
+++
For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom
he delights.
Proverbs 3:12 (NLT)
Here's hope:
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or
sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:4 (NLT)
Solomon's Seasons
April 22, 2008 at 9:38am
Songs, books and dramas have been written about it;
Entire sermons have been preached about it.
But the simple truths King Solomon outlines in
Eclesiastes Chapter 3 (NLT) are literally timeless:
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
The chapter goes on and drives home the point that there is a season for
everything.
Here's a thought: Everything we do takes time, and giving our time is a
sacrifice, because each one of us only has so much time.
As the seasons of our lives change, we must remember the basics of Christian
life. In Him we live, and move and have our being.
Watch: pray, and fast.
Thank you for taking the time to read this today.
Daddy, why is the sky
blue?
April 23, 2008
"Daddy, are we there yet?"
"Daddy, why are you so sad?"
"Daddy, why is the sky blue?"
At a certain age, my daughter asked so many questions. Curious about the world
and how it all works, the questions came, often in rapid-fire fashion. I barely
answered the first question and another one came. I think she just wanted to
make sure I was still there, and she drew comfort in my attitude that I was
willing to answer.
Yes, it is the same way with our heavenly Father: at times, we wonder about this
and that, and we ask Him so many questions. He barely has time to answer the
first request, and we're on to the next question.
"Father, please bless my child."
"Father, why is this happening?"
"Father, why am I feeling so blue?"
My wife calls this the "Microwave Generation" (especially in America) where we
want everything--especially answers to prayer--in 4 minutes, or less.
Impatience seems to be the spirit of the day.
It reminds me of When Impatience Follows You--
http://www.pickl.com/timandmarsha/poetry/when_impatience_follows_yo...
"Daddy, why is the sky blue?"
"Oh sweetie, it's because the SON is shining!"
Blessings,
--tim
Remember your first love
April 27, 2008 at 8:29am
You've heard it in movies and TV shows--
"What was the motive?"
Then, the Detective or Agent goes on to explain how the Ex-________ had "motive"
to do the crime. Oftentimes a movie will try to shock you with the motive of the
criminal.
But, motives can be good, too, right?
It makes me think.... What motivates me? What keeps me going every day?
For me, it's not much WHAT but WHO. My family motivates me to get up every
morning, get ready and go to work. My wife motivates me to pray. Ultimately,
Jesus motivates me in everything in my life, day-by-day, moment-by-moment.
After all, if it wasn't for HIM, I wouldn't even be here, much less typing a
'blog ...this early on a Sunday morning! He literally gave me the gift
of life, dozens of times. How many times has He saved me from a car crash or
some dread disease? Wow -- only God knows.
Let's take a look at Revelation, Chapter 2, verses 3 and 4 (NIV)--Jesus us
speaking to one of the 7 Churches:
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown
weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Do you remember when you first fell in love? Remember how you would do ANYthing
for the one you loved?
Love motivates like no other force on earth, except perhaps hate. If you are
absolutely, totally "head over heels" in love with Jesus--like you were at
first--you will do ANYthing for Him.
Is love your motive to serve Him?
Or--is it something else--you're just going through the motions, with a motive
borne of bitterness?
Bitterness
http://www.pickl.com/timandmarsha/poetry/bitterness.htm
I hope and pray if we are in the latter state, God help us change our motive to
one that springs forth from Love--like we had at first.
Remember your first Love.
In every thing, give thanks,
--tim
It's not what you want that does
you good--
May 3, 2008 at 6:34 a.m.
Saturday May 3, 2008
6:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Savings Time, U.S.)
At this hour, my mother-in-law Georgia is dying.
Updates on Georgia:
http://www.faithwriters.com/Boards/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16919
Georgia is in a cancer-induced coma; every breath she takes could be her last.
My wife Marsha and her sister Pam stayed with Georgia all night, taking care of
her,
praying....remembering. Georgia is in a hospital bed at Pam's house in Kenton,
Ohio.
So many, many memories. So many, many good memories.
Georgia was born and raised on the Virginia/Kentucky border area, and had a
distinct southern voice. She'd have little sayings she'd always use,
especially with kids.
As Marsha sat wrapped up in a blanket looking at her mom last night, she
remembered one of those little sayings:
It's not what you want that does you good,
it's what you get.
The profound wisdom of that simple saying would often "get a child to thinkin'"
about what he or she was asking for, and then hopefully stop wanting it so much.
Aren't we like that with God? Oftentimes we ask God for what we WANT, and forget
about what we really should ask, and rely on Him for what we NEED.
For example, Marsha and I WANTED to keep Georgia here with us--we've prayed so
much for her healing, especially in the last 10 years. God has so graciously and
miraculously answered those prayers. Thank You Jesus.
But--now it's time for Georgia to go home--to be with The Lord.
The good is what we get.
+++
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good
of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Because wheat ain't rye--
May 4, 2008 at 8:45 a.m.
Another one of my mother-in-law Georgia's wise sayings
was "Because what ain't rye." Sometimes when an irate child kept insisting and
asking her WHY? over and over again, she would simply respond with:
"Because wheat ain't rye."
After a few times, the child would get the idea, calm down, give up and move on
to something else. It is a curious thing to watch, because the Asking Child is
forced to trust the parent knows what's best.
+++
A child of God can be the same way, asking the Why questions--
Why is this happening, Lord?
Why me?
Why us?
Why now?
Jesus wouldn't respond with, "Because wheat ain't rye!"
but He would say this:
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-10 (NLT)
The Lord knows the end from the beginning. He's ultimately working everything
together for our good. Sometimes when we're in the middle of a change or a
trial, it's so, so hard to understand. At those times, we truly have to trust
our Father.
Check it out--
Just Trust Jesus
http://www.pickl.com/timandmarsha/poetry/just_trust_jesus.htm
Here's a thought:
It's not so much that we DON'T understand His ways--it's probably more like we
CAN'T.
We're just children.
+++
9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT)
--bro. tim pickl
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