EVERY WORD

       For out of the fullness - the overflow, the superabundance - of the heart the mouth speaks.

                      The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things,
                    and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.

  But I (Jesus) tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle 
                                                               word they speak.

      For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be 
                                                        condemned and sentenced.
                                                               Matthew 12:34-37

It is always disconcerting, at work, to be invited to a call listening session.  A small conference room is set up for five customer service representatives, also allowing room for five team leaders and the group leader.   Filing in, a seat is taken, the conference call is prepared  to include those in leadership positions from Pittsburgh, Ohio and Michigan.  A call is chosen from a recent phone interaction with a customer.  Everyone is prepared to listen, with pens in hand.

If the call chosen is yours, you  hold your breath as all ears intently listen to every word - the tone, the pace, the pitch, the content…every detail is listened to and analyzed.  One hopes that a GOOD call is chosen, a strong call. As the tape rolls, you wonder WHAT you said?  How would it measure up to the requirements placed upon us?

This entire evaluation and coaching situation reminds me of how God is recording our every  word.   He hears the actual words we use, the tone, and the motive and intent behind the words.  How careful we need to be with every word we say.

                                          Death and life are in the  power of the tongue. 
                                                                  Proverbs 18:21

God is listening…. 

Heavenly  Father, please set a guard at the door of my lips so that the words I utter may bring honor to You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

REAL LIFE

…the godly…even in old age will still produce fruit;  they will remain vital and green.  They will declare, "The Lord is just!  He is my rock!  There is nothing but goodness in Him.."     
                                                                                                                            Psalm 92:12-13

A visit to the greenhouse in early spring is always a delight.  This year seemed to be the year of the Ranunculus.  Everywhere I looked, I saw perfection in those blossoms, buds and leaves. 

The Ranunculus had been grown from bulbs and now were a vision of perfection, at the height of their glory.  Of course they were, they were grown in a greenhouse where conditions are ideal.  The lighting, humidity, temperature , soil, fertilizer and watering schedule were perfectly suited to grow them to perfection.

Of course I adopted a few and brought them home to conditions which were not so perfect.  The temperature was not perfect.   The lighting was different.  The watering schedule  was not as precise…and they began to show signs of being in a world which was not all that perfect.

We, too, are in a world where all is not perfect.  Even before and during birth, we experienced the stresses and strains of being human in a broken world.

As years passed, we broke our bones, we experienced illness, we get older, good and not so good memories are housed within our minds.  When we look  at ourselves today, we know clearly that we have been 'through it' in so many ways.

Yet God, in His wisdom, only allows into our lives that which was and is for our ultimate good as we've matured and grown in our spirits, souls and bodies.  He knows the perfect conditions to grow…each of us. 

We can trust that He knows just what He is doing.  We can say with the Psalmist:

There is nothing but goodness in Him!

THE LIGHT

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."                   John 8:12

A friend of mine took the photo which is above.  Also being a follower of Jesus and a long time reader of 'Reflections', Fred asked if he could send me a photo around which to write a devotional.  Of course, Fred. 

He sent the photo.  I began to ponder, thinking that Fred may have seen and thought differently than what I was thinking.  I didn't want to trample over what the Lord may have been showing him, so asked him to please share his thoughts.

He did:

1.  The little plant was able to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles by following The Light.

2.  Rising above worldly things , the little plant rose above the other plants on the swamp floor - again, by following The Light.

3.  By following The Light, the little plant was experiencing life in a way that the other plants in the shadows below the boardwalk could not even imagine.

As we follow The Light - Jesus - my prayer to the Father for each of us is:

May we overcome seemingly impossible obstacles by following The Light.

May we rise above worldly trials, tribulations and 'things' by following The Light.

May we have a life  in which we experience Life in a way which we cannot even imagine, it is so good.

Thank you, Father, that You have only good planned for us as we follow The Light.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

               'Reflections for God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer deu49097@yahoo.com
                                                      Please feel free to share.

                                        Thank you to Fred Johnson from North Carolina

God's Strength

                              God remains the strength of my heart.             Please read all of Psalm 73

Glorious Destiny

                       You (GOD) guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
                                                                                                                        Please read all of Psalm 73

The Next Generation

                          Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts.     Psalm 145:4

FRAGILE WINGS

God says…"you are mine.. I will be with you."  Isaiah 43:1-2

When the weather gets cold each year in the northern and eastern United States, the Monarch butterfly begins its migration south to Mexico, 2500 miles away.

How can these delicately winged creatures fly through rain, wind and hot sun yet still remain intact to begin another generation?  They appear so fragile yet are quite tough and resilient to endure and thrive!

Sometimes living in this world, do you feel like that butterfly - so human, so delicate,    battered as you navigate through your life in this world?  What is the secret that the Monarch knows which keeps them going and which carries them so far?  What is it that we need to know?

Looking a bit deeper in Isaiah 43, I recently was amazed  at these words:

When you go through deep waters and great trouble…
When you go through rivers of difficulty…
When you walk through the fire of oppression….

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name, you are Mine….  When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.  

That is the answer!  God is with us as we walk where He wants us to walk.  God is with the Monarchs as they travel this world.  They just do what they were given to do, mile after mile.  May we, too, do what God has given us to do.  He is with us!

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am but dust, delicately made…yet resilient, tough, ready to go the distance as You direct.  Thank you for being with me!  That fact means all the difference to me.  Thank you, in Jesus' name.  Amen.

'Reflection of God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer   deu49097@yahoo.com
Thank you to my son, Sam Morrison for allowing the use of the Monarch image.
Please feel free to share.