Glasswing Butterfly

These are called "Glass wing Butterflies". What an amazing creation. After seeing such wonders as this beautiful butterfly so simple yet so magnificent...who can wonder whether God really exists. Just look around you and see all the beauty of this world. Thank the Lord that we are able to enjoy all of it.

...and God saw that [it was] good.

This shows us that

-you don't have to be flashy to be beautiful to God

-transparency sometimes is best

-even the smallest thing can make someone stop and have admiration

A poem...

A friend like no other

I have a friend, many of you may know
He is faithful to me, though harsh words I may throw

He cares about my every need, sees that I thrive
In his presence, I am always…satisfied.

He is my closest friend, closer than a brother,
For once you know Him, you will look for no other.

You ask me who this could describe, what is His name,
Oh, but you ask is he really all that? Even lift me of my shame!?

He can take away my sins, and take away my pain
He can relieve me of my sicknesses, and even stop the rain

Yes, He is a miracle worker, a healer, a comforter and more
He is my heavenly Father, my friend I will always adore.

He has been so good to me, though troubles have come my way
But when He walks beside me, nothing harmful wants to stay.

I could speak of His goodness and mercy all the day long
But you may not listen, for it is not your life, it is not your song

For you must know Him for yourself, you cant live off my testimony
You should call upon Him, ask Him to show you what He has shown me.

Yes, you will meet him, someday, your choice or His
If you don’t meet Him on Earth, you will meet Him, a promise this is

Call upon His name right now, for He knocks at your door
Once you have met Him , searching you will do no more

You ask me “How would you find this perfect friend I discuss?”
The answer I give is very simple you see, Just call out the name JESUS!

A humble person is...

Humility: the quality or state of being humble.
Humble: not proud or haughty ; not arrogant or assertive, reflecting...etc.

Now first off, if you are someone who always has the best story at a gathering, the worst animal bite, the worst bodily injury known to man, the highest paying job, the best family in the world, the most expensive car, flown the longest distance, stayed awake the longest before dropping, or been to the moon and back. This blog is not for you. Just skip this reading, you have my permission. But for the rest of us minority, please continue. Sorry for my sense of humor... :-)

Jesus was a humble man. What an example to live by. He had all power given to Him by God. But instead of using this to show how much better He was than mankind, He used His power to heal people that had a need in their life. He did not brag or boast of what He could do. He did not belittle man even when they persecuted Him. They taunted him and yet he still refused to argue with them of who he was.

If you let me, I would imagine that as he walked around the cities. He would come upon men that thought they were hot stuff. There many accomplishments in life. The higher educated men. Maybe some heroes from battle. Some inventors etc. As Jesus may have spoke to these men, they may have boasted about their many accomplishments in life. Thinking they were only talking to a carpenter. You know those kind of people I speak about. They are the greatest of all because of what they have been able to do in life. They are those well accomplished people who whatever you tell them, they have a story that would top yours any day. Well those types of people must have existed long ago in Jesus' day as well. Could you imagine them talking with Jesus. Jesus all knowing what he would accomplish in the near future. He did not brag. He probably just listened to them talk. He did not try to top them, even though he easily could have. The devil tempted him with recognition. Jesus did not give in. He took the humble path. He was humiliated among throngs of people. His final words "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..."

The people did not grasp the full concept of what really was taking place. Jesus did not fight it. He was humble in all his ways. In our daily lives we are tempted with recognition. We see others that don't really deserve, in our eyes, the recognition. Yet, they receive it. They stand among the crowd and brag about what they have accomplished. But when we don't get that special attention of someone saying "good job or well done," how do we respond. Do we respond the humble way and just continue our daily routine? Without growing bitter.

Its easy to watch others, see them recognized when you know you have been working so hard and no one said anything to you, the entire time. But, just smile because God knows that they need that recognition. Give it to them as well. Everyone can't be like this. Some people have to be the ones to give the recognition. If we all needed to constantly be patted on the back, who would be the ones to do the patting. Some are meant to be patted but maybe you are one meant to be the "patter". Either way be happy with your role in life, it was given to you by God.

The next time you see someone get the recognition that you think should be sent your way, think about Jesus. How he responded to this situation. Be a humble person. Be grateful for what you have. The Lord knows what you need in life. Let Him be the one to pat you on the back when you need it. I would much rather have my Lord be pleased with my life and give me a thumbs up than anyone in this world. If God is happy with my life and my accomplishments then that is all that matters to me. So look to God, your heavenly Father, for all the recognition that you need. Don't base your satisfaction on people's applause.

My daily life is motivated by the words "Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. "

Equal amounts of asking and thanking...

Think about this...When you want something. I mean really desire something. Maybe it is an object; a new vehicle, a nice camera (canon rebel XT :-) for example), an expensive pair of shoes, etc. Or Maybe it is a prayer you are asking for; healing in your body, someone to be saved, lost loved ones, healing for someone else... The list will vary from one person to another. But just take a minute or two right now to think of something that you truly desired and eventually did obtain. Don't keep reading until you think of this thing...I mean it.

Okay now after you reflect back...Think about how long you asked or prayed for this thing or event to occur. Days, months, maybe years it may have took you to obtain this event or item.

When you did obtain it or the prayer was answered...Did you spend all the following time after being thankful for the occurrence. Days, months, or maybe years? If you prayed for that loved one to come to church for 5 years, day after day, service after service. Then they showed up. Did you thank the Lord for the remaining 5 years that they were able to experience His presence? What a sobering thought especially for me...because I know personally how much the Lord has done in my life and how little thankfulness I have given Him compared with how much time I put in to praying for things to happen.

I think we tend to ask God to do things for us and suddenly when it happens...we forget why it occur ed and who was in charge of it all. If we spend a year asking for something to happen...we should spend the following year being extremely thankful. In fact we should be as fervently thankful as we were praying for it to happen. So lets even it out some at least time wise. If you ask for something for 5 days and it comes to pass...follow it up with 5 days of thankfulness. When asking for a healing and it takes 1 month for it to occur, be thankful for the whole month after as much as you would have prayed for healing. We could never be as thankful to God for the things He does for us but we can at least try to equal out our time here on earth being thankful.

Remember the lepers Jesus healed:

Luk 17:12
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13
And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14
And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16
And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine?
Luk 17:18
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
Luk 17:19
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Out of 10, one showed his thankfulness. Now I know we are thankful but do we spend the time telling God, just how thankful we really are. If you spend the time in prayer requesting God to move in your life...when He does move and answer your request...spend an equal amount of time being thankful. Really appreciate what God does for you, because He doesn't have to do anything, but He chooses to bless you!

So give equal amounts of thankfulness in return for God answering your prayers.