God Gives Strength 16 - 5/31/19

31 May 2019 Building Character 16 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: God Gives Us Strength – Series 16

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Since it is the last month of May 2019 and it felt like life isn’t always easy. Life can seem like a long, tiring, and character-building.  But even during our darkest moments, we are protected by a loving heavenly Father and He gives us strength to keep on trusting Him.

My favorite verse from Colossians 1:11 “(We are) strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power for all patience.”  Yes, it takes patience especially when it comes with series 14 about “forgiveness builds character” when it isn’t easy for many to forgive. But it is equally importance to remember when God forgives, we too, are encouraged to forgive.  God gives us strength to forgive.

There’s a river that flows from deep within. 

There is a fountain that frees the soul from sin. 

Come to the waters.  There is a vast supply. 

There is a river that never run dry.

This song was written by David and Max Sapp. 

God gives us strength to open up a river from inside of us.  Let it flows from deep within which is the Holy Spirit that flows through our lips of praise and adoration and other languages that set us free.  Through the flowing of the Holy Spirit, our river will never run dry.  Praise the name of Jesus. Amen!

May God bless you!

Dorothy

PS. This devotion was written before story appears for “Kindness Builds Character” when I ran out of idea for “kindness.”  I was a bit tired.  That was the reason I turn to God to give me strength to continue.  Bless God for the story that came from His servant, Karen Batts.  It really uplift me when the story fits that theme: “Kindness Builds Character.”  It is a beautiful testimony of what God can do through a person to reflect His work inside of us.  

Character 15 Guest 5/29-30/19

29-30 May 2019 - Building Character 15 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Guests: Karen & Terry Batts tell stories starting from “Forgiveness Builds Character.” Theme: Kindness Builds Character – Series 15

Proverbs 11:17 “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”   Max Lucado quoted, “When you extend hospitality to others, you’re not trying to impress people, you’re trying to reflect God to them.”

I would like to share Karen’s Batt’s story that is a tremendous example of kindness builds character as well as forgiveness builds character.  I want to thank Karen for sharing with us because it will glorified God when we finished reading the stories.

Reading this one last Saturday....Romans 2:1-11......bring another clear point of contact.....so happened which I will point out as the Lord told me to add this event which had happen over the weekend.......two of our neighbors had been force to moved out....all of our neighbors had a sharp eyes on what had been and huge talking in row had taken place.  Three neighbors had been talking to Cyndy who lives next door to us, and she strongly suggested that they pay me a visit and ask the same questions which they had asked her.

The happening: The Landlords to these two houses/homes having been behaving mean and strong demanding....and one had broke the Illinois Laws on timing frame of moving out. One landlord had boosting about how she is a "Christian person"......but nothing would fit it’s "Christian Characters" and most of the neighbors have been looking and viewing her behaviors. They all can hear what she saying....which I could hear but I cannot understand what was said....

Holy Spirit told me to cut their grass, pick up all the trash, clean out the garage which appearing very dirty and smelling! Even asked me to go in and do their dishes which was four days of dishes and mountains high of dishes that needed packing. Which Terry and I had done and at times were overwhelmed by the work that was set before us! With praying and asking for forgiving how this land and house/garage was treated and prayed that God our Father would speak to the couple who lived like this......and GOD DID SPEAK TO THEM! I even was asked to pray right now for their request and I did loud voice with kindness and tenderness requesting this would be turn around in their favor as You are so Merciful and so Kind!   And He did! He gave them what they had asked for! 

Now the neighbors who had questions about why we helped them when they were living trashy and did not respected our neighborhood as we all strives to keep our area clean....Holy Spirit which that voice I know very clear...told me to open go to Romans 2:1-11..explain that it keeps me in line with the Holy Bible and keep us in Good Fruits as we both are in The Vine and we are the Branches...bearing Good Fruits....helping those who really did need help. After reading this verses from Romans 2:1-11....the neighbors said that woman (Landlord) who said she is a "Christian", and a horrible landlord doesn’t have this stuff dwelling in her as this book said you are to do!  But you both (my husband and me) never told anyone that you were "Christians" but it is clear you both are!  Humbled I was direct by the Holy Spirit to show them two more verses... by their fruit, you shall know them.   Matthew 7:20

to him that knoweth to do good and does it not....to him, it is sin! James 4:17

This neighborhood has seen us doing other people yard work, snow removable, leaves pick up, trash pick up (we are in the area where there are several raccoons, owls, crows,  squirrels and cats! )They do make a mess on trash day. Giving our mail carriers and trash guys, candy and drinks daily/weekly....we give them verses and words of encouragement with smiles and love to them directly..... our neighbors are watching us. 

Let us therefore be doer of the Word instead of hearer of the Word..James 1:22-25 ....as you never know who may be watching! 

In this Forgiveness Builds Character...is set in many ways.....this events that has happen to us, did build us, Terry and myself up, along with the renters and the neighbors to see this verses in action done in humble way.....indeed build up a stronger neighborhood and kindness has been seen in action. We both LOVE how the Holy Spirit quietly worked in us....when we felt over worked....see God Hand at work.  We both were so glad that our mouth were quiet and our action was "loud". May God be glorified in this neighborhood!  God is interesting in everything that is happening in our neighborhood and indeed interesting in us Building Character to will draw people to Him. 

I will added the raccoon with cat on our street that is one house from us. It will be into another email as I don’t know how to add attachment! Sorry! Enjoy! 

Your brother and sister in the Lord, 

Karen and Terry Batts 

PS. There is one more.......here it is

One of my neighbor came over and started to ask 

"where are you from?"

"How you meet each other? "

"Why you guys are here?"

So to answer the questions.....we both show pictures of us going to school when we were very young.....and gone to Jacksonville, Illinois School for the Deaf and got married, show where we first lived, and where we raised our daughters for school years, and "retired" here, where we are now. 

"But why are you here in this location!?" You lived in very good area and in fast growing area...now you in "dead end" area!  

Had to explain that our health had taken a downturn and we needed to be closer to our daughters so we are in their care....lo behold! We got triplets for great grand kids and they lives three houses up from us.....that alone taking a lot of energy to keep up! 

Questions still asking ... but you took a step down from where you lived for 38 years and you brought it new!  Both of us looked and telling more of why we really here! 

We are send by God to be here!  God asked both of us if we Dare to TRUST Him! Yes this is the step down but what a wonderful feeling about trusting God in providing that feeling of very satisfied life this area gave both of us. Wonderful people working hand in hand.....this is the best place for us as we have a voice to work with....this area where we are now at … had problems that no one would listen to them...God open the door to us and used us to voice our concerns and many things are now starting to change!  Those who Dare to Trust God always in the Center of His Will.  All Terry and I want to be is in the Center of His Will.....even if it is step down in locations, step down in people, step down to quality of life.....the main Key is to BRING SOULS BACK TO THE FATHER....ONLY BY JESUS CHRIST. God LOVES these people!  So do we! 

SUBMITTING TO THE HIGHER POWER IS NEVER A STEP DOWN...This world not our home....we just in harvesting in souls.  What a HARVEST! 

This area is our calling....forgiveness was a start....several were in bitter feeling toward each other. Moving into helping in grass cutting, leaves raking, snow cleaning, trash pickup and such as doing dishes for other....end up being sowing the Kindness of God. 

What a life! Dare to TRUST GOD really a price of work!  But we would NOT trade this life for another! 

Karen and Terry Batts

Building Character 14 - 5/25-28/19

25-28 May 2019 - Building Character 14 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Forgiveness Builds Character – Series 14

Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to Him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Jesus saith unto him, “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven” (KJV).

Mark 11:25 “And when you standing praying, forgive …” Luke 6:36 “Be merciful …” Luke 6:37 “Judge not … condemn not … forgive, and you shall be forgiven.” Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

This seems to be “far-fetched” which means not likely character; not easily or naturally thought of.  It means some people find it hard to forgive. NIV quoted, “Seventy-seven times.”  KJV quoted, “Seventy times seven” equal 490 times.  Did Jesus meant that? After some thought between 77 times and 490 times.  I realized what Jesus tried to say, it doesn’t matter how many times you have to forgive, but you open your heart to forgive … just like Jesus and Heavenly Father’s hearts are always ready to forgive.

It seems that God brought back the memory experience with my deaf brother-in-law (now deceased). It started with my ministry with Tony when he pastored a Deaf Church.  I had struggled with a few of the Deaf men in the church who gave me a hard time.  I had prayed about this case with God.

Tony and I went on vacation to California, we stayed at my parent’s home. The next house was my deaf brother-in-law’s home.  We were in the back yard and somehow I faced him and the Lord spoke to my heart immediately, “Confess to him how you hated him for giving you a hard time.”  I didn’t realized that my hatred for him was buried deep in my heart.  I was totally surprised how important this was to God that I am to confess and ask for forgiveness.

So I mustered up my courage and looked at my deaf brother-in-law and said, “Please forgive me for really hated you.”  He responded gladly and forgave me since he knew he had given me a hard time for years. He hugged me.  I had not felt any different by then.  When we came back home to Illinois, there at the Deaf Church, these same Deaf men that I had struggled with, had vanished and we really got along just fine. I saw the result of my forgiving spirit inside of me. I felt the power of God in forgiveness. 

This experience taught me that God continue to encourage us that “forgiveness does build character” that is “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).  Christ forgave those who crucified Him and we are to be like Him, so let’s forgive.

Prayer:  Lord, I know that I need to forgive others just as You have forgiven me.  Keep me mindful, Father, that I am never fully liberated until I have been freed from the chains of bitterness—and that You offer me that freedom through Your Son, Christ Jesus. Amen. (Stephen Arterburn, Daily Devotional Character)

May the Lord bless you! 

Dorothy

Building Character 13 - 5/21-24/19

21-24 May 2019 - Building Character 13 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Adversity Builds Character – Series 13

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear . . .” (NIV)

What exactly is an adversity? The best example I could think of, “The Wind.”  We have a big airplane that wants to fly.  So how does the plane really gets up into the air?  They have the runaway place that choose to face the wind against the plane.  The wind against the plane is called adversity wind.  It is important to understand that it takes an adversity or in another word, opposing wind to lift the plane up into the air with their powerful propellers jet with their wings.

Many of us have been on the planes that lifted us up into the air.  Did you realized that the plane had gone against the wind that lift us up into the air?  That’s what makes it a miracle.  Take example of an eagle that wants to fly up higher into the air that was peaceful.  The eagle flies into the strong current wind against them that lift them up higher above the current wind or the adversity wind right into peaceful air.  

What makes our faith stronger?  Satan is an adversity “the wind.”  God wants us to learn how to rise above Satan’s opposing work and Satan has always been against us.  We learn how to rise above the adversity of Satan through prayers, putting on the armour of God to stand against the wiles of Satan. Calling out the blood of Jesus over us and speaking the Word of God, the word of testimony and our endurance of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Quoting the verses reminds us that God is our refuge … our stronghold …

Psalm 9:9-11 the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.  Sing the praises of the Lord . . . .  [Oppress=burden in spirit]

When we understand that adversity does produce character then “. . . we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has poured out into our heart through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5 NIV).

When we face so much adversity, the wind, yet Jesus Christ wants to say to you and to me: “Do not be anxious about anything . . . Let peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).   Oh Lord, I pray that I have your peace inside of me that guard my hearts and peace of mind in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Song: Victory is Mine!

Victory is mine,

Victory is mine,

Victory, today is mine . . .

I told Satan, “Get thee behind.”

Victory today is mine . . .

(Inspiring Choruses)

Dorothy 

PS. Oh, I’ve learned so much from the theme: Adversity builds character!  Truly, our Father God has a great wisdom and He knows what He is doing.  I just want to say, I trust and love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and with all my strength! Amen!

Building Character !2 5/17-20/19

17-20 May 2019 - Building Character 12 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Courage Builds Character – Series 12

1 Chronicles 28:20 “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.”

I would like to share this article with you since this really impressed me:

             “A pastor I know and love is discouraged.  Although he is diligent in prayer and works hard, his church remains small while a new congregation nearby is rapidly developing into a megachurch.  Yet when I think of the alcoholics, drug addicts, and sexually immoral people he has led to the Savior and a new way of life, I see him as one who witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit.

            “Because of what happened on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), we tend to associate the Holy Spirit’s presence and power with amazing happenings and large numbers. We forget that a little later the same people filled with the same Holy Spirit were rejected, flogged, imprisoned, and even executed (put to death).”  (Written by Herb Vander Lugt, Our Daily Bread).

Dorothy:  Let us remember that there are also a courageous volunteer who does one-on-one prison ministry, courageous person who witnesses to a co-worker or a neighbor, and courageous Sunday school teacher who faithfully teaches week after week. Many courageous and faithful Deaf Pastors who works with small audiences.  Many courageous mentors also teaches lessons to the newly born-again Christians.

Billy Graham quoted: “Down through the centuries, in times of trouble and trial, God has brought courage to the hearts of those who love Him.  The Bible is filled with assurances of God’s help and comfort in every kind of trouble which might cause fears to arise in the human heart.  You can look ahead with promise, hope, and joy.”

What is courage?  It is the ability to be strong in trust, in conviction, in obedience.  To be courageous is to step out in faith—to trust and obey, no matter what. Quoted by Kay Arthur.   Take courage.  We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow. Quoted by D.L. Moody.     Do not let Satan deceive you into being afraid of God’s plans for your life. Quoted By R. A. Torrey.

Dorothy: Courage builds character by obeying God’s call to do his work however small it may be.  Courage to make the right choice in doing the right thing.  Courage is the opposite of fear.  There are many Scriptures that speaks of “Fear Not.” In another words, “Take courage.”  Jesus said, “. . . you will have trouble times, but be of good courage; I have overcome the problems.” John 16:33 (ASL translation).

Song: Onward Christian Solder

Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus, Going on before;

Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe;

Forward into battle, See His banners go!

Chorus: Onward, Christian soldiers!

Marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus

Going on before.

(Sabine Baring-Gould, Sing His Praise)

Building Character 11 - 5/13-16/19

13-16 May 2019 - Building Character 11 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Love Builds Character – Series 11

Love is a very big subject into many details, but for this kind of love that builds character, thought came to me to begin with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 13.  But before I start with this, I need to add something first from what I read . . .

Christ made it clear that we are to love God first, and second, we are to love others as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40).  That love is a choice! Why? Jesus commanded this: “Love each other as I have loved you. . .” (John 15:13).  Wow! Love you exactly the same kind of love that Jesus has for you? That is a challenge! That is a choice Christ gave us that we are to love one another the same kind of love He has for us. Oh! Glory!

That’s where “love builds character” started if we are to have the same kind of love that Jesus has toward others.  Okay, so what kind of examples that put love to work?  Let’s read 1 Cor. 13:4-8, 13 from NCV, but after I read it, I decided to make a list of what love is and what love is not . . . so here goes:

 1. Love is patient.

 2. Love is kind.

 3. Love is not jealous.

 4. Love does not brag.

 5. Love is not proud.

 6. Love is not rude.

 7. Love is not selfish.

 8. Love does not get upset with others.

 9. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.

10. Love is not happy with evil.

11. Love is happy with the truth.

12. Love patiently accepts all things.

13. Love always trust.

14. Love always hopes.

15. Love always remain strong.

16. Love never ends.

17. Love is having tenderhearted (1Peter 3:8).

18. Love is courtesy (1 Peter 3:8).

      May I add:

19. Love is not cranky.

20. Love is not moody.

21. Love does not lose patient.

22. Love does not get mad easily.

How do we really do this? Lay down your life … I laid down my life for my husband. Jesus said, “The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends (John 15:13 NCV).  Jesus laid down His life at Calvary to save us.  He just simply command us to love one another . . . So we have a challenge: “Love does build character.”

God bless you!

Dorothy

Quoting Scripture: As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, I clothes myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. And over all these virtues I put on love, which binds us all together in perfect unity. (From Colossians 3:12,14 NIV).

Song: I Love You with the Love of the Lord

I love you with the love of the Lord.

Yes, I love you with the love of the Lord.

I can see in you the glory of my King,

And I love you with the love of the Lord.

(Text & music: Jim Gilbert, The Celebration Hymnal)

Building Character 10 - 5/5-12/19

09-12 May 2019 - Building Character 10 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Hope Builds Character – Series 10

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

You know, it takes a lots of faith to believe in something we don’t see, but what comes after faith? Hope! It would be good to know exactly the meaning of the word, hope.  Hope means to desire something and expect that it will happen. And hope also means trust that it would accomplished something we don’t see yet.

If someone ask you a question, why do you have faith in Jesus when you don’t see Him? What do you hope for in Christ?  These are tough questions, but Peter, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, tells us to “. . . be ready always to give an answer to man that ask you a reason of the hope that is in you . . .” (1 Peter 3:15).  This is our chance to give testimony of our faith in Jesus Christ whom we have not seen, yet we believe in His Word of promises.

What makes us put our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? His resurrection!  He arose from the grave! We have our blessed hope that He is coming back soon to take us home to be with Him forever.  We have few examples from Hebrews 11 who gave their testimony of what they hope for.

Abel: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain obtained witness that he was righteous” (Heb. 11:4).  

Enoch: “By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven because he had this testimony that he pleased God” (Heb.11:5).

Noah: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb.11:7).

Abraham: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing where he went” (Heb.11:8).  By faith Abraham traveled in the land of promise, as in a strange country . . .

What did Abraham hope for? He looked for a city which have foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 10:10).  This reminds me of my mother’s testimony that she quoted her faith and her hope in that scripture and said, “I am looking forward to that city whose builder and maker is God.”  It stays with me for many years since I was a teenager when my mom testified of her faith and hope in God.

What is your testimony that others would hear from you and be inspired by you? Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us grace and wisdom to know how to give an answer to anyone that ask us a reason of the hope that is in us.  Thank you for showing us that our hope does builds our character when we give our testimony through words and through our actions of love. Thank You for the blessings! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

God bless you!

Dorothy

Song: The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(Text: Edward More, The Celebration Hymnal)

Building Character 9 - 5/5-8/19

05-08 May 2019 – Building Character 9 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Choices That Build Character – Series 9

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV: “. . . Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him.  For the Lord is your life . . .”   KJV: “. . . therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou may obey His voice, and that thou may cleave unto Him: for He is thy life . . .”

I found that the meaning of two words, hold fast and cleave give more illustration of what it really looks like. In ASL, two hands tightly fists as if holding on to a rope.  Hold fast means firmly fixed or bound; firmly loyal while cleave means hold on tightly; remain close or to cling to a person or thing closely.

My thoughts goes back to the “Falling Away Series” and how that many did not choose to hold on to God as their life. They faced many challenges that causes them to think that another choices were better than following God. I didn’t realize how important that right choices does build character and it brings many blessings from God.

To understand how that verses came about. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy on Chapter 28. The whole chapter 28 was about “The blessings for obedience” (Deut. 28:1-14) and “The curses for disobedience” (Deut. 28:15-68).  God explained what He would bless them with when they choose to hold fast to Him. God gave details what would happened to those if they do not choose to follow God. The curses were terrible.

Elijah challenged the people to make up their mind whom they choose, Baal or God. It is found in 1 King 18:21 Elijah said, “. . . how long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.” Then Elijah challenged the Baal’s prophets to build an altar and call down the fire to prove that Baal is God. From morning to evening, they cried out and nothing happened. 

Then it was Elijah’s turn. He call the people to come near him. He rebuild an altar with 12 stones, put bull on the altar and pour lots of water until the altar was wet. Elijah prayed, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, . . . Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the Lord God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.”  (1 King18:30-37 KJV)

After Elijah prayed, the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the altar with bull and all the waters of the altar.  When the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, He is the God, the Lord, He is the God.  (1 Kings 18:38-40).

The choices we make about the things we do; about the words we speak; and about the thoughts we choose to think. How do we strengthen our character?  We try spending our time getting to know God through worship, praise, Bible study, prayer, and silent mediation.  Make the choice to know God better today and every day. 

God bless you!

Dorothy 

Song: The Joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord is your strength

     and He is your life.

The joy of the Lord is your strength

     and He is your life.

He given us the victory

     when our heart is filled

          with praises to thee.

The joy of the Lord is your strength

     and He is your life.

(Inspiring Choruses) 

Building Character 8 - 5/1-4/19

01-04 May 2019 - Building Character 8 – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

Theme: Patience Builds Character - Series 8

NCV – James 1:2-3 “… when you have many kinds of troubles . . . you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.”

KJV James 1:2-3 KJV “… when you fall into divers (all kind of) temptations (trials); knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

The word, perseverance does not have the same meaning as patience.  Perseverance means to keep at something while the dictionary defines the word patience as “the ability to be calm, tolerant, and understanding.”  To be calm is to be free from being stressful. To tolerant is an ability to put up with something harmful or unpleasant.  To be understanding is to get to know something and have ability to judge the difference between right and wrong.

For most of us, patience is a hard thing to take control of, but that’s exactly what it means, “to take control of.” The Bible teaches that we are to learn to wait patiently for the things that God has a plan for us even when waiting is difficult. In Psalm 37:7 encourages us to “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”  

Dorothy: Boy! Sometimes I find it hard and difficult to wait patiently for God to show us His plans for everything that He needed to do. This is something I really need to experience the calmness and be able to accept things that are not going smoothly and to understand that God knows what is happening with me and Tony and that God is really, really at work inside of us. 

Tony fell last April 22, 2019 in the bedroom stumbled over the covers spread out on the rug with walker and his right chest hurts.  The x-ray shows that he has a very small fracture in his rib and it would take time to heal itself and its sore muscles. He was able to get up with his knees and with the support of the front chair and another chair behind him. He got up and walk fine, but slower due to the pain in his right side of ribs.

I started to work more closely with Tony than before.  Studying the Manna on “Patience builds character,” I noticed something difference after Tony’s fall, it seems to be the biggest theme for me is patience . . . builds . . . character . . . So God was indeed at work and I noticed something . . .

What are you going through? Can’t imagine that God is really in those things?  Even at the worst time? Is God really into our “mess”?  Is He there? Things that seems broken, God designed it to make something beautiful, something glorified, and something that we cannot imagine that anything good would come out of it.  But God uses anything, just anything to glorify Him and His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  This is what I need to believe and to remember that God uses patience to build our character. 

Prayer: Oh, Lord God, Father, I cannot imagine that so many things we do . . . takes patience to allow You to work on our characters.  No wonder You ask us to put our faith in You and to trust in Your wisdom.  Thank You for allowing me to experience “calmness” which is related to “patience.”  Amazing grace! How sweet it is that save a wretch like me. I didn’t understand before, but now I see Your wisdom in building a character like me.  Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

God bless you!

Dorothy

Song: Amazing Grace!

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

(John Newton; John P. Rees, Sing His Praise)