Coal Basket Bible

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson.
Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good is it to read the Bible?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house.
The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. "Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.”

That is the work of God in our lives: to change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son.

Rom. 8:28 – 29, 10:17
~ We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
~ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Dork, by definition

noun; Someone who's love has not yet grown cold enough to support a false image of themselves as always being poised and in control of every situation. Someone who is unable to consistently counterfeit a "been there done that," attitude in the face of new and wonder filled situations. Someone who when alone with those they love refuses to act as though they have just met in order to preserve everyone's false sense of dignity. They are not "tough" or "cool" or "hard," and no one would ever mistake them for a movie star. They show a distinct inability to take the human creature, and all of its nonsense, with the same gravity and seriousness as those around them do. They persevere in this lack of decorum even after repeated threats and warnings by the well meaning that they will never "make it" if they won't fall in line.



author: JOSIAH SERRA

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

~PHIL. 4:13

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called FAILURE. A loop called CONFUSION, speed bumps called FRIENDS, red lights called ENEMIES, caution lights called FAMILY. You will have flats called JOBS. But, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION, an engine called PERSEVERANCE, insurance called FAITH, a driver called JESUS, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.

• Trust in the LORD and do good.
• Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
• Take delight in the LORD,
• and he will give you your heart's desires.
• Commit everything you do to the LORD.
• Trust him, and he will help you.
• He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn,
• and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
• Be still in the presence of the LORD,
• and wait patiently for him to act.
• Don't worry about evil people who prosper
• or fret about their wicked schemes.

quote of the day . . .

"God keeps slowly igniting people about prayer and taking away all of there "normal" lives..."

~ Josiah Serra

I HAVE BEEN TAGGED?!

I have gathered that this means that I am supposed to blog about myself and where I was 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and then I year ago. So, here it goes:

Well, 10 years ago, I was 14 years old. Oh, thinking about this place in my life, to be quite honest with you, makes me cringe for several reasons that I do not feel comfortable blogging about. But, I will say this, I was in 8th grade. I was not at all focused on the things of God, even though I was attending a Catholic grade school. I was focused on the things of the world – including boys! Well, maybe not included boys, it probably was the focus. School, well it was there. It was never difficult for me to get good grades, so I didn’t have to try that hard. I lived for recess and talking with my friends about boys and talking to boys and really anything that had to do with boys. I’m just being honest here! I was in a “serious” relationship (“serious” meaning that, that boy had more influence on me and my mind, heart, body, time . . . you name it, than anything else.) He was 16, so he could drive and this was the biggest thing ever in my “circle” that I had a boyfriend that could take me places or that would pick me up from school or soccer practice. AHHHHHHH! God thank you for opening my eyes and saving my soul!

Moving right along . . .

5 years ago, I was pregnant! HA! I was actually getting ready to have surgery to remove a cyst on my ovary while I was pregnant. Jesus is so good because it was through this situation where I really realized just how precious my pregnancy was. I got engaged back in September, found out that I was pregnant in December, and then by January, he was gone. So, up until this point in my pregnancy I had not really found a reason to get excited about this coming bundle of joy. However, when life had begun to lay it all on the line and my baby’s life was at stake, God showed me just how much I truly did want this beautiful baby. I was still a praying, dutiful Catholic and left God where “He belonged” at church on Sundays, but never had the personal relationship. It was also this pregnancy that started the questions in my spirit to surface again about God and religion and how I disagreed with the doctrine of man in the Catholic Church and just how I planned on raising my son to understand the things of God. Needless to say, my son is alive and very well! AHHHHHHH! God thank you for opening my eyes and saving my baby!

1 year ago! Wow, well, only 1 year ago I found out that God was calling my pastor to resign from his position as the youth pastor. This rocked my world! I was in a serious relationship. (This time, I mean serious as in we had already been together for 1 ½ years and we were definitely believing it was God’s will for our lives to be married.) Caleb is now 3 years old. God has saved my life and my soul, but He is only first and foremost at highs in my spiritual life. He, often times, took a close second to whatever needed my attention most at that time. Like I said before, He was only first at moments, usually this meant like when I needed Him or during youth retreats or camps, and sometimes when the Spirit would move me during an incredible sermon. I was still a “good” Christian. I read my bible, I prayed my prayers, but never really took the full dive off the cliff to trust God with everything and really seek after Him and Him alone. Worry plagued me often and insecurity was always snapping after my heels (most of the time it got a hold and left me with a nasty wound.) I met a girl named Elise Mullins and began to develop a great dorky friendship with her. Mom and Dad were fighting like usual and there was no relationship between me and my brother and sister. My family thought I was a religious loony and I was a total approval addict with people at church. I was always fighting this feeling that “I know I’m not where I need to be” but I was leading and teaching the High School age group, so therefore, I could not go to anyone for help, because I was supposed to be a leader and self-sufficient and I would have to admit that I was weak and that I really hadn’t been doing things right! LIES, ALL LIES! THE DEVIL IS FULL OF LIES! So, that made me start to push Gina out of my life, because I began to run out of excuses and explanations of my complacency. But, even back then, God began to work in my life and mark out the steps that He was going to use to restore my spirit and bring me true freedom in Him. AHHHHHHH! God thank you for opening my eyes and saving me from the lies!

Today, I was able to sleep in. I made lunch for my brother and me. We talked for hours about the things of God and how He has saved our lives and shaken us up, poured out His amazing blessed above all that we could ever have asked for, and had coffee! It was a wonderful day! Now, I’m about ready to go to corporate prayer and get all “jacked up” about the things of God since He has taken His rightful place as number 1. AHHHHHHH! God thank you for opening my eyes and blessing me with the ability to hear your voice and to be your hands and feet!

5 songs I know:
- MERCY REIGNS – Shane & Shane
- EVERYTHING YOU ARE – Big Daddy Weave
- FAITH - Jason Upton
- SPRINGS OF LIFE – Ginny Owens
- BREAKDOWN – Jack Johnson

5 things I'd do with a million dollars:
- tithe
- give to the India Orphanage
- pay off debt
- take my family to dinner
- save the rest for my son’s college and our house

5 places I'd run away to:
- Canada
- Camp Mikaska
- TN
- Kansas City
- the Park

5 things I'd never wear:
- fur or any kind (fake or real)
- tube tops
- Bermuda shorts
- gobs of make-up
- Stiletto heels

5 favorite toys:
- I don’t know how to answer this

5 favorite books: (in no particular order)
- BIBLE – Mr. Jehovah Jeri Himself
- WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS – Wilson Rawls
- THE BOOK OF ROMANCE – Tommy Nelson
- BOY MEETS GIRL – Joshua Harris
- DO YOU THINK I’M BEAUTIFUL – Angela Thomas

5 greatest joys:
- Jesus
- LAUGHING!
- praying
- being with my son
- cuddling up with THE blue blanket and coffee, surrounded with candles, family, and the presence of God

So, I’ll attempt to tag 5 others:
- Gina Crawford
- Paul Taylor
- Katie Russell
- Josiah Serra - let’s make this a conversation for the next Starbucks!
- Kim – Gina you will have to pass this one on!

After I blogged earlier this month about trials and suffering and how God used it, I found another blogger who shinned a new light on things. He starts by noting Psalms 66 again, particularly verses 8 - 12:

"David begins it by giving thanks and blessings to God. Why? Because God had afflicted Him, had tested Him, had put Him through FIRE and water. Wait a minute! God is the one who puts affliction on us? I thought God loved us. Well, He does. Part of His loving us is shaping us and molding us to be and to do what He has created us to do. He makes us go through trials and tribulations because He knows it is good for us."

That's good stuff! He continues later with this:

"There have been certain afflictions I have asked God to take away, and for some reason or other, He hasn’t. I’ll find out later I suppose. But look at Jesus. He suffered immense pain on the cross for us. Remember what He said in the garden of Gethsemene? He wanted this "cup to pass before [Him.]" He knew that He was going to suffer. If God had spared Jesus from all that pain, we would be lost.
God has a plan and purpose and all this. You may be going through trials (I do EVERYDAY) but God wants to bless you in those things. Take time to thank Him. Look at a Job for a moment. After all those things he went through, don’t you think that perhaps his walk with the Lord was stronger than it already was?"

Awesome! Thanks Man-Fish! (See http://themanfish.blogspot.com/ for the full post.) God has also taught me an even greater piece of this lesson of trials and sufferings and that is MERCY & GRACE and HOPE & JOY!

I learned this in December from Pastor Mundo from The Life Church in Memphis, TN. He talked about God's grace and mercy. He spoke on the fact that God loves us so much that He can not possibly leave us the way that we are. His great love compells Him to change us and mold us. Think about that for just a second! Really let that soak. God loves us TOO much to allow us to be infused with doubt, fear, selfishness, greed, lust, insecurities, etc. Yet, we get even angry that God would allow these test to come or that He would start to reveal these characteristics within us, because "we aren't ready for this."

Have you ever said that? "I'm not ready to deal with this?" Or my recent favorite, "I'm not strong enough to do this!" Ha, ha! I have! Truth is, I'M NOT, BUT HE IS! So, we've covered the mercy and grace part!

Let's talk about the hope and joy part. Let's first take a look at a few scriptures. Open your Bibles to Psalms 34. This is my favorite Psalm. It seems to encompass a little bit of everything. It seems like it always applies to my life, no matter what situation that I am facing or going through. Take a look at the first couple of verses. If you really, really, really understand these first couple of verses, I believe without doubt that they will change your life.

• "I will extol the LORD at all times;
• His praise will always be on my lips.
• My soul will boast in the LORD;
• let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
• Glorify the LORD with me;
• let us exalt His name together."

When should we praise God? AT ALL TIMES! When should His praise be on our lips?ALWAYS! Not in good times only, not only when everything is "smooth sailing" in our lives - AT ALL TIMES and ALWAYS! I remember a certain incredible song that goes a little something like this:

• Blessed be Your name
• When the sun's shining down on me
• When the world's 'all as it should be'
• Blessed be Your name
• Blessed be Your name
• On the road marked with suffering
• Though there's pain in the offering
• Blessed be Your name
• Every blessing You pour out
• I'll turn back to praise
• When the darkness closes in, Lord
• Still I will say
• Blessed be the name of the Lord

Whatever circumstance we face - God doesn't change! He isn't more or less faithful based on the good or bad things happening in our lives. He isn't more or less of a loving God towards us based on how great our days are or are not. Knowing all this, why do we treat Him differently based on these things? I know that my praise and worship changes based on the happiness of my heart or how much I like that particular song at that time instead of it being based on the things of God that never change! And I don't think that I would be alone in saying that comment.

1Thes. 5:16 - 17 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

(Can anyone else hear Kevin Gerald here with a vibrating tongue, followed by a loud, "HELLO!"?)

I can tell you right now that this scripture is a convicting one. Thank you HOLY SPIRIT! Not only does it reaffirm what Psalms 34 says, but it goes even farther and tells us that to live this joyful and grateful life facing any circumstance is GOD'S WILL FOR OUR LIVES! WOW! In the words of a friend of mine, "Dang!"

In my previous blog, I was in the place where I was rejoicing in the end result of how God mold us in our trials, not in the now, not in the trial. I thought that hope part was looking to the future and how God was going to use the trials to lead me to greater things in Him or to be more like Him. Now, God is clearly speaking more of the lesson, "Not after the trial, but through the trial!" It is not the end result of the trial that we are shaped but through it! We don't have to hope in the end result, but gain a greater hope through what God leads us through. Thank you Jesus!

Lord, you are speaking! I am listening! You are leading and I am following. My eyes are open to your works and my ears are attentive to your direction. Work in me, Father! Work through me and never, never, never let my tongue be silent to speak your praises. In Jesus' sweet name, Amen.

• Deeply in LOVE

• In my life you've heard me say I LOVE You
• How do I show You it's true
• Here's my heart, it longs for more of You
• I've fallen deeply in LOVE with...

• You have stolen my heart
• I'm captivated by You
• Never will You and I part
• I've fallen deeply in LOVE with You

• You and I, together forever
• Nothing can stand in the way
• My LOVE for You grows stronger each new day
• I've fallen deeply in LOVE with...

• You have stolen my heart
• I'm captivated by You
• Never will You and I part
• I've fallen deeply in LOVE with You

• Deeply in LOVE . . . Deeply in LOVE with You.

• "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
• We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
• ~ 1 John 4:7 - 21

DOING WHAT JESUS DID by Fern Horst

• Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28

• What Would Jesus Do? We have many reasons to be reminded of this question these days as we see the initials WWJD on everything from bracelets to T-shirts to Bible covers to refrigerator magnets. Someone once said that the reminder should be "DWJD" (Do What Jesus Did) instead.

• I tend to agree. By using the question "What would Jesus do?" to determine our actions, we may be in danger of acting out what we think Jesus would do rather than what He actually did. Our human perspective of Jesus and what He would do in our day is often sadly flawed by the influence of many of the world's values which He would never own.

• One of those values that seems to have crept into my own thinking, and that of many Christians, is the idea that when I choose a church, a spouse, a career, or even a friend, that I should make sure that my "needs" are going to be met. If after making my decision I think they aren't, then I have the right to move on and find something different. Seems reasonable enough, doesn't it?

• But wait a minute. If I'm going to be committed to DWJD (doing what Jesus did), I won't make my decisions by that criteria. I'll take a look back at the accounts of Jesus' life in the Bible and take special note that "the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

• This changes a significant criteria by which I make the major and the not so major decisions in my life. If I am going to do what Jesus did, I will also be a servant and a minister to others as He was. When I choose a church, it should be a place where I can serve. My choice of a career or a job should be one that allows me to serve others. And my decision whether to marry or who I marry should be qualified by the criteria of whether I can serve better with this person or alone.

• Before we think that Jesus ignored His own needs, though, we'd better take a second look at the Gospels. He definitely took steps to get His needs for refreshment and refueling met, but not through relationships with people. The Gospels say that, particularly after times of ministering to the multitudes, "he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23). If we are going to DWJD, we'll be sure to take the same steps in the midst of our lives of serving and ministering to others.

AHHH!

• Has anyone ever said to you, "You are such a breath of fresh air!" That's quite a compliment! I seem to be at a constant place of breathing fresh air from the people around me. I was just talking last night to Elise and I said that I always wanted to be one of those people always talking Jesus, ready to pray and equipped with the faith and boldness to pray for any situation, right there no matter if that person thought that I was crazy, and someone who was constantly speaking loving, encouraging words. I am far from it, but that is the goal - more like Jesus! Now, I can't think of anything else that I'd rather talk about! God is so alive and so real! His voice is so audible and clear. I can not encourage anyone enough to run, and I mean, full speed-leopard lungs running towards our Creator. I find myself so full of giddy joy that I can not contain this totally dorky permanant grin. I find myself jumping (this is literal) telling people randomly "Jesus is the greatest!" It's uncontrollable! But, I am not worried, because not only do I hope that it never ends, but that it only gets worse! Plus, my family is doing the same thing! And in some instances, it has even resorted to complete nonsense communication because words are so inadequate for what you long to speak. Chad sometimes speaks in tongues to us (don't read into that anyone - don't get legalistic on me!) However, because Josiah seems to opperate on a complete different verbal plane than me, I sometimes think that he does too! Chad has been threatening physical harm to my face! Elise and I just scream, I find that works best! We are just trying to find a way to get what's inside out! I know that this doesn't make sense to all people, but if Jesus has put this kind of joy inside your soul, if He has given you new life by bringing a fresh breath into your soul, then you get it! Search for it, it's there! I have to go scream now, so God bless and keep praying always!
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quote of the day . . .

• "Mom, you know Jesus? Well, guess what? He's the bestest Jesus that there is! Did you know that, Mom?"

• ~ Caleb Dittmann

quote of the day . . .

• There have been so many quotes this past weekend. It seemed like anything that came out of my friends mouths was completely encouraging or hilarious. I know that you all don't get all of these quotes, but to those that do, please remember our family and pray for each other! I love you all and you all inspire me to be better, serve more, and love greater in the Lord!

• Todays quote of the day is a tribute to Matt Maddox, an up and running with full force Holy Spirit vessel! Keep in mind that we were talking in reference to the Word of God and how it feeds our souls. Fuse (our College and Career Ministry) hosted a Super Bowl pary yesterday and there were a couple of us who hated the whole idea of the Super Bowl, but loved the idea of fellowshipping. We rebuked the Devil and his commercials and his television and instead talked about how much prayer has changed our lives, how much we love the Creator and the family of believers that He has given us, and read the Word outloud during the commercials! (We even read from Song of Songs to provide a more startling announcement . . . all of us singles had to stop shortly after and thank God for the plan He has for us in His perfect timing!) It was a great time after we started talking about God and eating strawberries, but getting full of the Bread!

• ~ "I eat breakfast every morning!"

such a weird power . . .

• Isn't it funny the power that email has over you? This was quite a revelation to me the other day. I went to this new job Wednesday and all day I was checking my email thinking, "Surely someone emailed me today! I mean, they all know that I started this job and they want to tell me how awesome it's going to be, right?!" Check the email - no new messages! What is this? Agh! Does your stomach sink everytime that you go online anticipating a little love note and you get the most disappointing feeling instead when you realize that you have no new messages? Am I the only one that this happens to?

• The text messages are even worse. I recently added text messaging to my phone plan and this opened a whole new world to me, I kid you not! Texting someone just a quick little, "Hello, I'm thinking about you today!" message or "OMG, God is totally awesome! Look what He revealed to me just now while I was praying . . . ," or "God laid this scripture on my heart for you . . . " and creating a little mini-bible study admist that persons busy day! This is food for my spirit, I love it! But, the ridiculous little series of rings that I recieve when my phone notifies me of a new message of my very own - AHHHHGGG! It's too much to put into words or this blog. It's so powerful! Why is that?

• Does the love of my friends and family shine through the email or phone system? I sure hope not! Father, help me! This is such a weird power. I can't wait to go to Heaven, where the things of this world will have no power over me and the only care I will have will be that of my freedom giving Creator!