Jean Coleman's Blog - Posts Tagged "god"
THE JESUS BUTTON
I had finished my shopping and was heading toward the cash register in the Christian bookstore when I heard the Lord speaking very distinctly within my heart. There was no mistaking His voice. "I want you to buy a Jesus button," He instructed me.
A Jesus button? I couldn't imagine why God would want me to make such a purchase, but I learned long ago not to question His motives. If He wanted me to buy a Jesus button then I would certainly comply. Walking through the aisles, I finally located a large box containing dozens of buttons in all colors and sizes. I rummaged through the box trying to find just the right one. It was difficult to make a choice because of the large selection available.
Finally I decided upon a very small button costing only thirty-five cents. It was light blue and matched my coat. There was no message, but only a simple gold cross in the center of the button. If I was to wear a religious button, this discrete one was certainly the most acceptable of the lot.
And then I heard God speak again. "No, not that one! Buy the red one!"
I once again looked into the box and then I saw it! It was the largest button I had ever seen, nearly the size of a saucer. To make matters worse, it was blood red and in big white letters it boldly stated, "Jesus changed my life!"
"Lord," I protested, "I can't wear that button! I'm a dignified, middle-aged woman! Surely you don't mean THAT button."
All sorts of arguments rose up within me, but I knew they wouldn't do any good. God had made His selection and it was the big red button. Now it was up to me to make my choice. I could chose to obey or I could walk out of the store empty-handed. I chose to obey.
I went over to the counter and paid the clerk for the button, a total of $4.95 plus tax. As she reached for a bag, I interrupted her. "That's all right. I don't need a bag. I'm going to wear it!"
She looked at me like I was crazy. "You're going to wear THAT button?" As she watched, I quickly pinned it onto my light blue coat, thankful that there was no mirror handy. I left the store hoping that I could get to my car without meeting anyone that I knew.
That was the beginning of a humbling experience as I dealt with self-consciousness, pride, rejection and a whole gamut of other assorted emotions. The button was a stumbling block not only to me, but also to everyone who confronted it on my coat. It left people speechless and no one even mentioned the bright red button.
As the weeks turned into months, I actually learned to like the button. Obedience felt good. Sometimes I would even forget I was wearing it until I noticed the expression on someone's face as we passed on the sidewalk.
And then three months later the miracle took place. A young woman in the grocery store noticed the button and suddenly asked "How did Jesus change your life?"
As I told her about the love of God through Jesus Christ, she received the gospel message and asked Jesus to come into her heart. Why? Because I was willing to make a fool of myself and wear a big red Jesus button. God's ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best and never cease to amaze me? Does anyone want a "used" Jesus button? I have one available.
A Jesus button? I couldn't imagine why God would want me to make such a purchase, but I learned long ago not to question His motives. If He wanted me to buy a Jesus button then I would certainly comply. Walking through the aisles, I finally located a large box containing dozens of buttons in all colors and sizes. I rummaged through the box trying to find just the right one. It was difficult to make a choice because of the large selection available.
Finally I decided upon a very small button costing only thirty-five cents. It was light blue and matched my coat. There was no message, but only a simple gold cross in the center of the button. If I was to wear a religious button, this discrete one was certainly the most acceptable of the lot.
And then I heard God speak again. "No, not that one! Buy the red one!"
I once again looked into the box and then I saw it! It was the largest button I had ever seen, nearly the size of a saucer. To make matters worse, it was blood red and in big white letters it boldly stated, "Jesus changed my life!"
"Lord," I protested, "I can't wear that button! I'm a dignified, middle-aged woman! Surely you don't mean THAT button."
All sorts of arguments rose up within me, but I knew they wouldn't do any good. God had made His selection and it was the big red button. Now it was up to me to make my choice. I could chose to obey or I could walk out of the store empty-handed. I chose to obey.
I went over to the counter and paid the clerk for the button, a total of $4.95 plus tax. As she reached for a bag, I interrupted her. "That's all right. I don't need a bag. I'm going to wear it!"
She looked at me like I was crazy. "You're going to wear THAT button?" As she watched, I quickly pinned it onto my light blue coat, thankful that there was no mirror handy. I left the store hoping that I could get to my car without meeting anyone that I knew.
That was the beginning of a humbling experience as I dealt with self-consciousness, pride, rejection and a whole gamut of other assorted emotions. The button was a stumbling block not only to me, but also to everyone who confronted it on my coat. It left people speechless and no one even mentioned the bright red button.
As the weeks turned into months, I actually learned to like the button. Obedience felt good. Sometimes I would even forget I was wearing it until I noticed the expression on someone's face as we passed on the sidewalk.
And then three months later the miracle took place. A young woman in the grocery store noticed the button and suddenly asked "How did Jesus change your life?"
As I told her about the love of God through Jesus Christ, she received the gospel message and asked Jesus to come into her heart. Why? Because I was willing to make a fool of myself and wear a big red Jesus button. God's ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best and never cease to amaze me? Does anyone want a "used" Jesus button? I have one available.
THE ANT FARM
When our children were small we used to have an ant farm that was populated by twelve very busy little ants. The ant farm sat on top of a small bookcase in the dining room and I was completely fascinated by these hard-working little insects. I would pull a stool over by the bookcase and spend literally hours watching them scurry about in their little world.
In the top of the plastic container where the ants lived was a small opening and every day I would drop in three small bread crumbs, a grain or two of sugar and a drop of water. As I would feed them, I marveled that the ants didn't even know that I existed. Yet, there I was faithfully supplying all their daily needs and watching over their activities.
Then one day as the ants were digging a tunnel far underground at the bottom of the ant farm, the dirt shifted and caved in behind the helpless ants. They were trapped and it appeared to be a hopeless situation. The ants ran back and forth in panic trying to find a way out. They even formed a little circle and held a conference, rubbing their antenna together in some sort of ant communication. There seemed to be no solution and no way of escape.
But I was looking at their little world from an entirely different perspective and I could see that all was not lost. There was a way out. Directly above the ants was another tunnel and only a few grains of sand separated them from freedom. But unfortunately the ants didn't know that their freedom was close at hand. I could see the way out, but they couldn't.
I know this may sound foolish, but I tried to tell them about the escape tunnel right above them. "Dig up, little ants," I pleaded, but they just didn't have the ears to hear. They were separated from me by a wall of plastic and didn't even know I was there.
Finally in desperation I took my finger and moved it next to them, tapping on the plastic wall and hoping to frighten them into digging in the right direction, but they continued to be totally unaware of my presence. If only I had been able to become an ant, I could have gone right into the ant farm with them and shown them the way of salvation. We could have communicated, but I was helpless and there was absolutely nothing I could do. I watched the ants die there in the ant farm one by one. It broke my heart.
The people here on earth live in an ant farm of sorts, going to and fro in their own little world. Multitudes go about day after day, totally unaware that God is looking on, providing for their needs and concerned about their well being. God is with us and the majority of people don't know or even seem to care. And like the little ants, many are trapped and buried under a pile of sin with apparently no way out. The world is crumbling around them and they are doomed to perish. The wages of sin is death.
But praise the Lord! God has always been there with His eye upon the world. God loves the world so much that He sent His Son into the world to offer Himself as a way of escape.
Although I had not been able to become an ant, God became a man! He came into our world, right into our midst and declared, "I am the way, the truth and the life. Follow Me and I will lead you to life everlasting." Yes, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus came to set the captives free
In the top of the plastic container where the ants lived was a small opening and every day I would drop in three small bread crumbs, a grain or two of sugar and a drop of water. As I would feed them, I marveled that the ants didn't even know that I existed. Yet, there I was faithfully supplying all their daily needs and watching over their activities.
Then one day as the ants were digging a tunnel far underground at the bottom of the ant farm, the dirt shifted and caved in behind the helpless ants. They were trapped and it appeared to be a hopeless situation. The ants ran back and forth in panic trying to find a way out. They even formed a little circle and held a conference, rubbing their antenna together in some sort of ant communication. There seemed to be no solution and no way of escape.
But I was looking at their little world from an entirely different perspective and I could see that all was not lost. There was a way out. Directly above the ants was another tunnel and only a few grains of sand separated them from freedom. But unfortunately the ants didn't know that their freedom was close at hand. I could see the way out, but they couldn't.
I know this may sound foolish, but I tried to tell them about the escape tunnel right above them. "Dig up, little ants," I pleaded, but they just didn't have the ears to hear. They were separated from me by a wall of plastic and didn't even know I was there.
Finally in desperation I took my finger and moved it next to them, tapping on the plastic wall and hoping to frighten them into digging in the right direction, but they continued to be totally unaware of my presence. If only I had been able to become an ant, I could have gone right into the ant farm with them and shown them the way of salvation. We could have communicated, but I was helpless and there was absolutely nothing I could do. I watched the ants die there in the ant farm one by one. It broke my heart.
The people here on earth live in an ant farm of sorts, going to and fro in their own little world. Multitudes go about day after day, totally unaware that God is looking on, providing for their needs and concerned about their well being. God is with us and the majority of people don't know or even seem to care. And like the little ants, many are trapped and buried under a pile of sin with apparently no way out. The world is crumbling around them and they are doomed to perish. The wages of sin is death.
But praise the Lord! God has always been there with His eye upon the world. God loves the world so much that He sent His Son into the world to offer Himself as a way of escape.
Although I had not been able to become an ant, God became a man! He came into our world, right into our midst and declared, "I am the way, the truth and the life. Follow Me and I will lead you to life everlasting." Yes, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus came to set the captives free
MORE THAN ENOUGH
Her shopping completed, a young mother stood in front of the grocery store with her four small children and overflowing cart. It had been a long morning and the youngsters were tired and fussy. She sighed as she contemplated the challenge of getting the children and groceries into the car.
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find one of the older women from the church smiling at her. "You look like you have your hands full," her friend said. "I'm sure it isn't easy to raise four children in this day and age."
As the two women continued to talk together, the children stayed close to their mother's side. The smallest boy clutched the hem of her garment tightly in his hand like a security blanket. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight.
It was obvious that the mother was very much aware of her little brood at her feet. Every few moments she would stretch out her hand to stroke a child's hair or to hoist up a pair of drooping jeans. She opened her purse and took out a tissue to wipe a runny nose and a few minutes later she bent down to tie a shoelace. There was no doubt about it, she was love in action.
The older woman watched all of this mothering with great interest and finally asked a very pointed question: "How do you manage to divide your love among so many children?"
The young mother was instant in season with the answer. "I don't divide it. I multiply it. Then there's always plenty of love to go around."
What a tremendous number of children there are in the family of God. Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of sons and daughters composed of every kindred and tribe scattered all across the face of the earth. "How do you divide Your love among so many children, Lord?" we might be tempted to ask. And God replies, "I don't divide it. I multiply it!"
Isn't it wonderful that God has more than enough love to go around. There is always more than enough love for everyone. He gives and gives and still has more love to give.
And the Lord is always very much aware of those little ones who stand close to Him, holding tightly to His garment of righteous. His hand is always outstretched to comfort one of His children or to apply discipline when necessary. When the shoelaces of our lives get all tangled up, He is there to help us straighten things out.
Multiplied love! Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish the day he fed the multitude and there was plenty of food for everyone. There was even enough food left over that the disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with the fragments. It's interesting to note that there were twelve baskets and also twelve disciples. Not a one of the disciples went away empty-handed or empty-hearted. The love of Jesus never runs out. It just keeps on multiplying.
As disciples we are also called upon to share a lot of love with others. We reach out to the hurting and wounded, loving them with the love of the Lord. The miracle is that we give and give and yet there is always more of God's love on reserve within us. The multiplying God never ceases to multiply His love in us and through us.
Our amazing God always has more than enough!
Just then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find one of the older women from the church smiling at her. "You look like you have your hands full," her friend said. "I'm sure it isn't easy to raise four children in this day and age."
As the two women continued to talk together, the children stayed close to their mother's side. The smallest boy clutched the hem of her garment tightly in his hand like a security blanket. He wasn't about to let her out of his sight.
It was obvious that the mother was very much aware of her little brood at her feet. Every few moments she would stretch out her hand to stroke a child's hair or to hoist up a pair of drooping jeans. She opened her purse and took out a tissue to wipe a runny nose and a few minutes later she bent down to tie a shoelace. There was no doubt about it, she was love in action.
The older woman watched all of this mothering with great interest and finally asked a very pointed question: "How do you manage to divide your love among so many children?"
The young mother was instant in season with the answer. "I don't divide it. I multiply it. Then there's always plenty of love to go around."
What a tremendous number of children there are in the family of God. Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of sons and daughters composed of every kindred and tribe scattered all across the face of the earth. "How do you divide Your love among so many children, Lord?" we might be tempted to ask. And God replies, "I don't divide it. I multiply it!"
Isn't it wonderful that God has more than enough love to go around. There is always more than enough love for everyone. He gives and gives and still has more love to give.
And the Lord is always very much aware of those little ones who stand close to Him, holding tightly to His garment of righteous. His hand is always outstretched to comfort one of His children or to apply discipline when necessary. When the shoelaces of our lives get all tangled up, He is there to help us straighten things out.
Multiplied love! Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish the day he fed the multitude and there was plenty of food for everyone. There was even enough food left over that the disciples were able to fill twelve baskets with the fragments. It's interesting to note that there were twelve baskets and also twelve disciples. Not a one of the disciples went away empty-handed or empty-hearted. The love of Jesus never runs out. It just keeps on multiplying.
As disciples we are also called upon to share a lot of love with others. We reach out to the hurting and wounded, loving them with the love of the Lord. The miracle is that we give and give and yet there is always more of God's love on reserve within us. The multiplying God never ceases to multiply His love in us and through us.
Our amazing God always has more than enough!
MIRROR IMAGE
A number of years ago a friend of mine went on a short vacation to California. When she returned, she presented me with a brightly wrapped package. Brushing aside my protests, she stated, "The minute that I saw this in the shop, I knew it was for you and I couldn't resist buying it. Go ahead and open it up."
With great excitement I peeled back the wrapping paper and found a small framed wall mirror for my office. But it certainly wasn't an ordinary mirror. I had never seen anything like it before because right in the center of the mirror was a wooden cross.
I loved the mirror from the first moment that I held it in my hands and with great delight I hung it on the wall near the door. However, my delight with the gift ended the first time I approached it with lipstick in hand for a quick touch-up before leaving the office. As I looked into the mirror, I couldn't see me. All I could see was the cross. I was actually hidden behind the cross.
I shifted this way and that way trying to position myself so that I could see past the cross, but it remained firmly planted in the center of my vision. My face was completely blocked out.
Finally I discovered that by standing on my tiptoes, I could see my eyes. And if I stooped down a little and moved to the left, I could actually see well enough to apply my lipstick. But the cross dominated my view of myself.
As I pondered my new mirror, I sensed the Lord speaking deep down in my heart. "This mirror will serve as a constant reminder that the cross must always be in the center of your life and the way you see yourself. This is how I always view you—hidden behind the cross of Christ.
Many years have passed since I received the mirror, but a day rarely passes that I don't glance into it once or twice. I may be running a comb through my hair before going to a meeting or putting some powder on my nose, but when I see the cross, my thoughts immediately turn to Jesus and His wonderful love.
Through the miracle of God's grace, my life is hid with Christ in God. When God looks down from heaven, He sees me through the cross and I am reflected to Him as holy and righteous.
How are you viewed by your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers? What do they see reflected through your life? Do they see you or do they see the cross of Christ?
We should be serving as mirrors in the world, mirrors used to reflect the glory of God. Jesus is described in the scriptures as being "the express image of the person of God" (Hebrews 1:3). What kind of image do you project?
One day the disciples came to Jesus with a request. "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."
And the Mirror of God replied, "Have I been with you all this time and you haven't realized? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. I am the reflection of His very Being" (John 14:6).
The world will not see Jesus unless they see Him reflected through His people. Let us hide behind the cross so that only Jesus can be seen. God grant that we might be able to respond the same way that Jesus did and say with assurance, "He who has seen me has seen Jesus."
Perhaps that statement may seem rather bold, but if people don't see Jesus in us, where are they going to see Him? We call our selves Christians. Do you know what Christian means? Christian means "Christ-like". When we say we are Christians, we are stating, "I am like Christ." It's a bold power-packed statement, but others really should be able to see Jesus in us reflecting His life, His love and His service.
Are you reflecting His glory? Are you being conformed into His image? Are you being changed from glory to glory? You should be the mirror that people look into to see Christ revealed. Just keep the cross before you at all times and follow in His footsteps.
With great excitement I peeled back the wrapping paper and found a small framed wall mirror for my office. But it certainly wasn't an ordinary mirror. I had never seen anything like it before because right in the center of the mirror was a wooden cross.
I loved the mirror from the first moment that I held it in my hands and with great delight I hung it on the wall near the door. However, my delight with the gift ended the first time I approached it with lipstick in hand for a quick touch-up before leaving the office. As I looked into the mirror, I couldn't see me. All I could see was the cross. I was actually hidden behind the cross.
I shifted this way and that way trying to position myself so that I could see past the cross, but it remained firmly planted in the center of my vision. My face was completely blocked out.
Finally I discovered that by standing on my tiptoes, I could see my eyes. And if I stooped down a little and moved to the left, I could actually see well enough to apply my lipstick. But the cross dominated my view of myself.
As I pondered my new mirror, I sensed the Lord speaking deep down in my heart. "This mirror will serve as a constant reminder that the cross must always be in the center of your life and the way you see yourself. This is how I always view you—hidden behind the cross of Christ.
Many years have passed since I received the mirror, but a day rarely passes that I don't glance into it once or twice. I may be running a comb through my hair before going to a meeting or putting some powder on my nose, but when I see the cross, my thoughts immediately turn to Jesus and His wonderful love.
Through the miracle of God's grace, my life is hid with Christ in God. When God looks down from heaven, He sees me through the cross and I am reflected to Him as holy and righteous.
How are you viewed by your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers? What do they see reflected through your life? Do they see you or do they see the cross of Christ?
We should be serving as mirrors in the world, mirrors used to reflect the glory of God. Jesus is described in the scriptures as being "the express image of the person of God" (Hebrews 1:3). What kind of image do you project?
One day the disciples came to Jesus with a request. "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."
And the Mirror of God replied, "Have I been with you all this time and you haven't realized? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. I am the reflection of His very Being" (John 14:6).
The world will not see Jesus unless they see Him reflected through His people. Let us hide behind the cross so that only Jesus can be seen. God grant that we might be able to respond the same way that Jesus did and say with assurance, "He who has seen me has seen Jesus."
Perhaps that statement may seem rather bold, but if people don't see Jesus in us, where are they going to see Him? We call our selves Christians. Do you know what Christian means? Christian means "Christ-like". When we say we are Christians, we are stating, "I am like Christ." It's a bold power-packed statement, but others really should be able to see Jesus in us reflecting His life, His love and His service.
Are you reflecting His glory? Are you being conformed into His image? Are you being changed from glory to glory? You should be the mirror that people look into to see Christ revealed. Just keep the cross before you at all times and follow in His footsteps.
