~Daily Devotion 24th~

There are times in our life when we face so many struggles. At these times we need to remember that as Children of God, He is right there to help us. He can make a way for us in the darkness of times. He can shine through us, even when we feel that there is no light left. As the poem below says, "Each point of light in your life is when you stepped
aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

God Bless Each of You.

Pastor Pat

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
( Hebrews 13:5 )

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go." Amen. ( Joshua 1:9 )

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So
we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
( Hebrews 13:5-6 )

Quilt of Holes

Author Unknown

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before
the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a
quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I
noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares.
Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upo

n my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together,
threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be
displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it
was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my
life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the
others who stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped
aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing
Christ to shine through!

Pastor Pat Aman

Devotion September 24

"Spiritual Blindness"

Good Morning,

I was thinking about the devotion today, I thought about the terrorists attacks on America. I started thinking about my daughter Anna. She is going to start her rotations next month, and she will be flying all over the country. I was thinking about the security at the airports, and the things she will need to do to be safe.

I remember when the girls were little we flew to my mama's every year. We had no problems getting on the planes. We did not even think about terrorists. We were blind to the world and what was going on around us even then.

This got me to thinking about spiritual blindness, which in turn got me to thinking, am I where I should be in my walk with God. Am I blind to the world around me and the service God has called me into.

(St. John 9: 37-38), "Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talked with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him."

This is a story of blindness. A man had been born blind, forced to spend his entire life begging his livelihood. Then one day Jesus put clay on his eyes, sent him to wash, and he saw!

I wonder why nobody, at all, praised God! Was it because they were too preoccupied with their won concerns to recognize God at work among them? The disciples were wrapped up in a theological question: Why was this man born blind? The Pharisees were worried by a legal question: What authority had Jesus to heal, especially on the Sabbath? The man's parents were anxious about a personal issue: How can we avoid being ostracized by the synagogue? Even the man himself was initially concerned only with what had happen to him.

This is a story of blindness, all right. Everybody in it is blind, to Jesus. Yet there He is, restoring sight!

I am blind sometimes too, so preoccupied with other issues that I fail to see the work of God around me.

One person in this story give me hope. The man who was once blind finally sees who Jesus really is. Immediately he worships Him. If I focus my own eyes on who Jesus is, will I be able to see what God is doing in the world and in my life, and praise Him for it.

Father God, as I turn my eyes to You, heal my blindness that I may praise You for all You good works. In Jesus Name I Pray Amen and Amen