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The phoenix was supposedly a bird that, when it died, rose again from it's ashes, or a new phoenix was born from the ashes. This was used to symbolize Christ and the resurrection in early Christian art.
"The bird was also said to regenerate when hurt or wounded by a foe, thus being almost immortal and invincible — a symbol of fire and divinity." Wikipedia This makes me think of the regeneration that God does in our lives, the healing of the hurts and wounds we suffer from the enemy of our souls. It also makes me think of the fact that through Him we have the promise of eternal life. That is not the same thing a immortality as immortality is of the flesh, not the spirit. But it does mean that we will live forever, with Him!
It also speaks to me of the verse Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Then too, it was supposedly a bird with gold and red plumes which goes right along with my current handle of redbird.
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His Heavenly Kingdom
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Jul 12, 2006 5:01 pm
234 Views
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2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
We are promised that we will be preserved "unto His heavenly kingdom". What a glorious thought. I can hardly wait. Can you?
We have all heard about the mansions and the streets of gold, the gates made out of jewals and that all sounds so beautiful. But me, I would be happy with a little cabin built beside the river of life, with lots of perfect green grass that has no stickers in it so that I can run barefoot through it. I want to see all the beauty that God created as He created it originally unmarred by sin, unstained by pollution. Can you imagine how bright and beautiful the colors must have been in the beginning?
And what about the animals, not fearing one another or mankind but instead at peace with one another? Imagine being able to walk up to a lion and patting it or being able to pick a baby gila monster up in your hand.
What glories await us when we get home! What wonderful discoveries as we converse with our dad, our big brother, Moses, Abraham, Isacc, Isaiah, Esther, Jonah, Ruth, David, Solomon, Paul and so many others! What joys as we lift our voices with the very heavens and declare His majesty!
Won't it be awesome? Won't it be fabulous? Words can never describe what He has waiting for us. Are you ready?
Are you ready?
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Who's Responsible
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Jul 11, 2006 8:16 pm
229 Views
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Joe 1:3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
I see so many of our children today who are wandering around lost. They have no direction and are being led astray by the evil things of this world. Who is responsible for this sad state of affairs?
It is we the parents. For we have failed in our job in past generations to teach our children and they in turn have not taught their children and the morals of our country are collapsing around us.
We have a vast undertaking before us. We must take back the job that we have so carelessly handed over to the schools, society, even the church. We need to take back the reins of raising our children in the truth and wisdom of the Lord. Only by doing this will we be able to redeem ourselves, our families, our country.
Those of us who do not have children must uphold those that do in prayer. We must make ourselves available to them for whatever help they may need. We must be examples for our grandchildren, for all children, of Godliness.
We must open our hearts to Gods children of all ages who have been abandoned, wounded, abused. We must shine the light of His light for them all to see.
Mr 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
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Being Established
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Jul 11, 2006 6:57 am
259 Views
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1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
It is through going through the trials and temptations of this life that we grow strong roots enabling us to stand strong against the storms that we face. That is why we are told to rejoice in all things, even the bad times, because God is using those times to build us up, to strengthen our character, to make us capable to withstand.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
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Time
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Jul 9, 2006 5:28 pm
Mood: lonely,
187 Views
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Another year almost gone for me.
And all that I can see
Is all my imperfections and
My failures of the past.
It seems that's all that others see
As they continue down the road
Leaving me bruised and torn
By all the condemnations that they cast.
Sometimes they need not speak a word
Their actions speak much louder
Than their voice could ever do.
As they turn and hurry on away.
Another year almost gone for me
And I'm alone and longing
For a love that see's me
As I am today.
© Cecilia Redman 2006
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Alone?
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Jul 9, 2006 5:17 pm
Mood: lonely,
203 Views
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Is it your will, Father,
That I should spend the rest of my days
Alone?
You made woman to be with man
At least that is the way I've always been led
To believe!
I feel so unfulfilled
Without someone, by my side, as though
A part of me is missing.
Could it possibly be, Father,
that this is what you want
for me?
If so, Dear God, then give me peace
That I might sleep and rest
And be content.
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Seeing
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Jul 9, 2006 5:08 pm
Mood: lonely,
205 Views
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Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
That I might see the true man
Hidden behind the earthly shell.
Blind these earthly eyes to those things
that would cause me to turn away
without bothering to know the inner person.
Prevent me from making decisions
based on worldly values
and a persons past.
Help me to realize that each of your children
Have suffered their own pain
Bear their own scars
And need the acceptance and love
of their fellow man.
Help me, dear Lord, to see them
With your eyes.
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When?
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Jul 4, 2006 7:48 pm
Mood: thankful,
220 Views
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When was the last time that you got up early and watched the sunrise or slowed down long enough to watch it set? When was the last time you stopped and admired:
A blooming flower
A field of grain
A mighty oak tree
A wild creature on the prowl
A peaceful lake
The sunlight as it reflects on the currents of a creek or brook
When was the last time that you listened to the beautiful sounds of God's music all around you like:
The wind rustling through the treetops
The birds chattering to each other
The rain falling against the earth
The night creatures singing to the moon
The bubbling laughter of a stream as it runs toward the sea
When was the last time that you savored the taste of:
A fresh tomato straight off the vine
A ripe, juicy peach
A crisp, cool glass of water
A childs kiss
When was the last time you closed your eyes and sank into the aroma of:
A freshly opened rose
The clean freshness of the air after it rains
The sleepy, warmth of a tiny baby
The earthiness of freshly mowed hay
When was the last time that you truly enjoyed the comfort of:
A loved ones hand in yours
Your pets soft fur
A big bear hug from a child
The warmth of a cozy bed
The cool dampness of the green grass on your bare feet
When was the last time that you thanked God for all the little things in your life that are so easy to overlook? When was the last time you thanked Him for eyes to see, ears to hear, the ability to taste and feel and all of the marvelous things He has given us to use these senses for?
Why don't you take time, right now?
© Cecilia Redman 2006
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Were You Being My Daddy?
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Jul 3, 2006 2:05 am
239 Views
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Was I with you, Lord?
Did you come and take me?
Did you take my mind and soul and carry them far away?
Did you take me fishing?
Or maybe to the zoo, Lord?
Were you being my daddy when my daddys' were being some other thing here?
Was I with you, Lord?
Why can't I remember?
Did you take me out in space and show me the Milky Way?
Or to the depths of the ocean?
Or to the highest mountain?
Were you being my daddy when my daddys' were being some other thing here?
Did you take me to Heaven
To be with you, Lord?
And show me the wonderful place that would be my home someday?
Did you hold my hand, Lord?
Let me know that you loved me?
Were you being my daddy when my daddys' were being some other thing here?
I know I had knowledge
A little child shouldn't
About the protector that stayed right beside me through each night and day.
I'm told I was too little
To have known you so well, Lord.
Were you being my daddy when my daddys' were being some other thing here?
I just want to praise you
For keeping me whole, Lord!
I know you did something to hold me together, year after year.
And though I don't remember
I still want to thank you
For being my daddy when my daddys' were being some other thing here!
© Cecilia Redman 2006
Today would be my biological dad's 79th birthday if he were still living. I have long since forgiven him the things he did to me as a child but cannot help but think of him on days like today and wish that he had been a daddy to me, as God intended him to be, instead of what he was. I woke up, very early this morning with this poem bursting from within me. I had to get up from bed and get it down before I lost it. I am so thankful that my Lord was there to step in and do the job that others failed to do. I really don't remember most of what happened here, I believe that God has taken those horrible memories from me leaving just enough to make me aware and give me the righeous indignation that I need to battle child abuse and child rape in our world today.
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Song by Dottie Rambo
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Jul 2, 2006 3:47 pm
Mood: thoughtful,
213 Views
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I've always loved this song. A friend and I used to sing it together in church when my oldest grandson was about a year old. I now have 7 living grandchildren and the words of this song still speak to my heart.
Who's Gonna Teach My Children's Children
Who's gonna teach my children's children?
Who's gonna love my little grandchild?
Who's gonna prove in a world of trouble
You can drive away hate with a little girl's smile?
Who's gonna keep "Old Glory" waving?
Will anybody die for the red, white and blue?
Will brave men's names rise up to haunt us,
And blood fill the streets when the enemy's through?
Chorus
In the midst of vast confusion
Wonder if anyone will find
Blood and tears of our fore-fathers,
Precious landmarks they left behind?
Will there be one brave voice lifted
High above the noise in the crowd?
It worries me.
Who's gonna teach my children's children?
Who's gonna love my little grandchild?
Listen church
Who's gonna ring the bells on Sunday?
Will anybody stand and teach the Golden Rule?
Will there be one "Amen" left in the pulpit?
What in the world will the little ones do?
Tag
(I wonder)
Who's gonna teach my children's children?
Who's gonna love my little grandchild?
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We Are So Blessed
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Jul 1, 2006 4:51 am
Mood: thankful,
232 Views
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I was talking to a friend recently, another women who is disabled and on a very limited income. She lost her mother about 6 months ago and in the process of our conversation I couldn't help but notice how depressed and despondent she was.
She spoke of her situation and how terrible it all was. How little she had, how hard her life was, how much she missed her mother.
She is one of my best friends and I have always been able to talk to her quite frankly. And so first I asked her how her dad was doing. She is still very close to him. Then I mentioned how very blessed and fortunate she was to still have him, to have had him and a good relationship with him all her 50+ years.
I proceeded to express to her how wonderful it was that she had had such a long, loving relationship with her mother as well and that I knew many people who would gladly trade places with her, myself included.
All too often, we get caught up in our circumstances and forget to notice all the many blessings that we enjoy each and every day. Simple things like a roof over our heads, clean running water, a bed to sleep in, food to eat.
I was reading a magazine article recently about people being crippled by a type of worm that enters their body and literally eats their flesh. These worms or their larvae get onto these people when they go to collect drinking water and wade out into the water itself to get to where it is deep enough that they don't end up with mud and silt.
We must always try to remember that the poorest of us here on this site, are rich beyond measure compared to so many in our world today.
Thank you Father for your provision, for a safe place to lay down at night to sleep, when there are so many who have no home.
Thank you for clean, running water that comes to me when I need it. Thank you for the ability to keep my body and clothes clean. Thank you for the fact that I have more than one set of clothing to wear and shoes to put on my feet when so many are naked and barefooted.
Thank you for every bite of food I have to eat when so many go hungry. Thank you for the electricity that enables me to keep a supply of food on hand, fresh and healthful.
Thank you for books to read that I might learn and grow. Thank you for the education that I was given that taught me to read them when so many are denied the opportunity.
Thank you for the knowledge that you have given to the scientist of the world that has enabled them to provide me with medicine's that keep me healthy. Thank you for allowing those medicine's to be readily available to me when so many suffer and die because they do not have access to these things.
Thank you for my dog, birds and fish. Their presence in my life mean so much to me. Thank you for the ability to take care of them when so many cannot even take care of themselves or their children.
There are so very many things that I am thankful for, Father. So many things that all too often I take for granted. Forgive me for my short-sightedness and help me remember all your blessings when I start the think I have so little. Thank you most of all for my awareness of You and for Your being mindful of me.
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