The Tattered Quilt

When my children were young I made them all small quilts to be their “special blankets”.  As the years passed by my children grew up and the quilts grew old and worn.

One of my sons continued to keep his “special blanket” on his bed, even though it was too short for him, as well as faded and ripped. The batting was exposed and you could hardly call it a blanket anymore and yet it still held a special place in his heart.

When I would walk by his bedroom I would see it lying on his bed tattered and torn.  I finally told him it was time to get rid of it and I would even make him a new quilt to replace it.  He reluctantly got rid of it, and that Christmas he recieved a beautiful new homemade quilt that was just the right size for him, which he really enjoyed.

Sometimes as Christians we live like we are carrying around an old "worn out and tattered quilt ".  The old sin nature can be easy to slip into and when we fail; we can pick up the old "quilt" and remain dispondent in our sin and forget who we truly are.

God's word says "We are new creations in Christ Jesus" and we are to clothe ourselves in Christ and his righteousness.  We are to throw off the old man and to walk in the new man, who is "created for good works in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So dear friends, when you sin, don't grab that "tattered quilt" and remain focusing on your old inadequate covering , instead, quickly repent and accept the covering of God's grace and righteousness and you will experience His joy in your heart. 

Lord Jesus, help us everyday to remember that we are clothed in You and Your righteousness.  Keep us from falling into temptation and when we do, Lord, may we quickly run back to You for forgiveness, so that we do not sit in the place of sin, but instead walk forward in your grace and holiness.  Amen

Isaiah 61:10 

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Ephesians 4: 22-24

"...that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the  likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

 

Holding Daddy's Hand

As I was praying today, an image of a little girl walking down the street, holding her Daddy’s hand, popped into my mind, and it brought me such comfort,as well as reminded me that the Lord is with me, wherever I go. 

 Dear friends,  I don’t know all the trials you are experiencing, but I do know that your Heavenly Father wants to walk  you through each one, with your hand wrapped in His.  He wants you to know that He is by your side, taking care of you, as you walk down the path with Him.

 We have a tendency to let go of our Heavenly Daddy’s hand and try and rush ahead of Him down the path .  Sometimes it is because we are excited at what we see ahead; then when we get closer to what seemed  exciting, the magnitude of the challenge before us, becomes overwhelming and we are not sure what to do. Then, there are other times, when what we are walking towards, seems to loom ominously in front of us, and we are frightened and can become frozen in our tracks, or run off the path.
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In either case, all we need to do is to turn around, run back to our Daddy and grab ahold of His hand.  He is bigger than anything we may face; “in His presence is fullness of joy.”  When we walk hand in hand with the Lord, everything shrinks in comparison to His strength and grace.
 

My children you have enough to do today, don't worry about tomorrow;  Let me walk you through each trial along the way. Don’t jump ahead of me, but hold my hand and stay by my side. In the comfort of my wings you may hide and find solace and strength every day.

Walking hand in hand with Jesus, allowing Him to lead the way; knowing that whatever obstacles we must face; He is there and able to help us through the trial, each and every day.

I pray that we walk through this day, holding on to Jesus; not worrying about what may happen tomorrow, but  remembering that nothing is impossible for God and He is bigger than whatever will come our way.