You may be thinking... What?? Be a window? What kind of New Years Resolution is that?
:-)
I was sitting in my living room this afternoon and pondering the notion of a New Year's Resolution. Tonight, possibly millions upon millions of people are making resolutions to be better, thinner, healthier, etc.
In attempt to put into words the extent of my resolution to be a better woman, a better Christian, a better mother, etc., I looked out a window. The idea was there... This year, I want to be a window!
I want to be a window that people look out and say "what a beautiful day!", not "what a nice pane of glass." My job as a follower of Christ, is to live my life the way He exemplified, including forgiveness, compassion, grace, unconditional love, peace, etc.
This year, people will be able to look at me and not see a woman, but my goal is for them to see the beautiful qualities of God that are shining through. When a glass gets fogged up or dirty, you can't see the true beautiy of what's on the other side of the window. My resolution to be a window includes keeping that window spot free so the glory of God can so easily shine through and bless all who care to take a look.
My hope is that we all take the time to put our human wills out of the way and step aside to let the Love of God shine through us... be a window! Less focus on "me" means more focus on "Him." Every smile, every nice gesture, every act of kindness... they will be the light in someone's life. They will in turn go on to be a light to someone else. It's truly exciting to think of the countless ways we glorify God in our day to day activities.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Four Year Old has Instantaneous Healing
A four year old has instantaneous healing
By Julie Paulk
My daughter and I were riding in the car together on our way to attend the Wednesday evening testimony meeting. When we were about a mile away I realized her window was open a bit. Since it was in the 40’s outside, I rolled her window up using my control on the drivers’ side door.
However, when the window went up I immediately heard a crack and then a scream. I turned around and saw my daughter’s fingers rolled up in the window. I immediately put the window back down so she could get her fingers out. She was screaming and crying, saying “Mommy hurt my fingers, Mommy hut my fingers.”
I told her I was so sorry and was looking for a place to pull the car over so I could comfort her. However, the thought came to me “you are prepared to handle this situation.” I knew it meant through prayer. So through her tears and crying, I said “Karen, let’s pray together.” So I began praying out loud. In Christian Science, we learn how to have effective prayers. One of my favorite passages by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, reads:
“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal
man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Savior saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick.”
We see that Jesus healed by seeing God’s likeness instead of seeing “sinning mortal man.” So we began our prayers this way: “God, thank you for making Karen in your image and likeness. Thank you for making her complete, whole, healthy, intact. Thank you for making her peaceful.” We went on and on. (Mind you we were only one mile away from church, so this prayer wasn’t very long.)
With each part of the prayer, Karen was increasingly calm. We ended our prayer with a little song. It only has one verse “There is no spot where God is not.” But then Karen added a second verse “and God made my fingers all better!”
With that, we arrived at church and she jumped out of the car completely joyous and healed.
This incident got me thinking… When we are in any situation and panic, or guilt, or other negative thoughts creep in, we can remember to change that at once and turn to God in gratitude for what He’s already done. All eternity ago he created each and every one of us in His image and likeness and nothing can ever change that. All we have to do is bear witness to His Truth.
Prayers that heal, are prayers that don’t beg God to do something or change something or heal something. God already made us whole and complete and healthy in the first place. The prayers that heal are ones that affirm what God has already done. We are bearing witness to Truth.
Christ Jesus said “And Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”
I witnessed this first hand in so many situations, including this instantaneous healing of my four year old daughter. It was such a joy for her to learn, once again, what happens when you turn to God in prayer and gratitude.
By Julie Paulk
My daughter and I were riding in the car together on our way to attend the Wednesday evening testimony meeting. When we were about a mile away I realized her window was open a bit. Since it was in the 40’s outside, I rolled her window up using my control on the drivers’ side door.
However, when the window went up I immediately heard a crack and then a scream. I turned around and saw my daughter’s fingers rolled up in the window. I immediately put the window back down so she could get her fingers out. She was screaming and crying, saying “Mommy hurt my fingers, Mommy hut my fingers.”
I told her I was so sorry and was looking for a place to pull the car over so I could comfort her. However, the thought came to me “you are prepared to handle this situation.” I knew it meant through prayer. So through her tears and crying, I said “Karen, let’s pray together.” So I began praying out loud. In Christian Science, we learn how to have effective prayers. One of my favorite passages by Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, reads:
“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal
man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Savior saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick.”
We see that Jesus healed by seeing God’s likeness instead of seeing “sinning mortal man.” So we began our prayers this way: “God, thank you for making Karen in your image and likeness. Thank you for making her complete, whole, healthy, intact. Thank you for making her peaceful.” We went on and on. (Mind you we were only one mile away from church, so this prayer wasn’t very long.)
With each part of the prayer, Karen was increasingly calm. We ended our prayer with a little song. It only has one verse “There is no spot where God is not.” But then Karen added a second verse “and God made my fingers all better!”
With that, we arrived at church and she jumped out of the car completely joyous and healed.
This incident got me thinking… When we are in any situation and panic, or guilt, or other negative thoughts creep in, we can remember to change that at once and turn to God in gratitude for what He’s already done. All eternity ago he created each and every one of us in His image and likeness and nothing can ever change that. All we have to do is bear witness to His Truth.
Prayers that heal, are prayers that don’t beg God to do something or change something or heal something. God already made us whole and complete and healthy in the first place. The prayers that heal are ones that affirm what God has already done. We are bearing witness to Truth.
Christ Jesus said “And Ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”
I witnessed this first hand in so many situations, including this instantaneous healing of my four year old daughter. It was such a joy for her to learn, once again, what happens when you turn to God in prayer and gratitude.
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