Destined To Be A Diamond!

Having been engaged a number of times, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was asked whether a lady should give back the ring. Her answer? "Of course, darling, but first, you take out the diamonds." While this is a bit humorous, the message rings true-diamonds are valuable!! Not only are they valuable, they are beautiful. One would be hard pressed to find a naturally occurring substance that is comparable in beauty to a diamond. However, the diamond's beginning is a far cry from the sparkling beauty of a stone we see in the end. Indeed, it is hard to believe that something as ugly as coal can be transformed into something as magnificent as a diamond. Even though this is possible, understand that it is not an easy or quick process. It is believed that coal has to be exposed to a temperature above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure almost 50 times greater than that of the earth's surface, and it has to constantly be exposed to these conditions over a very, very, long period of time. Without these 3 conditions-pressure, heat and time, it would never transform into a diamond.

Every piece of coal does not become a diamond. Only the ones that stand up under pressure and heat over time are formed into this valuable stone. Ladies, we need to be diamonds! We need to reflect the light of the Spirit of God to a dark, dark world!

I like what James 1:2-4 says about the pressures of life: Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. MSG

James says we should consider it a gift when we encounter challenges in life so that we are not lacking anything!

Sometimes we may tend to focus too much on the failures in our lives, finding it difficult to move beyond them. Or we look at our circumstances, how we were raised, or our past. No matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, God can and does use those to transform us, if we will but let Him. In order to be exactly what God calls us to be, we must stand up under the pressures of life and come out on the other side as a diamond. I believe that God looks at each one of us and sees great potential, just like that ole chunk of coal! He sees what we are and what we are destined to become-a valuable, beautiful diamond!

I am reminded of a woman mentioned in Hebrews 11:31 named Rahab - By faith-because she believed God and his power-Rahab the harlot did not die with all the others in her city when they refused to obey God, for she gave a friendly welcome to the spies.

Rahab was a prostitute. There was probably no other less likely person than Rahab for God to use, yet He chose her to help the children of Israel! Think about all of the negative labels put on Rahab because of her past - prostitute, worthless, broken, and used, just to name a few. Not only did God choose her to help His people, He chose her to be in the lineage of King David on down to Jesus, and she wasn't even an Israelite! Talk about a transformation! She was able to move beyond her past, beyond the labels others put on her to become a heroine and directly in the lineage of royalty! God saw in her the great potential to become that glittering diamond.

What negative labels or past may be holding you back from becoming the beautiful diamond God has called you to be? How about critical person, a doormat, insecure, promiscuous, addict, manipulative, or average? You may be thinking, "Can God still use me, even with my past?" God says a resounding, "YES!" Or maybe your past isn't filled with those things, but you think to yourself, "I am so inadequate. God couldn't use me. I don't have enough education or enough opportunities or enough..." Just fill in the blank, you get the picture.

The story of Rahab should give all of us hope. Think of the major challenges she had to face. Yet she risked her own life to help God's people, stood up under pressure, and believed in God and his power. My, how it paid off big for her! And it will pay off for all of us who, like Rahab, will dare to believe in the God of power and the Master of transformation. Acts 10:34 makes it plain, "...It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites!" When it comes to God, He has no favorites. God could care less where we come from or our past, He just wants to know that we believe His word and in His power.

When we are tempted to want a life free from difficulties, let us remember that diamonds are formed under pressure. But how do we stand up under pressure? Simple-we just never, ever give up. I have 5 boys and they all love to play baseball. I have enjoyed watching them play more baseball games than I care to count. If I've learned one thing about baseball, it is this, that when you swing the bat 3 times without hitting the ball, then you are out!  I'm so thankful that life ISN'T like baseball. Keep swinging the bat until you hit that ball, no matter how many swings it takes. God doesn't say, "You're out!" after 3 swings. And He is the only one that really matters! Ephesians 6:13 states, "...and, having done all, to stand." Put on the full armor of God, fight the good fight of faith, just keep standing and never, never give up and you will win! Look at challenges and pressures of life as a priceless gift and as wonderful opportunities to grow you and transform you into the precious and valuable diamond that you are! It's your destiny! This poem by Anne Linington sums it up well:

Diamond in the dark 
Formed by fire
Come to light
Cut and polished
Sparkling brightly
Multifaceted
Viewed against the darkness which gave it birth
Radiates the light supplying worth
And shines for all to see
Shines for all eternity

Because of Him,
Kim

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A Spring In Your Step by Kate Jones

A Spring In Your Step

I don’t know about you, but longer days and warmer sunrays put a spring in my step!  Even the rain can’t bring me down during a season when flowers are budding on trees, the cherry blossoms cover our nations’ capital with a glorious pink, rainbows remind us of God’s promises, and we are reminded of God’s love for His creation when He sent His son to the cross, to the grave and to the sky.  The birds are singing their praises, the trees are breaking forth with laughter and the colors of resurrection are springing up from the earth, preparing for its harvest time.  

With springtime, there comes a renewed hope, a reminder of redemption and purpose, and a recommitment to the things that God has shared with you concerning his plan for your life.  For me, its prayer, devotion and passion to pursue what God has purposed in me.  For you, it may also call to mind your role as a wife, mother, minister, homemaker, employee… this is where Satan wants to remind us of our failures and shortcomings.  But God wants to celebrate salvation through the washing of the blood that cleansed us from our impurities and renews us by the Holy Spirit, which was poured out through Jesus Christ, our Savior!  

Titus 3:4-7 boasts of God’s love for us saying, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”!!!!

Just like spring brings forth a budding earth of revived plants, and fresh harvest to celebrate the life of Christ, we have also been regenerated.  The old has gone, the new has come!  We can celebrate through the redemption of the Son of God, who through His death, burial and resurrection, gave us a new life!  As we take communion to remind us of what Christ did for us, we can examine ourselves in the light of the hope of Glory!

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What's That Smell? by Dawn White

What's That Smell?

Scripture:  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!  1 John 1:9

This past fall, I was privileged to attend a retreat with some very special Godly women.  We all knew the coordinator of the event, but most of us did not know each other.  We were all staying in a bed and breakfast, but didn't know ahead of time what our room arrangements would be.  So, it wasn't clear if you'd be sharing a room with someone you didn't know or not.  Because of this, one of the ladies graciously bought us each a bottle of Poopourri.   Yes, I spelled it correctly.  This ingenious little bottle of spray is to be used when you have to, well... completely mask any lingering effects from the business at hand.  And, let me just say, it is amazing!

Now, some of you are wondering if I've checked out and what this could possibly have to do with a Spiritual devotion.  Let me just say, I am a person of analogies and the Lord often speaks to me through them.   So... I do have a message here.

In Colossians 1:14-16 it says, "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him."  These scripture make it clear that Jesus was around from the beginning of time.  The world was formed through Him and for Him.  Thus, Jesus wasn't just an idea later in time and then sent to earth.  He was around from the beginning. 

This is important because Jesus had spent hundreds and hundreds of years in heaven, where all is perfect.  No sin, no illness, no pain, no abuse, no suffering, no hurt....complete peace & joy.  Then at the time ordained by God the Father, He was sent to the earth to be born to the virgin Mary.  Talk about a culture shock.  I've often thought that coming to earth with all the sin and suffering must have been a stench in the nostrils of Jesus, yet He willingly came anyway.  He came in the flesh to redeem us from our own self destruction.  He is the gift that makes eternal life available to us, as well as victory in our earthly lives.

1 John 1:9 says that all we have to do is confess our sins and we are cleansed from all unrighteousness.  It really is quite simple, surrender to Jesus and admit your wrong doing.  Then, by His blood that was poured out on Calvary, you are completely cleansed, as if you had never done anything wrong.  When God the Father looks at you, He no longer sees that sin.  It is washed away by the blood of Jesus.

Now back to the Poopourri.  This amazing potion completely masks any 'residue' of the business at hand.  No one knows of the dirty business that has taken place.  That's exactly the way it works with the blood of Jesus.  When the sin is confessed, Father God no longer remembers what took place.

But, there is a catch....I never would have known the cleansing power of Poorpourri if I hadn't opened the gift and used it.  Friends, it is the same with Jesus.  He is the most precious gift, but you'll never know the power of this gift if you don't open it.  He wants to cleanse you, He wants to help you, He wants to heal you, to comfort you, to counsel you, to give you peace.  All you have to do is open the gift.

Be Blessed!

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