"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:7
I was born again 31 years ago today! Can I just say, this day is more important to me than my physical birthday. Today I celebrate entering into eternal life. Today I revisit in my memory the moment when I yielded myself to the Father, asked Jesus to be my Savior and the Holy Spirit took possession.
John 3:8 "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
As I have shared this experience with people through the years, this verse has become clearer. I have no idea why a Holy God chose me and I have no idea from day to day how he will use me. I just need to remain yielded to him for his use.
"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:14-15
I chose to look and live and I continue to choose to look and live for him. I will never be perfect in this flesh, but I have a burning desire to live so close to him and so surrendered to him that when I sin I feel his grief and repent. I love my Lord and don't want to disappoint him in any way.
John 3:18-21 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds where evil. For every one that doeth evil hatheth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
Happy BORN AGAIN day to me! Happy "Born Again" Day to me. I am 31 years along in this journey. Thank you Lord for the free gift of salvation. His grace IS sufficient and his mercy IS forever!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Standing in the Light!
I am overjoyed to see the sun this morning! You see, we have had several days of dark gray rainy skies. As I awoke this morning, I was already pondering the use of light and the brightness of light. So, when I drew back the curtains and saw the faint blue skies of the morning my soul jumped for joy.
It is Sunday! It is a sunny day! "Oh, what beautiful morning." I began singing. "Oh, what a beautiful day." But I changed the words to match the moment. "I have a beautiful feeling on this splendid Lord's day."
My heart is full of joy that the Light lives inside of me and he allows me to fellowship with him. Praise His Wonderful name!
II Corinthians 4:6: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
The God who said, "Let there be light," has shone in my heart the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the person of Jesus Christ. My Savior! My Lord! I get to worship him in spirit and in truth today. Not sure if I will shout or sit silently in reverence and awe. I don't know if I will dance or drop to my knees. My flesh will hinder my ability to experience this fully.
II Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
God allows my frail human frame, which he created and is continuing to mold, to contain this light to beam forth the Light that the greatness of his power may be witnessed.
Makes me want to fall on my face and weep for joy. Worship Him! He is worthy!
It is Sunday! It is a sunny day! "Oh, what beautiful morning." I began singing. "Oh, what a beautiful day." But I changed the words to match the moment. "I have a beautiful feeling on this splendid Lord's day."
My heart is full of joy that the Light lives inside of me and he allows me to fellowship with him. Praise His Wonderful name!
II Corinthians 4:6: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
The God who said, "Let there be light," has shone in my heart the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the person of Jesus Christ. My Savior! My Lord! I get to worship him in spirit and in truth today. Not sure if I will shout or sit silently in reverence and awe. I don't know if I will dance or drop to my knees. My flesh will hinder my ability to experience this fully.
II Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
God allows my frail human frame, which he created and is continuing to mold, to contain this light to beam forth the Light that the greatness of his power may be witnessed.
Makes me want to fall on my face and weep for joy. Worship Him! He is worthy!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
I wanted to be HIS!
When I entered middle school my parents decided to divorce. My brother and I didn't understand what had happened between them. We just heard them say they didn't love each other anymore. Dad came to get us every other weekend and tried to be a good father. My mom and I didn't have a good relationship. I know she loved me, but we just couldn't talk like my father and I could.
My life changed. I became a trouble maker. Fighting at school and on the school bus became a release. Our neighbor, Marie Miller became my confident. She loved her Lord and lived out her faith. She prayed with me and for me. I was angry with God and the world. Nothing would be right again.
By the end of middle school both my parents had remarried. I resisted relationships with either step parent and became increasingly involved with activities at school. Cheer leading, drama club, chorus and track kept me busy and made me stay out of enough trouble so I would not have to go home.
In the summer of my eighth grade year, Mrs. Miller or Aunt Rie, as I called her, took me to revival meeting after revival meeting. She played the guitar and had taught me a few songs. She encouraged me to sing at the revivals. At one such revival the Holy Spirit began to prick my heart, but I refused to move.
At the next Sunday service I attended with my mom and step father, I walked down the isle where the pastor took my hand and said, "Let me pray with you, Child." He didn't discuss scripture with me or encourage me to be born again. He just prayed with me and said. "Now, I hope you feel better."
I determined that upon entering high school my life would be different. I would turn over a new leaf. I would stop being a bully. I got my hair cut and started carrying a bible with me everywhere. I even read it daily on the school bus to and from school. I went from being Vonda Butts school bully to Vonda Butts the Holy Roller.
All was fine until one afternoon on the school bus 2 boys began teasing me about my name. My temper flared and there went the self imposed changes.
Time went by. I spent weekends with my father and step mother. They attended church faithfully and my step mother was a wonderful example of a godly woman. They took me to a service at Back to Bethal camp meeting. It was at that meeting I met my SALVATION!
I can still smell the saw dust shavings. I even remember what I was wearing, a bright yellow blouse and navy blue calico skirt. This time when I walked the down the isle, it felt as if I wasn't walking at all. The place was crowded with people, but I felt as if I were the only one present. When I reached the front, I was met by a preacher whose face I recognized. He asked me if I had come to received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. All I could do was nod. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I knelt in the sawdust and was shown God's plan of salvation from the scriptures. I knew it! I didn't need another explanation, but I listened anxiously then was asked to pray for my salvation.
I asked God to forgive me. I wanted Jesus to save me and change me. I wanted the games to stop. I wanted to stop pretending. I wanted what Marie Miller had. I wanted what my father and step mother had. I wanted to be HIS!
My life changed. I became a trouble maker. Fighting at school and on the school bus became a release. Our neighbor, Marie Miller became my confident. She loved her Lord and lived out her faith. She prayed with me and for me. I was angry with God and the world. Nothing would be right again.
By the end of middle school both my parents had remarried. I resisted relationships with either step parent and became increasingly involved with activities at school. Cheer leading, drama club, chorus and track kept me busy and made me stay out of enough trouble so I would not have to go home.
In the summer of my eighth grade year, Mrs. Miller or Aunt Rie, as I called her, took me to revival meeting after revival meeting. She played the guitar and had taught me a few songs. She encouraged me to sing at the revivals. At one such revival the Holy Spirit began to prick my heart, but I refused to move.
At the next Sunday service I attended with my mom and step father, I walked down the isle where the pastor took my hand and said, "Let me pray with you, Child." He didn't discuss scripture with me or encourage me to be born again. He just prayed with me and said. "Now, I hope you feel better."
I determined that upon entering high school my life would be different. I would turn over a new leaf. I would stop being a bully. I got my hair cut and started carrying a bible with me everywhere. I even read it daily on the school bus to and from school. I went from being Vonda Butts school bully to Vonda Butts the Holy Roller.
All was fine until one afternoon on the school bus 2 boys began teasing me about my name. My temper flared and there went the self imposed changes.
Time went by. I spent weekends with my father and step mother. They attended church faithfully and my step mother was a wonderful example of a godly woman. They took me to a service at Back to Bethal camp meeting. It was at that meeting I met my SALVATION!
I can still smell the saw dust shavings. I even remember what I was wearing, a bright yellow blouse and navy blue calico skirt. This time when I walked the down the isle, it felt as if I wasn't walking at all. The place was crowded with people, but I felt as if I were the only one present. When I reached the front, I was met by a preacher whose face I recognized. He asked me if I had come to received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. All I could do was nod. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks. I knelt in the sawdust and was shown God's plan of salvation from the scriptures. I knew it! I didn't need another explanation, but I listened anxiously then was asked to pray for my salvation.
I asked God to forgive me. I wanted Jesus to save me and change me. I wanted the games to stop. I wanted to stop pretending. I wanted what Marie Miller had. I wanted what my father and step mother had. I wanted to be HIS!
Friday, August 24, 2012
"Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"
These words are from Isaiah 40:21-22. This is my new memory passage.
Last night, as I rehearsed these verses while trying to go sleep, I rambled into thoughts about Christopher Columbus and the new world discovery. It has been said that a passage in Isaiah is what sparked him to realize the earth was round and not flat.
I began pondering the discoveries we make as human beings. Those flashes of light when the switch is flipped and we see IT for the first time. Not just learning something new, but assimilating IT into our very fiber as a new part of who we are.
My walk with Jesus began that way. It was on August 27, 1981 at the age of 17 that I realized my need for a savior. Oh, I knew there was a God. I realized that as a small child. I was fascinated by the little things in his creation. My dad was always explaining things like how ants can dig holes, and how grasshoppers can jump. My father's parents were members of a large Baptist church. When I spent weekends with them, they would take me and my brother to church on Sunday. On those same weekends, we were also privileged to hear our great grandmother Daughtery yell her nightly prayers. Note to self: Blog about Minnie Daughtery sometime. What a character!
My mother kept a family Bible on top of a cedar chest at the foot of her bed. One evening while she was putting some things away in her room, I climbed up on her bed and began looking at the pictures inside. There was a picture of Jesus dying on the cross. I began to cry. I asked my mom what was happening in the picture. She sat on the bed and explained to me the events of the picture. I remember going to church the following Sunday with my parents. We visited a local Baptist church where I met with the pastor and was asked if I wanted to be baptized. I was five or six years old. I was not scared of much, so I said yes! The old bald headed man with black horn rimmed glasses smiled and escorted me into the sanctuary were my friend, the cafeteria lady from my school, Mrs. Cook, grabbed my hand and began shaking it and smiling down at me saying, "I am so proud of you."
I went through elementary school with my parents attending church. They tried to live right before me. I tried to be good. Life was good! God was good! He is still God and he is in control. But I was still in the dark. The light had flashed, but I had not stepped into yet!
These words are from Isaiah 40:21-22. This is my new memory passage.
Last night, as I rehearsed these verses while trying to go sleep, I rambled into thoughts about Christopher Columbus and the new world discovery. It has been said that a passage in Isaiah is what sparked him to realize the earth was round and not flat.
I began pondering the discoveries we make as human beings. Those flashes of light when the switch is flipped and we see IT for the first time. Not just learning something new, but assimilating IT into our very fiber as a new part of who we are.
My walk with Jesus began that way. It was on August 27, 1981 at the age of 17 that I realized my need for a savior. Oh, I knew there was a God. I realized that as a small child. I was fascinated by the little things in his creation. My dad was always explaining things like how ants can dig holes, and how grasshoppers can jump. My father's parents were members of a large Baptist church. When I spent weekends with them, they would take me and my brother to church on Sunday. On those same weekends, we were also privileged to hear our great grandmother Daughtery yell her nightly prayers. Note to self: Blog about Minnie Daughtery sometime. What a character!
My mother kept a family Bible on top of a cedar chest at the foot of her bed. One evening while she was putting some things away in her room, I climbed up on her bed and began looking at the pictures inside. There was a picture of Jesus dying on the cross. I began to cry. I asked my mom what was happening in the picture. She sat on the bed and explained to me the events of the picture. I remember going to church the following Sunday with my parents. We visited a local Baptist church where I met with the pastor and was asked if I wanted to be baptized. I was five or six years old. I was not scared of much, so I said yes! The old bald headed man with black horn rimmed glasses smiled and escorted me into the sanctuary were my friend, the cafeteria lady from my school, Mrs. Cook, grabbed my hand and began shaking it and smiling down at me saying, "I am so proud of you."
I went through elementary school with my parents attending church. They tried to live right before me. I tried to be good. Life was good! God was good! He is still God and he is in control. But I was still in the dark. The light had flashed, but I had not stepped into yet!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Let it Be
Over the years I have had to train my mind to slow it's racing pace by catching a word and dwelling on it. You see, I am plagued with one of those brains that race with pictures and words 24/7. It never rest! When I want to go to sleep I have to visualize a blank screen being drawn down very slowly. While the screen is descending, I have to talk myself into silence. A few months ago I tried a new method. I decided to choose the Psalm that coincides with my age and memorize it. Now, I say my nightly prayers and quote that Psalm until sleep overtakes me. The Psalm is number 46.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.......
As I studied and memorized this chapter, I encouraged myself to repeat it's words as animated as a child. During the day I even use hand motions for the mountains and the sea.
"Therefore will NOT we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
Sometimes as I am drifting off to sleep, I will catch myself on certain words or phrases and awaken a few hours later with those words still rolling around in my head. One such phrase is in verse 10.
"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
For someone with the racing mind syndrome, one of the most difficult things to do is to "BE STILL" or let be. I want an answer NOW so I race through thoughts and try, most of the time in vain, to find a solution. I am learning, through my continued focus on this chapter and practicing turning my thoughts to the Creator, that busying the mind is one of the fleshes devices of self preservation. We think we have the answer. We want to figure it out. So, we will do anything and everything to stay busy in thought or action until we think we have the solution. Often we are very wrong!
The second phrase in verse 10 tells us what the results of being still will bring. God will not share his glory with us. He wants to reveal it to us and through us but he can't as long as we think we have any part in it. Sometimes all he needs us to do is to sit down and shut up. Find a place today to sit and turn it off and let's begin learning how to "Let it Be."
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.......
As I studied and memorized this chapter, I encouraged myself to repeat it's words as animated as a child. During the day I even use hand motions for the mountains and the sea.
"Therefore will NOT we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
Sometimes as I am drifting off to sleep, I will catch myself on certain words or phrases and awaken a few hours later with those words still rolling around in my head. One such phrase is in verse 10.
"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
For someone with the racing mind syndrome, one of the most difficult things to do is to "BE STILL" or let be. I want an answer NOW so I race through thoughts and try, most of the time in vain, to find a solution. I am learning, through my continued focus on this chapter and practicing turning my thoughts to the Creator, that busying the mind is one of the fleshes devices of self preservation. We think we have the answer. We want to figure it out. So, we will do anything and everything to stay busy in thought or action until we think we have the solution. Often we are very wrong!
The second phrase in verse 10 tells us what the results of being still will bring. God will not share his glory with us. He wants to reveal it to us and through us but he can't as long as we think we have any part in it. Sometimes all he needs us to do is to sit down and shut up. Find a place today to sit and turn it off and let's begin learning how to "Let it Be."
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Time for Another
A little over a year ago I began this blog to help me cop with the changes that were taking place in our family. My husband Tony had decided to transfer with his job to a new location. Our destination was Wilmington, NC. The only catch was our three children were not coming with us. Their ages ranged from 17-20. They were in college or finishing high school. I was uprooted from our home town, my friends and my children and moved 250 miles away. I was not happy about it. I used the postings in this blog to secure my focus and to grow in my relationship with my God so I wouldn't kill my husband.
I can look back now and see God had a plan in all our lives for our good and His glory. My Hannah is now a college graduate, married, living in Indiana with her husband's family. My Noah finished college, bought a house at 21, married and is working as a mechanic in a family business. My Jonah is working and going to school, readying himself to marry in a year. We all have a wonderful relationship and are loving and living for our Lord. Tony and I have happily relocated in a beautiful home on the Cape Fear River where I tend to him and enjoy early retirement. I have been asked to continue this blog and use it to share our new adventures and to share my joys and frustrations as we walk on the the power of HIS might. I am looking forward to the journey.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Stamped with the Seal of Promise
Read Ephesians 1:1-14. Pray that God will show you how special you are to him.
Ephesus was located at the mouth of the Cayster River in what is now modern day Turkey. It was situated just across the Aegean Sea from Athens Greece. Filled with beautiful Greek structures, it was a beautiful seaport city and the seat of the province of Asia. It had a population of about 250,000 at the time of the writing of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. This beautiful port city was the worship center of the goddess Diana.
According to Acts 18:18 Paul came through Ephesus on his second missionary journey. He met Priscilla and Aquila there. In Acts 19:9-10 we see Paul later returns to Ephesus and stays for more than two years in the school of Tyrannus. He met with the elders of this early church as seen in Acts 20:16-17.
This letter to the Ephesians was later written by Paul from his prison cell. It was hand delivered to the people there by Tychichus. The letter has two divisions; the doctrinal section of Eph. 1-4:16 and the practical section of Eph. 4:17-6.
Themes covered in the letter include the grace of God, the church of God as seen as the building, a body and a bride and the armor of God. These themes are layered to show the development of the overall Christian, saved by grace, maturing in grace and continuing on with grace.
In Ephesians 1:1 we see a greeting to all Christians.
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus."
Though this letter was written thousands of years ago, it contains practical truths that will mature us in Christ today. Spiritual peace can be obtained by reading and studying it's verses.
Ephesians 1:2- "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
A reminder of God's divine favor is given in verses 3 and 4 of chapter 1.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"
This favor is unmerited, only conditional upon our acceptance, and eternal, no matter how we might "feel" about it.
God delivers this favor through the process of adoption. He chose to adopt us into his family. He sets us apart as his own children through Jesus Christ in accordance with the purpose of his will because it pleases him and is his kind intent, so that we might show his unmerited favor and grace to each other. (Eph. 1:5-7)
He has lavished upon mankind every kind of wisdom and understanding and brought about the climax of time in which Jesus was given for the fulfillment of his divine and loving plan. Then he allowed the Bible to be written so that this generation of believers could continue in the adoption process. (Eph. 1:6-12)
As we finish today, read Ephesians 1:13-14 and take a deep breath.
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
You trusted, just as that early church of believers trusted, after you heard the word of truth, which was the gospel of your salvation. You believed and were sealed with that same holy Spirit of promise.
YOU are stamped with that same SEAL OF PROMISE! Praise his wonderful name!
Ephesus was located at the mouth of the Cayster River in what is now modern day Turkey. It was situated just across the Aegean Sea from Athens Greece. Filled with beautiful Greek structures, it was a beautiful seaport city and the seat of the province of Asia. It had a population of about 250,000 at the time of the writing of Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. This beautiful port city was the worship center of the goddess Diana.
According to Acts 18:18 Paul came through Ephesus on his second missionary journey. He met Priscilla and Aquila there. In Acts 19:9-10 we see Paul later returns to Ephesus and stays for more than two years in the school of Tyrannus. He met with the elders of this early church as seen in Acts 20:16-17.
This letter to the Ephesians was later written by Paul from his prison cell. It was hand delivered to the people there by Tychichus. The letter has two divisions; the doctrinal section of Eph. 1-4:16 and the practical section of Eph. 4:17-6.
Themes covered in the letter include the grace of God, the church of God as seen as the building, a body and a bride and the armor of God. These themes are layered to show the development of the overall Christian, saved by grace, maturing in grace and continuing on with grace.
In Ephesians 1:1 we see a greeting to all Christians.
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus."
Though this letter was written thousands of years ago, it contains practical truths that will mature us in Christ today. Spiritual peace can be obtained by reading and studying it's verses.
Ephesians 1:2- "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
A reminder of God's divine favor is given in verses 3 and 4 of chapter 1.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"
This favor is unmerited, only conditional upon our acceptance, and eternal, no matter how we might "feel" about it.
God delivers this favor through the process of adoption. He chose to adopt us into his family. He sets us apart as his own children through Jesus Christ in accordance with the purpose of his will because it pleases him and is his kind intent, so that we might show his unmerited favor and grace to each other. (Eph. 1:5-7)
He has lavished upon mankind every kind of wisdom and understanding and brought about the climax of time in which Jesus was given for the fulfillment of his divine and loving plan. Then he allowed the Bible to be written so that this generation of believers could continue in the adoption process. (Eph. 1:6-12)
As we finish today, read Ephesians 1:13-14 and take a deep breath.
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
You trusted, just as that early church of believers trusted, after you heard the word of truth, which was the gospel of your salvation. You believed and were sealed with that same holy Spirit of promise.
YOU are stamped with that same SEAL OF PROMISE! Praise his wonderful name!
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