Tabitha, aka Dorcas

The Bible gives us a clear portrait of a Godly woman in Acts 9:36-43.  Her Hebrew name was Tabitha, but she was also known by her name in Greek, Dorcas.  Both names mean a gazelle, or graceful creature. The Bible tells us she lived in the seacoast town of Joppa,  she was a certain disciple of Jesus, and she was full of good works and almsdeeds.  Did you notice that her physical appearance is omitted from her description in the scriptures?  The Lord always places emphasis on the inner person rather than the outward appearance.

Tabitha is distinguished in the Bible for her acts of kindness to the poor.  Not only did she give charity (alms), she was a great doer of charitable works (almsdeeds).  Naturally, the people of Joppa were devastated when this great lady became sick and died. They sent two men to a nearby town to bring the Apostle Peter in hopes God would raise her from the dead.  When Peter arrived he was shown to the room where the body of Tabitha lay. The poor widows that Tabitha had cared for were now weeping and heartbroken over the loss of this dear woman.  They began showing Peter the clothing that Tabitha had made for them.  As the man of God, Peter used this opportunity to further the cause of Christ in that place.  Peter believed in the God that had power over life and death.  He put the weeping widows out of the room, knelt down and prayed for God to intervene. Aloud Peter said, "Tabitha, arise".  She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up!  Peter then led her from that cold room of mourning  into the warm and loving arms of the widows and saints that had been so grieved at her passing. But verse 42 reveals the true reason Tabitha was raised from death:  "And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord."  Tabitha honored God in every aspect of her life and God honored her by lengthening her life.  Her life and her arising from death were instrumental in bringing many lost people to salvation in her hometown.

There are so many lessons to be learned from the story of Tabitha; however, I want to focus on how she used her talents to honor the Lord.  

The Lord bestows talents to every one of His children.  

If you are a child of God, you have at least one talent that is unique to you.  Finding that talent and then using it in His service is where the real blessings of life come.  You see, God gives the talent and then leaves it up to us whether we use it for His honor and glory.   The Bible teaches that the more you use the talent God gives, the more you will receive.  In the reverse, not using the talent God gives will result in the loss of that talent. (Matthew 25:14-29).

The proper use of one's talents pleases the Lord.   

Talents must be used for God's glory and the benefit of others in order to please the Lord.  At the heart of this story, Tabitha pleased the Lord by using her sewing talent for the benefit of those less fortunate than herself. It's possible she could have made a very good living for herself as a seamstress. However, she chose to give her garments to the poor and depend on God to supply her needs. 

Using one's talents reveals a servant's heart.

The Lord uses those of His children that are willing to do what they can for others.  The Lord doesn't expect anyone to do more than they are capable of doing.  However, a servant's heart will go the extra mile to help others with faith in the Lord that He will supply whatever is necessary to accomplish the task.  I picture Tabitha as a busy woman, always looking for ways to use her talent. I see her as anything but an idler or time-waster!  (Something I could use some help with!) 

The Lord can use simple talents to do great things in His name.

The wonderful lesson about Tabitha is that I don't believe she ever expected any praise for herself.  The talents shared by an humble person are always noticed by the Lord and rewarded. May the Lord bless you abundantly as you look for ways to encourage others by sharing with them a talent God has given you.                                                                                  

   ~Blessings, Pamelyn

Priority One: JESUS

    

   What's the first thing you do when you open your eyes from sleep each morning; before your feet hit the floor and the demands of the day take control of your thoughts?  Do you thank JESUS for the night's rest and the new day?  I've never been much of a morning person but I've been trying to make a conscious effort to give JESUS my first thought every morning.  It is a work in progress.... 

Consider Matthew 6:31-34

Therefore take no thought, saying, 

What shall we eat? or, 

What shall we drink? or, 

Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

( For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) 

for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, 

and His righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added unto you.

     These verses are part of a sermon Jesus preached to His followers during His earthly ministry.  His message is as needful today as it was 2,000 or more years ago.  It's all about JESUS being in the place He deserves, which is ahead of everything else, as Priority One.

     To understand more of what Jesus is teaching consider the preceding verses, in particular verses 24-30.  The clear truth is that we cannot serve the Master of the universe and the master of material possessions.  We are told to take a lesson from the birds and the lilies.  Neither of God's creations worry about buying and storing food or provisions nor how they look to others.  God has placed within all His created beings the need to depend on Him to sustain their life.  Birds and lilies exhibit total dependence on the One that created them.  Of all the created beings, only humans feel the need to deny their dependence on His glorious care.  It's simple logic that if God shows such great care for birds and lilies, how much more care will He bestow on His dear children!

     God, in His infinite wisdom and love, gave humans something He did not give the birds and lilies ~ the capacity and freedom to make good, as well as bad, choices. Because all of our choices have consequences, the very first good choice a person should make is to accept the free gift of salvation by the blood of Jesus.  This choice ensures that we can please the Lord with our service, as well as have an eternal home in heaven with our Lord and Savior.  Once saved, the child of God does not lose the capacity nor the freedom to make good and bad choices.  The choices we make do not take away the salvation of our soul; however, they do affect our relationship with our heavenly Father.  As a child of God, it is important to ask ourselves:  

Is God the Master of my universe? 

 Do I give Him complete control of my life?

  

Are my decisions based on His will and not mine? 

Is Jesus my priority?   

     Remember, God leads His children in a path that is in our best interest and for our good.   Making a conscious effort to be grateful for all the blessings He gives, reading His Word daily and praying to Him about every decision and choice we make will help us keep JESUS as Priority One in our lives.

~Blessings, Pamelyn

JUNE 30, 1963 ~ MARKING A MILESTONE

Circa 1963-64

One of the things that makes a family special to each other is their family history and the milestones that are important to them.   To most people, June 30th, 1963 was probably an ordinary day, but to our family it meant the beginning of many blessings.

Last Sunday, June 30th, marked the 50th year anniversary of my Dad surrendering to preach.   In 1963 my parents had been married 6-1/2 years and had 3 children.   June 30th of that year fell on a Sunday and we were in services at a Baptist church on the west coast of South Florida.  During the invitation of that service my Mom was saved and later that afternoon my Dad answered the call to surrender his life to preach.  I was 5-1/2 years old at the time and my only remembrance is a lot of crying going on with my parents.  However, I was OK with the emotional upheaval because in spite of the tears it seemed to me to be a happy time.  All in one day my Dad's career changed and we began making plans to move so Dad could enroll in Seminary.  I've always loved the fact that my Dad and I started the first grade together ~ he in Seminary and me in public school.  My Dad has been the Pastor of 6 churches in Florida, Alabama and Georgia.  Dad will never consider himself “retired” from preaching God's Word; however, he retired from pastoring in June 2008 due to health concerns. 

God has richly blessed our family.  My Dad's surrender to the Lord's call made a difference in my life. The years were not always easy for my parents but God always saw fit to provide for our family in tremendous ways.  (He still does, by the way!)  Whenever there was a need, God never failed to supply!  

I don't want to leave our Mom out of this tribute.  A lot of times the Preacher's Wife is the unsung hero of the story.  I think back on the fact that my Mom became a preacher's wife on the same day she got saved.  She truly had no time to sit and ponder the changes about to take place in her life.  She will tell you that only the grace of God helped her through those times when she felt overwhelmed.  

I am so very proud of my parents for the total commitment and sacrifices they made 50 years ago.   I am so blessed to have grown up in a Christian home and to be a PK (preacher's kid).  Dad and Mom have slowed down a bit in recent years  - he will be 78 in September and she will be 75 in August, but they continue to serve the Lord as they committed to do all those years ago.  I am so thankful to the Lord for calling my Dad to be a preacher of the gospel.  

Blessings, Pamelyn

"Preach the Word;  

be instant in season, out of season; reprove, 

rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine."  

II Timothy 4:2

Refresh

I'm contemplating buying a new computer.  My current computer has been a good one, but the time has come to upgrade.  I've noticed that I've been having to use that little REFRESH key more often.  I like how it works ~ the computer gets stuck, or freezes up, and by pressing the refresh key --eventually,  the system is revived.   I got to thinking about getting stuck or freezing up in my Christian life.  Where's my REFRESH key?  All believers go through times when all is not well in our spiritual life.  I believe the Bible teaches that once you are saved you are always saved, but because we are human and the nature to sin is still within us, we have the need to be renewed and refreshed.  Our walk may not be as close to God as it once was and we simply need to "get back on track" with the Lord.

Lack of Bible study and prayer, unconfessed sin in your heart, and slackness in church attendance are among the most common reasons why a believer needs refreshing.  It is so simple to say, "I'm going to do better", but as we all know, there is great difficulty in actually doing better.  As much as we may want to, we cannot restore ourselves.  Restoring and refreshing is God's work.   We must, however, place ourselves in a position so that the Lord can restore and refresh our walk with Him.  I've listed three REFRESH KEYS that may be helpful in getting ourselves back on track with the Lord. 

REFRESH KEY #1

 King David experienced a time when his spiritual life needed some refreshing.  Psalm 51 records his pleading to God to restore the fellowship he once had with God the Father.   The first refresh key is for the believer to PRAY.  David poured his heart out to the Lord and confessed his sin.  As I read this psalm I can feel the desperation in his heart.   David was not ashamed to say, "Lord, I really messed up this time, please help me."  David's sin was not a secret to God.  He already knew about it and was patiently waiting for David to confess so He could forgive him.  God promises to treat all of His children the same.  Don't ever be too ashamed to tell God you messed up.

REFRESH KEY #2

The next refresh key is READ YOUR BIBLE.  I know I sound like a broken record because I repeat this in a lot of my posts.  It is because I feel strongly that believers are missing out on so much by not taking time to read God's Word.  There is power in God's Word for the believer; that power is made available to the believer when God's Words are hidden in your heart. 

REFRESH KEY #3

The last refresh key is FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.  Equally important as prayer and bible reading to refreshing a believer's heart is being with other believers.  Sharing our burdens with others helps to restore and refresh our spiritual life.   Jesus established His church during His earthly ministry so that we could bring honor and glory to Him.  But He also knew that fellowship among believers was vital to the Christian life as a support system.  The worse thing one can do when going through spiritual difficulties is to become slack in church attendance.   In essence you are denying yourself the love and support of fellow believers.  Our pastor and his wife have a 2 year old daughter who calls going to church home.  She walked in church the other day with her mother, saw her best friend and said, "See Mommy, she's home."  Such wisdom in that!  I pray that the church you are a member of is home to you.

These three keys are important to me personally, but perhaps you have others that help you in your daily walk.   I look forward to hearing what keeps you on track with the Lord.

~Blessings,

Pamelyn

Source:  King James Version

God's Grace {God's Perfect and Glorious Character}

 

Over the next few days  I'd like to explore five attributes of God's perfect and glorious character.

God's Word, His Goodness, His Wrath, His Love, His Grace

Today we'll explore GOD'S GRACE

 

 

 

Several years ago I wrote the definitions of three words in the cover of my Bible: 

 

JUSTICE:  getting just what I deserve.

 

MERCY:  NOT getting what I deserve.

 

GRACE:  getting what I do not deserve.

 

For me, writing out those definitions helped distinguish the significance of the three.  To be sure, when it comes to God's judgment, I definitely don't want justice.  I deserve to be condemned for my sins ~ but I rejoice in the fact that instead of justice, God has given me His mercy and His grace.  

 

We often group Grace and Mercy together as meaning practically the same thing.  However, they are two distinct and wonderful things.  Mercy assures me that because I am a child of God, I will not get the eternal separation from God that I deserve.  Grace is the act of God to give me more than I actually deserve.   But, putting them together is like chocolate icing on a brownie!  Wonderful no matter how you slice it ...

 

Webster defines grace this way:  "The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred. The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor." 

 

It is God's power that enables Him, and Him alone, to bestow grace as He wishes. 

It is God's prerogative to share grace as He wishes.

It is God's pleasure to extend grace to His own.

 

 

Titus 2:11-14, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

 

All people are afforded salvation because of the grace of God.  It is not exclusive to one group, it is extended to all mankind.  Because of the grace of God, we have hope for His appearing in our future.  Without hope grace would mean nothing to a lost and dying world. 

 

Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

 

Think of it, grace is a gift to you and me from the Almighty God.  The individual that refuses this gift will doom themselves to eternal separation from the God that loves them.

 

 

 

James 4:6, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

 

God's grace comes to us in degrees, according to our needs at the time.  His grace is sufficient for whatever is needed.  There is always an abundance of God's grace.

 

 

 

This brings us to the end of my series on exploring the attributes of God's character.  Thank you for taking the time to visit.  I hope that these attributes have inspired you to study more about the awesome God we serve.

 

Blessings,  Pamelyn

 



 Source:  King James Bible



 

 

 

 



 





 

 

 



God's Love {God's Perfect and Glorious Character}

Over the next few days  I'd like to explore five attributes of God's perfect and glorious character.

God's Word, His Goodness, His Wrath, His Love, His Grace

Today we'll explore GOD'S LOVE

 

Where would I begin to describe a subject as vast as the love of God?  It is impossible for our human minds to comprehend the depths of God's Love for mankind.  He loved us in Creation and He loves us still.  He does not love our sins, but He loves us.   

To me, one of the most descriptive of all hymns is "The Love of God", written by F. M. Lehman.

HERE is some information on this songwriter.  

Take a moment and allow your mind to focus on the words of this hymn. 



 

The Love of God

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure

The saints’ and angels’ song.

  

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star,

And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled,

And pardoned from his sin.

 

 

When years of time shall pass away,

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men, who here refuse to pray.

On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God's love so sure, shall still endure,

All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam's race--

The saints' and angels' song.

 

 

The 3rd Stanza has a very interesting history. READ THE STORY HERE

 

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above,

Would drain the ocean dry.

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.



Consider these points about God's Love:
God's Love Began in Heaven
God's Love Brought the Best of Heaven to Us
God's Love Has Prepared Us for Heaven
God's Love Is Preparing Heaven for Us
God's Love Will Bring His Prepared People to the Prepared Place

 

How blessed is the treasure of knowing with a certainty that God's love is present in one's heart!   It has been said, and I believe it, that a person cannot truly love another unless the love of Jesus is in your heart through salvation.  I've felt this very thing.  Before I was saved I had deep affection for family and friends, but it was only after my salvation that I have been able to share the pure love that Jesus bestows on me with others.  There is no greater love for me than the love I know from my Savior and Redeemer.  My prayer is that you too know the love of Jesus in your heart.

 

Reference scriptures

I John 4:7-21

John 3:16

I Corinthians 13:8

II Corinthians 5:1

John 14:1-4

John 10

John 17 

 

Next time we'll explore God's Grace...

 

Blessings, Pamelyn

 

Source:     King James Bible

                   The Love of God, LEHMAN, F.M., 1917

 





 





God's Wrath {God's Perfect and Glorious Character}

Over the next few days  I'd like to explore five attributes of God's perfect and glorious character.

God's Word, His Goodness, His Wrath, His Love, His Grace

Today we'll explore GOD'S WRATH

We cannot study God's perfect and glorious character without taking a moment to explore His wrath and judgment. We define wrath as "violent anger, fury, vengeance and revenge".  However, God's perfect character is never revengeful.  We must never attempt to give God any human characteristics, therefore, His wrath must be defined as "divine displeasure against sin".  It is important for every child of God to know that God's wrath is necessary, it is just and it is righteous.
   

God's wrath is necessary because of sin

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 

against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, 

who hold the truth in unrighteousness"

Romans 1:18

Sin causes God's wrath to be revealed because it separates a person from God.  God's desire is for His children to serve Him in every way.  Though God is full of grace and mercy, He will not overlook willful disobedience and sinfulness.

God's wrath is just

Almost daily we hear about injustices committed against someone.  With God there is never any injustice.  He is perfect and judges perfectly.  I am so thankful that God is in control!  God never has a temper tantrum ~ He never has a melt-down ~ He never needs a time-out.  

God's wrath is righteous

"For I am the Lord, I change not"  

Malachi 3:6 

God is the standard in all things, including wrath.  He has the right to judge mankind because He is the Creator.  This is God's universe, He does not change.  We must meet His standards, not He ours.  What God called sin in the beginning, He still calls sin today.

"For our God is a consuming fire."
Hebrews 12:29

While we may not like to think about the unpleasantness of God's wrath and judgment, it is vital that we consider it when the temptation to sin arises. To be acquainted with this attribute of God's character will enable us, His children, to warn others.

Next time we'll explore God's Love...

 

Blessings, Pamelyn

Source:  King James Bible