Monthly Archives: June 2008

June 19, 2008 · 2:26 am

You’ve Turned My Mourning Into Dancing

In John Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian the journeying pilgrim traveled with a heavy load on his back until he came to a hill. On it stood a cross and below it, at the bottom, was a tomb. When Christian came up to the cross, his burden loosened from his shoulders and fell onto the ground. It rolled and rolled until it tumbled into the empty tomb. He never saw it again.

Christian stood in awe at the sight of the cross–amazed that his oppressive burden dropped and rolled away so quickly. He felt released from the pressure he had carried. As a result, he wept and sang and leaped for joy. The cross became a bridge that brought him from a life of despondent sighing, to over flowing gladness and singing.

Like Christian, I basked in a feeling of warm joy when I met Him at the cross. He gave me a new song and turned my mourning into dancing.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing. Psalm 30:11a

Thank you Jesus!

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Filed under apostolic, Bible, devotional, encouragement, God, inspiration, Jesus, pentecostal, praise, religion, thankfulness, worship

June 12, 2008 · 9:38 am

Thanks Dad

What I learned from my dad, Melvin Magee,

b. 1914, d. 1990

You can make a meal out of sardines and saltine crackers.

The only way to be on time is to be ahead of time.

Dreams come true if you just get out of bed.

A penny saved is a penny earned, and if you put it in the bank it’ll earn interest.

How to change a flat tire. (When I was 17 he purposely deflated one so he could watch me change it.)

Despite the weatherman’s forecast, go outside, look around and check it for yourelf. (He was a pilot for 50 years.)

Go to church on Sunday, give God what is rightfully His.

Thanks Dad. Miss you. I’ve done my best to pass along your values. Happy Father’s Day.

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Filed under childhood memories, family, inspiration, life, reflection

Tagged as Father's Day

June 8, 2008 · 3:10 pm

Does Zeal For Your House Consume Me?

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Psalm 69:9a

And his disciples remembered that it is written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. John 2:17

Although God can be worshipped any time and at any place, there’s something about going to His house. In church our spirits connect with His Spirit and with one another. We’re free to release the cares of life and focus on Him–the object of our worship and reason for living. We greet each other, pray and sing praises. We give our tithes and offerings. We break spiritual bread by reading and listening to someone explain His word and tell us how to apply it to our lives. In the tabernacle of His presence He renews our minds, refills our spirits, restores our soul and refreshes our strength. Finally, when the lights are turned off and the doors are closed we step out empowered once more to do His will–to be salt and light.

Dear God,

May I always have a zeal for you and your house.

Sail On

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change, the realist adjusts the sails. William Arthur Ward

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Filed under beach, devotional, encouragement, inspiration, life, philosophy, reflection, sailing

June 1, 2008 · 3:36 pm

Glorious Graduation!

Many years ago, I started the Christian school of life with a different graduation in mind. Though I have been through the “though he slay me, yet will I trust him” test like Job, “the valley of the shadow” test like David, and my own small Gethsemane test, quitting has never been an option. In the words of Garfield and my pastor: “Big, fat, hairy deal.” For you see, I have had a sneak preview of this graduation. I heard something about streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearl, no more tears, no more sorrow, no more parting. I just have this feeling that it will be worth whatever I have to face to make this one. So let me go dream about it. Better yet, come dream along with me!