Theme for the Month: Even if It Doesn't
Make Sense
Insights
About a month ago, I read something that I thought was very interesting. It
talked about why Jesus spoke in parables and it said that He did so because
He wanted us to understand; but also because He wanted us not to understand.
I thought that was strange at first, but it went on to explain that Jesus
wanted those who chose to dig into His message to be able to understand it,
but He didn't want someone who just casually read the words in passing to
"get it." In other words He wanted us to have to work at it a little
bit to understand His message and to learn to live as He did.
Of course it would be easy if He had just said, "Do this. Don't do this. And you will be guaranteed a spot in Heaven." We would then go do the things He said, not do the things He said, and figure we had it covered. In fact, that's what a lot of people do with the Ten Commandments. "Well, I didn't break any of the Commandments, so that means I'm going to Heaven. Right?" Well… maybe. My dad teaches it this way. If a man has lived his life in sin, done every bad thing there is, then just before his death, he gets saved and believes, He will of course go to Heaven. But his cup will be very, very small because he hasn't worked at making it bigger by living and loving as Jesus taught us to do. Now Mother Teresa on the other hand spent her whole life living and loving as Jesus taught us to do, so her cup has been expanded and expanded with each loving act that she did. So that in Heaven her cup is huge because her spirit has been expanded in love. Now, once in Heaven, both cups will be filled to the top. Both people will be full of Jesus' love, but which one will have more?
I thought that was a really neat analogy! It sure made me look at what I was doing and why differently. Am I expanding my cup? Or am I just barely doing what I'm supposed to be doing?
In keeping with that understanding, this past month, I decided to work on expanding my cup by expanding the circle of the people I showed love to. Just before Christmas the Lord led me to a list of soldiers serving our country who were lonely and feeling forgotten. The list had about 78 names. In keeping with my exhortation to you to get involved and help others at Christmastime, I did what I could to write letters to these men and women. However, the letters didn't seem to be enough, so I put their names up on my site hoping to get people to adopt them. And people did.
One soldier had captured my heart with his story, but five days and 20 people later, he still hadn't been adopted. So I decided to adopt him but to leave his name up. A couple days later a lady who had already adopted another soldier wrote to ask if she could adopt "my" soldier as well. When I wrote back, I said that I wished there was a way that we could get together to pray for this soldier as he had really been on my heart to pray about. That's when this amazing lady told me something I'm still shaking my head about.
She said that just a few weeks earlier, the Lord had told her to open a chat room and to call it CorneliusLegion. He didn't tell her why or what it would be used for, just to open it and what settings to use for it. So she did. When I asked that we get together and pray, she immediately knew what the Lord had intended for that room. Within days we began meeting and praying for our troops as Cornelius Legion (for more on Cornelius and his story-which you will find breathtaking when you read it with our story in mind, go to Acts 10). We have now opened the room to others and have a group of eight so far. To see more about the Cornelius Legion go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/corneliuslegion/
We meet on Tuesday & Thursday at 6 p.m. Eastern, and other times are opening up as members come and decide to meet and pray.
I simply cannot tell you how awesome this is! We don't have set "prayers." We let the Spirit lead as He wishes, and what He does is unbelievable. Although typed in from several different points around the country, the prayers often read together as though typed by a single person. We pray for the soldiers in general, particular soldiers who have come to our attention, the families of the soldiers, the country of Iraq and its citizens, the world, the leaders… wherever the Spirit guides us. I invite you to check out the group. If you would like to read a full sample of a recent prayer/chat, please put "Prayer Chat" in the subject and send an email to me at staci_stallings@hotmail.com
Anyone who wishes to join is welcome. We aren't a political group. We are just a group of people who want to cover our soldiers with prayer.
I do have to tell you, though that never did I think when
I decided to write those soldiers letters (who come to find out where absolutely
inundated with mail! Hallelujah!) did I think that I would be taking a step
into starting a group like this. But I think that's what Jesus meant about
having to search a little. You never know what you might find in searching
for HIM… and you'll never believe how your cup can overflow!
Wisdom of the Ages
"God gives every bird food, but does not throw it into
the nest."
-J.G. Holland
A Life Question
How might I better seek to find the Lord in
my life today?
How have I expanded my cup and how am I expanding my cup of love and life
today?
~*~*~
Hear and Be Heard
Messages from you, my readers.
A special thanks to all who have written and an invitation
to those who haven't. I love hearing from all of you! If you have a chance,
drop me a line.
Here's How to Get Your Copy of "The Price of Silence"!
Chapters 17 & 18 will only be sent
to you if you've signed up for the newsletter. You still have a chance
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~*~*~
Coming! Coming! Coming!
If you enjoyed "Silver Rain" and fretted through "The Price of Silence," you will fall in love with "Princess"!
Coming in May, 2004
The book Deb Ullrick calls "one of the three best books I've ever read!"
Princess
Sometimes Life's Lessons Surprise You…
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Until next time, live
in God's peace and love!
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January 22, 2004
Edition 4,
Volume 6
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Quote From On High
-John 14:20-21 ***** |
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Check out the newest one today! Do you know a group who would like to host Staci as a guest speaker?
Send a request to:
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NEW PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE Staci's been published! New articles are now available in the following books: "The Red Ribbon" in Chicken Soup for
the Body & Soul Coming soon…. "God Bless Wendell" in From the Heart: MORE Stories of Love & Friendship Watch this newsletter in the coming months for book
signing dates & time schedules!
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Promoting Your Website
A Web Promotion Course specially designed for writers
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