Revenge...just this once???

okay...show of hands...
How many of us have given a situation to the Lord then under our breath uttered these words...
"vengance is mine...saith the Lord!"...secretly wringing our hands, waiting on baited breath for fire to fall from Heaven and consume the person we believed has wronged us?

ok...so maybe that's a little harsh

Ever thought about what exactly his revenge might be? Think we may have a wordly concept of revenge? I think it's possible.

Obviously we see times in the Bible that God DID rain fire from Heaven and consume the enemy of his children( 2 Kings 1:10 Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may firecome down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.). Which I think pretty strongly supports the argument that HE COULD take this avenue if He so desired. But, entertain the though for one sec that it's possible...just possible, that He wants to give them (the Offender) a second chance at life as well and the opportunity to learn a life lesson.

James Baker, (you know the husband to Tammy Faye Baker) was thrown in prison for his crimes. Is is possible that the cell he occupied was not only judgement from God but also his mercy? To a man that had been just that...a man, a sinner once saved by grace. Is it possible that his sentence not only cost him is freedom but granted it at the same time? Punished him for his past but allowed him his future? Is it possible?

My prayer~ God, Even recently, my flesh has desired some 'evening of the playing field'. For that I ask forgiveness. God help me to see your mercy that has not only been granted to me...but to those that have hurt me. I have no right to take offense...you alone have that right...and you chose to die for it.


Romans 12:19 ¹⁹Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"^[a]says the Lord.

Do people see my Father in me?

I am:
Lillian's Grandaughter,
The spittin' image of my father
and when then day is done my momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I have a God that loves me
and He helps me to stand
It's all a part of me...and that's who I am

It's not hard to see characteristics of my mother in me...
I can see them even in myself, but I often wonder if people
can see characteristics of my father in me.

My earthly father, Royce Cooper, is an honest man.
You can do a lot of things to him but the one thing that will cause him the most pain is to be dishonest with him. I remember times growing up that I made wrong decisions, the ones that were the most difficult were the ones when I deceived him. He is also a hard-working man. The kind that just shows up and does what he is told! He is a great leader and an even greater servant, a quiet man, but a man of extremely high intergity. He doesn't mix words, and knows how to pray.

I want to be just like him. He is a pillar to so many. A father to more and a confidant and mentor. He is not a 'yes man', and will kindly tell you if you are in sin. He knows how to stand up to be seen, speak up and be heard, and be quiet when it's necessary.

My prayer~ Lord, let people see my father in me! I want to be just like him.
Thank you that he is an earthly example of what I need to be. Thank you for
my spiritual heritage and my moral upbringing.
Likewise, I want to be more like you as well. I have a long way to go. Give me wisdom!
~Amen

My mother's hands

I looked closely at my hands today. They are looking more and more like my mothers.
What a compliment!

I used to look at them and think "man, Im getting older!", but I've come to realize that they look at awful lot like my mother's hands, and her's look like my grandmother's and that could be a good sign.

My mother is a mother among mothers. Deserving of a medal of honor for all the works she has done but unable to buy anything that would come even close to representing my feelings for her, I realized that the greatest compliment I could ever give her would be to be like her as she tries to be like Christ.

My mom is:
- A "mother" to hundreds, but specifically to the sixteen or seventeen souls that have lived with her. Two of those sixteen or so are "God given" (born of her womb), the others "God Sent"(adopted, foster, or just live-in's) were sent to her as a gift from God to cherish and love.
- She is "mentor" to countless numbers of people, most of which she will never see again in this lifetime probably but owe her a debt of gratifude for her "strong love" and caring hands.
- She is "teacher" to thousands. Past, Present, and future, there is no way to know how many people she has taught. English is her given trade of education and believe me, every college freshman that took first semester English quietly (or even a loud) blessed her name for making them read all those 'classics' in high school. If you were one of the lucky ones to 'clep out' of those english classes a kiss on her feet was not out of the question!
- She is "friend" to a great many of those same students now. She is faithful in her friendship and true. She is not quick to judge and struggles when she is let down.
- She is "professional" to the nth degree. It never ceases to amaze me how she continues to impress others. The moment I believe she is poising herself to bow out, she cannot. She is too dedicated to her calling yet gives God the chance to replace her almost yearly.

I vaguely see myself in my mother. Some of these characteristics are attainable in my future, some I don't believe I will ever be able to obtain. Perhaps the fact that my hands resemble hers is a sign that there is hope for me yet.

My prayer: God...let it be!