Look Inside.™: Mick Ebeling

Gospel Train

We can celebrate the love of Christ throughout the year. This youtube clip warms the heart to see this message expressed on a Budapest streetcar.

Notice the smiles on the faces of the Hungarian passengers who rarely, if ever, have something to smile about. Please share widely.

AMAZING GRACE IN BUDAPEST TROLLEY

http://www.youtube.com/embed/s_IHDJQudmo?rel=0

 

 

Opportunity Update...

This is just an update about a project I believe in supporting. I hope that you will prayerfully consider supporting it as well. 

From Michelle:
Hello friends and family,

You are receiving this email because you are one of the 34 backers in my kickstarter project. I wanted to personally thank you all for your generous support! I couldn’t do it without you! As of today (Sunday at 3:45 pm!), I am 16% funded and only 18 days to go! That means I still need 702 people to pledge $25, 176 people to pledge $100, or one person who would pledge $17,535 by Friday morning, September 27th! Many people have expressed their intention to pledge but haven’t done so yet. Would you help me to continue spreading the word?

For those on facebook, thank you for sharing my link, and it is especially meaningful when you attach your own personal note to it. I’ve also seen great responses when friends have emailed their contacts or talked about it in person. If you’ve backed me, it’s probably because you believe in the project, you’ve heard me as a worship leader or music teacher, OR you simply know me and want to support me in something I’m passionate about. Whatever the case is, thank you so much and I can’t wait to finish this project and get out your rewards!

God bless you,

Michelle

An Opportunity to Bless Another

I had planned to share a true story next of how one person I know is using a mindful approach to share a blessing of riches with another.  But while I have been working on the details of the story (because I have a responsibility to keep it true), I received an e-mail from a friend with a story about another friend.

In the spirit of sharing riches and because time is of the essence, I am passing along the contents. Let me preface this story by saying that I first met Michelle several years ago while we were both volunteering at Royal Family Kids Camp. She has a beautiful talent in her music and the arts... and a vision to share these gifts through a cd and a children's book. Please check out her website: www.michellegarciamusic.com and click on the "Kickstarter" link or you can click directly from here: http://kck.st/1dP2BDK
I admire Michelle's strength and faith as she shares her story. I also admire her stewardship: of her gifts and talents, and also by trying to raise her funding through a source like Kickstarter. Kickstarter.com is a website where people fundraise for creative projects.  You can go on and support the projects you believe in and receive rewards in return.  Michelle won't be able to complete this project without the help of beloved friends and family.  You can get all the details, pre-order a CD, and check out all the other great rewards being offered on her kickstarter site.  The Kickstarter project will run through Friday morning, September 27th, so please check it out while you have the chance!  Feel free to share the website or this email with your friends and be inspired by Michelle's story. Blessings to You!



 

Riches

Last week, my parents and I were enjoying a conversation and they shared the following passage from Dr. David Jeremiah. My parents asked me what I thought DL Moody was referring to when he used the word 'care' in relation to 'getting riches'. Before I share my reply, please read the passage below:  

turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org

Tuesday, August 27

How God Sees Money The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

Recommended Reading 1 Timothy 6:6-10

In his book about heaven, D. L. Moody writes, "Somebody has said that getting riches brings care; keeping them brings trouble; abusing them brings guilt; and losing them brings sorrow. It's a great mistake to make so much of riches as we do."

As followers of Christ, we need God's wisdom in our approach to money. We need to view our checkbooks, bank accounts, and paychecks exactly as He does. He knows we have bills to pay. He knows we need to provide for our families and store up for rainy days. He also knows the brevity of life and the uselessness of money beyond the grave. The most valuable things are those He provides free of charge, like air to breathe and sunlight to bathe our faces. The Lord knows how to provide for us in every condition. The tentacles of greed wrap themselves around us when we substitute our wisdom for God's as it relates to money. May the Lord Jesus give us His wisdom as we remember that nothing we have belongs to us. We belong to Him, and all we have is His. As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol. A. B. Simpson, in Days of Heaven upon Earth

 

So, in reading this, I wonder a few things. When asked the question, it was put in the context that the word 'riches' is referring directly to money. I would love to read where DL Moody actually writes this passage because I wonder if the concept could be applied to all riches. For example, I don't particularly have a lot of money, may at times think that if I had a little more then my life might be easier, but I always somehow have enough to meet my needs. In other ways, I am tremendously blessed, such as with faith and a hopeful positive outlook. I have found that this 'riches' requires great responsibility because it can be a detriment if I don't use it wisely. -It can be a turn-off, or even misperceived.

The other thing I wondered was, what does he mean by the word 'care'? So I looked it up and this definition hit me: "serious attention or consideration to doing something correctly to avoid damage or risk" Some of the synonyms listed are: discretion, forethought and mindfulness... WOW!!! -Then I read the small print.... the antonym is careless; I immediately inferred 'sloppy' and thought about care-less, and not caring; and then read this: "a feeling of or occasion for anxiety", it also refers to the cares of the world, which bring anxiety, sorrow, worry, trouble.... ouch! Thank God, His Word tells us to 'cast all your cares upon me' !!!

In answer to the question, what is care referring to?, I believe this: that acquiring riches, yes of any sort, brings the responsibility of mindful, diligent use; this might be stressful but with God's help, we can accomplish this. He warns us that much is required of him who has, and He comforts us that He will not let us endure anything that we cannot handle together with Him. This is my take; would love to hear all of yours!!!

1. 2.

   serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.

   "he planned his departure with great care"

   synonyms:

   caution, carefulness, heedfulness, heed, attentiveness More "handle with care" discretion, judiciousness, forethought, thought, regard, heed, mindfulness; accuracy, precision, discrimination "she chose her words with care"

   antonyms:

   carelessness

   • an object of concern or attention.

     plural noun: cares

     "the cares of family life"
   • a feeling of or occasion for anxiety.

     "she was driving along without a care in the world"

     synonyms:

     worry, anxiety, trouble, concern, stress, pressure, strain; More sorrow, woe, hardship "the cares of the day"

 

A Light in the Distance

Through  my many experiences, God has shown me to take notice of the details during my day. I am grateful for these, because many times they appear to be small or incidental things that somehow bring me blessing because they are pleasing to experience or because they speak a message to me of comfort, hope, peace... For example, Monday was a particularly difficult day at work, coming on the heels of a very tough two-week period. While I was dreading the next two day, I was also anticipating 'getting through' them because I knew that my work activities later in the week would bring me great fulfillment and joy. But oh, to have the encouragement to get through the two days  until that time!!! May I tell you that God supplied my need ... both days! My ride to work very early Tuesday morning was blessed with a brilliant red-orange sunrise that lit my path the entire route. God's handiwork... Glorious! And Tuesday as I drove past a wooded area I noticed a light apricot-colored falcon with a large wing span take flight across my path. This experience reminded me of God's Word: (Isaiah 40.3) "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Both days, I knew that God was reminding that He was with me; He would not permit anything to occur that I could not handle together with Him. So you might say that the sun and the bird were there for all to see. And this would be true. But I ask you, Did you see? Did you take notice? Did you appreciate the experience?

About 17 years ago I was going through a difficult time  with a young family member. I was not in agreement with her choices, our lines of communication were closing down and I was heart-broken and worried for her. During this time period, I had the opportunity to be away for a few days. During my travels I embarked on a ferry ride from Hyannis to Nantucket. While there, I visited an old church that had a pipe organ up in the belfry. The pipe organ was made in my home town, so I thought it might be interesting to see it. The belfry also had a viewing area where one could view landmarks of the area. I have to confess that I was much more interested in checking out this than I was the old pipe organ. The belfry was a very large room with windows on each of the four walls. Above each window was a schematic drawing, detailing the landmarks of that particular perspective, including its distance.  Looking out of the east window, I could see a lighthouse out on a point. The drawing above told me that the lighthouse was about 3 miles away. Looking to the south, about a mile away was a farm with sheep. And then looking west, was another lighthouse, this one about six miles away on Martha's Vineyard. I was pretty amazed with each of these views. I had not recalled ever seeing things three and six miles away with the naked eye. And I found each of these views: lighthouses, sheep, farms and vineyard  mindful of scriptures and therefore encouraging to me at a time when I felt powerless. Now to see what was at the fourth window... facing north. -Nothing but grayish haze. Are you kidding me? What did the map above reveal to me? It detailed a sketching of the mainland about 30 miles away, with a notation that on a clear day, one could see the water towers of Hyannis. Water towers... those uber-huge grayish green silos. Not exactly pretty, but they held water that quenches our thirst. I noticed them to my right when I was on the ferry pulling out of port. I wanted desperately to see them now. My eyes sifted the horizon, moving slowly, straining to see these water towers. It felt like I was doing this for hours, even though it could not have been for more than 5 minutes. But I was not giving up. I knew those water towers were there. I had seen them earlier in the day. But I wanted to see them from afar. And I could not discern them. An elder man approached me and asked me what I was looking for. I told him that I wanted to see the water towers. He handed me  a set of binoculars with the words, "Sometimes we need help seeing what is before us." Grateful, I brought the binoculars to my eyes, adjusted them and looked....and looked... and looked. I checked the drawing above me again, so I could be sure that I was searching the correct area. Ah, yes.... there they were. And then the sky broke a little, there was some sun and I took away the binoculars, searching the same spot... and having found the water towers with the help of tools: the map drawing, the binoculars and the elder's advice; I was successful in seeing the water towers with the naked eye. And it blessed me by reminding me that God's Word is like those tools.... guiding me, comforting me and showing me that He is in control; He will make a way, and the situation in question will work out.

"and you shall seek me, and you shall find me when you shall search for me with all of your heart." -Jeremiah 29.13

Come to Me . . .

Come to Me . . . —Matthew 11:28

You could actually read this for yourself on the www.utmost.org site. I am placing it here because it speaks to me loud and clear. Change in my life is all around me, particularly in my professional work. -I have a work situation that is causing me internal conflict and God is leading to making a change. My health is challenging me as well. The anticipated changes require me to 'launch into the deep'... and yet, I continue to have a deep, inner-dwelling peace. This morning's Word explains that peace... because I go to Him, the Author and the Finisher of my days, knowing assuredly that He has a plan. Consider these Words; may they bless your day as they have mine:

"God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him."

"Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus." -www.utmost.org