Posted on by Lori Cartmell

Smoothing Out the Rough Spots

All of us have a few rough edges, don’t we?

We may be a bit bristly with people; we may have a short fuse; or we may have a puffed-up ego.

The problem is that no one likes having their rough edges smoothed out.

In the Bible, this process is called sanctification. It’s the way by which God makes a believer more like Jesus. It involves progressive spiritual growth and holiness.

And it’s not always easy or comfortable.

Sanctification to me is rather like sanding down a beat-up antique before refinishing it.

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Posted on by Lori Cartmell

A Sign From God

Do you sometimes wonder whether something that happened to you is a sign from God?

Maybe you’ve heard the joke about the guy who told God that if the parking spot directly in front of the donut shop was open, he’d take that as a sign that he could go ahead and buy a dozen donuts.

And sure enough, after his eighth time around the block, it was open!

It’s sometimes hard to recognize when something really is a sign from God, isn’t it? We put our own spin on circumstances, and conveniently draw the conclusions that align with our desires.

But there are some things that we can be absolutely certain are signs from God, because they align with His Word.

When you see the following “signs” in your life, take note and obey them:

ONE WAY: There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
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Posted on by Lori Cartmell

Are You a Cat or a Dog?

It’s hard to embarrass a cat. They just don’t seem to have a sense of shame.

If they’ve done something naughty, like shredded the fabric on your expensive couch with their claws, they’re not actually sorry about it. They’re just ticked off that you’re making such a big fuss about it.

Cats seem to lack the ability to be repentant.

Dogs, on the other hand, can definitely feel and show contrition.

Just take a look at the plethora of “dog-shaming” videos online.

Dog owners upload clips in which they confront their mutts with the evidence of their misdeeds. The owners come home to garbage-strewn rooms, destroyed furniture, and chewed-up shoes. The disaster area is documented on video, and then the camera pans to the dog…

The results are often hilarious.

The mutt slinks off with its tail between its legs, or else sits there looking sheepish and trying not to meet their owner’s eyes. The pooch might even try to hide in a cupboard.

Yes, dogs know when they’ve done something wrong.

The question is, do we?

Are we quick to ask God’s forgiveness when we sin, or do we justify our behaviour to ourselves and continue in our disobedience?

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Posted on by Lori Cartmell

You Need a North Star

Polaris star trail

Many of us have GPS systems in our cars or on our phones. They allow us to pinpoint our locations on a map, letting us know exactly where we are.

But in the days before modern technology, how did people navigate? If they needed to cross an ocean, what told them where they were?

The North Star did.

More formally known as Polaris, the North Star is the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation. Because it’s almost in a direct line above the north celestial pole, the North Star appears to stand motionless in the sky, with the other stars seeming to rotate around it.

This made it a perfect fixed point by which to draw measurements for celestial navigation. In fact, the Old English word for the North Star meant “ship-star,” reflecting its use in helping to chart a course when sailing.

We still need a north star today.

Not to get from point A to point B in our vehicles, but to navigate the seas of our lives. When our whole world has turned topsy-turvy, we need a fixed point to focus on to keep us on a stable course.

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