God’s Providence Even in the Life of a Dog

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

August 2011

Because Murray shallowed a fishhook which stuck in his esophagus and surgery through his chest would be traumatic, Dr. James moved it to Murray’s stomach.  Because Dr. James took the fishhook out through the stomach, Dr. James found a tumor on Murray’s spleen and removed it.  The spleen was examined and had microorganisms that would have soon made him very sick.  So now he is healthy and hopefully has at least 4 more years of an active life(he is 11)!  God shows His presence in big and small ways.  He is well and perky!

Poodle legs from where he was shaved for IVs.  Thank you, Dr. Tim James, and Riverview Animal Hospital, Chattanooga!

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We Are the Red States

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

I wrote this in November 2004, after the election.  The political pundits were asking “Who are the Red States ? Who are these people?” This was my response.  My fifteen minutes of fame was when Sean Hannity read it on his show.  A dear friend of mine told me to put this on my website.  She said, “it’s as relevant today.”

 

We are the red states.

 

We listen to talk shows and Fox News.

We tear up when we hear the national anthem.

We drive SUVs and fly business class. We go through drive-thrus, have mortgages, and shop at Wal-Mart.

We attend barbecues, football games, fire hall meetings, and places of faith.

We believe life is precious and marriage is sacred.

We believe there are some things worth dying for.

We have the utmost respect for those who lay their life on the line defending our freedom and protecting our streets.

We believe religion is not a philosophy but a way of life.

We raise our children as best we can.

We’ll help anyone who really needs it, and not blame others for our own bad choices.

We read our Holy Books.

We pray because we know wisdom comes from God, not man.

We live our lives quietly as we care for our families.

We might not have time to demonstrate, but we make time to vote.

 

We expect the values we teach to be respected in our schools.

We expect people to say what they mean and mean what they say.

We expect to work hard and earn the just rewards of that labor.

We expect to be able to watch a football game with our kids and not have to worry about the content of the half-time show.

We expect terrorists and those who harm the innocent to be punished.

 

We are farms, ranches, small businesses and town squares.

We are potluck dinners, baseball games, fishing holes, and civic clubs.

We are little league games, piano recitals, Bible studies, and car pools.

We are grandfathers in Iwo Jima, fathers in Vietnam, and sons and daughters in Iraq.

We are fly over country.

We are the red states.

 

 

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Poor Orphan or Royalty-How Are You Living?

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

Several years ago, Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian pastor Daniel Gilchrist suggested the women leaders of the church study the book From Fear to Freedom Living as Sons and Daughters of God, by Rose Marie Miller.  This book has a continuing impact on me.  Recently I have been reading Come Back, Barbara by Rose’s husband John and her daughter Barbara Miller Juliani.  As God is speaking and dealing with me, transforming me and stripping away what is not like Him:our pride and self-righteousness.   He tells me in love, “Cindy, you are not alone-you are not an orphan.  You are royalty, a daughter of the King!”

We were once orphans, but now as Christians we are adopted into God’s family, sons and daughters of the King of Heaven and Earth, King of the Universe.

Because of the fall of man and the entrance of sin into the human race, we are born orphans, separated from our Heavenly Father.  As orphans, we are alone, lonely, frightened, and feel we are unloved.  We feel that no one will help us so we must constantly look out for ourselves and can depend on no one else.  We mistrust others and build thick walls of defense, afraid to let anyone really know us, because they wouldn’t like what they saw.  Because we can’t count on anyone else, we control or attempt to control our environment and anyone in it.  When our little world we’ve created falls apart, we become anxious, depressed, and lose hope.  Afraid to ask for help, we live lives of quiet despair.  So full of our own sorrow, we can’t be a channel of love to our family, our friends, or the world.

But we Christians are not orphans, nor were we meant to live this way!  The Lord Jesus promised us “I will not leave you as orphans, I am coming to you.” (John 14:18)  Jesus, the King, came and dwelt among us to claim us as his adopted ones.  He won us by His death and resurrection and now sits on the throne, prays for us, and will return to take us to His heavenly kingdom.   Before the time of the fall, God had this plan-“He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and grace…” (Ephesians 1:5)

We answer His call, he adopts us and we are royalty.  How do sons and daughters of the King live?  What are the characteristics of a son or daughter of the King?

*Sons and daughters of the King are secure in the Lord and His riches.

Regardless of our earthly circumstances, we want for nothing.  We are loved by our heavenly Daddy and never alone.  Jesus said, “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.  He is the Spirit of truth.”(John 14:16-17)

*Sons and daughters of the King do not live in anxious fear, but  in hopeful expectation that God will keep His promises.

“The Lord is faithful in all His promises and loving toward all he has made.” (Psalms 145:13)

*Because sons and daughters of the King are thoroughly loved by the Father, they are free to love others, and love freely. 

“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

*Sons and daughters of the King bow down to the King and relinquish our control.

We yield our lives to Him and give Him all our little idols: our pride, our self-righteousness, our spouses, our children ,our possessions, our position, our reputation, our will- they are all the King’s to do as He wills.  It is His good pleasure to humble and exalt us.  “He humbles and He exalts.” (1 Samuel 2:7)  We see this example in His own Son who was crucified and later raised from the dead to reign forever.

 *Sons and daughters of the King know that the battle is the Lord’s.

We yield all to Him and wait on His timing, taking action only at His bidding. “For the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47)

*Sons and daughters of the King live in faith, hope, love, and security.

Daily we can go to Him and be assured that we are loved.  “Let us hold on to this confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.“(Hebrews 10:27)

Every morning when we awaken and our thoughts focus on ourselves and our problems, may we run to the King.  WE are royalty!  “His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning…” (Lamentations 3:23)

‘

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Before You Watch the Academy Awards

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

Before you tune in Sunday night, I recommend you go to my old college buddy’s website, starkravingray.com. He writes clear, concise reviews and annually presents a “best movies of” synopsis.  Check out his movie archives.  See my link below.

Caveat-Ray’s columns are PG-13, and he and I don’t agree on some issues.  But you gotta love him!

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Storm Song

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

 

By Cindy Bleuler Tucker

 

Long ago you calmed a storm so great the fishermen feared

With only a word You calmed the sea, you commanded the lightening cease

Jesus, now I’m asking you to stop the storm inside

Stop the anxieties and fears that batter down my soul

 

The trials roll in endless waves till I think my heart will drown

In over my head, I can’t breathe

Please silence the storm within

They say everything’s for a purpose

In this life strife might not end

Then give me the Grace to live through it

Teach me and help me to learn

Jesus, I’m asking you to abide with me

As anxieties and fear batter my soul

 

The trials roll in endless ways but you promise my soul will prevail

In over my head, that’s why I run to you.

Please always stay by my side.

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“Who Is This Man?” A Study of Mark 4:26-29

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

By  Cindy Bleuler Tucker

     It was the end of a long, tiring day of ministering to throngs of people with a myriad of needs.  Hungry and exhausted, the disciples looked forward to a respite from all the crowds following Jesus.  When the Master said, “Let’s cross to the other side,” they looked forward to some quiet time alone in the presence of the Rabbi.  Even as they got in the boat, they saw many following in their own sea crafts.  At least, as they sailed in their boat, they could relax.  Four of the crew was experienced fishermen, who knew the sea intimately.  They could spend the trip reveling over all the miracles they had seen that day, and the joy of seeing lives changed for the better.   He taught with the authority of a rabbi, but no ordinary rabbi. They had shared their teacher with the crowds of people, pressing in on every side.   They could finally spend some quality time with him and discuss the finer points of his discourse.    They would have only a few precious hours with Him until the crowds would gather again on the other side of the lake.   At last a few hours of fellowship and rest would make a perfect ending to the day.

     The gentle breeze and soothing rock of the boat lulled the exhausted master to sleep.  As he rested, the disciples grew quiet.

     Suddenly they heard a strange howling and the boat began to violently jerk back and forth.  A fierce wind from the north was blowing  up huge waves.  The waves rose high above the boat, quickly filling it.  The disciples leapt up and hurriedly grabbed jars, buckets , anything at hand and began bailing the water out of the boat.  The water filled the boat quicker than they could throw it out.  Even the seasoned fishermen among them had never seen a storm like this.  They were in despair and looked to their teacher for help-he had done so many miracles that day-surely he could save them.  Surely he knew their desperate situation!

     They looked to the stern of the boat.  In the midst of the careening boat, with water streaming over him, he was asleep, seeming to be totally unaware of the chaos around him!

    “Teacher!” they cried.  “Don’t you care that we are going to die?”

     Calmly he stood up and faced the wind and water.  With no fear and complete authority, he stretched out his arms.  He rebuked the wind and sea as if they were unruly children.

“Silence!  Be still!”  Then he turned to his disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?”

     Perhaps he said it with sadness.  Perhaps he thought, “After all you’ve seen today- all the healings, all the lives changed- do you still not know Who I am?  Was he wounded emotionally when his beloved ones said, “Don’t you care if we die?”  “Don’t I care?” he must have thought.  “I care so much that I will be beaten, tortured, put to death, not to save you from mere physical death, but from eternal spiritual death.  I will not only save your souls, but give you  perfect bodies, in a new heaven and earth.”

     Seeing that he not only had power over illness, but also over the elements of nature, the disciples were terrified.  They were full of wonder and awe.  They knew he was no ordinary man, but now they wondered, who or what exactly was he.  “Who then is this?  Even the wind and sea obey him!” Was he more than a man?  Was he the Son of God?

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Delight in the Lord

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

by Cindy Bleuler Tucker

“Delight in the Lord…” Psalm 37:4

How can I delight in the Lord when I feel so sad?

When I don’t  meet my expectations?

When others don’t meet my expectations?

When trials last a lifetime?

When every day is a struggle?

When I can’t get past the frailties of my own flesh?

I know the platitudes, I love You and believe You, but today I just can’t get past the sadness and disappointment.

I can cling to You, but I can’t delight.

Not today.

“…and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 34:7

 

 

 

 

 

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