Butterfly Ministries

A Letter from Heaven

To my dearest family, some things I’d like to say.
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I’m writing this from heaven.  Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there’s no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I’m out of sight.
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
That night I had to leave you when my life on earth was through.
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, “I welcome you.
It’s good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, They’ll be here later on.
I need you here so badly, you are part of my plan.
There is so much that we can do, to help our mortal man.”
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
If I were to tell you, you wouldn’t understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o’er.
I’m closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb:
But together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
And now I am contented..that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile.
When you’re walking down the street and you’ve got me on your mind:
I’m walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it’s time for you to go..from that body to be free.
Remember you’re not going…you’re coming here to me.

Filed under: Uncategorized on April 7th, 2013 | No Comments »

The Parable of the Butterfly
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

A butterfly soared overhead, one caterpillar said to the other, “You’ll never get me up in one of those things.”
Yet for every caterpillar the time comes when the urge to eat and grow subsides and he instinctively begins to form a chrysalis around himself. The chrysalis hardens and you’d think for all the world that the caterpillar is dead.

But one spring morning the life inside the chrysalis begins to writhe, the top cracks open, and a beautifully-formed butterfly emerges. For hours it will stand stretching and drying its wings, moving them slowly up and down, up and down. And then, before you know it, the butterfly glides aloft, effortlessly riding the currents of the air, alighting on flower after gorgeous flower, as if to show off its vivid colors to the bright blossoms. .

Somehow, the miracle of the butterfly never loses its fascination for us. Perhaps because the butterfly is a living parable of the promise of resurrection.

On Easter morning the disciples saw Jesus’ graveclothes lying on the cold slab still wrapped round and round the corpse. Only the corpse was gone, much like an empty chrysalis deserted by a butterfly who has left to soar free. “He is risen as He said,” an angel told the incredulous disciples. Later that day he appeared to the disciples, and then, over the course of the next few weeks, to as many as five hundred people at one time. Even “Doubting Thomas” didn’t doubt for long that Jesus was really risen from the dead.

A few weeks ago I lost a friend who had become dear to me. Where she had been so full of life, now her body lay still, composed ever-so-carefully by the morticians. I looked at her and thought about my own mortality. One day I too, like her, may fight a losing battle with pain, and die.

What do we Christians say in the face of death? There are many mysteries. But two things we know for sure. First, death is an enemy. Away with the sentimentality that vainly seeks to disguise death’s insult! But second, and more important, Jesus’ resurrection from the grave is God’s proof to us that death is not the end. The empty tomb and Jesus’ Spirit within us testify that Easter morning is God’s triumph over death. And ultimately, Jesus promised, God will raise from the dead us who believe in His Son.

Why do Christians gather on Easter morning? To show off their fine clothes or give a ritual tip of the hat to religion? God forbid! Rather we gather to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death itself. For since He is our Lord and our Savior, His victory is our victory. In celebrating His resurrection we celebrate our own assurance of ultimate triumph over death.

Join us this Easter as we celebrate Life! And if you look closely Easter morning, you might even see a butterfly alight on the lilies.

Filed under: Uncategorized on March 24th, 2013 | No Comments »

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If You Could See Where I Have Gone

If you could see where I have gone, the beauty of this place,
And how it feels to know you’re home, to see the Savior’s face,
To wake in peace and know no fear, just joy beyond compare,
While still on earth you miss me yet, you wouldn’t want me there.

If you could see where I have gone, had made the trip with me,
You’d know I didn’t go alone; the Savior came with me.
When I awoke, He was by my side, He reached out His hand –
Said “Hurry child, you’re going home to a grand and glorious land.
“Don’t worry over those you love for I’m not just with you, I’m with them too.
And don’t you know with you at home they’ll long to be here too?”

If you could see where I have gone and see what I’ve been shown,
You’d never know another tear or ever feel alone.
You’d marvel at the care of God – His hand on every life,
And realize He really cares and bears with us each strife.
He weeps when one is lost, His heart is filled with pain,
But, Oh! The joy when one comes home – a child at home again!

If you could see where I have gone, could stay awhile with me,
Could share the things that God has made to grace eternity,
But no, you could never leave, once Heaven’s joy you’d known
You couldn’t bear to walk earth’s paths once Heaven was your home.

If you could see where I have gone, you’d know we’ll meet someday.
And though I’m parted from you now, that I am just away.
So thank you family, thank you friends – for living for the Lord,
For teaching me to love Him, to trust Him and His Word,
And now that I am home with Him, secure in every way
I’m waiting here at Heaven’s door to greet you some sweet day.
(author unknown)

In Loving Memory of Trey LePelley
6-10-82/3-13-05

Filed under: Uncategorized on March 11th, 2013 | No Comments »

REFUSE TO WORRY! In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry. That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear. This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective. Live close to Me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” – Luke 12:25-26

Jesus Calling
Sarah Young

Filed under: Uncategorized on March 4th, 2013 | No Comments »

Rest In My Presence, allowing Me to take charge of this day. Do not bolt into the day like a racehorse suddenly released. Instead, walk purposefully with Me, letting Me direct your course one step at a time. Thank Me for each blessing along the way; this brings Joy to both you and Me. A grateful heart protects you from negative thinking. Thankfulness enables you to see the abundance I shower upon you daily. Your prayers and petitions are winged into heaven’s throne room when they are permeated with thanksgiving. In everything give thanks, for this is My will for you.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:2

Filed under: Uncategorized on February 25th, 2013 | No Comments »

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)
Do you have a personal ministry? A personal ministry will develop your faith as you minister to other people. If you do have a personal ministry, what is your goal you want to accomplish this year? If you don’t have one think about what calls to your heart. What if it is connecting with your neighbors to walk with them in their trials or perhaps it’s showing love to an estranged family member? What do you want ot focus on this year that will grow God’s kingdom?

Filed under: Uncategorized on February 10th, 2013 | No Comments »

Healthy Grieving:

Commit to the journey, long or short, that leads back into living life.

“People who handle grief in a most healthy way are those who are willing to admit, ‘This hurts. I don’t particularly like it, but I really want to go on,’” says Pastor Buck Buchanan.

God will reward your sincere willingness to commit to the journey and to press on.

“Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14 NASB).

Holy Spirit, I commit myself to Your care as I move forward toward life, Your abundant life. Amen.

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 27th, 2013 | No Comments »

Beauty for Ashes

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“He will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness.”

(Isaiah 61:3, TLB)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Everyone has experienced hurt and disappointment. We’ve all been burnt by life. But God doesn’t want us to sit in the ashes of the past; He wants to trade our brokenness for healing.

He wants to give us beauty for our ashes. The key is that we have to be willing to give up the ashes in order to receive the beauty. You can’t have both because the old has to go before the new can come.

Today, are you willing to trust Him with your past hurts? Are you willing to let go of the pain, to forgive others and yourself so you can move forward in freedom?

Don’t waste another day sitting in the ashes. The past is over, but your future remains. Let God give you joy instead of mourning, and let Him make something beautiful out of the ashes of your life today!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

God, thank You for promising to sweep away the ashes of my past and give me something beautiful in their place. I choose to give them up to You and receive Your healing and restoration in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 20th, 2013 | No Comments »

Love Came Down

The world was blessed at Christmas
with a miracle of love…
a guiding star and angel choir
rejoicing from above.
They pointed to a tiny babe
within a cattle stall-
a Saviour bringing peace on earth-
the greatest gift of all.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas from Butterfly Whispers!

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 24th, 2012 | No Comments »

Every difficult task that comes across your path — every one that you would rather not do that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle–brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of the personal cost is to miss the blessing.
Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master’s footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path.
Every battlefield you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength.

J.R. Miller
Streams In The Desert

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 16th, 2012 | No Comments »