Way Back Wednesday.....Crowds

   

     This is a picture from one of my trips to Mexico.  The all inclusive resort has a show every night for their guests and this is where it took place.
     At night, this place had all the seats filled and was very crowded.  Do you ever feel alone in the crowd?  I sometimes get overwhelmed by crowds, unless I'm on a shopping mission.  There are times when we need to escape from the crowds of life and have alone time.  Even Jesus escaped to solitude to have quiet time and prayer with the Father.
     Do you find quiet time?  Do you stay on the constant go with the world?  If you're too busy for God, then you're busier than He ever intended you to be.

Change

    How many times have you wanted things to be different but are unwilling to change? Whether it's work, relationships or whatever you're not happy with, make a plan of change. People complain about different aspects of their lives but the idea of doing something different hasn't entered their minds yet.  So much talent is lost in the world because people lack the courage to show it.  It does take desire and courage to take action in a different direction, other than your routine.  It's not going to be easy but it will be worth it.
    This is true also in becoming a new believer.  Your perspective will change and choices should too.  Your desire for a relationship with God will help you to let go of your wants of the old self.  To stay strong, we need daily encouragement to not fall back.
    How strong is your desire to fly?  Is the fear of change holding you back?  A whole new way of living in this world awaits you.  Take the first step out of your cocoon.

Garvan Woodland Gardens

     We went to Garvan Woodland Gardens on Saturday night.  The weather was perfect to enjoy seeing the 2 million lights on the 17 acre property.  We got there about the time they opened and I was glad to have avoided the huge crowds coming in as we left.  It is a must-see holiday stop.  They have golf cart tours for those who can't walk long distances.  We all had a good time and spent over 2 hours here.
      As we were leaving, we went to see the chapel.  It's a smaller version of the one at Eureka Springs.  As we went in there were 2 couples up front taking pictures.  I thought they were just goofing around until one man got down and proposed to the woman with a ring box in hand.  Aww.  I felt a little intrusive but it was sweet to see the special moment.

FBF MISSIONARY PRAYER REQUESTS DEC 2012

FBF MISSIONARY PRAYER REQUESTS FOR DEC. 2012


PHILIP AND SANDRA PRIME--

1. Pray for our hospital ministry. We will be going the 21st of December, taking sweet bread and coffee, tracts and a year-long devotional book similar to Our Daily Bread. We are also planning to sing Christmas Carols and have some of the kids play their instruments.
2. We are also planning a church-wide evangelistic outreach a few days before Christmas. We will take tracts, sing Christmas carols and again the kids will be playing their instruments. Our plan is to go to a neighborhood where some members of our church live.
3. May each of you have a blessed Christmas time as you consider our Savior's coming and contemplate His Second Coming.

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK--

1.  Please continue praying with us for the villagers in Arumbaro, who study the Bible with us and several church members.
2.  Pray for the current construction needs at the camp.  We hope to begin building new apartments in mid-January.

MARTIN AND HANSY TUOHY--

1. Ability to teach clearly and correctly in Spanish.

2. Protection and endurance to serve well here in Puruandiro.

3. Fruit in our evangelistic efforts.

BOBBY AND NAMATHA AVILEZ--

1.       Pray for Thailand! The country is just now coming through celebrating the Loy Kratong Festival of Light and Sound! Pray that people would be drawn to Christ, the True Light and away from Satan, the Angel of Light! Also pray that they would hear and listen to the Word of God calling out to the them. 

2.       Pray for yourselves and us that God’s still small voice, through His Word, would drown out the many distractions that come our way every day. 

LESLEY WOLFE--

1.        Literacy --- Monnah, Francis and I are meeting each Saturday night as I continue to take them through the literacy course.  Both are doing very well reading and writing --- writing the Glaro language, with all of its tone, is a real challenge, but they’re doing very well at this early stage.  My prayer is that it would be these two young men who will be the ones to ignite the interest of other Glaro young people to learn to read and write their mother tongue, and that these two would even become the literacy teachers.

2.       Translation --- is going very well.  I’ve had two weeks recently where all four of those I have been wanting to help me do comprehension checks have actually come, which means the I’ve been able to send more completed chapters to my consultant!  The prayer request where translation is concerned is that these 4 will continue to come each week, especially through the end of this year.  I’d love to have 8 more chapters in the hands of my consultant by December 31.

Overthinking

    Do you lie awake at night thinking about things?  I know I do.  I just can't seem to shut my brain off and go to sleep.  I don't think about one thing and move on to the next, but instead I get caught in a repetitive loop. I think about things I plan to do the next day or how I want to approach something.  I often think of Howard Hughes in his obsessive repetitive thoughts and going crazy.  Now I'm thinking about overthinking.. aghhh.
    What are you thinking about?  Phillipians 4;8  ''Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.''  Thinking about what might have been, if?....it's a waste of time.  We are to learn from the past, be and live in the present and prepare for the future.
    Overthinking is probably a control issue.  Wanting to do things right and with a plan in mind.  That's okay to a point but intentions mean nothing if not put into action.  Some thoughts need to be slept on tho to keep you from putting it into action.

Share

    Cookies are baking in the house today, oatmeal raisin and chocolate peanut butter.  I have friends coming over to visit today.  I like to have some special treat to share with them.  We share our thoughts, laughs and experiences.
    Sharing is caring.  Can you really fully enjoy something without sharing it with someone else?  When we share, we include others in whatever we're going thru.  Joys are more joyful and sorrows are better understood.
    Sharing the last cookie lets the other person know you're thinking about more than yourself.  That is what we're called to do, 'love thy neighbor as thy self.'  There is no thought of self-centeredness when you share.
     Dare to share...your wealth, your time, your possessions, your faith, and more.  It is better to give than to receive so bless yourself by blessing others first.

Way Back Wednesday..... Someday

   Do you ever see things and think someday I'd like to have this?  This is a picture from 1995 when my mom and I took a trip to Oregon.  This was one of our overnight stops and I thought the place was pretty cool.  See the handle on the wall?  That was the murphy-style drop down bed.  How cool is that, you wouldn't even need to make the bed.  The place was also on ocean front property with large dome-like rocks nearby.  There is just a relaxing feeling you get from the ocean.  It's been said, 'no matter how many times it is rejected, the water keeps kissing the shore.'
    I'm happy enough with my home here on earth.  I guess it's never too early to make plans for my eternal home.  Although, I know my thoughts are way simpler than what He has in store for me.

It's All Good

     I've heard a lot of distressing news lately about sickness, death and just daily struggles of others.  It makes me appreciate the blessings in my life more.
    Some wonder why we have struggles but there is value in them.  Perseverance --the greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in overcoming it.  Romans 5;2-4 ''And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.''  If you hadn't been there and done that thru a struggle, could you've ever known you could make it thru it?  Our battle stories help others while they are going thru a similar fight.  Everyone you meet is fighting a battle of some kind so be merciful.
     Life is good....and it's all good.  Even the girl in the caption is going thru the bumps and rocky spots of life but she can smile thru it all.  She even has one hand off the steering wheel because she knows Who really has got it all under control.

Smile

     What is in a smile?  It can be an expression, communication, or an addition to your wardrobe.  A smile is a way of giving your approval.
     A smile expresses the happiness you feel inside.  They are contagious too.  Doesn't it make you feel good to see someone smile?  'Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn.'
    'Everyone smiles in the same language.'  There is so much said with just a smile.  Hello across the room is often my message sent with my smile.
    'You're never fully dressed without a smile.'  Whatever you're wearing, a smile will turn it up a notch.  A smile is worth a mile of glitter and glam... and it's free.

Germ-X

    Tis the season for Germ-X.  Well that's not exactly true, it's important all year long to me.  I keep a big bottle of it next to my bed.  I know it burns but it is kind of funny when someone uses it and breaks out in a little raindance and hollars ow-ow-ow, like an Indian.
    I think our true friends can act like Germ-X too.  They can point out our weak areas to us that we may not see ourselves.  They can help us get the dirt out of our lives and lead us to purer lives.  They can burn us with a rebuke for our own good.
    So whether it's Germ-X or Friend-X, consider them a good thing keeping you from the bad things in this world.  'As iron sharpens iron, so does a friend.'

Been There?

     I hope that all of you reading this can relate to this caption.  If you can't then you've probably not been humbled enough.  Adversity through our trials builds us up in our character.  Without them, we see ourselves as self-sufficient and indestructible.
     I am definitely weak in a physical sense but it makes me strong spiritually.  When you reach a point of knowing your needs are bigger than what you can supply, you will seek a Savior.  Whether it takes a broken bone or the stomach flu, recognizing how fast we wither can help us to look beyond ourselves.  Suffering does a soul good when it leads one to a stronger relationship with the Lord.  Let it make you better, not bitter.
     I have been scared at times.  The not knowing and not in control moments can fuel our fears.  You can't let fear be the driving force in your life.  ''I will fear no evil, for my God is with me.''  Let your faith be bigger than your fear.
     I have had my foolish moments.  I have done my own thing and gone my own way but that is part of the journey.  Mistakes are just lessons to be learned from.  'Don't carry your mistakes around with you but place them under your feet as a stepping stone.'  Let your experiences, good and bad, make you wiser in the future.


''The empty place in every heart can be filled only by the Lord. All earthly pursuits of pleasure or purpose fade in comparison to the satisfaction found in His presence.''

Shop or Not?

    Okay so it's Black Friday and the stores are packed with deals and people.  Am I out there in the thick of things?  No, not this year.  I've already finished most of my shopping prior to this day because of the warm weather days recently.  Also, nobody seems to be in the crowd tackling mood that you need to shop till you drop on days like these.
    Does that keep me from missing today's deals?  Heck no!  Online shopping keeps me strong through retail therapy.  If you don't think a shipping charge is worth missing the crowds, the long checkout lines, and the energy spent only to find they are out of what you wanted....then more power to you.
    As with everything in life, we can find a way to do what we want or we can find an excuse not to.  Do what makes you happy, despite the barriers.  As for me, let me shop and nobody gets hurt.  Ha!

Thankful For....

Top Ten Reasons I Am Thankful Today

10.  I am thankful I got to sleep in today till 945 and the phone didn't ring once...oh yeah.

  9.  I am thankful not to have to travel anywhere today because 10 straight years of that was more than enough for me.

  8.  I am thankful for all my electronic devices that keep me entertained and in the Word during all my times of rest.

  7.  I am thankful for Tiger's continuous recovery and the joy I get from all my pets/kids.

  6.  I am thankful that 'Rachel' from Cardholder services hasn't called and left her annoying recording all week about improving my rate on a credit card I don't even own.

  5.  I am thankful for my helper during the week that has raised the bar so high on meeting both my needs and wants that I'm amazed and blessed every day.

  4.  I am thankful to belong to a church where I respect the elders and feel loved by the whole congregation.

  3.  I am thankful for all my friends who encourage me, visit with me, and care for me as their sister in Christ.

  2.  I am thankful for my parents who do all that they can for me, even when I'm the turkey and not just at Thanksgiving.

  1.  I am thankful to be a child of God and His friend.  To know that He watches over me and in Him only do I trust my life and future with because I know of His faithfulness.

Way Back Wednesday.....Celebrate

     This was the dress-up night on our 7 day cruise to the Caribbean in 1989.  We departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico and went to Barbados, Martinique, St. Thomas and I think St. Marteen.  I had never been on a cruise before, so it was fun to get dolled up just for dinner.
    Psalm 145:7  ''They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.''  We had much to be thankful for as I had just graduated from high school and recovered fully from my first bout with pneumonia.  
     Looking back helps to remember how good God has been to us.  Good memories are more desired but the rough times to get to the good are just as praise worthy.

Tact

     Well I'm going to the dentist office today to get my teeth cleaned.  Now what if that was all we had to do to make what comes out of our mouths cleaner and sweeter?  It doesn't work that way though.  It begins with our thoughts and then flies thru our open airway to the world.
     Tact is the acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without offending.  My friend told me the other day that sometimes my blogs are hard in its subject matter.  I said 'well I'm no Joel Olsteen', which means I don't just write what you want to hear.  I hope my blogs come across as real and with applicable messages of benefit.
     We can all use a little tact and still get our opinions out there.  I think grace is key to that.  I think if we give grace to others, our words will be more graceful.  Yes my mind can be quite the smarty-pants but I have to be smarter than that to not let all that out.. ha.
   

Enough

    Doesn't God give us more than enough?  Sometimes we think we've had enough trials but never enough blessings.  I think that's when we need to check our accounting.  It all works for our good, as this caption illustrates.  If we only had sunshine and no rain, how much would we miss.  We need both.
     One of my new songs I'm working on says 'bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free, bring me anything that brings You glory.'  Everything in our lives is useful in our process of sanctification to becoming more Christ-like.  He will not give us more than we can bear.  'My grace is sufficient.'
     When you think 'that is enough', be careful not to focus on the -ugh.  'His mercies are new every morning.'  Sometimes we need a push to keep going or a push to keep us humble.  Every push gets us where we need to be, even when we don't like it.

Path of the Wind

         Have you ever wet your finger and held it up in the air to tell which way the wind was blowing?  Yeah, I can't tell either.  I can't tell you the time by looking at the sun either.  If I get lost in the woods, it's up to you to find me because it all looks the same to me.
         The same is true for where God will lead us on our journey's path, we don't know where He'll take us.  Without His guidance, we wander around lost in circles.  We hit the same stumbling blocks and dead ends over and over.  We often get frustrated with ourselves for repeating the same mistakes. 'Lead, follow or get out of the way' is how we often express our lack of direction and impatience when we depend on the world's leading, instead of God.
        When we surrender our will for His, the path seems to make more sense with time.  Even if you don't understand, you can trust that He is working for your good.

Saturday Look

      This is what I envision for Saturday mornings.  No rush, a nap on the couch and food at my fingertips.  Is it laziness or just relaxing?
      We must be cautious not to make it habit forming.  We can get too comfortable at staying at home and not fellowship with others.  We think 'oh they won't miss me' but your presence is a witness itself.  One of my favorite songs starts out 'there's a quiet understanding when we're gathered in the Spirit.'  It is important for believers to get together and share how God has been working in their lives.
     It is rare that you'll regret something you did attend but more often you'll regret you didn't go.  I can guarantee you, life doesn't wait for anyone.  So get involved or get left behind.

Happy Friday

   For a lot of you, it's the end of a long work week.  Happy Friday could mean payday, a weekend to look forward to, or just finally it is Friday.  Whatever day it is, we can find something to be happy about.  Sixty seconds of despair means you missed a minute of happiness.  Happiness is a conscious choice, not always an automatic response.  You are as happy as you choose to be.]

      ''If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.  If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.  If you're happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it.''  Children's songs often tell the simple truths of life, like happiness.

      ''Don't worry, be happy.''  Enjoy today because tomorrow has enough trouble of its own.  May your Friday be happy, regardless of what happens.

 

Anger

           Anger is a weapon of destruction used by the devil on and within ourselves.  When we lack self control of our anger, it often displays itself thru yelling.  I hate yelling and yes I've done my fair share of it.  It certainly does no good but keeps the vicious cycle going.  ''Don't raise your voice, improve your argument.''  Unless your rival is deaf, there is no need to get louder.
          We should remember God hears and sees everything we say and do.  If your arguments were recorded, what would they show?  Gentleness, meekness, forgiveness?  Believing you are right doesn't justify any less lack of self control.
          'Anger is a feeling that makes your mouth work faster than your mind.'  So slow down and think before you speak.  'Anger doesn't solve anything. It builds nothing but can destroy everything.'  Anger doesn't hit a single target, it shatters like bird shot in a wide range.  'Anger is one letter short of danger.' Isn't that warning enough to control it?
         Mark Twain tell of the destructiveness of anger in ''anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.''  Holding on to anger only hurts yourself, so let it go.  ''We will understand it better by and by.''