Can't Take That

 

     My heart has been heavy for the citizens of Ukraine lately.  I can somewhat relate to them having to give up their possessions, but not how quickly and forcefully as they have had to.  Have you ever thought about what you might lose here in your earthly days?  It might be a loved one, your muscle strength, your prized possessions, your mental health, or your defining job.  Whatever you value as important in this life can be taken away in an instant with no fault of your own.

     We must remember, as Christians, we are God's child first.  John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit."  You are his child forever.  You were his voluntary choice with an important purpose in mind.

     2  Corinthians 5:1-6  " For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,  because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.''

     "Don't get sucked into short-term thinking.  Your struggles will not last forever, but you will."  {You'll Get Through This, M. Lucado]

     2 Timothy 2:11-13" Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

      There is nothing on this earth that can separate us from God's love.  He  has called us for His purposes and blesses us with His gifts. These cannot be taken from us.  Romans  11:29  " for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable."  Our salvation is guaranteed.  

     2 Timothy 2:12 "If we endure, we will also reign with Him."  Isn't that a motivating promise?  This life is a vapor in the wind, but eternity is everlasting.  Hang on, my friends.

     From a friend..." If you are not a Christian, then your life here on earth, whatever the best that happens to you, will be the best you will ever get. So this life is as good as it gets. But….if you are a believer, what happens here is the worse it will ever get for you. So for the believer this is as bad as it gets. For the unbeliever, this is as close to heaven as they get. For believers it’s as close to hell as we get. "

As for myself, the struggle is real right now. Satan tries to shift my focus off of my blessings. The battle is in God's hands. My impatience will be overcome, because I know God has a plan to provide for all of my needs. He's providing now, in His way not mine. I am thankful and know His ways are higher.

Strength Comes From The Lord

 

      Where does your strength come from?  Strength is mentioned over 360 times in the Bible, regarding both natural and supernatural strength.  Believers have the unlimited power of Christ as the source of their strength.  Jeremiah 9:23-24  "Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

      "The Bible places an emphasis on God’s strength in our salvation. Man can in no way save himself. Only God can save. Paul makes this abundantly clear: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). These two verses are the most forceful summary of the dynamics of salvation found anywhere in the Bible. They help us to understand the contrast between man’s total helplessness and God’s insuperable strength. “God alone . has the power to save or to destroy” (James 4:12, NLT)." [gotquestions.org]

      Surrender is related to our amount of strength.  Total submission to the Lord enables us to stand against the deceptions of Satan. We must align ourselves with the Lord thru submission to His will and works.  James 4:7  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

      God's children are strengthened by:

1] His grace...Hebrews 13:9 "Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them."

2] Our time spent in prayer...Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

3] The promise that God will reward our efforts....Galatians 6:9  " Let us not become weary in doing good,r for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

      As for myself, my physical strength gradually vanished right before my own eyes.  Out of my control, but always in God's allowance and control.  God gives me strength to endure the long stretches of without, the perseverance to keep serving without an expectation of something in return, and the maintaining of peace in my heart that everything is working for my good. I pray for strength now in the battle that is Yours Lord.  "I am strong because I've been weak, I am fearless because I've been afraid, and I am wise because I've been foolish."

Letting Go

 

     When you are made aware of a train track, you know a train is coming but you aren't exactly sure of when.  That is how I have felt about my disease my whole life.  There would be a time where I didn't give up, but things would be more out of my control.  Really, God's always been in control!  He just gave me strength for a limited time and a little less than others.  I now have more time to focus on His will for me, rather than my own.  This blog is really about accepting God's will for you and not resisting hard against what you've been chosen for.

As TobyMac sings about 'The Promised Land'...

"I won’t give up on this race

Broken but I still have faith

That this old life is all part of a plan

And I can feel it in my soul, one day I’ll stand before the throne

With nothing left but hope in these 2 hands"

Some people might say 'let go and let God' but the Bible contradicts that laid back kind of thinking. The Christian life is a spiritual battle which the Bible exhorts us to prepare for and wage diligently.  Letting go, in the sense of sitting back and watching events unfold is not biblical.

2 Timothy 2:3 "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

1 Timothy 6:12 " Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold ofl the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

We must understand that whatever it is that we do, it is by the power of God and not of ourselves. John 15:5 says "that apart from Me you can do nothing." The truth is that working at “letting go” is just as much as an effort-filled work as anything else we try to do for God and not nearly as easy to do as some things. [gotquestions.org]

"Suffering in its simplest form comes in the space between what we thought would be and what is. Life defines us, but suffering redfines us. Ultimately, hope refines us, transforming us from within in ways we could never imagine. We can gain precious wisdom and deeper appreciation for the iives we've ben given as we learn to suffer well--not as victims, but as overcomers.

Some of us have physical wheelchairs, but we all have invisible wheelchairs inside us. None of us can do life by ourselves. We need God, and we need each other." [Suffer Strong]

As for myself, I'm meant to be here now as an example, rather than as a doer. That doesn't mean I do nothing, I just do thru the help of others. I was chosen to suffer in this life, but God has promised crowns of great reward in my near future. I trust the next chapter of my life, because I know the author.

Life's Not About Me

 

     How much of your new year is dedicated to a new you?  How much of your new year is invested in your relationship with Christ?  Colossians 1:16 "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."  Doesn't that verse humble you and make you question your priorities?

     "The Bible says, "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone's life in his power."" [R. Warren]  When we only focus on ourselves, God can get lost in our priorities.  We must put God first in our lives!  How we spend our money and our time should be a reflection of  our relationship with Him. 

      "You were made by God and for God--and until you understand that, life will never make sense." [R. Warren]  God created us for his pleasure, not to entertain him, but to have a relationship with.  "God is a personal Being, and it gives Him pleasure to have other beings He can have a genuine relationship with." [gotquestions.org]  God pursues us, but we must open our hearts and mind to begin that relationship.

     "God is not just the starting point in your life, he is the source of it."   When we depend on God's Word, we find true wisdom and direction for the trials of life.  Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."  We often get in a rut of doing things our own way, instead of God's way.  We have to have an intentional change of heart, mind and attitude to overcome our sinful, destructive ways.

     Life without God is meaningless.  If you're just living for yourself or others, then you will surely be disappointed.  If you live with Jesus and His willful purpose in mind, then your submissiveness to His plan will payoff.  "We cannot serve both God and ourselves. Living for God means we make a final decision about who is in charge. When our flesh begins to reassert its rights, we take it back to the cross and allow it to die. When sin tempts, the decision has already been made: we seek God’s will over our own." [gotquestions.org]

     As for myself, my new year has an intentional plan of 'more Jesus, less me'.  Living for God may be difficult, but it is not joyless.  My focus will try to be on Romans 12:19, because His wrath is just and greater than anything I can do.  1 Peter 4:16  "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

Pay Back?

 Romans 12:18-20

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”"

Praise Him..Always

 “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” -Titus‬ ‭3:3-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

       Will you praise God no matter what comes in your life?   Everyday we see on the news, people who have lost all of their worldly possessions because of tornadoes, floods, or some violent weather occurrence.  Right now, we see numerous deaths daily due to the Covid virus.  We live in a world of destruction, decay and loss all because of the day when sin entered into this world.  There is hope, 1 Peter 1:6-7 "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

       God told us that trials would be part of our earthly lives, but we could have peace thru those trials by remaining in Him through faith and trust.  John 16:31-33  “"Do you now believe?" Jesus replied.  A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Jesus questioned his disciples true faith, even tho he knew he would be betrayed.  Jesus was comforted thru His trials and sufferings, because he knew God was always with him.  "Those that converse with God in solitude are never less alone than when alone.  A good God and a good heart are good company at any time." [M. Henry]

"We are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

       As for myself, I've had the fullest life.  The house, the spouse, the job, the probs, the cars, the travels, the marriage, the divorce, the strength and the definite weaknesses.  Yes, I have once been strong enough on my own, before my disease made me completely dependent on others.  Yes, I will praise God on the mountain and in the valley because He is always with me.  He has allowed much to be taken, but has left plenty to praise Him with.  Nothing will separate me from His love...nothing!

     

A Reminder About Our Sorrows

Psalm 56:8 "You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book."

1 Peter 1:6-7 " So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

     December is a harder month for some people.  It can be a time of joy, but for others a time of remembering past hurts. We live in a world of hurts; people will tun their back on others, people will cause tears to fall, and people will stop talking with others.  All of these afflictions are not only known by God but noted in His book of record. [Psalm 56:8]  What a consolation to us, as believers.  The following are reminders from Matthew Henry's Commentary about how God is in control over our sorrows and how we are to reach out in prayer.

     " God takes cognizance of all the afflictions of his people; and he does not cast out from his care and love those whom men have cast out from their acquaintance and converse."  [M. Henry]

      "God has a bottle and a book for his people’s tears, both those for their sins and those for their afflictions. "  [M. Henry]

      "God will not forget the sorrows of his people. The tears of God’s persecuted people are bottled up and sealed among God’s treasures; and, when these books come to be opened, they will be found vials of wrath, which will be poured out upon their persecutors, whom God will surely reckon with for all the tears they have forced from his people’s eyes; and they will be breasts of consolation to God’s mourners, whose sackcloth will be turned into garments of praise. God will comfort his people according to the time wherein he has afflicted them, and give to those to reap in joy who sowed in tears. What was sown a tear will come up a pearl."  [M. Henry]

      "The saints have God for them; they may know it; and to him they must cry when they are surrounded with enemies; and, if they do this in faith, they shall find a divine power exerted and engaged for them; their enemies shall be made to turn back, their spiritual enemies, against whom we fight best upon our knees."  [M. Henry]

     We must remember thru 1 Peter 1:6-7, that our trials are temporary and working for our good.  The struggle is real, but it's making us better and more Christ-like.  Be happy that you were chosen for this suffering because your reward in heaven will be worth it all.

      As for myself, I've stocked up my fair share of bottles of tears.  But, no one can steal my joy because it is secure in Jesus and His promises.  Yes, I've had trials of abandonment and hard suffering, but I know my struggles are temporary.  Jesus has never and will never disappoint me.  He doesn't take my trials away, but helps me through them.  What is unseen is getting clearer to me everyday, as my time draws nearer.

    "Only God has the final say over your life. Your future is secure. Your Father is faithful. His promises are true. The unseen world is a far more reliable anchor than the seen one. Your trustworthy God holds you and all you love. You can choose to be immensely and deeply grateful for that, always. And gratitude is the breeding ground of joy. "  [bible.com]

Ask Yourself

 

Genesis 18:14  "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

     Have you ever asked yourself the question from Genesis 18:14,  "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"  We all have doubts, like Abraham and Sarah.  God promised them a son, though both were past child-bearing age.  Wouldn't we all question the possibility of that?  We must remember Mark 19:26 " “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

      "That is what we need to ask. Is anything too hard for God? Does he ever give up because the problem is too great? Does he ever throw up his hands and quit? Does he ever shake his head at the sound of a prayer request and say, “I can’t handle that problem”?"  [M. Lucado]

      We must believe and trust that 'nothing is too hard for our God'.  He is bigger than any storm we face.  Even when we feel that He is miles away, He is right beside us.  We are the ones who have moved, yet He still pursues us with His great love.

      "Our tendency is to magnify our fears. We place a magnifying glass on the diagnosis, the disease, or debt. Stop that! Meditate less on the mess and more on the Master. Less on the problems and more on his power."  [M. Lucado]

       As for myself, God has amazed me with making my impossible thoughts into God-made realities.  He has turned my doubts into proven faithfulness.  He has got me thru every trial and mountain of fear.  I trust Him more and more every day.  More Jesus, less me...that's the way it should be.

A Grateful Heart

 

       It's the time of year to recognize our thankfulness more.  A grateful heart is a healthy heart.  Many people only seek to be thankful of and not to be thankful for.  Max Lucado speaks of "The 'If Only River' as being on it's shore and being one step away from the good life."  What is your 'if only' that keeps you from a life of gratitude and a good life?  If only, you had a better job?  the kids moved away? the kids lived closer? you were married?  you were richer?  you were ____?    Instead, look at what you are already blessed with.  

       Colossians 3:15-17  " Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

       As for myself, I am thankful for where I have been, where I am now, and where I am headed.  I am grateful that God created in me a heart that hasn't turned bitter despite all the hardships I have been through.  Lord, help me to continue to recognize that this world is not my home.

Speak Life

 

Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 12:18

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Psalm 19:14

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

      Our words matter, more than we realize.  What we say to others and to ourselves can make a difference.  Words can uplift or tear down, so we must use them wisely.  Words can entangle our thoughts, where we replay them over and over.  It is better to turn to God's word and defeat Satan's ploy to try to beat us down and destroy us.  May we always be mindful of the words being circulated throughout our own worlds, by our mouths or our minds.  Seek to inspire!!

      "Many things are pleasant that are not profitable, but these pleasant words are health to the bones, to the inward man, as well as sweet to the soul. They make the bones, which sin has broken and put out of joint, to rejoice. The bones are the strength of the body; and the good word of God is a means of spiritual strength, curing the diseases that weaken us."  [M.Henry]

       As for myself, I've recently been dealing with uncertainty about my health.  The lack of encouraging words from others made my own thoughts even darker.  The words I told myself went in a downward spiral.  What I did cling to were God's promises..He will never forsake me and that He is working out all things for my good because I believe in Him.  My words to myself were based on fear and impatience, not truth.  Finally, this week I got the good news of my test results.  I was reminded again of Matthew 6:27  "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  The unknown is a pit that we fall in that really tests our trust in the Lord.  God's word is what speaks life into my soul to uplift it, like no other words can. So, when you're feeling ucertain turn to His word that never fails.

Scales, Money, and Honesty

 Proverbs 11:1

The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.  [NIV}

A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord, But an accurate scale is His delight.  [AMP]

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.  [ESV]

God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.  [MSG}

Proverbs 20:23

The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. [NIV}

        With all the translations above, we can see how God requires us to be honest in our financial dealings with one another.  It is an offense to God's justice to practice wrongdoing.  "However men may make light of giving short weight or measure, and however common such crimes may be, they are an abomination to the Lord." [M. Henry]

       "Nothing is more offensive to God than deceit in commerce.  Nothing is more pleasing to God than fair and honest dealing, nor more necessary to make us and our devotions acceptable to him." [M.Henry]

         "Christians shouldn’t hoard but give as much as God directs. It is God’s money. His rewards outweigh the cost. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”  [gotquestions.org]

          When I was 13-14 years old, I had a vegetable stand by the side of the road in front of our house.  I setup a table with scales, brown paper bags, a calculator, and a sign with prices per pound for each vegetable.  I would call out to my dad, "I need more washed tomatoes" or okra, squash, etc.  I sometimes had a friend join me and help with my little stand.  It was a fun, but honest way to earn some extra cash.  If a customer ever questioned the price, I would always double-check my math.  I wanted my little veggie stand to be God honoring and pleasing in His sight.

         I think most of us have accidentally passed thru security with an item that we meant to pay for.  Did you go back and return it or pay for it?  Or did you think the big store wouldn't care?  God cares!  Recently, I went to Ross and as we were loading the van, I noticed my unpaid for leggings were on my dog, Jack's stroller.  As soon as Jaile got me in the van, she went in to pay for them with my purse.

         "Integrity in money matters is a rare thing. But God wants His people marked by financial integrity. What someone does when no one is looking indicates their true character. Integrity in money matters has to do with being honest and upright when no one is looking. It means acting according to biblical principles, even if you think you’ll never get caught, because you know that God is watching and you want to please Him."  [bible.org]

       "Lose My Soul" by TobyMac

The Animals In Our Lives

 Proverbs 12:10

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

         I thank God everyday for the animals He has put in my life.  Each one of them have been a special blessing in their own way.  They all have their own personality and express themselves differently.  There were only a few short years that I didn't have an animal in my care.  M. Henry says, "The animals that are under our care must be provided for, must have convenient food and rest, must in no case be abused."  Yes, every animal should be taken care of, just like we would want to be.  God's command to "Love one another" includes the animals that are in our lives.  "A godly person is always kind, and that kindness extends to the animals under his care. The righteous person cares about all life, including animal life." [gotquestions.org]

        "God cares greatly for the animals He has created. Those who seek to follow His ways will also care about His creation, including animal life. Animal cruelty, the neglect of pets, and the wanton destruction of a species are sin. Christians are called to care for animals, expressing the same attitude toward animal life as our Creator has."  [gotquestions.org]

        When I was in my teens, I couldn't do most of the jobs that my friends had.  I wanted a job tho, that was within my capabilities.  So, one Christmas I got a female golden retriever, that I named Wendy.  Wendy turned out to be a wonderful mother, so much so that she took care of another one of our dog's pups.  My dad took care of a lot of the physical labor in raising my pups, like filling the feeders and water bowls and taking them to the vet for shots.  I gave Wendy and her pups all the love they needed.  It's hard to let go of the pups when they are old enough, but they filled new homes with fun, excitement and love.  God's creatures are an example of His creativity, blessings, and bundles of love.

Lying Hurts

 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”   Exodus 20:16

         As I continue my youthful blogs, I want to talk about lying.  The Bible is clear that lying is a sin and is displeasing to God.  The first sin in this world involved a lie told to Eve.   "In the early church, Ananias and Sapphira lied regarding a donation in order to make themselves look more generous than they really were. Peter’s rebuke is stern: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?”. God’s judgment was sterner: the couple died as a result of their sin of lying.   Jesus called Himself the way, the truth, and the life, and He expects those who follow Him to be people of truth. The truth is to be expressed in love, offering hope to those seeking redemption from the lies of the world. [gotquestions.org]

         "Satan continues his efforts to make sin less offensive, heaven less appealing, hell less horrific and the Gospel less urgent." - John MacArthur

            Yes, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  I freely admit that I am a sinner and that includes my days of lying, as a teenager.  God knows all of our sinful ways and sometimes our parents find out about them too.  

             In 7th and 8th grade, I played the flute in band.  It wasn't my love or my talent.  I was supposed to practice a few times a week and record it in a chart.  One time, my parents had went out to dinner and when they came home, they asked "Did you practice your flute?'  I answered without any doubt, "Yes!"   My dad went back out to the car and brought my flute back into the house.  BUSTED!!  The lie I told was undeniable.  My parents told me how disappointed they were of me.  I felt ashamed and went to them asking for forgiveness.

             We should all repent of our sinful ways and ask for forgiveness from God.  Ephesians 1:7-8  "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us."  God has His arms open wide ready to welcome you into His kingdom with His free gift of salvation.

Appearance and The Truth of It

 1 Samuel 16:7

" The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

           The world is so quick to judge a book by it's cover or people by what they see.  "In ways we cannot understand, we reflect His own beauty. God places some value on appearances; if He did not, we would all look the same. It is not a wrong thing for us to notice and appreciate physical appearance as well."

            "Our outward appearance should not be our focus. If the reason we try to be the perfect weight, wear the best clothes, have facial treatments, etc., is to impress other people, then our physical appearance has become a matter of pride. We should be humbly aware of our appearance rather than acting to conform to the world’s standards. We must watch out for anything that draws us away from God, including the too-often extreme emphasis the world places on appearances.  God has shown us His own amazing power and beauty and love in an incredibly diverse creation. We should be humble, not committing idolatry in worshiping the creation rather than the Creator."  [gotquestions.org]

            As a teenager, I was a girly girl.  My focus was on both an inner and outer beauty of myself.  I didn't want to be in the popular crowd of girls who were pretty in the mirror, but were obviously ugly in their speech and attitude.  I am grateful that God looks at my heart because while it's not perfect, it is a caring and thoughtful one.  I know love because Jesus loved me first and I've seen it through Him.

            Oh, I spent plenty of time in front of the mirror growing up.  Blue eye shadow was my signature shade.  Straight hair with feathered bangs transformed into permed hair with perfectly teased bangs.  My obsession with the latest in-style jeans, usually Guess brand for me, was my mom's battle back then.  

            Matthew 23:12 ""For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."   When I got married, my beauty needs got humbled along with my bank account.  I was suddenly grateful for all the stuff I got at Walmart and The Dollar Store.  

            As I've gotten older, humility has come more from knowing who I am and whose I am than anything else.  My small size has been judged by people, as a person who needs a child's menu or no menu at all.  My wheelchair bound self has been judged as one who's never walked or been educated or had a life.  People think they are better than me just because of their current abilities, that I have lost.  Not knowing isn't better, but just ignorance.

          A mirage is an example of seeing and believing in something that's not true.  Don't make your vision of others like a mirage, find out the truth about them in whatever shape or form you see them in. 💚

What Tomorrow Will Bring

 James 4:13-15

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Sleep

 

Psalm 4:8  "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."

        Sleep is essential for us to restore our worn down muscles from the day and to recharge our brain.  Sleep plays an important role in both your physical and mental health.  When we feel secure and at peace, our sleep comes more easily and is more restful.  As Psalm 4;8 states, it is God alone who is all sufficient to protect us when all of our own defenses are at rest.  "Though I am alone, yet I am not alone, for God is with me; though I have no guards to attend me, the Lord alone is sufficient to protect me; he can do it himself when all other defenses fail." [M. Henry]  

         "So a good man, having by faith and prayer cast his care upon God, sleeps and rests night and day, and is very easy, leaving it to his God to perform all things for him and prepared to welcome his holy will." [M. Henry]  

          As a very young girl, my nightly prayer was "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. AMEN"   It may sound a little depressing for a 4 or 5year old to say, but it's not.  It's was a reassurance that God is in control as I closed my eyes knowing that I had nothing to fear or worry about.  I don't recall ever being afraid of monsters under my bed.  God gave me 'peace'.  This prayer can help bring children sweeter sleep and more confidence every day.

        Oh, how I miss the sweet sleep I had in my youth.  As I look back in hindsight tho, I can see how I learned patience and endurance even during my sleep times.  Whether it was my pink foam curlers or my brace's headgear for my teeth, their uncomfortable times on my head was preparing me for a future I would've never suspected.  I wonder if those times made it easier for me to accept my current mask wearing with greater ease.

         God alone has made me sleep in safety.  I've always felt secure whether I lived at home, in the dorm, in an apartment, in a rented room, in a duplex or in my own home because I've always known God watches over me.  Psalm 145:20  "The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy."

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. —

Isaiah 26:3