When We Don't Understand

          Today is just marked by a cloud of sadness.  As many good memories I have of Springfield, Missouri, we are all too often reminded that evil has no limits or boundaries.  Yesterday a 10yr old girl, Hailey Owens, was abducted out of her neighbor's yard and killed by a predator that they have now arrested.  I can't even fathom the pain of the family and how evil can strike out of nowhere into one's own private and personal space.  We can understand the hardship of disease and death of a loved one but when pure evil robs us of a loved one, we are at a total loss.
        '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.'  Romans 12;19

        We all want justice for those who are innocently wronged in this world.  We would like to hurry up the meeting of the judgement day so the perpetrator could meet their Maker.  As much hurt and anger as one may have, we must leave it to God's timing and punishment.  Yes a lifetime sentence without parole is deserved but God's wrath will be much more fitting.  I hope those who hurt innocent children go to the deepest, darkest places of hell.

        Please remember the Owens family in your prayers because they truly need comfort from the great Comforter and Healer right now.

Speak Life

Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. —Ecclesiastes 5:2

        Aren't we our own worst critics?  Our thoughts are a powerful influence on how we value our own self worth.  Is your thought rhetoric a positive or negative influence?  Do you really listen to what you're telling yourself?
        Self confidence is built by more than just a few successful endeavors.  It begins with not only encouragement from others but also what you speak to yourself in your mind.  'You can't live a positive life with a negative attitude.'  It also still is true from way back when that 'Can't Never Could.'
       The verse above says don't be rash with your mouth but what comes out your mouth began in your head.  We often say things to ourselves or about ourselves that we wouldn't dare say to someone else.  Why?  Belittling ourselves can become a bad habit and happen so often we don't even notice when we do it.
      In bookstores there are always a 'self help' section.  Start by helping your own heart and mind by being a voice of encouragement to yourself.

           

Overcome

1 John 4;4  ''You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.''


          We can see suffering and overcoming in others all around us.  What is the difference?  A sense of hope, for better things to come and a better tomorrow.
          I was downtown about a week ago near the library.  As we drove by, we saw three homeless men sitting together.  My first reaction was judgemental because they were all smoking.  I thought how could they afford such an expensive habit and yet not afford basic necessities.  I pondered their lack of hope in their lives and wondered whether I might too seek temporary relief to ease my distress.  I really don't know if I could break the cycle, if I were homeless and without hope.
         Ministry to the lost and homeless is all about telling them about true hope found in God.  The burden of suffering eases when you know you aren't alone.  The strength to overcome your trials is driven by your belief in One who is greater than anything in this world.
        John 16; 33  “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.”   What a comforting verse for us all in our times of trouble.  Don't let the world steal your joy and hope.

Foto Friday

Before haircut

 

Jack w/rotissierie chicken

My lil friend, Maggie

 

New bed for Tiger n Tux

Vance in the fire pit

Valentine sweater n haircut

Karla and I on 2-14-14

He Loves Us So

 
          We love because He loved us first.  He loved us while we were still sinners.  ''For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.'' John 3:16    Did you catch that?  He didn't just love the world but He so loved us.  His love resulted in a Savior that bridged the gap between our sin and God.
         In an unrelated lyric by Eric Clapton, I think our grasp on God's love for us is explained... 'And the wonder of it all, is that you just don't realize how much I love you.'   We really don't do we?  As many times as we fail Him, His forgiveness is always there waiting for the asking by the repentant heart.  I think the caption above illustrates that God's love has no boundaries.  We are the ones who have built up the walls and have hardened our hearts to His will in our lives.

         1 John 4; 7-8  ''Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.''

         I hope your Valentine's Day is all about the Christ-like love that He has shown us by His example.

Who Would It Be?

         Before I give my answer, I would like everyone who comments to answer the question for themselves.  We may not know the person you're talking about but whoever you choose will reflect something about you as well.
        My choice comes from the past because they aren't available at this point in my journey.  I would choose my Uncle Jim.  He had diabetes and was a double amputee but that in no way defined him.  He was a husband, father and a hard worker to say the least.  If I choose one word to describe him, it'd be 'inspiring.' When I was a young adult, he told me 'Don't ever let anyone tell you what you can or can't do.'  He worked for the AR Hwy Dept but he was also an inventor.  He designed an electric horse for kids with disabilities to ride and compete in.  He was a believer who trusted in God's path for him.  In the end, he knew his time was near and that no medical intervention was going to delay his homecoming.  His hardships in life gave him wisdom but greater than that was his faith that gave him peace.
       I'm sure an hour with my Uncle Jim wouldn't be enough so I look forward to our reunion on that heavenly shore one day.

Psalm 57

           I missed yesterday's sermon on Psalm 57 so I thought I'd check it out myself.  I liked both of the captions above regarding this Psalm by David.  I think they both illustrate how God can be the only One to revive and renew our hearts through His grace.  When our hearts are fixed and confident in God, then nothing should deter us from telling others about how He has worked in our lives.  We should wake up every day thanking Him for another day to share our song with the world around us.  I think these lyrics from 'I could sing of your love forever' say it best......

''Over the mountains and the sea

Your river runs with love for me

And I will open up my heart

And let the Healer set me free

I'm happy to be in the truth

And I will daily lift my hands

For I will always sing of

Of whenYour love came down

[Chorus:]

I could sing of Your love forever''

   

Show Me The Way

              We often use emoticons, like a smiley face, in our text messages to better express ourselves besides our words.  As Christians, our words about our beliefs are not enough but must be displayed in our actions and attitudes as well.
             I think the caption above is a great place to start.  If I could sum up the 14 ways into one word, it would be 'compassion.'  ''The etymology of "compassion" is Latin, meaning "co-suffering." More involved than simple empathy, compassion commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering.''
           Psalm 145;8-9  ''The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.''
           We know the Lord is compassionate by His great mercy on us.  He has spared us from what we deserve thru His Son.  He truly listens to each of our prayers, cries and tears.  As you can see, six of the fourteen ways of showing Christ to others is 'listen.'  Proverbs 12;15  ''The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.''
         Give people your true attention, it costs nothing but your time.  'Sometimes words are not enough to show someone that you care about them, sometimes it takes a little effort.'

The Brrrrrrright Side

             Okay so who hasn't had enough of the snow and frigidiculous temperatures?  I know 'the kids.'  As ongoing and never-ending as it seems, we must remember that it could be worse.  We have much to be thankful for.... indoor plumbing vs outhouses, electricity vs sitting cold in the dark, central heat vs putting another log on the fire, shelter vs homelessness..... and these are just the basics.
            I have to go outside and up the driveway to go upstairs for my showers.  I often psych myself up before going out the door by saying that whatever the weather is like, it could be worse.  'It's 15 degrees but at least it's not raining.'
           Other people in the world pray for just a tad of what you have daily.  So as we all complain about our 'spoiled' conditions, just remember to add some thankfulness into that monologue.

Foto Friday

This will be my new theme for Fridays.  It will be a collection of pictures from the week or just ones I wanted to share.

 

Bird feeder outside my window

Before Craft project

After Craft project

Scoopdog ice cream treat

 

 

Foolish

        Hmm, I think we should all read this verse three times and really put some thought into it.  Why?  Because we've all been that fool at one time or another.  'I don't want to hear it, I've got my mind made up.'  Ever thought or said those words?
      'All men are subject to this disease, and the conflict between wisdom and the heart is the crux between a wise man and a fool, truth and lies, life and death. A fool does not want to listen; he wants to talk. He does not want instruction; he wants expression. He does not want to learn; he wants to teach. And his depraved heart will turn him away from truth and wisdom to take him down the path to hell, vainly talking about his ideas all the way.'
      'Moral absolutes are gone; truth has vanished (Ps 12:1-2; Is 59:12-15; Hos 4:1-2). Situational ethics and personal preferences rule – do whatever you want; just be honest with your own heart; do not criticize others for their thoughts, because we are all entitled to our own opinions; learn to value your thoughts.'  God has given us the Bible to guide us because our thoughts are not His.  We cannot follow the ways of the world or the culture we live in.  Jeremiah 17;9  ''The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?''
       Pray more, think less.  Test your thoughts against the Word and hopefully a clean heart will be created in you.

Motives

     
        Why do we do what we do?  What drives our actions?  Some believe the falsehood that their good deeds will save them in the end.  God will not reward those who do deeds for selfish reasons.  Self preservation is a primal motive in us but only by grace are we saved.
        ''Unlike humans, God clearly sees both the actions and the intents of human beings, a fact that means God has a considerably different evaluation of our deeds, one that is based upon our motives: "God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight" ( Luke 16:15 ; cf. 1 Sam 16:7 ; Psalm 7:9 ; Jer 11:20 ). At times the Bible seems to speak of God responding to people primarily or only on the basis of their motives, but in other places the Bible seems to depict God judging on the basis of their deeds alone. It is by a careful balancing of both deeds and motives that God judges humans and consequently rewards or punishes them ( 1 Kings 8:39 ; Jer 17:10 ; Rom 2:2-16 ; 1 Cor 3:8-4:4 ; Eph 6:5-8 ; Col 3:22-25 ; Rev 2:23 ). How God sorts out motives and deeds is not discussed and is by definition beyond human scrutiny. The matter is further complicated by the fact that what individuals intend by their actions is not always achieved, and, conversely, every action results in unintended consequences (both good and evil). God's habit of transforming the evil motives of humans into good results suggests that God is mercifully sympathetic with the human condition: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good in order to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" ( Gen 50:20 ; cf. Acts 2:23-24 ).''
         I think we should consider more about 'Why am I doing this?'  Are we seeking recognition by others or are we truly seeking His glory through our deeds?  Consider the Pharisees, who took prayer and took it to a boastful level of words from an empty heart.  The downfall lies within the 'WHY?'

Relax

         My favorite spot to feel relaxed in is my bed with my air on.  Yes, it can also be a place to worry from but that is the fault of letting my mind wander and doubt from God's intended focus for me.  As the Bible says, 'Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?'  'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'
        ''The definition of "worry" is to give way to anxiety or unease, to allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. How many times have you heard the phrase, "You are going to worry yourself to death." Worry drains our energy, affects our health and leads us to be unproductive.''
        What if the worst you can imagine really did happen?  Trust is knowing God is bigger than any of our problems and will make a way for us.  Most of our worries don't even come to pass, so that energy was wasted.  Time alone with God in prayer is never wasted.
       Maybe laying down in bed looking 'up' is the best position to truly feel relaxed.  'If we prayed as much as we worry, then we'd have less to worry about.'

Check Your Ears

       I have often found that when I am struggling with something, that in time, I will 'hear' God's call to me, if I pay attention.  This may come through Scripture, quotes I read or things I hear from people that relate to my situation.  I think the key is patience in waiting and not to react quickly to what my first desire is to do. Who am I listening to and following, myself or the Lord's will?  The Holy Spirit is our guide as believers to steer us towards good judgement about our decisions.  "If you argue with a madman, it is extremely probable that you will get the worst of it; for in many ways his mind moves all the quicker for not being delayed by the things that go with good judgement." - G. K. Chesterton
      'What a marvelous provision! In a world of confusion and fear, guidance is often needed. We can easily be misdirected by the culture around us or by the brokenness within us (1 John 2:15-17). God’s Spirit, however, is here to help, to direct, and to guide. How thankful we can be that the Spirit of truth has come to give us the guidance that we often so desperately need. Set your course by His life, and you will reach safe harbor.' [odb.org]
       Check your own ears because Who we listen to is a great indicator of Who we follow.

Bear Arms

         I watched the movie 'Captain Phillips' last night and was astonished to learn that no guns are allowed on those huge freight-carrying ships.  I guess it's 'international law' or something, I'm not sure.  I would think that since we have air marshalls with guns on airline flights, that we might need them on ships too.
        How helpless would we feel in America if our right to own guns was taken from us?  I think the movie exemplifies that feeling.  I mean really, how powerful do you feel with a water gun?
       Thomas Jefferson...''The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.''   and   ''In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock.''

Love Yourself

        I guess I've been on kind of a theme lately that boils down to 'love yourself.'  We need to be true to who we are and have confidence that that is enough.  We are not defined by our circumstances but by how we react, adapt and handle them.  'Others will treat you exactly as you treat yourself.'  'With love, doubt disappears, fears fade, and there's a comfort that develops which makes even being alone a place of solace.'
       'Too many people undervalue what they are, and overvalue what they are not.'  We are all too quick to play the comparison game when we should be counting our own blessings and gifts.  We need to learn that we don't need others acceptance but that we need to accept ourselves.
      We are often our own worst critic. "I have had more trouble with myself than with any other man." – Dwight L. Moody   When we embrace who we are, then life will be simpler and fall into place.  'Trust but don't be naive. Listen to others, but don't lose your own voice.'  So many people claim to be trying 'to find themselves' but I think the greatest barrier is the effort to please others.  When you love yourself, you will want to share and give that love to others.  'My cup runneth over.'

To the Core

              Besides joy, what is deep down in your heart?  What are your core values?  We all want to be on the receiving end of these, but we must also be givers of them too.
             As Mahatma Ghandi said, "Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny."
            Defining your values gives you purpose and direction.  They help prevent us from making bad choices.  They help your decision making simpler.  They give you confidence that your doing the right thing by living according to what's important to you.
          If you question whatever you're doing, and you should, ask yourself.... 'Is it?  Respectful, Peaceful, Truthful, Patient, Honest, Kind, Gentle, Joyful, Loving, Helpful, Prayerful, and Compassionate.

Experience

       I could write all day warning others about what to avoid doing during your life, but as most of us who are older know, somethings you have to learn for yourself.  Just as a little kid is told  'Don't touch that', we have to feel it for ourselves.  Experience is often not a one time lesson, even when it should be.  We often say 'Ill never do that again' and yet find ourselves in the same boat.
      One of life's greatest experiences is the love of God in our personal lives.  Do you learn from it and pass it on?  Do you dismiss it with a sense of entitlement?
     Whether good or bad, God allows our experiences to happen in order to draw us closer to Him.  It is said that through the trials we endure, we will become better or bitter.  Experiences are part of the Potter molding us, the clay, into what He wants us to be.  Learn from your mistakes because they are the experiences meant to teach you and keep you on the right path.

Take Out Luncheon

       
       Well I haven't been 'out' to eat since October but that doesn't mean I haven't had take out by any means.  I do love to order out.  I have missed eating out with friends because it's more about the fellowship than the food.
        So today I planned a takeout luncheon here in the basement with 3 close friends.. Karla, Gloria and Cathy.  We all love Mexican food so I chose Santo Coyote as the restaurant to order from.  My dad was kind enough to go get our food so that we didn't have to get out on this blustery cold day.
       We had a good 2 hour visit with no cough interruptions.  I was pleased because even tho I am still weaker than I'd prefer, the Lord gave me strength when I needed it most.  I am also pleased to have a friend to set up our luncheon and friends willing to come over despite the cold temperatures.  Friends are a treasure and I've hit the ultimate gold mine with mine.

Take Care Of

          How true I think this caption is worthy to be applied in our daily lives.  I think we often talk to ourselves or about ourselves in a negative manner that we wouldn't dare say to anyone else.  I think being comfortable and confident in your own skin begins with the conversation with you have with yourself.
         Our thoughts are also not all meant to become words.  Just because you think it, doesn't mean you have to say it.  The frontal lobe of your brain is where your filter that prompts your use of discretion is located.  Some must have brain damage there because they have no inhibitions in what they say or do.  ''The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.''
         One of the fruits of the Spirit is self control.  Often our thoughts become our words so we must take care of both of them with self control.