Lying

      In the news today, ''Mitt Romney on Thursday accused President Barack Obama and his allies of launching personal attacks and perpetuating lies about him in TV ads.''  Now I don't believe either candidate is flame-retardant when it comes to lying in their campaigns but this statement from the press made me think of this caption.
      I don't think any of us are fireproof, whether it be a white lie or a bold faced lie we've told.  Some people lie so often, even their true statements are questionable.  Lying is often self-serving and denys others the right to make decisions based on the truth.  Lying also has a building effect and just perpetuates more lies to cover up the last.  Lying is a damaging force and can ruin reputations.  We've seen this lately in social networks and the power of slanderous posts about people.
     'If you always tell the truth, you won't have to remember what you said.'  The thought of that would clear alot of memory space in the minds of people.  God's word will always be true, consistent, unchanging and hold the test of time.  Isn't that reassuring to know there is something here for us that is completely trustworthy?

Proverbs 12:22  ''The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.''
Proverbs 17:20  ''The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.''
Proverbs 21:6  ''Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.''
Proverbs 26:28  ''A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.''

Way Back Wednesday.....Band Memories

     This is a picture of me at Christmas but the fact that I'm kneeling leads me to my story.  When I was in 7th and 8th grade I played the flute in band.  I think 7th grade was just a chance to try something new but 8th grade was a challenge all together.  I don't think I realized when I signed up that 8th grade was a marching band for football games. I can tell you everything was a stress and struggle for me; climbing the bleachers, the marching practice, the bus for away games and not to even mention actually playing the flute.  I'm not a quitter and I so wanted to be just like all the other kids.  Well then came the formation practice out on the football field and at one point, we had to kneel on our left knee.  The goal is to look uniform throughout the band but I couldn't kneel on my left knee, just my right knee.  So I had to be the odd man out and be different.  As I think about it now, I don't know why the band teacher couldn't have switched the chosen knee to be on?  I thought everyone in the bleachers would think I messed up.  Although that was a concern of mine, I was more focused on just getting back up while holding the flute in position.  Yes, my brain was flooded with what the world thought of me.
     So there are two lessons I want to point out from this story.  First, it's okay to be different than the world around you.  As Christians, we are called to not conform to this world but to be transformed like Christ.  My pride was really the only thing that was hurt in being the odd man out.  Pride is often what holds people back for standing up for what's right in a crowd.  Secondly, the world will not stop or change for you.  We need to  remember the world does not revolve around us but that's no excuse to quit.  We must press on and adapt as necessary.

Bad Taste

     I've always liked Family Circus cartoons.  They are simple, short and to the point yet have definite meaning behind them.  This one definitely reflects my eating habits, especially as a child.  I am one who wants to know what's in it and will usually try one bite.
    This reminds me of a mission trip my dad went on to Haiti and they were served a suspicious meat.  They were so hungry, they didn't care what it was.  Pastor Cebien said it was cuban chicken, which they decided might have been rat...??  So recently when I saw a Panera Bread sign advertising their 'cuban chicken sandwich', I just had to laugh and say no thanks to myself.
    This cartoon also reminds me of the phrase 'don't drink the koolaid.'  Yes, I'm referring to Obama's eloquent, yet bold faced lies.  Did I like it the past four years?  No and I refuse to swallow it this time either.
    Be cautious in what you take in, not only to your stomach but to your mind also.  Some things just leave a bad taste that's hard to get rid of.

Flexible?

     Okay, I know I'm not the only one who can relate to this caption. I've witnessed some of people's  inflexibility at times. I want things around here to go back to 'normal.'  Adjusting to a new normal is not an easy or welcomed idea.  We all have our own ideas of what normal is in our own lives and that routine is our comfort zone.
    We have things in our lives, like a car breakdown or a change in our jobs, that force us to change course whether we like it or not.  My friend the other day said  'as I've gotten older, I've learned to be flexible.'  I think that's the right attitude.. consider others besides yourself.  Sure you could have done things differently or maybe even better but you are not an island.  There are always factors to be considered beyond our own desires.
    Even God knows the way He wants things to be, He gives us the choice to choose Him rather than us being robots.  Freewill is God's way of being flexible, I think.  It is the inflexibility of our hearts and minds that keeps us from taking that leap of faith.

Hang It On The Cross

1 Corinthians 1;18  ''The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.''

     This verse was in my daily Bible reading today and reminds me where to lay my burdens.  Every doubt, sorrow, worry, or anxious moment has been paid for at the foot of the Cross.
     ''Now I can trade these ashes in for beauty and wear forgiveness like a crown.  Coming to kiss the feet of mercy, I lay every burden down at the foot of the Cross.''
      I can honestly say God has won my heart and my trials are turned into victory thru Him and for His glory.  If you read further in the passage past this one verse, it talks more about our foolishness.  1 Corinthians 1;24-25  ''But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.''
     How come we can recognize how little we know when we get lost going from point A to point B, but we often think we know better than God or can do things without Him?  Arrogance needs to be humbled, anxiety needs to be calmed, and patience needs to be sought.  Where can you find such a peace-giving place?  At the foot of the Cross, where grace and suffering meet.

Timing

    Why now God, why now??  Have you ever thought that when something bad happens?  We never question when good things happen.  Sometimes bad things come to us to make us aware of the unknown so we can possibly take action.  Sometimes it's to remind us of our limited time we have here.  In all times, it is to draw us nearer to the Lord.  It reminds me of the song, 'Blessed be the name of the Lord,...You give and take away,..my heart will choose to say.. Blessed be Your Name.'
     As I found out today, my 3yr old cat Tiger has heart disease and suffering from a blood clot in her aorta. I pray that the timing of this is to make me aware of her condition and give her maintenance medicine in the future.
     God's clock is perfect and we are all subject to it.

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS---AUG 2012

FBF PRAYER REQUESTS......AUG 2012


MARTIN AND HANSY TUOHY

1. Evangelism at town square. Torben, Kevin and myself hope to begin evangelism at the town square on Friday nights, reaching out to the youth that are headed to the bars.

2. Discipleship with Torben. He has begun a Bible training study program which I am leading him through as we meet weekly. 

PHILIP AND SANDRA PRIME

A few years back Sandra and I were placing Bibles in doctors'/dentists' waiting rooms, as well as other places of business where people would be looking for reading material while waiting on some service to be performed. I placed a Bible in a quick-change oil business where I was told it would probably not get read (as you can imagine there was other reading material competing for attention.) Some time last year Rosio picked up the Bible and read while waiting on her car to be serviced; before leaving she jotted down our phone number. Nearly a year passed before she finally made contact with us. She studied for the first time yesterday with Sandra.
1) Please pray that Rosio would turn to Christ for salvation.
2) That the Lord would give us a renewed zeal for evangelism.

TED AND PRISCILLA CLARK

Pray for the salvation of the many who receive our tracts each day.  Pray for eternal results from the distribution of the Unshackled CDs.

Pray for the salvation of numerous people studying the Bible each week with us or with one of the families in our church.

BOBBY AND NAMATHA AVILEZ

1.       Our troubles with the “owner” of the House of Hope land continues. The latest is that she made a report to the Social Development Department and had them come visit us. They came twice and they said “We would like to have more homes like you guys’ in our province!’ Not what she expected! Praise the Lord! We have since forwarded a letter to the Social Development Department explaining the spiteful agenda of Wandee Cheunchooprai and her handler, Greg Wineman. Please pray as we seriously pursue acquiring a new property to move to.

2.       Pray for Wandee Cheunchooprai, that she would desist from stirring up our children at the House of Hope. She is the former staff, under whose name the House of Hope land was bought. As the legal “owner” of the land she has been trying to exert undue influence over our kids. Some of the older ones have been reporting to her since it looks like she is trying to make their lives easier (no chores etc) and ours miserable. 6 kids have left because of her and we have had to fire Namatha’s sister (the cook) and her husband, who has been doing Wandee’s dirty work and stirring up discontentment among the kids. Pray for the rest of staff to keep our eyes on the Lord and to walk in unity through the upheavals

Worth the Trouble

     Have you ever used the phrase, 'It's just not worth the trouble.'  Do we think first about how much it's going to take on our part to do something or do we think more about how much of a benefit it's going to be?
     Well when I think about the trouble I am, I hope that the caption above will be thought of.  Delightfully difficult is a good description of me, in that there will be adjustments needed when doing events with me.  I've known Charlene for over 10 years now and we have had our moments of difficulty, like machine breakdowns, and yet she still thinks I'm worth the trouble.
     On the other hand, I might be described as 'delightfully difficult' when I want things my way.  What I want  done may not be an easy task but being patient for it to happen can be more beneficial than harping on it.  I guess you might say the difficult will be accomplished faster, the more delightful you are.
     So when we think of helping someone as too much trouble, the verse 'Love thy brother as thyself' should remind us that we are all trouble and yet all worth it.  Cornerstone Bible Fellowship is doing 'Be the Church' this Sunday, where the members do something for others in the community that day.  Is it more trouble than just going to the church service for the day?  Yes.  Will it be a benefit and witness to others?  Yes.  Will it be worth the trouble? Yes.

Help me Lord, to notice
The hurting, sick, and lost;
Guide me as I help them
Regardless of the cost. —Schuldt

Way Back Wednesday---Before Me

     43 years ago today, my parents tied the knot in Greenbrier, AR.  They met at the Baptist Student Union at UCA playing ping pong.  The night my dad planned to ask my mom to marry him, the car broke down and disrupted his plan.  The ring was burning a hole in his pocket and he couldn't wait so he just asked her anyway.
     They look so young, huh?  Yes, you can do the math, 18 and 19. You don't make it this far without commitment thru all the hurdles that life brings.
     HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my parents today.

Unexpected Trials

     Have you ever felt slighted for just being you?  Been judged by your cover?  Well that happened to me last night at Carino's in NLR last night.  Even tho I was the first on in the door with our group of five, the hostess totally considered me invisible.  Then when she seated us, she purposely went around me to give everybody else a menu.  She then asked 'does she need a menu?'  My mom said we could share but I demanded my own.  I mean is there a shortage?  Do people in wheelchairs not read?  I did not make a scene or issue of it then because we had company with us.  This is also not my first encounter with insensitive people so I just try to remind myself of the verse 'forgive them, for they know not what they do.'  We have informed the manager to educate and prevent further discrimination to other customers.
     Trials come in all forms and sometimes unexpectedly.  We overcome them with grace and a fault forgiving, grace filled attitude. [yes, that's not my strong suit]  Yes, it irks me to be thought of in a lesser sense than others but my strength and confidence in myself does not depend on their thoughts of me.

Starting Over

     I think starting over is one of the hardest things in life because we often do not like change.  We can't stand still tho or keep going around in circles, we must move ahead.  It may pertain to a job or a relationship but whatever it is, it requires strength and courage.  The end of anything is just a new beginning to something else.
     We've all started over at something and it's a scary, stressful place to be.  Our trust in Him is definetely tested beyond our comfort level.  We sometimes have to consider things that were never even thought about before and try new things.
      2 Corinthians 9:8  ''And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.''  If only we could remember this and reassure ourselves in those doubtful moments.
     So today if you are starting a new job or just starting over a new week, draw that needed strength from the One who provides for all our needs.

Wake Up To

  

     Does this look familiar?  This totally makes me think of two friends of mine, you know who you are, lol.  Our bark can be worse than a bite if we don't get what we need to start the day.  For some it may be coffee, or exercise, or a hot shower.
     A good start to your day is quiet time with the Lord.  Begin with thanking Him for another day of life.  Be grateful you could get out of bed on your own.  Recognize the day as another opportunity to glorify Him.
    Yes, you can do this with a cup of coffee in one hand and your Daily Bread in the other.

America

    America is the home of the bold and beautiful or the lazy and obese?  I thought this caption best illustrates our poor diet choices that lead to America's ever growing waistline.  Sure I like a good burger every now and then but its not an everyday meal choice.  Why has it taken so long for fast food places to offer healthy alternatives?  Apple slices have been around since the garden of Eden, right?
    I remember in the school cafeteria, there were two lines--one for a full lunch and one for snacks.  It was a common practice for kids to eat chips or a candy bar for lunch.  I don't think that should be an option.  There should be two lines for a real lunch.  I often ate a pretzel for lunch back then and then was starving by the time school was over.
     As you think about your diet, remember your Daily Bread.  We need to feed on The Word every day and progress from milk to solid food.  Every morsel will do us good.
     What if the caption above was a Bible with a crown of jewels for eternity holding The Light in one hand and a megaphone in the other while standing on The Rock?  What would that say about America?

Waiting It Out

     Good grief, I hate this.  I'm having to keep Tiger confined for her own good and it just about kills me.  I hear her moan and cry as to say 'this isn't fair.'  Now I have her on a chux beside me in bed and its  a little easier to bear.
     We are confined to this world for a while and we cry too at the unfairness.  It's comforting to know that God is beside us and looking out for our best interests.
     I'm not good at waiting on the healing process for me, but especially not for a loved one.
   
 

Empathy

     Empathy is the ability to feel, understand and be sensitive to others by vicariously experiencing another's thoughts, feelings and experiences.  Would you say you're empathetic?  I am, probably to a fault.  I can't see anybody cry and not get teary eyed myself, even if I don't know why.
     My cat, Tiger, fell down the stairs during the night the other day and has been at the vet most of the week.   She peed in her bed because she couldn't walk to the litter box.  I can almost guarantee you that at some point in your own life, you won't make it to the bathroom either.  If you don't believe me, a little pill called Lasix will prove my point.  She also bit my dad as he tried to put her in the cage.  So?  I refer you to the caption above.  I think patience was lacking and so is my sympathy--for him.  Tiger is getting better and hopefully will be able to come home tomorrow.
     Are you a good patient when you don't feel well?  Does a headache make you grumpy [bite]?  Does a lack of sleep make you short-tempered [bite]?  We all bite on occasion but if we show a little empathy, we might get a better response from the patient.

Way Back Wednesday......Christmas

     This is me with Santa at about age 4.  I picked this picture because today is July 25th, which means Christmas is five months away from today.  Aagh, I know!  Doesn't it feel like we just finished the craziness of the holidays not too long ago?  The shopping, the get togethers, the decorating, and everything else.  I'm not saying I don't enjoy all of it but it just seems to come faster each year.
     What we don't have to wait on is celebrating Christ every day of the year.  We should recognize His significance in our lives 24/7 and 365 days.  Some people are called ''CEO's'' because they only go to church on Christmas and Easter.  Now while those are important dates so are the other 50 weeks and Sundays of the year.  What if God only thought of you on those days?  He doesn't limit His faithfulness like we do, thankfully.  'His love endures forever.'
     We also don't have to wait till Christmas to ask for things.  The prayer line is always open and ready for your call.  'Ask and you shall receive, according to His will.'  We have a hard enough time waiting on God's answers, aren't you glad we don't have to wait to ask too?
      As Christmas does approach us at record speed, go ahead and be grateful with what you've already been given.
   

Try It

     Today's post marks the end of angie'sthat'sthat, volume 1.  I'm compiling all of the blogs over the past year into a book.  I can tell you that I started this blog from scratch and it is obvious from my first month of blogs.  As with anything you find a passion for, it has developed into more than I ever could have dreamed of.  I could have given into my doubts about myself, like Moses, and said I'm not a writer and who will even want to listen to my thoughts.  I think God opened a door for me tho and I've been blessed through doing the blog more than any reader.
     I want to encourage you to try new things that you've ever thought about doing.  The first step to anything is to try.  Don't expect to master it in the beginning.  Just see if you enjoy it and then it will develop from there.  I'm sure Picasso's first painting wasn't his best but he found a love for painting itself.  You may just find a blessing hidden behind your fear to try, so go for it.

COPD

     What is COPD?  It is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  It is usually associated with emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis.  So it is often common with smokers or people who have been exposed to environmental irritants, like asbestos.  This is what I have too, but not from bad lungs but from weak muscles that keep the lungs capacity to work limited.  The best illustration to demonstrate to you the breath of a COPD patient is for you to take a deep breath, then without exhaling, take a second breath.   That second breath is what every breath with this disease feels like.  It does make a person easily fatigued but can be managed with the right lifestyle and medicine.
     'If you're still breathing, you can keep going.' Yes, sometimes I have to take a breather break but that doesn't mean you succumb to a quitter attitude.  ''In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'' John 16:33  ''In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of every human being.'' Job 12:10   Maybe with the weather being so hot and humid now, you can feel the increased effort to breathe for yourself.  It is one of those gifts we easily take for granted but without it we cease to exist.  I picked out the following verses to remind ourselves how much each breath of ours means, Who gives it and what to do with it.


Job 33:4     ''The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.''
Psalm 39:5     ''You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.''
Psalm 150:6    ''Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.''

Are You Hot?

     There are just certain captions that say to me, 'that's so you' and this is one of them. Temperature turmoil, is this part of being 40?  A friend said today 'we're both the type who would sweat in Alaska, huh?'  Yes!  Last night, a fan was brought by my bed at 1am because I was burning up with the a/c on. I even have my own personal fan at church. On the reverse side, I can break out in goosebumps in a flat second too.  This happened the other day, I was freezing with a blanket around me and sitting on the electric blanket that was turned on high.  Am I weird or what?
     The fervor we have for the Lord can vary just as drastically.  Are you comfortable with the setting you have towards Him?  Revelation 3;16 ''So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.''  God wants us to be on fire for Him.  New believers often have a passionate way they describe the change within them.  We shouldn't lose that but cultivate that desire as we mature in our walk with the Lord.
     He covers us, like a blanket, with His love and without it we are bare.  May we always feel His touch and presence to know He's always there with us.

I Am..

     Sometimes the world kicks us down so far, we forget who we really are.  I thought this caption was a good reminder to get us women of faith back on track.  When we try to be the supplier of everybody's needs, we can tend to lose ourselves.  The day's tasks may seem tedious and never ending but we must see it as part of His plan for us.  We should be humble yet as confident in our ability to do His will as He sees us to do it.
     My friend came over without makeup and she said 'I guess you love me anyways, even without it?  Yes, of course.'  Real beauty is in the heart and shines through anything you can try to add.
     If you're feeling a little on the down side, remember all the benefits of being one of His chosen.  There is no greater reward than for Him to call you 'friend.'  He made you beautiful, worthwhile, and with a plan in mind so that you are never alone.  Cling to those good thoughts when the world puts you down.  When you're feeling down, look up for His faithfulness.