What Is In Me

     I think this caption is a good cleansing prayer for all of us.  The ways of the world often darken our days, weaken our spirits, break our godly will, bruise our hearts and make us sick.  Only God can truly revive and restore us.  I know we've all experienced things in our lives that have caused us to build up walls of protection against.  Only God's forgiveness with ourselves and others can begin to tear down those barriers.
    When I hear of family members never speaking to one another because of hardened hearts, it makes me sad for them.  'Where is the love?'  Proverbs 20:9  'Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?'  We are all guilty of letting anger get the best of us at times.
    Psalm 51;10  'Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence.'  Aren't you glad God doesn't abandon us when we disappoint Him?

Happy Father's Day

     My dad has all of these qualities and most of them to the level described.  He's a work in progress on the others.  I have learned alot of these characteristics from him as I grew up by his example.  If you knew my dad's meek background, you could definitely see that God had a plan for his life and I'm thankful that it included me.  As they say, it doesn't take much to be a father but to be a dad takes a whole lot of give and take.  My dad has given me all he could and taken the heat on my behalf on more than one occasion.  I guess the first time was when the nurse wouldn't let him carry me out of the hospital after I was born.  There began the journey of dad-hood.
 Thanks Dad, I love you.  Happy Father's Day.

Friday Visit

     I am a people person and being with friends can always lift my spirits.  I am not a hermit or a recluse because I need social interaction, almost as much as I need air.  Today, Charlene was here for awhile and will return later.  Tori was here all day to keep me going.  Cathy drove over 40 minutes to come spend some needed catch up time visiting with me.  Facebook time is just not enough for us.  Then Betsy and her kids came over for some fun outdoor time.  I think Hank would've preferred the A/C but he got out voted.
     Happiness is a choice and I it's an easy choice with friends like these.  Dale Carnegie says, 'Happiness doesn't depend on our external circumstances but on our mental attitude.'  Yes, that's true and I need reminded of that sometimes but it is a lot easier to be happy with friends around.

Understand It?

     No, I don't understand why some things are the way they are.  You can just watch the news and see we have 'trials dark on every hand.'  Some people don't watch the news because they think it is too depressing and/or upsetting.  We must remember that 'we cannot understand all the ways God leads us to that blessed promised land.'  He uses examples of sin and consequence, obedience and blessings, and His faithfulness all around us.  Do we see it or turn a blind eye?  'He will guide us with His eye and we will follow till we die' should be our answer.  Yes, we are tested by temptations and the cruelty of the world and ask 'why Lord, why?'   I can't answer that for you but if you look back on your by-gone days, you may understand your past struggles 'better by and by.'
     'God’s nature is not affected by time, place, people, or circumstances. He never makes a mistake in what He says or does, because His knowledge is perfect, His sovereignty is complete, and all is within His sight. Every promise is guaranteed in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). For all our days, He’s the One we can count on.' [intouch.org]

It's a God Thing

     When we are in need, it takes both God's timing and the willingness of other's hearts to fill in.  'It's a God thing' that both of these came in to play for me these past two weeks.  My helper, Karla, has had to be off to help her family during this time.  My care could have easily fallen all on my parents shoulders.  Since Charlene retired recently, she has been a big help and eased the burden.  Also my friend's sister, Tori, who is here for the summer has been helping out too.
     What some may call good timing or coincidence, I say it's a God thing.  'It’s one thing to worship and praise God at church; it’s quite another to move out into the real world and worship Him through daily obedience.'  These two ladies have put 'love one another' into action by their service in helping me.

Faith

    'Yes, I know Who holds tomorrow and I know Who holds my hand.'  If we knew what tomorrow would bring, would we change it?  It is better to leave that in God's hands and just trust that He knows best.  'If He brings you to it, then He'll bring you through it.'
    Sin separated man from God in the Garden of Eden.  Thankfully, Jesus is our bridge that fills that gap for believers.  Faith is our bridge to our future.  We cannot foresee it but we can prepare for it.
    Faith doesn't make things easy but makes them possible.  'Faith is taking the first step, when you can't see the whole staircase.' Our faith is revealed by how we trust in what we cannot see.  2 Corinthians 5;7 ''We walk by faith, not by sight.''
    Is fear controlling your tomorrows or has faith set you free?

Be You

    How comfortable are you with yourself and how God made you?  There is probably something about each of us that we'd like to change and some of us may even have a list.  That's okay but does it control you?  Let's face it, the twenty year old body we once had was never intended to last a lifetime.  Diane Keaton often wears gloves because our hands are often one of the first areas that shows the signs of aging.  What are you hiding and who are you trying to please?
    I asked myself that question in Kohl's on Saturday.  I saw the cutest white and blue shirt that tied in front on a mannequin. I loved it but it was sleeveless.  I don't wear sleeveless because I don't think I have the arms for it.  Are my arms any different under a long sleeved shirt?  No, they are what they are.  So after a 5 minute debate, we stripped the mannequin and I bought the shirt.
    At what age do we start to care more about what others think than what we want?  I'm still a work in progress on this subject because I haven't worn shorts in several years but I did turn a few heads with my recent blue nail polish.
    Be you, because there's not another anywhere in this world.

A Spark

      Yesterday as Charlene came in the door, Tiger jumped off the bed and ran as fast as she could towards her direction.  I thought, 'wow, is she excited to see her or what?'  Well I'll tell you 'what' it was..... a lizard ran in my closet.  No, he's not the first and probably not the last.  So Charlene pulls out all of my shoes with Cara and Detective Tiger at her side in search for it.  No luck but several hours later he did run back out the door.  Yeah.
      Well this lizard incident did spark a fire to go thru my shoes and eliminate some.  I did get rid of 4 pair, one in the trash and three to pass on.  Can you have too many shoes?  Of course not.
      This caption above reminds us that each of us have our own purpose and journey to fulfill.  No one can do it for us.  Things can be replaced but people can't.  There is only one you so keep your shoes on the right path and wipe them clean of worldly dirt.

Belong To

    The other day somebody wrote 'Nobody loves the boy no more.'  Well, that's not true and unhealthy thoughts like these can spur on a pity party for one's self.  We must remember not to put our ultimte trust, faith and hope in our fellow man.  It is guaranteed to fail.  Sometimes we all feel like an afterthought by someone or not as high on the priority list as we think we should be.
    Two lessons can be learned from this type of trial in our lives.  First, that it's not all about me/you.  Life is busy and it often comes in waves of feast or famine.  We have to roll with the flow and give people in our lives allowances for time on other things.  Secondly, it's a give and take relationship.  We must give of our time and ourselves and not just wait and take of others.  It's a two way street and if you just go your way then you'll end up at a distance from others.
    So that's the earthly take on it but your Heavenly Father loves you always, believes you're more important than the sparrows He cares for and secures an eternal future for His children.  If you belong to the flock, your Shepherd will take care of you forever.

His Promises

Luke 1:45
''Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”


Psalm 119:140
''Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.''

Psalm 145:13
''Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.''  




   Even with verses to assure us, we are still vulnerable to doubt?  Like the song goes, 'Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.'  It is not easy to surrender your will to His but when you do then you can truly rest in His promises.
   When things are good and going your way it is easy to say 'Yes, God is good to me.'  When things go wrong or not like you think they should, we can too easily fall into Peter's way of thinking.  Luke 22:34  'Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”'  We say we wouldn't ever do that, but if push came to shove, we must confess we are so weak.  God gives us verses like these to renew and strengthen our faith so that when life throws us curveballs, we won't be knocked down.
    'When I am cast down in spirit and soul, He whispers sweet peace to me.'

It's a God Thing

     I believe that if you use what God gives you wisely, He will give you more..... and vice versa, as well.  When I worked in Missouri, I knew that you had to work 5 years to be vested.  Vested meant being able to receive long term benefits, like health insurance and disability.  Now it was never my goal to just work 5 years but that ended up being God's plan for me and my body's limit.
     'It's a God thing' that those benefits allow me to have my own money.  It allows me to support my church, different missionaries, and my shopping indulgences.  God knew that others would benefit, if He gave me the blessing to share.  As my body won't allow me to go on mission trips, that doesn't mean I don't have a part to play.  Financial support can spur many projects into a reality that may have seemed impossible.  I'm not saying I am able to give alot, but if we all gave what we could to support those who we believe in then the blessings would just multiply.
     Recently, I received a pamphlet in the mail about a new program to reimburse you for your health insurance.  Yes, I think it's crazy but it gives me more to 'pay it forward' with to others.  It's probably an Obama thing, I don't know, but God uses all things for His glory....and that's that.

Prayer

    What if all we got was what we prayed for?  Would your prayer time increase and have more thought put into it?  God gives us so much that we just take for granted and call normal.  It is often when we lose something that we see our needs from a new perspective.
    What you already have is on someone else's prayer list.  Prayer is the most important conversation of your day.  It is not just a request line but also a time to say thank you to the Giver of everything.  'The value of persistent prayer is not that He will hear us but that we will hear Him.'
    So if you're bitter about unanswered prayers, maybe God is waiting for you to be thankful and useful with what you've been given thus far.  Sometimes an unanswered prayer is the best blessing you could get.  Trust in Him, not yourself.

Offensive to Who?

     Who are you seeking to please?  We have spell check on our computers but do you wonder if we will ever have a 'politically correct' check someday too?  If you try to please everyone, you'll end up pleasing no one so it is best to please God above all.
      I think the ACLU is one institution that 'could' do alot of good but it has gone so far astray that it does more harm than good.  The right to be offended is often greater than the right to anything else.  Lawyers often use the term 'God-given rights' to take God's name or any Christ reference out of public places.  Does that not seem wrong to you?
     I warn you now that on Judgement Day, your only defense is Jesus Christ so take heed on Who you offend.

Too Busy

    Does being too busy bring out the devil in you?  If you're life is too rushed to be Christ-like in you're daily walk with others, then it's time to slow down.  I think this caption is a convicting one and may step on a few toes.  That is okay because God never intended us to be that busy.
    'Too busy for God, then you are Bound Under Satan's Yoke.'  It's all about priorities.  I think Jesus demonstrated this when He waited two days when hearing of Lazarus being sick.  John 11;6  ''So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”  There was no need to rush because God's timing is perfect.  The devil wants us to rush and be in a fuss.
    Is your rush to get somewhere more important than showing brotherly love?  Are driven by the clock or by the Holy Spirit?  Check your heart more than the clock and you'll arrive at your destination more at peace.

Bye May

    As they say, time waits for no man.  Sometimes we want time to just wait a minute or hurry up already but I think time in it's continuous state is a blessing.  Time keeps us moving ahead and if we fall into a rut, then it is our fault.
   May has been a 50/50 month for me.  The first two weeks were full of rest and sickness.  It was not easy to stay in when the weather was perfect outside.  'Be still and know that I am God' is a life verse of mine that reminds me that my trials are part of His plan and it will pass.  The last two weeks of May have been full of outings, whether it has been appointments or time with friends.  I've literally been so busy, I don't know how I've kept up with myself.  God has renewed my strength and I'm ready to bloom in June.
    Ben Franklin said, 'You may delay but time will not.'  I encourage you to think about your decisions you've put off till tomorrow.  'If we wait until we're ready, we will be waiting the rest of our lives.'

It's a God Thing

    Well my friend, Lesley, who is a missionary in Africa has been here for a few weeks.  Last night, we got to visit with one another and go out for dinner.  It was good to be well enough to enjoy some time together during her brief furlough.
    We never know when or if we will see each other again here on earth.  'It's a God thing' to know we are both saved and will someday meet again in heaven.  There are no goodbyes for Christians but instead a see you later mentality.  Jesus said, 'I've gone to prepare a place for you.'  We trust in His promises and in there lies our eternal hope.
    Lesley's call to do Bible translation for the Glaro people takes great sacrifice on both her and her family's part.  As I sing Scott Wesley Brown's song, 'Please Don't Send Me to Africa', I often wonder how she can do it.
....
''Please don't send me to Africa
I don't think I've got what it takes
I'm just a man,I'm not a Tarzan
Don't like lions, gorillas or snakes
I'll serve you here in suburbia
In my comfortable middle class life
But please don't send me out into the bush
Where the natives are restless at night''

     I am thankful that there are people, like Lesley, who are willing to give up the comfortable American life to share the Good News with people at the far ends of the world.

Never Lose Hope

    Well this isn't a picture of the neighborhood hog but it has the same markings just on a bigger scale.  We haven't seen the hog since Easter and we have thought for sure that he had been eaten.  It's just a habit to look over to his pen and scan the area with your eyes searching for him.  Well today I saw him laying in the shade.  HE'S ALIVE!!!  I was so excited.  I know it may seem silly but he's just part of the neighborhood.
    I think this can remind us to never lose hope.  We may think all is lost and things are over but we only see a glimpse of the big picture.  We must pray even when we don't see them answered.  We must believe in things we yet can see.  We must trust in the One greater than ourselves.  Then we will be amazed by His mercies and faithfulness in our daily lives.

For REAL Entertaining

     Charlene and I went to Riverfest last night to see and hear our friends, REAL Entertaining, perform on the Yarnell's stage.  They did a great job and the rain didn't phase them at all.  Each of the girls play four different instruments each and like pros I must say.
     As I said, it did rain but we were able to seek shelter in a nearby tent.  We met some nice people under there and this Riverfest was the calmest I've ever been to.
    My dad provided us with his shuttle service to get there so we could avoid parking hassles.  As he dropped us off at 2nd and Scott streets, the parking attendant offered to let us park inside the blocked off perimeter.  How nice was that!  I kind of wish Riverfest was four days so I could go enjoy a little more of it.
    I guess this is a post in reverse format..... and that's that.

Memorial Day

     How far from Thee are we as a nation?  As we remember the ones who have given some or all for our freedom, we should also pray for our leaders and nation.  As Lincoln said, 'It's not whether God is on our side but rather are we on God's side?'  Our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should still align with God's will.  America is the home of the brave and land of the free, but are we brave enough to protect this land from Satan's influences?  Is the America you grew up in going to be the same one for your grandchildren to thrive in?
   One day, EVERY knee shall bow so why wait?  Prayer is powerful and our nation needs a power surge. 'When life gives you more than you can stand.. kneel.'

Grace

    As I read this caption, I think 'I wish I may, I wish I might but it is so often not my plight.'  Oh to be full of grace is such a lofty goal that reminds me of how short I fall.  Can I really maintain grace in all four areas at once?
    A mind of grace can help control our thoughts.  Do we consider the journey of someone else before we judge them?  Do we think WWJD...what would Jesus do.. in all situations?  Is ours a world view or Christ view to life's questions?  Think about it.
   A heart of grace loves unconditionally.  Do you show love to others without any expectations in return?  You can't love God and harbor resentment for your neighbor.  'Love one another' is a command, not an option.
   A voice of grace encourages others.  What we say can be as sweet as honey or as sour as vinegar so we should taste our words before we let them out.
   A hand of grace always helps others up and never pushes them down.  Even if your hands can't do much like mine,  they still can find a way to help others in some way.  We are given two hands, one to help ourselves and one to help others.
   Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..... in our minds, hearts, voices and hands.  May we orchestrate them all in ourselves to please the Lord.