Welcome Home, Dale

     Don't we all like to know we were missed while we were away?  Service members are often pulled away from their families and lives as part of their jobs and call to duty.  The fact that it is in the 'contract' doesn't make it any easier to be apart from loved ones.
    My friend, Dale, just returned today from a 5 month deployment overseas.  The Baker family, Karla, my mom, 5 co-workers, and his parents all met Dale at the airport.  I think Dale was a little surprised but totally appreciative of the support.
    As little MacKenzie held her sign as we waited, she said ''Where is he?  My arms are tired.''  She never let go of it and was the best lil sign holder there.  I know the 5 months were a long and tiring wait for Dale but I hope today's welcome home showed our appreciation for his service and sacrifice.

Excuses

    Yes, you can make an excuse to get out of anything, but is it legit?  We think if we make an excuse to get out of a problem then the problem goes away...wrong.  We've only deflected the problem to someone else. 'When someone truly cares, they make an effort not an excuse.'
    Why do we make excuses?  I think it's because our heart just isn't in it.  I think excuses work exponentially, we come up with one then another and another.  We talk ourselves out of doing things much easier than why we should do them.  It is our selfish self that prevails at the crossroad all too often.
    Worldly desires are often why people make excuses to surrendering their lives to God.  The focus is on what is seen rather than the unseen, which is Biblically backwards.  Someday may never come for some, but today just never seems right either.  When is the time going to be right?  There is no time like the present and we are not promised tomorrow.

Be Thankful

Luke 17; 11-19  ''Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.  As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”  Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”


      Are you in the 10 percent who thanks God for what He has done for you?  Or are you in the 90 percent, who takes it all for granted?  Oh, how we always want more from Him, but how lacking we are to be genuinely thankful for all that we have been given so far.
      ''We ought to give thanks for the favours Christ bestows upon us, and particularly for recoveries from sickness; and we ought to be speedy in our returns of praise, and not defer them, lest time wear out the sense of the mercy. It becomes us also to be very humble in our thanksgivings, as well as in our prayers.''
     Ingratitude is a common sin.  Have you ever given someone a gift and been discouraged by the lack of acknowledgement for it, as well as the lack of a thank you?  The Lord has given so much to the people of this world, and yet there is a conscious effort to take Him out of everything.  Where is 'our grateful heart with an outstretched hand that blesses His name?'
    May we throw ourselves at Jesus' feet and thank Him, like the Samaritan, with praise for all that He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives.

What He'd Say?

    His thoughts and ways are way above mine, but I think He would quote scripture that needed to be repeated once again to me.  I would be reminded that all control is His and my attempts at control are of no influence.  I would be encouraged to follow the path He has laid out for me and not to try to steer myself off that path.  I would be commanded to continue to love others as He has loved me.  He would comfort me by telling me that all my hardships are part of His plan and bringing Him glory.  He would finally say, ''Angie, my child and friend, one day you will be with Me and all that I have promised will become clear to you.  Until then, keep telling others about Me.''  

   What would your conversation be like?  One of blessed assurance or one of regrets?

The Ark's Lessons

        I think these lessons from the Ark points to the fact that there is meaning in every aspect of the Bible. The more we study it, the more we will draw from it and learn from it.  ''All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.'' — 2 Timothy 3:16
       These 11 lessons in the caption above deal with circumstances that we have all dealt with in our lives.  1]The big picture of God's plan, 2] feeling alone, 3] setting goals, 4] healthy living, 5] procrastination, 6] having a firm foundation, 7] survival skills, 8] patience in your pace, 9] maintaining calm in your life, 10] don't belittle your efforts and impact, and 11] trust in God despite your situation.
      ''The Bible will still be the Book of all books when all the other writings of men throughout the centuries have passed into obscurity.  Let’s open the gates and let the Bible speak in its own defense.''

Haves and Needs

    With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we are reminded more in the month of November to be thankful.  We take so much for granted that we really don't know what we have been blessed with beyond the visible material things in our lives.  We often don't realize what we had till it is gone.  A power outage, the water shutoff, or time away from home can all make you aware of the comforts of your everyday life that you forgot to count as a blessing.  What if all you had tomorrow was what you thanked God for today?
    We often confuse our wants from our needs.  God has, does, and will supply and provide for all our needs.  ''Each day we face many challenges. Although there is no one-size-fits-all answer, our first action should always be to consult God. As He guides us, we can have confidence in Him. Then, whether the victory comes through His miraculous intervention or through His guidance, all the glory goes to God.''  When we ask God for different things, we are taking the first step in trusting Him.  Many never receive because they never asked, which derived from lack of trust.  God is bigger than any problem you face.
    May we face each day with a trusting heart and attitude of gratitude towards Him.  I just want to THANK YOU, Lord.......thank you, Lord.

Good Aromas

    We all love pleasing aromas.  A good candle, a spray of Lysol, a whiff of potpourri, or a dash of perfume or cologne.  Smells can trigger memories and take you back in time.
    When I was in the hospital the other day, the nurses who had been working with a C.diff patient [bad intestinal bacteria] came into my room and were taken back by the good smell in my room.  What smells so good?  It was my Autumn Day hand sanitizer.
    Genesis 8;20-21  ''Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.''  Noah's burnt sacrifices were a form of worship that pleased God.  The divine sense of smell is just an example of how God was pleased and 'soothed His indignation of sin.'  God's grace to Noah was extended to all mankind by promising never to send a flood to destroy the earth again.
    2 Corinthians 2;14-16  ''But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?''
    May all we say and do bring about a pleasing aroma that pleases God and draws others to Him.

Be Like..

     I thought this was a pretty funny picture.  With it being hunting season now, maybe it'll be food for thought for some before heading into the woods.  It brings two thoughts to my mind.
     First, we are made in God's image but we must transform our minds and hearts to be like His to really 'catch' what He wants from our lives.  We must lose our self and let there be more of Him and less of us in every aspect of our lives.  His ways and thoughts are greater than ours.  Do people see Christ in you?
     Secondly, we must share the gospel with people on their level.  Squirrels talk and understand squirrel talk.  People sometimes like to use big words to sound important but it's useless if the other person has no comprehension of it.  Jesus says 'come to me like little children.'
    Who do you want to be like......Christ or the world?  What you reflect to others is clearer than the mirror you look into in the morning.

Canton Weekend

Kristy, Karla, Angie, Charlene, Bobbie, and Wayne

We are back from a shopping spree weekend in Canton, TX.  We didn't shop till we dropped but we came close.  This is all of us as we gathered together for Mexican food at Juanita's.

We kind of got off to a rough start.  No ditch could stop us from going.  The tractor pulled us out with just two tries.  And then we were off with safe travels from then on.

Just a few finds that we liked among the town full of booths and vendors.  We had perfect weather and a great time together.  It's amazing to go from a hospital weekend to a shopping vacation the next weekend.  God's mercies are new every morning.

Composure

     There is no substitute for peace.  As I went through all the pricks and prods of needles this past week, I can tell you that remaining calm is the secret to less pain.  Uncontrolled anxiety just makes your heart race, your breathing shorter and your nerves more sensitive. You have to remember that 'it is for your good.'  You can work yourself into a panic, that's not helpful.  I thought about my 4yr old friend, MacKenzie, telling me the week before that she doesn't cry over needles because 'I'm strong.'
     What is composure?  The self-controlled state of mind.  ''Don't let a bad situation bring out the worst in you, Choose to be positive and be the strong person God created you to be.'  Not if, but when I was far from calm and collected.....forgive my frustrations.
     ''How do we maintain composure? By remembering that “the Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:5); He is near. Our Lord is standing just outside the door ready to burst through and turn everything that’s wrong right-side up. Then this world and all its troubles will become the kingdom of our Lord, and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14).''  [odb.org]

Act of Kindness

   
   You really don't ever know what your day has in store for you.  I didn't expect to go to the ER last week, nor did I expect to be treated as a special customer today.
    The owner and staff of Tutti Frutti know me as a 'regular' at their franchise. I LOVE TUTTI FRUTTI! Today I was surprised with a facebook message from the owner offering to buy me a big ol' cup of pumpkin pie yogurt.  Yummy to the nth degree.  Why wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy the pumpkin flavor?  I was not going to let this offer go by, so after my doctor's appointment I went straight there.  This act of kindness sweetened my day in more ways than one.  Thank you Russell.
    'If we all did one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.'

Faithful

    Did you miss me?  Sorry, but 4 days in the hospital were not optimal conditions for blogging.  Now that I'm home, I can share how God was faithful to me all the way.
     I was blessed with great doctors.....Dr. Swindell-ER, Dr. Aulsten-gyn, Dr. Henson-gen md, Dr. Kellar-consult, and Dr. McClain-anesthesiologist.  My outstanding nurses were Rebecca-er, Janell-2a floor, and Becky-operating room.  All of the staff that took care of me were caring and fantastic.  Oh, and Carl from respiratory who took the only blood gas from me that has ever gotten a 'good job' comment out of me.
    Yes, the last four days have included moments of fear and pain most of all but in the end there was peace.  The verse that I repeated in my head over and over was 'When I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord alone.'  Does it mean it was easy or tearless?  No, but it helped peace of mind come to me faster.  When I went into surgery, there was no fears or tears.
     When we are put in scary, unfamiliar situations, that is when we are tested to see who we believe is in true control of our lives.  The decision to have me sedated was a real test of leaving it in God's hands.  He was faithful and things couldn't have gone better.  God's timing was clear and perfect too.  My breathing was at its best and I had been off my blood thinner enough days to allow surgery to be possible.
     May we all recognize how God's love surrounds us and gets us through both the easy and hardest of days.

Strength

 
    Life has many ways of testing our strength.  When it rains it seems to pour, huh?  So many people I know have been sick this month and now I add my name to the list.  I don't know which is harder; to endure suffering or to watch others suffer?
    If I were the mouse above, my cheese would be the planned trip to Canton, TX.  I will not give up but bear with the circumstances.  'Being defeated is often a temporary situation.  Giving up is what makes it permanent.''
   'You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.'  I've waited all week to get some medicinal relief from my doctor and today he basically said 'just wait it out.'  So, there you have it.  My strength comes from the Lord alone.
   'Physical strength is measured by what we can carry; Spiritual strength by what we can bear.'  So I can truly say 'I am weak, yet I am strong.'

No Excuses

    The Bible is not like trail mix, where you pick out the parts you like.  It should be more like a sponge to you, where you absorb all you can of it.
    John 14;15  '' “If you love me, keep my commands.''  John 14;23-24  ''Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.''
     Excuses...I'll bet God has heard them all.  The Bible includes all of us in the commands we are to obey.  There is no exemption clause to add your name to in the back of The Book.  Sin begins in our minds when we try to justify what goes against God's word.
    The Bible is God breathed words that will never change no matter how one may try to twist it, shake it, and rattle it into your own version.

Afraid Of?

     We are all afraid of something but they can be all sorts of different things.  We also vary in what we trust in to ease our fears.  Is it ourselves or the Lord?  Does what others fear seem silly to you?  It doesn't matter, the fear is real to them.
     It seems silly now but in school, I was anxious and fearful of fire drills.  They were sudden, spontaneous to me, and led me to unfamiliar ground.  I like routine and fire drills just shook mine up.  The different walking routes caused me to fear the stairs I usually avoided and the threat of falling was always on my mind.  Did anything ever happen to me?  No and even if it had wouldn't my pride be the most likely thing hurt?
    Our enemy, worry, is most often found between our ears.  Psalm 56;3 in the caption above tells us Who to put our trust in.  Scripture verses help us to ease our thoughts and remind us not to be afraid.
   Don't just go through life, grow through life.  The more often we put our trust in His hands, the easier it is to do in both the simple and big challenges of life.

Time Out

    I'm taking a time out from blogging this weekend.  Sometimes, we need to be quiet and let God speak to our hearts and minds.  I encourage you to find some 'quiet time' this weekend.  All of creation in nature is speaking loud enough, if you listen.

Seeds For?

     What are you planting?  Our lives are a reflection of our thoughts.  I can try to hide my thoughts but my face often reveals the truth. Shouldn't our thoughts that are so revealing, therefore look flattering back on ourselves?  'Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts'.
     Don't waste your thoughts on anger, fear, doubt and regret.  The energy wasted on negative thoughts needs to be replaced with positive, productive thoughts.
    'Your thoughts have power but they don't have to overpower you'.  Only you can control your thoughts, just as you decide what you want to plant and eventually harvest from your flower garden.  You reap, what you sow.  We can get invaded by 'worldly' bugs but we can get rid of them or be destructively infested by them.
    Philippians 4;8-9  ''Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.'

Do It Right

      Doing things the right way is God's way.  Some people want to take all the shortcuts and just get whatever it is done.  Will it matter?  Will anyone really notice?  These are the questions Satan puts in our thoughts to deceive us into doing things wrong.  God says 'do everything as of unto the Lord, not man'.  I think we all know from experience that doing something over takes way longer than if we did it right to begin with.
       Do we demand of ourselves what we expect from others?  Our example to others will be followed and they will not just choose from our good side either.   Matthew 7:2  ''For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.''  
      May we all do what is right, not what is easy.  It's often a fork in our road, so may we always choose the right path to follow.

God's Goodness

    Well I'm glad the answer to the question above doesn't matter because I could go either way at this point.  I'm taking lasix today by choice to help the swelling in my foot go down.  It's not serious but just a nuisance.  I'm hoping the end justifies the means because it doesn't make for a fun day.
    'Life isn’t always easy. No matter how positive you are, how many smiles you spread, or how many uplifting quotes you share there will always be what seems to be just an down-and-out bad day. But, from those bad days you’ll come to learn, love, and appreciate even more the best days of your life.'
    The more you think of God's goodness, the less your focus will be on your troubles.  'Each day can bring more joy than sorrow when our mortal and spiritual eyes are open to God's goodness'.  It reminds me of the guy who drowned and asked God 'why didn't you help me?'  God answered 'I sent a life preserver and a raft but you ignored them'.
    There are no rainbows without rain, but do you see them?  There is good in 'every' day, even if we label it a bad day.

Harmony

     Today my friends, the Bakers, came over for a visit.  They have four children that are all under the age of five.  Harmony and peace among them is an on going lesson for their daily lives.  Romans 12;16  '' Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.''  I think children playing together can be a great example of this. They aren't of lower position, but they are different in ages and at different learning stages.  Parents train their kids to 'play nicely with others', so where do we lose that in adulthood?
     Also from Romans,  'Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.'  We should be sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble in our interactions together.  'Harmony is when the sum is greater than the parts'.  Often childish, petty things can destroy relationships, even between adults.  The pride in our ego is the main cause of discord among people.
    'Can't we all just get along?'  It sounds so simple, yet seems so difficult for some.  Some people think 'peace is the time of reloading' and that can include your rifle, your mouth, your thoughts.  That's not peace, but seeking vengeance.
    May we put others before ourselves and live a more harmonious life together.