This is the Christmas story; the real one. The real gift we all received that day. All anyone has to do to enjoy the gift is to accept His love, which He gives freely to us all. The gift we can give in return is to share His love with others.
Luke 1:26-35 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
God is Amazing!
God is truly amazing! Just look at what He's done for you.
Sometimes we don't recognize what He's done for us, instead we focus on what He didn't do for us. Stop. Think. He made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave up is Son for us, for our forgiveness. All we have to do is accept that fact. Right? So what stops us from completely trusting in Him?
We sometimes don't realize that every action has a consequence, some good and some not so good, both of which can be lasting. Decisions made early in life have can have consequences lasting a lifetime. For example, if I decide that college isn't for me, then the statistics tell me that my income will be significantly lower over the course of my work-life than one who holds a college degree. We don't always consider the consequences. Here's another example; my dad decided to start smoking at an early age and kept smoking for 40 years. The consequences presented themselves almost 20 years after he finally did quit. They came in the form of throat cancer and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Decease). When he quit, he thought it was the right choice, and it was, but it was already too late.
These are may be dramatic examples, that illustrate the dilemma. We don't consider the long term consequences of every choice. I don't think it's possible, I know that I'm just not that smart.
Here's the amazing part--God loves us, no matter what our choices are. He loves us and wants to have an intimate personal relationship with us. We are already forgiven by His sacrifice. Friends, this is the true grace of God. We don't deserve His love, His forgiveness, or His peace but we can have it anyway.
God is truly amazing!
Sometimes we don't recognize what He's done for us, instead we focus on what He didn't do for us. Stop. Think. He made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave up is Son for us, for our forgiveness. All we have to do is accept that fact. Right? So what stops us from completely trusting in Him?
We sometimes don't realize that every action has a consequence, some good and some not so good, both of which can be lasting. Decisions made early in life have can have consequences lasting a lifetime. For example, if I decide that college isn't for me, then the statistics tell me that my income will be significantly lower over the course of my work-life than one who holds a college degree. We don't always consider the consequences. Here's another example; my dad decided to start smoking at an early age and kept smoking for 40 years. The consequences presented themselves almost 20 years after he finally did quit. They came in the form of throat cancer and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Decease). When he quit, he thought it was the right choice, and it was, but it was already too late.
These are may be dramatic examples, that illustrate the dilemma. We don't consider the long term consequences of every choice. I don't think it's possible, I know that I'm just not that smart.
Here's the amazing part--God loves us, no matter what our choices are. He loves us and wants to have an intimate personal relationship with us. We are already forgiven by His sacrifice. Friends, this is the true grace of God. We don't deserve His love, His forgiveness, or His peace but we can have it anyway.
God is truly amazing!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
When your in the battle. . .
As a follow-up from the previous piece -
Since the Lord helped me identify what the problem is, that my procrastination, distraction, and anxiety were the result of spiritual attack, the Lord has provided (as He always does) ways for me to be victorious in battle. Here are a few of the scriptures He's given me. With God's word and the support that my sisters at church unknowingly provide, I am more aware of the enemy and his methods. I am not only aware, but I'm also relieved and free. Yes, to some this may sound crazy, but if one believes in God, why wouldn't they also believe that there is an enemy? We just don't have to allow him to have a stronghold in our lives. For that, we have Jesus.
All are from the New American Standard Bible:
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Psalm 37:3-4 Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, and Insecurity of the Wicked.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:25, 33 The Cure for Anxiety
25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Psalm 91:2-3a Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD.
2I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper.
Since the Lord helped me identify what the problem is, that my procrastination, distraction, and anxiety were the result of spiritual attack, the Lord has provided (as He always does) ways for me to be victorious in battle. Here are a few of the scriptures He's given me. With God's word and the support that my sisters at church unknowingly provide, I am more aware of the enemy and his methods. I am not only aware, but I'm also relieved and free. Yes, to some this may sound crazy, but if one believes in God, why wouldn't they also believe that there is an enemy? We just don't have to allow him to have a stronghold in our lives. For that, we have Jesus.
All are from the New American Standard Bible:
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Psalm 37:3-4 Security of Those Who Trust in the LORD, and Insecurity of the Wicked.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:25, 33 The Cure for Anxiety
25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Psalm 91:2-3a Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD.
2I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Am I under Attack?
I haven't posted anything since June 29th. Why?
Distraction is how the Enemy attacks. Why do we always have something pressing, something that must be done, something that just can't wait?
Procrastination is how the Enemy attacks. How is it that I could find anything more important than obeying God immediately?
Doubt is how the Enemy attacks. Why do I doubt myself, my ability, my worth when God has made me with all the competence I'll ever need to do what He has planned for my life?
Anxiety is how the Enemy attacks. Why do I have the tight, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach?
God has been working on me for months to get back to writing. I enjoy it very much and it's helped lead me to have open discussions about Christ with others. So, why haven't I obeyed?
I didn't really recognize what was happening until that sinking feeling began. Only for a minute or two, once in a while. I didn't connect the dots until I started a Bible Class at Church a few weeks ago. All of this time, I was being attacked.
I began to realized that I got distracted with the Summer routine when we are away most weekends. I stayed in the Word, but not as much. The study group I was attending on Monday nights dissolved, and other activities took its place. Because I was away a lot, I lost touch with my Church family; I wasn't there on Sunday to attend church. That's distraction.
I thought of great topics to write about. I had God things happening in my life and wanted to write about them, but... My computer crashed, so without that my office became a storage room so much that I couldn't even get to the desk. I had to take care of my garden and, oh how I love my garden. That's procrastination.
Some people at work asked about my blog and I invited them to visit it, but then began to be guarded in what I wrote. I though, am I worthy of writing about God, about my Christian walk. Am I truly a good example of how a Christian should behave. I didn't want to sound like I knew it, because I don't. That's doubt.
The Bible study I'm attending in on Philippians and Colossians. At the second class one of the ladies said our Church must be doing something right because a lot of our members are under attack. We have many with new health, financial issues. These events seem to be occurring in the midst of a renewal our Church is experiencing. WOW! That made my whole perspective change. I finally connected the dots.
That sinking, anxious feeling started right around the time school started. That's when our weekend excursions start winding down. We're in town and back at church. Then I joined the Bible study, which requires the purchase of an inexpensive study guide. The first week found me putting off that purchase until I really had no time to adequately prepare for the second class. Then she said it, a lot of us are under attack, we must be doing something right.
The Enemy attacks to come between us and God. He doesn't want us to build that all important relationship with Him. He attacks our health, finances, and emotions. He's been working on me in all areas. My finances were first a few years ago, but we've over come that. My health recently, and that is under control. Now, my emotions in the form of this anxious feeling.
I recognized it because it wasn't the first time. I had experienced it about two years ago, when I joined the study group that met on Mondays, I mentioned earlier. It was very strong then, but with my team members, my Pastor, and focus on the Word the feeling quickly went away.
I must be doing something right. My relationship with God is growing and the Enemy doesn't like it. Well, that's OK, because I'm not fighting this battle alone, and neither are you. God is always on our side.
Distraction is how the Enemy attacks. Why do we always have something pressing, something that must be done, something that just can't wait?
Procrastination is how the Enemy attacks. How is it that I could find anything more important than obeying God immediately?
Doubt is how the Enemy attacks. Why do I doubt myself, my ability, my worth when God has made me with all the competence I'll ever need to do what He has planned for my life?
Anxiety is how the Enemy attacks. Why do I have the tight, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach?
God has been working on me for months to get back to writing. I enjoy it very much and it's helped lead me to have open discussions about Christ with others. So, why haven't I obeyed?
I didn't really recognize what was happening until that sinking feeling began. Only for a minute or two, once in a while. I didn't connect the dots until I started a Bible Class at Church a few weeks ago. All of this time, I was being attacked.
I began to realized that I got distracted with the Summer routine when we are away most weekends. I stayed in the Word, but not as much. The study group I was attending on Monday nights dissolved, and other activities took its place. Because I was away a lot, I lost touch with my Church family; I wasn't there on Sunday to attend church. That's distraction.
I thought of great topics to write about. I had God things happening in my life and wanted to write about them, but... My computer crashed, so without that my office became a storage room so much that I couldn't even get to the desk. I had to take care of my garden and, oh how I love my garden. That's procrastination.
Some people at work asked about my blog and I invited them to visit it, but then began to be guarded in what I wrote. I though, am I worthy of writing about God, about my Christian walk. Am I truly a good example of how a Christian should behave. I didn't want to sound like I knew it, because I don't. That's doubt.
The Bible study I'm attending in on Philippians and Colossians. At the second class one of the ladies said our Church must be doing something right because a lot of our members are under attack. We have many with new health, financial issues. These events seem to be occurring in the midst of a renewal our Church is experiencing. WOW! That made my whole perspective change. I finally connected the dots.
That sinking, anxious feeling started right around the time school started. That's when our weekend excursions start winding down. We're in town and back at church. Then I joined the Bible study, which requires the purchase of an inexpensive study guide. The first week found me putting off that purchase until I really had no time to adequately prepare for the second class. Then she said it, a lot of us are under attack, we must be doing something right.
The Enemy attacks to come between us and God. He doesn't want us to build that all important relationship with Him. He attacks our health, finances, and emotions. He's been working on me in all areas. My finances were first a few years ago, but we've over come that. My health recently, and that is under control. Now, my emotions in the form of this anxious feeling.
I recognized it because it wasn't the first time. I had experienced it about two years ago, when I joined the study group that met on Mondays, I mentioned earlier. It was very strong then, but with my team members, my Pastor, and focus on the Word the feeling quickly went away.
I must be doing something right. My relationship with God is growing and the Enemy doesn't like it. Well, that's OK, because I'm not fighting this battle alone, and neither are you. God is always on our side.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Realize that you are blessed!
Job 5:17-19
17 “But consider the joy of those corrected by God!
Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.
18 For though he wounds, he also bandages.
He strikes, but his hands also heal.
19 From six disasters he will rescue you;
even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil.
Realize that you are blessed.
God’s discipline can be harsh, but when it gets our attention and we turn away from whatever it is that forced His hand, the rewards are great. It is in the realization of His love for us that the discipline is becomes effective, even welcome. It helps us realize that we are blessed.
When we put something between ourselves and God, preventing the close relationship He wants to have with us, we need to give it up. Sometimes, when we don’t do it on our own, God gets tired of waiting for us to act. He rains down His discipline on us until we give Him our full attention. Until we ask for His help in the form of relief from whatever stress He’s placed upon us. Once convicted, we must repent asking for His forgiveness, and we need to turn away from the wrong we are doing. Then we can experience the rewards He has in store for us and truly realize that we are blessed.
A while back, my husband and I bought a business. We leveraged almost everything we had to make the purchase and then found out that the income initially projected just wasn’t there. Oh ya, and we bought it just before the big economic melt down, too. Our timing wasn’t the only thing off though. Our whole plan was off, right from the start. You see, our plans didn’t include God. We didn’t pray about it, we didn’t’ seek confirmation that this was the right business for us, or the right time in our lives. We didn’t even consider how or if we could recover from a catastrophic failure, but we soon got the opportunity to find out. We didn't see the blessings we already had.
Well, everything that could happen did. We were robbed, someone drove through the front door, equipment failed, and sales crashed. I believe all of this was God’s way of helping us decide to sell the business, which we did at a considerable loss. The great thing is that we recovered to experience life in a renewed way. We are out from under that burden and closer to God, and closer to each other than we have been in years. We finally realized that were were blessed.
Having the business was not good for us, it separated us from God, but He got our attention by disciplining us harshly for going down that road without Him. But the rewards have been great. We have been blessed with a stronger faith, a closer marriage and we’re in much better financial shape than we’ve been in for quite some time.
God is good. Don’t leave Him out of your plan but, instead, ask Him what He has planned for you. I guarantee you that His plan will always be what’s best.
Realize that you are blessed.
17 “But consider the joy of those corrected by God!
Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.
18 For though he wounds, he also bandages.
He strikes, but his hands also heal.
19 From six disasters he will rescue you;
even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil.
Realize that you are blessed.
God’s discipline can be harsh, but when it gets our attention and we turn away from whatever it is that forced His hand, the rewards are great. It is in the realization of His love for us that the discipline is becomes effective, even welcome. It helps us realize that we are blessed.
When we put something between ourselves and God, preventing the close relationship He wants to have with us, we need to give it up. Sometimes, when we don’t do it on our own, God gets tired of waiting for us to act. He rains down His discipline on us until we give Him our full attention. Until we ask for His help in the form of relief from whatever stress He’s placed upon us. Once convicted, we must repent asking for His forgiveness, and we need to turn away from the wrong we are doing. Then we can experience the rewards He has in store for us and truly realize that we are blessed.
A while back, my husband and I bought a business. We leveraged almost everything we had to make the purchase and then found out that the income initially projected just wasn’t there. Oh ya, and we bought it just before the big economic melt down, too. Our timing wasn’t the only thing off though. Our whole plan was off, right from the start. You see, our plans didn’t include God. We didn’t pray about it, we didn’t’ seek confirmation that this was the right business for us, or the right time in our lives. We didn’t even consider how or if we could recover from a catastrophic failure, but we soon got the opportunity to find out. We didn't see the blessings we already had.
Well, everything that could happen did. We were robbed, someone drove through the front door, equipment failed, and sales crashed. I believe all of this was God’s way of helping us decide to sell the business, which we did at a considerable loss. The great thing is that we recovered to experience life in a renewed way. We are out from under that burden and closer to God, and closer to each other than we have been in years. We finally realized that were were blessed.
Having the business was not good for us, it separated us from God, but He got our attention by disciplining us harshly for going down that road without Him. But the rewards have been great. We have been blessed with a stronger faith, a closer marriage and we’re in much better financial shape than we’ve been in for quite some time.
God is good. Don’t leave Him out of your plan but, instead, ask Him what He has planned for you. I guarantee you that His plan will always be what’s best.
Realize that you are blessed.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
National Day of Prayer
Colossians 1:9-14
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,[c] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom[d] and forgave our sins.
Read the words of this wonderful prayer. It was life changing for me. Upon discovering it, I applied it to my life and began to making the effort to pray it for a list of individuals and families daily. They include friends, co-workers, my pastor and his wife, my children and grandchildren, my mom and siblings. It is my silent way of wrapping God's love around them all. Today I share it again with you.
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,[c] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom[d] and forgave our sins.
Read the words of this wonderful prayer. It was life changing for me. Upon discovering it, I applied it to my life and began to making the effort to pray it for a list of individuals and families daily. They include friends, co-workers, my pastor and his wife, my children and grandchildren, my mom and siblings. It is my silent way of wrapping God's love around them all. Today I share it again with you.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
God's Protection
Ephesians 6:14-17 (NLT)
14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[d] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[e]
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
At a time in my life, not so long ago, when I was struggling with something that I see now as minor, a dear friend reminded me that faithful believers have the Whole Armor of God at their disposal. This armor protects us from negative, worldly influences that weaken us and lead us way from our faith in God.
Today, my dear friend is experiencing a surge in the battle she’s been fighting for years. Today, I remind her to hold His breastplate of righteousness closely, securing it safely with His belt of truth; to tie His shoes of peace tightly to her feet and place His helmet of salvation squarely on her head. Then, holding His shield of faith boldly before her, because it protects us from the fiery arrows of this world, to raise the sword of the Spirit high above her head in victory, and to be secure in the knowledge that she are fully protected by His might.
We are only human but what we cannot do, He will. We have only to believe.
In Jesus name, I offer this prayer for my dear friend, and of all who are struggling today.
14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[d] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[e]
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
At a time in my life, not so long ago, when I was struggling with something that I see now as minor, a dear friend reminded me that faithful believers have the Whole Armor of God at their disposal. This armor protects us from negative, worldly influences that weaken us and lead us way from our faith in God.
Today, my dear friend is experiencing a surge in the battle she’s been fighting for years. Today, I remind her to hold His breastplate of righteousness closely, securing it safely with His belt of truth; to tie His shoes of peace tightly to her feet and place His helmet of salvation squarely on her head. Then, holding His shield of faith boldly before her, because it protects us from the fiery arrows of this world, to raise the sword of the Spirit high above her head in victory, and to be secure in the knowledge that she are fully protected by His might.
We are only human but what we cannot do, He will. We have only to believe.
In Jesus name, I offer this prayer for my dear friend, and of all who are struggling today.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
“Move God, or Move Me”
Recently, I heard this statement on a Joyce Meyer broadcast, “Move God, or move me.” Its has been on my mind ever since. What did this mean to me? Why did it keep coming to mind? I think I’ve figured it out.
Over the course of my life, I’ve experienced discontent so badly that nothing could make me happy. I felt stuck in the proverbial a rut. At those times, my heart was in an unpleasant, ungrateful, and unhappy place. I did several things to change my circumstances. I had a baby, lost weight, started a business, changed jobs, went back to school, joined a new church, and went back to school again. I never really prayed about it, though. Only recently have I begun to see how God was working in my life all through those times. As I change my thinking God seems to make things more and clear to me.
At one point I decided to take a new job, but on the first day I decide it wasn’t the place for me. It was a dirty, dusty, sticky place. In fact, once my shoe actually stuck to the floor behind me as was walking. I had to hop back a few steps to put my foot back into my shoe peel it off the floor. I shared a small office with a heavy smoker who didn’t like to clean much. I was very uncomfortable. Since I had been actively searching for a new job before being hired, my resume was already in the hands of several other companies, one of which called me for an interview. When they offered me a job, needless to say, I jumped at it the chance.
After about three years with the new company I got that uncomfortable feeling again. The company was moving into a new commodity that I wasn’t familiar with and really had no desire to learn about, so I decided it was time to move on. At about the same time a friend from the previous company, the one I left after only a month, invited me to come by for a visit. He said the owner wanted to show me what they had accomplished since I had left, and guess what? He had accomplished all that he promised he would when I decided to leave three years earlier. During that visit, the owner was gracious enough to offer me a job, again.
It was different this time. I could see things had changed. More importantly, I had a real peace about returning so the decision was quite easy. Everything clicked for a while until that old feeling of discontent started creeping in again, so I went back to school. I was trying to change my circumstances again, hoping this would improve my work life. It didn’t.
My work life started changing, really improving, only after my spiritual life started changing. God didn’t have to move me, He moved in me. He changed my attitude. As I learned, and continue to learn, about being humble, about forgiveness, about serving, and about working for God my whole life, not just my work life, keeps getting better and better.
I’ve shared my story before about being young and unhappy and asking the Lord for money, but getting a job instead. I’ve had one ever since, but even though I’ve always known where the job came from, I haven’t always been grateful for the gift. That’s something I had to work on. I’ve come to realized though that God places us in certain circumstance for His own reasons. It might be to reveal something of Himself to us, to discipline us for going against His will, or for us to help others. Ultimately, He wants to bring us closer to Him. As far as the job goes, God must want me there and I’ll be there until He moves me. I can’t wait to see what He has planned!
Over the course of my life, I’ve experienced discontent so badly that nothing could make me happy. I felt stuck in the proverbial a rut. At those times, my heart was in an unpleasant, ungrateful, and unhappy place. I did several things to change my circumstances. I had a baby, lost weight, started a business, changed jobs, went back to school, joined a new church, and went back to school again. I never really prayed about it, though. Only recently have I begun to see how God was working in my life all through those times. As I change my thinking God seems to make things more and clear to me.
At one point I decided to take a new job, but on the first day I decide it wasn’t the place for me. It was a dirty, dusty, sticky place. In fact, once my shoe actually stuck to the floor behind me as was walking. I had to hop back a few steps to put my foot back into my shoe peel it off the floor. I shared a small office with a heavy smoker who didn’t like to clean much. I was very uncomfortable. Since I had been actively searching for a new job before being hired, my resume was already in the hands of several other companies, one of which called me for an interview. When they offered me a job, needless to say, I jumped at it the chance.
After about three years with the new company I got that uncomfortable feeling again. The company was moving into a new commodity that I wasn’t familiar with and really had no desire to learn about, so I decided it was time to move on. At about the same time a friend from the previous company, the one I left after only a month, invited me to come by for a visit. He said the owner wanted to show me what they had accomplished since I had left, and guess what? He had accomplished all that he promised he would when I decided to leave three years earlier. During that visit, the owner was gracious enough to offer me a job, again.
It was different this time. I could see things had changed. More importantly, I had a real peace about returning so the decision was quite easy. Everything clicked for a while until that old feeling of discontent started creeping in again, so I went back to school. I was trying to change my circumstances again, hoping this would improve my work life. It didn’t.
My work life started changing, really improving, only after my spiritual life started changing. God didn’t have to move me, He moved in me. He changed my attitude. As I learned, and continue to learn, about being humble, about forgiveness, about serving, and about working for God my whole life, not just my work life, keeps getting better and better.
I’ve shared my story before about being young and unhappy and asking the Lord for money, but getting a job instead. I’ve had one ever since, but even though I’ve always known where the job came from, I haven’t always been grateful for the gift. That’s something I had to work on. I’ve come to realized though that God places us in certain circumstance for His own reasons. It might be to reveal something of Himself to us, to discipline us for going against His will, or for us to help others. Ultimately, He wants to bring us closer to Him. As far as the job goes, God must want me there and I’ll be there until He moves me. I can’t wait to see what He has planned!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
"Need-to-Know"
Jerimiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
I'm so glad I was finally able to add a picture of my Concrete Dove to this blog. Even more significant, I'm so happy it's there for me to pass over every day. It reminds me the He is lifting me up each day. It's reinforcement of God's presence in my life.
I've always wondered what His plan was for me. Since reading my Bible has become a habit, I've come across special passages over and over. They are special because they seem to speak to me, to what I need to know at that specific moment in time. When He shows me a special verse I underline it and write the date, and perhaps short note, in the margin next to the verse. I do this each every time because there are so many special ones that I haven't committed them all to memory yet. Sometimes I find verses that have several dates next to them.
I was listening to In Touch Ministry last Sunday, as I like to do on Sunday mornings, and the subject was Dr. Stanley's Life principle #10, "God will show you His will." When I listen to Dr. Stanley, I approach it as if it were a bible study. I use my new Life Principles Bible because it contains commentary by Dr. Stanley. It's like a built in study guide. During that lesson, he noted Jeremiah 29:11-13, which is all about God having a plan for each of us.
After breakfast, I went to church and the sermon topic was "How do I respond to God?" The speaker discussed ways one can know and understand God's plan for us, and what we're supposed to do about it. Again, Jerimiah 29:11-13 came up. Only this time when I referred it in my bible, my first bible, the one with all the notes written over the last 10 years, I notice that I had read, underlined, dated, and made notes by these verses on four other occasions. The first time was in April of 2000, when I first purchased the Bible. I guess he wanted me to know He had a plan, so He showed me that special verse. The second time was in 2007 when I was struggling to understand where He was and what He wanted me to do; twice in 2009, when I was fervently studying His Word, and finally last Sunday.
Later on that evening, I took out my bibles, both of them. That's when I noticed that, in the Life Principles Bible, Jerimiah 29:11 is highlighted as one of God's promises. I guess I must have "needed-to-know", again, that God has a plan for me. He's confirmed it for me year after year and then again on three separate occasions all in the same day. Do you think He's trying to tell me something? Maybe He's saying "Stay the course." At least that is what I'm hearing.
One of the most important ways we can discover God's plan for us is to read His word daily, then we have to pray for spiritual understanding. The Bible is His instruction manual, only sometimes He doesn't give us all the instructions at the same time, just what we can handle. I guess one would say that we're on a "need-to-know" basis with Him. He reveals what we need to know, when we need to know it. Just have faith and stick to the plan- -He will bless you for it.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
I'm so glad I was finally able to add a picture of my Concrete Dove to this blog. Even more significant, I'm so happy it's there for me to pass over every day. It reminds me the He is lifting me up each day. It's reinforcement of God's presence in my life.
I've always wondered what His plan was for me. Since reading my Bible has become a habit, I've come across special passages over and over. They are special because they seem to speak to me, to what I need to know at that specific moment in time. When He shows me a special verse I underline it and write the date, and perhaps short note, in the margin next to the verse. I do this each every time because there are so many special ones that I haven't committed them all to memory yet. Sometimes I find verses that have several dates next to them.
I was listening to In Touch Ministry last Sunday, as I like to do on Sunday mornings, and the subject was Dr. Stanley's Life principle #10, "God will show you His will." When I listen to Dr. Stanley, I approach it as if it were a bible study. I use my new Life Principles Bible because it contains commentary by Dr. Stanley. It's like a built in study guide. During that lesson, he noted Jeremiah 29:11-13, which is all about God having a plan for each of us.
After breakfast, I went to church and the sermon topic was "How do I respond to God?" The speaker discussed ways one can know and understand God's plan for us, and what we're supposed to do about it. Again, Jerimiah 29:11-13 came up. Only this time when I referred it in my bible, my first bible, the one with all the notes written over the last 10 years, I notice that I had read, underlined, dated, and made notes by these verses on four other occasions. The first time was in April of 2000, when I first purchased the Bible. I guess he wanted me to know He had a plan, so He showed me that special verse. The second time was in 2007 when I was struggling to understand where He was and what He wanted me to do; twice in 2009, when I was fervently studying His Word, and finally last Sunday.
Later on that evening, I took out my bibles, both of them. That's when I noticed that, in the Life Principles Bible, Jerimiah 29:11 is highlighted as one of God's promises. I guess I must have "needed-to-know", again, that God has a plan for me. He's confirmed it for me year after year and then again on three separate occasions all in the same day. Do you think He's trying to tell me something? Maybe He's saying "Stay the course." At least that is what I'm hearing.
One of the most important ways we can discover God's plan for us is to read His word daily, then we have to pray for spiritual understanding. The Bible is His instruction manual, only sometimes He doesn't give us all the instructions at the same time, just what we can handle. I guess one would say that we're on a "need-to-know" basis with Him. He reveals what we need to know, when we need to know it. Just have faith and stick to the plan- -He will bless you for it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
My Inspiration
What inspires you? You might be surprised, so take a look around and see what He's put in front of you.
Today, I posted a picture of what inspired me to name this blog Concrete Dove. Every day on my way to work I pass over this slab of concrete with a dove-shaped crack and every day it reminds me to start my workday with a prayer, and to give thanks for the day, the job, and so much more. It's my quiet time.
When the idea of writing a blog started rolling around in my head, the name came to me without even second guessing. It was right in front of me every day. If you look closely, you'll see a white line in the concrete. Use your imagination. I see it like a pencil drawing; almost like what a child might draw. I like to see it as holding the proverbial olive branch in its beak (that are actually two black asphalt patches). The wings are outstretched, from the top to the bottom of the picture, and the bird is facing left with the branch. This morning when I saw that the morning snow had filled the crack, making it stand out, I had to get a camera to snap the picture and finally post it. Let me know if you can see it, too.
What is concrete? Here's how Merriam-Webster on-line defines it:
As a noun-A mass formed by concretion or coalescence of separate particles of matter in one body, a hard strong building material.
As an adjective-Characterized by or belonging to immediate experience of actual things or events, naming a real thing.
As a verb- To cover with, form of, or set in concrete; to form into a solid mass.
Can you see how the Word of God is like concrete (only better)? A solid foundation. Something we can hold on to. It covers us with His protection. It holds us up straight and strong. It withstands any storm. Together we are one body, in Him.
Stand firm, in His Word. Learn It, Know It, Live It!
Watch this video featuring Bebo Norman's song I Will Lift Up My Eyes. It's filled with beautiful Psalms (more of that concrete) and pictures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAjrNqEsoM
Today I'm thinking of and praying for Loretta, Betty, Linda, WCC, Nicki, Renee, Hunter, Dayton, Isabell, Allishia, John, Mike, and Candy all are sick or hurting in some way, and need His help. Please say a prayer for them, too.
Today, I posted a picture of what inspired me to name this blog Concrete Dove. Every day on my way to work I pass over this slab of concrete with a dove-shaped crack and every day it reminds me to start my workday with a prayer, and to give thanks for the day, the job, and so much more. It's my quiet time.
When the idea of writing a blog started rolling around in my head, the name came to me without even second guessing. It was right in front of me every day. If you look closely, you'll see a white line in the concrete. Use your imagination. I see it like a pencil drawing; almost like what a child might draw. I like to see it as holding the proverbial olive branch in its beak (that are actually two black asphalt patches). The wings are outstretched, from the top to the bottom of the picture, and the bird is facing left with the branch. This morning when I saw that the morning snow had filled the crack, making it stand out, I had to get a camera to snap the picture and finally post it. Let me know if you can see it, too.
What is concrete? Here's how Merriam-Webster on-line defines it:
As a noun-A mass formed by concretion or coalescence of separate particles of matter in one body, a hard strong building material.
As an adjective-Characterized by or belonging to immediate experience of actual things or events, naming a real thing.
As a verb- To cover with, form of, or set in concrete; to form into a solid mass.
Can you see how the Word of God is like concrete (only better)? A solid foundation. Something we can hold on to. It covers us with His protection. It holds us up straight and strong. It withstands any storm. Together we are one body, in Him.
Stand firm, in His Word. Learn It, Know It, Live It!
Watch this video featuring Bebo Norman's song I Will Lift Up My Eyes. It's filled with beautiful Psalms (more of that concrete) and pictures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAjrNqEsoM
Today I'm thinking of and praying for Loretta, Betty, Linda, WCC, Nicki, Renee, Hunter, Dayton, Isabell, Allishia, John, Mike, and Candy all are sick or hurting in some way, and need His help. Please say a prayer for them, too.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Keep the Faith
The Lord has answered my prayers again. Recently, my time has been focused in other areas, keeping me away. I haven't been able to post since Feb. 12th and been asking Him for inspiration and time to write. We've been busy painting at our house and in the middle of it my mother-in-law, Loretta, became very ill and went into the hospital.
First answer, Loretta is doing much better and will recover soon. Second answer, my friend Vicki wrote a great e-mail, excited about her bible study which she allowed me to share it with you here.
Vicki is a dear friend, and a member of the Life Transformation Group (LTG) held at our Church, as am I. Our goal is to read the entire bible, cover to cover, in one year. We are now in our second year and learning even more than the first. Funny how God works, isn't it?
Since I had aways hoped to have guest authors, I thought what better time to begin than with this message from Vicki. The excerpts will help those unfamiliar with the Gospel of Mark to better understand Vicki's message. Enjoy!
Mark 5 (Excerpts from the chapter) NLT
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man
2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil[b] spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. . . .
8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.
12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
Hope your having a fantabulous day! I wanted to share my Bible study with you.
So I'm reading Numbers and the Lord is speaking to me. The theme is faith. He's speaking to me loud and clear and all over the place about faith in Him and nothing else.
The 40 years of wandering began and ends at the very spot they lost their faith. I want to walk toward the Lord in faith and not follow my flesh in circles. How did it happen that so many lost faith! Who was first and spread it!!
The earth is the dessert and we are all set up in our tribes with many reminders (like the tent of meetings) right in front of us of who should be the center of our lives yet we still grumble about everything and bow down to time - food - desire - pride - the list goes on and on - ugh! Why? have we lost faith?
Then I move on to read Mark - and the legion wants Jesus to cast him (them) into the pigs - why? - because he (they) can rule there - pigs have no faith to fight against legion. Then the people -the sad sad people are afraid and ask Jesus to leave - why???? - because they have no faith and they are afraid the legions will be cast into them and they will lose the battle like the pigs - because they have no faith - like the pigs!!
Lord I want to have faith in only You! Help me to keep You at the center in every movement of every situation and stop my grumbling and give thanks. Keep me on the path toward You and when I'm walking in circles following my flesh please remind me to call out to You to fight the legion with my faith in You! May You be the only one who rules in me!
Thank You Jesus!
First answer, Loretta is doing much better and will recover soon. Second answer, my friend Vicki wrote a great e-mail, excited about her bible study which she allowed me to share it with you here.
Vicki is a dear friend, and a member of the Life Transformation Group (LTG) held at our Church, as am I. Our goal is to read the entire bible, cover to cover, in one year. We are now in our second year and learning even more than the first. Funny how God works, isn't it?
Since I had aways hoped to have guest authors, I thought what better time to begin than with this message from Vicki. The excerpts will help those unfamiliar with the Gospel of Mark to better understand Vicki's message. Enjoy!
Mark 5 (Excerpts from the chapter) NLT
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man
2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil[b] spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. . . .
8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.
12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
Hope your having a fantabulous day! I wanted to share my Bible study with you.
So I'm reading Numbers and the Lord is speaking to me. The theme is faith. He's speaking to me loud and clear and all over the place about faith in Him and nothing else.
The 40 years of wandering began and ends at the very spot they lost their faith. I want to walk toward the Lord in faith and not follow my flesh in circles. How did it happen that so many lost faith! Who was first and spread it!!
The earth is the dessert and we are all set up in our tribes with many reminders (like the tent of meetings) right in front of us of who should be the center of our lives yet we still grumble about everything and bow down to time - food - desire - pride - the list goes on and on - ugh! Why? have we lost faith?
Then I move on to read Mark - and the legion wants Jesus to cast him (them) into the pigs - why? - because he (they) can rule there - pigs have no faith to fight against legion. Then the people -the sad sad people are afraid and ask Jesus to leave - why???? - because they have no faith and they are afraid the legions will be cast into them and they will lose the battle like the pigs - because they have no faith - like the pigs!!
Lord I want to have faith in only You! Help me to keep You at the center in every movement of every situation and stop my grumbling and give thanks. Keep me on the path toward You and when I'm walking in circles following my flesh please remind me to call out to You to fight the legion with my faith in You! May You be the only one who rules in me!
Thank You Jesus!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Just Do It!
Matthew 14:27-29 (NLT)
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”.
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
It's music day again. I like to have a music day once a week. I was shooting for every Friday, but the last couple of weeks life has taken over so here I am this Sunday morning. This is a great Britt Nicole song, Walk on the Water, based on the story about Peter having enough faith to jump out of the boat and walk on water toward Christ, only to sink after loosing faith for an instant.
The link is to a video explaining how she came up with the song. Enjoy.
Britt Nicole - Walk On The Water - The Story Behind The Song SPARROW RECORDS (P) (C) 2009 Sparrow Records.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAFup_5dPaQ&feature=related
Here's the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4ptPEm8gjE
Music has become such a big part of my life, our lives here at home. Our youngest son Michael is 12 years old and plays the piano, drums, and some guitar. He's been taking piano lessons for over five years now and has gotten quite good. He recently competed in is first piano competition earning a 1st Division medal.
Michael worked on the Blue Danube Waltz for months leading up to the competition. As the competition approached we incorporated a sort of getting-ready-to-play attitude adjustment at the start of each practice. I was like a broken record saying, "First adjust the piano bench, then check your posture, breath, ask God to make your fingers find the notes, and allow you to be calm and focused during the performance." Michael is almost fearless when it comes to his music and playing piano. This competition was different though, he got nervous just as he entered the performance area where he would play for the judge. Michael plays at church sometimes, recitals, school talent shows, band performances, and for the seniors in his grandmother's apartment building. He has never felt that nervousness before and it surprised him.
When it was his turn we were lead into the choir room where the judge would hear Michael play. Of course, my husband and I were there, too, along with the performance chairperson. It was playing for that single judge that worried him, or perhaps it was the prospect of being judged. That's something that makes most of us nervous. Whatever it was caused him to lose confidence, or faith in himself, just long enough to produce a couple of rough spots in the piece, but just a couple. He recovered nicely and went on to play very well.
After the performance, the judge gave him glowing remarks and constructive criticism that Michael took very well. Coincidentally, the performance chairperson in the piano area was the Director of Bands for the high school Michael will be attending. Mr. Miller took the time to speak with Michael after the performance about what he's doing with his music, encouraging him to continue, and letting him know that Jazz Band was an actual class he could take at the HS level. At the end of the conversation he added that he was always looking for a good piano player. Watching my son being recruited, I felt like the mother of a sought-after athlete. The next Monday at school, Michael's band director let him know that Mr. Miller also spoke with him about Michael and that it was unusual for him to go out of his way to give compliments. Michael was elated. It been great for Michael and for us to see him succeed after what he thought was a flawed performance.
This enthusiasm Michael has for music is quite different from that which he has for school. He has ADD and the academic troubles that go along with it. We thought learning to play piano might help him in school so he started taking lessons at seven. School has been a real struggle for Michael and will probably continue that way, but we work at it as a family. What I do know is that he finds great joy and satisfaction in his musical ability, and that makes me happy. He knows his musical gift came from God. I believe that is why it is so easy for him to play in front of people without anxiety, for the most part. He is calm, confident, and joyful in sharing it his music with others, even looking forward to each event.
I'm also encouraging Michael to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, to call on Him for help in school, in music, and anytime. He has already jumped out of the boat and once Michael learns to call on the HS for help in all situations he won't ever sink. Music is something that Michael can do well, no matter what happens in school. He makes people happy with it and that glorifies God. I'm convinced that Michael will be just fine in life. If he can read sheet music, (what I refer to as hieroglyphics), understand and apply musical terminology, make both hands do two different things sometimes in two different times, and make it sound beautiful, he's going to be OK. I thank God for that.
Just DO IT! Just jump out of the boat. Do what He calls you to do, and do it with all the faith that He is with you. Use your spiritual gifts the way He intends. Yes, you will sink from time to time, we all do because that's human nature. Never fear, He is always there to save you. Just DO IT!
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”.
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
It's music day again. I like to have a music day once a week. I was shooting for every Friday, but the last couple of weeks life has taken over so here I am this Sunday morning. This is a great Britt Nicole song, Walk on the Water, based on the story about Peter having enough faith to jump out of the boat and walk on water toward Christ, only to sink after loosing faith for an instant.
The link is to a video explaining how she came up with the song. Enjoy.
Britt Nicole - Walk On The Water - The Story Behind The Song SPARROW RECORDS (P) (C) 2009 Sparrow Records.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAFup_5dPaQ&feature=related
Here's the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4ptPEm8gjE
Music has become such a big part of my life, our lives here at home. Our youngest son Michael is 12 years old and plays the piano, drums, and some guitar. He's been taking piano lessons for over five years now and has gotten quite good. He recently competed in is first piano competition earning a 1st Division medal.
Michael worked on the Blue Danube Waltz for months leading up to the competition. As the competition approached we incorporated a sort of getting-ready-to-play attitude adjustment at the start of each practice. I was like a broken record saying, "First adjust the piano bench, then check your posture, breath, ask God to make your fingers find the notes, and allow you to be calm and focused during the performance." Michael is almost fearless when it comes to his music and playing piano. This competition was different though, he got nervous just as he entered the performance area where he would play for the judge. Michael plays at church sometimes, recitals, school talent shows, band performances, and for the seniors in his grandmother's apartment building. He has never felt that nervousness before and it surprised him.
When it was his turn we were lead into the choir room where the judge would hear Michael play. Of course, my husband and I were there, too, along with the performance chairperson. It was playing for that single judge that worried him, or perhaps it was the prospect of being judged. That's something that makes most of us nervous. Whatever it was caused him to lose confidence, or faith in himself, just long enough to produce a couple of rough spots in the piece, but just a couple. He recovered nicely and went on to play very well.
After the performance, the judge gave him glowing remarks and constructive criticism that Michael took very well. Coincidentally, the performance chairperson in the piano area was the Director of Bands for the high school Michael will be attending. Mr. Miller took the time to speak with Michael after the performance about what he's doing with his music, encouraging him to continue, and letting him know that Jazz Band was an actual class he could take at the HS level. At the end of the conversation he added that he was always looking for a good piano player. Watching my son being recruited, I felt like the mother of a sought-after athlete. The next Monday at school, Michael's band director let him know that Mr. Miller also spoke with him about Michael and that it was unusual for him to go out of his way to give compliments. Michael was elated. It been great for Michael and for us to see him succeed after what he thought was a flawed performance.
This enthusiasm Michael has for music is quite different from that which he has for school. He has ADD and the academic troubles that go along with it. We thought learning to play piano might help him in school so he started taking lessons at seven. School has been a real struggle for Michael and will probably continue that way, but we work at it as a family. What I do know is that he finds great joy and satisfaction in his musical ability, and that makes me happy. He knows his musical gift came from God. I believe that is why it is so easy for him to play in front of people without anxiety, for the most part. He is calm, confident, and joyful in sharing it his music with others, even looking forward to each event.
I'm also encouraging Michael to learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, to call on Him for help in school, in music, and anytime. He has already jumped out of the boat and once Michael learns to call on the HS for help in all situations he won't ever sink. Music is something that Michael can do well, no matter what happens in school. He makes people happy with it and that glorifies God. I'm convinced that Michael will be just fine in life. If he can read sheet music, (what I refer to as hieroglyphics), understand and apply musical terminology, make both hands do two different things sometimes in two different times, and make it sound beautiful, he's going to be OK. I thank God for that.
Just DO IT! Just jump out of the boat. Do what He calls you to do, and do it with all the faith that He is with you. Use your spiritual gifts the way He intends. Yes, you will sink from time to time, we all do because that's human nature. Never fear, He is always there to save you. Just DO IT!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Care for the Care Giver
Hebrews 13: 5(a) (NIV)
. . .God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
Today, I'm thinking of the many care givers I know. There's Angie taking care of her husband with back pain, Barb taking care of her mom with cancer and her aging dad, and Bill taking care of his wife with cancer. Down the street, there's Harold who is 82 himself, taking care of his wife with Alzheimer's, and there's Kate at work that just had to move her mom out of her home and into a nursing home but still manages here affairs. There's me and my husband who look after my, still independent, mom and Down Syndrome sister that depend mainly on us for transportation. I'll guess that anyone who reads this can come up with a few people they know with care giving responsibilities.
We need to be thoughtful and prayerful for these people. Care giving is a full time job. They do this for someone they love while still trying to maintain some semblance of order in their own lives, as well. It can be a daunting responsibility and very taxing on the caregivers, both physically and emotionally. We are taking care of our loved ones, watching them suffer, while filling their prescriptions, cooking for them, taking them to a from the doctor's office, and the bathroom. After a while, it can get pretty tough for the caregiver to keep his or her spirits up, and not become resentful, or let it become more of a job than a labor of love.
I speak from experience. During my late father's third Chemo treatment, he has his first heart attack. By the end of that week he had a triple bypass the lead to more than 30 days in the hospital. During that time, my brother and I assumed all responsibility for her transportation, and began to interface with the doctors, of whom there were several by then. Little things, like a dust ball under his bed, began to irritate me. Eventually, every night, when I came to pick up my mom and sister from the hospital, I would complain about it still being there. How it reflected the poor care he was getting. When in fact, he was getting excellent care, he was just really, really sick. One night, when I arrived, I saw the expression on both of my parents' faces change from "happy to see you" to "oh no, she's back". That's when I realized it had become a job for me, and not a good one. This was just the beginning, and I had to change my outlook, in order to lessen my parents' struggle, to make it easier somehow. After all, they were facing the possibility of saying good bye to one another after almost 50 years. All it took was a smile and a kiss from me to make things a bit easier on them.
My dad would be sick for a long time, before the Lord finally took him. My parents were able to celebrate their 50th year together and almost got to 51 before on Valentines Day, 2007, Dad just said he was tired of fighting, and Mom said that it was ok. He was gone two days later, at home, with all of us around him. It was very peaceful. In those two days, I stayed with Mom and took care of Dad's needs so she could say good by. Since then, as Valentines Day approaches, I try to remember if I said good by, thanks for being a great dad, I remember when you make me that wooden whistle for me and took me fishing - - boy did I love spending time with you. I just can't remember. What I do remember is that during those two days, I was completely focused on his care, setting up hospice that would allow him to stay at home, getting the right meds administered through a feeding tube (he always did it himself), and taking care of all the other indignities that go along with physical weakness. None of it bothered me in the sense that I was able to function, as needed. I didn't get caught up in the sorrow of losing him. I just took care of him and waited there with Mom for him to go. This behavior was very different for me. I’m usually very emotional, especially about my dad.
I chose the verse because through the whole experience, I realized from whom my strength came. He never left me, in fact I had probably never felt as close to God in my life; I was completely focused and strengthened by Him. Again, He gave me what I needed, when I needed it, and I am grateful.
Pray for the caregivers you know. That they will be strengthened by God in their loving task. That it doesn't become a "job" for them and that they take the time to encourage those they care for while taking care of themselves. In this way they will continue to be mentally and physically strong.
. . .God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
Today, I'm thinking of the many care givers I know. There's Angie taking care of her husband with back pain, Barb taking care of her mom with cancer and her aging dad, and Bill taking care of his wife with cancer. Down the street, there's Harold who is 82 himself, taking care of his wife with Alzheimer's, and there's Kate at work that just had to move her mom out of her home and into a nursing home but still manages here affairs. There's me and my husband who look after my, still independent, mom and Down Syndrome sister that depend mainly on us for transportation. I'll guess that anyone who reads this can come up with a few people they know with care giving responsibilities.
We need to be thoughtful and prayerful for these people. Care giving is a full time job. They do this for someone they love while still trying to maintain some semblance of order in their own lives, as well. It can be a daunting responsibility and very taxing on the caregivers, both physically and emotionally. We are taking care of our loved ones, watching them suffer, while filling their prescriptions, cooking for them, taking them to a from the doctor's office, and the bathroom. After a while, it can get pretty tough for the caregiver to keep his or her spirits up, and not become resentful, or let it become more of a job than a labor of love.
I speak from experience. During my late father's third Chemo treatment, he has his first heart attack. By the end of that week he had a triple bypass the lead to more than 30 days in the hospital. During that time, my brother and I assumed all responsibility for her transportation, and began to interface with the doctors, of whom there were several by then. Little things, like a dust ball under his bed, began to irritate me. Eventually, every night, when I came to pick up my mom and sister from the hospital, I would complain about it still being there. How it reflected the poor care he was getting. When in fact, he was getting excellent care, he was just really, really sick. One night, when I arrived, I saw the expression on both of my parents' faces change from "happy to see you" to "oh no, she's back". That's when I realized it had become a job for me, and not a good one. This was just the beginning, and I had to change my outlook, in order to lessen my parents' struggle, to make it easier somehow. After all, they were facing the possibility of saying good bye to one another after almost 50 years. All it took was a smile and a kiss from me to make things a bit easier on them.
My dad would be sick for a long time, before the Lord finally took him. My parents were able to celebrate their 50th year together and almost got to 51 before on Valentines Day, 2007, Dad just said he was tired of fighting, and Mom said that it was ok. He was gone two days later, at home, with all of us around him. It was very peaceful. In those two days, I stayed with Mom and took care of Dad's needs so she could say good by. Since then, as Valentines Day approaches, I try to remember if I said good by, thanks for being a great dad, I remember when you make me that wooden whistle for me and took me fishing - - boy did I love spending time with you. I just can't remember. What I do remember is that during those two days, I was completely focused on his care, setting up hospice that would allow him to stay at home, getting the right meds administered through a feeding tube (he always did it himself), and taking care of all the other indignities that go along with physical weakness. None of it bothered me in the sense that I was able to function, as needed. I didn't get caught up in the sorrow of losing him. I just took care of him and waited there with Mom for him to go. This behavior was very different for me. I’m usually very emotional, especially about my dad.
I chose the verse because through the whole experience, I realized from whom my strength came. He never left me, in fact I had probably never felt as close to God in my life; I was completely focused and strengthened by Him. Again, He gave me what I needed, when I needed it, and I am grateful.
Pray for the caregivers you know. That they will be strengthened by God in their loving task. That it doesn't become a "job" for them and that they take the time to encourage those they care for while taking care of themselves. In this way they will continue to be mentally and physically strong.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
So What's the Plan?
Psalm 139:16
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Listen to Francesca Battistellii song Free to Be Me, from her My Paper Heart album
Songwriter: Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKNLIkrHRf8&feature=related
The song starts out-
At twenty years of age, I’m still looking for a dream
A war’s already waged for my destiny
But You’ve already won the battle
And You’ve got great plans for me
Though I can’t always see
At twenty years old, I surely couldn't see what God's plan for me was. I wasn't even considering what God wanted for me because I had already made plans. I just made adjustments when they didn't quite work out. You see, my original plan was to be the first in my family to graduate from college. I was going to be a psychologist. Great plan, huh?
‘Cause I’ve got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see I’m free to be me
Speaking of adjustments; here's where the dents came in -- By the time I was 20 I had gotten married, had two children, and moved across the country; not exactly in that order. At 21 came baby number three and, by then, an unhappy marriage. At 26, I was working out of my home decorating cakes and babysitting to get ahead. I was driven, always searching for something more; perhaps that plan of mine. Nothing I did ever seemed to work out just right, though. Then, at a particularly tough time in my life, financially, I sincerely prayed. Not for help, but for money. I knew that was wrong and acknowledged that before God. I had been away from the church and never really prayed any more, but I needed some relief and He gave it to me.
When I was just a girl, I thought I had it figured out
See my life would turn out right and I’d make it here somehow
But things don’t always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt
At 27, I got a real job and began taking every training course the company offered, and eventually began attending college classes. Along the way I did a lot of things I shouldn't have, but I was too proud to admit it. I got divorced and remarried, had my fourth child, and finally worked my way up to the big job, but I was still unsatisfied. I always felt like there was something missing in my life. Maybe I was searching for some redemption in all that work, or trying to make up for decisions I had made as a young woman. Maybe to make up for dreams lost. I started to think it might be too late, that I should just settle for how life turned out. It wasn't that bad after all. I had four great kids, by then two special grandchildren, (two more since then) and my husband and I had built a nice life together, despite several obstacles. So why was I so driven to find out what else I should be doing?
‘Cause I’ve got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see I’m free to be me
The dents in my fenders came early, and late, as a result of being too independent. I've gone through more than a few pairs of jeans, stumbling clumsily on my own. I felt I had to do it my way. I didn't need anyone elses help, and certainly not God's. He had already answered my prayer. The rest must be up to me. Right?
And you’re free to be you
Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I’ve got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe, even though
Wrong. I began to soften while working on trying to accept this nice life of mine. Time will do that to a person. I began to realize my original dream had come true. I had graduated from college, had the house, the job, and the family. So now what? What else I should be doing? In my forties I began a church search to try and find out. I was raised going to church but got away from it in my teens. That's when I started "painting my own pictures", as my good friend would say, and not seeking Him. I visited several churches before finding one right in our neighborhood and finally started finding answers. I now understand that I was never alone; God was really with me all along. No matter what else was happening in my life I always had a job, and the job paid for all of my schooling. I’m not a psychologist, but I was able to accomplish what He planned for me and I’m using those tools here. As far as what He plans to do with me now, all I have to do was ask, and follow His direction. Now that I'm learning to do that, the feeling of discontent is leaving me. I feel more confident each day that I am doing what He wants me to do. I'm letting Him do the painting now, and life so much better.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
Listen to Francesca Battistellii song Free to Be Me, from her My Paper Heart album
Songwriter: Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKNLIkrHRf8&feature=related
The song starts out-
At twenty years of age, I’m still looking for a dream
A war’s already waged for my destiny
But You’ve already won the battle
And You’ve got great plans for me
Though I can’t always see
At twenty years old, I surely couldn't see what God's plan for me was. I wasn't even considering what God wanted for me because I had already made plans. I just made adjustments when they didn't quite work out. You see, my original plan was to be the first in my family to graduate from college. I was going to be a psychologist. Great plan, huh?
‘Cause I’ve got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see I’m free to be me
Speaking of adjustments; here's where the dents came in -- By the time I was 20 I had gotten married, had two children, and moved across the country; not exactly in that order. At 21 came baby number three and, by then, an unhappy marriage. At 26, I was working out of my home decorating cakes and babysitting to get ahead. I was driven, always searching for something more; perhaps that plan of mine. Nothing I did ever seemed to work out just right, though. Then, at a particularly tough time in my life, financially, I sincerely prayed. Not for help, but for money. I knew that was wrong and acknowledged that before God. I had been away from the church and never really prayed any more, but I needed some relief and He gave it to me.
When I was just a girl, I thought I had it figured out
See my life would turn out right and I’d make it here somehow
But things don’t always come that easy
And sometimes I would doubt
At 27, I got a real job and began taking every training course the company offered, and eventually began attending college classes. Along the way I did a lot of things I shouldn't have, but I was too proud to admit it. I got divorced and remarried, had my fourth child, and finally worked my way up to the big job, but I was still unsatisfied. I always felt like there was something missing in my life. Maybe I was searching for some redemption in all that work, or trying to make up for decisions I had made as a young woman. Maybe to make up for dreams lost. I started to think it might be too late, that I should just settle for how life turned out. It wasn't that bad after all. I had four great kids, by then two special grandchildren, (two more since then) and my husband and I had built a nice life together, despite several obstacles. So why was I so driven to find out what else I should be doing?
‘Cause I’ve got a couple dents in my fender
Got a couple rips in my jeans
Try to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy
On my own I’m so clumsy
But on Your shoulders I can see I’m free to be me
The dents in my fenders came early, and late, as a result of being too independent. I've gone through more than a few pairs of jeans, stumbling clumsily on my own. I felt I had to do it my way. I didn't need anyone elses help, and certainly not God's. He had already answered my prayer. The rest must be up to me. Right?
And you’re free to be you
Sometimes I believe that I can do anything
Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring
But You look at my heart and You tell me
That I’ve got all You seek
And it’s easy to believe, even though
Wrong. I began to soften while working on trying to accept this nice life of mine. Time will do that to a person. I began to realize my original dream had come true. I had graduated from college, had the house, the job, and the family. So now what? What else I should be doing? In my forties I began a church search to try and find out. I was raised going to church but got away from it in my teens. That's when I started "painting my own pictures", as my good friend would say, and not seeking Him. I visited several churches before finding one right in our neighborhood and finally started finding answers. I now understand that I was never alone; God was really with me all along. No matter what else was happening in my life I always had a job, and the job paid for all of my schooling. I’m not a psychologist, but I was able to accomplish what He planned for me and I’m using those tools here. As far as what He plans to do with me now, all I have to do was ask, and follow His direction. Now that I'm learning to do that, the feeling of discontent is leaving me. I feel more confident each day that I am doing what He wants me to do. I'm letting Him do the painting now, and life so much better.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Ultimate Artist
Jeremiah 18:6 (NLT)
6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”
I’m an impatient person. When I was young my parents did their best to provide me with music & dance education. I took tap dancing, guitar, flute, and clarinet lessons all without success. I thought it should all come easier that it did, so when I wasn’t a performing artist right out of the gate I gave it up and became dissatisfied. I didn’t learn a thing about dance or music because I didn’t’ have the patience for practice or study.
In retrospect I’ve come to be more patient, at least in my Christian walk. I study God’s word daily and try my best to glorify Him through my words and actions. When I don’t understand a particular passage, I look for help from a friend or other resources. I do this because I know there is so much to learn that I may never get it all, but I keep working studying. I’m not good at meditating on God’s Word. I just can’t seem to clear my mind, but I practice everyday. Now, I can look back and see where a prayer was answered or when God disciplined me for going against His will. I pray every day and I’m learning to wait patiently for His direction.
I’ve placed myself in God’s hands, the ultimate artist, to be made over into the person He wants me to be. I’m being patient for the outcome of His handy work because the process has become so peaceful for me. No longer do I hold my husband, co-workers, or boss responsible for my happiness and success. I have relinquished myself and others of that burden and laid it before the Lord. I have only to trust Him; to be patient and trusting that He has a plan and purpose for me.
Is it easy? Sure, on some days more than others. On the others, though, I still spend time with the Lord. I know that sharing my thoughts here, with you, I’m experiencing a peace as never before. I just know that I’m doing what God wants me to do right now. Perhaps there is someone that will benefit from reading what He is saying through me. I hope this is so and trust that it is.
Know this; He has a plan and purpose for all of us. You have only to be patient and allow Him to be the potter; the artist at work in your life.
6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”
I’m an impatient person. When I was young my parents did their best to provide me with music & dance education. I took tap dancing, guitar, flute, and clarinet lessons all without success. I thought it should all come easier that it did, so when I wasn’t a performing artist right out of the gate I gave it up and became dissatisfied. I didn’t learn a thing about dance or music because I didn’t’ have the patience for practice or study.
In retrospect I’ve come to be more patient, at least in my Christian walk. I study God’s word daily and try my best to glorify Him through my words and actions. When I don’t understand a particular passage, I look for help from a friend or other resources. I do this because I know there is so much to learn that I may never get it all, but I keep working studying. I’m not good at meditating on God’s Word. I just can’t seem to clear my mind, but I practice everyday. Now, I can look back and see where a prayer was answered or when God disciplined me for going against His will. I pray every day and I’m learning to wait patiently for His direction.
I’ve placed myself in God’s hands, the ultimate artist, to be made over into the person He wants me to be. I’m being patient for the outcome of His handy work because the process has become so peaceful for me. No longer do I hold my husband, co-workers, or boss responsible for my happiness and success. I have relinquished myself and others of that burden and laid it before the Lord. I have only to trust Him; to be patient and trusting that He has a plan and purpose for me.
Is it easy? Sure, on some days more than others. On the others, though, I still spend time with the Lord. I know that sharing my thoughts here, with you, I’m experiencing a peace as never before. I just know that I’m doing what God wants me to do right now. Perhaps there is someone that will benefit from reading what He is saying through me. I hope this is so and trust that it is.
Know this; He has a plan and purpose for all of us. You have only to be patient and allow Him to be the potter; the artist at work in your life.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Be Brave
Ephesians 6:10-16 (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
BRAVE - Listen to this song by Nichole Nordeman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llYdZOZesc
I don't have to write a lot today. The verse says it all. I had read it before, but recently a good friend pointed it out to me again after a tough day at work. After re-reading it, I realized that the "fiery arrows" can be sadness, discontent, anger, or anything else that separates us from God. I read it again the following morning before work, and continued to read it daily since then. I have not had a bad day at work since and I believe it's because I'm being Brave and relying on Him to protect me from those emotions, those "fiery arrows" that divert me from his planned purpose for me.
Brave, it's what we all have to be on this Christian walk. Nichole Nordeman's song talks about not settling for the "status quo", but being better, being Brave. Change can be difficult, with His help though, you can do it. Just remember you are never alone. It's easy to be Brave with God as your protector.
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
BRAVE - Listen to this song by Nichole Nordeman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llYdZOZesc
I don't have to write a lot today. The verse says it all. I had read it before, but recently a good friend pointed it out to me again after a tough day at work. After re-reading it, I realized that the "fiery arrows" can be sadness, discontent, anger, or anything else that separates us from God. I read it again the following morning before work, and continued to read it daily since then. I have not had a bad day at work since and I believe it's because I'm being Brave and relying on Him to protect me from those emotions, those "fiery arrows" that divert me from his planned purpose for me.
Brave, it's what we all have to be on this Christian walk. Nichole Nordeman's song talks about not settling for the "status quo", but being better, being Brave. Change can be difficult, with His help though, you can do it. Just remember you are never alone. It's easy to be Brave with God as your protector.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Accepting His Authority
1 Peter 3:1
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
Edited slightly on 1/29/2010
Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. I took the day off and devoted it to him. My youngest son and I decorated the night before. I bought a cheese cake, his favorite. We went to see The Book of Eli. I made Lasagna and then we celebrated with most of our children and grandchildren. It was a great day, and he deserved it.
When I first learned that wives are to submit to their husbands’ authority, I thought “are you kidding me”? Submit to my husband? I’m a strong, independent woman, I even had the minister who presided over our marriage omit the part about obeying my husband. God has since shown me how selfish I was, and how important being respectful to my husband really is.
I’ve always struggled to be something more. Always going to school and taking every training class offered at work, and attending even more to support my function at work. All in the hope of being recognized for my accomplishments, perhaps gaining a promotion or what I thought might be more important role in the organization, with some authority of my own.
I started attending college classes in t the early ‘90’s, taking one class at a time working my classes around my children’s school schedules and taking summers off. When my oldest son graduated from college in 2001, and I was still working at it, I decided to find an accelerated program and get it done. I knew that if I didn’t do it then, that I never would. By that time there were several schools in my area offering accelerated programs and on-line classes were also becoming popular. Well, I did both and finished my BBA in 2004. With my husband’s encouragement, I went on to complete an MBA in 2008, taking some time off in between to be available for my parents. It was during this time that we discovered my dad had cancer, he also had a heart attack and triple bypass in the middle of his cancer treatment, and then COPD took over.
All this time my husband took care of everything, and I mean everything; and me too. All this while working a full-time job. He never complained. I, however, was very stressed and not always appreciative of his efforts. Not recognizing him has head of our household. I had a Masters Degree after all, why would I submit to my husband’s authority? It still didn’t compute and my inability to give up my perceived right to leadership of our family was beginning to make things difficult between us.
Early last spring my church started to form Life Transformation Groups (LTG) and, knowing I was seeking the Lord, my Pastor recommended I join. The purpose is to get into the Word, and to hold group members accountable for certain things. At the outset, each of us chose an area to which we would hold ourselves accountable, and when we don’t live up to God’s intent for us, we confess it to the safety of the group, pray about it, and ask God for forgiveness. I chose to learn to be respectful to my husband in the hope that he would see a change in me that might bring him closer to God.
My husband is still taking care of everything. He’s been unemployed for the last couple of years now, and has assumed the daily responsibility of taking care of my mom and sister, who has Downs Syndrome. He drives them to their doctor’s appointments, takes my sister to her day program, and my mom grocery shopping. He even checks in on a couple of seniors in the neighborhood. Still, he never complains.
I’m not perfect, I “lose it” occasionally, still wanting to control things, but I think I’m getting better. At least I pray I am. Through the LTG study and concentrated prayer, I now see my husband for the kind, giving person he is. I am so grateful to God for bringing us together. My husband isn’t saved yet, but by following God’s direction for me, in 1 Peter 3:1, I pray that my actions will bring him closer to God so that he may experience the joy that being close to God brings.
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
Edited slightly on 1/29/2010
Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. I took the day off and devoted it to him. My youngest son and I decorated the night before. I bought a cheese cake, his favorite. We went to see The Book of Eli. I made Lasagna and then we celebrated with most of our children and grandchildren. It was a great day, and he deserved it.
When I first learned that wives are to submit to their husbands’ authority, I thought “are you kidding me”? Submit to my husband? I’m a strong, independent woman, I even had the minister who presided over our marriage omit the part about obeying my husband. God has since shown me how selfish I was, and how important being respectful to my husband really is.
I’ve always struggled to be something more. Always going to school and taking every training class offered at work, and attending even more to support my function at work. All in the hope of being recognized for my accomplishments, perhaps gaining a promotion or what I thought might be more important role in the organization, with some authority of my own.
I started attending college classes in t the early ‘90’s, taking one class at a time working my classes around my children’s school schedules and taking summers off. When my oldest son graduated from college in 2001, and I was still working at it, I decided to find an accelerated program and get it done. I knew that if I didn’t do it then, that I never would. By that time there were several schools in my area offering accelerated programs and on-line classes were also becoming popular. Well, I did both and finished my BBA in 2004. With my husband’s encouragement, I went on to complete an MBA in 2008, taking some time off in between to be available for my parents. It was during this time that we discovered my dad had cancer, he also had a heart attack and triple bypass in the middle of his cancer treatment, and then COPD took over.
All this time my husband took care of everything, and I mean everything; and me too. All this while working a full-time job. He never complained. I, however, was very stressed and not always appreciative of his efforts. Not recognizing him has head of our household. I had a Masters Degree after all, why would I submit to my husband’s authority? It still didn’t compute and my inability to give up my perceived right to leadership of our family was beginning to make things difficult between us.
Early last spring my church started to form Life Transformation Groups (LTG) and, knowing I was seeking the Lord, my Pastor recommended I join. The purpose is to get into the Word, and to hold group members accountable for certain things. At the outset, each of us chose an area to which we would hold ourselves accountable, and when we don’t live up to God’s intent for us, we confess it to the safety of the group, pray about it, and ask God for forgiveness. I chose to learn to be respectful to my husband in the hope that he would see a change in me that might bring him closer to God.
My husband is still taking care of everything. He’s been unemployed for the last couple of years now, and has assumed the daily responsibility of taking care of my mom and sister, who has Downs Syndrome. He drives them to their doctor’s appointments, takes my sister to her day program, and my mom grocery shopping. He even checks in on a couple of seniors in the neighborhood. Still, he never complains.
I’m not perfect, I “lose it” occasionally, still wanting to control things, but I think I’m getting better. At least I pray I am. Through the LTG study and concentrated prayer, I now see my husband for the kind, giving person he is. I am so grateful to God for bringing us together. My husband isn’t saved yet, but by following God’s direction for me, in 1 Peter 3:1, I pray that my actions will bring him closer to God so that he may experience the joy that being close to God brings.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Follow-Up to Jan 24 Post – Knowing
Colossian 1:9 - 10
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Here’s the thing, I pray Colossians 1:9-14 daily for a list of people that haven’t accepted Christ yet. In this letter, Paul says he’s praying that they (us) will gain more knowledge of God, so they (we) would become more like Jesus.
For an hour before posting last night, I searched for just the right verse, when I had these two all along. Perhaps I should have been looking for a verse about memory instead. I’ll chalk it up to the “Fabulous 50’s”, or maybe. . . God just wanted to spend time with me. Yup, that it!
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Here’s the thing, I pray Colossians 1:9-14 daily for a list of people that haven’t accepted Christ yet. In this letter, Paul says he’s praying that they (us) will gain more knowledge of God, so they (we) would become more like Jesus.
For an hour before posting last night, I searched for just the right verse, when I had these two all along. Perhaps I should have been looking for a verse about memory instead. I’ll chalk it up to the “Fabulous 50’s”, or maybe. . . God just wanted to spend time with me. Yup, that it!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
How do you protect yourself?
Hosea 6:6
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather that burnt offerings.
Today's post is inspired by a message delivered by Adam L., a speaker visiting to our church today.
Today was very busy. I didn’t have much time to think of something to write, so after a very busy day I sat down to listen to a CD of the sermon given at church today. While it was playing I was looking through my bible waiting to see where God would lead me, and then I heard it. Adam said the words “we protect ourselves at all cost.” He was right. We protect ourselves from strangers, tough situations, failure, and relationships. Even the most important relationship we could ever have; the relationship God wants us to have with Him. I’m guilty, and here’s how I did it:
Here are some of them:
I’ve begun to rely on Him for my protection.
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather that burnt offerings.
Today's post is inspired by a message delivered by Adam L., a speaker visiting to our church today.
Today was very busy. I didn’t have much time to think of something to write, so after a very busy day I sat down to listen to a CD of the sermon given at church today. While it was playing I was looking through my bible waiting to see where God would lead me, and then I heard it. Adam said the words “we protect ourselves at all cost.” He was right. We protect ourselves from strangers, tough situations, failure, and relationships. Even the most important relationship we could ever have; the relationship God wants us to have with Him. I’m guilty, and here’s how I did it:
- Not getting involved.
- Just coasting through life without intention.
- Not letting anyone get close enough to really know me.
- Not allowing myself to mention God at work or in social situations.
- Not changing my life, for fear of what it might bring.
- Being afraid to give up the things that separated me from God, or even trying to understand what they might be.
- Not truly committing to knowing God because it might force me to change.
- By carrying around my past sins, convinced that they couldn’t be forgiven.
Here are some of them:
- I’m getting involved.
- I have a very definite intention to know God more.
- I’m sharing my thoughts right here, allowing everyone to get to know me.
- I mention God in any situation as the Holy Spirit leads me, so that others will know Him.
- I’m not fearful of how God will change me, but eager for it to happen.
- I’ve stopped being afraid to hear from God, but rather I thirst for His Word and direction.
- I’ve committed to daily Bible study to gain more understanding.
- I know I’m forgiven.
I’ve begun to rely on Him for my protection.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
More on Serving
Joshua 24:14
So honor the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. (NLT)
Joshua 24:24
We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice. (ASV)
This is a story from my heart, it's about my parents and how they taught me to serve God.
My parents led a serving life. They had no money to speak of. Us kids never knew it though; not really. We were happy and healthy and knew our parents loved us. We knew about Jesus. Of course, going to a Catholic school, we would.
The tuition at my school was more than most parents could afford, so there were major fundraising events held throughout the year. My parents served God in the school kitchen, working at every event I can remember. My mom was the church Women’s Club treasure for 30 years. She was the local St. Vincent DePaul chairperson for many years too, finding food and furniture for those in need. She never learned to drive so Dad spent countless hours driving her where she needed to go always waiting for her in the car, in some not so safe areas, while she met with people that had called for help.
For many years after me and my brother left home the two of them shopped for, assembled, and delivered food baskets every Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We didn’t realize the magnitude of their efforts until Dad started to slow down from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), and then my husband and brother began to help with deliveries. Serving was something Mom and Dad did together, but it was Mom’s passion. Dad enabled her to serve others by driving for her, thereby also serving God.
Once, a couple of weeks before Christmas, when Dad was in the hospital again, Mom asked me to take her shopping for the food basket supplies. By this time I had begun to realize that Dad was loosing his fight against COPD, that he wasn’t going to get better. I couldn’t figure out why Mom had to make baskets that year. Why not someone else? Did she really expect me to do this, too? I was working full-time and already driving her and my sister (she has Downs Syndrome), to the hospital daily, sometimes going back during my lunch, and then back again to pick them both up in the evening if my brother couldn’t get there. Why did I have to do this, too?
Here’s the thing, Mom hadn’t accepted that Dad was in decline. That his COPD was progressive and would soon take him from us. She waited as long as she could to do that shopping, fully expecting Dad to come home in time to work on the baskets with her. You see, people were depending on her and she was committed to serving them.
I was feeling so stressed, and finally let Mom have it. In the car at the grocery store I scolded her for putting more on me, especially at that time. As if I were more important than those food baskets, more important than those people she was serving, more important than the work they had done together, serving God. In retrospect, I am so ashamed of my behavior that day and beg His forgiveness.
Thankfully, at this time in my life I am beginning to understand God’s purpose for me. By reading His Word and daily prayer, I’m learning more each day about His plan for my life. I’ve come to realize that there is nothing more important than serving Him and building my relationship with Him. Here's the tough part, I have only to be faithful that He will care for everything else. This is something my parents must have known, in their 51 years together, as they worked together to serve Him.
I believe something as small as a sincere smile to a stranger is, in some way, serving the Lord. Try it; it’s a fine place to start.
So honor the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. (NLT)
Joshua 24:24
We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice. (ASV)
This is a story from my heart, it's about my parents and how they taught me to serve God.
My parents led a serving life. They had no money to speak of. Us kids never knew it though; not really. We were happy and healthy and knew our parents loved us. We knew about Jesus. Of course, going to a Catholic school, we would.
The tuition at my school was more than most parents could afford, so there were major fundraising events held throughout the year. My parents served God in the school kitchen, working at every event I can remember. My mom was the church Women’s Club treasure for 30 years. She was the local St. Vincent DePaul chairperson for many years too, finding food and furniture for those in need. She never learned to drive so Dad spent countless hours driving her where she needed to go always waiting for her in the car, in some not so safe areas, while she met with people that had called for help.
For many years after me and my brother left home the two of them shopped for, assembled, and delivered food baskets every Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We didn’t realize the magnitude of their efforts until Dad started to slow down from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), and then my husband and brother began to help with deliveries. Serving was something Mom and Dad did together, but it was Mom’s passion. Dad enabled her to serve others by driving for her, thereby also serving God.
Once, a couple of weeks before Christmas, when Dad was in the hospital again, Mom asked me to take her shopping for the food basket supplies. By this time I had begun to realize that Dad was loosing his fight against COPD, that he wasn’t going to get better. I couldn’t figure out why Mom had to make baskets that year. Why not someone else? Did she really expect me to do this, too? I was working full-time and already driving her and my sister (she has Downs Syndrome), to the hospital daily, sometimes going back during my lunch, and then back again to pick them both up in the evening if my brother couldn’t get there. Why did I have to do this, too?
Here’s the thing, Mom hadn’t accepted that Dad was in decline. That his COPD was progressive and would soon take him from us. She waited as long as she could to do that shopping, fully expecting Dad to come home in time to work on the baskets with her. You see, people were depending on her and she was committed to serving them.
I was feeling so stressed, and finally let Mom have it. In the car at the grocery store I scolded her for putting more on me, especially at that time. As if I were more important than those food baskets, more important than those people she was serving, more important than the work they had done together, serving God. In retrospect, I am so ashamed of my behavior that day and beg His forgiveness.
Thankfully, at this time in my life I am beginning to understand God’s purpose for me. By reading His Word and daily prayer, I’m learning more each day about His plan for my life. I’ve come to realize that there is nothing more important than serving Him and building my relationship with Him. Here's the tough part, I have only to be faithful that He will care for everything else. This is something my parents must have known, in their 51 years together, as they worked together to serve Him.
I believe something as small as a sincere smile to a stranger is, in some way, serving the Lord. Try it; it’s a fine place to start.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Serving
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so the we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Psalm 60:12
With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.
On January 20th, I wrote about how God speaks to me, how He points me in the direction He wants for me. He simply places the same message in front of me, repeatedly, until I get it.
When thinking about what my next post should be, I decided to build on the closing statement of my last post. It should be about serving Him. So, I began to search through my bible for verses on serving and found one I had visited before. The verse above, from Ephesians, is in a passage I first visited in January of 2005, then again in February of 2009, even underlining vs. 2:8. Then in May of 2009 I underlined vs. 2:10 and wrote "serve" next to it. Yes, He has been directing my path.
In the Psalm above David tells us that we need only to rely on God, that He will help us. With the help of God's Word, and studying it with good friends, I've come to realize that our foes don't always come in human form. They can be much more menacing things like fear, depression, lack of motivation, alcohol, drugs, or anything else keeping us from Him and the "mighty things" He has planned for us. We have only to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) and move fearlessly forward. He will guide the way.
My fear of failure has stopped me from moving forward on so many things. Not on this blog, though. I've heard Him and I'm serving Him by writing it. My actions were confirmed by the two verses I found last night, especially in Ephesians with and the notes in margin reminding me that God has always had a plan for me, I just have to be open to His messages for me.
God blesses all of us with His message.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so the we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Psalm 60:12
With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.
On January 20th, I wrote about how God speaks to me, how He points me in the direction He wants for me. He simply places the same message in front of me, repeatedly, until I get it.
When thinking about what my next post should be, I decided to build on the closing statement of my last post. It should be about serving Him. So, I began to search through my bible for verses on serving and found one I had visited before. The verse above, from Ephesians, is in a passage I first visited in January of 2005, then again in February of 2009, even underlining vs. 2:8. Then in May of 2009 I underlined vs. 2:10 and wrote "serve" next to it. Yes, He has been directing my path.
In the Psalm above David tells us that we need only to rely on God, that He will help us. With the help of God's Word, and studying it with good friends, I've come to realize that our foes don't always come in human form. They can be much more menacing things like fear, depression, lack of motivation, alcohol, drugs, or anything else keeping us from Him and the "mighty things" He has planned for us. We have only to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) and move fearlessly forward. He will guide the way.
My fear of failure has stopped me from moving forward on so many things. Not on this blog, though. I've heard Him and I'm serving Him by writing it. My actions were confirmed by the two verses I found last night, especially in Ephesians with and the notes in margin reminding me that God has always had a plan for me, I just have to be open to His messages for me.
God blesses all of us with His message.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
God is Prompting Me
Well, I did it. I started a blog today.
For two weeks, now, I've been thinking about starting a faith-based blog for Christian Women. Thinking about it, planning it, designing it in my mind, talking about it with friends but not acting on it. The bible tells us to obey God's direction immediately. That’s what I read in my new bible last night. I was reading the Life Principles Bible (Charles F. Stanley, 2009, NAS). I've wanted it for a while now, and was able to get it with gift card I received for Christmas. I was studying Life Principle four and looked up a verse about the value of diligence as it relates to one’s work life when I found the following verse:
Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
In other words, “don’t procrastinate”, just obey. For months now, I've been praying on God's plan for me. Is this the answer? Is it really to start a blog? Has He really placed it in my heart and mind to do this?
Colossians 3:20
Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 27:10
“You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."
He said "today". Here it is again, just obey. Last night and today, one verse led to another all with the same message--just obey, so I did.
I asked my Pastor once, "What do people mean when they say ‘God talked to me, God placed this on my heart’?” When you've never experienced such a thing, it can sound a little out there for some of us. But, I've come to realize that God does talk to me. He points me in His planned direction sometimes by repeatedly placing the same message right in front of me. I'll hear a praise song, then hear a Sunday sermon, read an article, see something on TV, or read a Bible verse, all of which carry the same message. Sometimes it takes me a while, but I'm starting to get better at recognizing His answers to my prayers. In my fairly short Christian walk, I've come to realize that this is how God "talks to me".
Today, I'll begin serving Him through this blog for as long as He wants me to, and my hope is that others might also be served.
For two weeks, now, I've been thinking about starting a faith-based blog for Christian Women. Thinking about it, planning it, designing it in my mind, talking about it with friends but not acting on it. The bible tells us to obey God's direction immediately. That’s what I read in my new bible last night. I was reading the Life Principles Bible (Charles F. Stanley, 2009, NAS). I've wanted it for a while now, and was able to get it with gift card I received for Christmas. I was studying Life Principle four and looked up a verse about the value of diligence as it relates to one’s work life when I found the following verse:
Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
In other words, “don’t procrastinate”, just obey. For months now, I've been praying on God's plan for me. Is this the answer? Is it really to start a blog? Has He really placed it in my heart and mind to do this?
Colossians 3:20
Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 27:10
“You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."
He said "today". Here it is again, just obey. Last night and today, one verse led to another all with the same message--just obey, so I did.
I asked my Pastor once, "What do people mean when they say ‘God talked to me, God placed this on my heart’?” When you've never experienced such a thing, it can sound a little out there for some of us. But, I've come to realize that God does talk to me. He points me in His planned direction sometimes by repeatedly placing the same message right in front of me. I'll hear a praise song, then hear a Sunday sermon, read an article, see something on TV, or read a Bible verse, all of which carry the same message. Sometimes it takes me a while, but I'm starting to get better at recognizing His answers to my prayers. In my fairly short Christian walk, I've come to realize that this is how God "talks to me".
Today, I'll begin serving Him through this blog for as long as He wants me to, and my hope is that others might also be served.
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