I rolled over and looked at the alarm clock through the cracks of my eyelids. 4:39. 4:39. 4:39. It was flashing. Bright red and flashing. Like a warning signal. Obviously the power had gone out sometime during the night and now the clock needed to be reset. That was an issue. But the first issue - and most important one- was what time was it really?
Time runs our lives. And depending on what the correct time was, I either needed to get up and make my way to the coffee pot and get my day started or roll back over and catch a few more z's. The only problem was I wouldn't know until I found the real time. I needed a backup. My alarm clock had failed me. It's blinking signified it was 9 minutes past my normal getting up time, but I knew that it was quite possibly the wrong time, and that was doing me absolutely no good. So I reached over beside me and located my cell phone. 4:10. Okay. Good. I hadn't overslept, and actually had a few more minutes to lie in bed and prepare myself for the day ahead. First thing on my agenda was going to be to reset the clocks, because I knew if the one beside my bed was flashing, all the other ones in the house were going to be flashing, too. And while holding those buttons down and watching the numbers flash by until it's back at the right place again is a tedious chore that I never look forward to, I knew I would have to do it to every clock in the house. Afterall, what good is a flashing clock?
Lying in bed thinking of resetting the clocks got me to pondering on the word "reset" and wondering what else in my life needed to be reset. My priorities? Bad habits? My schedule? My career path? My friendships? Relationships? How I spend my spare time? My attitude towards certain things or certain someones? I was quite startled to realize how long the list became - and how quickly and easily it came. I realized that there are several things in my life which are about as useless as my flashing clocks and need to be reset.
Oftentimes we go through life in a rut and don't even realize it. We get into our comfort zones and become complacent without even knowing it. We wear the same clothes, drive the same routes, eat at the same restaurants. We attend the same functions and go to the same meetings, often without even enjoying them anymore...just because it's what we've always done. We stick with the same schedule. The same habits. The same ol' same ol' everything. Just because its easy.
And then once in a while someone or something comes along and pulls the plug. Shuts off the power and leaves us flashing. Unexpected and inconvenient as it may be, sometimes we have no choice but to take the time to reset. I don't know about you but I don't like to be taken by surprise. I like to have at least some say over situations and that's precisely what makes me think maybe I should resest myself before a power outage comes along and does it for me. Now obviously that wouldn't have worked with my alarm clock this morning. No matter how many times I had reset it, the power outage still would have left it flashing. And life may do the same thing to me. And to you. No matter how many times we reset ourselevs, life may still come along and have its turn at us, too. But if there's at least one area in our lives today that could use some resetting...refocusing...rescheduling...rearranging...I urge us to take the time to give that chore - as tedious as it may be - the attention it deserves. And maybe, just maybe, we'll find ourselves back at the right place.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Don't Be Fooled
Today is April 1. April Fool's Day. And so I couldn't help but stop and think about the things in my life by which I've been fooled...
Maya Angelou was once quoted as having said, "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." In other words, take them at face value. Don't let your hopes and dreams of who you want them to be and wish they could be fool you into thinking that they will one day magically turn into that person. See the truth in them for what it is - truth. Accept them for who they are, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant that may be, and then decide whether or not there is a place for them in your life.
I've had jobs which I thought were going to be my dream job. I've had friends that I thought would never let me down and would be my BFF for life. I've acquired possessions that I thought would be the answer to all my problems. Fooled. Fooled. Fooled. And the list could go on and on.
Now they say that wisdom comes with age, and although I've never been quite sure who "they" are, I have to admit that this is one time that I think "they" got it right. As I approach yet another birthday, I am happy to realize that my older self is not as easily fooled as I once was. I'm not as easily swayed, not as gullible as I used to be. Life has taught me lessons and I believe I've been a good student.
Maya Angelou was once quoted as having said, "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." In other words, take them at face value. Don't let your hopes and dreams of who you want them to be and wish they could be fool you into thinking that they will one day magically turn into that person. See the truth in them for what it is - truth. Accept them for who they are, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant that may be, and then decide whether or not there is a place for them in your life.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about being disappointed. I'm talking about being fooled. There is a huge difference. God is the only one who will never disappoint us. We are all human and because of the sinful nature that we all possess, we will all disappoint and hurt one another at times. However there's a fine line between disappointing someone and fooling them. To be fooled means to be tricked and deceived. It is an intentional act with selfish motives that leaves only destruction in its wake. And when we allow someone to bring that type of negativity and harmfulness into our lives, too often we are left cleaning up the mess and picking up the pieces long after they are gone.
Realize the difference today. Know who you can trust and depend on in your life and know who is trying to fool you. Believe them when they show you who they are. Look for the truth in the people that make up your close circle. Who is authentic? Who is real? Who isn't? Delve deep into your relationships and find the answers for yourself. Then believe them. The first time. And as hard as it may be, cast out the fools. Remember, they come with selfish motives and intentions of bringing nothing but chaos. Weed them out today before the mess they leave becomes so big that you're left cleaning it up for years to come.
Do It Afraid
What are you afraid of? What really strikes a chord of fear within you? Recently I was visiting with my friend Tamiko as she was caring for another friend's child . Being a typical 2 1/2 year old boy, all he wanted to talk about that afternoon was bugs and spiders and snakes. She smiled and went along with his choice of conversation topic, agreeing with him and even sharing some spider facts with him. Then he had the great idea for her to draw pictures for him. He was so excited, and so Tamiko got to work drawing spiders. But then he kept insisting that she draw snakes, too. She tried her best to talk him out of it. She really did. She kept drawing his attention back to the spiders, showing him how she had even drawn them with 8 legs. But he wasn't swayed. He was persistent. He wanted a snake.
What the poor little fellow didn't know was that Tamiko is scared of snakes. Terrified. Even ones drawn on paper. But when she realized that her attempts to talk him out of drawing snakes were falling on deaf ears, she eventually gave in and quickly sketched one out on the paper for him. Now you may be thinking, "How silly for a grown woman to be afraid of a drawing of a snake." But I would suggest that you not be so quick to judge. Fear is fear. It is very real and very different for each of us. What scares me and stops me in my tracks may not even cause you to blink. And your biggest fear may seem silly to someone else. But don't underestimate that, while different, they are very real indeed for each of us.
They can be overwhelming at times - even to the point of becoming a debilitating and destructive force in our lives. You may not have a fear of snakes and may not think twice about drawing one on paper, but for Tamiko, that fear is very real. But this is the greatest part about Tamiko - she knows what her fear is. She sees it. She recognizes it. She has claimed it. And she makes a point to stay away from it as much as possible (until a cherub faced 2 year old wants her to draw pictures).
All of my fears aren't as obvious to me as Tamiko and her snakes. Some I didn't even realize I had. As I was thinking about and writing out my personal fears recently, I was surprised to see how long my list grew - and how quickly. Heights...Tight Spaces...Large crowds...Public speaking...Making the wrong decision...Not living up to my potential... One seemed to bleed over into another and before I knew it, I seemed to be afraid of more things than I wasn't. My list was as long as my arm.
Oftentimes we go through life not knowing what scares us. We may find ourselves in the same situations over and over again simply because we're scared to try anything different. Or we may find ourselves trying something new every other day because we're scared of becoming stagnant. Our level of comfort doesn't want to be stretched, and so we stay. Or the comfortable rut scares us, and so we leave. Once we realize fear is the driving force and the reason for keeping us reliving the same repetitive scenarios, we can then work to overcome our fears and see drastic changes in our lives.
Overcoming our fears - whether it be snakes or heights or success or change - can take exhaustive effort on our part. People spend hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of dollars on therapists, hypnotists, physicians and pharmacists all in attempts to seek help in dealing with and overcoming their fears. The largest step in the process of course is naming it and claiming it. Once you know what you're afraid of, then you can set out working to overcome it and get on to living a more abundant life.
No matter what you're afraid of, I encourage you today to stop and study that fear. If its something that is causing you to take a back seat to your life or is holding you back from doing what you want and need to be doing, take a hard look at what it would take for you to overcome it. Lay it down. Walk away from it. And get on with the business of living your life without it.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
~ 2 Timothy 1:7
What the poor little fellow didn't know was that Tamiko is scared of snakes. Terrified. Even ones drawn on paper. But when she realized that her attempts to talk him out of drawing snakes were falling on deaf ears, she eventually gave in and quickly sketched one out on the paper for him. Now you may be thinking, "How silly for a grown woman to be afraid of a drawing of a snake." But I would suggest that you not be so quick to judge. Fear is fear. It is very real and very different for each of us. What scares me and stops me in my tracks may not even cause you to blink. And your biggest fear may seem silly to someone else. But don't underestimate that, while different, they are very real indeed for each of us.
They can be overwhelming at times - even to the point of becoming a debilitating and destructive force in our lives. You may not have a fear of snakes and may not think twice about drawing one on paper, but for Tamiko, that fear is very real. But this is the greatest part about Tamiko - she knows what her fear is. She sees it. She recognizes it. She has claimed it. And she makes a point to stay away from it as much as possible (until a cherub faced 2 year old wants her to draw pictures).
All of my fears aren't as obvious to me as Tamiko and her snakes. Some I didn't even realize I had. As I was thinking about and writing out my personal fears recently, I was surprised to see how long my list grew - and how quickly. Heights...Tight Spaces...Large crowds...Public speaking...Making the wrong decision...Not living up to my potential... One seemed to bleed over into another and before I knew it, I seemed to be afraid of more things than I wasn't. My list was as long as my arm.
Oftentimes we go through life not knowing what scares us. We may find ourselves in the same situations over and over again simply because we're scared to try anything different. Or we may find ourselves trying something new every other day because we're scared of becoming stagnant. Our level of comfort doesn't want to be stretched, and so we stay. Or the comfortable rut scares us, and so we leave. Once we realize fear is the driving force and the reason for keeping us reliving the same repetitive scenarios, we can then work to overcome our fears and see drastic changes in our lives.
Overcoming our fears - whether it be snakes or heights or success or change - can take exhaustive effort on our part. People spend hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of dollars on therapists, hypnotists, physicians and pharmacists all in attempts to seek help in dealing with and overcoming their fears. The largest step in the process of course is naming it and claiming it. Once you know what you're afraid of, then you can set out working to overcome it and get on to living a more abundant life.
No matter what you're afraid of, I encourage you today to stop and study that fear. If its something that is causing you to take a back seat to your life or is holding you back from doing what you want and need to be doing, take a hard look at what it would take for you to overcome it. Lay it down. Walk away from it. And get on with the business of living your life without it.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
~ 2 Timothy 1:7
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
When Words Won't Come
What do you say to someone when you don't know what to say? How do you find the words to relay your feelings when there just don't seem to be any? We've all been in such situations before. A co-worker has lost her spouse unexpectedly. A fatal accident has claimed the life of a teenager. A child has lost his battle with cancer. His wife left him with little more than a note on the kitchen counter. What do you say? What can you say?
Lyricist Roan Keating penned the song, "You Say It Best When You Say Nothing At All." And while the meaning behind the words is aimed towards lovers who knew each other so well that nothing needed to be spoken between them - just a look or a touch said it all - the title line can also be used to describe how we should respond in difficult situations.
When I was in junior high, one of my best friend's dad lost his battle to cancer. My mother drove me over to her house that night to visit her and her mom and sister. And although we were the typical teenage girls who would normally talk hours and hours about everything and nothing, I don't think we spoke more than a few sentences that night. I remember trying to think of something to say and not being able to come up with a single word. Our normal chattiness had been silenced by my friend's pain. I knew there was nothing I could say to make my her feel better, so eventually I quit trying. I just sat with her in the quietness of her bedroom.
And sometimes that's all you need to do. Just be there. Just show up. Is there someone you need to show up for? Grief may have stolen their joy. Loss may have come calling. Death may have taken their loved one. Or perhaps they are just going through a rough spot or you know things have been tough for them lately. You know you should visit but you just don't know what to say. I encourage you to go anyway. Just show up. Even if the right words never come, your presence alone can speak volumes.
Lyricist Roan Keating penned the song, "You Say It Best When You Say Nothing At All." And while the meaning behind the words is aimed towards lovers who knew each other so well that nothing needed to be spoken between them - just a look or a touch said it all - the title line can also be used to describe how we should respond in difficult situations.
When I was in junior high, one of my best friend's dad lost his battle to cancer. My mother drove me over to her house that night to visit her and her mom and sister. And although we were the typical teenage girls who would normally talk hours and hours about everything and nothing, I don't think we spoke more than a few sentences that night. I remember trying to think of something to say and not being able to come up with a single word. Our normal chattiness had been silenced by my friend's pain. I knew there was nothing I could say to make my her feel better, so eventually I quit trying. I just sat with her in the quietness of her bedroom.
And sometimes that's all you need to do. Just be there. Just show up. Is there someone you need to show up for? Grief may have stolen their joy. Loss may have come calling. Death may have taken their loved one. Or perhaps they are just going through a rough spot or you know things have been tough for them lately. You know you should visit but you just don't know what to say. I encourage you to go anyway. Just show up. Even if the right words never come, your presence alone can speak volumes.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Where Does The Time Go?
As I sit here this morning and look over my blog, it's hard to believe that it's been over a year and a half since I last posted. It's even harder to believe that it has been 4 years today since my grandmother went to be with the Lord. Indeed, time flies. And as cliche as that phrase sounds and is, it also holds an immense amount of truth.
Time does indeed fly. Hours turn into days, days into weeks and months and before we know it a year and a half have passed. 4 years are gone. Where did they go? And even more so, how did we spend them? As I sit and look back this morning and think about the passing of time, I'm brought to mind the well known passage from Ecclesiastes. Made popular by writer Pete Seeger, The Birds performance of the song became one of their greatest hits. Ever wonder why it resonated so deeply with so many? Let's take a look at the original lyrics from the original writer - King Solomon.
"There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.
There is a time to be born and a time to die.
There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants.
There is a time to kill and a time to heal.
There is a time to destroy and a time to build.
There is a time to cry and a time to laugh.
There is a time to be sad and a time to dance.
There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them.
There is a time to hug and a time not to hug.
There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it.
There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away.
There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together.
There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.
There is a time to love and a time to hate.
There is a time for war and a time for peace."
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (New Century Version)
Heres' my thought - the song entitled, "Turn, Turn, Turn" became so wildly popular because it was so relatable. One thing that we all have in common, regardless of our social status, skin color, or nationality, is that we all experience the passing of time and the turn, turn, turning of life that it brings. The thing that separates us and sets us apart is how we spend it. What do we do with our time? And how does its passing affect us?
I have a birthday coming up in a couple of months. Another year older. Another year of my life has passed. 365 days that I can't recover. No matter how hard I work, how much I pray, how much money I earn, how much good I do, one thing I can never accomplish is the recovery of yesterday. Or last week or last year or 1989, or any other year. Once the calendar page has been turned, there's no going back. And oh how quickly those pages turn.
So as I think back to the past year and a half of being absent from this blog, and as the death of my grandmother 4 years ago today weighs heavily on my heart this morning, I've decided that because time flies and because there's no going back, I won't let another day go by wasted. Every day is a precious and priceless gift that can't be bought or earned. Every day is a challenge. A promise. An opportunity.
There is indeed a time for everything. Whatever time it is for you today, I hope that you seize it and cherish it for the treasure that it is. Don't waste it for you can never get it back. Remember the only thing that separates your time from the person's next door is how you spend it. Spend it wisely...tomorrow is coming fast!
Time does indeed fly. Hours turn into days, days into weeks and months and before we know it a year and a half have passed. 4 years are gone. Where did they go? And even more so, how did we spend them? As I sit and look back this morning and think about the passing of time, I'm brought to mind the well known passage from Ecclesiastes. Made popular by writer Pete Seeger, The Birds performance of the song became one of their greatest hits. Ever wonder why it resonated so deeply with so many? Let's take a look at the original lyrics from the original writer - King Solomon.
"There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.
There is a time to be born and a time to die.
There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants.
There is a time to kill and a time to heal.
There is a time to destroy and a time to build.
There is a time to cry and a time to laugh.
There is a time to be sad and a time to dance.
There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them.
There is a time to hug and a time not to hug.
There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it.
There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away.
There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together.
There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.
There is a time to love and a time to hate.
There is a time for war and a time for peace."
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (New Century Version)
Heres' my thought - the song entitled, "Turn, Turn, Turn" became so wildly popular because it was so relatable. One thing that we all have in common, regardless of our social status, skin color, or nationality, is that we all experience the passing of time and the turn, turn, turning of life that it brings. The thing that separates us and sets us apart is how we spend it. What do we do with our time? And how does its passing affect us?
I have a birthday coming up in a couple of months. Another year older. Another year of my life has passed. 365 days that I can't recover. No matter how hard I work, how much I pray, how much money I earn, how much good I do, one thing I can never accomplish is the recovery of yesterday. Or last week or last year or 1989, or any other year. Once the calendar page has been turned, there's no going back. And oh how quickly those pages turn.
So as I think back to the past year and a half of being absent from this blog, and as the death of my grandmother 4 years ago today weighs heavily on my heart this morning, I've decided that because time flies and because there's no going back, I won't let another day go by wasted. Every day is a precious and priceless gift that can't be bought or earned. Every day is a challenge. A promise. An opportunity.
There is indeed a time for everything. Whatever time it is for you today, I hope that you seize it and cherish it for the treasure that it is. Don't waste it for you can never get it back. Remember the only thing that separates your time from the person's next door is how you spend it. Spend it wisely...tomorrow is coming fast!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Provider
My daughter leaves for college in two weeks. When she first started looking at where she might want to apply, I worried somewhat about how it would all be paid for, where she would want to go, who her roommate would be, and on and on. Typical worries, I figured, for a mom with a child about to leave the nest for the first time. She started exploring schools online and picked out her top two to visit. We visited each and she made her decision. Then I really started to worry.
Don't misunderstand me, I was THRILLED with her choice. Still am. I just had to come to realize that my worry was in vain. She chose LaGrange College, a small private Christian college 170 miles away from home. Being the oldest private college in the state, she fell in love with the beautiful historic campus. She loved the size of the school and the small student body. Her incoming Freshman Class will be less than half the size of her graduating class. She loved that the average student/teacher ratio in the classroom is 11/1 and that more often than not classes are round table discussions, not lecture seminars. She loved their music and theater program. She loved the opportunities for travel and missions. She loved their devotion to community service. She loved the chapel services and Bible studies on campus. She loved everything about it. And Mama loved that she wanted to go to a Christian school and that we have family and friends in LaGrange who can be there for her if she needs them!
So when she decided this was where she wanted to go, we got busy with the application process. I knew the school was expensive. Most private colleges are. But I didn't realize exactly HOW expensive. We could build a very nice house with what it will cost her over the next four years!! To say that I had sticker shock would be putting it mildly. But I knew I had to find a way. My beautiful daughter was wanting, begging, to go to a Christian college. How could I ever tell her no? It was at this point, very early on, that I just said, "Okay, God. This is where she wants to go. If this is where she is supposed to be, You have got to make it happen because there is NO WAY that I can do this on my own." And with that simple prayer, the provisions began.
When the admissions office called to tell us she had been accepted and that she had qualified for an academic scholarship, we were thrilled. The scholarship was a substantial amount, but it wasn't nearly enough. And so we fumbled our way through the Financial Aid process. What a nightmare that was! So many forms, so many applications, back and forth between the school and the government. I will say that it was probably only a nightmare because we were completely oblivious to the process. The Financial Aid Office at LaGrange was more than helpful anytime we needed them and assisted us tremendously with deciphering the whole hullabaloo.
With every application, every hope of more financial aid, there was an answer. And the answer always came back yes. Even more grants and scholarships were awarded to her from the college. After her final high school transcript was submitted, she became eligible for our state's HOPE scholarship, and Tuition Equalization Grant. It was like everywhere we turned, God was providing. At one point we thought we had a figure in our head that she was going to owe (turns out we were off, way off, but we didn't know it at that time.) We had calculated and estimated and thought she needed "X" amount. After our church honored her with a Graduation supper and gifts, she came home and counted all of the monetary gifts she had received for graduation up to that point. She had received that exact amount. God was providing.
But then the amount changed. We went to Orientation, she registered for classes, and the amount we had figured in our head increased even more. Quite a bit more. But so did God. We just received word this week that she was "selected randomly through a lottery drawing" for participation in one last financial aid opportunity. We know that there was nothing "random" about that selection. God was providing. She was approved and the amount she will receive is not just enough - it is MORE THAN ENOUGH to pay off her remaining balance AND cover her books and any other fees she may have. She actually has a credit balance on her account!! Can I get an AMEN!?!?
Throughout this entire financial process, God was at work in another way as well. When a friend from church heard where Emilee was going to college, she told us that there was a girl in her home church a few hours away, that was also going to LaGrange. When she told us who she was, we realized that we knew her family! She offered to call Carmen and tell her about Emilee and maybe they could at least meet beforehand and know someone when they arrived on campus. Emilee was disappointed when at first Carmen wasn't going to be at the same Orientation session, because she was looking forward to meeting her. Then just a few days before, their plans changed and she was able to be at the same session as Emilee. I now know that whatever those plans were, God changed them so that the girls could spend time together. They went into Orientation not knowing each other. They came out as fast friends and before leaving campus had signed up to be roommates. We all met up for a shopping trip this week, and the more time the girls spend together, the more they realize how similar they are and the closer and closer they become. Again, God has provided.
A few months ago when Emilee told me that she wanted to go to LaGrange, I had worries. Many of them. But I knew that I had to find a way for her to go and I knew that I couldn't do it alone. I gave it to God, trusting that He would make it happen if it was supposed to happen. Yes, I had faith...but I don't think I would have ever believed you if you had told me then that she would be here today, 2 weeks away from starting college, with a dear sweet friend for a roommate and a credit balance on her account.
God has provided. And then some.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:20,21 (emphasis my own)
Don't misunderstand me, I was THRILLED with her choice. Still am. I just had to come to realize that my worry was in vain. She chose LaGrange College, a small private Christian college 170 miles away from home. Being the oldest private college in the state, she fell in love with the beautiful historic campus. She loved the size of the school and the small student body. Her incoming Freshman Class will be less than half the size of her graduating class. She loved that the average student/teacher ratio in the classroom is 11/1 and that more often than not classes are round table discussions, not lecture seminars. She loved their music and theater program. She loved the opportunities for travel and missions. She loved their devotion to community service. She loved the chapel services and Bible studies on campus. She loved everything about it. And Mama loved that she wanted to go to a Christian school and that we have family and friends in LaGrange who can be there for her if she needs them!
So when she decided this was where she wanted to go, we got busy with the application process. I knew the school was expensive. Most private colleges are. But I didn't realize exactly HOW expensive. We could build a very nice house with what it will cost her over the next four years!! To say that I had sticker shock would be putting it mildly. But I knew I had to find a way. My beautiful daughter was wanting, begging, to go to a Christian college. How could I ever tell her no? It was at this point, very early on, that I just said, "Okay, God. This is where she wants to go. If this is where she is supposed to be, You have got to make it happen because there is NO WAY that I can do this on my own." And with that simple prayer, the provisions began.
When the admissions office called to tell us she had been accepted and that she had qualified for an academic scholarship, we were thrilled. The scholarship was a substantial amount, but it wasn't nearly enough. And so we fumbled our way through the Financial Aid process. What a nightmare that was! So many forms, so many applications, back and forth between the school and the government. I will say that it was probably only a nightmare because we were completely oblivious to the process. The Financial Aid Office at LaGrange was more than helpful anytime we needed them and assisted us tremendously with deciphering the whole hullabaloo.
With every application, every hope of more financial aid, there was an answer. And the answer always came back yes. Even more grants and scholarships were awarded to her from the college. After her final high school transcript was submitted, she became eligible for our state's HOPE scholarship, and Tuition Equalization Grant. It was like everywhere we turned, God was providing. At one point we thought we had a figure in our head that she was going to owe (turns out we were off, way off, but we didn't know it at that time.) We had calculated and estimated and thought she needed "X" amount. After our church honored her with a Graduation supper and gifts, she came home and counted all of the monetary gifts she had received for graduation up to that point. She had received that exact amount. God was providing.
But then the amount changed. We went to Orientation, she registered for classes, and the amount we had figured in our head increased even more. Quite a bit more. But so did God. We just received word this week that she was "selected randomly through a lottery drawing" for participation in one last financial aid opportunity. We know that there was nothing "random" about that selection. God was providing. She was approved and the amount she will receive is not just enough - it is MORE THAN ENOUGH to pay off her remaining balance AND cover her books and any other fees she may have. She actually has a credit balance on her account!! Can I get an AMEN!?!?
Throughout this entire financial process, God was at work in another way as well. When a friend from church heard where Emilee was going to college, she told us that there was a girl in her home church a few hours away, that was also going to LaGrange. When she told us who she was, we realized that we knew her family! She offered to call Carmen and tell her about Emilee and maybe they could at least meet beforehand and know someone when they arrived on campus. Emilee was disappointed when at first Carmen wasn't going to be at the same Orientation session, because she was looking forward to meeting her. Then just a few days before, their plans changed and she was able to be at the same session as Emilee. I now know that whatever those plans were, God changed them so that the girls could spend time together. They went into Orientation not knowing each other. They came out as fast friends and before leaving campus had signed up to be roommates. We all met up for a shopping trip this week, and the more time the girls spend together, the more they realize how similar they are and the closer and closer they become. Again, God has provided.
A few months ago when Emilee told me that she wanted to go to LaGrange, I had worries. Many of them. But I knew that I had to find a way for her to go and I knew that I couldn't do it alone. I gave it to God, trusting that He would make it happen if it was supposed to happen. Yes, I had faith...but I don't think I would have ever believed you if you had told me then that she would be here today, 2 weeks away from starting college, with a dear sweet friend for a roommate and a credit balance on her account.
God has provided. And then some.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:20,21 (emphasis my own)
Monday, July 30, 2012
Turn On the Light!
Sometimes its easier to be in the dark. Without turning the overhead lights on in the house, we can save electricity, keep the room(s) cooler, or set a mood. I grew up in a home where the room in which we gathered as a family, the den, was very dark. Granted it was the 70's, so the dark paneling on the walls and the green shag carpet on the floor were very en vogue. The problem was, the large picture window that had originally been in the room, providing the only source of natural light, had been replaced years before by a ginormous brick fireplace. And yes, the brick was dark, too. It was like a big dark cave in that room.
Please don't get me wrong. I loved this room. My parents have since remodeled, opening up the space by tearing down walls and letting in lots more light. But something about that dark room stuck with me. Ever since first leaving home 20+ years ago, I've always had to have light. Lots and lots of light in my living space. From light wood tones on my cabinets and floors to light colored furniture and bedding and paint on the walls. I also have a bad habit of turning on and leaving on lights. You know the old song, "Every light in the house is on?" Yeah....that's me! I want it light and bright all around me. Blinds open, doors open, overhead lights on, lamps on...I love to light it up.
Until bedtime. When it's time for bed I want it dark. Don't give me a nightlight. Don't leave the bathroom or closet light on and crack the door open for me. I want it to be pitch black. Total darkness. If I need to get up during the night and find my way to the kitchen or bathroom, I'll turn on the lamp. I won't, however, leave one on just in case I may need it.
When we are actively going about our day; when we are awake and alert and have the opportunity to influence or make a difference, we need the light on. Okay, maybe not EVERY light has to be on like I like, but it would be awfully difficult to be productive during the day on our jobs and in our homes in total darkness. Could you perform your daily duties in the dark? Chances are, unless you're blind and have HAD to learn to adapt to life in total darkness, your answer is no. It's hard to be productive in the dark.
Even God's word says so. Ephesians 5:11 says that deeds done in darkness are fruitless. Remember, in the very first chapter of Genesis, God created light. The darkness was already there, but it wasn't profitable. The world needed light to operate. And He called the light, "good." The darkness, not so much. Light is necessary if we're going to live fruitfully. And the Light of God in our lives is necessary if we're going to live the way God intended. 2 Samuel perhaps says it best. "You Lord are my lamp. The Lord turns my darkness into light." Our lives without God are dark. Unprofitable and unpurposeful. But once we flip the switch and let the light in, we get a whole new view.
"Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going." (John 12:35) "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (I John 1:7)
Turn on the Light!
Please don't get me wrong. I loved this room. My parents have since remodeled, opening up the space by tearing down walls and letting in lots more light. But something about that dark room stuck with me. Ever since first leaving home 20+ years ago, I've always had to have light. Lots and lots of light in my living space. From light wood tones on my cabinets and floors to light colored furniture and bedding and paint on the walls. I also have a bad habit of turning on and leaving on lights. You know the old song, "Every light in the house is on?" Yeah....that's me! I want it light and bright all around me. Blinds open, doors open, overhead lights on, lamps on...I love to light it up.
Until bedtime. When it's time for bed I want it dark. Don't give me a nightlight. Don't leave the bathroom or closet light on and crack the door open for me. I want it to be pitch black. Total darkness. If I need to get up during the night and find my way to the kitchen or bathroom, I'll turn on the lamp. I won't, however, leave one on just in case I may need it.
When we are actively going about our day; when we are awake and alert and have the opportunity to influence or make a difference, we need the light on. Okay, maybe not EVERY light has to be on like I like, but it would be awfully difficult to be productive during the day on our jobs and in our homes in total darkness. Could you perform your daily duties in the dark? Chances are, unless you're blind and have HAD to learn to adapt to life in total darkness, your answer is no. It's hard to be productive in the dark.
Even God's word says so. Ephesians 5:11 says that deeds done in darkness are fruitless. Remember, in the very first chapter of Genesis, God created light. The darkness was already there, but it wasn't profitable. The world needed light to operate. And He called the light, "good." The darkness, not so much. Light is necessary if we're going to live fruitfully. And the Light of God in our lives is necessary if we're going to live the way God intended. 2 Samuel perhaps says it best. "You Lord are my lamp. The Lord turns my darkness into light." Our lives without God are dark. Unprofitable and unpurposeful. But once we flip the switch and let the light in, we get a whole new view.
"Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going." (John 12:35) "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (I John 1:7)
Turn on the Light!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Morning, Afternoon, Evening or Nighttime?
I am a morning person. I never would have dreamed I'd turn out this way, but here I am. 41 years old and I love to get up early in the morning! I guess there is something about getting older that changes you. The thing is, I'm much more productive in the mornings. I can get more done between 6 and 10 am than I can the rest of the day most days! Once my foot...and then eventually my prosthetic foot...hits the floor and I have a couple of sips of coffee, it's ON! If you want me to do something and be productive, see me in the morning.
I recently tried to have an in-depth, face-to-face, heart-to-heart conversation at nighttime. It didn't work. I couldn't do it. I was so tired and weary, I couldn't put two thoughts together! All I could think about was putting on my PJ's, grabbing my Kindle & crawling under the covers. But the next morning, I was good to go. I could concentrate, I was focused, and I was able to communicate very efficiently exactly what I needed to say. And then some. :-)
Are you a morning person like me or are you more of a night owl? One thing I know...God is both! He is available nighttime, morning time, daytime, ALL THE TIME! And I'm so grateful, because there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night (more often than not, really. I think this, too, has something to do with getting older!)...and I'm so glad He's available at 3am. And He's available when I start my mornings at 6am, and He's available throughout the day, and before I go to bed (I wont' tell you how early that is!!). He's available for the morning person and the night owl. He's available in the afternoons and in the evening. He's on call 24/7, 365 days a year. All we have to do is look for Him.
I recently tried to have an in-depth, face-to-face, heart-to-heart conversation at nighttime. It didn't work. I couldn't do it. I was so tired and weary, I couldn't put two thoughts together! All I could think about was putting on my PJ's, grabbing my Kindle & crawling under the covers. But the next morning, I was good to go. I could concentrate, I was focused, and I was able to communicate very efficiently exactly what I needed to say. And then some. :-)
Are you a morning person like me or are you more of a night owl? One thing I know...God is both! He is available nighttime, morning time, daytime, ALL THE TIME! And I'm so grateful, because there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night (more often than not, really. I think this, too, has something to do with getting older!)...and I'm so glad He's available at 3am. And He's available when I start my mornings at 6am, and He's available throughout the day, and before I go to bed (I wont' tell you how early that is!!). He's available for the morning person and the night owl. He's available in the afternoons and in the evening. He's on call 24/7, 365 days a year. All we have to do is look for Him.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Goodbye Virus
I spent the better part of yesterday morning cleaning up a virus on my computer. The stinking little booger had slowed things down greatly, rendered some programs inoperable, and denied access to certain areas. It left me frustrated, aggravated & at its mercy. Until it was gone, I couldn't do any of the things I wanted & needed to do on my pc.
Eventually, after over an hour of researching and downloading, I was finally able to find the virus removal software i needed and I set it in motion. It started scanning. And scanning. And scanning. After a while, I finally left to go do something else. When I came back, it was still scanning. And scanning. I repeated this process...leaving and coming back to check...several times before FINALLY it had finished scanning my entire computer and had found the items that needed to be removed. So then I started that process. It began removing and removing and removing, so I left and came back again. And again. And again...until finally...it was all gone. The entire process was nearly 4 hours. But as soon as it was finished, things improved greatly. The computer was working faster and more efficiently, and I was finally able to get things done. The yuckiness was gone and life was good again. It was as if the virus had never been there at all.
If you know me, you know that patience is NOT a virtue of mine. (And I don't dare pray for any!!) That being so, I'm so glad that we don't have to wait for God's forgiveness when we mess up like I had to wait for that computer virus to be removed. What if we had to keep checking back to see if He had decided to forgive us yet. Back and forth we'd go. "Are you done yet, God? Have you decided to forgive me?" How grateful I am that His forgiveness is instant, and always available. All we have to do is ask for it. And once we've received it, the yuckiness is gone & life is good again. As if it had never been there at all.
Psalm 103:12 tells us that God has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. They are with us no more. They can't slow us down or render us inoperable. He has removed them. They are gone. Just as if they'd never been there at all.
Eventually, after over an hour of researching and downloading, I was finally able to find the virus removal software i needed and I set it in motion. It started scanning. And scanning. And scanning. After a while, I finally left to go do something else. When I came back, it was still scanning. And scanning. I repeated this process...leaving and coming back to check...several times before FINALLY it had finished scanning my entire computer and had found the items that needed to be removed. So then I started that process. It began removing and removing and removing, so I left and came back again. And again. And again...until finally...it was all gone. The entire process was nearly 4 hours. But as soon as it was finished, things improved greatly. The computer was working faster and more efficiently, and I was finally able to get things done. The yuckiness was gone and life was good again. It was as if the virus had never been there at all.
If you know me, you know that patience is NOT a virtue of mine. (And I don't dare pray for any!!) That being so, I'm so glad that we don't have to wait for God's forgiveness when we mess up like I had to wait for that computer virus to be removed. What if we had to keep checking back to see if He had decided to forgive us yet. Back and forth we'd go. "Are you done yet, God? Have you decided to forgive me?" How grateful I am that His forgiveness is instant, and always available. All we have to do is ask for it. And once we've received it, the yuckiness is gone & life is good again. As if it had never been there at all.
Psalm 103:12 tells us that God has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. They are with us no more. They can't slow us down or render us inoperable. He has removed them. They are gone. Just as if they'd never been there at all.
Monday, July 23, 2012
He Says It Best When You Say Nothing At All
Just shut up and listen.
The concept seems so simple, doesn't it? But is it? How often do you shut up and listen....REALLY LISTEN...to what God is saying to you? It's more difficult than it may seem. I've been practicing it a lot more lately and am happy to say that it does get easier, but still can be quite challenging at times.
Our thoughts and minds are so crowded. So muddled with so much information and so many questions. Just sitting still and trying to be quiet and not think of anything can be quite the task. "Did I turn off the iron?" "What am I going to cook for supper?" "Did I remember to mail car payment?" "I wonder what she meant by that?" "I need to add sugar to the grocery list." "Now where did I put that coupon?" "I've got to remember to call Susan and ask about her mom,"....
The thoughts go on and on and on. Shutting our brains off - even for a few minutes - isn't easy. But it can be done and is so worth it. Scripture tells us over and over again to LISTEN. Here are just a few examples:
Proverbs 1:33, "...but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Proverbs 7:24, "Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say."
Proverbs 8:34, "Blessed are those who listen to me,.."
We may be quick to praise God for His blessings or to ask for what we need but how often do we take the time to simply listen to His answers or His instructions. Try to find some time each day to do so. You may be surprised by what He has to say!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Boo Boos Continued...
To see the results of the paint disasters turned prettiness ... aka Boo Boos to Blessings...check out my new blog here: www.williemaeandalice.blogspot.com. I'll still be leaving devotional/inspirational type posts here as God sends them to me. The new blog will show the results of this "Sweet Spot" I'm living in! I hope that you will enjoy both sites!
From Boo Boos to Blessings
I was so excited to get started on several projects yesterday. I had gotten so much inspiration the day before and had so many ideas I just couldn't wait to jump in. But as with what usually happens when you jump first and look second, I made a boo boo. Trying to be thrifty and not waste anything, I had picked up an old can of black paint from projects past to use again. Not taking the time to read the label, I shook the paint, pried the rusty lid open with my straight-head screwdriver and poured it into my paint mix. As soon as I started stirring, I realized what I had. It wasn't the lovely smooth, milky, creamy latex paint that I was wanting (and needing) for my project. Oh no. It was oil based. Sticky, gluey, slimy, messy oil based. SHOOT! And I had already poured it into my paint mixture, so it wasn't like I could just pour it back into the can for a day when I actually wanted to use the slimy mess. "Oh well," I thought. "Now what?" "Lord, what am I going to do with this mess?" It wasn't long before I remembered. I had another idea for a project in the back of my mind. It would stay outdoors, so the oil-base might not be a bad thing. I got to work. I prepped Plan B and started painting it with the oil based nightmare. Immediately I was happy with the results. Thrilled, actually. The Boo Boo Paint was perfect for this piece. I hadn't thought of painting it black, but was tickled over the way it turned out. And I had mixed just enough paint for that piece. I mean JUST ENOUGH. It was like I had chosen the paint and mixed it for that project to start with!
Later in the day I was opening more paint (LATEX this time - I read the label first!), but wasn't happy with the darkness of the color. Thinking I would lighten it up a little, I pulled out a small can of unopened white to use as a lightener. Because the can was full, the paint poured out faster than I expected. I panicked and jerked the can upright, causing even more paint to slosh out the backside and into the mix. I had almost doubled the amount of white I had intended to use. I just knew it was going to turn out too light. As I started stirring, a new color started forming. No, it wasn't the color I had intended. It was much lighter, much softer...and absolutely GORGEOUS! I had wanted a medium green. What I ended up with was a turquoisey blue-green that was just divine! But what was I going to do with it? Turns out I did lots with it. Emilee even cashed in on my mistake and painted some picture frames with it. I used it for several projects, but the best part was that it went perfectly with my prior Boo Boo episode. Remember the black? YEP, turns out that turquoisey blue-green and black look really good together! I added it to the black on that Plan B project and ended up with one of my favorites of the day! Stay tuned for pics. Not bad for Boo Boos!!
I saw this on a friend's Facebook wall today, "Thought for the Day: “When you look around, if you see problems that are holding you back and frustrating you - change the way you see things – try to see opportunities to overcome your challenges and move forward victoriously towards the future that God has in store for you.” I hope you have a marvelous day today my friends! – Elmer Laydon The Whisper of God
Don't let your problems and BooBoos hold you back or slow you down. Find an opportunity to use them for good. The results will be amazing!!
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28
Later in the day I was opening more paint (LATEX this time - I read the label first!), but wasn't happy with the darkness of the color. Thinking I would lighten it up a little, I pulled out a small can of unopened white to use as a lightener. Because the can was full, the paint poured out faster than I expected. I panicked and jerked the can upright, causing even more paint to slosh out the backside and into the mix. I had almost doubled the amount of white I had intended to use. I just knew it was going to turn out too light. As I started stirring, a new color started forming. No, it wasn't the color I had intended. It was much lighter, much softer...and absolutely GORGEOUS! I had wanted a medium green. What I ended up with was a turquoisey blue-green that was just divine! But what was I going to do with it? Turns out I did lots with it. Emilee even cashed in on my mistake and painted some picture frames with it. I used it for several projects, but the best part was that it went perfectly with my prior Boo Boo episode. Remember the black? YEP, turns out that turquoisey blue-green and black look really good together! I added it to the black on that Plan B project and ended up with one of my favorites of the day! Stay tuned for pics. Not bad for Boo Boos!!
I saw this on a friend's Facebook wall today, "Thought for the Day: “When you look around, if you see problems that are holding you back and frustrating you - change the way you see things – try to see opportunities to overcome your challenges and move forward victoriously towards the future that God has in store for you.” I hope you have a marvelous day today my friends! – Elmer Laydon The Whisper of God
Don't let your problems and BooBoos hold you back or slow you down. Find an opportunity to use them for good. The results will be amazing!!
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28
Monday, October 17, 2011
I've Got God's Approval...I Don't Need Yours!
Oftentimes we seek out and do whatever we think we need to do in order to meet the approval of others. We worry about what they think, about how we look in their eyes. We aim to make them happy, and we will do whatever we think it takes to make them happy, and to make them accept us. We long for positive reinforcement from others...sometimes even at the expense of sacrificing our own true selves in order to obtain it. When in reality, the only approval and acceptance we truly need to be seeking is God's.
When we have a personal relationship with God, we have an identity in Him. We come to know who we are in Christ. We don't need others' acceptance or approval in order to be happy. We shouldn't rely on others' happiness to make us happy. We don't need any of that. We only need to know that we are accepted and approved by God. And if we have a personal relationship with Him that brings us to Him on a daily basis in order to maintain and strengthen that relationship, and we are living a life according to His will, we've already got His approval...we don't need it from anyone else.
That's right....not anyone. Not our spouses or our friends or our family members. Not our co-workers or our fellow church members or even our pastor. Not our neighbors or our children or our parents. There is no way we can ever make everyone happy anyway. Someone is always going to disagree with us, judge us, disapprove of us, talk about us, reject us, criticize us, and not be willing to accept us, no matter what we do. And you know what? That's okay! That's their problem, not ours! As long as God accepts us, that's all we need. And we'll find that when He does...when we receive God's approval...we'll begin to care less and less about what others think. And soon all of those whose approval we sought for so long won't even matter anymore.
"...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." ~ I Samuel 16:7
"Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." ~ Galations 1:10 (New Living Translation)
When we have a personal relationship with God, we have an identity in Him. We come to know who we are in Christ. We don't need others' acceptance or approval in order to be happy. We shouldn't rely on others' happiness to make us happy. We don't need any of that. We only need to know that we are accepted and approved by God. And if we have a personal relationship with Him that brings us to Him on a daily basis in order to maintain and strengthen that relationship, and we are living a life according to His will, we've already got His approval...we don't need it from anyone else.
That's right....not anyone. Not our spouses or our friends or our family members. Not our co-workers or our fellow church members or even our pastor. Not our neighbors or our children or our parents. There is no way we can ever make everyone happy anyway. Someone is always going to disagree with us, judge us, disapprove of us, talk about us, reject us, criticize us, and not be willing to accept us, no matter what we do. And you know what? That's okay! That's their problem, not ours! As long as God accepts us, that's all we need. And we'll find that when He does...when we receive God's approval...we'll begin to care less and less about what others think. And soon all of those whose approval we sought for so long won't even matter anymore.
"...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." ~ I Samuel 16:7
"Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." ~ Galations 1:10 (New Living Translation)
Friday, October 14, 2011
Right On Time!
Ever have a day when you're running late? Your alarm doesn't go off? You oversleep? You're late for work or school or an appointment? And once you start the day late, doesn't it seem like everything else that can go wrong that day does? Its like our bad timing messes up everything! Our schedules may run amuck at times, but God's never does. He is always on time...never late...His timing is perfect!
Sure, it may not always seem like it. We may be waiting on something from God and it seems like He's taking forever. Or He's running late. Sometimes it may seem like He's not showing up at all. But we have to remember that just because we think we know what the timing of a particular situation should be, we do not always know what God's timing might look like. And I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be on His schedule than to try to run everything according to my own timeline!
Of course there are times when we may become panicked and think that if something doesn't happen by a certain date or time that the world is just going to come to an end. Don't we all have those moments? But then we only have to stop and remember that while we may not know all the reasons behind His timing and His plan, we can rest assured that it is much better than anything that we could ever conceive.
The timing of our situation may not seem to be what we think is best at the time, but that's what faith is all about. While things may not look like what we think they should look like...when things aren't happening when we think they should happen, or the way in which we think they should happen...faith is not only believing, but KNOWING that God is in control and that His schedule and His timing and His plans are far greater and much better for us than ours could ever be.
"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" ~ Psalm 27:14
"Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield."
~ Psalm 33:20
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He turned to me and heard my cry." ~ Psalm 40:1
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ~ Isaiah 40:31
Sure, it may not always seem like it. We may be waiting on something from God and it seems like He's taking forever. Or He's running late. Sometimes it may seem like He's not showing up at all. But we have to remember that just because we think we know what the timing of a particular situation should be, we do not always know what God's timing might look like. And I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be on His schedule than to try to run everything according to my own timeline!
Of course there are times when we may become panicked and think that if something doesn't happen by a certain date or time that the world is just going to come to an end. Don't we all have those moments? But then we only have to stop and remember that while we may not know all the reasons behind His timing and His plan, we can rest assured that it is much better than anything that we could ever conceive.
The timing of our situation may not seem to be what we think is best at the time, but that's what faith is all about. While things may not look like what we think they should look like...when things aren't happening when we think they should happen, or the way in which we think they should happen...faith is not only believing, but KNOWING that God is in control and that His schedule and His timing and His plans are far greater and much better for us than ours could ever be.
"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" ~ Psalm 27:14
"Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield."
~ Psalm 33:20
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and He turned to me and heard my cry." ~ Psalm 40:1
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ~ Isaiah 40:31
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
You Only Need To Be Willing
Have you ever wanted to do something but didn't know how? Perhaps you wanted to learn to water ski. Or to knit. Or to play the piano. You didn't just sit down at the piano the first day and start playing. And you surely didn't knit a sweater the first time you picked up the needles. And what about water skiing? Chances are you didn't get up on your first try, drop one ski along the way and start doing flips. So how do you learn to do these things? How do you learn to do anything? Simple. You first find someone that already knows how to do it, you let them teach you what they know, and you start trying. Over and over and over you try. You practice. You won't get it just right the first time...or the third...or maybe even the fifteenth time. But you don't quit...you keep at it...keep trying...and eventually you learn. But you'll never learn if you never start.
The same is true with developing a prayer life and quiet time with God. You may think, "I don't know how to start" or "I don't know how to pray," or "I don't understand the Bible." But just as we would seek out an instructor for piano lessons, God gives us an instructor for developing a personal relationship with Him. Romans 8:26 tells us, "In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us where we are weak. We do not know how to pray or what we should pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays to God for us..."
In other words, the Holy Spirit is our Helper. Our Instructor. Our Guide. When we don't know how to pray or how to spend one on one time with God, if we just show up...if we are just willing to try...the Holy Spirit will take over and guide us along the way, just as a piano teacher or a skiing instructor.
I read a devotional recently that dealt with the topic of the Holy Spirit being our Helper. It used the illustration of the little boy that disappeared from his parents at the concert of the world renowned pianist. You've probably seen the commercial that has been made out of this story. The little boy reappears on stage, sitting at the piano, playing chopsticks. Just when he realizes he has made a mistake and probably isn't doing something right, the pianist comes alongside him, encourages him to keep going, and joins in playing with him. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will come alongside us and encourage us and help us...as long as we're willing to try.
There is no right or wrong way to spend time with God. Yes, he is Holy and should be approached with respect, but that doesn't mean our words have to be flowery and ornate. And we should never be like the hypocritical, arrogant Pharisee in Luke chapter 18. Jesus says unless we come to Him as a little child, we will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. And only when we are humbled will we be exalted.
And when we are willing to try...to humble ourselves and make time with God...the Holy Spirit will come alongside us and assist us. Sometimes you may not need words at all. Sometimes just quietness will suffice. Or a simple "Please," or "Help," or "Thank You," is all that is necessary. God knows our heart and He knows our motives. A one-word prayer from a humble, spirit-seeking heart is far greater than a lengthy drawn-out prayer from an arrogant, self-serving one.
So if you don't have an established prayer life...if you don't find one on one time to spend with God daily...what are you waiting for? You'll never have one if you never get started. The Holy Spirit will guide you, will teach you, will intercede for you...but you've got to be willing to try.
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." ~ John 14:16-17
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." ~ John 14:26
The same is true with developing a prayer life and quiet time with God. You may think, "I don't know how to start" or "I don't know how to pray," or "I don't understand the Bible." But just as we would seek out an instructor for piano lessons, God gives us an instructor for developing a personal relationship with Him. Romans 8:26 tells us, "In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us where we are weak. We do not know how to pray or what we should pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays to God for us..."
In other words, the Holy Spirit is our Helper. Our Instructor. Our Guide. When we don't know how to pray or how to spend one on one time with God, if we just show up...if we are just willing to try...the Holy Spirit will take over and guide us along the way, just as a piano teacher or a skiing instructor.
I read a devotional recently that dealt with the topic of the Holy Spirit being our Helper. It used the illustration of the little boy that disappeared from his parents at the concert of the world renowned pianist. You've probably seen the commercial that has been made out of this story. The little boy reappears on stage, sitting at the piano, playing chopsticks. Just when he realizes he has made a mistake and probably isn't doing something right, the pianist comes alongside him, encourages him to keep going, and joins in playing with him. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will come alongside us and encourage us and help us...as long as we're willing to try.
There is no right or wrong way to spend time with God. Yes, he is Holy and should be approached with respect, but that doesn't mean our words have to be flowery and ornate. And we should never be like the hypocritical, arrogant Pharisee in Luke chapter 18. Jesus says unless we come to Him as a little child, we will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. And only when we are humbled will we be exalted.
And when we are willing to try...to humble ourselves and make time with God...the Holy Spirit will come alongside us and assist us. Sometimes you may not need words at all. Sometimes just quietness will suffice. Or a simple "Please," or "Help," or "Thank You," is all that is necessary. God knows our heart and He knows our motives. A one-word prayer from a humble, spirit-seeking heart is far greater than a lengthy drawn-out prayer from an arrogant, self-serving one.
So if you don't have an established prayer life...if you don't find one on one time to spend with God daily...what are you waiting for? You'll never have one if you never get started. The Holy Spirit will guide you, will teach you, will intercede for you...but you've got to be willing to try.
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." ~ John 14:16-17
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." ~ John 14:26
Monday, October 10, 2011
Do I Know You?
Who do you know? Really know? Your spouse/significant other. Your friends. Your family members. Your co-workers. Think about it...how many people do you truly know? And how did you get to know them?
If you're married or in a relationship, you got to know your significant other by spending time with them. You talked, you courted, you dated. You spent time together. The same is true with your friends and family. You've spent time together. You make plans to do things and go places together. You make time for each other. And if you're blessed to be friends with your co-workers, its likely because you spend so much time with them every day. The only way to really get to know someone is to spend time with them. Talk to them. Listen to them. Share yourself with them. Celebrate with them. Cry with them. Mourn with them. Tell them your burdens and help them to carry theirs. Regularly. Consistently. Unwavering. Unconditionally.
That's the only way to get to know God, too. It has to be a consistent, unwavering effort on our part to carve out one-on-one time to spend with Him every day. Not just when we're in crisis and need something. How would your friends feel if they only heard from you when you wanted something? How would your relationship with your spouse/significant other be affected if you woke up in the morning and decided you just didn't have time for them that day...and you told them you'd get to them later when it was more convenient? Chances are you wouldn't have those friends or that spouse for very long.
Relationships take work. They require communication. They require sacrifices. They require one-on-one time and unwavering, unconditional dedication. And just like this is true of our earthly relationships, its also true if we're ever going to have a real relationship with, and truly come to know God. Day after day after day we must not only make time for Him, but we must make making time with Him a top priority. By putting our personal, one-on-one time with God above all else, all of our other relationships will flourish and be blessed as well.
And the great thing about spending time with God is that we don't have to get our calendars out and plan and schedule time together like we have to do with our family and friends. We don't have to plan a date night like we may have to do with our spouse....or a vacation with our family...or a cookout with our friends. We don't have to check our calendars and arrange our schedules so that they agree. We just have to decide to show up....He is always there.
So ask yourself who you know. Then ask yourself how you got to know them, and what are you willing to do to keep knowing them. Then ask yourself if you know God...and what you're willing to do to obtain or to keep a relationship with Him.
"So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." ~ Romans 5:11 (New Living Translation)
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” ~ Luke 12:21 (New Living Translation)
If you're married or in a relationship, you got to know your significant other by spending time with them. You talked, you courted, you dated. You spent time together. The same is true with your friends and family. You've spent time together. You make plans to do things and go places together. You make time for each other. And if you're blessed to be friends with your co-workers, its likely because you spend so much time with them every day. The only way to really get to know someone is to spend time with them. Talk to them. Listen to them. Share yourself with them. Celebrate with them. Cry with them. Mourn with them. Tell them your burdens and help them to carry theirs. Regularly. Consistently. Unwavering. Unconditionally.
That's the only way to get to know God, too. It has to be a consistent, unwavering effort on our part to carve out one-on-one time to spend with Him every day. Not just when we're in crisis and need something. How would your friends feel if they only heard from you when you wanted something? How would your relationship with your spouse/significant other be affected if you woke up in the morning and decided you just didn't have time for them that day...and you told them you'd get to them later when it was more convenient? Chances are you wouldn't have those friends or that spouse for very long.
Relationships take work. They require communication. They require sacrifices. They require one-on-one time and unwavering, unconditional dedication. And just like this is true of our earthly relationships, its also true if we're ever going to have a real relationship with, and truly come to know God. Day after day after day we must not only make time for Him, but we must make making time with Him a top priority. By putting our personal, one-on-one time with God above all else, all of our other relationships will flourish and be blessed as well.
And the great thing about spending time with God is that we don't have to get our calendars out and plan and schedule time together like we have to do with our family and friends. We don't have to plan a date night like we may have to do with our spouse....or a vacation with our family...or a cookout with our friends. We don't have to check our calendars and arrange our schedules so that they agree. We just have to decide to show up....He is always there.
So ask yourself who you know. Then ask yourself how you got to know them, and what are you willing to do to keep knowing them. Then ask yourself if you know God...and what you're willing to do to obtain or to keep a relationship with Him.
"So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." ~ Romans 5:11 (New Living Translation)
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” ~ Luke 12:21 (New Living Translation)
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Come On, Get Happy!
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." ~ John 10:10
Notice the last word in this verse: abundantly. Dictionary.com offers the following synonyms for "abundantly": affluently, amply, fulsomely, generously, handsomely, inexhaustibly, lavishly, luxuriantly, profusely, richly, satisfactorily, sufficiently
Other Bible translations provide these interpretations of this verse. Again, pay attention to the last part of the verse.
"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (New Living Translation)
Notice the last word in this verse: abundantly. Dictionary.com offers the following synonyms for "abundantly": affluently, amply, fulsomely, generously, handsomely, inexhaustibly, lavishly, luxuriantly, profusely, richly, satisfactorily, sufficiently
Other Bible translations provide these interpretations of this verse. Again, pay attention to the last part of the verse.
"The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (New Living Translation)
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (New International Version)
"The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life." (New Life Version)
An abundant life, a satisfying life, a life to the full, a great full life...however you choose to say it...whichever interpretation you like the best...the point is the same. Jesus came so that we can have a wonderful, abundant, joy-filled life.
But He didn't just come... He came and He suffered and He died. So often we neglect to see the full impact of this statement. Think about it with me for just a minute.
First of all, God had to send His son for Jesus to come. Now I don't know about you, and I've never been to Heaven, but there is no way I would ever want to leave there to come to this earth...and I sure wouldn't want to make my children do it. But Jesus did. God sent Him and He came. He left the splendor, the glory, the perfection of Heaven to come to this ugly, dark, sinful, mean world...knowing what would happen to Him. And did it ever happen. He was persecuted and teased and harassed and mocked and eventually killed in a very cruel and inhumane way...all so that we could have life.
Think about that. All of that was done for us. For me. For you. So why in the world would we ever go through our lives grumbling and complaining and moaning and groaning? Yet we do. We let this ugly, dark, mean world steal our joy and rob us of the very reason Jesus came and died....so that we can have an abundant joyful life.
You may say, "But I've got problems," or "You don't know my circumstances. I've got a lot to complain about." That may be true. But there's not a person on this earth that doesn't have problems. You may have a lot to complain about, but you've got a lot to rejoice about, too. You just have to make up your mind to focus on one instead of the other. It's all a mindset.
So what are you waiting for? Make up your mind that no matter what your circumstance, no matter how deep the valley you may be in, no matter what happens in your life today...make up your mind that you're going to find some joy in every situation and start living that abundant, satisfying, great full life that Jesus died for you to live! Come on, get happy!!
"The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life." (New Life Version)
An abundant life, a satisfying life, a life to the full, a great full life...however you choose to say it...whichever interpretation you like the best...the point is the same. Jesus came so that we can have a wonderful, abundant, joy-filled life.
But He didn't just come... He came and He suffered and He died. So often we neglect to see the full impact of this statement. Think about it with me for just a minute.
First of all, God had to send His son for Jesus to come. Now I don't know about you, and I've never been to Heaven, but there is no way I would ever want to leave there to come to this earth...and I sure wouldn't want to make my children do it. But Jesus did. God sent Him and He came. He left the splendor, the glory, the perfection of Heaven to come to this ugly, dark, sinful, mean world...knowing what would happen to Him. And did it ever happen. He was persecuted and teased and harassed and mocked and eventually killed in a very cruel and inhumane way...all so that we could have life.
Think about that. All of that was done for us. For me. For you. So why in the world would we ever go through our lives grumbling and complaining and moaning and groaning? Yet we do. We let this ugly, dark, mean world steal our joy and rob us of the very reason Jesus came and died....so that we can have an abundant joyful life.
You may say, "But I've got problems," or "You don't know my circumstances. I've got a lot to complain about." That may be true. But there's not a person on this earth that doesn't have problems. You may have a lot to complain about, but you've got a lot to rejoice about, too. You just have to make up your mind to focus on one instead of the other. It's all a mindset.
So what are you waiting for? Make up your mind that no matter what your circumstance, no matter how deep the valley you may be in, no matter what happens in your life today...make up your mind that you're going to find some joy in every situation and start living that abundant, satisfying, great full life that Jesus died for you to live! Come on, get happy!!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Not Guilty...Forgiven!
Do you carry a load of guilt around with you? Are you so burdened by something you've done that it weighs you down more and more day after day? Guilt is a feeling, not a life sentence. We're not destined to a life of guilt, even if the things we've done, and the world around us, would seem to suggest so.
The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Done. Over. Forgiven. So if we've asked for forgiveness, and we've been granted that forgiveness, then why do we still carry the burden of that trespass with us? The answer is simple. Satan uses our feelings to try to control us. He will use anything and everything he can to rob us of living a joy-filled life, and to make us doubt our forgiveness and our salvation. And attacking our feelings is one way that he does this.
Just because we feel guilty, doesn't mean we are guilty. Remember, if you've confessed your sins, God has forgiven you and the slate is wiped clean. As far as the East is from the West...those sins have been removed from our lives. But satan is such a master manipulator that he sneaks into our minds and reminds us of all the bad things we've done over and over and over again and we end up carrying a load of guilt that's too much for anyone to bear.
But we don't have to. We need only to reclaim the victory of our forgiveness. Weekly. Daily. Hourly. How ever often it takes for us to become assured...truly assured...that we have been forgiven and our feelings of guilt and shame do not have to control us anymore. "Well surely there's something I have to do to make up for all the bad I've done," we may think. NOPE. Jesus did it all at the cross. Your forgiveness and salvation do not come through works. There's no amount of work you can do to earn your forgiveness. Sure, you may feel better about yourself if you assign yourself some outrageous workload...but you won't be any more forgiven. Letting our feelings and our thoughts run our lives and clog our minds is a surefire way satan uses to steal our joy. And it works every time if we let it.
But Jesus died so that we can have an abundant, joyful life....not one filled with guilt and shame. So what are you waiting for? Whatever it is you're feeling guilty about today, if you haven't already asked for forgiveness then do so. And if you have, let it go. Cling to the promise that once God has forgiven you, you're forgiven forever. Claim the blessed assurance that His forgiveness provides and remember that when that feeling of guilt sneaks up on you again...it's only a feeling. The sin is gone. You've been forgiven.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~ 1 John 1:9
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." ~ Psalm 103:12
The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Done. Over. Forgiven. So if we've asked for forgiveness, and we've been granted that forgiveness, then why do we still carry the burden of that trespass with us? The answer is simple. Satan uses our feelings to try to control us. He will use anything and everything he can to rob us of living a joy-filled life, and to make us doubt our forgiveness and our salvation. And attacking our feelings is one way that he does this.
Just because we feel guilty, doesn't mean we are guilty. Remember, if you've confessed your sins, God has forgiven you and the slate is wiped clean. As far as the East is from the West...those sins have been removed from our lives. But satan is such a master manipulator that he sneaks into our minds and reminds us of all the bad things we've done over and over and over again and we end up carrying a load of guilt that's too much for anyone to bear.
But we don't have to. We need only to reclaim the victory of our forgiveness. Weekly. Daily. Hourly. How ever often it takes for us to become assured...truly assured...that we have been forgiven and our feelings of guilt and shame do not have to control us anymore. "Well surely there's something I have to do to make up for all the bad I've done," we may think. NOPE. Jesus did it all at the cross. Your forgiveness and salvation do not come through works. There's no amount of work you can do to earn your forgiveness. Sure, you may feel better about yourself if you assign yourself some outrageous workload...but you won't be any more forgiven. Letting our feelings and our thoughts run our lives and clog our minds is a surefire way satan uses to steal our joy. And it works every time if we let it.
But Jesus died so that we can have an abundant, joyful life....not one filled with guilt and shame. So what are you waiting for? Whatever it is you're feeling guilty about today, if you haven't already asked for forgiveness then do so. And if you have, let it go. Cling to the promise that once God has forgiven you, you're forgiven forever. Claim the blessed assurance that His forgiveness provides and remember that when that feeling of guilt sneaks up on you again...it's only a feeling. The sin is gone. You've been forgiven.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~ 1 John 1:9
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." ~ Psalm 103:12
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Power of Friendship
I seem to write a lot about friends. Having friends. Being a friend. Important friendships. It never ceases to amaze me the difference a friend can make in one's life. And it seems they tend to show up just when we need them most, even though they may never realize it.
I've been reminded lately that friendships are so vital to our lives. I saw someone on Facebook recently post a quote that read, "I asked God to protect me from my enemies and I started losing friends." How sad, but how true, that statement is. And just yesterday I heard Joyce Meyer say that she started losing friends when she decided to enter the ministry. Time and time again she found herself crying out to God, but as she went along and as her ministry grew she realized that having God and being in His will was better than having 1,000 mean-spirited, hypocritical people in her life that called themselves "friend."
So when you have friends in your life - true genuine friends - treasure them. Cherish them. Thank God for them. And do whatever it takes to maintain and nurture those friendships. They are vital to our existence.
This is what I've discovered the past few days about friendships:
A true friend is a forever friend. I had the opportunity to spend Sunday with two friends that I made when I was 6 years old and they moved in next door to us. And just like with my closest friends from high school, we instantly picked up right where we left off the last time we were together...even though it is sometimes months, or even years, between visits. Never discount old friends...especially childhood friends. They know where you've come from because they've come from the same place, and they can often relate to you much better than friends made later in life. Those that have loved you the longest often love you the most.
It's important to share yourself. You may be going through something in your life and have no idea that your situation can impact someone else. Just the willingness to share yourself, your thoughts, your ideas, can mean the world to a friend. So be willing to open up a bit. You never know who might need to hear what you have to say. And if you read or hear something and you think, "Peggy might like to hear this," share it with Peggy. Because if you're a Christian, that's most likely the Holy Spirit giving you that idea...and it's exactly what Peggy needs to hear.
Ask for help. If you're dealing with a difficult situation in your life, tell a friend. Get things off of your chest. Maybe even get some feedback. But most importantly, ask your friend to pray for you. The power of prayer is life changing. And while you may not want your situation shared with everyone, you should always have at least one or two close friends with whom you can share your struggles, ask for their help, and trust them to pray you through it.
Make time for others. You have no idea how much a simple quick, unexpected visit in the middle of the afternoon can affect someone's day. Just stopping in to tell someone you love them and you're thinking of them and praying for them can make all the difference in the world for that person. It did for me just yesterday.
Share what you have. No matter what it is, there's someone that you know that would appreciate your sharing what you have with them. Whether your chicken is laying more eggs than you can eat or you've cooked too much food and have lots of leftovers....Share what you have. Both you and the recipient will be blessed.
Pay it forward. Whenever you find yourself the recipient of a blessing, make a decision to be a blessing to someone else. In whatever way...small or large...find a way to pay it forward.
A simple text message, email or FB post can go a long way. Just taking time to quickly say, "I'm thinking of you." or "I miss you." or "I love you." can make a huge difference in someone's life. And with the modern technologies of today, it takes almost no time to do. You never know how lonely a person may be feeling and just a quick, simple message can make a world of difference.
Make plans. It's so important to nurture our friendships, and one of the best ways to do this is to spend time together. So make plans. If a friend is a few hours away, meet half way one day. Make reservations and meet up with friends for a mini vacation. Take off to a land far far away. Meet a friend for lunch. Go shopping. Go golfing. Go walking. Just GO!
Be grateful. If you have true friends in your life, be grateful. Appreciate them and tell them so. Thank God for them. Don't ever underestimate them or take them for granted. Cherish them. Treasure them. Love them.
"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." ~ Proverbs 18:24
I've been reminded lately that friendships are so vital to our lives. I saw someone on Facebook recently post a quote that read, "I asked God to protect me from my enemies and I started losing friends." How sad, but how true, that statement is. And just yesterday I heard Joyce Meyer say that she started losing friends when she decided to enter the ministry. Time and time again she found herself crying out to God, but as she went along and as her ministry grew she realized that having God and being in His will was better than having 1,000 mean-spirited, hypocritical people in her life that called themselves "friend."
So when you have friends in your life - true genuine friends - treasure them. Cherish them. Thank God for them. And do whatever it takes to maintain and nurture those friendships. They are vital to our existence.
This is what I've discovered the past few days about friendships:
A true friend is a forever friend. I had the opportunity to spend Sunday with two friends that I made when I was 6 years old and they moved in next door to us. And just like with my closest friends from high school, we instantly picked up right where we left off the last time we were together...even though it is sometimes months, or even years, between visits. Never discount old friends...especially childhood friends. They know where you've come from because they've come from the same place, and they can often relate to you much better than friends made later in life. Those that have loved you the longest often love you the most.
It's important to share yourself. You may be going through something in your life and have no idea that your situation can impact someone else. Just the willingness to share yourself, your thoughts, your ideas, can mean the world to a friend. So be willing to open up a bit. You never know who might need to hear what you have to say. And if you read or hear something and you think, "Peggy might like to hear this," share it with Peggy. Because if you're a Christian, that's most likely the Holy Spirit giving you that idea...and it's exactly what Peggy needs to hear.
Ask for help. If you're dealing with a difficult situation in your life, tell a friend. Get things off of your chest. Maybe even get some feedback. But most importantly, ask your friend to pray for you. The power of prayer is life changing. And while you may not want your situation shared with everyone, you should always have at least one or two close friends with whom you can share your struggles, ask for their help, and trust them to pray you through it.
Make time for others. You have no idea how much a simple quick, unexpected visit in the middle of the afternoon can affect someone's day. Just stopping in to tell someone you love them and you're thinking of them and praying for them can make all the difference in the world for that person. It did for me just yesterday.
Share what you have. No matter what it is, there's someone that you know that would appreciate your sharing what you have with them. Whether your chicken is laying more eggs than you can eat or you've cooked too much food and have lots of leftovers....Share what you have. Both you and the recipient will be blessed.
Pay it forward. Whenever you find yourself the recipient of a blessing, make a decision to be a blessing to someone else. In whatever way...small or large...find a way to pay it forward.
A simple text message, email or FB post can go a long way. Just taking time to quickly say, "I'm thinking of you." or "I miss you." or "I love you." can make a huge difference in someone's life. And with the modern technologies of today, it takes almost no time to do. You never know how lonely a person may be feeling and just a quick, simple message can make a world of difference.
Make plans. It's so important to nurture our friendships, and one of the best ways to do this is to spend time together. So make plans. If a friend is a few hours away, meet half way one day. Make reservations and meet up with friends for a mini vacation. Take off to a land far far away. Meet a friend for lunch. Go shopping. Go golfing. Go walking. Just GO!
Be grateful. If you have true friends in your life, be grateful. Appreciate them and tell them so. Thank God for them. Don't ever underestimate them or take them for granted. Cherish them. Treasure them. Love them.
"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." ~ Proverbs 18:24
Monday, October 3, 2011
Just Keep Swimming...
Our church celebrated it's 100th Anniversary at our Homecoming Sunday yesterday. What a glorious day it was remembering the past and looking to the future. It was made evident through historical accounts that we have come a long way in 100 years. Our church has been blessed over the years because of the dedication of our founders and because of the faithfulness of so many through the years.
In order to continue to grow and prosper, it was pointed out that we need only to keep doing what we've been doing all those years. To continue to reach others for Christ and to reach another milestone, we must keep following in the footsteps and traditions of those before us. In the words of Dory the fish from the movie Finding Nemo, we must "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..."
That advice rings true for many aspects of our lives. When we know that we know that we know that we are doing what God has told us to do, we mustn't quit - not matter how bleak the horizon may seem to us. We may not even know why we are doing what we're doing...but if God has told us to do it, that's all we need to know.
I'm sure there were several times over those 100 years that our forefathers sometimes became discouraged and wondered if they should even continue. Especially in the early days when there were only a handful of people meeting together, when the pastor was paid with a hog, and the church members were asked to donate an acre's harvest as offering. Chances are that someone somewhere down the line thought about giving up...throwing in the towel...calling it quits. Well, I'm certainly glad they didn't quit; and I'm sure there are hundreds of others who have been touched by our church over the years who are also grateful that they never gave up. Because of the dedication of others all those years ago, many have been blessed through the years. Because they "just kept swimming," a wonderful heritage was formed and countless lives have been touched. There is no way they could have known all those years ago what a lasting legacy they were creating...they were just doing what God had told them to do.
The same is true for us today. We may not have any idea who we are affecting, who may be influenced in the future, or what the outcome of our actions may be. Our present may even seem very dark, and we may be unable to find any clarity about our current situation. But if we are walking on the path where God has placed us...and if we continue in that path, even though we may not can see more than a couple of steps ahead of us...the results can be phenomenal; even everlasting.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. " ~ Philippians 3: 12-14
In order to continue to grow and prosper, it was pointed out that we need only to keep doing what we've been doing all those years. To continue to reach others for Christ and to reach another milestone, we must keep following in the footsteps and traditions of those before us. In the words of Dory the fish from the movie Finding Nemo, we must "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..."
That advice rings true for many aspects of our lives. When we know that we know that we know that we are doing what God has told us to do, we mustn't quit - not matter how bleak the horizon may seem to us. We may not even know why we are doing what we're doing...but if God has told us to do it, that's all we need to know.
I'm sure there were several times over those 100 years that our forefathers sometimes became discouraged and wondered if they should even continue. Especially in the early days when there were only a handful of people meeting together, when the pastor was paid with a hog, and the church members were asked to donate an acre's harvest as offering. Chances are that someone somewhere down the line thought about giving up...throwing in the towel...calling it quits. Well, I'm certainly glad they didn't quit; and I'm sure there are hundreds of others who have been touched by our church over the years who are also grateful that they never gave up. Because of the dedication of others all those years ago, many have been blessed through the years. Because they "just kept swimming," a wonderful heritage was formed and countless lives have been touched. There is no way they could have known all those years ago what a lasting legacy they were creating...they were just doing what God had told them to do.
The same is true for us today. We may not have any idea who we are affecting, who may be influenced in the future, or what the outcome of our actions may be. Our present may even seem very dark, and we may be unable to find any clarity about our current situation. But if we are walking on the path where God has placed us...and if we continue in that path, even though we may not can see more than a couple of steps ahead of us...the results can be phenomenal; even everlasting.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. " ~ Philippians 3: 12-14
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