Well, my head stopped spinning. Just in time, too! Sorry, it's been so long since I last 'posted on this blog'. It has been a journey these past 12 days.
Yesterday, I did a 'note' on Facebook called 'Senior Year'...at the prompting of my sister, LaDonna...(thanks, LaDonna for tagging me as your car pool person). Because of that exercise, I learned how clueless I was about her and others around me...how completely self-absorbed I was then (and sometimes tend to be even now--30 years later!)
It made me start thinking...and remembering high school, my school. To some, (and I've met them at reunions), that is their identity for the rest of their lives. While, yes, 1979, was THE year...I'm not certain what it was THE year to accomplish...except graduate and get on with life.
This exercise prompted many memories of people and events and things that I've said, or done in the past.
I was a snob--a Pharisee--to say the least...not a "light for Jesus in the halls of my high school". Of course I had a faith when I was in high school...and I listened to a lot of people, about struggles and temptations, etc. and I did try to encourage them....but now I question if I truly loved them with the love of Christ. OR, was I consumed more with telling them how to live to be holy, probably heaping on tons of guilt, as well and NOT introducing them to Jesus. Some of that might have been immaturity...and some of it could've been inexperience...some of it, a lot of it, was probably driven by my pride.
In the Journey this week, Luke 12:1-3 hit me between my eyes, I love that about God...He is good to show me what I need...This passage addresses hypocrisy right off...what we say in secret will be 'proclaimed from the roof tops'...My fear is not of man (or woman:)) any more, it is of my God, who has the power to throw me in to hell...I want to serve HIM only...proclaim HIM only, and introduce my friends, new and old to my Best Friend, Jesus...He is ALL I NEED!
I've repented for being a snob. I continue to be a recovering-Pharisee, though, and so, I must keep short accounts with God, concerning my legalistic attitudes and thoughts. He continues to show me ways that He can use even me in this thing we call life, to point others to HIM. That's my goal now...don't look to me, please be encouraged by me, but see Jesus, please!
To my old friends, know that I do LOVE YOU with the LOVE of Christ!
To my new friends, I love you, as well because of Jesus--and De Colores!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Spinning Head...Oh, Yeah, It's Monday!
My head is spinning...like a whirl wind...it never ends...Like the fresh air blowing my hair during our afternoon drive yesterday(...it's a convertible: the top was definitely down!...)
OR the 'gorgeous afternoon' bike ride I took to go work out...just wind in my hair, and great opportunities for fresh, deep breaths!
It's been one of those Mondays when nothing 'bad' has happened...just things have developed...that I stand in awe and just say: "I can't WAIT to see what God does with this one!"
Only, today, there have been about 5 things that have come up that I can say this about!!!--Exciting!! And, I want to be found faithful! But, because I'm a human woman, my head is spinning, and it really isn't too much about the wind!
So, prayer is in order!!!--Say one for me, while you're at it!
Thankfully, I draw strength from the fact that none of my days are a surprise to Him...so I can rest knowing He holds it in HIS hands...And, I shall not fear...because God's Word tells me NOT to!
My prayer will be for God to use me how ever He sees fit...And, to use these situations to strengthen my faith in HIM, and, to proclaim Victory for His Kingdom!!!!
Exciting Stuff!!! Like I said: I can't wait to see what God does with these!!!
OR the 'gorgeous afternoon' bike ride I took to go work out...just wind in my hair, and great opportunities for fresh, deep breaths!
It's been one of those Mondays when nothing 'bad' has happened...just things have developed...that I stand in awe and just say: "I can't WAIT to see what God does with this one!"
Only, today, there have been about 5 things that have come up that I can say this about!!!--Exciting!! And, I want to be found faithful! But, because I'm a human woman, my head is spinning, and it really isn't too much about the wind!
So, prayer is in order!!!--Say one for me, while you're at it!
Thankfully, I draw strength from the fact that none of my days are a surprise to Him...so I can rest knowing He holds it in HIS hands...And, I shall not fear...because God's Word tells me NOT to!
My prayer will be for God to use me how ever He sees fit...And, to use these situations to strengthen my faith in HIM, and, to proclaim Victory for His Kingdom!!!!
Exciting Stuff!!! Like I said: I can't wait to see what God does with these!!!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
One Day...
I thought it was spring!! At least that's what the temperatures were telling me at the beginning of the week! Now, it's winter again. Perhaps not for long. No wonder there are so many people so sick around here! This is a great time of year, though...we can see spring just around the corner, and there's new bright green grass starting to appear everywhere! It's exciting to consider the possibilities of spring! New, new, new!
School will be out before I can blink twice!
When school IS out: we'll have a college graduate! She's anticipating summer employment and then on to an internship somewhere far away. This is very exciting to consider for her...an adventure! She's on spring break starting this week...and she's flying tomorrow to visit a friend in North Carolina. She's never flown alone before, so, she's actually starting her adventure early. She'll have great stories to tell when she returns, she always does! Hilarious stories!
And, we'll also have two 7th graders in the house! And, that will mean new flip-flops and swim suits, and tanning and pool passes, and french fries and bike rides, church camp and more pool time! And, they think hair color! Hilarious! They are having a great time right now, it's like a sleep over each night here! Nails are done, and hair is done and re-done...clothes are chosen and then re-chosen! (gotta have just the right out fit!)
And, finally, when school is out for the summer, we have a very fun grandson, anxiously awaiting fall so he can start pre-school! He's so excited to consider it...he doesn't really know what he's excited about, but he knows there will be things to color and cut out and songs to learn and friends to make and time away from his mom, all by himself!!!
Just sitting here looking at the 28 degree, overcast afternoon, makes me pretty excited about school being out, as well! It IS just around the corner, after all!--Sweet times, I just need to enjoy one day at a time!!! That's what I'm going to do--Just enjoy today! And, then...
One Day At A Time!!!--The rest will be here soon enough!
School will be out before I can blink twice!
When school IS out: we'll have a college graduate! She's anticipating summer employment and then on to an internship somewhere far away. This is very exciting to consider for her...an adventure! She's on spring break starting this week...and she's flying tomorrow to visit a friend in North Carolina. She's never flown alone before, so, she's actually starting her adventure early. She'll have great stories to tell when she returns, she always does! Hilarious stories!
And, we'll also have two 7th graders in the house! And, that will mean new flip-flops and swim suits, and tanning and pool passes, and french fries and bike rides, church camp and more pool time! And, they think hair color! Hilarious! They are having a great time right now, it's like a sleep over each night here! Nails are done, and hair is done and re-done...clothes are chosen and then re-chosen! (gotta have just the right out fit!)
And, finally, when school is out for the summer, we have a very fun grandson, anxiously awaiting fall so he can start pre-school! He's so excited to consider it...he doesn't really know what he's excited about, but he knows there will be things to color and cut out and songs to learn and friends to make and time away from his mom, all by himself!!!
Just sitting here looking at the 28 degree, overcast afternoon, makes me pretty excited about school being out, as well! It IS just around the corner, after all!--Sweet times, I just need to enjoy one day at a time!!! That's what I'm going to do--Just enjoy today! And, then...
One Day At A Time!!!--The rest will be here soon enough!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Worst Actress...hands down!
I don't know what it is...but my teenagers are really turning out to be nice...actually a lot of fun!
Of course, we still have really loud music, and messy rooms, and occasionally purple, or hot pink hair and weird clothes, but they are becoming hilarious young women...
They recently won the prestigious and coveted 'Worst Actress Award' during our youth group's Annual GMA Awards!
I love it when the fun/funny part of their personality starts coming out in their development! We laugh and laugh about things! This makes for a much more pleasant environment than whining and complaining.
Also, at about this stage, we've found that we can actually trust them in some of the 'inner workings' of our household. Recently we were challenged to include them, and they've stepped up brilliantly! --even if hilarious at times!
Our family received a HUGE , unexpected bill recently. Bummer. Keep in mind that in some places what I'm calling HUGE could be hidden in kitchen cash jar, or at least in a cd at the local bank. Not here. I've always said, you either have kids or money...we have several kids, so do the math on the rest!
Because my husband has a passion for vacations; (know this: he loves planning them, almost as much as attending them) he decided we're going to tighten the spending belt for the next few months so that we can do both...pay our 'bill' and still have a family vacation...what a guy!
He called our family together, so that we could discuss 'the plan'. Amazingly, we agreed to work together--and there is actually excitement. The girls are taking this really well, and are doing a really good job of 'making do' for now...
And, a special bonus: The girls, especially, will have great stories to tell one day because God just continues to WOW us!
Monday, March 2, 2009
This thing called 'the journey'...
On our Journey through the New Testament, we've been challenged to keep a journal, using the acrostic of s-o-a-p, as a daily writing assignment. One 'S'cripture verse that popped out in the chapter that we read that day. Then what we 'O'bserved about the chapter. 'A'pplication is next...and then a 'P'rayer thought about the word. I've been journaling for a very long time, it seems, so I've embraced this with great enthusiasm...but there are those that are very intimidated by writing down things. I try to encourage everyone to just write it down, the 'journal police' are not going to come and check it!
Because I get to teach our ladies' Sunday school class, I also get to pick the lesson topic. With their permission, of course, we all decided to do this journey together! It is so much fun for me to be in this group every Sunday morning. These are truly women that are seeking God's face each day...and His will for their lives...these women are very faithful in their reading and studying, they even bring their journals to class each week to enhance discussion!
Amazingly, this past week, I didn't get to go all the way through the lesson that I had prepared; the discussion was just too rich. Sometimes, you just have to ride that wave, because that is the way of our Lord! And so that the lesson doesn't go completely to waste, I wanted to share those thoughts here, I find them fascinating.
Mark 12:44 grabbed my attention because the last phrase there says that the poor widow had given more than everyone else because of this fact: 'she put in everything--all she had to live on.' Stay with me here. This spoke volumes to me about her faith. (As we talked about chapters 8-12 of Mark last night in our small group, we decided that a re-curring theme seems to be 'faith')
Just back in chapter 10, Jesus had had the conversation with the rich young ruler...remember him? He'd asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life...Jesus told him to keep the commandments, the young man said he'd kept those since his youth, then Jesus told him to go, sell all he had and follow Him! He went away sad...Jesus eventually said to His disciples "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"--notice exclamation point, not a question mark...Jesus KNOWS how hard it is...
And, because of where we are sitting on the planet, we are 'richer' than most the world's population. We need to wrap our heads around how rich we are! If we stop our study there, we can feel pretty frustrated, figuring out what we should sell, how much we should sell...if we should keep anything...I feel very strongly that we are to hold all our possessions, especially those we count as dear and valuable...with open hands...(remember: Blessed be the Name of the Lord, He gives & takes away..blessed be HIS NAME!!!)
But, I was very encouraged when I read the passage from Mark 12:29-34...remember? The most important commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. After Jesus relates this to the synagogue teacher, the teacher answers him back with this:
You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love you neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Then, Jesus tells him that he's answered wisely, and says to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
Get this part right, and you won't be far from the kingdom of God!!!--That's exciting to me!
This teacher answered Jesus verbally, and Jesus saw that he was wise--the man, himself, used the word understanding instead of the 'your mind' that Jesus had said...if you take a look at Proverbs 1:1 & 2, it tells you that these Proverbs are good for attaining wisdom, discipline and for understanding words of insight!
I believe that we can learn from the widow's example of giving all we have...she understood the kingdom of God...because of her love for God, she was able to trust Him with her existence, how else would she have even considered giving all she had without any hope of getting more on her own strength? Just trusting that God would provide, because He's always been faithful in the past--she'd tested him to build her trust in Him before...
Start today...start today to build your trust...to be close to the kingdom of God...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, then give HIM all you've got...to show HIM how much you trust HIM...tell HIM about it, not everyone else...HIM only!
Because I get to teach our ladies' Sunday school class, I also get to pick the lesson topic. With their permission, of course, we all decided to do this journey together! It is so much fun for me to be in this group every Sunday morning. These are truly women that are seeking God's face each day...and His will for their lives...these women are very faithful in their reading and studying, they even bring their journals to class each week to enhance discussion!
Amazingly, this past week, I didn't get to go all the way through the lesson that I had prepared; the discussion was just too rich. Sometimes, you just have to ride that wave, because that is the way of our Lord! And so that the lesson doesn't go completely to waste, I wanted to share those thoughts here, I find them fascinating.
Mark 12:44 grabbed my attention because the last phrase there says that the poor widow had given more than everyone else because of this fact: 'she put in everything--all she had to live on.' Stay with me here. This spoke volumes to me about her faith. (As we talked about chapters 8-12 of Mark last night in our small group, we decided that a re-curring theme seems to be 'faith')
Just back in chapter 10, Jesus had had the conversation with the rich young ruler...remember him? He'd asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life...Jesus told him to keep the commandments, the young man said he'd kept those since his youth, then Jesus told him to go, sell all he had and follow Him! He went away sad...Jesus eventually said to His disciples "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"--notice exclamation point, not a question mark...Jesus KNOWS how hard it is...
And, because of where we are sitting on the planet, we are 'richer' than most the world's population. We need to wrap our heads around how rich we are! If we stop our study there, we can feel pretty frustrated, figuring out what we should sell, how much we should sell...if we should keep anything...I feel very strongly that we are to hold all our possessions, especially those we count as dear and valuable...with open hands...(remember: Blessed be the Name of the Lord, He gives & takes away..blessed be HIS NAME!!!)
But, I was very encouraged when I read the passage from Mark 12:29-34...remember? The most important commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. After Jesus relates this to the synagogue teacher, the teacher answers him back with this:
You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love you neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Then, Jesus tells him that he's answered wisely, and says to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God."
Get this part right, and you won't be far from the kingdom of God!!!--That's exciting to me!
This teacher answered Jesus verbally, and Jesus saw that he was wise--the man, himself, used the word understanding instead of the 'your mind' that Jesus had said...if you take a look at Proverbs 1:1 & 2, it tells you that these Proverbs are good for attaining wisdom, discipline and for understanding words of insight!
I believe that we can learn from the widow's example of giving all we have...she understood the kingdom of God...because of her love for God, she was able to trust Him with her existence, how else would she have even considered giving all she had without any hope of getting more on her own strength? Just trusting that God would provide, because He's always been faithful in the past--she'd tested him to build her trust in Him before...
Start today...start today to build your trust...to be close to the kingdom of God...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, then give HIM all you've got...to show HIM how much you trust HIM...tell HIM about it, not everyone else...HIM only!
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