Today is my 27th anniversary!! 27 years ago today, Labour Day Monday, I surrendered my life to the Lord!! I am so thankful for all He has done in me and thru me in those 27 years and can't imagine a life lived without Him!! \O/
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Measured Words
Many conversations are centered around very heavy topics and people are coming to us for advice that can have lasting implications. For instance, one girl called me the other day because she has to make some important medical decisions about her mom. While I was so honoured to have gained this woman's trust, I found myself confronted with the fact that the counsel I gave was regarding the very life of another human being. Not exactly light conversation.
And then the need for confidentiality is a very real issue. Unfortunately Christians, who should be the most confidential people around, can actually be some of the biggest gossips you'll ever find. It can be lonely to look around and realize there are VERY FEW people you can really bounce things off of, seek advice from or share your heart with without the risk of it becoming fodder for the grapevine.
There are so many verses that speak to the tongue that it must be an issue near and dear to the Lord's heart...
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
These verses are just a sampling of scriptures that address our tongue and the blessing or curse it can be in our lives and in the lives of others!! The reality is that those of us who lead are held to a higher standard, but all these scriptures are written for the common man or woman as well. Joe Blow and Suzy Q are still very accountable for what comes out of their mouths even though they may not be in a position of leading others. How much stronger would the body of Christ be if we would just work a little harder to get one of the smallest parts of our body truly under control?
There is a children's rhyme that is often sung as a defense against the onslaught of hurtful words. I am sure you know it. It goes like this...
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
That may actually be one of the biggest lies we ever grapple with from a very early age. In actuality, bones will heal much faster than the heart wounds that words inflict. We can recite this little ditty in our best sing-songy voice, but never out-run the sword that pierces our heart as the words are flung in our direction. Words have one of the greatest abilities to hurt like nothing else ever will, but they also have the ability to bring healing that echoes into eternity!
Lord, may I never take lightly the issue of controlling my tongue. May I always keep, in the forefront of my mind, the reality that I have the ability to speak words of life or words of death into the lives of others. Lord help me remember that as people are looking to me for wise counsel there is a desperate need to prayerfully consider what comes out of my mouth before I utter the first word. And Lord, when it is all said and done, may You find I have been faithful in this area of being wise and measured with my words!!
Psalm 19:14 ~ Let my words and my thoughts
be pleasing to you, LORD,
because you are my mighty rock and my protector.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sleep...Oh Elusive Sleep!
This is my life lately and it is driving me crazy. I am working on 4 totally new messages to share at 2 retreats, one in less than 2 weeks, and if I come to even the least little bit my brain is triggered and it's on. This morning it was 3 am...most days 4-4:30am. Unfortunately, I really do need more than 4-5 hours sleep!!
Well, off to work on my messages and pray that maybe tomorrow will be the day I sleep late...like maybe 6 or 6:30am!! ;O)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Shame
I am teaching at 2 retreats this fall and one of the sessions is on shame. Thankfully I guess, shame is not an issue I have had to deal with a lot so it is the one I am least familiar with. In preparation for the retreat I have been reading the book, Shame Lifter, by Marilyn Hontz.
Wow!! I just cannot say enough good about this book! My copy is all highlighted and dog-earred and has given me so much food for thought that sleep has been somewhat illusive these days. I am so thankful that I felt impressed to choose this book out of all the ones I looked at on Amazon during my search for resource material!
If this is an area you struggle with, I highly recommend you check it out!!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Omission
Wow! I decided to Google a verse this morning because I couldn't remember exactly where it was found. I knew it was Titus 2, but I wanted to be sure of the actual verse numbers. As I glanced at one of the sites that came up in my search, I was shocked and thought surely my eyes were just not focusing that well so early in the morning. I clicked the site to read more and was definitely appalled at what I found.
Apparently there are certain verses in the Bible that the Irish Catholic church doesn't like because they feel they subordinate women and they are discussing just taking them out so as not to "give an undesirably negative impression regarding women." Seriously? You know, verses like that one in Titus 2 that encourage us to love and care for our own families and mind our own business so that the Word of God is not dishonoured. Scandalous, wouldn't you say?
Well, while we're eliminating verses we don't like, I am not really big on that verse that says I am to love and bless those who persecute me. I wouldn't mind it just disappearing. And what about pretty much the whole book of James because it would be a whole lot easier to just run my mouth about someone when they get under my skin rather than have to actually control my tongue and be silent on the matter. I'd also probably change up the Beatitudes a little because those seem very counter-intuitive to how things should play out in real life and I might even just put a big ole red mark through "wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord" because that seems a tad archaic. I mean, if I can't be comfortable reading the Bible and really enjoy what I read then what's the point?
Is anyone else seeing how truly dangerous a mindset like this is? Tim has talked a lot about the danger of "a la carting" scripture, but this is actually just throwing the whole doggone dinner out the window because it might give you a tummy ache. How dare we choose which verses are important and which ones should be eliminated based on how they make us feel.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 in The Message says ~
There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
I guess we'll have to rip that page out, too, in order to feel good about skipping these other ones! Before long there won't be much left other than something akin to a book about a cosmic Santa who just showers us with goodies because, with no standard to live up to, we all look like good little boys and girls!
Lord, May I never get to the point in my life that I would rather eliminate or ignore portions of scripture that make me uncomfortable or take me out of my comfort zone rather than deal with the Truth of what they say. Would I see each scripture as having great value in my own life and the lives of others. As a teacher, would you make me mute if I ever dare try and distort scripture into a feel-good message that doesn't stand the potential of offending anyone. And, Lord, please forgive those who are choosing to cheapen what Your Son did on the cross to make them feel better about themselves!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
40 Days Without Food
I just read a great ebook, called 40 Days Without Food: Divine Goodness For a Starving Soul. It is by a friend of ours and I was so pleasantly surprised by Russ' literary style and the raw way in which he shared. I realize that could sound like I didn't think Russ had what it takes, but that is not it at all. I just have never had the pleasure of reading anything he wrote and wasn't sure what to expect!
One quote that really stood out to me was when he said (in a slightly paraphrased kind of way) that "the fear of mediocrity often drove him while the fear of failure often held him back". This thought has stuck with me as I have pondered how true this has been in my life at times and the lives of some I know.
As someone who writes and speaks, there is always a tension between not wanting to bore people to death while at the same time remembering the truth found in Galatians 1:10 that what we do we do ultimately for an audience of One! We cannot get caught up in doing anything in order to receive worth and affirmation in an attempt to "be somebody". That is a need that only the Lord can fill in our lives and it is always dangerous to try and fill it in other ways.
Interestingly enough, though, the fear of failure can often be a powerful deterrent to stepping out of our comfort zone and obeying that still small Voice. It, again, can be a case of worrying too much about what others might think if we did actually fall flat on our faces. That would be a highly unlikely scenario, but the fear of it can be paralyzing.
My earnest prayer right now and, I pray, for my remaining days on earth is the truth found in Proverbs 16:9 ~
We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.
Lord, may I never find myself straining ahead of You trying to make a name for myself to avoid just being an average somebody. May I similarly never find myself refusing to step out of my comfort zone and do what I feel You are encouraging me to do because I fear I may be unsuccessful!
Fear of mediocrity and fear of failure are terrible motivators to attempt anything of lasting value!!
Today is my anniversary...one month since the last time I wrote on my blog. I am not sure why it took so long. At first I was busy with Tim out of town and packing to go on vacation. Then we were out of town, but once we came back it was like I had a mental block. Whenever I log onto the internet it takes me to my blog. Every day, multiple times, there it was...daring me to come up with something to write. I would have lots of thoughts and think I needed to write them down, but then I would get here and it seemed impossible.
Not sure why I chose today to start writing again. I guess anniversaries are good for new beginnings. At any rate, I hope I am back with lots more to say now. If you are someone who checks in a lot, please forgive me for my lack of producing anything to check in for. I think I just might feel the creative juices flowing! ;O)
Happy Wednesday!!!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Approval
I hate when I sense someone is upset with me. I hate when I sense I hurt someone without ever meaning to do it. I hate when I feel misunderstood. I hate that any of this ever even matters to me!!!
Galations 1:10 ~ For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Guess I need to tape this one to my forehead for the next little while!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Stewardship
I am finding that good stewardship takes lots of patience!
My friend, Rebecca, told me about a book tonight that she thought I would like. She knows that we are kindred spirits when it comes to good books and so when she recommends something I know I will not be disappointed.
Unfortunately we have had to endure some costly repairs lately...4 new tires, new faucet to replace the badly leaking one, other various and sundry household repairs...you get the picture. As a result of these expenses coupled with the never-ending list of baseball expenses we have just spent 6 months forking out, I am trying to be very careful with how we spend our money. We rarely eat out and I am pretty set on school stuff, but I am trying to watch all those little things that add up. For me, books is one of those things that can add up quick!
So in an effort to be a good steward, I took Rebecca's suggestion and went to my online library catalog with it. I searched for the name ~ Unbroken, in case anyone was wondering ~ and was excited to see my library had it. I typed in my number, pressed "request item" and waited. Well, it seems I will be waiting for quite a while because I was number 161 on the waiting list. Given that everyone can check books out for 3 weeks, I should be able to read this book by Fall...2020...if I'm lucky!! LOL!! Of course, by then I may need the large print edition so now I am in a quandary as to which version to reserve!!
I decided to look it up on Amazon...just to see, of course...and it is only $13.99. $13.99 here...$13.99 there...nope, I am not going to let myself do it. In looking at this Amazon page I saw another book that intrigued me and decided it may help me get a good start in passing the next 9 years or so while I wait for the one I really want. I clicked back quickly to my online library catalog and, well, you know the drill...I typed in my number, clicked "request item" and waited. Good news!! I am only #99 on this waiting list!!! Only 6 years wait for that one!! *Rollingeyes*
So now I am wondering, in my never-ending quest to be a good steward, if anyone has any suggestions of books they really liked that no one else would probably want to read? Guess that's not quite what I mean, but at this rate I am going to have a lot of time to read some of the books already piled on my nightstand waiting for their turn...thus the need for better stewardship in this area! *Wink!Wink!*
This whole quest tonight has reminded me that being a good steward has it's additional benefits in allowing you to exercise some of those fruits of the Spirit like patience and self-control!! Funny how one spiritual discipline just leads so well into another. Now I guess I better go remove that book from my Amazon shopping cart before I lose what self-control I have managed to hold on to so far!!
Happy page-turning everyone!
P.S. I just finished a great book called Joy For Beginners. It is by the author of The School of Essential Ingredients which I really, really liked, too! I highly recommend them both...Rebecca! ;O)
P.S.S. I do realize with more than one copy of each book I won't have to wait quite as long as I made it out to be! Still not exactly right around the corner, though! ;O)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Savannah Bound!
Jesse and I are Savannah bound for the weekend. This is the last weekend of baseball for the Cash 2011 baseball season and I am so thankful!! I hope once we are done running hither and yon I will not feel so discombobulated and will be more able to post on here. These days my brain has been fried and unable to tackle one more mental task.
Look out Savannah...here we come!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Our Battle...
I was reading in Ephesians this morning and came upon this...
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
While I agree with it in principle, this morning I felt it missed the mark! Some days I do feel my battle is against flesh and blood...my own!!! Some days I have a bad attitude, I know it and I don't really even care. Some days I am my own worst enemy!!
Today was one of the days I just felt blah! I do have something weighing heavy on my heart, but I know from past experiences that I can be weighed down and not have a sour attitude. Bad thing about today was that I wasn't sure I cared enough to pull myself up and out of my pit! Ever felt like that?
But, since I tell my children that they can do what's right even when they don't feel like it, I decided I better get to work!. I read my Bible for a while and then I asked the Lord to help me with my attitude! I asked Him to help me employ Phil. 4:8 & 9...
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
After I was done reading and praying I decided the final step to removing myself from the pit was to get in a little garden therapy! I pulled some weeds and asked Papa to pull the weeds He saw in my life...the weed of "control" and how I act when I feel out of control! I watered my plant babies and asked Papa to shower me with His peace and his encouragement! I walked about my garden and observed the beautiful flowers that at one time had been dormant, but were now in full bloom.
I asked Papa to allow the same thing to happen for me!!!
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