WHAT IF?

What if someone else's decision breaks your heart? I'm not talking disappointment here. I'm talking about an interruption in your ability to live your life in a healthy way. Broken heart! You were caught off-guard by a betrayal, a shocking behavior, or loss of a loved one. Suddenly you are feeling like you’ve lost all hope . . . you can feel a physical aching in your chest that leaves you wounded and scarred. There are times when the situation is so bad that you can't seem to will yourself or pray yourself to move forward. At every turn things just seem to get worse. You notice at the lowest of times the people that you care about the most can be your worst enemies. Their motives, while well-intentioned, may cause you to get depressed, worried, scared, unhappy, mean or despondent. God has told us that he is God. Why is it easy for us to only believe this while things are going well?? Why when our hearts are breaking do we feel God doesn't care or He doesn't love us? Most believe that everything that happens will happen for a reason. Yet in the midst of pain we get stuck on an illogical reason that God must really hate me to make me suffer like this. You have just locked yourself in the prison of pain. God already gave you the key to freedom. He put it in the palm of your hand the day He died for your sins. You were forgiven and given the power to forgive. I use to say a little prayer when self imprisoned: "Lord please forgive them while I learn to". That didn't get me out of the prison of pain where ugly thoughts and lies bombard me all day long. I had to use MY key, the one God gave me and forgive my heartbreaker. Only then can you soar on the wings of your broken heart. Your pain will go away, but the lessons learned will inspire others.

A pearl to string: "You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord". Ephesians 5:8 Before and after -- that's the story of grace. "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." If we could only fully grasp what we so easily sing then life would be filled with more grace and our hearts with more confidence in God.

Proverbs 14:1: "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down". Living in un-forgiveness is like the woman who tears her house down. If you live in un-forgiveness you will tear down those you love. It doesn’t matter where you live. Spiritually speaking, every woman has some type of “house.” It might be your immediate family, your neighborhood, your workplace, your school, your church. In all these places, we can bless and build the lives of people around us. John Angell James expressed this well. He wrote, “A community is not likely to be overthrown where a woman fulfills her mission. For by the power of her noble heart over the hearts of others, she will raise it from its ruins.”

You have the power in Him and
You are loved
Lyndi

Change What?

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey:

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it too seemed immovable. 

 As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

Life can get pretty nasty. You have a bad day, someone says something that cuts deep, you get angry and bitter, then you completely shut down or lash out just to release the tension. You know, you’re angry. It’s not what you want or what you know you should do, but it just happens. And then there’s problems, there’s broken relationships again, and you don’t know how to fix it. Your heart gets as cold as a stone. Guess there won't be any world changing today.

A pearl to string: The single most powerful thing I have learned in my life for dealing with other humans: The Law of Power by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend: “You only have the power to change yourself. You can’t change another person.
(How about an instant replay)
You only have the power to change yourself. You can NOT change another person. You must see yourself as the problem, not the other person. To see another person as the problem to be fixed is to give that person power over you and your well-being. Because you cannot change another person, You are out of control. The “REAL problem lies in how you are relating to the problem person. You are the one in pain, and only you have the power to fix it”

I just can't express enough what a difference God has made in my life. Pursuing His way, His answers, His promises, His love has changed my heart and the very best advice I could ever give to another is follow after the Lord and He ".....will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your old heart of stone and give you a new heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and help you to keep my laws." - Ezekiel 36:26-27

In His Sonshine,
You are loved,
Lyndi

CHANGE WHAT?

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey:  

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it too seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

 Life can get pretty nasty. You have a bad day, someone says something that cuts deep, you get angry and bitter, then you completely shut down or lash out just to release the tension. You know, you’re angry. It’s not what you want or what you know you should do, but it just happens. And then there’s problems, there’s broken relationships again, and you don’t know how to fix it. Your heart gets as cold as a stone. Guess there won't be any world changing today.

A pearl to string: The single most powerful thing I have learned in my life for dealing with other humans: The Law of Power by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend:
“You only have the power to change yourself. You can’t change another person.
(How about an instant replay)
You only have the power to change yourself. You can NOT change another person.

You must see yourself as the problem, not the other person. To see another person as the problem to be fixed is to give that person power over you and your well-being. Because you cannot change another person, You are out of control. The “REAL problem lies in how you are relating to the problem person. You are the one in pain, and only you have the power to fix it”

I just can't express enough what a difference God has made in my life. Pursuing His way, His answers, His promises, His love has changed my heart and the very best advice I could ever give to another is follow after the Lord and He ".....will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. He will remove your old heart of stone and give you a new heart of flesh. And He will put His Spirit in you and move you to follow His decrees and help you to keep His laws." - Ezekiel 36:26-27

In His Sonshine,

You are loved,

Lyndi

For Better or Worse

Interesting that we each begin our marriage with vows..... one vow being for better or for worse..... Don't think the worse part would have been in there if God didn't know it was coming. That's why we vow not to let circumstances throw our love for one another out of sync. (that's better or worse) It just popped into my head that: “Too many couples marry for better or for worse, but not for good.”

If we stay right with the Lord - we'll stay right with our mate........ can't blame the circumstances.

If you blame the circumstances that would mean you could be tossed around by any old tidal wave....? Oh, no thank you. Phaaa leez! Who would want to live that way. I want to live like Jesus ...... strong and steady through all circumstances. Keeping my eye on my maker and my tongue of opinions wagless.

When things run amuck I have to look into my own heart to find out what's really going on. Usually for me it's self centeredness. I just want things to go my way. I'm concerned for others but there are times and situations that I don't think those others are concerned for me. I can get worked up and create a great emotional argument that someone else is at fault. Unfortunately that has been used before in Genisis 3:12 and it didn't work with God then and it won't work now.

Just the other day I got snared with my self centered way. Actually I felt unappreciated, rudely disregarded and it hurt....deep. As my lips quivered and my eyes filled with tears the pain in my heart grew rapidly. I was getting so worked up I couldn't sleep and was overcome with the injustice of it all. I handled the situation with God's grace BUT I allowed satan a foot on my emotional esteem and I was rapidly going down, down, down. I could see people coming over to my side in my mind's eye cuz I was right. What that person did was mean, mean, mean.

Well I popped over to FB to see who was still up at 1:30 in the morning and I was stopped like a deer in the headlights. Right there at the very top of the page God was holding a mirror up for me to see what I had posted to bless someone in need. God was telling me, "you're the one I had someone write this for. You didn't need it when you found it but you need it now".

Dan Snell to Lynne...Wow....once again...you deliver.... ANOTHER Super Blog Post --- STONE. Loved it! Sharing it with our blended family audience. http://stringapearl.blogspot.com/2010/07/stone.html

A pearl to string: I read my own post and it showed me exactly what to do. I wrote my hurt in the sand and went to bed. When I awoke the winds of forgiveness had blow it away. I had blamed someone else but again - the problem was with me. Good news..... I have a beautiful Savior who died for my sin and loves me. I think you've got the same Savior........ now that's the bees knees

Remember you are loved,
Lyndi

I Need You Jesus

One Last Name

by Sharon Jaynes
http://www.girlfriendsingod.com/

Photo by M Greta Gordon

For almost forty years, Margaret lived with word-inflicted wounds that nearly destroyed her life. From the first day she attended her one room schoolhouse, she and her teacher, Ms. Garner, didn't get along. Ms. Garner was harsh, bitter, and cruel, and could not tolerate Margaret's childish idiosyncrasies. For years, the tension between the two built up pressure.

Margaret was nine-years-old when the cataclysmic day occurred - the one that ripped her world apart. It happened after recess when she frantically raced into class, late again. As she burst through the doors, she faced her peers jeering at her maliciously.

"Margaret!" Ms. Garner shouted. "We have been waiting for you! Get up here to the front of the class, right now!"

Margaret walked slowly to the teacher's desk, was told to face the class, and then the nightmare began.

Ms. Garner ranted, "Boys and girls, Margaret has been a bad girl. I have tried to help her to be responsible. But, apparently, she doesn't want to learn. So we must teach her a lesson. We must force her to face what a selfish person she has become. I want each of you to come to the front of the room, take a piece of chalk, and write something bad about Margaret on the blackboard. Maybe this experience will motivate her to become a better person!"

Margaret stood frozen next to Ms. Garner. One by one, the students began a silent procession to the blackboard. One by one, the students wrote their life-smothering words, slowly extinguishing the light in Margaret's soul. "Margaret is stupid! Margaret is selfish! Margaret is fat! Margaret is a dummy!" On and on they wrote until twenty-five terrible scribblings of Margaret's "badness" filled the chalkboard.

The venomous accusations taunted Margaret in what felt like the longest day of her life. After walking home with each caustic word indelibly written on her heart, she crawled into her bed, claimed sickness, and tried to cry the pain away. But the pain never left, and forty years later she slumped in the waiting room of a psychologist's office, still cringing in the shadow of those twenty-five sentences.

Jesus understands what it feels like to have people call you names. People called him a blasphemer (Matthew 9:3), the prince of demons (Matthew 9:34), an evil spirit (Mark 3:30), and a law breaker (Mark 2:24). His own family said that he was crazy (Mark 3:21). Yes, He knows what it feels like to have a broken heart - both figuratively and physically.

Jesus understands our hurt because He experienced it for Himself. Eugene Peterson, in his work, The Message wrote: "Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help" (Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG).

Let's go back to Margaret for a moment. After decades of depression and anxiety, she had finally sought help from a psychologist. Two long years of weekly counseling helped Margaret to finally extricate herself from her past. It had been a long and difficult road, but she smiled at her counselor (how long it had been since she'd smiled!) as they talked about her readiness to move on.

"Well, Margaret," the counselor said softly, "I guess its graduation day for you. How are you feeling?"

After a long silence, Margaret spoke. "I...I'm okay."

The counselor hesitated. "Margaret, I know this will be difficult, but just to make sure you're ready to move on, I am going to ask you to do something. I want to go back to your schoolroom and detail the events of that day. Take your time. Describe each of the children as they approached the blackboard; remember what they wrote and how you felt - all twenty-five students."

In a way, this would be easy for Margaret. For forty years she had remembered every detail. And yet, to go through the nightmare one more time would take every bit of strength she had. After a long silence, she began the painful description. One by one, she described each of the students vividly, as though she had just seen them, stopping periodically to regain her composure, forcing herself to face each of those students one more time.

Finally, she was finished, and the tears would not stop, could not stop. Margaret cried a long time before she realized someone was whispering her name. "Margaret. Margaret. Margaret." She looked up to see her counselor staring into her eyes, saying her name over and over again. Margaret stopped crying for a moment.
"Margaret. You...you left out one person."

"I certainly did not! I have lived with this story for forty years. I know every student by heart."

"No, Margaret, you did forget someone. See, he's sitting in the back of the classroom. He's standing up, walking toward your teacher, Ms. Garner. She is handing him a piece of chalk and he's taking it, Margaret, he's taking it! Now he's walking over to the blackboard and picking up an eraser. He is erasing every one of the sentences the students wrote. They are gone! Margaret, they are gone! Now he's turning and looking at you, Margaret. Do you recognize him yet? Yes, his name is Jesus. Look, he's writing new sentences on the board. 'Margaret is loved. Margaret is beautiful. Margaret is gentle and kind. Margaret is strong. Margaret has great courage.'"

And Margaret began to weep. But very quickly, the weeping turned into a smile, and then into laughter, and then into tears of joy." (This story of Margaret was taken from Ron Lee's book, Mistreated).

For forty years Margaret had limped through life with the pain of a broken heart. But finally she allowed Jesus, the Healer, the Comforter, and the Great Physician, to bind up the broken heart and allow it to heal.

What is Jesus writing on the chalkboard about you?
You are chosen.
You are dearly loved.
You are holy.
You are beautiful.
You are pure.
You are my bride.
I have your name engraved on the palm of my hand.

OUR HEARTS REMEMBER 9/11

Our hearts remember the families of all thoses who suffered such great loss, all those who gave their lives serving and all those who watched and prayed. May peace and hope now reside.

Here is another story of hope that sprang out of the ashes of terror.








St. Paul's Chapel is located at Broadway and Fulton in New York City. It is the oldest building in continual use in the City. A service of Thanksgiving was held in St. Paul's Chapel after George Washington's inauguration as president in 1789.

St. Paul’s Chapel is a beautiful little chapel right in the heart of Manhattan and adjacent to Ground Zero. It got it’s nick name the Little Church that Stood through the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The headstones are still standing as if nothing ever happened.




In 1926, the Women's Committee of the George Washington-Bulgrave Institution presented a marker to be placed at St. Paul's Chapel. This plaque commemorates what has become known as "Washington's Prayer For The Nation", which reads:

"Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer
that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection;
that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to
cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government;
to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another
and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large;
and finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose
us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves
with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind,
which were the characteristics of the Divine Author
of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation
of whose example in these things can never hope to be
a happy nation. Grant our supplication we beseech Thee,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."



The Rest Of The Story!!!
Then came 9/11! You see, St. Paul's Chapel is just across the street from the where the World Trade Center stood. The stump shown below is all that remains of a 100 year old sycamore tree that once stood in the NW corner of St. Paul's churchyard. The tree was toppled on September 11, 2001 when the collapse of the Trade Towers sent tons of debris hurtling towards the chapel. Miraculously, this tree and others in the churchyard saved the chapel from damage, and not a single pane of glass was broken throughout the church! The church was saved, the tree died.

Thus, this beautiful little chapel, which once served as a place of worship for President George Washington, and which thereafter commemorated his Prayer For The Nation and as an altar of the God's own Ten Commandments... REMAINED STANDING! Like Jesus parable, the house on the rock stood firm! (Matthew 7:24-27)

"RIGHT FIGHTER"

So what is a "right fighter"? It's a person who leads with their right.
Their "I'm right"!
When the actions of a person reveal it's more important to them to be right than do right - they qualify as a 'right fighter'! It's pretty unpleasant to come up against a "right fighter" but when there are two of them..... watch out! it's an "I" for an "I". Whoa. Not a God honoring place.

A 'right fighter's' attachment to being right creates suffering, division and discord. Resolving the problem - should be the issue - not whether it goes your way. The quickest way to lose a fight is to be determined to win it. If you're concerned only with winning, then you're concerned with only being right. That means you're closing yourself off to hearing your opponents side of things or you are listening with the intent of trumping their discourse. Too often it appears the 'right fighter' has been invaded by evil and is displaying a spirit of getting even, vengeance, or control. Don't make a relationship a competition..... that means someone you love will lose in order for you to win. In reality there are no winners once you turn a relationship into a competition. Never give yourself permission to be childish, abusive, immature or self-righteous. All earth dwellers experience painful or hurtful offenses through out their lives. You have the right to give a reasonable voice to those resulting feelings in a constructive way.
So is your opponent your friend? Mate/relationship? Business/Ministry partner? God?

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God". (1 Peter 4:11).

A pearl to string: A beautiful lady went home to be with the Lord recently. Her love and wisdom blessed a lifetime of peoples. She always taught by the way she lived and believed that a parents words could change the way a child lives out the dreams that God has called them to. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11NAS)

A favorite story her son in law likes to tell: Years ago the NBA bad-boy Dennis Rodman moved down the street from my mother-in-law. She went down to meet him and profess Jesus loved him! At another time in a restaurant, she approached his table filled with some of his friends (pretty scary dudes) and the fearless lover said, "Dennis, I was watching you on the basketball court and you moved like a ballerina. You are amazing." She told me she saw a little boy in Dennis who was still waiting to be completely loved. She was able to look past the external tattoos and lip rings to love the broken boy who had never known the love of a father. Isn’t that the same way God loved you when you were broken?

And that relates to "right fighting" how? It's a beautiful counter play to allow every word you speak reflect God's purity and love to those around you. You may never achieve it but you can work towards it.

May you always speak life into those you love.
Lyndi

A Smile From Heaven by Susan Johnson
in the mountains from Kebler Pass

SINGLES

Does God Really Give Us the Desires of Our Hearts?
By Kathleen Hardaway
Author and Precept Ministries Staffer

CBN.com – Does God truly give you the desires of your heart? As a single have you ever asked the question, "If God gives me the desires of my heart, why am I still single?" Of all the questions I've been asked, this is probably the number one question. To understand this Scripture fully, it's important to put it in context.

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…" (Psalm 37:5-7a, NIV).

Today, if you're struggling in your singleness, don't lose heart. These verses are key in helping you with your frustration of being single. Is your delight, your joy, in the Lord? This is vital for anyone to have true joy.

The first twenty years of my life I put much of my joy in my boyfriends. My mood swings went from high to low depending on how a relationship was going. I later realized my joy was in a man, not in my relationship with the Lord.

Our delight must be first in the Lord. It must be priority in our lives.

Second, are you "trusting in Him and doing good?" Countless singles are doing their own thing, not trusting in Him, much less doing good. Many are dating unbelievers and choosing an impure lifestyle.

God says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). If you want a blessed life then it must be a pure life.

Later in these verses David writes, "Commit your way to the Lord and trust in Him." Continue to tell the Lord you want His way, not your way. Never ever try to make a relationship happen. Far too many singles are doing this only to end up heartbroken.

We are also commanded to be still and to wait on Him. Waiting is a difficult thing to do. At times it gets long and it may seem too hard. Often singles cannot endure the waiting and they rush into a wrong marriage. Wait. Keep waiting. Don't rush.

My friend, if you are truly delighting in Him, trusting in Him, committing your way to Him, and waiting on Him, yes, He will give you the desires of your heart. Scripture tells us He will. But God's timing may not be your timing.

Have you come to the end of yourself and truly asked the Lord to change your desires if they're not His desires? I have done this in my own life. Today I'm still single, but never thought I could be happy if I was not married. My desires have changed. If the Lord brings me a husband, then I feel quite sure my desires will change again.

The key to the Christian life, single or married, is trusting and obeying. How very, very true the famous hymn writer was when he penned the words "Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey" (John H. Sammis).

I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying there will not be times of loneliness. I'm not saying that you don't ever wonder why you're still single. But I am saying you will never ever be sorry for trusting, obeying, and waiting on the Lord.

Does God give you the desires of your heart? Yes, and even more. It may be different plans or desires than you ever thought you wanted. He has extraordinary plans when you simply put Him first in your life.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21, NASB).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathleen Hardaway is on staff at Precept Ministries International and has produced and directed Kay Arthur's TV show How Can I Live? for more than 17 years. A single herself, Hardaway is transparent and humorous in her first book, I Kissed a Lot of Frogs: But the Prince Hasn't Come (Moody, 2002).

Prayer Power

How about this headline:

Texas Bar Sues Church.

What in heaven's name is this world coming to?

In a small Texas town (Mt. Vernon), Drummon's Bar began construction on a new building to help increase their business. The local Methodist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening, calling for petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the new bar and it burned to the ground.

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the fate of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.

As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork arguments. At the hearing he commented, "I honestly don't know how I'm going to decide this. From the paperwork I just read, it seems we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and an entire church congregation that does not."

I checked with Mt. Vernon Texas newspaper but cannot verify this story as a fact. It does, however, make an amusing devotional illustration.

There is great power in prayer. When you pray continually about a concern, don't be surprised at how the Lord answers. Paul prayed to visit Rome (Romans 15:32). so he could teach & refresh the Christians there. When he finally arrived in Rome, it was as a prisoner.

Paul prayed for a safe trip, and he did arrive safely - after getting arrested, slapped in the face, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake.

A pearl to string: God's way of answering our prayers are often far from what we expect. When we sincerely pray, God will answer - although in his timing and sometimes in ways we do not expect. One of my favorite prayers that keeps me waiting patiently on the Lord is in Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 3: "But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow do not despair for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient. They will not be overdue a single day.” God has a plan for me, He has a plan for you and He has a plan for the whole of mankind.

Lean on Him and
Know you are loved,
Lyndi

Baloney Fly

A fly was buzzing along one morning when he saw a lawn mower someone had left out in their front yard. He flew over and sat on the handle, watching the children going down the sidewalk on their way to school.

One little boy tripped on a crack and fell, spilling his lunch on the sidewalk. He picked himself up, put his lunch back in the bag and went on. But he missed a piece of baloney.

The fly had not eaten that morning and he sure was hungry. So he flew down and started eating the baloney. In fact he ate so much that he could not fly, so he waddled across the sidewalk, across the lawn, up the wheel of the lawn mower, up the handle, and sat there resting and watching the children.

There was still some baloney laying there on the sidewalk. He was really stuffed, but that baloney sure did look good.

Finally temptation got the best of him and he jumped off the handle of the lawn mower to fly over to the baloney. But alas he was too full to fly and he went splat!!, killing him instantly.

The moral of the story: Don't fly off the handle when you are full of baloney.

Segueing into Billy Graham saying; "Every destructive emotion bears its own harvest, but anger's fruit is the most bitter of all. Uncontrolled anger is a devastating sin, and no one is exempt from its havoc. It shatters friendships and destroys marriages; it causes abuse in families and discord in business; it breeds violence in the community and war between nations. Its recoil, like that of a high-powered rifle, often hurts the one who wields it as well as its target. Anger makes us lash out at others, destroying relationships and revealing our true nature. The history of the human race is largely the history of its anger".

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God".
James 1:19-20 (NASB)

A pearl to string: Anger is a serious problem that needs our personal attention. We can literally change our lives by changing how we think. We choose what we watch and read, the conversations we have and the time we spend in the Word. If the mind is not filled with good the enemy will fill it with bad. We can control our own temper and it's irrepressible outbursts but not in our own strength because we know it's right. We need the Holy Spirit. Without Jesus there is no power (Holy Spirit). Without Jesus we are on our own. Triple yuk, yuk, yuk, phooey! I don't want to be on my own. I need Jesus.... how 'bout you?

Sending love & joy out to you,
Lyndi

I REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED

I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted,
And here's the reason why...

I have a God who's mighty,
Who's sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me,
And I am on His team.

He is all-wise and powerful,
Jesus is His name;
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same,

My God knows all that's happening;
Beginning to the end,
His presence is my comfort,
He is my dearest friend.

When sickness comes to weaken me,
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God;
Into His arms I go.

When circumstances threaten
To rob me from my peace;
He draws me close unto His breast,
Where all my strivings cease.

And when my heart melts within me,
And weakness takes control;
He gathers me into His arms,
He soothes my heart and soul.

The great "I AM" is with me,
My life is in His hand,
The "Son of God" is my hope,
It's in His strength I stand.

I refuse to be defeated,
My eyes are on my God
He has promised to be with me,
As through this life I trod.

I'm looking past all my circumstances,
To Heaven's throne above;
My prayers have reached the heart of God,
I'm resting in His love.

I give God thanks in everything,
My eyes are on His face;
The battle's His, the victory's mine;
He'll help me win the race.

Written By BJ George, But "Inspired By Our Lord Jesus Christ"
Copyright@ BJ George

Under construction or Unraveled

Have you heard of the Winchester Mystery House? The sprawling house in San Jose, California, is famous for its huge size and irregular layout. It was under constant construction for 38 years, eventually coming to have almost 160 rooms.

Despite its great size, the house can be considered unfinished in many ways. There are dozens of doors that open on blank walls, others with knobs on only one side and inside doors with screens on them. There are stairways that reach no destination, chimneys with no stoves, and floors that you can see through.

The construction shows a fascination with the number 13. All the stairways are constructed in series of 13 steps. The chandeliers all have 13 lights. Every wall has 13 panels. Each glass door has 13 pieces.

Winchester House is very pretty on the outside. Inside there are splashes of beauty but mostly it's a rambling mess of odities with fragmented decor.

There are a good many people is this world that could be described in the same way. They look quite good on the outside appearing to have it all and living the "good life". They are envied by those who don't know who they are on the inside.

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart". 1 Samuel 16:7(NLT)

A pearl to string: Some people have a difficult or even horrible childhoods and spend their adult life overcoming the pain of it. Others have such a wonderful childhood that they spend their adult life trying to recreate that loved and secure feeling. Of course there are many that grow up somewhere inbetween. The point I am trying to make here is we were all created with something missing. God created all of us with a God shaped vacuum in our heart. We're under constant construction and in danger of becoming a rambling mess of odities with fragmented decor. Jesus is what's missing and until He is found a beautiful life can unravel at any juncture. The Bible teaches that it's only the One who made man's heart that can also fill it.

Before we are born, there's a hole that is the passageway for blood to enter our pre-natal heart. In most people the hole heals up within a few days after birth. For a few, it doesn't go away. And it really needs to be repaired. So everyone IS born with a hole in their heart. Not just physically, but spiritually. But unlike that physical hole in your heart, the spiritual one doesn't go away unless you let the greatest physician of all fill the hole.

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit". Titus 3:5 (NIV)

Know you are loved,
Lyndi

Basic Growth

There was a farmer, Perley Moore, who had recently bought a truck and found that the "basic price" was only the beginning. Once the salesman had added on all the extras -- towing package, toolbox, fifth-wheel attachment, etc. -- the price was quite a bit higher. Well, by a strange turn of fate, that same salesman stopped by Perley's farm one day to buy a cow. The dealer examined the herd, picked out a likely specimen, and asked about the price.

"That's a hundred-dollar cow," Moore replied directly.

"That's fair enough," said the salesman. "I'll take her."

"Well, now, that's the basic price," Moore added, getting out pencil and paper. "There are one or two extras, of course." He made a few notes and handed the paper to the dealer. Here is the final invoice:

Basic cow: $100
Two-tone exterior: $45
Storage compartment and dispensing device: $60
Four spigots @ $10 each: $40
Genuine cowhide upholstery: $75
Dual horns @ $7.50 each: $15
Automatic fly-swatter: $35

Total: $370

Of course I laughed. That's quite funny and true.... my phone bill reads the same way. Then I started thinking it's true in our spiritual lives too. In John 3:13 Jesus explains the basics: "I tell you the truth, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" and you grow from there...... just like Jesus did. We discover in Luke 2:52 that "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." We get to grow in the same way. Jesus left a path for us to follow in God's word and a helper (Holy Spirit) to empower us in our quest.

String a pearl: Wherever you are on your life journey..... grow on my friends. There is so much to learn and so many ways to grow. God has much He wants to teach you. "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near". Isaiah 55:6

Know you are loved,
Lyndi

Safely Home Chuck

Charles "Chuck" Miles, 58, died on August 4, 2010 in the arms of his wife of 32 years, Barbara, after a 2 year battle with a rare form of cancer. This morning, Chuck, who has courageously and faithfully kept the faith, finished the race - and he was welcomed to his new heavenly home in his new body by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 - "Chuck fought the good fight, Chuck finished the race, Chuck kept the faith. Now there is in store for Chuck the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to Chuck on that day, and not only to Chuck, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Chuck is remembered for his huge heart for God and for people. He served as a youth pastor and associate pastor in the Denver/ Boulder area since 1986. As his vision to help people grew, he reached out to the community by founding the non-profit organization, Youth Vision Unlimited (YVU) in 1996 and started a youth ranch with an equestrian center in Lafayette, CO. Chuck was also a talented builder/developer/architect. Along with multiple custom homes, he also built commercial projects, structures for the City of Lafayette and several churches. But Chuck gave everything he had to those around him. Even his resources were used to fund YVU and the youth ranch. Regardless of the endeavor, Chuck's heart, faith and humor shined through.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Barbara; 4 adult children, Sarah, Charles (III), Samantha & Isaac; 4 younger children, William (15), Israel (14), Ezekiel (10) & Maximus (8); great grandfather-in-law, Roy Coats (CA); father & mother in-law Bob & Loretta Mesa (CA); brother-in law, Tom Mesa (CA); 2 sisters, Marilyn (KS) & Charlene (NV); 4 brothers, Bob (WA), Jeff (WA), Randy (MN), & Tim (WA); numerous other family members.





Photo Sonkissed by Gretchen Foster
I am home in Heaven dear ones; Oh so happy and so bright.
There is perfect joy and beauty, In this ever lasting light.

All the pain and grief are over, Every restless tossing past.
I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder why I so calmly, Trod the valley of the shade?
Ah! but Jesus' love illumined, Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me, In that way so hard to tread.
And with Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have no doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still.
Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust the Father's will.

There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand.
Do it now while life remaineth, You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed, He will gently call you home.
Oh the rapture of that meeting, Oh the joy to see you come.

---author unknown---

The Bridegroom Awaits

I awoke this morning to read Marion Smith's devotional and can honestly say she took the words right out of my head. How did she do that?

Petra & Garry Scott were married July 31st.... Beautiful & fun.


We went to a wedding last week and all eyes were turned to the bride. She usually is the focal point of the entire ceremony, adorned in purest white .She was absolutely glowing with love, filled with anticipation, and enjoying the excitement of the wedding ceremony and the reception to come.

When it was time for her to walk down the aisle, all eyes were upon her. All but mine. For some reason I was drawn to look at the groom. My goodness, he had such a look of love upon his face! He was so absorbed with his future bride walking down that aisle, I believe his attention couldn’t have been deterred if it had to ! The devotion of his heart spoke through his eyes, which were transfixed upon his bride .He waited with confident expectation as she drew nearer and nearer to him, finally to take her rightful place beside him.

Jesus is a bridegroom, also. He is waiting for the “church," his “bride” to make all the necessary preparations to join him at the altar. He waits with great anticipation and enormous love in his heart as the church grows and gathers in number until the perfect time when we will be joined with Hm. I can just picture the love in His eyes and the joy in His heart when we (the Church) finally move down the aisle toward our rightful place beside Him.

Jesus has been patient as he waits for us to fulfil the great commission -- to take the gospel and spread it to all the world.
It may not be much longer before the “marriage of the bride” and the “wedding supper of the lamb”.(Rev.19:9) happens! What a time of rejoicing that will be!

Round and Round

I was driving when I saw the flash of a traffic camera. I figured that my picture had been taken for exceeding the limit even though I knew that I was not speeding.

Just to be sure, I went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed.

Now I began to think that this was quite funny, so I drove even slower as I passed the area once more, but the traffic camera again flashed. I tried a fourth and fifth time with the same results and was now laughing as the camera flashed while I rolled past at a snail's pace.

Two weeks later, I got five tickets in the mail for driving without a seat belt.

Are you going round and round? Going through the same endings to different problems? How's that working for you? Don't be fooled by what you think you see! Maybe today is a good day to change something in your life.

A pearl to string: I imagine God watching us go round and round arrives to the point of ridiculous also. Fortunately He doesn't call us idiots. God calls us His beloved. The same God who paints a sunset, shapes a mountain and plans the waves at the beach, has chosen to love us, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

You say you believe! Woo hoo. You say you've asked the Lord into your heart! Terrific!
So are you in His Word every day? Huh? Well.... how do you fall in love with someone without spending time with them? That could be your answer to your round and round dilemma. Cuddle up to the Good Book and get to know your Savior. He is so beautiful.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God ... Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." 1 John 4:7, 11-12

Keep walking in Sonshine
and know you are loved
Lyndi

Winding Down

From Pastor Tim's Daily CleanLaugh What is baseball?

Ah yes, summer baseball season is winding down. Mother's all over the earth are breathing a sign of relief. Not so fast Mom....... cuz football season is gearing up. I got to go to two of our grandsons' baseball games while in Chicago for our annual MacGathering last month. What an honor. Both Nickolas & Justin are blessed athletes. But baseball games? Yikes, I think I’ve attended maybe seven million of them in my life time. I’m really not fond of baseball ….. watching white paint dry on a wall produces the same thrill for me. What is baseball? So you want me to explain it to you with all my vast experience of attending seven millions games?

OK… it’s a game played by two teams, one out the other in. The one that's in, sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count.

When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out.

When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out.

The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in. No wonder I get so much joy out of watching this game!


A pearl to string: My joy comes from watching the ones I love and watching all those who love them watch them. It plumps a grandma’s heart with joy just watching the skills and performances of our grandchildren as they participate in a play or a choir, gymnastics, football, basketball, soccer or baseball. But the bee knees is when I get to watch my children watching their children with such love and pride. Wow! That brings tears of pure joy.

These precious little image bearers (some not so little anymore) are a gift from God, beloved by their parents and the crown of grandparents. The Lord longs to builds beautiful families. As parents walk in integrity their children are blessed after them and parents become the glory of their children. (Psalm 127:3, Proverbs 17: 6, Psalm 127:1, Proverbs 20:7)

‘Watching’ is a gift from God,
May your hearts by thrilled by your ‘watching’ too.
You are loved,
Lyndi

Glorify Thy Name

STONE

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING
THROUGH THE DESERT .
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,
WROTE IN THE SAND,

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED
'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF
FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE.

REMEMBER THE DUCK?

There's an old story about a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm that illustrates beautifully how much God wants you to be free of your past. The little boy was given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting discouraged, he headed back to dinner.

As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you Johnny?" And then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help me make supper."

But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember the duck?" Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He went to his Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. But, I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you before you confessed it to me."

A pearl to string: I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, you need to know Jesus was also standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.... He has seen your whole life. He loves you..... He will forgive you if you will only ask. Perhaps He's wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave out of you.

"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)

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalms 32:5)

The great thing about Jesus is that He not only forgives, but He forgets.
Remember you are loved,
Lyndi

"A Brokxn Kxy"

Evxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of the kxys. I havx many timxs wishxd that it workxd pxrfxctly.

It is trux that thxrx arx forty-onx kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx.

Somxtimxs it sxxms to mx that our church is somxthing likx my typxwritxr -- not all thx kxy pxoplx arx working propxrly.

As onx of thxm, you may say to yoursxlf, "Wxll, I am only onx pxrson, I don't makx or brxak thx church."

But it doxs makx a big diffxrxncx, bxcasx a church, to bx xffxctivx, nxxds thx activx participation of xvxry pxrson.

So, thx nxxt timx you think your xfforts arx not nxxdxd vxry much, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, "I am a kxy pxrson in thx congrxgation and I am nxxdxd vxry much."

This is what happxns to thx wholx church, and multiply this by many timxs -- thx whole thing just doxs not makx sxnsx!

So, don't be a broken key - be a useful one.
- Author Unknown

A pearl to string: This little story illustrates how much you matter. The world just isn't right if you are not functioning properly. Some times we don't feel like we matter. Life just swirls around us. If you are feeling that way today may I tell you .... you matter! You matter to all the people in your life. You matter to people who don't even know you. Your unique gifting was designed to bless. Bless your family which make up the church, which blesses one another and reaches into their communities to bless. Churches & communities bless each other and reach far beyond their boarders to bless others.

In God your value is immeasurable
You are loved
So go bless someone
Lyndi

Star Spangled Banner

Have you ever heard all the words to the star spangled banner? All four verses? I had heard a second verse sung when I was young but I didn't know it had 4 verses. If I did know at one time I forgot. I found a sing along Karaoke video. I tried on my own singing the words out but the video kept me in tune.




The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics By Francis Scott Key 1814


Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

A pearl to string: Tears fill my eyes each time I remember and honor the many lives given for which our country stands. For all that is wrong through out our history I still feel blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave . Happy 4th of July,
You are loved,
Lyndi

The Lion and the Gazelle

Based on an old African proverb, there's a quote that says, "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

When we awaken each morning, we must realize that there is a roaring lion who wants to devour us. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary - the devil - walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan has targeted you as a victim. He knows your name and address, your strengths and weaknesses. Somewhere in the shadows, he and his forces lurk, waiting, planning for the moment they will strike when you’re caught off-guard.

If we're ready for him, if we're prepared for his tactics, we can resist him. Not by our own power or by our own strength, but by allowing the Holy Spirit who lives in us to confront him and defeat him.

1 John 4:4 "Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world."

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

A pearl to string: Our greatest weapon is prayer. In Psalm 5, we read that David came to God early in the morning and asked for his protection and help.

"The Secret"
By Bishop Ralph Cushman

I met God in the morning
When the day was at its best,
And His Presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the Presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.

Other ships were blown and battered,
Other ships were sore distressed,
But the winds that seemed to drive them,
Brought to me a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the presence left behind.

So, I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day!

Know you are loved,
Lyndi

GREAT GRANDMA RUTH

The Voice of Downriver
Family gathers to mark 100th birthday
By Paula Evans Neuman - Published: Wednesday, June 30, 2010



Ruth Lloyd McCartney was joined by many family members to celebrate her 100th birthday at Belle Fountain Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Riverview recently.

The eighth of Joseph and Margaret Lloyd’s nine children, she was born on June 22, 1910, in West Virginia.

Her mother died when she was 7, and her father had to move away to find work, so the five youngest children in the family moved in with their grandparents, George and Mildred Griffin, who had a farm.

“Most of her childhood memories came during this time with Grandpap and Grandma Griffin,” said Ruth’s son, Richard McCartney.

Her grandfather was a lawyer, and she remembers him as “a cantankerous sort.”

“When Grandpap would do something which didn’t sit well with Grandma, she would say, ‘Law me, that old man,’ McCartney’s son said. “That phrase stayed with Ruth her entire life.”

She also tells of stopping to visit her mother’s tombstone on a hill on the way to the one-room schoolhouse she attended.

Ruth and her older sister, Mary, moved to Ohio when they were a little older. Ruth went to “beauty school” there, and the two sisters moved to Detroit in the late 1920s.

Ruth married William McCartney, and they had a daughter, Jeannine, and two sons, Tom and Bill. The family moved to Riverview in 1945, and it was there that Richard was born.


“In addition to raising her children, Ruth spent some time working as a waitress at Corrigan’s Café and Blossom Bar in Wyandotte,” Richard said.

Ruth and her husband attended many Riverview High School sporting events when their children were in school there, and helped form the Riverview Booster Club.

Ruth and William retired to Florida and lived there through the 1970s and early 1980s. During that time, Ruth worked in a high school cafeteria.

Her husband died in 1986, and Ruth moved back to the Downriver area.

“An avid bingo player through the years, she could be found playing as many as 12 to 15 cards at a time while in her upper 90s,” her son said.

She has 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Coming from Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Ohio and across Michigan, most of them were in attendance during her 100th birthday celebration.

The Power of the Tongue

There is a story about a group of frogs that were traveling through the woods when two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all of their might. The group of frogs kept telling them to stop because they were as good as dead.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The second frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.

You see this frog was deaf, unable to hear what the others were saying. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches a lesson...."You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words" (Proverbs 18: 20,21).

A pearl to string: There is the power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill their joy. Are there times your words can be intimidating because of the strength of your opinion and how verbal you are in expressing that opinion? Proverbs 15:1 tells us that "A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare." Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

The power of words... an encouraging word can go such a long way.
May your words be a blessing to someone today.
Remember you are loved,
Lyndi

A thinker

VS

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

When the Going GETS TOUGH

....THE TOUGH GET GOING

John 15:9

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love". (KJV)

Persevere

Besor Brook

1 Samuel 30 - Have you studied this before? What a disaster! David and his six hundred men took off on a military mission with King Achish of Gath. They were forced to leave their wives and children at Ziklag unprotected. A raiding ban of Amalekites, long-time enemies of Israel, destroyed the village, kidnapped the women and children, stole everything in the place, and left a smoking wreck. David’s men were choked by rage when they returned to this catastrophe and it went downhill from there. Grief clouded their minds; anger hardened their hearts. They wanted to kill David. He was their leader and should not have left the village unprotected. David was definitely in serious trouble so what did he do?

"….. David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6).

David worshipped; David called on his pastor for counsel. David went deep within himself, met God, and found strength and direction. David came out from the place of quietness and counsel and prayer with a plan. He set out to bring back the lost women and children. David’s men didn’t think it possible. They were fatigued and demoralized. The journey was strenuous with riveting twists and turns. They didn’t think it could get any worse and then a third of the men just gave up and sat in exhaustion at Besor Brook. The rest of the men left them there and went on to find their families. Well the news turned out good after a good Samaritan act brought about information that led to a victorious battle. Bottom line to all the incredible excitement: every wife & child was recovered and all their stuff too. What a grand celebration! Read it for yourself – it’s an amazing story and I just touch upon it here.

You might think this is the end. What? Do you live in Hollywood?

Spoilers exist and they were at Besor Brook too. The spoilers did not want to share the bounty of the battle with the men who had deserted them and a great argument ensued. “Give them their families and tell them to shove off – we don’t’ need quitters in this company.” (v22)

David intervened and that was the climax to the story. David ruled that everybody at the brook that day -- the two hundred who had been unable to continue and stayed with the supplies at the brook (1 Sam. 30:24) and the four hundred who had fought for their lives -- were equals and would share everything equally: "Everything we have is a gift from God; we share it with all who are saved by God" (1 Sam. 30:23-25).

A pearl to string: “Besor” means “good news”. The good news that day was the underserved grace the weary & heavy burdened received. Isn't that a foreshadow?
Jesus: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”. (Matt. 11:28-30). That day at Besor Brook David seemed to anticipate and emulate the very actions Jesus himself would do nearly 1,000 years later.

Jesus is our rest giver,
You are loved,
Lyndi

DIS-SAT-IS-FIED

DIS-SAT-IS-FIED Kind of a squirmy, wormy little word isn’t it. How many of you are dissatisfied with life? Hmm? Politics? the economy? delayed flights? changing our history in our history books? lack of this, lack of that….? I mean things are not going so well out there in la-la land. It’s enough to gag a rhinoceros!

But for many of us, this dissatisfaction is a symptom that we have focused too much on ourselves and are angry with life. Stop in your tracks! Did you read that? Are you angry with life? Have you forgotten to count your blessings? Are you neglecting to give thanks to God? Have you become silent in your praise to our Father? Have you quit helping those around you? Thinking of others is how Christ lived. When we follow his example, our actions make a difference in the lives of those we bless and we also find ourselves immensely blessed as well. Can you say, 'It's not about me'? Lizza Baro said, "We may think people make us angry, but most of the time they simply reveal our own selfishness. What usually makes us angry is our lack of control over people and circumstances". Ouch! Lord have mercy!

A pearl to string: If you are finding yourself cranky at every turn, dissatisfied with every aspect of your life ….then change! Change one little thing …. Go… go do something that will bless someone else’s life. It doesn’t have to be a big thing; it doesn’t have to cost money.
Don’t have time? Come on..... pick up your neighbor’s newspaper in the driveway and put it on their doorstep or roll the trash can up from the curb and put in by the garage. OK, don’t tell your neighbor what you did just bless them and thank God you still have a heart to give to others for their benefit and not your own.

“Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up”. -- Romans 15:2

Staying focused on your trouble will make your trouble sticky and stay around much longer. Staying focused on troubled times will begin to consume your mind and increase frustration and anger. To do either one leads to self imprisonment. Philippians 4:8 shows us how to accentuate the positive. 'Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable'. God has gifted the body of Christ to help one another. We each have our gifts and our gifts are a valuable necessity to benefit one another. You are a blessing and you are needed to bless others.

Focus on the positive and see that you are too blessed to be stressed,
You are loved,
Lyndi