In under two minutes she tells it like it is!
Got time?
May you walk in Son shine and be encouraged through the trials of life as a wife, mother and woman of faith. May laughter fill your days, courage strengthen your soul and His love light your way. May God be ever present and invited into your journey. May I refresh your spirit and cause your heart to smile.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Frayed Knot
Are you feeling like a frayed knot these days?
Does your life feel like you are on the wrong end of a lemon?
Did the stuff that hit the fan all land in your life?
Did your dreams shatter?
Did they all come true only to find you had your ladder up on the wrong building?
Did life pull the rug out from under you or was that someone you knew?
Are you over worked, under paid, not appreciated or worse taken for granted?
Com’on did you think I’d have the answer?
What if I told you – this is it. It’s not going to change. It won’t get better if you get a nicer car or a higher paying job or a bigger house or a mate or a better mate or a healing.
Talk about sucking on a lemon lady – not very encouraging. What if every time you complained you left a mountain of dirt behind you? After a few years wouldn’t it be somewhat difficult to get around in your corner of the world?
That’s what happened to me. I kept bumping into ‘Complaint Mountains’ that had accumulated in my life. Dog gone, they nearly squeezed me out. I was forced to my knees before the Lord. “I give up, I can’t do this any more – I don’t even want to do this anymore”, I cried. Then God said to my heart, “be a frayed knot my child”. What? That’s biblical! Oh Lord, “how am I supposed to be your woman under this load?” And God said, “The question is good”.
Long silence……… “That’s it? I was kind of expecting a more definitive answer. Could I maybe get a little help here – a little illumination?” I begged. The quiet was deafening and unending.
From the play “Man and Superman” by the Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw comes a quote that I pondered for years, “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart's desire. The other is to get it.” As a young woman I could not get my mind around Mr. Shaw’s quote. Life experiences brought a reality to the two tragedies but God brought me a quest and this weeks
Pearl to String: No matter what circumstances I find surrounding me, no matter how unfair, difficult or painful they might be - the constant in my life is not to complain about it but to ask myself: How can I be God’s woman (man) is this situation. Right here, right now. That question always leads me to prayer, thanksgiving and God’s Word. In The Message translation of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 we see Paul learning to be God’s man in his situation. “Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”
Like a kid at Christmas opening toys, (Yea!) clothes, (Huh?) socks and underwear. (Ugg!) not all gifts from God are fun but all have purpose.
No longer a frayed knot
Now dancing in the palm of His hand,
Know you are loved
Lyndi
Thursday, April 22, 2010
ONLY A QUARTER
Several years ago a preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, you better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it. Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway the bus company already gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet."
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."
The driver with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change."
When my friend stepped off the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, and held on, and said, "O God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."
Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 RSV)
A pearl to string: Prayer: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...let it shine, let it shine, let it shine..." Oh Lord that sweet little tune is running through my mind this morning. And today, I really do want to let the light of Christ shine through me wherever I go. May your love glow in me. May I be a bright encouragement to all I meet and all who see me. May the words out of my mouth glorify you and say whatever it is YOU know the hearer needs to hear. Thank you, Father God, for giving me light and life through Jesus my Savior, in whose name I pray, Amen and amen.
Shine on my friends…..
You are loved,
Lyndi
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Father, Daughter & a Dog
Story by Catherine Moore
"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!"
My father yelled at me.
"Can't you do anything right?"
Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the
elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him.
A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared
for another battle.
"I saw the car, Dad . Please don't yell at me when I'm
driving." My voice was measured and steady, sounding far
calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away
and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television
and went outside to collect my thoughts.... dark, heavy clouds
hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant
thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about
him? Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had
enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength
against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack
competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were
filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift
a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him
outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever
anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do
something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack.
An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic
administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing.
At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was
lucky;he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for
life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders.
Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and
insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped
altogether. Dad was left alone..
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our
small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would
help him adjust.
Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It
seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did.
I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger
out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation.
The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the
close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad 's
troubled mind.
But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be
done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically
called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow
Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices
that answered in vain.
Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly
exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you!
Let me go get the article." I listened as she read. The
article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home.
All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression.
Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were
given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon.. After I filled
out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels.
The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the
row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs,
curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying
to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other
for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared
the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to
his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a
pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a
caricature of the breed.
Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip
bones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that
caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me
unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The
officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a
funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front
of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be
right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've
heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He
gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror..
"You mean you're going to kill him?" "Ma'am," he said gently,
"that's our policy. We don't have room for every
unclaimed dog." I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown
eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. I drove
home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the
house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car
when Dad shuffled onto the front porch... "Ta-da! Look what I got
for you, Dad !" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted
a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out
a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't
want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the
house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and
pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad .
He's staying!"
Dad ignored me.. "Did you hear me, Dad ?" I screamed. At those
words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes
narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like
duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He
wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him.
Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw..
Dad 's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion
replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad
was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named
the pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the
community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They
spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty
trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad
sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at is feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three
years. Dad 's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many
friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold
nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come
into our bedroom at night.. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into
my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit
had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered
Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad 's bed. I wrapped his still form in
the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite
fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me
in restoring Dad 's peace of mind.
The morning of Dad 's funeral dawned overcast and dreary.
This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the
aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the
many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church.
The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and
the dog who had changed his life.
And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality
to strangers, for by this some have
entertained angels without knowing it."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that
I had not seen before:
. . the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...
. . Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter....
. . his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father.....
. . and the proximity of their deaths.
And suddenly I understood.
I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!"
My father yelled at me.
"Can't you do anything right?"
Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the
elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him.
A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared
for another battle.
"I saw the car, Dad . Please don't yell at me when I'm
driving." My voice was measured and steady, sounding far
calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, then turned away
and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television
and went outside to collect my thoughts.... dark, heavy clouds
hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant
thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about
him? Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had
enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength
against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack
competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were
filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift
a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him
outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever
anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do
something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack.
An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic
administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing.
At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was
lucky;he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for
life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders.
Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and
insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped
altogether. Dad was left alone..
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our
small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would
help him adjust.
Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It
seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did.
I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger
out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation.
The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the
close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad 's
troubled mind.
But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be
done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically
called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow
Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices
that answered in vain.
Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly
exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you!
Let me go get the article." I listened as she read. The
article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home.
All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression.
Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were
given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon.. After I filled
out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels.
The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the
row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs,
curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying
to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other
for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared
the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to
his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a
pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a
caricature of the breed.
Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip
bones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that
caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me
unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The
officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a
funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front
of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be
right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've
heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He
gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror..
"You mean you're going to kill him?" "Ma'am," he said gently,
"that's our policy. We don't have room for every
unclaimed dog." I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown
eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. I drove
home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the
house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car
when Dad shuffled onto the front porch... "Ta-da! Look what I got
for you, Dad !" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted
a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out
a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't
want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the
house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and
pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad .
He's staying!"
Dad ignored me.. "Did you hear me, Dad ?" I screamed. At those
words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes
narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like
duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He
wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him.
Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw..
Dad 's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion
replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad
was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named
the pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the
community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They
spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty
trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad
sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at is feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three
years. Dad 's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many
friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold
nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come
into our bedroom at night.. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into
my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit
had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered
Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad 's bed. I wrapped his still form in
the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite
fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me
in restoring Dad 's peace of mind.
The morning of Dad 's funeral dawned overcast and dreary.
This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the
aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the
many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church.
The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and
the dog who had changed his life.
And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality
to strangers, for by this some have
entertained angels without knowing it."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that
I had not seen before:
. . the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...
. . Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter....
. . his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father.....
. . and the proximity of their deaths.
And suddenly I understood.
I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Heroes & Sheroes
The everyday folks loving their way through this life are my heroes & sheroes. The most gorgeous, attractive men on earth (which has nothing to do with their physical appearance) are the men I catch locked in that “love- eye” glance with their wife and children. Sweet talking, fast talker, oodles of words, big titles and great accomplishments are unimpressive to me. However, a man who treats his wife with tenderness, respect, is lovingly attentive to her and is daily involved with his children’s lives, oh that’s a very impressive guy. Now you top that off with his close walk and love of the Lord? HERO! Oh yes!
And who are my sheroes you wonder? Well it is hard to see them because they are in so many places throughout their day taking care of the needs of their family and extending their friendship to the community around them. They are loving, embracing, feeding, managing health, finances, cleaning, shopping, driving, serving, attending, giving in all directions and the only Prada they own is a picture in a magazine lying on the coffee table. They may or may not be organized, serve elaborate meals, make their own exquisite clothing line or have every hair in place but they are the heart of the family. My shero is a help-mate to her husband and a life teacher to her children and she serves the Lord by being His love to the hurting world around her. There are also about a gabillion Sheroes who are for whatever reason doing all this without a mate. Beautiful SHERO!
My heroes and sheroes don’t wear capes or fly or do anything in a single bound. Not one of them can stop a speeding bullet. So what does a present day hero or shero wear? Upon rising each morning they clothe themselves with compassion. They pull on kindness and humility. Their unhesitant response to others is to place the person’s interests before their own eliminating the possibility of resentment. They slip into shoes of gentleness, never leaving scuff marks of hurt or rejection on another person’s soul. They actively wear patience for it is not something a person has but rather something a person does. And the finishing touch is to wrap up in forgiveness and generosity buttoned down by love.
A pearl to string: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”. Colossians 3:12-14
Thank you Lord for the Heroes and Sheroes in my life,
Lyndi
Monday, April 12, 2010
The will of God
Remember. The Will of God will never take you...
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you...
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
The will of God will never take you...
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you...
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you...
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
The will of God will never take you...
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you...
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
A Mother's Whispered Prayer
This is a note a friend sent to me today. I asked her if I could share it knowing it might bless and encourage a praying mama somewhere. I hope it blesses you.
I would like to share with all of you my answer to a whisper prayer that came about in the most unusual way...
On Wed nite we were skyping with Jessica, she is at a huge cross roads in her study program and I as a mom could see the heaviness on her heart. As we listened to her explain her heart I in turned inward and whispered a prayer to GOD:
"Oh how I wish I could just hug her and pray with her"! I could see she needed her mom's touch or should I say I needed as a mom to touch and hold her. Well as we said our goodbyes on skype and did our family hug as her image faded from the computer screen my heart cried out for her to have peace.
The next day Ed and I would get up at 3:15am to head to Virginia for a Promise Keepers Conference. As the alarm went off, Ed hopped in the shower, I got on my knees and prayed for our Jessica (some things call for us to fall on our knees!) We headed to LAX and arrived in plenty of time to make our 6:00am flight. As we arrived to our gate we noticed something was stirring but we didn't know what until they announced someone has breached security so all flights are on hold and no one is getting through.
We watched as the TSA and police personal hunted the gate we were at looking for this person. Checking and questioning random people. Time kept slipping by...hour after hour. Frustrated and complaining things seemed chaotic...then all of the sudden they found the person on the plane next to our gate. We watched as they marched this young man off. Now we were set to go.....what I hadn't noticed is our connecting flight would be in Chicago. So as we arrived in Chicago we were told we missed our connecting flight and we would not leave until 9:00pm.
We had 4 1/2 hours!!! I called Jessica and told her she happened to be in the library, she hurried home hopped on the Ltrain and was on our way to see us!!!! Oh can I tell you as we saw her walk through the hall ways at the airport I ran and hugged her!!! Yes at that time I whispered to God as I held my daughter in my arms "Thank You Almighty GOD only YOU can turn a Frustrating bad situation into a answer of a whispered prayer!!!!"
Yes my GOD answered my whisper prayer in such a miracle fashion! We got to spend 2 hours with Jessica talking and then we got to pray for Jessica! She said "I kept my eyes open we are still in Chicago" we laughed and hugged and said our goodbyes! I cried tears of such joy to hold her and see GOD is truly a Miracle working GOD!!
So I am here to tell YOU today what is your Whisper Prayer?
GOD hears YOU and will answer in a way YOU least expect it!!
I am giving GOD all the Praise and Glory!! HE is AWESOME!!!
love,
Lucia
I would like to share with all of you my answer to a whisper prayer that came about in the most unusual way...
On Wed nite we were skyping with Jessica, she is at a huge cross roads in her study program and I as a mom could see the heaviness on her heart. As we listened to her explain her heart I in turned inward and whispered a prayer to GOD:
"Oh how I wish I could just hug her and pray with her"! I could see she needed her mom's touch or should I say I needed as a mom to touch and hold her. Well as we said our goodbyes on skype and did our family hug as her image faded from the computer screen my heart cried out for her to have peace.
The next day Ed and I would get up at 3:15am to head to Virginia for a Promise Keepers Conference. As the alarm went off, Ed hopped in the shower, I got on my knees and prayed for our Jessica (some things call for us to fall on our knees!) We headed to LAX and arrived in plenty of time to make our 6:00am flight. As we arrived to our gate we noticed something was stirring but we didn't know what until they announced someone has breached security so all flights are on hold and no one is getting through.
We watched as the TSA and police personal hunted the gate we were at looking for this person. Checking and questioning random people. Time kept slipping by...hour after hour. Frustrated and complaining things seemed chaotic...then all of the sudden they found the person on the plane next to our gate. We watched as they marched this young man off. Now we were set to go.....what I hadn't noticed is our connecting flight would be in Chicago. So as we arrived in Chicago we were told we missed our connecting flight and we would not leave until 9:00pm.
We had 4 1/2 hours!!! I called Jessica and told her she happened to be in the library, she hurried home hopped on the Ltrain and was on our way to see us!!!! Oh can I tell you as we saw her walk through the hall ways at the airport I ran and hugged her!!! Yes at that time I whispered to God as I held my daughter in my arms "Thank You Almighty GOD only YOU can turn a Frustrating bad situation into a answer of a whispered prayer!!!!"
Yes my GOD answered my whisper prayer in such a miracle fashion! We got to spend 2 hours with Jessica talking and then we got to pray for Jessica! She said "I kept my eyes open we are still in Chicago" we laughed and hugged and said our goodbyes! I cried tears of such joy to hold her and see GOD is truly a Miracle working GOD!!
So I am here to tell YOU today what is your Whisper Prayer?
GOD hears YOU and will answer in a way YOU least expect it!!
I am giving GOD all the Praise and Glory!! HE is AWESOME!!!
love,
Lucia
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Empty Well Syndrome
“When we continue to seek water (love, affirmation, etc.) from someone who can’t or won’t give it we are like the one seeking water from a “bad” well. What is the name for such an unhealthy pattern? I call it the Empty Well Syndrome. Why do we go back to an empty well when we know it’s empty or toxic, repeating our own history of defeat? Jesus we need you to help us see what we do not see!”
The paragraph above is an excerpt from facebook. I was drawn to the statement. It stirred up so many thoughts but I was feeling a check in my spirit too. Actually I would have agreed with that statement in my youth while roaming about in my own valley. I saw things from my need, from my perception or expectation of how life should be and how I should be treated by other people. Conveniently if one lived according to my expectation I would first benefit and then the other person would surely benefit if I did. Hum? Where do you suppose I can find that in God’s Word? It was not a sinister plot I just wanted to be happy all the time and have everything go my way. Hollywood style? Cinderella dream? Mix a little romance, a little world way, a little Bible love and life could be so good. What a recipe for disaster I had going in my life! I know … you could see that coming a mile off….SPLAT! Some people learn from other people’s mistakes and some people have to be the “other” people…. But we “other” people do learn.
This may not be the direction or meaning the original author intended but it seems to be where God is leading me this morning.
As I’ve grown in my relationship with the Lord I’ve discovered (as have you) it’s not about me or my thinking or my perception in my time frame. God does not operated on human time tables He operates out of eternity. You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at God's mercy for breakthroughs in our lives, we will never experience God's faithfulness in those areas.
When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly. -- Edward Teller
A pearl to string: Life isn’t always at it appears. (Objects in the side or rear view mirror may be distorted) With the Empty Well Syndrome is the well really empty? Or is the well empty of what I think should be in it? Could it be that I am drawn to the well repeatedly so I might discover the treasure God has yet to teach me. "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." (Isaiah 45:3)
God has not given up on any of us,
He patiently waits for you to come to Him,
You are loved,
Lyndi
Monday, April 5, 2010
I WAS SHOCKED
sent by Mike McCartney
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp—
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
At the thought of seeing you.'
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp—
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
At the thought of seeing you.'
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
You Have Always Been Drawn to Wood
by Phil Ware
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother ... (John 19:25).
I have often wondered what Mary, the mother of Jesus, thought as she
watched her boy -- who also happened to be God's Son -- die on the
cross. Would she remember the manger of wood? Would she remember the
wood shavings in her boy's hair as Joseph, a true man of honor, stood
by her and helped her raise God's Son? Would she realize in looking
back that her boy had always been drawn to wood?
The following is a meditation I wrote years ago as I tried to imagine
what it was like for Mary at the foot of the Cross. I hope these
thoughts are a blessing and a challenge to you as we wait for the light
of hope to dawn on Sunday and remind us that death does not have the
final word in Jesus' life, and because of Jesus, it does not have the
final word in our own lives!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As Mary stood watching, she remembered all of it, but especially that
last conversation with her boy. He was not a boy, of course. He was
tall and strong and more than thirty birthdays old. But, he still was
her boy. "I must go now," he had said, "I have always been drawn to
wood."
She had looked into his dark eyes, her smile full of hurt and a
mother's love. "Such a fine young man," she thought as she brushed the
sawdust and wood shavings from his curly brown hair for the thousandth
time. But this time was different. Something about the set of his jaw
and the flash of fire in his eyes told her this was the last time.
"I must go, now, mother!"
Even in his twenties, Yeshua was respectful and supportive. This was
especially so after Joseph died. Yeshua took over the carpenter's shop
and did what the eldest son was expected to do.
"You have sawdust and shavings in your hair, Yeshua. Just like when you
were a little boy with your father." She hoped her words might hold him
close a moment or two longer. But as she spoke them, it was Mary who
paused. She thought of the man who had stood by her when the only
explanations were divinely insane. She missed him so. Yeshua's presence
in the shop had always reminded her of Joseph. While they looked
nothing alike, he was very much his father's son. With Joseph's death
had come the resurrection of suspicion and the cruel taunts, "Mary's
boy! Mary's boy!" Yeshua would shrug and smile his wry grin, as if he
heard some faraway song awakening some primal instinct deep within his
heart.
Mary's smile and motherliness brought no response this time. "You have
always been drawn to wood!" she said nervously. She had kept her
feelings hidden, but since the wedding in Cana, she knew the promises
from long ago were beginning to unfold. He was no longer her little boy
-- she knew it as well as she knew the dark eyes, the curls of brown
hair, and the tenderness in his voice when he spoke to her. This was
his goodbye. More than leaving home, he was leaving her and all she
knew as family behind.
"You have always been drawn to wood!" she softly repeated. She touched
his brown curls and brushed the shavings from his hair one last time.
It was true -- he had always been drawn to wood. She had said it often,
hoping against hope that it would keep him near her, or at least near
the carpenter's shop. Despite the angel's promise that he would be King
and Savior, when he was born, she had placed him in a wooden manger.
Now, in the shadow of his cross, the thought now pierced her like a
dagger, "You have always been drawn to wood."
"I must go, now, mother!" he had firmly said. "It's time. James, Joses,
and Jude can run the shop. They will take care of you. It is time for
me to do what you know I must do. My carpentry is needed elsewhere. As
you have so often said, 'I have always been drawn to wood.'"
As she stood shivering from the cold in her soul, she now remembered
everything -- the manger, the wood shavings, and especially that day he
left. And now, just three years later, the rattling sounds of her son's
labored breathing shook her to her marrow. Tears stained her cheeks as
she stood looking at the little boy she once swaddled and placed in the
manger. Mary softly cried and said for the final time, "My precious
son, you have always been drawn to wood."
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother ... (John 19:25).
I have often wondered what Mary, the mother of Jesus, thought as she
watched her boy -- who also happened to be God's Son -- die on the
cross. Would she remember the manger of wood? Would she remember the
wood shavings in her boy's hair as Joseph, a true man of honor, stood
by her and helped her raise God's Son? Would she realize in looking
back that her boy had always been drawn to wood?
The following is a meditation I wrote years ago as I tried to imagine
what it was like for Mary at the foot of the Cross. I hope these
thoughts are a blessing and a challenge to you as we wait for the light
of hope to dawn on Sunday and remind us that death does not have the
final word in Jesus' life, and because of Jesus, it does not have the
final word in our own lives!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As Mary stood watching, she remembered all of it, but especially that
last conversation with her boy. He was not a boy, of course. He was
tall and strong and more than thirty birthdays old. But, he still was
her boy. "I must go now," he had said, "I have always been drawn to
wood."
She had looked into his dark eyes, her smile full of hurt and a
mother's love. "Such a fine young man," she thought as she brushed the
sawdust and wood shavings from his curly brown hair for the thousandth
time. But this time was different. Something about the set of his jaw
and the flash of fire in his eyes told her this was the last time.
"I must go, now, mother!"
Even in his twenties, Yeshua was respectful and supportive. This was
especially so after Joseph died. Yeshua took over the carpenter's shop
and did what the eldest son was expected to do.
"You have sawdust and shavings in your hair, Yeshua. Just like when you
were a little boy with your father." She hoped her words might hold him
close a moment or two longer. But as she spoke them, it was Mary who
paused. She thought of the man who had stood by her when the only
explanations were divinely insane. She missed him so. Yeshua's presence
in the shop had always reminded her of Joseph. While they looked
nothing alike, he was very much his father's son. With Joseph's death
had come the resurrection of suspicion and the cruel taunts, "Mary's
boy! Mary's boy!" Yeshua would shrug and smile his wry grin, as if he
heard some faraway song awakening some primal instinct deep within his
heart.
Mary's smile and motherliness brought no response this time. "You have
always been drawn to wood!" she said nervously. She had kept her
feelings hidden, but since the wedding in Cana, she knew the promises
from long ago were beginning to unfold. He was no longer her little boy
-- she knew it as well as she knew the dark eyes, the curls of brown
hair, and the tenderness in his voice when he spoke to her. This was
his goodbye. More than leaving home, he was leaving her and all she
knew as family behind.
"You have always been drawn to wood!" she softly repeated. She touched
his brown curls and brushed the shavings from his hair one last time.
It was true -- he had always been drawn to wood. She had said it often,
hoping against hope that it would keep him near her, or at least near
the carpenter's shop. Despite the angel's promise that he would be King
and Savior, when he was born, she had placed him in a wooden manger.
Now, in the shadow of his cross, the thought now pierced her like a
dagger, "You have always been drawn to wood."
"I must go, now, mother!" he had firmly said. "It's time. James, Joses,
and Jude can run the shop. They will take care of you. It is time for
me to do what you know I must do. My carpentry is needed elsewhere. As
you have so often said, 'I have always been drawn to wood.'"
As she stood shivering from the cold in her soul, she now remembered
everything -- the manger, the wood shavings, and especially that day he
left. And now, just three years later, the rattling sounds of her son's
labored breathing shook her to her marrow. Tears stained her cheeks as
she stood looking at the little boy she once swaddled and placed in the
manger. Mary softly cried and said for the final time, "My precious
son, you have always been drawn to wood."
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Brother? Are You There?
In fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 62:11 & Zechariah 9:9), Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds lined the street shouting "Hosanna! (Save us) Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." (Psalm 118:25-26) The crowds & children excitedly placed palm branches and robes in front of Jesus to make a path for him as he rode into Jerusalem sitting on a donkey's colt. This raucous celebration was particularly disturbing to the religious leaders who were jealous of Jesus. They demanded that Jesus silence the crowd, but he responded that even if the crowd were silent, the stones would cry out. (Oh, I love that?) Palm Sunday: Jesus Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What a special moment….. You’d think Jesus would be surrounded by his family. I read through every translation I could get my hands on trying to see if I could find a hint of James (Jesus’ brother) in the crowd. Even though James was probably there for Passover there was no mention of it in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). James, like the other brothers of Jesus, had not believed in Jesus during his earthly ministry (John 7:1-5). They had been concerned that their brother was "out of his mind" during a busy time in his ministry (Mark 3:20-21). They had also felt the sting of his words that seemed to suggest that he cared less for his kinfolk than he did for his newfound followers whom he called family (Mark 3:31-35). Even in Jesus home town the Nazarenes displayed obstinate prejudices against Jesus & His preaching! “Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him (Mark 6:3).
The events of the week between The Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Resurrection Sunday would forever change the world. Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowd welcomed him as a king. By the end of the week they were demanding his death. His followers abandoned him in fear. None of his close followers had really understood the events of Palm Sunday and Holy Week until after Jesus returned. They had all expected Jesus to be an earthly king, but God had given them something so much better - an open door into a Kingdom that would never end.
A pearl to string: I’m not a Biblical Scholar (not even close) but as I read & study God’s Word I think Jesus brother James was there. I think James witnessed the entire Passion Week and his brother’s death on a cross. I think the encounter profoundly changed James for all eternity. Look at this: *James begins his short epistle with these words: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (James 1:1). So he came from being an unbeliever (John 7:1-5), to seeing himself as a servant (the word literally means "slave") of the Lord Jesus Christ. WOW!
There must be a tear of joy in Jesus eye for every life His Resurrection has changed.
May you be ever changed by Jesus love for you,
Lyndi
*The Epistle (letter) of James was written by James, also called James the Just, who is thought to be the brother (half) of Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). There are three other persons called by this name in the New Testament. One was James, the Greater, the son of Zebedee, an apostle (Matthew 10:2) and the brother of the Apostle John. Another is James, the son of Alphaeus, who was also one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:3). The remaining James is the father of the Apostle Judas (Luke 6:16).
The events of the week between The Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Resurrection Sunday would forever change the world. Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowd welcomed him as a king. By the end of the week they were demanding his death. His followers abandoned him in fear. None of his close followers had really understood the events of Palm Sunday and Holy Week until after Jesus returned. They had all expected Jesus to be an earthly king, but God had given them something so much better - an open door into a Kingdom that would never end.
A pearl to string: I’m not a Biblical Scholar (not even close) but as I read & study God’s Word I think Jesus brother James was there. I think James witnessed the entire Passion Week and his brother’s death on a cross. I think the encounter profoundly changed James for all eternity. Look at this: *James begins his short epistle with these words: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (James 1:1). So he came from being an unbeliever (John 7:1-5), to seeing himself as a servant (the word literally means "slave") of the Lord Jesus Christ. WOW!
There must be a tear of joy in Jesus eye for every life His Resurrection has changed.
May you be ever changed by Jesus love for you,
Lyndi
*The Epistle (letter) of James was written by James, also called James the Just, who is thought to be the brother (half) of Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). There are three other persons called by this name in the New Testament. One was James, the Greater, the son of Zebedee, an apostle (Matthew 10:2) and the brother of the Apostle John. Another is James, the son of Alphaeus, who was also one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:3). The remaining James is the father of the Apostle Judas (Luke 6:16).
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Gift of Confrontation
By Mary Southerland of Girlfriends in God
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6 NAS).
Sandpaper people are no strangers to confrontation. However, that confrontation usually comes from an unclean heart and an angry spirit. In fact, inept confrontations can easily become just another notch in a sandpaper person's belt, giving them one more reason to be who they are - difficult people.
Confrontation is a gift we bring to every relationship - especially difficult relationships. When love and gentleness deliver correction, it is much more likely to be received and acted on. We can be caring and confronting at the same time. In fact, confrontation is a spiritual exercise and an act of spiritual obedience that changes lives and builds healthy relationships.
Before Dan and I were married, I noticed several "rough edges" in his character that needed to be sanded away and felt like I was just the one for the job. After all, that's what wives are for - right? I decided to lay low for a few months, lulling him into a false sense of security while giving him a chance to make the changes on his own before I stepped in with my brilliant plan for his life. The only problem was that my plan did not line up with Dan's plan. In fact, he seemed oblivious to the character flaws that were blatantly obvious to me.
After a few months of marital bliss, during which I was secretly fine-tuning my "Fix Dan Plan", a seed of discontent took root and began to grow in my heart. The strength I had so admired in Dan now resembled stubbornness. His ability to take a complicated issue, dissect it and boil it down to a practical three-step-plan now seemed patronizing and sometimes even meddlesome. What I had once embraced as his devotion to me now seemed like his need to control me. It was time for the execution of my now well-thought-out and sure-to-succeed plan of transforming my husband into the man God and I thought he should be.
It goes without saying that unity was the last thing on my mind or on my list of changes to be made. Looking back, I am certain I fit the bill of a sandpaper person deluxe at that point in Dan's life! But like most difficult people, I would not be deterred. The results were painfully disastrous.
Arguments over insignificant issues ensued as we battled for control of the relationship. Dan fielded each attack, confused and bewildered by the mysterious and not-so-wonderful change in his wife. Every area of our marriage suffered and we were both miserable. Thankfully, my young but wise husband was committed to me, I was committed to him and we were both committed to God's plan for our marriage. I will never forget the afternoon Dan confronted me in love and with amazing patience. I don't remember much of the conversation but I remember the words that broke my heart but saved our marriage, "Honey, I'm not sure what is going on between us. But I do know I want to love you like you need to be loved." And there you have the recipe for a successful marriage and healthy relationships.
I loved Dan like I thought he should be loved instead of how he needed to be loved, with my requirements and my expectations, hoping that he would have to do all of the changing while I did all of the controlling. I had a lot to learn about the art of confrontation, how it brings unity, peace and joy to any relationship where it is invited to work. There is a right way and a wrong way to confront. The success of any confrontation depends upon understanding the difference between the two.
• Always begin confrontation with affirmation. Encouraging words set the stage and prepare the heart to hear words of correction.
• Be willing to take your part of the blame. No conflict is ever totally one-sided. Taking your share of the blame often diffuses anger and steers the confrontation in the right direction.
• Express hurt...not hostility. It is important to keep emotions under control during confrontation. Volume negates listening. Raised voices and angry words slam the door shut on any possible good that can come from confrontation. Express your feelings with words - not volume or accusation.
• Make clear, direct statements. When facing confrontation, I will often write down what I plan to say; then read it aloud and sometimes in front of the mirror. I can then go back and eliminate unnecessary comments, inflammatory words or vengeful statements disguised as correction. In any confrontation, it is important to stick to the facts, refusing to become either hysterical or historical.
• Avoid using the words "never" and "always" because they tend to stir up emotions and fan emotional fires. These words are obviously untrue and accomplish little in a confrontation, destroying any credibility of the person doing the confronting.
•Learn to listen. One of my favorite tactics in confrontations is to use the time the other person is speaking to formulate my next point. As a result, I don't listen because I assume I already know what will be said. Difficult conversations require total attention.
Be solution centered. It is so easy to go for the "let's get this over" conversation instead of the "let's get to the heart of this problem" discussion. Make the decision beforehand to stay at the table of confrontation until a solution is found and restoration is achieved.
We were created to live in harmony. God calls us to wage peace in every relationship - the easy ones as well as the relationships that are difficult. Part of winning the battle is learning how to confront sandpaper people in the right way - God's way. Confrontation that is done in love changes lives, impacts relationships and honors God
Let's Pray
Father, I want to be a good friend. I want to please You through the relationships in my life. Give me the wisdom and strength to be honest with those I love but give me a gentle spirit as well. Guard my heart against pride and help me to see the things in my own life that need correcting. I pray that what I say and do pleases and honors You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Do not succumb to the line of thinking that combat and confrontation are the same thing. Combat slowly corrodes and splinters while confrontation is an art that, when done correctly, improves and strengthens relationships. Let's wage peace!
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6 NAS).
Sandpaper people are no strangers to confrontation. However, that confrontation usually comes from an unclean heart and an angry spirit. In fact, inept confrontations can easily become just another notch in a sandpaper person's belt, giving them one more reason to be who they are - difficult people.
Confrontation is a gift we bring to every relationship - especially difficult relationships. When love and gentleness deliver correction, it is much more likely to be received and acted on. We can be caring and confronting at the same time. In fact, confrontation is a spiritual exercise and an act of spiritual obedience that changes lives and builds healthy relationships.
Before Dan and I were married, I noticed several "rough edges" in his character that needed to be sanded away and felt like I was just the one for the job. After all, that's what wives are for - right? I decided to lay low for a few months, lulling him into a false sense of security while giving him a chance to make the changes on his own before I stepped in with my brilliant plan for his life. The only problem was that my plan did not line up with Dan's plan. In fact, he seemed oblivious to the character flaws that were blatantly obvious to me.
After a few months of marital bliss, during which I was secretly fine-tuning my "Fix Dan Plan", a seed of discontent took root and began to grow in my heart. The strength I had so admired in Dan now resembled stubbornness. His ability to take a complicated issue, dissect it and boil it down to a practical three-step-plan now seemed patronizing and sometimes even meddlesome. What I had once embraced as his devotion to me now seemed like his need to control me. It was time for the execution of my now well-thought-out and sure-to-succeed plan of transforming my husband into the man God and I thought he should be.
It goes without saying that unity was the last thing on my mind or on my list of changes to be made. Looking back, I am certain I fit the bill of a sandpaper person deluxe at that point in Dan's life! But like most difficult people, I would not be deterred. The results were painfully disastrous.
Arguments over insignificant issues ensued as we battled for control of the relationship. Dan fielded each attack, confused and bewildered by the mysterious and not-so-wonderful change in his wife. Every area of our marriage suffered and we were both miserable. Thankfully, my young but wise husband was committed to me, I was committed to him and we were both committed to God's plan for our marriage. I will never forget the afternoon Dan confronted me in love and with amazing patience. I don't remember much of the conversation but I remember the words that broke my heart but saved our marriage, "Honey, I'm not sure what is going on between us. But I do know I want to love you like you need to be loved." And there you have the recipe for a successful marriage and healthy relationships.
I loved Dan like I thought he should be loved instead of how he needed to be loved, with my requirements and my expectations, hoping that he would have to do all of the changing while I did all of the controlling. I had a lot to learn about the art of confrontation, how it brings unity, peace and joy to any relationship where it is invited to work. There is a right way and a wrong way to confront. The success of any confrontation depends upon understanding the difference between the two.
• Always begin confrontation with affirmation. Encouraging words set the stage and prepare the heart to hear words of correction.
• Be willing to take your part of the blame. No conflict is ever totally one-sided. Taking your share of the blame often diffuses anger and steers the confrontation in the right direction.
• Express hurt...not hostility. It is important to keep emotions under control during confrontation. Volume negates listening. Raised voices and angry words slam the door shut on any possible good that can come from confrontation. Express your feelings with words - not volume or accusation.
• Make clear, direct statements. When facing confrontation, I will often write down what I plan to say; then read it aloud and sometimes in front of the mirror. I can then go back and eliminate unnecessary comments, inflammatory words or vengeful statements disguised as correction. In any confrontation, it is important to stick to the facts, refusing to become either hysterical or historical.
• Avoid using the words "never" and "always" because they tend to stir up emotions and fan emotional fires. These words are obviously untrue and accomplish little in a confrontation, destroying any credibility of the person doing the confronting.
•Learn to listen. One of my favorite tactics in confrontations is to use the time the other person is speaking to formulate my next point. As a result, I don't listen because I assume I already know what will be said. Difficult conversations require total attention.
Be solution centered. It is so easy to go for the "let's get this over" conversation instead of the "let's get to the heart of this problem" discussion. Make the decision beforehand to stay at the table of confrontation until a solution is found and restoration is achieved.
We were created to live in harmony. God calls us to wage peace in every relationship - the easy ones as well as the relationships that are difficult. Part of winning the battle is learning how to confront sandpaper people in the right way - God's way. Confrontation that is done in love changes lives, impacts relationships and honors God
Let's Pray
Father, I want to be a good friend. I want to please You through the relationships in my life. Give me the wisdom and strength to be honest with those I love but give me a gentle spirit as well. Guard my heart against pride and help me to see the things in my own life that need correcting. I pray that what I say and do pleases and honors You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Do not succumb to the line of thinking that combat and confrontation are the same thing. Combat slowly corrodes and splinters while confrontation is an art that, when done correctly, improves and strengthens relationships. Let's wage peace!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
It’s Who We Are
Are you having a bad hair day, feeling like God poured you out like milk and curdled you like cheese? I was having one of those tough to breathe days and wanted to remind myself just what my breath was…. that God was my breath. Well I started looking up scripture verses and found some that really inspired and refreshed me. I liked them so much that I layered several translations one upon the other and strung them together and look what fun thing happened.
Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life Psalm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: My flesh was made by you; you created my inmost being; You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body; you formed my inward parts; You alone created my inner being; Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb; and my parts joined together in my mother's body; You wove me in my mother's womb; You knitted me together inside my mother. thou hast protected me from my mother's womb; Job 10:11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? Job 10:12 Thou hast granted me life and favor; You gave me life and showed me kindness, You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love; You have granted me life and steadfast love; You have granted me life and loving kindness; You gave me life and mercy; You have been kind to me, and your grace has been with me; Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit; your providence watched over my spirit; My life was preserved by your care; your care has preserved my spirit; Your watchfulness has preserved my spirit; your care has kept my spirit safe. Psalm 119:73 Your hands made me and fashioned me; give me the sense to follow your commands and understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
A pearl to string: My breathing remained difficult throughout the day but my time in the Scriptures was like playing with my Dad. Remember? Playing with your Dad? Didn’t it always make you feel happy? God’s Word fought off the many temptations labored breathing generates: fear, anxiety, panic, whining, complaining, anger, frustration and depression. Replaced them all with joy. So if you ask me what kind of a day I’m having my response would probably be – great! You would never know about the difficulty and fun I had getting to great! I just felt led to share my great with you today. I’m praying that whatever temptations you face God’s Word will be your joy in overcoming them.
You are loved,
Lyndi
Monday, March 22, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
The "I Wills"
I will bless thee (Gen. 12:2).
I will not leave thee (Josh. 1:5).
I will heal thee (2 Ki. 20:5).
I will counsel thee (Ps. 32:8).
I will instruct thee (Ps. 32:8).
I will guide thee (Ps. 32:8).
I will deliver thee (Ps. 50:15).
I will help thee (Isa 4 1:10).
I will strengthen thee (Isa. 41:10).
I will uphold thee (Isa 4 1:10).
I will hold thine hand (Isa. 42.6).
I will not forget thee (Isa. 49:15).
I will comfort thee (Isa. 66:13).
I will pardon iniquities (Jer. 31:34).
I will restore health to thee (Jer. 30:17).
I will be your God (Ezek. 36:28).
I will put my Spirit within you (Ezek. 36:27).
I will save you (Ezek. 3 6:29).
I will love you (Jr. 14:21).
I will manifest myself (Jn. 14:21).
I will come again (Jr. 14:3).
I will sup with you (Rev. 3:20).
I will give thee a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
I will not leave thee (Josh. 1:5).
I will heal thee (2 Ki. 20:5).
I will counsel thee (Ps. 32:8).
I will instruct thee (Ps. 32:8).
I will guide thee (Ps. 32:8).
I will deliver thee (Ps. 50:15).
I will help thee (Isa 4 1:10).
I will strengthen thee (Isa. 41:10).
I will uphold thee (Isa 4 1:10).
I will hold thine hand (Isa. 42.6).
I will not forget thee (Isa. 49:15).
I will comfort thee (Isa. 66:13).
I will pardon iniquities (Jer. 31:34).
I will restore health to thee (Jer. 30:17).
I will be your God (Ezek. 36:28).
I will put my Spirit within you (Ezek. 36:27).
I will save you (Ezek. 3 6:29).
I will love you (Jr. 14:21).
I will manifest myself (Jn. 14:21).
I will come again (Jr. 14:3).
I will sup with you (Rev. 3:20).
I will give thee a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
Friday, March 19, 2010
Don't Come To Church
by Steve Ridgell
“Don’t come to church!” That is not something you will usually hear a
minister say, but sometimes it is true. I recently heard someone
talking about the troubles currently in their life and they mentioned
that maybe going to church would help. I am not sure it would. They are
looking for a “magic bullet” to make life better. That is not the
purpose of church. Attending worship services and being involved in a
church are outcomes of a decision to follow Jesus.
Jesus is the answer to the struggles of life. He is the one that heals,
restores, forgives, and gives meaning to life. He is where hope is
found. He is the way to God. He is the truth. He is life. When you turn
your life and heart to Jesus, then church makes sense. Church is one of
the outcomes of following Jesus. It is a gathering of family members
united by faith in the Son of God. It is where the community of
believers gathers to praise the God who loves them.
To hope going to church will help you is getting the cart before the
horse. Jesus is the first decision you must make. Maybe that is why so
many people misunderstand church. Church is not the answer. It cannot
save you. It is a fellowship, a community, a gathering, a family ... of
those who have been saved by Jesus.
So if you are expecting church to be the answer to your problems, don’t
come. You will be disappointed. But if you are looking for some good
news in your life ... let me tell you about Jesus. He is the answer.
Then, and only then, will church make sense.
So write steve at: steve@hopeforlife.org.
Or join their blog discussion at
www.hopeforlife.org.
Go to Jesus first.
“Don’t come to church!” That is not something you will usually hear a
minister say, but sometimes it is true. I recently heard someone
talking about the troubles currently in their life and they mentioned
that maybe going to church would help. I am not sure it would. They are
looking for a “magic bullet” to make life better. That is not the
purpose of church. Attending worship services and being involved in a
church are outcomes of a decision to follow Jesus.
Jesus is the answer to the struggles of life. He is the one that heals,
restores, forgives, and gives meaning to life. He is where hope is
found. He is the way to God. He is the truth. He is life. When you turn
your life and heart to Jesus, then church makes sense. Church is one of
the outcomes of following Jesus. It is a gathering of family members
united by faith in the Son of God. It is where the community of
believers gathers to praise the God who loves them.
To hope going to church will help you is getting the cart before the
horse. Jesus is the first decision you must make. Maybe that is why so
many people misunderstand church. Church is not the answer. It cannot
save you. It is a fellowship, a community, a gathering, a family ... of
those who have been saved by Jesus.
So if you are expecting church to be the answer to your problems, don’t
come. You will be disappointed. But if you are looking for some good
news in your life ... let me tell you about Jesus. He is the answer.
Then, and only then, will church make sense.
So write steve at: steve@hopeforlife.org.
Or join their blog discussion at
www.hopeforlife.org.
Go to Jesus first.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Abracadabra
To me it’s a funky little incantation used by stage magicians and amateurs alike. I can’t seem to find a direct translation. Though I’m finding the word abracadabra dates back to pagan type stuff and medical spirits? My goodness too many Christian things have pagan strings.
Oh freaky fringe!
I’m just going to lay all that confusing stuff aside and go with the Hebrew word “Aberah KeDaber” which means I will create as I speak. That translation leads me on the Lords path which is the direction I intend to proceed. In my Scripture reading this week I camped on (Jeremiah 1:12) “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it”. When did God put that in my Bible? I’ve been reading Jeremiah for years and I don’t recall that phraseology. “watching over My word to perform it”. This Bible reading stuff is amazing. You read along in the same book day after day, year after year…. You’d think it would get old huh? But no, it does not. This happens to me all the time something new and fresh jumps off the page and hugs me. I love the Word of God…. It’s living!
“God is watching over His word to perform it”.
God creates it, God watches over it, God performs it! Now that’s abracadabra!
Are there times when you look back that you wonder how you got through the most difficult circumstances? “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9)
Abracadabra “God is watching over His word to perform it”.
How about the times you were ready to quit, but didn't? “So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land”. Selah (Psalm 143:4-6)
Abracadabra “God is watching over His word to perform it”.
Have there been days, weeks, or months when you wondered if God was listening only to later realize not only was He listening He was orchestrating events and circumstances for your good? “… my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:4, 5)
Abracadabra “God is watching over His word to perform it”.
A pearl to string: Who knew? Now you know!
"God watches over His Word to perform it."
All He is waiting for is for you to use the power that is in His word.
Are you faced with a challenge right now?
Your weapon of battle IS the Word of God . . . it has power . . . but only if you use it.
Abracadabra! Every day in God’s Word if you want the power
You are loved,
Lyndi
"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Caption under March Madness Photo
-- a team that wasn't even supposed to be playing basketball on Saturday night -- gave defending state champion Regis Jesuit a scare that had the Raiders' student section chanting "The Lord's Prayer" during crunch time.
OK, how many times do you read a caption like that? High School basketball, local paper -- town over one hundred thousand. I was pulling for the team that lost but what a caption - just thrilled my heart that students would chant the Lord's Prayer to help their team. Imagine in this day in age that students believe in prayer. Warms my heart.... gotta love thoes kids...congrats to all. Just could not resist sharing this.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Jesus Through The Bible
In GENESIS, Jesus is the Ram at Abraham's altar
In EXODUS, He's the Passover Lamb
In LEVITICUS, He's the High Priest
In NUMBERS, He's the Cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night
In DEUTERONOMY, He's the City of our Refuge
In JOSHUA, He's the Scarlet Thread out by Rahab's window
In JUDGES, He is our King
In RUTH, He is our Kinsman Redeemer
In 1st and 2nd SAMUEL, He's our Trusted Prophet
In KINGS and CHRONICLES, He's our Reigning King
In EZRA, He is our Faithful Scribe
In NEHEMIAH, He's the Rebuilder of everything that is broken
In ESTHER, He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate
In JOB, He's our Redeemer that ever liveth
In PSALMS, He is my Shepherd
In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES, He's our Wisdom
In the SONG OF SOLOMON, He's the Beautiful Bridegroom
In ISAIAH, He's the Suffering Servant
In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS, it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet
In EZEKIEL, He's the Wonderful Four-Faced Man
In DANIEL, He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace
In HOSEA, He is my Love that is forever faithful
In JOEL, He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit
In AMOS, He's our Burden Bearer
In OBADIAH, He's our Savior
In JONAH, He is the Great Foreign Missionary
In MICAH, He is the Messenger with beautiful feet
In NAHUM, He is the Avenger
In HABAKKUK, He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival
In ZEPHANIAH, He is the Lord mighty to save
In HAGGAI, He is the Restorer of our lost heritage
In ZECHARIAH, He is our Fountain
In MALACHI, He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings
In MATTHEW, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God
In MARK, He's the Miracle Worker
In LUKE, He's the Son of Man
In JOHN, He is the door by which everyone of us must enter
In ACTS, He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the Damascus road
In ROMANS, He is our Justifier
In 1st CORINTHIANS, He is our Resurrection
In 2nd CORNITHIANS, He is our Sin Bearer
In GALATIANS, He redeems us from the law
In EPHESIANS, He is our Unsearchable Riches
In PHILIPPIANS, He supplies our every need
In COLOSSIANS, He's the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily
In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS, He is our Soon Coming King
In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY, He is the Mediator between God and man
In TITUS, He is our Blessed Hope
In PHILEMON, He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother
In HEBREWS, He's the Blood of the everlasting covenant
In JAMES, it is the Lord that heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd PETER, He is the Chief Shepherd
In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN, it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love
In JUDE, He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints
And in REVELATION, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
In EXODUS, He's the Passover Lamb
In LEVITICUS, He's the High Priest
In NUMBERS, He's the Cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night
In DEUTERONOMY, He's the City of our Refuge
In JOSHUA, He's the Scarlet Thread out by Rahab's window
In JUDGES, He is our King
In RUTH, He is our Kinsman Redeemer
In 1st and 2nd SAMUEL, He's our Trusted Prophet
In KINGS and CHRONICLES, He's our Reigning King
In EZRA, He is our Faithful Scribe
In NEHEMIAH, He's the Rebuilder of everything that is broken
In ESTHER, He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate
In JOB, He's our Redeemer that ever liveth
In PSALMS, He is my Shepherd
In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES, He's our Wisdom
In the SONG OF SOLOMON, He's the Beautiful Bridegroom
In ISAIAH, He's the Suffering Servant
In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS, it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet
In EZEKIEL, He's the Wonderful Four-Faced Man
In DANIEL, He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace
In HOSEA, He is my Love that is forever faithful
In JOEL, He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit
In AMOS, He's our Burden Bearer
In OBADIAH, He's our Savior
In JONAH, He is the Great Foreign Missionary
In MICAH, He is the Messenger with beautiful feet
In NAHUM, He is the Avenger
In HABAKKUK, He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival
In ZEPHANIAH, He is the Lord mighty to save
In HAGGAI, He is the Restorer of our lost heritage
In ZECHARIAH, He is our Fountain
In MALACHI, He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings
In MATTHEW, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God
In MARK, He's the Miracle Worker
In LUKE, He's the Son of Man
In JOHN, He is the door by which everyone of us must enter
In ACTS, He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the Damascus road
In ROMANS, He is our Justifier
In 1st CORINTHIANS, He is our Resurrection
In 2nd CORNITHIANS, He is our Sin Bearer
In GALATIANS, He redeems us from the law
In EPHESIANS, He is our Unsearchable Riches
In PHILIPPIANS, He supplies our every need
In COLOSSIANS, He's the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily
In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS, He is our Soon Coming King
In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY, He is the Mediator between God and man
In TITUS, He is our Blessed Hope
In PHILEMON, He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother
In HEBREWS, He's the Blood of the everlasting covenant
In JAMES, it is the Lord that heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd PETER, He is the Chief Shepherd
In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN, it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love
In JUDE, He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints
And in REVELATION, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
When Love Sings
Nicole Walters
Singing for Jesus
Someone long ago wrote of sitting by a fire and hearing love songs. The writer imagined the noises which came from the wood as it burned were imprisoned songs, finally brought to freedom by the flames. They reasoned the birds had sung while sitting on the branches of the tree. The wind had pushed its way through, making its own music. The rain had written a melody which sank deep into its roots. A child had played and sang in its shade. All these notes soaked into the wood, hidden away in the trunk. They were hidden away until the flames set them free one evening chilly enough to warrant an open fire.
The body of Christ is like that to me. God has given each one of us gifts to serve in His kingdom. Life can lock a song away until your heart breaks for someone else’s need and you are moved by the Holy Spirit to extraordinary actions as well as serving joyfully in the mundane and everything in between. We are a body made up of parts each valuable and glorious when God directed. Scripture tells me so. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)
I thank God for the incredible people who serve in the trenches of life and on the front line. This world we live in is so blessed to have them working for God. They face extraordinary circumstances, persevere through great difficulty and suffer enormous personal loss. Oh yes there is personal joy for them too but they couldn’t do it without God – it’s way too hard and the cost is way too great. I have many friends who serve in the trenches and on the front line – our son Marc is serving in Haiti right now - it’s my awesome privilege to pray for them and encourage them and love them with everything God gave me along with praying for hundreds I don’t even know.
Have you ever seen one of those “trench serving” people sitting at a concert where Nicole Walters is singing? I am a witness to such a beautiful sight. Some years ago while attending a concert at Faith Church in Arvada I was mesmerized as I gazed over at a woman I knew was tired and nearly to the end of spent on hiatus from the mission field. As Nicole’s sassy, passionate angelic voice reached her ears her head leaned back, her eyes slowly closed and tears trickled softly down her cheeks. I watched as this precious woman’s body seemed to sigh with healing relief. My eyes kept wandering over to check on how this woman was doing throughout the concert. By the end of the concert the woman seemed animated, energized and refreshed. Seems like such a little thing….. but
A pearl to string: Nothing is little with God. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16) God uses our earth arms and songs to build each other up for glory in His love.
Know your worth to Jesus -
He loves you with His life,
Lyndi
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Out of Our Own Keeping
Earlier this week I came across a quote from Laura Ingalls Wilde: “Things and persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds. How unconsciously we judge others by the light that is within ourselves, condemning or approving them by our own conception of right and wrong, honor and dishonor! We show by our judgment just what the light within us is”.
Our own conception of right and wrong…….? Whoa, that brings light to my hindrance. Darn me! I’ve got all this stuff inside me that I think is right or wrong but if it doesn’t line up with God’s Word then….. really …… it’s worthless. It would behoove me to remember I don’t have to believe everything I think!
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ give yourself up to Him, [take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved". —Acts 16:31
This is what Paul and Silas told the Philippians jailer who asked them, "What must I do to be saved?" This is what salvation really means—giving ourselves up to God, taking ourselves out of our own keeping, and entrusting ourselves into His keeping. God wants to take care of us. He can do a much better job of that if we will avoid a problem called independence, which is really self-care.
The desire to take care of ourselves is based on fear. Basically, it stems from the idea that if we do it, we can be sure it will be done right. We are afraid of what might happen if we entrust ourselves totally to God and He doesn't "come through" for us. The root problem of independence is trusting ourselves more than we trust God.
String a pearl: We love to have a back-up plan. We may pray and ask God to get involved in our lives, but if He is the least bit slow in responding (at least, to our way of thinking), we are quick to take control back into our own hands. What we fail to realize is, God has a plan for us too—and His plan is much better than ours.
Jesus said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) Oh Lord, please help me take myself out of my own keeping.
Be in Sonshine and remember
You are loved,
Lyndi
Monday, March 1, 2010
ISRAEL, YESHUA IS YOUR MESSIAH!
10 profound minutes that can change your life for eternity
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
The word for trust (take refuge) is chasah Strong number H2620. Doing a search of all its occurences shows clearly that is used exclusively for the Lord GOD of Israel, exceptions, Deu32:37, trust in idols, Jud9:15, trust in Abimelech, Isa30:2, trust in Egypt.
If God is asking to put our trust in His Son, it is because he is also God.
Bible verses from the Old Testament proving without any shadow of doubt that Jesus fulfilled all prophecies regarding the suffering of the Messiah by His death on the cross. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of Israel, He is God incarnated, mighty God.
Friday, February 26, 2010
The greatest thing about Grace
is that it makes life not fair.
THE KNOTS PRAYER
Dear God,
Please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots,
the can nots and the do nots
that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots,
may nots, and
might nots that find
a home in my heart.
Release me from the could nots,
would nots and should nots
that obstruct my life.
And most of all, dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind
my heart and my life all of the am nots
that I have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought
that I am not good enough.
Amen.
THE KNOTS PRAYER
Dear God,
Please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots,
the can nots and the do nots
that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots,
may nots, and
might nots that find
a home in my heart.
Release me from the could nots,
would nots and should nots
that obstruct my life.
And most of all, dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind
my heart and my life all of the am nots
that I have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought
that I am not good enough.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Envy - Wrecking
By Rhonda Rhea
Does the green eyed monster grab ya?
Psalm 37:8 (NLT) "Do not envy others--it only leads to harm."
Rhonda Rhea: I have a friend who looks good in absolutely everything she puts on. Argh! The girl could drape herself in the cover of her car and look classy enough for the fashion runway. If I draped myself in a car cover, I guarantee I would look more like a Buick. And I'll just go ahead and admit that I need to drop a few pounds off these fenders. My bumpers are a bit of a wreck, too.
Envy is such a dangerous thing. It throttles peace--and worse, it leads to anger, even rage. Psalm 37:8 says, "Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others--it only leads to harm." (NLT) The envious, angry person experiences painful harm personally. Proverbs 14:30 tells us that, "...envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones." (AMP) Our own personal rottenness. It can be a total life-wrecker but it's even more than just personal rottenness. That harmful, rotten disposition often spreads, spilling over onto family and friends.
How do we avoid bone-rotting envy and wrath? We replace them with love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy..." (NIV) Love is the opposite of envy.
Anytime we catch ourselves envying, we can ask God to love the person we envy through us. He loves to answer that prayer. As he gives us love for the ones we're tempted to envy, we discover that love, just as 1 Corinthians teaches, always wants the very best for others. Instead of envying, love rejoices in their victories!
Rejoicing in victory; that's the Jesus way. Yes, rejoicing in the victories of others ... even if those others have exceptionally sleek fenders.
A pearl to string: Rhonda Rhea is one of my favorite Christian authors. She brings home a point here that will bless you deeper and wider than you can imagine. If things are tough and you’re looking around you thinking everyone else has got it better…STOP! Come on! Look what the Lord has done in your life. Really! There are so many things for you to be thankful for. Are you reading this? Then start with your eyes and your education. Thank the Lord you can see with your eyes and you have learned to read. Turn your sorrow around do not let that green eyed monster grab ya. How you ask? Count your blessings!
Be in Sonshine
You are loved,
Lyndi
Does the green eyed monster grab ya?
Psalm 37:8 (NLT) "Do not envy others--it only leads to harm."
Rhonda Rhea: I have a friend who looks good in absolutely everything she puts on. Argh! The girl could drape herself in the cover of her car and look classy enough for the fashion runway. If I draped myself in a car cover, I guarantee I would look more like a Buick. And I'll just go ahead and admit that I need to drop a few pounds off these fenders. My bumpers are a bit of a wreck, too.
Envy is such a dangerous thing. It throttles peace--and worse, it leads to anger, even rage. Psalm 37:8 says, "Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others--it only leads to harm." (NLT) The envious, angry person experiences painful harm personally. Proverbs 14:30 tells us that, "...envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones." (AMP) Our own personal rottenness. It can be a total life-wrecker but it's even more than just personal rottenness. That harmful, rotten disposition often spreads, spilling over onto family and friends.
How do we avoid bone-rotting envy and wrath? We replace them with love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us that "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy..." (NIV) Love is the opposite of envy.
Anytime we catch ourselves envying, we can ask God to love the person we envy through us. He loves to answer that prayer. As he gives us love for the ones we're tempted to envy, we discover that love, just as 1 Corinthians teaches, always wants the very best for others. Instead of envying, love rejoices in their victories!
Rejoicing in victory; that's the Jesus way. Yes, rejoicing in the victories of others ... even if those others have exceptionally sleek fenders.
A pearl to string: Rhonda Rhea is one of my favorite Christian authors. She brings home a point here that will bless you deeper and wider than you can imagine. If things are tough and you’re looking around you thinking everyone else has got it better…STOP! Come on! Look what the Lord has done in your life. Really! There are so many things for you to be thankful for. Are you reading this? Then start with your eyes and your education. Thank the Lord you can see with your eyes and you have learned to read. Turn your sorrow around do not let that green eyed monster grab ya. How you ask? Count your blessings!
Be in Sonshine
You are loved,
Lyndi
Friday, February 19, 2010
BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE
~ The I AM ~
I am the Lord, I change not.
Malachi 3:6a
That which hath been is now; and
that which is to be hath already been;
and God requireth that which is past.
Ecclesiastics 3:15
To enter the promised land,
find what pleases God and do that:
Deuteronomy 6:18.
Pay attention, listen for God,
then follow His instruction and
He will protect you and your children:
Deuteronomy 12:28.
When you make God the husband
you give your devotions to, God can use
your example to teach your children:
Isaiah 54:5, 13.
For your wife and children to be the blessing
you had hoped they would be,
return to Zion (Psalm 125:1)
and lay your hands on the word of God
to get guidance from Him:
Psalm 128:1-4.
To overcome indebtedness and
then to experience financial freedom,
take care of God's business and
let Him take care of yours:
Matthew 6:33.
For spiritual warfare, sing:
2 Chronicles 20:21.
For healing, share testimonies of how,
in your weakness,
God became your strength:
James 5:16.
Exhausted caretakers,
to remove sickness from around you,
make sure it is God that you are serving:
Exodus 23:25.
If you have problems walking,
follow God as He speaks to your heart,
that your steps are in alignment
with His desires for you.
Hebrews 12:13
If you want to experience
an End Time Holy Ghost Pentecostal Revival,
put God's true apostles in their rightful seats:
Acts 8:18.
To live longer, in the place of blessings,
honour your father (Isaiah 66:13)
and mother (Exodus 20:12):
Matthew 23:9.
Except the Lord build the house,
they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
Psalm121:7
KJV
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