NEW MORNING, EVERY MORNING!

LAMENTATIONS 3: 22, 23 AND 24

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are NEW every morning; great is His faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

In thinking about what to say on my blog today, I really felt compelled to say "Thank You Lord!"
For 43 years I have lived here, walked on a 3 mile radius of woods, prayed lots of prayers for people, had aha moments,  and listened to your creation.  Not only must we view your incredible creation, we should listen.  You speak to us through color, and sounds.  Not everyone can see or hear, and for that I would be most sad.  I say thank you I can hear and see your beautiful masterpieces through the leaves, and clouds, sound of the lake, frogs, herons, kids laughing at Lakewood next door on the playground.   It is very true, if you want to know there is a God, step out of your front door on any morning and thank Him for that gift.  If you had a gift box outside, what would be in it?  His faithfulness to you. . .what would that look like?  His portion for you today. . .what would that look like?  His unconditional positive regard for you. . .what would that look like?   If we are to wait for Him, how well do we wait?  Just step outside, walk outside, go get the mail.  Say Thank you Lord you are my portion, I can do all things through you who strengthens me.  What can I do for you today?  Share Him, Show Him in your actions and words, and then Praise Him for all He is!

DO YOU WANT GOD TO EDIT YOUR LIFE. . .

Or Do the Writing Himself?

Hebrews 12: 1 and 2

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Most likely we most generally let Him edit our life.  He gets to delete the messes, and suggest some new things.  He does work all things together for good. . .(Romans 8: 28) we have read that haven't we?

I don't know about you, but since I started writing, I have had to ask for lots of editing skills from friends and experts.  Believe me, I want so much to write it, and then send it.  In my life I have run ahead of the Lord many times on situations and then have to run to Him to clean it up.  "Please, please, please, Lord Jesus fix this for me!"   Like the title of my rewrite - "Fix Your Future So It Does Not Reflect Your past!"  Easier said then done, but God does love a cheerful giver.  It doesn't have to be about how much money you give, it could very well be, how much are you willing to cheerfully take on discipline and change?  

Our thought for today is - What can I do differently today to let God write on page?

Personally, I am having to take a breath and do that.  There are situations, physically and emotionally that are trying to weigh on my mind and make me want to edit them.  Or I could run kicking and screaming into the sunset!  Okay, God is my Author and Finisher.  Embrace that and like the oxen in the lead, let Jesus lead.

COME AWAY. . .

Mark 6: 31

"And He said to them, (as for you) come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest awhile - for many were (continually) coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat."

That is my calling today - to take this time and spend it with Him, in His creation.  This last month has taught me about the tyranny of the urgent.  God does call us to rest and be prudent with our time.

Enjoy your weekend, I know I am. It is the prettiest August I have ever seen.

THEREFORE, BE CLEAR MINDED. . .

And that is the key isn't it?  It is not always easy to do.  So much is thrown at us in one day.
Whether we work all day in a career, work from home, retired, or retired but always busy.  There a million stories in the city.  I like I Peter 4:  7/11 for many reasons.  Peter summed it up then and it also applies to today.

"The end of all things is near.  Therefore be clear minded and alert so that you can pray."

And, there you have the bottom line to our individual lives for each day.  You can't get anymore direct then that.

However, even though knowledge is power, the execution of that becomes the problem.

So he goes on to say. . .:Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves,  he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

The key being we should do it in the STRENGTH GOD PROVIDES.  Oops! And, therein lies the problem with clarity.  We all have different personalities and some of us just have to fix it ourselves, or at least worry about fixing it.  If we find we can't get control, then we just fester and stew about the problem at hand.  So NO clarity.  I recently gave up that little trick I have of worrying about it.  Years ago, I just stepped in.  Not so much anymore.  I would rather fester.  Found out what that gets you.
Physical outbreaks.  You know.  Headaches, back spasms, stiff necks, and the list goes on.  When I let up on the worry wart aspect,  mainly because I couldn't find any wart medicine to take it off. . .(a little humor there), everything fell into place.  Again, God does work it all out for His good, our good.

Just another reminder, it is always going to be in His strength people.  Not ours.  Clarity is resting.
Clarity is purpose,  truth,  vision and finally peace.

SNARLING DOGS! SNARLING THOUGHTS!

It has been quite a couple of weeks, I must admit.  Beautiful weather, but lots of drama!  Between finding out I have a patch of shingles on my back, a frozen shoulder to be undone, tendinitis in the elbow, colonoscopy is clear, and I don't have to get foot surgery on the heel spur; whew! And that was just a few things that went on.  How does one person get all that in a two week period of time?  Stress?  Yep!!!

I have seen a doctor every day but one this week.  In all of that questioning and fist raising to God, I did learn a lot about the subjects at hand today -   You learn that once again the body takes what is going on in the mind and decides how it will respond.  What a deal!  You think you are being cool, but you aren't.  After all these years of counseling and studying you would think I could get that fixed.   Humbly, no!  Monday, however, the Lord got it through my thick skull some answers  I want to share with you, that might help you on down the road.

Our mind, unfortunately, can be penetrated by the enemy with our own toxic thoughts.  Hence - Psalm 59.  Here is a snippet. . .Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;  defend and protect me from those who rise up against me.  .  .They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, and go (prowling) about the city.  Behold they belch out (insults) with their mouths; swords (of sarcasm, ridicule, slander, and lies) are in their lips, for who, they think, hears us?  But you,  O Lord, will laugh at then (in scorn); You will hold all the nations in derision.  O my strength, I will watch and give heed to You and sing praises; for God is my Defense (my Protector and High Tower).   (Read the entire chapter)    Job, no doubt, learned all these too!

My point here is that our own thoughts become like snarling dogs in the night.  We get all caught up in the "Why" questions of life,  and why did I do that, well why did I make that decision, am I nuts?
We worry, fret, fester, stew, and steer.   I wrote a book on that once.  Fretting, Fussing, Stewing, and Steering.  Here is the question I had to ask myself when I looked at the last two weeks and all that is going on in our family right now . . . " Do I trust that God works ALL things together for good according to His purpose, or not?"  And, if I believe His Word, then why don't I act like it.  Telling me, "Shirley, you are human, we are all human after all!"  That just doesn't help.

What I needed to hit me was that I need to keep my snarling thoughts down to a dull roar.  I need to share with you that keeping your mind clear and at peace no matter what, brings praise, and clarity.  Trusting that, turning that all over to God, and not carrying it ourselves brings peace.  Trust brings peace.  

You will keep the enemy away more often, you will circumvent his snarling away at you so much.  You must also be about keeping your thoughts in steadfast prayer, peace, and trust.  Stop, Look and Listen to God.  He DOES work all things together, especially,  if we keep our mitts off of it!!!!

Hang out and rest in a beautiful tree, the TREE OF LIFE -  Jesus Christ!  TODAY!


I Peter 4: 7 - But the end and culmination of all things has now come near;  keep sound minded and self - restrained and alert therefore for (the practice) of prayer.