It has been awhile since I was on. Between dealing with the start of a bulging disk and the holidays, I have been remiss. I am doing quite a bit better. The Pain is decreasing and Dr. Steve says I am balancing out quickly. Suck it up! My massage therapist said, hold your stomach in and it will help things go back together, it is called strengthening the core. I say - Boo Humbug! That is hard to do.
I must say that kicking off this season has been really sweet. We got out of our nightly comfort zone and went downtown Wednesday the night before Thanksgiving. We ate at Champions the restaurant down at the Stadium. Then traveled over to the Festival of Trees. We went at 6 PM which is a trick everyone needs to know. Everyone else was at the lighting of the Santa. I got some really beautiful pictures as a result. We also got to listen to the Children's Choir sing beautiful carols. Afterwards, we looked at the old W & D window action figures and finished with Fireworks at the Parkview Stadium. It was fabulous.
We look forward now to a night at the former "Castle" (library) at University of St. Francis and then the Christmas Pops.
While I was sitting there in the Embassy auditorium listening to carols I thought about how does one really want to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This was one way, and then I picked up this writing and want to share it with you.
"THE PERFECT GIFT" (I dedicate this to Jim Hefty who won't be here this Christmas, but will stand in perfect victory and free from cancer with His perfect Gift - Jesus Christ.
I shall tell you a story, so true that you'll sing. It's a story that speaks of the greatest True King. It was promised He'd come to us long long ago. He's the promise of God and the Love He would show. This Gift came to man in the humblest of ways. Though He once sat in Heaven in brightest arrays. Foretold by His Prophets in a time long ago, This Way of Salvation for His people to know. You see God's Perfect Gift is for each and everyone, For people of every race, tribe, and tongue. And, the Gift that God gave was the Sum of His Parts, It's still here for the taking if we'll open our hearts.
God's Gift came as a Child to this dark fallen globe, Though born in a manger He deserved a Royal Robe. But though a child in the flesh, in His Heart lived a King, Sent to save us from our sins, Oh the joy it would bring! See this Gift does for man, what man simply can't do, To save us in life and in death see us through. For He came and He lived and He showed us the Way to find our home in Heaven forever to stay.
To know of this Gift that was God's Perfect Choice, is the Reason for the Season, and a Reason to rejoice! So celebrate God's Love and your Family and Friends1 But don't miss the "Gift" in Whom all else depends.
He's Jesus Christ the Savior and Redeemer of man, He's loved us from eternity and was God's Perfect Plan. To save each man and woman, each child and every soul, so come to Him and trust His Name, let Jesus make you whole.
by Bill Frauhiger 11-12-2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
DON'T YOU LOVE GOD'S BEAUTY!
Couldn't help myself. I have another one I wish I could share from my phone. Walking down the beach at Jekyll. Blue sky and no one around. Water, 80 degrees and beautiful sand. Can you tell I need a vacation?
As I sit here and look out the window I see "The Land of the Black Sticks!" Some people laugh when I say that, and it is my own coinage. The sky is blue, however, and I have the doors open. Dakota and I will take a walk here pretty soon, and hope the hunters are gone for lunch. Dakota kept bucking me this morning. She did not want to go outside. And, then I heard it, the distant roar of men hunting deer. Okay, this is it, we are not moving into a new season. Here is where I get to cowgirl up. I don't do ovens, pap smears, and winter. There is nothing - oops, I forgot mammograms. There is nothing worse than this group of items for me.
Of course, after reading my devotions I have to recant and say, okay Lord, your will, not mine. I came across Exodus 14: 13 and 14 this morning. It has been awhile since I looked that verse up. it was a major set of verses that I memorized back in 1983. I was in my masters program at University of St. Francis. We had just purchased a hatchback Honda that was fairly new. It had power brakes and power steering. I was on my way to school on a rainy morning. Over on 52, there used to be a steel bridge. As I crossed it, a dog stepped out in front and I blew the horn, but nothing. I over corrected and ended up in the ditch on my side. God's is awesome when He writes on our page. A hatchback means you pull a lever and walk out the back of the car. Which I did. The dog was deaf and blind and had gotten out of the neighbor's house. When they pulled the car out, the frame was not bent and I drove it home. Sound good! Well, two things began to happen. No matter what I incurred on the road, I could not blow my horn. It was like I was in suspended automation. And, that whole summer, everything from tree limbs, to kids on bikes, to animals came in front of my vehicle. I could not blow the horn. The panic was getting out of hand. I cried out to the Lord and one morning there it was. Exodus 14: 13 and 14.
"And Moses told the people. FEAR not; stand (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."
Is that not fantastic. There are a zillion do not fear's in the Bible, but this one just came flying out at me. The enemy had been using my phobia to bring anxiety and the idea that this was going to happen again. I claimed those two verses, memorized those two verses and claimed victory. God's promises are true. What a peace I received from that. Am I over the horn blowing thing. That has been years ago. I still have a moment of freezing, but I have gotten better. The main point for me was, I would never see that Egyptian again. And, I didn't.
Hope your weekend is beautiful and remember suit up, remember God's promises, and tell others.
As I sit here and look out the window I see "The Land of the Black Sticks!" Some people laugh when I say that, and it is my own coinage. The sky is blue, however, and I have the doors open. Dakota and I will take a walk here pretty soon, and hope the hunters are gone for lunch. Dakota kept bucking me this morning. She did not want to go outside. And, then I heard it, the distant roar of men hunting deer. Okay, this is it, we are not moving into a new season. Here is where I get to cowgirl up. I don't do ovens, pap smears, and winter. There is nothing - oops, I forgot mammograms. There is nothing worse than this group of items for me.
Of course, after reading my devotions I have to recant and say, okay Lord, your will, not mine. I came across Exodus 14: 13 and 14 this morning. It has been awhile since I looked that verse up. it was a major set of verses that I memorized back in 1983. I was in my masters program at University of St. Francis. We had just purchased a hatchback Honda that was fairly new. It had power brakes and power steering. I was on my way to school on a rainy morning. Over on 52, there used to be a steel bridge. As I crossed it, a dog stepped out in front and I blew the horn, but nothing. I over corrected and ended up in the ditch on my side. God's is awesome when He writes on our page. A hatchback means you pull a lever and walk out the back of the car. Which I did. The dog was deaf and blind and had gotten out of the neighbor's house. When they pulled the car out, the frame was not bent and I drove it home. Sound good! Well, two things began to happen. No matter what I incurred on the road, I could not blow my horn. It was like I was in suspended automation. And, that whole summer, everything from tree limbs, to kids on bikes, to animals came in front of my vehicle. I could not blow the horn. The panic was getting out of hand. I cried out to the Lord and one morning there it was. Exodus 14: 13 and 14.
"And Moses told the people. FEAR not; stand (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."
Is that not fantastic. There are a zillion do not fear's in the Bible, but this one just came flying out at me. The enemy had been using my phobia to bring anxiety and the idea that this was going to happen again. I claimed those two verses, memorized those two verses and claimed victory. God's promises are true. What a peace I received from that. Am I over the horn blowing thing. That has been years ago. I still have a moment of freezing, but I have gotten better. The main point for me was, I would never see that Egyptian again. And, I didn't.
Hope your weekend is beautiful and remember suit up, remember God's promises, and tell others.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
LIGHTER SIDE!
Thought it might be the day to take a lighter side. It feels like I am always looking for what we don't do right, and maybe we could take a break this week.
What a gorgeous weekend it has been. Just taking in God's fall beauty as it ends the season; causes us to think how blessed we are with the different seasons. I hear a lot of people who leave this area and go out west complain about how their seasons are all the same. Same temperature - hot. No brightly falling leaves, and beautiful snowy trees. No spring rebirth of flowers and green leaves, and of course, summer breezes.
The other evening, my friends Lori and Valerie took in a gorgeous sunset from the famous DeWitt porch. Lori and Rick had this porch built two years ago and they use it almost year round. It has a heater for the fall and winter. A See through curtain to break the wind, complete with surround sound, and lovely furniture. What a delight that was to share with two forever friends. We ate, (with jackets on, but toasty to say the least. We got caught up on our busy lives and watched another God treat - his sun going down. I admit, I miss both the sunrise and sunset from our home view.
Friendships are another of God's creation and I am grateful for mine.
Have a blessed week and remember our creator.
John 14: 27
What a gorgeous weekend it has been. Just taking in God's fall beauty as it ends the season; causes us to think how blessed we are with the different seasons. I hear a lot of people who leave this area and go out west complain about how their seasons are all the same. Same temperature - hot. No brightly falling leaves, and beautiful snowy trees. No spring rebirth of flowers and green leaves, and of course, summer breezes.
The other evening, my friends Lori and Valerie took in a gorgeous sunset from the famous DeWitt porch. Lori and Rick had this porch built two years ago and they use it almost year round. It has a heater for the fall and winter. A See through curtain to break the wind, complete with surround sound, and lovely furniture. What a delight that was to share with two forever friends. We ate, (with jackets on, but toasty to say the least. We got caught up on our busy lives and watched another God treat - his sun going down. I admit, I miss both the sunrise and sunset from our home view.
Friendships are another of God's creation and I am grateful for mine.
Have a blessed week and remember our creator.
John 14: 27
Sunday, October 30, 2011
WHILE WE'RE BLOWING LEAVES. . .
LET'S BLOW OFF THE FATHER OF LIES!
John 8: 44
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for her is a liar and the father of lies."
The context of any chapter, of course, needs to be read in its context. I chose to single this out, because I encounter the brunt of this statement in my counseling, and in my life. The friends and family I encounter on a regular basis.
Joyce Meyer was talking about that this morning in her devotion on The Confident Woman. What impresses me the most about this life we all live is that there is the truth and there is the lie. We have that choice each and every day. I truly wish I could give that as a Christmas present to the whole world. The gift of being able to get up each morning and KNOW the truth and live it in ease and style. Confident and without compromise. However you cut it, I can't do that. We can, however, practice and practice and practice the truth. And, how do we do that most of the time? We know the enemy and how he operates. Many theologians and others will argue that if you know Jesus Christ and He is your personal Savior, you never have to worry about the enemy. He can not penetrate your life. I totally disagree. That is why I teach Putting on the Armor - suiting up - being aware, processing the Word, and knowing God.
We need to know the language of our enemy. His lies. How does he get by with tripping us up? We generally understand "free-will", but it still irritates me that Adam and Eve got so tripped up. They are our first step to understanding that it is going to happen to us as well. Know God - Trust His Character. This is our mantra and platform. So, then, when we do get tripped up with a lie it will come easier and easier to BLOW it off. Visualize a powerful leaf blower. Keep it in your tool belt of armor. Test the lie. I John 4: 1/4. God will be there to show you the truth.
DON'T LET THE ENEMY FILL YOUR YARD FULL OF LEAVES (LIES)! Have your tool belt ready at all times. We know he is always looking for a loophole, or place to get a foothold.
I remember JUST ONE OF MANY he pulled on me. Back in 1982 I called the University of St. Francis main office to check how many credit hours I had to go yet. They name it off, and I immediately went into a deep depression. I wanted to quit, go start something else. I was sitting in the top of the Bass Mansion library and I heard God in a small voice say - "GO TO THE OFFICE - do inventory, don't believe this." I did and they had missed 15 hours. I was a first semester senior, not junior. That is just one of hundreds. I have become a veteran of "inventory" and checking lies out.
I promise you I don't spend all my time on that, but I am ready. So can you be ready!
John 8: 44
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for her is a liar and the father of lies."
The context of any chapter, of course, needs to be read in its context. I chose to single this out, because I encounter the brunt of this statement in my counseling, and in my life. The friends and family I encounter on a regular basis.
Joyce Meyer was talking about that this morning in her devotion on The Confident Woman. What impresses me the most about this life we all live is that there is the truth and there is the lie. We have that choice each and every day. I truly wish I could give that as a Christmas present to the whole world. The gift of being able to get up each morning and KNOW the truth and live it in ease and style. Confident and without compromise. However you cut it, I can't do that. We can, however, practice and practice and practice the truth. And, how do we do that most of the time? We know the enemy and how he operates. Many theologians and others will argue that if you know Jesus Christ and He is your personal Savior, you never have to worry about the enemy. He can not penetrate your life. I totally disagree. That is why I teach Putting on the Armor - suiting up - being aware, processing the Word, and knowing God.
We need to know the language of our enemy. His lies. How does he get by with tripping us up? We generally understand "free-will", but it still irritates me that Adam and Eve got so tripped up. They are our first step to understanding that it is going to happen to us as well. Know God - Trust His Character. This is our mantra and platform. So, then, when we do get tripped up with a lie it will come easier and easier to BLOW it off. Visualize a powerful leaf blower. Keep it in your tool belt of armor. Test the lie. I John 4: 1/4. God will be there to show you the truth.
DON'T LET THE ENEMY FILL YOUR YARD FULL OF LEAVES (LIES)! Have your tool belt ready at all times. We know he is always looking for a loophole, or place to get a foothold.
I remember JUST ONE OF MANY he pulled on me. Back in 1982 I called the University of St. Francis main office to check how many credit hours I had to go yet. They name it off, and I immediately went into a deep depression. I wanted to quit, go start something else. I was sitting in the top of the Bass Mansion library and I heard God in a small voice say - "GO TO THE OFFICE - do inventory, don't believe this." I did and they had missed 15 hours. I was a first semester senior, not junior. That is just one of hundreds. I have become a veteran of "inventory" and checking lies out.
I promise you I don't spend all my time on that, but I am ready. So can you be ready!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
PERSEVERANCE! Trusting God's Character!
UPDATE: The Winning the Battle excerpt will be next week - November 6th.
II PETER 1: 1-11
This needs to be a series all by itself. Every verse. This will be a preamble to that down the road.
Peter is writing about a very serious intent here. The intent would be to drive us to holiness. In today's world that is a huge chuck to absorb. I realize now, that when I started this book in January ("I Hate It When My Soul Is Crying!") it is really all about Perseverance. I want to connect with women and let them know we need extra supernatural amounts of Perseverance. We have all heard that word and yet, do we take understand what it means for us individually? So, what does it mean? Peter is telling us to be steadfast in everything we do. To have endurance in all life's trials, patience beyond all imagination?
Let us look specifically at verse 6: "And in (exercising) knowledge (develop) self control (develop) steadfastness (patience - endurance), and in (exercising) steadfastness (develop) godliness (piety)." Amplified version
NIV - "and to knowledge; self control; and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness;"
Putting that altogether, it says to me; Peter wants us to develop a trust for the character of God. The real question is: Can you hang on long enough to see Him work in your situation and life? Can you exercise, the knowledge and truth that God promises us his protection and deliverance? Can you exercise the self control it takes to endure through, believe and practice His peace for what is going on? All good questions. I talk to lots of people and 2011 has been a rough year. Everything from loss of work, to death, cancer, illnesses, political scares, weather phenomenons etc etc.
God's Word says He hears us. God's Word says, hang on I am coming. God's Word is the truth. So then, I need to take a big breath and TRUST that He goes before me, He marches with me. He never fails, forsakes, or leaves me (us). Endurance and Perseverance means I need to sit back, pray, and trust for His outcome. He never fails. He always loves, He always forgives, He always delivers.
What do you need deliverance from today? Lack of trust, too much fear, too impatient?
Let us look deeply into the character of God and see we can get through anything with Him.
comments can go to:
shirley.faith.souder@gmail.com
II PETER 1: 1-11
This needs to be a series all by itself. Every verse. This will be a preamble to that down the road.
Peter is writing about a very serious intent here. The intent would be to drive us to holiness. In today's world that is a huge chuck to absorb. I realize now, that when I started this book in January ("I Hate It When My Soul Is Crying!") it is really all about Perseverance. I want to connect with women and let them know we need extra supernatural amounts of Perseverance. We have all heard that word and yet, do we take understand what it means for us individually? So, what does it mean? Peter is telling us to be steadfast in everything we do. To have endurance in all life's trials, patience beyond all imagination?
Let us look specifically at verse 6: "And in (exercising) knowledge (develop) self control (develop) steadfastness (patience - endurance), and in (exercising) steadfastness (develop) godliness (piety)." Amplified version
NIV - "and to knowledge; self control; and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness;"
Putting that altogether, it says to me; Peter wants us to develop a trust for the character of God. The real question is: Can you hang on long enough to see Him work in your situation and life? Can you exercise, the knowledge and truth that God promises us his protection and deliverance? Can you exercise the self control it takes to endure through, believe and practice His peace for what is going on? All good questions. I talk to lots of people and 2011 has been a rough year. Everything from loss of work, to death, cancer, illnesses, political scares, weather phenomenons etc etc.
God's Word says He hears us. God's Word says, hang on I am coming. God's Word is the truth. So then, I need to take a big breath and TRUST that He goes before me, He marches with me. He never fails, forsakes, or leaves me (us). Endurance and Perseverance means I need to sit back, pray, and trust for His outcome. He never fails. He always loves, He always forgives, He always delivers.
What do you need deliverance from today? Lack of trust, too much fear, too impatient?
Let us look deeply into the character of God and see we can get through anything with Him.
comments can go to:
shirley.faith.souder@gmail.com
Sunday, October 16, 2011
WINNING THE BATTLE!
Ever wonder which battle you should win? Considering that the majority of us are not in a REAL war zone, we do have to consider that our world around us can sometimes be that event. Interesting that I am sitting here pondering the idea - "Don't you ever have anything positive to write about?" Is everyone going through something? Aren't there some people who have a great thing happening; like going on vacation, or going on a missionary trip?
Winning the Battle will be a chapter near the very end of my book, "I Hate It When My Soul Is Crying." It is spearheaded by a guest writer friend of mine. The title is quite a huge one to write about. From my perspective, it is an every day suiting up and putting on the Armor of God! J.E. goes into a deeper realm of reaching women who get displaced in the Jar of life and cover themselves quickly with the lid. That lid keeps things out and also keeps things in. I will be exploring this title from her chapter soon. It is a positive approach because we learn how simple it can be to win the war with the tools we already possess.
COMING SOON!
HAVE A GOOD WEEK - SUIT UP - DON'T FORGET!
Winning the Battle will be a chapter near the very end of my book, "I Hate It When My Soul Is Crying." It is spearheaded by a guest writer friend of mine. The title is quite a huge one to write about. From my perspective, it is an every day suiting up and putting on the Armor of God! J.E. goes into a deeper realm of reaching women who get displaced in the Jar of life and cover themselves quickly with the lid. That lid keeps things out and also keeps things in. I will be exploring this title from her chapter soon. It is a positive approach because we learn how simple it can be to win the war with the tools we already possess.
COMING SOON!
HAVE A GOOD WEEK - SUIT UP - DON'T FORGET!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
REFLECTIONS!
Reflections can mean just about anything. For Dakota it is a reflection of herself in the Lake James water. Her very favorite place. It is taking movies of her getting in the water, so I can look at them later. I do admit, that I wonder each time up there, is this the last time?
It can be reflecting on one's past and making determinations about the special learning's and how you changed. It can also mean "Wow, I still haven't got that!"
It can mean, reflecting on one's future and also wondering what do I still need to learn and will I get it? What is in God's plan for my life? There are a lot more questions there, I believe then about what we have already experienced.
And, without a doubt there is a lot to reflect on when God takes special people away to be with Him. I have been reflecting a lot on John Martin Smith and his wife Bobbie leaving our community at this time. John just had a two hour lunch with John Martin Tuesday, they sat and planned a Carriage House to be built in John Martin's back yard on the farm. How they would move in their summer, and let Thom and Jama take over the Brick. John got right down to business and did a rendering of the Carriage House and had it almost done Wednesday evening. And, then everything changed. a good friend, a gracious kind human being and his good wife Bobbie were taken away. People that brought so much to our community. People who cared about our community. People who changed things in our community because of that love.
In reflecting on the why, and why now, it soon becomes evident. That it is life and things can't always go on forever. I remembered thinking back in 2002 that my parents would certainly go on forever. They had so far. Dad was 90 and climbing ladders to clean out eaves. They went anywhere they wanted and did whatever they wanted. Never ill, never even a cold. And, then it stopped as suddenly as a doctors visit. Out of the clear blue, you realize, this isn't going to last forever.
God brought a peace this week to my heart in remembering that life is for the living, so live it well and always bring glory to God in your living well. John Martin and Bobbie both did that. My last contact with them at the fair, I thought, how gracious and full of life are these two. John Martin with all his ideas and plans. So, now I reflect that it is the bottom line to living your life. It won't change. God never changes. Live your life full and large all to the glory of the Lord.
We can always remember and glory in what these two people brought, how they mirrored life for God. I want that too. Thank You John Martin and Bobbie Smith!
It can be reflecting on one's past and making determinations about the special learning's and how you changed. It can also mean "Wow, I still haven't got that!"
It can mean, reflecting on one's future and also wondering what do I still need to learn and will I get it? What is in God's plan for my life? There are a lot more questions there, I believe then about what we have already experienced.
And, without a doubt there is a lot to reflect on when God takes special people away to be with Him. I have been reflecting a lot on John Martin Smith and his wife Bobbie leaving our community at this time. John just had a two hour lunch with John Martin Tuesday, they sat and planned a Carriage House to be built in John Martin's back yard on the farm. How they would move in their summer, and let Thom and Jama take over the Brick. John got right down to business and did a rendering of the Carriage House and had it almost done Wednesday evening. And, then everything changed. a good friend, a gracious kind human being and his good wife Bobbie were taken away. People that brought so much to our community. People who cared about our community. People who changed things in our community because of that love.
In reflecting on the why, and why now, it soon becomes evident. That it is life and things can't always go on forever. I remembered thinking back in 2002 that my parents would certainly go on forever. They had so far. Dad was 90 and climbing ladders to clean out eaves. They went anywhere they wanted and did whatever they wanted. Never ill, never even a cold. And, then it stopped as suddenly as a doctors visit. Out of the clear blue, you realize, this isn't going to last forever.
God brought a peace this week to my heart in remembering that life is for the living, so live it well and always bring glory to God in your living well. John Martin and Bobbie both did that. My last contact with them at the fair, I thought, how gracious and full of life are these two. John Martin with all his ideas and plans. So, now I reflect that it is the bottom line to living your life. It won't change. God never changes. Live your life full and large all to the glory of the Lord.
We can always remember and glory in what these two people brought, how they mirrored life for God. I want that too. Thank You John Martin and Bobbie Smith!
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