SAD ISN'T IT?

I SHOULD BE WRITING ON HERE!

NO one probably even checks this or looks at it.  Actually this morning, I realized I should write and have missed writing.

SO, WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Actually I wrote about how I would be taking a break for awhile, and thought I published it.  I didn't.

Well, you all are probably all gone by now anyway.

It was quite a fun month for me.  Celebrated birthday for two weeks, got lots of neat cards, texts, gifts.  Went to Pokagon for Thanksgiving dinner.  Took a bachelor friend with us, and then spent the remainder of that weekend getting together with people who were in from out of town.  EVen a former Miss Ft. Wayne, Tiara Kincade.  It was so great to catch up with her and realize - where does the time go.

Anyway, have a wonderful holiday.  Celebrate "What does Christmas mean to me this year?"  What did Charlie Brown 's Christmas Story say is important about Christmas?   And they show it every Christmas since 1965.

ARE YOU WORSHIPPING IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH?

Well, I must admit, November is here.  Land of the black sticks.  Some little tastes of leaves are out there, but not much.

This is a good opportunity to wish you - whoever you are and your family a great Family time on Thanksgiving this month.  Be safe and appreciate each moment.  Be thankful.

I will be taking some time off from writing.  I will be assessing with God my need to do this blog and
whether it is for someone out there or many out there.  It would be good to hear from you.  Most can't access through here, so you would need to write me on shirley.faith.souder@gmail.com.  If I don't hear anything, most likely I will let this blog go.  Tomorrow I will be going up to Pokagon with the theme being John 4:24.  Actually one should read John 4 1:38.    Because of many changes in my life, I want to do a spiritual walk tomorrow up in the hills to seek what path God is actually wanting for me right now.  I will be worshipping in Spirit and Truth.  Deut. 31: 8.

WHAT SHOULD YOUR DAY BE LIKE?

Fall is slipping through our fingers everyone!  What happened to the most beautiful season of the year, or as far as I am concerned?   The color was way late and if there was color it was gold, brown and they are falling off already.  I miss that brilliant gold, red, rust, then brown affect.  How about you?

Well, so it is our first frost today, and so it is what it is and God wants us to take each day for Him.  Did you notice the word TAKE.  It means whatever you are mulling over, or maybe even totally enjoying; make it about Him. 

I read something this morning I want to share - Go gently into your day today.  Kepp your eyes on Me.  I will most certainly make the way open and you can trust Me to take each step down the path.  Let us do it together.  You might even get the idea that the path is blocked some how.  You stop.  You try to figure a way around it.  Don't do that.  It will cause you to step to far off course.   I want you to instead, focus on Me.  Before you know it, the obstacle is gone and you turn around and wonder when you went through.   This is complete success in living today.  Focus on your Lord Jesus, even though its a visible world out there, trust Him to get you over the rocky road - rough patch.  His presence enables you to face each day with confidence.  If it is a day of jubilee then Hippity Hop through your day.  Enjoy.  But it is still the same scenario - FOCUS ON HIM!  GIVE HHIM THE THANKS!

John 10: 14-15 and Isaiah 26: 7

COMING TO TERMS!

It is a blessing to have such good girlfriends.  My posse as John calls them.  I can never thank God enough for this gift.  He knew several years ago that I would be an only child and that I would need lots of friends.  My whole family, as it were, lives up in Minnesota, in Arizona, Texas, California, and Oregon.  I have seen them maybe four times.  Thank you Jesus, you always know what each one of us needs.

Well, anyway, one of those great gals and I were talking last night about all the sickness in our lives.  The many changes of life because of that, and just everything around how it seems to be so different.
Another "new normal" is on the horizon.  Family, friends, on both sides of just the two of us.  It is breathtaking.  She came up with the following term, while I was stumbling around, which doesn't happen very often, but here it is. . .we are processing and learning how to accept . . .COMING TO TERMS with it all!!!  I had been out for a walk and was doing just that.  Got home, and there she was on the phone.  I love how God works all things together.  Then this morning in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young came the rest. (Don't you love how He knows all that timing)   If you don't have this book - you need to get it.

WHEN MANY THINGS SEEM to be going wrong, trust Me.  When your life feels increasingly out of control, thank Me.  These are the supernatural responses, and they can lift you above your circumstances.  If you do what comes naturally in the face of difficulties, you may fall prey to negativism.  Even a few complaints can set you on a path that is a downward spiral, by darkening your perspective and mind-set.  With this attitude controlling you, complaints flow more and more readily from your mouth.  Each one moves you steadily down the slippery spiral.  The lower you go, the faster you slide; but it is still possible to apply the brakes.  Cry out to Me in My Name!  Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel.  Thank Me for everything, though this seems unnatural - even irrational.  Gradually you will begin to ascend, recovering your lost ground.  When you are back on ground level, you can face your circumstances from a humble perspective.  If you choose supernatural responses this time - trusting and thanking Me - you will experience My unfathomable Peace.  
Psalm 13: 5 and Eph 5: 20

Geesh!  I had been hitting the worldly floor of my reality so hard each day I had worked clear into my future five years from now.  I didn't like it.  I got all down in the mouth. Do you ever do that?  Its so silly.  It wastes time.  But, as some of my other posse friends have said.  "We are human you know."

So I do hope this touches your life like it touched mine.  I see why we are to be in the WORD every day - and the people He touches to write devotionals.  Send them all to me.  I need it everyday. We all do!.

Thank you Dotty Miller.

DON'T YOU JUST WANT TO . . . .

ASK JESUS IF YOU CAN SIT IN HIS LAP SOMETIMES?

The other morning, it was cold in the house and it was warm under the covers as I sat and read the Word, and prayed.  All I really wanted to do was just not make contact, or connect out there in my world.  It was still dark, quiet, warm there cuddled up and so I asked Jesus. . .Can I sit in your lap awhile, and I don't want my feet to touch the floor or any part of my worldly reality show.

You know of course, that He prepares devotionals to come at just the right day, right?

Psalm 5:1/3

Listen to my words, O Lord, give heed to my sighing and groaning.  Hear the soud of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray.  In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare (a prayer, a sacrifice) for You and watch and wait (for You to speak to my heart).

I wrote about that for a little while, and then felt completely ready to hippity hop out of bed and move into the day.  What I love most about our God is how He listens, and how He prepares us for everything.  God's Got It!  He let's us be little kids anytime we need to.  He let's us be weak anytime we need to, but then always strengthens us for the next wave that comes along.  There is a lot for us to do out there every single day.  Our family needs us, our friends need us, and sometimes strangers do.  Be ready.  Sit and Cuddle with the Lord every morning.  It makes you stronger for the day!

GOD'S CHARACTER!

DOES GOD CARE:

Habakkuk 1: 2,3, and 5.

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and You will not hear? Or cry out to You if violence and You will not save?
Why do You show me iniquity and wrong, and Yourself look upon or cause me to see perverseness
and trouble?  For destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention arises.
Look around (you, Habakkuk replied the Lord) among the nations and see!  And be astonished!  Astounded!  For I am putting into effect a work in your days (such) that you would not believe it if it were told you.

I found this whole concept quite different from normal.  Of course, He cares, but I had never thought of this before. . .

"We need to trust HIS unchanging character."

Because, in every day life issues or events, we need to LOOK at our circumstances from the framework of God's character, instead of looking at God's character from the context of our circumstances. 

Certainly this will take some thought.  What is His character?  He is always unconditionally looking after us.  We are His property. He cries when we do, He laughs when we do.  We matter to Him.  He protects us, forgives us, has compassion for us, has loyalty for us, has integrity for us.  So, now put on paper what your prayer request, trial, or event is about.  We would need to say immediately, I know He cares for me, He gets mad and sad when we go through fire.  He comes down out of the heavens breathing fire.  (Read Psalm 18).  So, our fine line here is, that we have to know and have to trust, He will do everything to bring all things together for good in this situation I am in. 

I believe that a lot of times (as I have seen in clients) that we go to the trial, the event, the problem and we fester and stew over it.  Then we go to God and beg and plead and cry for him to help.
Why wouldn't He do something?  It may not be what we want, but it certainly be for our good no matter what.