NO COMPARISON SHOPPING PLEASE!!!!!

There will be some argument for me here until you read on.

Comparison shopping at the stores are relevant and necessary.  However, we do this with our own personalities and life.  Let me explain better with something from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  February 28th:

Stop judging and evaluating yourself!

            STOP JUDGING AND EVALUATING YOURSELF!

This is not your role.  Above all, stop comparing yourself with other people!

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE!

This produces feelings of pride and inferiority;  sometimes, a mixture of both.  I lead each of My children along a path that is uniquely tailor-made for him or her.  Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless.

Don't look for affirmation in the wrong places; your own evaluations, or those of other people.  The only source of real affirmation is My unconditional Love.  Many believers perceive Me as an unpleasable Judge, angrily searching out their faults and failures.  Nothing could be father from the truth!  I died for your sins, so that I might clothe you in My garments of salvation.  This is how I see you, it is never in anger or disgust; it is to prepare you for face-to-Face fellowship with Me throughout all eternity.  Immerse yourself in My loving Presence.  Be receptive to my Affirmation, which flows continually from the throne of grace.

Luke 6: 37

Isaiah 6l: 10

Proverbs 3: 11 and 12.

Jesus is very clear here.  STOP doing this!  We all do it.  STOP IT!.  

From my perspective it is the simple question. . .How is it helping you to always beat up on yourself, compare yourself to others, or add up all your insurrections?

____________________________________________________________________________

What do you need to do then?____________________________________________________

When do you want to STOP IT!__________________________________________________

Make a Commitment and look for change to happen.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

Please February go away!  Too much horrible weather and things happening this month.

Please pray for a young mother, good friend, small group participant, neighbor over on CR 35, Holly Kline.  She is a nurse at Parkview, two great kids 5 and 3.  Her husband is the stay at home until school begins tree cutter, all around guy - Joey.  Holly was in a car accident on Saturday on her way to work.  She was going south on 427 and a man pulled out from Hollopeter Rd and t - boned her on her side of the car.  He called Joey on her phone and Joey could hear her in the background.  He asked the man if he was a Christian and he said yes.  Joey asked him to pray with her.  He then talked to her and she said her goodbyes.  They had to cut the door off to get her out.  She has a fractured pelvic area and broken arm.  The meds for pain are creating terrible reactions.  Her parents have come in so Joey can stay with her.  Today (Monday) they will be assessing for other internal issues.  Our small group will be stopping in at 2PM and hopefully we can learn more.  Most likely she will be too miserable to talk with us, but we hope to pray with her.  Pray for wisdom for the doctors, pray the kiddos will not be terribly anxious, and peace for Joey.  And, also that the right meds will be used and
reactions diminished.

IT'S A FULL MOON, NO WAIT, IT'S FEBRUARY!!!

Some people blame the full moon for strange things and behaviors that go on, and I say:

IT IS FEBRUARY!!!

My goodness, this has been one of the worst February's ever.  Last year we said it was the worst Jan, Feb, and March for weather and everyone had cabin fever.  This year, they have mind fever.  I am totally taken aback!  Unto You Oh Lord Do I bring my Life!  Please bring a quick spring or something.  HELP!

I was educated to know what the heck is going on with people, but this is my first time ever to step back and say. . ."What is going on?"

I don't know about you, but I sure hope you are just chillin and readin, and takin naps!!!!!!!

I wrote this verse out to give me strength.  I pray it helps you too!

PSALM 32: 8 NASB

"I will instruct you in the way which you should go;

I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

I think they came up with the Super Bowl, Grammy's and Acadamies to give us some worldly events to look at and perhaps some of you watch those for something glitzy to look at.  The land of the black sticks is very black, the temperature is mind numbing and maybe that works.  Even our Pastor prepares February with lots of laughter and light topics to keep us afloat.

Whatever, let's keep focused on Jesus and pray for each other !

DO THINGS EVER WORK OUT?

Yes, what a silly question, or is it?

There are people I talk to in this counseling office and friends, family as well, that would say - "nothing ever worked for me, or works out for me!"  It takes a lot of patience in those moments to relay Romans 8: 28.  "  All things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called accordingly to His purpose !"  It takes some real prayer and careful management of communication skills to help some people see that God loves them, and that bad people do bad things to good people.  The enemy likes nothing better then to create spaces in our minds and makes us BELIEVE we are not worth it, or something is wrong with us.  I spent a great deal of time the other day explaining that this is really the truth.  This person is highly educated, very independent, has tons of achievements and accomplishments.  Yet, they can't believe that God loves them, so people can't either. 

Self processing is a very important part of spiritual growth.  "Do you believe God loves you as you are?"  "Do you believe and like/love yourself?"  "Do you believe when someone tells you they love you, can you take it in, accept it, apply it?"  This very complicated emotional process is the MOST important thing you will ever do. 

It is a good moment for you to take time and journal that question!!!

In life, and in order to manage and deal with life;  we must Know God, Know ourselves, and Know your enemy!  Do you?

Quietly reflect God's beauty even in the winter mornings of our life.  He does work ALL things together.  However, let us not miss it.

SO, WHY IS IT SO HARD SOMETIMES?

"The Lord will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry!"

Isaiah 30: 19

Just when I was saying "Counseling is so hard today, maybe it is time to do something else, or nothing!"

The very next morning, here came the Daily Bread with this entire discussion.  Even when things change and THEY HAVE since 1982, it is still the very same issue no matter what you are doing in your life.

"Today people all around us are in need of someone to take action to help them.  It is a high privilege to become the hands of God, as we respond on His behalf to cries for help!"

You might notice that January and February get very grey, dry, and boring.  Some do and some don't.
I have to use a light-box every winter to be able to stay up and busy.  People make fun of me all the time about how I count the days of spring and when the time changes.  As of tomorrow 49 and 35.
So, for some of us things can get really funky and I was having one of those days.  For the next two days between devotions, and a sermon on restoring people and getting out there to help them, I have had to stop and breathe.  Breathing in the Lord, His Holy Spirit and grace brings on new feelings, and almost feels like you've had a vacation.  I love how God comes immediately to our aid, if we do cry out.  I don't mess around anymore with thinking about it, getting all down about things.  I have been know to say -"This sucks, do something"  "Jesus, help the girl!"  I swear by it, He comes, He shows up.

Read Isaiah 30 15: 22

Psalm 25: 4 and 5

Psalm 146: 1 and 2

Psalm 112: 7

GRAND SLAM!

It is especially "ah-Hah!" when you can hit it out of the park.  You see that ball going high and right down the center.  There are those times in life when pancakes with blueberries just so hit the spot you think Nervana has come.  Or Sandi Patti just sang Amazing Grace and you know that all is right with the world.  Some birthday parties go so well, you just know it was a perfect pitch.  A concert, a job you finished, a conversation with the IRS, and you just breathed.

Last night was one of those nights.  The minute I saw this poster, I knew!

How do you even marvel or capture the thoughts of being proud of someone and their complete dedication to a volunteerism. 

35 Years of giving his talent to the community - to the ACD Festival Group!  Their over the top, to the moon and back, appreciation!  Thank you ACD FEstival.

Thank you John for being such a giving person, God's gift to a community, to me. 

NEW THINGS ARE COMING!

Although I have been absent here for a week, it was for good reason.  The Souders household has had a 30 days stretch plus of:  No Electricity - New Water Faucets in Kitchen, Oral Surgery, The Flu, no water for 2 days, Septic issues for three days, a bacterial infection, and I could keep going.  However, since Tuesday we are all healthy here, all mechanical things are in place again, and 2015 officially begins tomorrow.    John presents the 2015 ACD Poster at the Dinner held at the ACD Museum for the Board Members and families.  So, then I will get back into gear here very soon.