bevsfindings

It's still Christmas

2009-11-24T05:57:00.000-08:00

My son and I are on our way in just a few hours to see some of our family for Thanksgiving. In the car I am taking a small Christmas tree and decorations in hopes my aunt will allow me to put them up as I will be back again for Christmas. My mother has become bedridden and my aunt has been taking care of her and it can be overwhelming. Much of life can be overstressed and overwhelming, but if the Lord does not return before this Christmas, "even so Lord Jesus come quickly", there will still be Christmas. Until Jesus comes there will be the sick and dying, families will fall apart, our children will disapoint us. There will be the poor and needy, the jobless and soldiers who go to war leaving behind worried loved ones. But Christmas is still coming until the Lord returns at which time the true meaning of Christmas will be fully recoginized. So put up a tree, some lights and decorations if you are able and love those around you. Christmas is coming and one day in a twinkling of an eye so is God's son.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Celebrate.

Follow Your Heart Even to the Least

2009-05-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

For Where Your Treasure Is

Our family is living in a small studio apartment right now while we are hoping and praying our home will sell in another state. The burden of paying for two living situations is becoming difficult, there is no privacy here, we’re sleeping on air mattresses that keep deflating and I’ve never been much of a camper. Last month I went back to our home that’s for sale to pack up some things, and one thing I realized was that after being away for 3 months with only a card table for furniture and deflated air mattresses, that a lot of these collected possessions didn’t seem as important as before. As I lay in bed last night I was thinking about my possessions packed in boxes as most of my family and friends know that I collect things and I pondered whether I had bought them because I thought I deserved them. I thought deeply about it and asked God to convict my heart, but no I did not believe I had bought them because I truly deserved them, I just like beautiful things and over time I had collected quite a bit. But is that okay? Hmm. I also thanked God for food, clothing and shelter but my mind is doubtful so I also asked God, “You feed the birds of the air and they do not sow or reap, so not to worry about what we will drink, what we will eat or what we will wear, but what about others who do not have these things?” “What about those who are still thirsty?” “Still hungry?” “Is keeping yourself warm by a burning trash can while your stomach growls provision?” “What about the unclothed?” “Is walking the streets at night with no where to go shelter?” But I’ve searched the scripture and do not find where God says that we will always be provided shelter “But you say do not worry and that you will provide drink, food and clothing?” “God I don’t understand.” “You tell us how you feed the birds and how much more important are we, but what about when the winds and rain come and blow the nest out of the tree?” But God’s eyes roam to and fro and He sees everyone and every situation. But the burden is great and I do not exactly how God wants me to help others. My husband came to bed and I shared this with him and he said to me “you have a compassionate heart,” and I replied “but faith without works is dead.”

I looked up this passage this morning where Jesus says the following:

Passage Luke 12:15-34:
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.
24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?
26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more shall he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

So my treasure is to seek the kingdom of God. Not things. And for many that is difficult and I stand in the ranks of the many. No, our family is not materially rich, but to some we are, and to some we are poor. I have always told my son that there will always be those who have more that us and there will always be those who have less. Life is not equal. But what we have is meaningless to God. The Bible says “all nations” seek to have more. But it is all fruitless without God. God’s kingdom is above what our finite minds can comprehend in the provision of food, drink, clothing and what we can store away. Yes, life is the most important thing and having Jesus as our Savior and seeking God’s kingdom. His will is more than life itself. None of us know when our life will end but we can be ready. When people have passed away there have been families split over the deceased’ possessions. What were they really worth since in the end they may be savagely divided as if by wild dogs? Life is more important and you can’t truly live or have life without Jesus. Each person’s material possessions is a personal decision between them and God. I can judge no one. But I do have to be accountable for myself. Regarding what I said in the beginning, this verse just caught my eye and heart the most.

Luke 12:26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?

Now…what am I going to do with that?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2009-05-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

"Bad Mother"
Letter to a Friend

Hey girl! Have you heard about this book "Bad Mother?" I saw the author interviewed on the Morning Show this morning. It is about so many mothers who judge other mothers over so many things because they think "they" have it all together, that they are perfect mothers and have the best children, to make themselves feel better, make themselves superior or because they feel like a bad mother themselves and how the fathers don't have to measure up to these standards. I might have to get the book.

But what I wanted mainly to say as I watched this interview is that "YOU" are a "GOOD" mother. And ya know what?...so am I. I was never a soccer mom or have not done tons of community service although I have my own service between me and God along with convictions and it makes me proud when I hear my child tell me he made the right choice by helping another, my child isn't perfect, nor I or my family, but we care and even if we see some other mothers who seems to act perfect and have it all together it just ain't so. I love my child dearly and would protect him at all cost.

I've suffered with guilt for many years because I didn't have the "model" hospital delivery, I'm not the best cook...not by my choice, but my kid barely eats fruits and vegetables, I've cussed at my child, there were times I should have been there and was not. My child is not an honor roll student nor does he care but I give him incentives to make A, B and C's. I'm constantly tired...and the list goes on for every mother out there. But God knew I was mean't to be a mother even though the doctor said "you can't do it" because of depression and being off medication for a year. I will never be the perfect mom but who is?... but a lot of things I've done right...and I have relished the moments when my child has expressed "alright Mom!, "WOW Mom!" and "Super Mom!" and you know, somehow, not always in our time table, we pray our kids turn out alright. Some women may choose to believe they have it totally together and judge other mothers but they are only fooling themselves under the pressure to want to be perfect in others eyes...which really is just insecurity.

"YOU" my friend are an excellent mother, despite it all. I am too. And I love and miss you greatly.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

All my love. Your sister, Bev

Spring Flowers

2009-02-12T20:04:00.000-08:00

A Time for Renewal

Spring will be upon us in just a couple of months…a time for fresh air and renewal. I need renewal, in fact it’s already started to bud. I love flowers. We are moving to Connecticut and I don’t know where we’ll live yet, but there will be flowers. I’ve been going to goodwill and antique shops and buying up flower pots this winter that nobody else wanted.

Do you ever feel like an empty flower pot that nobody wanted? I have at times. That’s why we need God’s renewal. He takes His kind hands and cleans the pot, then gently places the soil and plants flowers that bloom and grow. It is a beautiful creation. Sometimes a weed gets in the pot and you have to remove it so it does not choke out the flowers that are blooming. God does that too. He is the master horticulturist and he makes all things new.

Then leaves will start to fall and then winter will come again and the flowers may die as we have struggles in our lives, but if you let God plant a seed in your heart that becomes a bud to a beautiful flower His love in you and yours for Him will grow forever, and there will always be a bloom despite whatever hardship you may face.

You will be a beautiful rose despite that you are surrounded by thorns.

Women, Wives and Mothers

2008-11-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

I told my husband last night that he will never understand me until he gains an understanding of women. Tall Order! But is it truly possible? It is a question I plan to ask God when I see Him. There will be lots of questions. Like why when a husband and wife go to bed is the man there for the sole purpose of sleep, has a totally clear mind for relaxation, is out in seconds, but the women is there ready to get into a full fledged conversation? Oh I know that there are books galore on this subject, but we will always be distinctly different and I do not believe we'll totally understand until we see God in full. And it can be so frustrating until you just finally give in and reckon with it whether we truly understand our differences or not. Nothing deep, just noted.

And I’ve also decided that there is nothing in this world, not toys, iPods, music, books, friends, computers, cell phones or anything else that makes a child happier than knowing his parents love each other and that they show it.

God help me to recommit to be a better wife and mother. Help me make my husband feel loved and enable my child to feel secure and happy as I demonstrate this. In Jesus name, Amen.

Who are you going to be when you grow up?

2008-08-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Little Blog…Big Meaning
Ministry or Plumber?
(read the addendum)

My husband and I were sitting outside on the deck the other day just chatting. I don’t know how this came up but we started talking about the church. My husband did not grow up in the church and did not become a Christian until he went to the Naval Academy where he was befriended and became a believer at age 19. At that time he began to attend church. My father was a preacher so I was raised in the church, but I did not become a true believer until I was 19 also. We both came from different directions but ended up on the same path, as far as the age we became Christians.

We’re sitting there on the deck and my husband made mention of one thing he had never understood in the church and it was something that really bugged him. I guess this is going to be a toe stepper. I had never really noticed it being raised in church, but my husband questioned “why” when a youth decides to go into the ministry, become a preacher, missionary or whatever Christian service there is this huge expected celebratory response and everyone encourages the youth? Now of course this should be celebrated, it’s a big calling and should be supported and encouraged. In our denomination it is customary for the person to come forward and be presented to the church.

But my husband’s beef is this: What if some youth were to stand in front of the church and he announced he was going to serve God with all his heart and that he had been called to be a plumber….or engineer or any other kind of profession or trade. Would the eyes in the congregation fall and people look down in embarrassment? Would their choice of work be less of a ministry or less celebrated? In the church are we sending our youth the wrong message that being in the ministry is more, because no kid is going to get up in the church and say that. I’ve never seen it happen. Now why is that?

What does it matter what we do occupationally as long as we love God and serve others?

The Bible says:

Colossians 3:17
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

I Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Peter 1:17
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

Whatever we do, as long as we are serving God by him being evident in our lives, it’s not the occupation… it’s the attitude of the heart and our service to others.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

ADDENDUM: I've chosen after several days of thought that I half-way agree and half-way disagree with this opinion. Oh sure, there are shallow christians in this world, but I think for the most part I have to conclude that if I were a young person, or older, and made a decision in whatever respectful occupation that that would be supported... or maybe not. What does it matter? Because in all things only Christ is most important than life on earth itself and He is to be shared in our personal lives and our occupations, whatever that may be. No calling is above any one else's because we will ALL give account in the eyes of God.

Follow-up: I read these blogs through on occasion, not because I think I'm a great writer, but to keep a check on how "I'm" doing. Well, tonite I realized I wasn't doing so good on this one. As I was reading over this blog I was breezing through the scriptures above and I felt God said slow down and "really" read them. This one stood out, "23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men". I read it over and I realized that there was a service I had been doing that I had stopped because of the way someone treated me. So all of a sudden I was "working for men". I didn't like that so I quit. Uh Oh. So I must humble myself and get back to the task as it did bring me great joy in the Lord. Yes, that person will probably be there, but I must keep my eyes on Jesus and get back to working for the Lord. Sometimes we have to go ahead and do something and let the heart catch up. I believe God honors that also. God is so wise. Thanks God for pointing that out. :)

Johnny and Me

2008-08-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

Johnny and Me
A lesson on Forgiveness

Johnny was my brother and we were both adopted from different foster homes. Johnny was adopted at 11 months old and he was the most beautiful baby boy. I still have pictures and yes, indeed he was beautiful. My parents were so proud! I was later adopted at the age of 2 ½ years old and did not compare to the beauty of my brother as I was covered in fifth and bug bites. I could not walk without falling because my legs were crooked, but my new parents chose me because of my condition and having already been in 5 different living situations. They took me to a specialist and I wore a brace at night for several years until my legs straightened. It was by no means a pleasant experience for me, but I appreciate my parents for their concern and care for me in giving me a new life. Johnny’s father was in prison for car theft and my Mother wanted to keep me, but despite her circumstances just could not, and I was finally turned over to the judge and a pastor friend of my Dad’s notified him about me.

I guess my brother and I were typical siblings, fighting and arguing all the time, but there was one thing that I couldn’t stand and that was for other kids to pick on Johnny. You see, Johnny was big for his age and never bullied anyone, but he was constantly bullied because he had a soft heart and would not fight back…or maybe he was just afraid. It would frustrate my father to no end that Johnny would not defend himself. He would ridicule my brother. He would try to teach him to box, but my brother refused, so me being a tomboy would say “teach me”, so my father taught me to fight and shunned my brother. My father also tried to teach Johnny to play pool, but my brother wasn’t good at it, so I would say “teach me!” And then my father would teach me how to play pool instead.

The things my father tried to teach Johnny and failed led to my father’s disappointment and he treated my brother like a sissy. Well we were kids, so at the time I did not have the full understanding of how my father made my brother feel. Even into adulthood.

But I do remember one time Johnny stepped up to the plate. When we were about 8 & 9 years old we had to walk home from school every day through the woods and there were these 3 big older boys who relentlessly teased and taunted us and would try to pick a fight with my brother. This went on for some time and I would dread our walk home from school. One day these boys went too far and push came to shove and all of a sudden a fight ensued between 2 elementary school children and 3 much older and bigger boys. I don’t remember all that happened that particular day, I do remember jumping on the back of one and I assume Johnny took care of the other two because we never saw those boys again. My brother and I were united that day and my brother stood up to the plate. You hear it said God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things?...that day God did by giving courage in the lives of two frightened children.

The reason I am telling you all of this is because my father died when we were young teens and we moved many times as our family had to move in with our aunt and uncle. Johnny and I did not have much of a relationship and he quit high school in the 10th grade and moved away. I really didn’t see him again until I was about 26 when he moved to Texas where my extended family was living. I was out on my own by then, but was nearby and came home often and began to establish a relationship with my brother again.

It was about a year later my brother was diagnosed with a massive brain tumor. Before it was discovered Johnny worked as a security guard, and had started getting terrific headaches, falling asleep while standing and taking two hours to find his way home which was 15 minutes from where he worked. When he went to the oncologist the CAT scan revealed a tumor the size of a grapefruit on the center of his brain. They said it had been growing there for years. The day before they did the biopsy a kind pastor came to see my brother and brought him a hamburger and that day Johnny asked Jesus to come into his life. They performed the biopsy and it was malignant and he was given 9-15 months to live. He received radiation once, as there was nothing else they could do. He went home from the hospital and while he could still walk I would pick him up for church on Sundays. I was singing in the choir at that time and from the choir I would watch him with that big cowboy hat on and as the choir would sing I would watch my brother in the congregation cry like a baby and it would just break my heart. I don’t believe I continued singing in the choir much longer. As the tumor grew he was starting to get very emotional, but yet he became such a blessing and inspiration to people around him!

Nine months before he died he became bedridden and his wife, my mother and I would take shifts taking care of him. Even though Johnny was bedridden he was fortunate to have the use of his hands, and for the most part his mind. He did not have to suffer pain for most of his illness because the tumor put pressure on the areas that would cause it. He had an incredible positive attitude! I took care of him soon as I got off work from 5pm to 12 midnight every night and all his needs had to be attended to. Now you see, my brother and I never really had a close relationship until this time and we spent many hours talking. Sometimes he would get confused, but he was usually very logical. For the first time we had a good relationship, because for most of our lives it had always been strained.

One night, Johnny said to me that I had to forgive him for something. I said, “Whatever do I need to forgive you for?” Then he cried and told me after all these years how he had resented me because he felt Dad preferred me over him because the way Dad had treated him. I told Johnny that was not his fault; I did not need to forgive him. He persisted that I had to say the words “I forgive you.” So I told him I forgave him. My brother humbled himself and told me why he resented me all his life. The origination of it wasn’t his fault but he chose the responsibility to ask for forgiveness. But then I said, but Johnny? Don’t you remember when I did this to you? He said, “I don’t remember.” I said “what about this?” He said “I don’t remember.” I attempted many times to confess the hurtful things I had done to him, only to hear him say, “I don’t remember.”

The night he died I held this big 6'4" man's hand and sang to him all the Bible songs we knew as children that I could remember. We were united. When I looked at my brother after he passed away, he was not there because his soul was with Jesus. Through Christ leading, Johnny cleaned the slate and prepared himself to meet the Savior. I’m sure it was a glorious reunion!

My mother said the day before he died, Johnny sat up in the bed and sang every word of the song “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” Every word.

I’ll be honest and say it took me many years to let go of the grudge against my father for the way he treated my brother. Tonight I had written a short anonymous note to someone who I felt had hurt me. It was not a very kind note. After I wrote this about my brother I tore the note up and threw it away. I have to remember what my brother taught me, and choose not to remember. It says in the Bible in Psalm 65:3“Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you (Jesus) forgive them all.

I have to ask the question, how do I want to meet my Savior one day?...with a heart full of unforgiveness or with a clean slate like my brother? God help me when I’m hurt not to hold on to grudges and where forgiveness is needed let me be willing to forgive others and never be so proud not to confess and ask for it myself. “Create in me a clean heart Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Because Jesus truly purifies the soul.

Tears for a Bunny but more Cares for the World

2008-04-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

It’s Sunday night…well now it’s actually Monday morning, my husband is sound asleep on the sofa and I had to decided to go to bed. In my last writing I wrote about not being my worst enemy by not letting my past and thoughts envelop my future.

But you know, there will be times that you will remember something from the past and it has to be reckoned with as to why suddenly you remember something years later and what are you going to do with it?

When my brother and I were about 8 and 9 years old we were given a darling bunny rabbit. He was so adorable. We had not had him long and since my Father traveled we would sometimes go on week long trips as a whole family. Well this was a week long trip that ended in misery.

We had put the bunny in the basement with nourishment to last until we got back. To get down to the basement was a steep stairway. Well, when we got back we found this sweet little bunny, down at the bottom of the stairs dead. It totally broke my heart. So I’m lying in bed tonight thinking about what had happened. My Mother has always told me that I have too soft of a heart, but I don’t see that as a negative trait. I imagine that the bunny being left alone, felt isolated, he got lonely and he was afraid. So he hopped up those steep stairs to try to have those needs met. But the stairs were steep and when he turned around he fell down the stairs to his death. Just now I was thinking of this and I lay in bed and cried for almost an hour.

I said to God “surely after 40 years there would be some meaning for me to suddenly remember that story and even cry about it?” What is the purpose? What is Your purpose Lord?

There are so many people in this world who feel abandoned, alone and afraid, or just that something is missing. They reach out for help but all that is given is some temporary nourishment that just doesn’t fill their hearts. And other people cannot completely do that for them. Only Jesus can fill the deepest needs of the heart. People climb the steep stairs of life reaching for anything; false religions, disbelief that God exists, they search for intellegence, money, things and anyone or anything to meet their needs…but without Christ the Crucified they will fall back down every time and if they continue through this life without Jesus and reject him one day they will be at the bottom of the stairs and then sadly enough because they never accepted the Savior they will spend eternity in Hell.

Do you know how to truly know that if you died tonight you’d spend the rest of eternity in heaven? You can right now. FIRST: Ask God to block out anything or influence that would keep you from understanding this.

This is what it says in the Bible:
“For everyone has sinned (done wrong things): we all fall short of God’s standard.” Romans 3:23 (which means no one is good enough to measure up to God's perfection)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (God's love is a gift, but you have to accept a gift, it is totally free)

God saves you by his grace when you believe, you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift of God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2: 8-9 (God has done something that we do not deserve, but it is all by his unmerited favor towards us, not by the good things we do because only Jesus through his death on the cross can be the bridge to God)

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (God's timing is perfect)

You see? “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (God sent his son Jesus, His only Son because God knew there was no other to take our place for the penalty of our wrong doings, our sin)

It’s this easy: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10
(Just pray a quick prayer and ask God to forgive you, ask Jesus to come be in your life and then thank him, God will completely clear every sin you've ever commited and your name will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life and you will spend forever in Heaven.)

The main question we will all be asked by God when we die or when this world comes to an end is "Did you know my Son? What will you answer? Will your name be in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Don’t delay it…do it today! None of us know when our lives will end. Life is short and we take it so for granted. My brother died at age 28 and I thank God that he chose to believe in Christ after being an antheist for so many years. God gave him a second chance before he died and my brother took it. We may give up on God but he will never, ever give up on us, unless we wait too late. My next blog soon will be a story about my brother. His name was Johnny. He is in Heaven now and I praise and thank God for that. There is no sin too great that God won't forgive. Goodnight.

Man's Greatest Enemy

2008-04-20T00:52:00.000-07:00

Man’s Greatest Enemy
And why does that bird keep flying into my window?

It has been said that “man is his greatest enemy.” I know that I am mine. Satan has gotten me to the place where I have become so defeated, so now he has turned it over to me to continue on that course, dwelling on the past constantly, holding grudges, being hurt and oversensitive, wishing for something better…what a writer whom I have forgotten her name called it “stinkin’ thinkin’,” and even burdening my friends with it.

Well I’ve decided I can’t continue on this journey anymore. Yes, I do find joy in my life but the memories of the past are always there lurking in the shadows. God should have made me an elephant, because I just can’t forget anything. And the memories are strong, like they just happened yesterday. Why do they not heal?

Well just the other day God pointed something out to me, and it amazes me how creatively by his grace he does this.

There is a red cardinal that flies into and hits our bedroom window with extreme force every morning over and over again. I’m surprised he’s still alive. He does this about 3 times a day. A few months ago I asked my husband about this tenacious bird and asked if he was seeing something in the window that was attracting him causing to hit it with such force continually. My husband said it might be the floral arrangement in the window he sees and the bird thinks it’s real. Well we’ve lived here almost a year and he has been doing this, even in the winter, flying forcefully into the window every day.

Well, a few days ago I was in my workroom and my husband brought me an article and read a few sentences from it. It was quite interesting but I didn’t read it at the time but tacked it up on the wall. Yesterday, I noticed the article and took time to read it:

It said, “Why birds are hitting the windows. For example, if it is spring or summer and a male cardinal repeatedly knocks himself against the window, it is likely that the cardinal sees his reflection and is defending his territory against the handsome male cardinal reflection that he sees.” It further goes on to say that this need only be temporary until breeding season is over. Then the article gives suggestions to discourage this.

Well, I thought about that, as the bird is really missing out on courting season, what he’s supposed to be doing because he is being defeated and distracted and beating himself up every day because of his reflection which is in reality a “non-existing foe.” He has become his greatest enemy!

My point is, like the bird I have been constantly being defeated and attacking myself as I’ve become a non-existing foe, wasting my time on myself with negative thoughts, choices and discouragement, when I could be doing something else so much better that God has planned for me to be doing. Like the bird, he’s spending most of his time in the window, which is not God’s perfect plan; I have been spending most of my time beating myself up and not experiencing God's perfect plan for me. I have become "MY" own worst enemy!

How do we stop attacking ourselves like the bird in the window, beating ourselves up daily and start doing what we were created to do?

My past is my past. I have to stop beating myself against a window because I am not the enemy, a reflection of a non-existing foe. I have to go beyond cruelties that were done to me that I did not deserve, but I also have to go beyond wrongs I have done to others. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 65:3 “Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you (Jesus) forgive them all.” I have to fly away from the window and not keep coming back, and now do what God intends for me to do as he shows me His plan.

My mother before she became legally blind would write me the most loving letters and cards, this one I have on the wall in my workroom, she didn’t write it but it is a famous quote she sent me from St. Francis of Assisi:

“The Serenity Prayer”
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

I am not my enemy. I have made the choice to no longer do battle with a non-existing foe. Yes, Satan is existing for a short time, but God has overcome the world and through Christ so have we. What a merciful God we serve. Thank you God for there is no greater deliverer than you.

Addendum: You know it's the next day and that red cardinal is still forcefully flying into the window attacking himself as the enemy, wasting time on himself while the other birds are cheerfully chirping out in the woods. This bird is annoying to me but I take it as a strong reminder from God because the bird will continue to do this, but I have the choice not to go back. I choose to chirp with the birds. I feel free. Godspeed!

September 8, 2008
This morning I walked out on the back deck and I probably surprised him, but that red cardinal was in this antique bird cage outside the door where I display flowers inside it. He was looking at his reflection in the flower pot and within seconds because of his paused preoccupation I could have shut the door and he could have been trapped forever, but I didn't. God has not shut the door on us. His door is open wide for us to turn to him and give us freedom and release from our preoccupations that keep us trapped. In the Bible it says "Jesus sets the captives free." Do you want to be free? Jesus is here right now with the door wide open. He alone is the true deliverer...will you trust Him today?

THE PURE IN HEART WILL SEE GOD

2008-02-25T08:43:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 25, 2008
The Pure in Heart Shall See God
I BELIEVE IT!

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

I was telling you about my young friend in my earlier Blog “A Blast from the Past”. I have taken quite an interest in him because he is usually so upbeat! I find out new things about him every time I see him at church. I have just discovered that he is a Christian, that he can not read or write, and can not spell or write his name. He was born of 9 children and he was the youngest and when he was born part of his brain did not develop. But these things do not hold him back. He has a part time job and every time the church is open he’s there and a delight to be around! There is so much joy and laughter!

Last night we had a prayer service and got in groups to pray for others. Well, of course I wanted to be in his small group. There were 4 of us. One of our pastors did the main prayer, but afterwards I asked the pastor if I could pray also because I had some very heavy burdens on my mind concerning my family. I prayed, but quickly broke out into distress and concern, and this young man, my friend, patted me on the back and said like you would sooth a baby “ssshhh, ssshhh.” I was so touched by his mercy and kindness. His mother is very sick, and if there are Christians out there praying reading this, please pray for her, that God will comfort her with peace and she will get better. You don’t need her name, God knows it.

I think the best way to describe what I have seen in this unique young man is written in the scriptures.

7`God makes happy those who are kind. He will be kind to them.
8`God makes happy those who have clean hearts. They will see God.
9`God makes happy those who make peace between people. They will be called God's sons.

Matthew 5:7-9
Worldwide English (New Testament)

Let God bless you with a wonderful day. He’s all around you and he loves you

Drinking ALCOHOL..A Not So Smart Decision and..The Wisdom of a Son

2008-02-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

Drinking ALCOHOL
A Not So Smart Decision and
The Wisdom of a Son

Why Temptation Is Like Ice Cream
“Temptation can have an overpowering attraction and appeal. It can look fabulous and at first taste is very inviting—but in the long run its effects are deadly.”

This is a painful story for me to tell because I am sharing my vulnerability and most of us don’t like to do that, but it needs to be said. The reason I feel it needs to be said is because I hope it will help someone to make a better decision about drinking alcohol and if so, I feel I will have succeeded.

My History:
Before I became a Christian I used to drink. I didn’t drink all the time but when I did I would always drink too much, I would get extremely sick and wind up in the hospital because I would usually black out. It was not pretty. Some people have a high tolerence for it, some people don't. The doctor finally told my Mother that if I did not stop that I was going to kill myself because I had such a high blood toxicity level. Well, when I turned my life over to God at age 19 I turned the alcohol over to God also and chose not to drink anymore.

I kept my vow not to drink, and so that you will understand that was almost 30 years ago.

Now the not so wise decisions:

Over the past, I’d say 3 years some light social drinking has been introduced into my family. Not really the hard stuff (but does it matter?), but mostly wine and champagne. My husband, who has stronger convictions than I most of the time, he and I would drink pretty lightly on just very few occasions with some friends and family and I had introduced some champagne and that cheap “tutti fruity” wine (where probably if you drank the whole bottle it would not even phase you, like I said “the cheap stuff”) into our home. This not so smart decision had become more regular over the last few months about once every 2 weeks.

You may care less about this but it says in the Bible “not to open the door and give the devil a foothold”. Well here I had swung the door wide open and was ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET!

An Ugly Picture

Two days ago, on Valentine’s Day my husband had made reservations at a very nice steakhouse for dinner. I really didn’t ask my husband if this was to be a date, so I asked my teenage son if he’d like to come along since this was his favorite restaurant. He most heartily agreed and my husband was to pick us up at 4:30 p.m. and we were to be there by 5:00 p.m. I knew that was not time enough to get there for the reservation, but I just kept my mouth shut…….temporarily. So here we are on our way at 4:45 p.m. and there was no way we were going to make this reservation. We were also lost because part of the highway was closed and I was pretty mad because I knew it would be a 2 hour wait everywhere else, so I looked back at my son and said “do you mind eating at Denny’s?! Ha!” There’s nothing at all wrong with Denny’s, I eat there all the time, but it was not my love choice for Valentine’s Day!

To make a long story longer, we finally got there late and did get seated right away, but because I was so perturbed I ordered a whole bottle of wine. I still have not allowed my husband or my son to tell me how much it cost. Because here is what followed………

I had not eaten much that day and I pretty much gulped that first glass like a cold Pepsi cola on a hot day. The second glass with our meal I drank a little slower, because I was already starting to feel the effects…and they were bad. I got up to go to the bathroom and literally stumbled and could barely walk. What, I thought, did that waiter give us??? I came back to the table and told my husband I had to immediately go to the car. He and my son were going to eat dessert and then they would leave. So I left the restaurant alone and staggered like a hobo to the car and once inside the car had to open the car door several times because I was so sick. I felt terrible and I was mad at myself also.

My family finally came to the car and my date handed me a bag. No, it wasn’t a gift….it was a bag because I was so sick. We then stopped at a convenience store on the way home to get some gas.

The wisdom of a Son

I felt so bad and as we were sitting in the car my son seeing this whole, not so wonderful and eventful evening, says to me “Mom, you look miserable.” And I told him Yes, I was absolutely miserable. And this dear teenager was very concerned and yet also making a very life-changing observation.

I turned around and said to my son that I was sorry for being such a bad influence, that I had made a stupid mistake and I hoped he’d forgive me.
My son said to me, “Mom, you don’t need to apologize….because of what I’ve seen tonight I will NEVER drink ever."

So the next day after being sick all night, and to add I was sick all the next night too, I called my son to the kitchen. I said to him, “Open the refrigerator and get that bag out in the bottom drawer." He got it.......it was a bottle of wine. I said to him, throw that away and we will never drink or have alcohol in our house ever again. He agreed.

How far down the road do you have to go to decide on the right path?

Alcohol is not glamorous as the world would lead you to believe. It wrecks individuals and it wrecks those around them. Most people say you have to acquire a taste for alcohol.....Because you know it really just doesn’t taste that good when you first try it. When I was a child I hated green peas and after the attempt to eat them, there was going to be no acquiring. I don’t to this day eat green peas. Why bother?

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day.

Remember, we become who we are by our choices. What will be your choices for a better life? I made one of mine on Valentine’s Day. Thank you, God, for opening my eyes to the effect I was having on my life and especially my son, who sometimes can indeed be a wise young man.

MEN......PERIOD.

2008-01-28T10:57:00.000-08:00

MEN. PERIOD.

One day last week, on an early Friday night I was at home when my husband and son came back from being out all afternoon, and among their items they brought back was this one single huge donut. Wow I thought! Then I said, I can’t remember the last time I had a donut, so after I made the comment I said, “I’m going to a party at the church in an hour and I don’t want to spoil my appetite”. Well, my husband said, “Just take a few bites.” So I did.

Well the next day we were having company from my husband’s work, I was to serve dinner and I had worked very hard cleaning the house. I wanted things to be perfect. Early in the week I had asked my husband to do some things to help me which I mentioned several times during the week, as these things were just not happening. You know how we women are and I don’t like things done at the last minute because it usually means at the last minute you get to do it.

So here we are standing in the kitchen, I had taken a couple of nibbles of this donut and I think my son had gone to another part of the house ( thank you Jesus), and I again said something to my hubbie about the last few chores that needed to get done. Well, all of a sudden my husband proceeds to count to me exactly HOW MANY TIMES I have given him reminders that week!!!

Okay, now you have to understand, I am not a person of extreme acts of violence, it was not premeditated or thought about, but all of a sudden I just threw that big donut right at my husband and it hit him square in the middle of the forehead!

My husband was stunned and proceeded to leave the room, and as he left I said, “Where are you going?” Now get this! He replies, “I’m going to the bedroom to see if I can find some ointment. Okay, I had to take a pause for a moment. In my mind I thought, “Ointment? I hit the man with a donut not a wrecking ball!!!”

So in my dear, sweet and loving wife tone I said “Honey?....do you want me to take you to the emergency room to see if you need stitches?”

Well, that ended that. End of story. MEN.....PERIOD!

Please note: We now call this the "Donut Incident." As a warning I do not recommend throwing objects like donuts for example at our loved ones as there can be fatal results like, glazing, extreme stickiness, total shock, and most of all....the loss of pride. The Bible says "if not done in love, it is nothing.

A Blast From the Past - Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

2008-01-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

A BLAST FROM THE PAST
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Every Christmas for at least the past 40+ years this adorable film airs on our television screen.

In the film Rudolph is considered a misfit because of his imperfection of having a shiny red nose! He runs away and on his journey meets other misfits and even an island of misfit toys that are rejected and cannot be given to children for Christmas because they are not perfect. In the end Rudolph’s nose becomes a gift because it leads Santa through a terrible blizzard, and the misfit toys are rescued from the island and delivered into the hands of joyful children just waiting to be blessed by them!

I was thinking about this today because you see, I am a misfit. I have problems that some people may not have or see. Because of this I am aware of other misfits, some are physically or mentally challenged, some have obvious physical defects or don’t have the world’s view of physical beauty, some people just don’t seem to fit in with what this world wants to convince us is normalcy.

At church tonight this young man who I am getting to know, where some people in the world might think is a misfit, singled me out just to say hello to me right as I was coming out of a meeting. Can you imagine how that made me feel?? In front of other people??.....Well you know what? It made me feel wonderful!!! It made my day, because despite his difficulties he has a gift and he made me feel extremely special! And I observe him using this gift whenever I see him! He is concerned about others and he helps others.

You see there are misfits in this world, people who don’t completely fit in with the world’s so called norm, but like Rudolph and the misfit toys who were placed in the hands of delighted children, God has especially chosen them to be placed in people’s lives in this world as a gift to bless people and be used to bring joy to this world. Just like for me being noticed tonight. I was given a gift.

There are gifts all around us that can be in the most unusual forms. Just look around and open your heart. You might get to open a package!

In summary: Rudolph and the misfit toys is a story. God does not create misfits. We all have a purpose to be here on this earth and are made to give and show love despite what other people may see in us or what we see in others as shortcomings. Some people because of an extreme physical or mental disability may not even be able to give or show love and we need to love them with no expectations in return. I truly believe that God's got them covered by his grace and I will see them in Heaven.

But for most of us love is a choice. God made a choice to send His most beloved Son Jesus to this world to die humbly on a cross for yours and my sins. Even if you feel no one loves you remember that Jesus does and you have the choice to ask him to forgive you of your sins and make you whole inside. No one can comprehend how wonderful Heaven will be, but it is such a wonderful place that God has a "Book of Life" and is just waiting to put your name in it if you are willing to accept His love. Love is a choice to accept it or reject it. Who will you show love to or allow yourself to receive love from today?....Because when we show love to others and also accept it, that is when you truly start receiving blessings. Thank you Lord for creating a world with such diversity.....wouldn't it be awfully boring if we were all the same? May God bless you with a beautiful day!

2007-10-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

Life’s Regrets

Years ago I saw a preacher who was giving his testimony. His parents had died when he was little and a couple with not much means adopted him as their son. The preacher stated that his father was a big man, kind and gentle and never spanked him. But every night before bed the gentle father would take him in his arms and sit him in his lap and they would talk about the day. He would praise the boy where praise was due and then sum it up with the things the boy had messed up on that day and the father would tell him he was disappointed and for him to do better the next day. Just hearing the father say he was disappointed would break the boy's heart and he vowed to do better.

Some people say we should just live life to the fullest and throw out all regrets to the wind. Well unless I’m scheduled for a lobotomy that will not happen, I live with my regrets and some of the mistakes I’ve made cut to the core of my heart because regrets are painful. They teach us some of life’s greatest lessons. But I've learned from regrets is not to do that the next time. I don’t try to constantly dwell on them and I have had to ask God to soften painful memories which he has over time, but I do need Jesus to take me in his loving arms each day and show me how I made him proud and how I can do things that disapointed him better the next time. If we didn’t have regrets we wouldn’t need a savior to forgive us our sins because regrets are caused by sin. They are caused by wrong choices. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son Jesus, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.: John 3:16

The father God is a good God who wants us to have a joyful life, but I can’t do it without Him. He is good and always faithful. He loves you and me with an undying everlasting love and his lap is always available. Yes, we will always have regrets but the coming victories can far outweigh them if done in Jesus name.

Another “word” About the Word “Busy”

2007-10-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Another “word” About the Word “Busy”

If you’ll scroll down and read my Pet Peeves Blog it will catch you up to speed about my passion, or I should say, lack of passion in the usage of this word.

I have searched the Bible and just can’t find many references to this word. Maybe they are there but I'm not finding them. I think as baby boomers we have adapted this word “I am so busy” into our common language to describe so many things and, if I may say, excuses. And I believe this constant term has an overall effect that is going to turn around and bite us. Our children hear us say it therefore they are adapting it into their conversations and relationships. My husband said it’s kind of like the song “Cat's in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin, where the father never spent time with his son who wanted to be just like him, but the father was so busy with other things, then when his son grew older the father wanted to spend time with the son, but the son had too many hassles, the kids had the flu and life had gotten just too busy. The song ends that as he hung up the phone it occurred to the Dad that his son had grown up just like him. His boy was just like him.

Do we want to teach our children to be too busy for others by our example? To be too busy for us? There is absolutely nothing wrong with being occupied with a task or many tasks of course and many can be stressful. But the words “too busy”, “I’m soooooo busy,” I can’t because I’m busy now” are going to be removed from my vocabulary. Now of course, these words have to be replaced with something more positive. I was thinking about the power of this word and control it can have over us, i.e., say I’ve got a lot of laundry to do and I say to myself “Oh gosh” I’ve got so much to do, “I’m so busy!”, well, I have immediately made myself tired and I don’t want to, nor do I enjoy doing the task! Same with cooking, cleaning, running errands, working, writing a report, homework, packing to travel, spending times with friends and the list goes on. Have you noticed when people constantly say "I'm so busy," the stress and tiredness in their voice? the strained expression on their face? Are we making ourselves this way like a "self-fulling prophesy?" Will we get to the place where we can't even function?

So how do we approach this ominous phrase or word? Brainstorm here with me if you please. Instead of I can't talk right now, I’m just too busy" and leaving it at that, how about “I am doing such and such right now, let’s decide when to get together and spend time together. Because when you say you're too busy you usually don't follow through. Aren't people supposed to be more important than that? Instead of being defeated by tasks under sometimes the martyrdom of being so "busy" and overwhelmed follow the advice of the famous old NIKE commercial “Just Do It!” I’ve got to stop here but I’m really kind of in to this NIKE thing. JUST DO IT. Period.

Constantly saying we’re busy can be just an excuse. Here as we go into the holiday season, yes things will get busier (see, I do recognize it as a word!), but if we’re just so busy all the time and this powerful word is constantly bringing us down, how can we really stop and appreciate God in all His glory taking the time to send His son Jesus to be born in lowly manger to die for the sins of man? With all He's got going He wasn't too "busy" to do that! He has had one thing on His mind.....us.

So are we too busy for the gratitude and celebration of that? I sure don’t want to be. What a blessing to miss out on over just being “busy.”

Have a great day!

It Took A Special Man

2007-10-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

It Took A Special Man

Intro:

I have a friend that I have lost contact with over last 14 years. I believe she is back in the states and I am going to try to find her somehow. She wanted so much to be accepted into the Southern Baptist mission field years ago and was finally accepted and went to Africa. She would send me a newsletter of the awesome things God was doing in her life and those around her. When she first arrived in Africa she was met by many children who were to tend to her needs. She was a little on the heavy side with blonde hair and the children found this to be very interesting and assumed she was very rich and very well fed! But all of the children had smiles on their faces and they loved her right away and she loved them back as they were very poor and lacked many things but you would never have known! She could not get over how they were always happy and smiled all the time!!

This is the story as best I can remember of my friend that she shared one time in her newsletter. This is not a pretty story but the ending is beautiful.She had been in Africa for some time and while she was there they wanted her to have the most accommodating quarters which meant she would have a plumbing system as so many did not.One time her plumbing was no longer working properly so the African men quickly surmised that they would have to dig down to the sewage canal to figure out the problem.

Well she stood outside and watched everything that was going on and things quickly became a bustle of activity as they organized men to dig down to the canal. When they reached the canal they had to cut it in two to open up and discover the problem which confirmed that the sewage had backed up and was going to have to be unstopped to solve the problem to get her plumbing working again. The only setback was that the canal opening was small, only small enough for a child to fit in. As my friend continued to watch this fervor of activity and deliberation of what to do next they decided that it must be a person of small stature to go in and unclog the canal.

Eventually a young man, a special man, small in stature stepped forward and said he believed he could fit and he would do it.He could barely fit inside this small opening and with him he took a bucket and would fill it with sludge and waste and bring it back out. Time after time he went in filling the bucket and bringing it out then would go back in again. This went on for hours as she still continued to watch as they did this for her so that she would have clean plumbing. As she stood there watching this young man with the bucket going in the canal again and again bringing out the filth she suddenly realized the impact of what Jesus had done for her.

You see it had to be a special man, not just anybody, who would do this sacrificial job and go deep into her heart and remove this sludge and sin that was clogging it and had kept her from having a clean and joyful life before she became a Christian.Every day He is still going in and removing the old filth and sin that clogs and fills our hearts and has to be removed so that our hearts are pure inside and we can be clean and a witness and influence in the lives of others.That special man is Jesus Christ!“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”John 3:16

It’s hard to believe anyone could reject such a beautiful Savior! He is Christ the Lord, Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, the Almighty God, the beginning and the end.He never gives up on us and is daily cleaning our lives. Thank you Jesus for what you did for me and your daily renewal in my life. Open my eyes to see and watch what you are doing for me every day and forgive me for the many times I've failed you. You truly are awesome.

CAN WE REALLY FIGURE PEOPLE OUT??

2007-10-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

CAN WE REALLY FIGURE PEOPLE OUT??
Made in the Image of God.

It was said to me by a dear friend who we had been having some difficulty in our relationship that “There are things that you do that I don't agree with, but I try not to judge you because I don't fully understand you…… I don't have time to figure you out.”

Well, I thought about this deeply and wondered can we really figure “anyone” out? On this earth do we know our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends? We do know them from life’s experiences, yes, but have we actually got them figured out.
Only God, and God alone has each of us figured out and knows us completely whether we believe in Him or not.

It says in Genesis when God created the world that in Genesis 1:27 “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

So if God created us in his own image how could anyone fully know us? Who can know the full mind of God? Who can know the full mysteries of the world like God does #1 being human beings? Being created by God in his own image makes us complex because yes, we are sinners also, but we also have the ability to converse with an eternal God. But can anyone on earth really know a person or figure them out fully?...no, I don’t think so. It says in the Bible that when we see Him (Jesus) we will be like him because we will see him as he is. Then we will know fully.

Since we have never seen the Creator we do not know exactly what his image is other than what is described in the Bible. That’s how we experience the image of God, and through prayer and through praise and thanksgiving and following the instructions of God’s Word.

So rather than try to figure out a person made in God’s image since we have not yet seen God in His total fullness, I want to choose to know God with the information I have at hand……which includes my heart.
My friend does not need to figure me out, nor I her or anyone else. Jeez, I can’t even figure myself out!
I need to understand what God wants MY image to be. And it’s hard….because I admit, I am lazy and don’t choose to read my Bible so many times or spend time in prayer, thanksgiving, praise and asking forgiveness. And when I don’t do these things my life and those around me suffer. So being made in the image of God has its accountability to seek God and what he wants us truly to be and what he wants us to do.

In His own image.

Pet Peeves to Think About

2007-09-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

Pet Peeves

The other night I nudged my husband in bed who was asleep (I think we’ve all done this!) and said “are you awake?? Well of course he was by then, so I said to him, “you know what my two biggest pet peeves are?” There was a pause….What? “He said”. He knew it was coming and I said, the use of the word “busy” or maybe I should say the misuse of it and people who send us Christmas letters full of how busy little Jimmy and Sarah are and all about how they are doing and their many activities during the year, and then close with Merry Christmas from the so and so’s without ever even asking you how YOU are doing! It’s not that I don’t care, it just would be nice to get calls or contact through the year rather than just dumping it all in a letter because it’s Christmas. I don’t do Christmas letters, but I told my husband we should have written a Christmas letter 2 years ago that went like this:

Dear friends, Merry Christmas! What a year!! This year my husband lost his job, was out of work for more than a year, we had a lousy Thanksgiving, the dog died the next day and we couldn’t decorate the home for Christmas because it was up for sale. We moved 6 times before getting finally settled, our child changed schools 4 times, BUT ultimately God has been good to us. And God IS good. But I must say in all of this I never felt an overwhelming sense of busyness during all this change, so was I not busy? Why? I don’t know?

Okay, I said it. Those are my biggest pet peeves! Other than the person in the restaurant who stirs their sugar in their iced tea clinking his glass for 5 minutes or more…and you know who you are!

I asked my husband this same night are we not busy enough? What more should we be doing? I do believe there is too busy and too little busy but what is that Goldilocks’ and the Three Bears just right feeling?

In essence there is absolutely nothing wrong with being busy and having a busy life or family. I guess one thing that bothers me about busyness is that some people have somehow made this a word of status: I am “busy” therefore I am “more important”. I can’t spend time with someone because I’m “sooooo busy”! Our days are spent…..we just have NO time because we are just “so busy”. Okay, so if I’m not as busy as you am I less important? The busier you are the more important? I want to explore this further and see what Jesus thinks about this. Because when he came to this earth He had a lot to do and it says in the New Testament that if every thing was written in which he did while on earth that the books of the earth could not contain it. WOW! THAT’S BUSY!!! But he never wiped his brow with utter exhaustion and said “Oh, I’m just so busy.” He just took care of the matters at hand.

Life's Little Lessons GREED

2007-09-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

Life’s Little Lessons
GREED

I sit on my porch a lot in the morning hours and as the summer days are coming to an end the bees have really come out with a vengeance! It’s like a constant battle with the bees especially as I sit there trying to drink a soda. I’m swatting and batting, and no thank goodness I haven’t gotten stung yet but they are a nuisance.

Well today, I had to leave the house quickly to go meet a relative and go shopping. She has just moved to town and it’s so nice to have someone you’re related to so close. Well as I left the house I left my approximately 2/3 cup left of soda on the porch and just forgot all about it.

Well I had a great day and came back home before my son came home from school. I went outside to clean up the porch and there was the cup, full of bees, all dead. I don’t know why because nature is nature but the first thought that came to my mind was GREED. Those bees wanted the sweetness of my soda so badly that they finally got it and then drowned in it. You see, these bees weren't interested in me. They were interested in what I had. Funny.

Are we really interested in others...?... or just what they have? I question that because are we really more interested in the getting than the giving?? Usually Yup. I know I have many time stood guilty. Is it so important to covet a friendship, relationship, or things that are only fulfilling you just to eventually drown in it when you get it? GREED kills and it always will. It says in the Bible that it is better to give than to receive. God rewards giving far beyond what we can comprehend and sometimes even notice. Help me Lord to not be greedy and open my heart to be generous in a big and mighty way to be used of you.

The Most Unique Tree

2007-09-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

A tree is just a tree until you put lights on it………..then it’s Christmas.
Bev ‘07

We must be the ones who put our lights on everyday and shine to the world that there is hope and love and that it comes from our great creator God.

Do you feel sometimes like the tree in the forest that no one notices? Take on the responsibility to put on “your” lights and make this a better place around you. Smile! Say hello to people, people you know AND strangers. Do you realize how many people can go through a whole day without anyone noticing them? Be that person who notices. Care. Give. That is the greatest gift you can give. Make it Christmas everyday!

Doing something “BIG” for God Every Day!!!

2007-09-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

Doing something “BIG” for God Every Day!!!

Scriptures:
Genesis 6: 15-16
Matthew 25:31-46
Matthew 10:42

I was talking with a friend a short while ago and she mentioned to me that everyone was talking about doing something BIG for God….something BIG for God she said again. She wanted to find what her BIG for God was!

I started thinking about it and pondered in my head “Doing something Big for God”….what does that exactly mean? What exactly is Big? What’s Big enough??

In this world we constantly measure by size…..small, tiny, large, little, huge, great, micro, more, less….there are so many words to describe so many measurements of things and the things we do in our world.

BUT what may seem small to us may be very BIG in God’s eyes.

God is the creator of this world and measurements are a part of his creation. He is a God of weights and measures. He instituted size and uses it all throughout the entire Bible. When I was thinking about doing something BIG for God, Noah and the Ark came to mind. When God gave Noah instructions to build the Ark God told him specific measurements.

Read Gen 6:15-16
15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.16 Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.

Noah and his family who would all be saved from the flood were being obedient and doing something VERY BIG for God!! But imagine, if one of Noah’s son’s while working on the boat had left, say a 6” plank out of the bottom of the boat… they all could have perished.
You see, the little what may seem insignificant things we do every day matter so much! One small item had as much significance to God as the “BIG” completed ark!

In our searching for serving BIG is there anything too small for God? Serving God is about people. Period.

Read Matthew 10:42
42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Bigness is about affecting the lives of people.
Is anything too small when done in Jesus’ name?

Read Matthew 25:31-46
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Everyday we have encounters with people and we are involved in activities that affect other’s we do and do not know. We have the opportunities and must pray for them and ask God to open our eyes and hearts, because in Jesus’ sight, these things we do are something marvelously HUGE for God!! Watch for them! Sometimes just a friendly hello or sign of interest in a person is all they need to have received that small cup of water. We shop for groceries, get gas, go thru the drive-through, return things at Wal-Mart, we talk to our children’s teachers, have children over to play with our kids, or ask someone from church over though you don’t know them well. Everything we do involves people. Do we recognize and remember these people when we go about our daily business and activities or are they only just serving us in some way? Are these people becoming a part of our lives?

God please forgive me that many times I have overlooked opportunities and missed a blessing. Help me be accountable and diligent to open my eyes the next time.

God is the institute of all measures and His measurements go way beyond our comprehension as to what is Big or great in His sight. Nothing is too small when done in Jesus’ name for someone else, as we may be touching a life and meeting a need that no one else may have the opportunity on this earth to do but us.