What a Day!

What a day and it is only just beginning!

1. Internet is driving me crazy!
2. Pop ups are every where
3. Can't make my virus protection work
4. My online Bible is not working properly
5. etc
6. etc

Have you ever started a day like this? Everything seems to be going wrong and the day has just started. You want to pull out your hair or scream into the quiet of the morning! What is happening? I got up with a positive attitude and it all went to pot the second the toothpaste lid fell into the toilet. {yep that was the beginning of this day.}

I persevered and finished my Bible reading for the day. But I can't tell you that I got much out of it. I prayed but felt like a nag to God's ears. {even my ears weren't happy with all that was said!} If I thought it would do any good I would go back to bed and try to start this day over again.

Have you ever had a day like this? How did you continue? Did the day escalate until you were so weary you just threw up your hands and quit?

I have done all these things before and my hair is very sparse to show the hair pulling doesn't work.
I think today I will do something new. I think I will just sit and think of all the things I am thankful for and tell God.

1. For grandchildren that grab your face to give you a proper kiss
2. For a husband that fixes the credit card that the teller stapled {don't ask}
3. For a God that can handle my frustration and still love me
4. For the day that lays ahead unused yet
5. For forgiveness
6. For a calm spirit
7. For friends
8. For Bible Study that is coming up tonight
9. For salvation
10. For God reminding me I am his Beloved

 Yes I do believe thanks is the answer to this day that didn't start out so hot. I need to go and thank God for so many more things.

1 Chronicles 16:34

New International Version (NIV)

³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

 

A Different Kind of Love

If you are a parent you know what it is to love your child. Some times that love overwhelms you it is so great. If you have more than one child you know you have enough love to go around to each one. However, your children will often say "you love him/her more than me". Could that be possible?

I am struggling to understand the Love of God. I know that I am one of a billion {or is it trillion now} people here on this planet. How does God love me the same, no partiality? Have I been spending my time trying to "earn" His love? Doing all the things the right way, living in a way to garner His attention so He will love me more? Sadly, I think I would have to say some days yep, that is exactly what I was doing.

As I read more closely it tells me that God loves me the same today as he did yesterday. {yesterday I wasn't a person that I would have wanted to love} His love NEVER changes! It is not based on what I do it is based on Who He Is. I can't earn his love. He is freely giving me His love. No partiality here.

I was praying for something that seemed insignificant to someone else and after the prayer they said that God doesn't bother Himself with such a small thing. I was upset by this remark and under my breath said "oh yes He does." {I am slow on my retorts so it didn't come to me until this morning} If he knows the number of hairs on my head, pretty insignificant if you ask me, there is nothing that takes place in my life that is too small to ask Him for help.

That's when it hit me, wow what a great love to even care about my simple problem, it isn't about world peace or world hunger, just a simple leaky roof. God cares about me and loves me with abandon, not because I am the most loveable person alive but because He is God!

There is the most wonderful description of His unfailing love that was shared with me and I would love to share it with you.

Above you are the overshadowing wings (Psalm 91:4);
Underneath you are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27);
Round about you is the angel of the Lord (Psalm 34:7);
Beside you are still waters (Psalm 23:2);
Within you is the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7);
Before you is the presence of the Lord (Exodus 33:14);
Following you are goodness and mercy (Psalm 23:6);
Ahead of you is heaven’s home (Philippians 3:14).

—expanded from a quote by Virginia Bell

 How great is His love that he has prepared all of this in advance just for you, and just for me! What a different kind of love!

This Little Light

¹² Later, in one of his talks, Jesus said to the people, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.”

John 8:12 Living Bible (TLB)



"Turn on the light I can't see a thing."

"The light bulb just came on! I get it."

"The lighthouse will lead the ship to safety."

All of the above statements talk about light and how it leads the way. I remember a night when the school where I was working had all the parking lot lights and all the lights of the building shut off as they were have an astronomy group and their telescopes at the school. The children were so excited to be able to look at the stars. However, telescopes don't work too well if there is light on around them. Thus lights off. Well, I had to leave the event early my husband was going to pick me up in the parking lot.{the one with the lights off!} I was running a bit later than when I said I would meet him so I was walking very quickly. Very sure I remembered what all was where, I picked up my pace. I was sure there was a picnic table close to where I was. So I saw it in the dim light and hurried to sit down and look like I had been there for a while waiting for my husband.{just goes to show pride is not all it is cut out to be} I did not however remember seeing a cement slab about 6 inches under the picnic table. I tripped, not seeing the rise in the darkness and went head long into the table and the corner of the cement. I immediately felt that warm sticky stuff on my arms, and legs and saw some stars that no one would be seeing on their telescopes. My arms and legs still tell the tale with the scars I carry around to prove how silly I was and how we need a light in dark places.

This week has been a "dark" time in the lives of our family. An extended member was murdered. It seems like bad things happen in the dark. Just like my fall, this happened at night also. The only thing that makes any sense in all of this is that God is in control. None of this took Him by surprise. He is the light and in Him is no darkness. Should I run to dark thoughts, or run to the comfort of the Light. I guess we all have to choose which direction we will go. I know from first hand experience that the dark only leads to more pain.{I have the scars to prove it} I think I will choose the Light, the One who sees all clearly, even when all I can see is that darkness. There is comfort in being able to see clearly. I can run and not trip over "landmines" that are just waiting to bring me down.

Which way are you choosing in your life? I know that I am not alone in going through dark times.Are you willing to trip and fall in the dark or will you turn to the Light and be drawn into the safety that is offered there

Be Careful What You Ask For

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:3-4

Okay, yes I have been asking God to use me and wandering how He could possibly use someone that isn't able to get around so well any  more. I was sure the missionary journey to Africa was out so I was safe in asking to be used, right?

God is so awesome and has a wonderful sense of humor.

I was in Bible study last week and happy to just be a participant. The leader was asking for prayer as she was traveling to see a friend in need. No problem! Easy peasy! Then in a flash she turned to me and said would I lead the group next week? What? Could you repeat that as my eyes became as big as the desert dishes that were on the table. Surely there is someone else that is much more qualified than I! The lady that usually does it was on a camping trip so she wasn't there for me to turn to and say, "I know she will do a better job." By this time the other ladies are saying, "you'll do fine!" Well, I know why they were saying that because it wasn't them that was on the hotseat!

What could  I do? I said ok!

Have you ever asked God to use you and when He says Ok I am ready to use you, you come up with all the reasons you can't do it today? Well, I have spent the last week doing exactly that. I finally got down to business,{very early this morning}and prepared all I could find that was extra. Then I remember the lesson is on how Paul shared so long that a man fell asleep and fell out of the window and died! {there is God with his humor again} It all turned out well for Paul just in case you were worried.

I finally have settled down after reading the above verses and figure all the ladies can do is never ask me again to lead the group. God and I will do what he has lead me to share and that will be enough.

Just ask for your prayers today. Thanks.

Beautiful

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.  Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

Act 3:1-3

 

 

As I was reading my devotion for the day I was drawn to the word Beautiful. Here was this man, he was 40 years old and every day some one or probably a few some ones brought him here to this gate called Beautiful. Here he sat begging passersby for a few extra coins. He was pretty much invisible to all that passed. If you continue to read the story it says that Peter and John were the ones that were the passers that day. He was so used to people passing not noticing him he didn't even look at them.

 

He had to be asked to look up at Peter and John. He took a risk and looked up not sure what he expected these men to do. He asked them for a "donation" but the first words he heard were "silver and gold we don't have". Ah, so these men weren't going to give him any coins. Were they going to make fun, say how sorry they were he was like he was, throw something at him and walk away laughing? I am sure he had experienced it all before. It was so much easier to be invisible.

 

The men continued talking and said "in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise and walk. The man didn't stop there he gave him a hand and helped him stand up. Can you imagine his surprise and unabashed joy when his legs held him, no pain, and not only held but made it possible to walk. Well, he was so thrilled he not only walked but at 40 years of age he was leaping into the air, jumping, and praising God. He hadn't let go of Peter or John so I am sure they made quite a site as they entered the temple.

 

I don't know about you but there are many times I feel invisible. The "passersby" don't see me though I have been there for a long time. Perhaps you are ill, widowed, divorced, or just lonely { not that lonely is a "just"} or any number of other possibilities that make you feel invisible. There is a place called Beautiful where we can go. The arms of Jesus are outstretched waiting for us to look up and into his eyes of love.

 

No matter where you are today, He is waiting for you to look up. You are not invisible or alone. Are you ready to start leaping and jumping today? He is waiting to take your hand!

Surrender

Yesterday was a day many Americans will not soon forget. The Navy Yard in Washington D. C. was under attack by an employee. It is a day I will not soon forget, it was a testing of my faith in the God I profess to be the One that is in control. You see my son works there!

I have read the story of Job and how God was pleased with him and how the enemy wanted to prove God wrong. Job lost everything! {there is a very happy ending to the story!} I felt bad for Job and have tried to understand his friends {with friends like his who needs enemies} but I don't think I was able to empathize with Job. Yesterday I was able to ponder what it must have been like to be him.

I was just finishing up with my daily devotions and going to check out the news before I woke my husband and started my day, when I saw "shooting at the Navy Yard" as a headline. Thought I would check it out and it was live coverage. {gotta love the news channels} I started to watch and then it hit me this is where my son works. As I was drawn into the news broadcasters words of fear and dread I had to pull away from the news to go to the Father and ask for protection for my son. The announcement that there were 3 dead and some injured made me pray again. The phone rang and it was my other son calling with a sense of panic in his voice saying he was headed home to calm his wife and try to decide what to do. {He also lives in the DC area} He tried to reassure me that my son was surly in another building and safe, but he couldn't raise him on his cell. {has the beginnings of one of Job's friends.} He told me he had called the Navy Yard as there was a number on the screen, but couldn't get them to answer. He was going to continue to keep trying. Hmm, his response was to seek the aid of man. My first response was to seek the One that had this situation in His hands. I didn't call the Navy Yard.{being a Mom would have more weight that a brother} I called and text my "family", those that love God and are called by him. I didn't feel the panic I heard in my son. I just asked for prayer. My "family" responded quickly and reassuringly.

I did have a peace. I know it sounds strange but my husband and I went about our day. We had placed it all in God's hands and knew we could do nothing.{except pray} The day turned into evening with no word from our son. {I had send him a voicemail telling him we were praying for him} If you listen to only what the news tells you, you can become very frightened.{there were now 13 dead} We were watching the news and the fear was starting to creep in. It is very important in times like these that we keep our eyes on the one in control. {Just as Peter looked at the waves and started to sink, the news took my eyes off of the protection the Lord had provided all day.} I once again went to the Lord.

Finally, we got the call we had waited to hear all day, our son called and said he had made it home. He sounded exhausted, worn, but relived to be home. We praised God for his faithfulness and prayed for those who didn't get that call. You see our son hasn't asked the Lord into his heart. There is still time for him. As long as he is breathing we will continue to pray for God to reveal Himself to him.

Please if you don't know Christ as your Savior, seek him out. Find out for yourself who He is. While you still have breath. You never know what the next moment will bring.

El Roi

I am struggling to put my racing thoughts into words today. I have deleted time and again what I want to say. Hopefully this time I will convey my thoughts in a way that will express the awe and wonder I have discovered this morning.

I was reading in John 4 today about the woman at the well. If you are not familiar with it, it tells of a woman that goes to the well to collect water for the day. She doesn't go when the other women go as she is not "one of their kind". She must go and collect by herself to avoid the ridicule and biting remarks of others. She meets Jesus, who is tired, hungry and thirsty. They have a conversation and she is amazed by him that first he sees her and then speaks to her. The most amazing part is that when he asks her to go and call her husband and come back she is brought back to earth as she is living with a man who is not her husband and has had 5 husbands already. The shame and embarrassment arises. Jesus tells her she he knows of the 5 and the one she is living with and she only had said she didn't have a husband. Jesus met her right where she was. She is so excited she runs and tells the whole town, "come and see the one who told me everything I have ever done"! Jesus knew all that had taken place in this woman's life, yet offered her life.

Then I remembered Hagar Genesis 16 as she fled from Sarai to the desert to die. She encountered an angel that asked her where she was going. She told him and the angel and he said that God had seen her pain. She called God El Roi the God who sees.

In both cases God saw the pain that others refused to acknowledge or want to be around. He offered life and release from that pain. Are you feeling dejected, or the pain of loneliness, or some other pain? There is a God who sees you and has wonders to offer you. All you need do is seek Him.