This is Me Being Careful

My grand daughters like to come to our little place after school for a treat. I have just recently had surgery so I am like a pillow on the couch, stationary. I have this crazy giant Christmas ball made of ceramic that I won 4 years ago at one of those parties. It's not so much the ornament that has the attachment but the friends I remember that holds my sweet memories. So when my tiny [please never tell her I called her that] grand daughter comes to get her treat I always say,"Please be careful." to which she responds, "This is me being careful!' {what a trip? Right!}

Sometimes I feel like my grand daughter when I talk to God about forgiveness. "This is me God being very careful".  I am not having so much trouble forgiving others. I realize this is a choice and I choose to forgive. I know [from experience] that if I don't choose to forgive it really only hurts me. [you found that out also? Why didn't you share this?]

The part I am struggling with is to forgive me. Not forgiving is like being on a tread mill.  You can run till you drop but you will never get to the corner stop on that tread mill. I [and you too if you struggle with forgiving yourself.] need to stop reliving the past and let it go. Just like that tread mill trying to fix something that is in my past will never get me there. I need to start today and accept the forgiveness that God has already given me. [see I have already ask for forgiveness for this before.] Someone once told me it was like slapping God in the face when I didn't accept His forgiveness the first time.[that just added to my guilt didn't make it better!]

I just read in one of my devotions this morning that when I accept the forgiveness of God he separates me from this sin. I don't have to FEEL forgiven. My feelings are not important, my obedience, however, is. God supplies the forgiveness. If you don't take anything away from this blog today, please take this "Forgiveness is our greatest need and God's greatest gift." [this is from Girlfriends in God devotion today.]

I choose this day to live life with abandon and accept God at his word. I am jumping off the tread mill, and not telling God any more, "This is me being careful, God", instead " This is me choosing to accept your forgiveness God and living with abandon."

Care to join me?

I'm Losing my Appetite!

I just love the way my, just a day ago, 6 year old granddaughter has a way with words. She is now in Kindergarten and when she and her sister come home from school they are hungry. [School and all that work you know!]
My daughter picks them up from her job. They always race into the house. They go UP the stairs and get ready for their after school snack. My daughter made the mistake of coming  DOWN the stairs to check on me. [just had surgery last week] We were talking about our day when I hear this voice that is not very happy we are talking, tell her mom, " I'm losing my appetite.". I had to send my daughter UP the stairs to make sure that little girl didn't "lose her appetite." I was giggling and smiling all the way to bed. What a trip!

As I was doing my Bible study today in Luke 8:40-48 I started to think of people that were "losing their appetite" with Jesus. They had been waiting for him to return on his boat trip across the lake. There were so many people there that it says they almost crushed him. What had whet their appetite? Were they looking for that healing touch that he had done in so many towns before? Did they want him to personally touch them for something specific? All the crush and shove and he is asking about someone touching him. He is kidding right? It had to be like a rock concert at the entry way. Then he stops to talk to a WOMAN! Come on Jesus "I'm losing my appetite here".

Is this the way we approach Jesus? We have a need, job, financial, sickness, [put that need of yours here] and we start the crush. We need an answer right now and if not do we "lose our appetite"? Do we start to doubt? Do we decide we need to take care of things ourselves?

We need to remember what 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

God is making sure you have all you need so you don't "lose  your appetite". Keep your eyes on Him and not your situation, He is more than able. He adores you.

Just One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days? The Internet is flat line, your brain just won't kick in, your fingers have forgotten where the keys on your laptop reside. Do you just want to scream and throw things. This is how my day is going. I thought I knew what I wanted to write about here but with all this above happening I have completely forgotten.

Oh, yes it is to encourage others. Perhaps I am the one that needs the encouragement!

I turn to God's word and there is encouragement. Psalm :46:10 tells me to be still and know that He is God. Trying to g.t still.[knowing everyone else has already posted to Holley's blog] O,k not quite there yet.

Psalm 37:7 tells me to "Be still. Be patient.[doesn't God know I am way behind?] Wait for the Lord to act. Don't be upset when other people succeed. Are you talking about being the last to post Lord? {just so you know I just lost everything and am starting over.]

Have you ever been here? Were you frustrated to your last nerve? God is saying "Be still." I know we find that almost impossible. Our minds are running into tomorrow and beyond. But if you can just close you eyes and listen he is talking to you. Be still my daughter, it will all be there is a few more minutes. Take a deep breath and breathe me in. I am your rock, I am your shield, I am your Savior, I am the Good Shepherd, what more do you need.

Can you feel your shoulders relax? Do you feel your heart rate slowing down? Is what you are doing earth shattering? I thought so.

God never leaves you even on days like today, when all seems to go haywire. He is still in control and wants  you to lean in and allow him to still you and feel his love.

I am going to go and just be still. Looks like I do have a post after all. Let God be your Rock and Shield today.

CHOSEN

I want so much for you to hear this today and to take it in and make it your own. I am so excited to finally have this in my heart I just want everyone to know this truth.

Have you ever been chosen first for something. Maybe it was to be picked in school to be on the winning team. Maybe you ran for some position in High School and you were selected by your peers to represent them. Perhaps you were chosen for the choice job at work. CHOSEN, makes you feel good doesn't it? Makes you feel very special.

Do you know if you are a  Christ follower, God, the Creator of all, has CHOSEN you. You may have thought that you made a decision to choose God but He was the one that chose you before you were even here on earth!

If you go to Romans 9:10-12 it makes this so plain. I have looked it up in so many translations and they all tell you the same thing, God CHOSE you before you were here on this earth. It doesn't have anything to do with what you have done, who you have become, how terrible you were or how good you were. God chose you and he has a plan that he designed just for you.

Does that make you feel wanted? Special? Take your breath away! Chosen by the King of kings. A special direction to go, a job to do that only you can do, words spoken at a time when they are needed.

Why would we want to look like someone else, or be different than who God made us to be. They have their own road to travel. You on the other hand are traveling a path with God walking along side by side. He is never going to leave you or say you need to be like someone else. He takes delight in YOU and He, {the Creator of all, the mighty Warrior] sings over you!

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Are you seeing this? Do you see just how wonderful you are? God's word is true. God is rejoicing over YOU. 

What a glorious way to start the day knowing your were CHOSEN for the most important thing, to be a child of God. 

Whose Plan are you on?

We went on a vacation recently and I am the navigator, you know the person that tells you to turn here or make a right at the stop sign. I need to stop a moment and tell you I have developed cataracts that need to be removed. [Now for those of you that don't know what this means let me tell you. I can't see very well and what I do see is not what is. Example: I tell my husband look at the elk! Come to find out it is a big rock.] Life is so exciting when things aren't as they seem.

Back to my story. I was so worried that I couldn't see the map to give correct directions that I got on my trusty computer and went to Google Maps and had them plot the course then I made the print GIANT size, so no mistakes or wrong turns.

The only problem was I had printed round trip which had a few extra pages, and without my seeing eye dog I got them a little mixed up. So I told my husband, as we were leaving it would take us about 5 hours to go in the direction we had chosen. Wow, he said that sure seems like a long way, something doesn't seem quite right. I was sure, as I had made the computer follow the plan I had laid our for it. But just let me double check, [I have been known to make a mistake now and again, more again than now]

As we are traveling toward out destination I realize that I had been looking at the round trip with the pages a little askew. I made the adjustments and realized it would take us about 2 hours to get where we wanted to go. Disaster avoided and vacation was a blast.

I seem to have the same direction challenge in life as I do on the road. I have been following some one else's path. Thinking my friends have wonderful grown adult children, their life seems to be in total control and running along so smoothly, so mine should follow theirs.Except mine has been turbulent, ups and downs that would challenge any roller coaster for supremacy. So I  must ramp it up and work harder or something.

As I was moaning my whoa's to God I got very quite and you know what? God didn't tell me I needed to work harder. He didn't tell me to get my act together. He didn't tell me everything would be rosy.

No, as I was quietly listening for that still small voice, This is what God spoke to my heart, "That's not the plan I have for you!"

As I replayed those words over and over in my head such freedom and peace enveloped me. I didn't have to strive to MAKE my adult children anything. I didn't have to be the perfect person that see,s to have it all together. {one look and that little secret is out.} No, I was the navigator of my life  and I had the plan but you see I was looking at the wrong plan and with cataracts. No, the author of my life had the plan. He knows the way. I had gone on my own seeing things not as they were but what I thought they should be.

My friends may have perfect children, but their testimony  is different than mine. There are some people out there that need the words of instruction my friends have and need to share.
There are also people out there that need to hear how to continue loving and praising God through the mistakes, wrong turns, and traveling with the wrong direction.

God has a plan for each of us, our very own plan. Don't look at your friends and neighbors and want the plan or route they are on. God says in Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for YOU," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper YOU and not to harm YOU, plans to give YOU hope and a future." [Caps. mine]

WOW just think about that for a bit, God has a special plan he has drawn up just for YOU! Let that free you.Happy traveling.

Smell my Shoes

I don't know if where you live is like here, but all the stores are shouting "Back to School" At this time of year it seems to have a buzz from the children every where. It is almost like Christmas. [almost]

Being a retired school teacher this was always an exciting time for me also. To get my class room set up and ready for all the excited and expectant faces for their new grade and new year of learning.

There are new clothes to buy. And oh those lovely school supplies. Just to touch the paper and the notebooks. To find that "just right" pencil or pen. Markers of every color and backpacks with every imaginable design on it that just beg to be handled and purchased.

My one grandchild starts school for the first time this year. She is a quiet excited. She doesn't talk much about it unless you ask her and she give you the desired response. Yes I am excited Nana.

We live in an area where the big box stores are over 2 hours away so shopping on line or Walmart are the only options. Her mom is an online shopper so yesterday some of her school clothes arrived, her shoes to be exact. She came into my study and proudly wanted me to see her 2 new pairs of shoes so she had one of each on her feet. Then she instructed me to smell them because they smelled so good! I smelled nothing but she was sure they smelled good so they would be ready for that first day at school.

After we leave school for the world of work do we still see each new year with such expectation and excitement? For that matter do we greet each new day with the wonder before us. Sometimes I do sometimes I don't. {you too?} Sometimes the reside of yesterday is still left over and it doesn't "smell" so good or feel good for that matter.

Our heavenly Father has planned a wonderful and exciting day and sometimes we miss it. In Lamentations 3:22-23 it says this:

"Because of the LORD"S great love we are not consumed, 

for his compassions never fail.

They are NEW every morning,

Great is your faithfulness.

God's compassion is new every morning. Let's not miss it. We need to thank him each day and get excited {just like it is the first day of school}. Wake up and just take in the beauty he has planned for your day. Give him thanks. Smell the shoes, or just take a big breath of the fresh air! God loves you, he adores you.

Yip Yip Yahoo

Have you ever had a time  in your life where it seems so out of whack that you just want to sit in a dark room and moan to the ceiling how unhappy you are? I have been suffering from this malady for that last few days. [not where I want to be. You either?]

Let me share with you what the Lord shared with me this morning. It will set you in the Son and you will want to just thank God for knowing you so very well.

I was privileged to watch a young woman that I have come to know and love share of Facebook, "Who she is." She started out saying who she wasn't. She is not her weight, or he height, or her face without or with make up . . . then she said who she was. {all to be found in God's word.] She is a princess, a lioness, a child of God. . .  so many more beautiful description of just who God has created her to be. It lifted my eyes from the ceiling and placed them where they should have been all along, on God.

I think sometimes I need to be reminded how great God's love for me really is and how He sees me and all the things that are going on in my life. Do you find yourself in the same place? Let me share just some of the wonderful things God thinks and knows about you!

God has so many wonderful thoughts about you they are more than the grains of sand! Psalm 139:17-18
God DELIGHTS in you. 2 Samuel 22:20
God is your safety. Psalm 16:9
God is always by your side. Acts 2:25
God is your hiding place and your protection Psalm 32:7
God frees you from all your fears. Psalm 34:4
God is with you where ever you go. Joshua 1:9
God has inscribed you on the palm of His hands. Isaiah 49:16
God listens to you. Jeremiah 29:12
God has plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11
NOTHING can ever separate you from God! Romans 8:35-39
God keeps all the above and every promise He has made to you. 1 Kings 8:56

Do your get the idea that God is crazy about you? If you need more proof the Bible is full of His promises to you and to me. How can I not shout Yip Yip Yahoo? [today's version of Hallelujah}Perhaps you would like to share with me some of the promises that get you going or shouting Yip Yip Yahoo, I would love to hear them and shout with you.