Can you smile?

Life is not all peaches and cream.  I'm sure I'd hear a few amen's on that! Though, I do think we choose to handle life's decisions, negative situations or difficulties, differently.   I personally prefer to fix things or at least, adjust my viewpoint to see things from a 'God-like' perspective in order to gain a working response to life's up's and down's.  Admittedly, it does make me sad to undergo difficult seasons when things are not changing for the better.  I would, instead, prefer more palatable events. 

For instance,  a good example to help clarify this might be to use a person who's living with cancer.  How does one make the best of that situation? For some reason, I don't see that person literally 'jumping for joy' bearing the weight of this disease! At best, a man or woman who lives daily in pain and dependent upon others for help, who would determine to live joyfully in this situation,  would have to resign to the fact that (1)  I am dying. (But then again, we all are, albeit at different rates of speed) (2)  There is no cure. (3)  God has a purpose in it.  (4)  My joy comes simply from knowing Him. (5) I will rejoice (in Him!) 

What about the outward evidence for the joy we have on the inside?  Should an outward smile determine the level of joy one has on the inside?  The joy of the Lord is our STRENGTH. If, in fact, it is. The joy of knowing Him will provide the strength to endure struggles...The smile quite possibly, or may very well be an irrelevant determining factor when bearing the pain of our affliction. But when our focus is on the Lord, that makes a smile's probability more possible!

I do not want to compare 'candy-coated' religion to a joy-filled relationship with the Lord.  I see no real fortitude in that kind of religion.  Honestly, what makes Christianity, or better, the gospel attractive to anyone?  Is it that we simply put on that  'happy face'  to mask the pain our souls are truly bearing?  Or is it because we are filled with God's Spirit that we rejoice in our trials and difficulties?  Dear ones, it is knowing that we have all of heaven at our disposal to help us overcome!  The struggle and the pain are not all there is!  Oh, it may be all there is for this life, but definitely not in the one to come!  

So let's rejoice!  Not because of the circumstances necessarily, but because as a child of God, we are filled with His presence through the person of the Holy Spirit!  Who intercedes on your behalf...For this we can and very well, should be filled with joy!  So...smile!  ( Thoughts inspired in part by Romans 8)

No Time Like the Present

At times I read God's word for MILEAGE or the length of a passage. What can I say, I like to get the whole picture! There also are times when the Lord will lead me to read for the MESSAGE. I find that when I slow down and make an effort to try and grasp the intention of God's heart, I am always amazed at His love, mercy, grace, justice, and faithfulness etc., etc., etc.

But, whether I've read for the MILEAGE or more for the MESSAGE, I've always been glad I did! His word has a way of inspiring me to desire His will and to say along with the Psalmist:

" I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

Read The Book, enjoy the goodness of the Lord today! Don't miss out on getting to know Him more by waiting for the movie!

Too Soon Old, Too Late Wise

I recently ran across an old adage that says,

                       "Too soon old, too late wise"

As I pondered this saying, I thought the person who came up with it surely must've shared it from the stand point of looking back over his own life.  But I think he missed out on knowing the One who surely would've given him more hope than what he attested to!

Listen, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you." ~ Proverbs 9:10,11

I know we could look back on many a decision made and have 20/20 vision, but lets not leave out the purpose God may have had in the process of learning---one being that, He's in control and has your best interest at heart.

Preface this all by saying that, the earlier we seek Him, the better.  Not to imply that life will be any easier per se, but why go it alone when He's stands ready to intercede on our behalf??

Loving One Another

Having a reputation for being a godly man in his personal and public life, I wonder if Abe Lincoln was onto something much deeper when he said these words,

          " I don't like that man. I must get to know him better."

Would it be advantageous to us as believer's to grow or mature to the point where we could say the same about an individual that kinda 'rubs us the wrong way'??  Even if it's only praying for him or her, the real change may very well occur within our own hearts.

As a side note, I do recall somewhere in the recesses of my mind,  that "the One (Jesus Christ) who loves us most, KNOWS US best!" I am amazed at this kind of love on a regular basis.

Although I don't believe His mercy can be replicated perfectly through our efforts toward one another, we can try?!

("And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all..."  1 Thessalonians 3:12a)

He Loves Me, Yes He Does!

Every petal plucked from the daisies in God's garden say, "He loves me, He loves me lots!"
If you are not hearing these words, you my friend, are in the wrong garden! Romans 8:39b tells me that--"no created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Once we've allowed the love of God, through Jesus Christ, to fill our hearts, why would we ever begin to doubt or question that love from time and time?  Rather, be comforted! He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Instead, pluck those weeds of doubt.  Irradicate  those tares of deception that secretly try to take up residence in our thoughts during a vulnerable moment.  For when these intruders are left to fester, the beauty of His love is overshadowed and choked from our field of vision. 

Be vigilant in tending to the garden of your heart and mind with all diligence.  Remember to be watered  regularly with the truths from God's word. It will take hard work, determination and a lot of sweat to cultivate and weed out the lies that have crept in, but keep at it!  By sowing His words in the depths of our souls our confidence will be fortified, and our faith will never be so quickly undermined again!   

What Plans?

So I go to toast my bagel this morning in the toaster oven. When the bell rings to let me know it's finished, I reached in to a cold, lifeless bagel. Huh?! Now, I timed the toasting of the bagel perfectly for when the coffee would be at peak of flavor for consuming. Me not happy. What to do, what to do??


Early morning improvision is not my forte, especially when my tummy is growling! Well, after a minute and a glance heavenward, I decided to crank up the oven and do you know what? SUCCESS!! One PERFECTLY crunchy bagel!! I hurried to top my morning surprise with cream cheese and toasted sesame seeds to enjoy with the coffee. Me very happy again!!~

This is just one whimsical story to illustrate how that when God closes a door, He may very well open a window!! His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). So stay close to His side, that way when He decides to change up the plans we've made, keep trusting! He's working out a far greater plan than we ever could devise on our own!

A Broken Trust = Opportunity For Growth

One human characteristic that is taken for granted most often and yet depended upon much is, TRUST. 

We only will call upon 'trusted' friends for advice, a 'trusted' doctor for an ailment, and a 'trustworthy' mechanic (I know one--message me!!) for our car repairs. Even when selecting a park bench to rest on, would we choose one that looks rickety? I should say, probably not.

But let that trust, faith or confidence be fragmented or fractured in some way, and so begins the breakdown of a once good relationship. At best, not what it was before the offense.

The times we experience the disappointment of a broken trust in relationships dear to us, we are actually given the opportunity to see the UNCHANGEABLE trustworthiness of God! (Heb. 13:8)
When we see the imperfections of our humanity in ourselves and in others, we too are given the opportunity to exercise FORGIVENESS. Yes, it's a sacrificial kind of love. Easy? Not really. Essential? Yeah!

♥ ♥ Be encouraged today, there is purpose in ALL the struggles on our way to becoming more like Him! No, we won't be perfect (and neither will the other person) until we reach heaven, but we've got the most compassionate and understanding example and all the help necessary to mend what has been broken...it's found in the person of Jesus Christ! (Rom. 8:28,29)

Pressing on in His name!

My Gifts From God

Many but not all women have had the privilege of bearing children.  To those who have, you know that this blessing is one that comes with tremendous responsibility.  From day one when we bring our little bundle of joy home from the hospital, we begin meeting their needs, 24/7.  Grateful are we for those family members and friends who at times provided us with a little time for rest and the regrouping of our faculties!

I personally have been granted the privilege of bringing five children, with the help of my husband, into this world.  Our children range in age from 20yrs all the way down to 8.  From the very beginning of our marriage, we agreed that if God did choose to give us children, that I would forego a career to become a full-time stay-at-home mom.  I basically never regretted the decision...although I had often wished that Calgon would've 'taken me away'! 

In all honesty, for the past 20yrs, I've considered it quite an honor to know that God had personally equipped me to be at home with my children. Yet, as the years continue to pass, it SEEMS as if the children don't want us as parents to be as much a part of their lives. We've seen the outworking of this more during their adolescent years. It's a good thing to see our kids making decisions for themselves and becoming the man or woman God intended, but we get a little anxious as we see the results of some of their choices.  

It is in those times of apparent rejection (no pun intended) that I've discovered prayer to be the only way to both calm all my fears and to still stay involved in their lives. I pray for them, their relationship with God, our parental relationship with them and whatever the present issue may be.

Our children are always in our hearts, our thoughts and quite frankly, they're existence is the motivation behind many of the decisions we make.  They are GIFTS given from the very hand of God! Let's not shrink from the challenge of raising children today, but instead rise to the occasion like Esther (from the Bible) did for her people. For such a time as this, Mom, let's stand in the gap for our kids!!