Obstacles

I sat in a Bible study  class recently that used Mark 16 as a way to start a discussion.  We were asked to read the passage, talk to the ones near us about what it said, then we were to have a class discussion.

It was a great ice breaker to begin meshing a room of women from all walks of life, backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles.  We were very diverse, having one thing in common....a searching for Jesus and studying the Bible to better know Him and what He has said to us.  

I encourage you to read that chapter too.  Maybe read it right now, before you read anything I have to say.....

Did you?  If not...why?

As I read this passage that morning, scripture recorded in our Bible once again pointed out something personal to me.  Obstacles.  Reasons I don’t....reasons I quit...

Reasons? Or excuses? 

In this passage, it’s all been done.  Jesus was born, He lived, He taught, He showed by example, and He was dead. 

The women in the narrative had set out to do what women did.  A man they loved was in a tomb, and the customary thing to do was to tend to the body as culture directed.  But there were some circumstances that were out of the ordinary.  

Obstacles. 

To be connected to this Jesus, of whom the Romans had just executed at the Jewish religious leaders request, was risky.  What if the Jewish bigwigs saw them?  What if the Romans continued to kill Jesus’ followers?  They could be next!

Only these three women braved it, the other followers stayed behind, mourning and weeping. (Mark 16:10 NIV)

The first obstacle they pushed past was their fear.  Yet on the walk to the tomb, they thought of another obstacle. The stone.  “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3)

I’m sure the enemy was in overdrive, he thought he was  victorious when Jesus was dead.  Certainly he wanted Jesus’ dead body to rot in that grave.   But that devil was defeated, and the world would see the evidence of it. 

But if he could just convince these women that the obstacles were too great......

I’m afraid the fear of the Romans would have kept me with the others, crying into my tea glass.  And even if I had started out toward the tomb, remembering that big stone would have just reminded me it was no use walking all that way. Go back and have another glass of self-pity tea and weep a little louder. 

Obstacles. 

I wonder how many times I have assumed there to be an unsurmountable obstacle, when God would have moved it.   Maybe He already had, and I just didn’t know it. 

These women had an incredible experience at that empty tomb.  I have no doubt that in hindsight, they were so glad they didn’t let obstacles hinder them from the experience!  

I haven’t seen the empty tomb. But I’ve seen what can happen because He was not contained in the grave. Death is no longer the final word.  

Hallelujah. 

Do You Know My Jesus?

There have been two very visible examples of God answering my prayers in recent years. 

Jet was two years old when he picked up a loaded pistol off of a low table while in someone's home.
Blake was on his way to work when a car topped a hill in his lane.

Both of them were critically injured.  Both of them given little chance of survival, and even if they lived the outlook was grim. 


But God...



As I woke up in the middle of the night tonight, with some things heavy on my heart, a melody came to me...

Do you know....my Jesus?
Do you know...my Friend?

Beyond any doubt, there is someone reading this that does not.  Is it you?

The words continue...

Have you heard...He loves you?
And that He will abide til the end?


 "The Light shines in the darkness..." (John 1:5 NASB)

The gospel of John will introduce you to Jesus.  As you begin to grasp all the truth of Who Jesus is, you will come face to face with who you are. And it won't be pretty.  My furniture looks dustless until a light is turned on.  The brighter the light, the more dirt shows up.


Just as law points out our sin, it points out our need of help.  We can't fix what is wrong.  We can't achieve perfection. We see Jesus being just that.  Perfect. Without flaw. 

Yet, we can not un-do what shouldn't have been done. We know the 'Thou shalt not' list and realize we have violated the list.

Jesus never violated the list.  And He has given us His record to claim as our own.   Law defines our need, Jesus fills our need. 

Will you claim it?  Will you accept it?  Or do you insist on continuing to try to fix things yourself? 




In the beginning, God said  "Let there be light"; and there was light." (Genesis 1:3 NASB)

Still, He is the One Who can make light appear out of darkness. 
Still, "God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much,  the Son who got us out of the pit we were in." (Colossians 1:13-14 from The Message)

Do you know my Jesus?

If you don't, let John introduce you to Him.  He knew Him personally, walked with Him, ate with Him, talked with Him, watched Him interact with people, listened to Him teach... 

Do you know my Jesus? 

If you don't, let me also introduce you. 

He has answered prayers in very visible ways in recent years.  Most of my prayers are private.  Many I still wait to have answered.  But I know this...He is willing.


Are you?

Update on Blake
September 8, 2019

Blake's 86 year old grandfather, my daddy, was with me in our home for a couple nights last week. When Blake was so gravely injured and still in Texarkana, I had my daddy one day and asked him if he wanted to go see Blake. 

He told me that day he didn't think he could do it, but he was afraid if he didn't go, he would never see Blake again.  He did want to see him, and he didn't. He didn't want to see him like he was.  He was afraid to go, and afraid not to.

I told daddy about how serious Blake's injury was.  I told him there were some very bad possibilities, and I told daddy we must pray hard and trust God.  I know daddy struggled in his thoughts, fearful, and saddened.

We have shown him pictures, and told him about Blake's progress.  I'm sure he has even been shown some video clips on someone's phone.  But, Saturday morning as I sat with him at my dinner table having breakfast, I sat my iPad up in front of him and gave Kati a FaceTime call. 

I didn't tell him, I just let the picture come on on that iPad of Blake's face.  Daddy was so surprised. 

Kati flipped the camera around and scooted about 15 feet back so we could watch as Blake stood up out of the wheelchair he was sitting in, walked quite steadily towards the camera, stopped and turned to hold onto the bannister of a bridge they were standing on, leaned over and looked around, turned back to the camera and spoke and waved, then walked back and seated himself in that wheel chair.

My daddy was thrilled. 


The rehab facility takes the patients on an outing every week.  They call it recreational therapy, and it is such a wonderful part of what they do for patients.  Living life, not just being a patient. 

Saturday, they were at a Botanical Garden in Atlanta.  Blake began telling us about how beautiful it was, that he had never seen anything like it.  He said there were plants that had been made to look like figures and shaped beautifully.  He sent me pictures, (on his own phone!) and Kati sent me more.

It was indeed a spectacular place, I can only imagine how much more beautiful and awesome to be there in person. 

I thought about how my shrubs have gotten overgrown and out of hand.  Seeing these beautiful shapes and knowing how much work is involved in keeping the ones trimmed just around my house, I know there are hours spent on trimming these beautiful things, carefully, meticulously, not over cutting, not failing to trim off what needs to be cut....  Hours of work!

Pruning requires the right tool.  Use the wrong one, you do damage.
Pruning improves not just the looks, but the strength and health of the plant.
Pruning produces new growth.

There are SO many lessons to learn, just from looking at the beauty that is a result of careful pruning.  Pray we all will be submitted and open to God's pruning in our lives like that!  Even when it might hurt.  But the pruning produces such beautiful results.




Tuesday, Blake and Kati will move into a residence that the Shepherd Center has for patients who do not live in Atlanta, and who no longer need in-hospital care.  This is a huge step, and we are so thankful.  Praise God for the multitude of prayers answered.  Every single prayer has been granted. 

This move will mean Blake will discover and face whatever challenges are presented in life at home.  There will be no nurse call button.  Kati will of course be with him, and the two of them will begin to work those things out. 

Pray for patience with each other, as there will surely be some challenges.  Pray for humor.  I ask God to give them both laughter as each struggle is faced. 

Praise God these struggles to come are not life threatening, we praise God for seeing Blake thru those.  Pray that both Blake and Kati will not lose sight of from where they have come.  Life may very well be different from this day forward, but it is LIFE, and it is to be lived WELL.  Far more so than even I had hoped or imagined.  But, that's our God.... "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3:20 NASB)

How I praise Him tonight that He has granted more than I expected.  I pray He will work in spiritual ways just as magnificently!  Aunt Connie has had her faith muscles stretched yet again, some pruning done, and hopefully, some beautiful new growth will be a result.  May He do that for each of us as we say "Yes, Lord" and submit to Him.

He is always, and only...good.

Hallelujah. 

Glory

I often use the word 'glory'.  It is a very complex word, one used in scripture a great deal to describe our Creator God.

I had a wrong idea about it at one time.  I wondered....why does God need to be glorified?  Is He some super-duper egomaniac, needing His ego stroked? 

It is hard to wrap my finite mind around an infinite God in all His glory.  It is a bit like describing beauty.  How do you do that except point out something that is full of beauty? 

That is my way of thinking about the glory of God.  When I can visibly see and witness the working of His divine nature, I have seen glory in a very small way.  When I can participate with Him in displaying His beauty, be an instrument in His Hand in some small way...that is when I am glorifying God. 

God has no ego that needs to be stroked.  He doesn't need me to do or say anything that can make Him bigger or better.  He doesn't instruct me to glorify Him for His sake....He instructs me to glorify Him for someone else's sake.  We are to glorify Him so that mankind around us will know Him. 


The enemy uses the same tactic over and over to attack and prevent me from doing just that.  He succeeds more times than I care to admit.  My writing is one of the things He attacks.

"Well....aren't you special?"
"Look at how many people are interested in what you have to say."

Just as satan did when he tempted our Lord Jesus, He does with me.  And I am no Jesus....but it is my purpose to keep my heart focused on bringing Him honor and glory, not myself. 



I began journaling years ago, I moved to a blog, and even self-published some of my writing in a book. I am not ashamed of them, but I guard against being caught up in satan's temptation to be prideful. 


I am nothing special.  Except that Jesus has cleansed me and placed His Spirit within me. It may not be as visible as someone else's shortcomings, but I fail Him miserably. 

Often.

When you see or hear me say "Glory!", it is just my way of pointing to something visible that has God's beautiful Fingerprints all over it. 

He is so good.  Always, and only.  Good. 

Hallelujah.

Apology

I need to apologize.  I can’t remember the names of all the people I need to apologize to, but there are a lot.  Some of them, I probably didn’t even know their names in the first place.

There has been a lot of time passed since the offenses occurred. Years in fact. The offenses are stacked up and have been forgotten.

Until that still small Voice reminded me of them today.

You see, I have become what, at one time, I would have been impatient with, annoyed at, and critical of.

When I was younger, I expected those who were older, ( about the age I am now), to have it all together.  They should have life experiences that made them wise.  They should be able to deal with life’s problems and bring about quick solutions. I found little excuse for people who let things be, who didn’t butt heads with error.

A quick mind and sure memory were things I thought little about, it was natural to me. WAS being the key word.

I am not as old as Methuselah, but I am not young anymore either. I notice that I no longer have the capacities to multitask.  I don’t recall information quickly.  I dont recall details, and I am apt to forget absolutely any thing and any one.  I am quite sure I probably repeat myself, ask the same questions, and tell the same stories.


Ugh.

So I apologize. To whomever I once patronized for being slow to learn something new.

 I apologize to those who missed the turn on the highway.  To the ones who didn’t see that the light had turned green, and the ones who were watching traffic around them and were too slow to get thru the intersection before the light turned red.

I regret my impatience with drivers who couldn’t figure out which lane they needed to be in, even in spite of the painted arrows on the highway.

I apologize to the shoppers in line in front of me who waited until the checker was completely finished before they thought to dig out their check, cash, or card.

I regret my disdain when older people told me the tales of their youth and I was uninterested and bored at having to hear the same story again.

I am sorry that I may have left some older person out of the loop, too busy to be bothered or slowed down.

I wonder how many hurt feelings I have left behind, how many time I have assumed all was well, when in fact it was not. I wonder how many times I sped thru the hours of my day and looked right past people who mattered more than I gave them credit.

I know now how that feels.

At this point, it is me who is missing their turn and having to make the block and go back.  I am the one forgetting how often I have told you that story.  I am the one that has to have everything I need to remember written down.  I am the one that would appreciate being shown that they have value and worth.    Not an ego boost, but simply acknowledged.     Not pampered, but not ignored and overlooked.

Dirt Collector

We were given a little robot vacuum cleaner for Christmas.  It is a very small little round thing that passes over the floors to clean them.  It runs on a rechargeable battery, has some sort of GPS type programming that will direct it back to the charging station when the battery gets low.  Kinda spooky really...

I was gracious when we received the little dirt collecting gift.  But honestly, I was not expecting to enjoy the thing.  I didn't expect it to do much.  I mean, how much dirt can a battery operated, self-propelled vacuum cleaner collect?

You would be shocked.  I was.

I came home from work one day and Rosie was doing her thing.  (Remember The Jetson's? And their Rosie the robot maid?)  We were sitting in the living room on another night and I heard a sound...Yep, it was Rosie.  She was coming down the hall.  It is a little creeply, but we are getting used to it. 

Rosie has a small compartment that catches what she picks up off our floors.  When she makes her pass thru our house, that little compartment is packed full of dust, lint, and little bits of trash.  Every time it is packed full, from one day to the next.  And there are only two people and a small poodle in this house! And the two people are gone all day 5 days of the week!

We are clean, grown adults.  The dog is old, does't shed, and sleeps all day long.  Where in the world does this all the dirt come from?!?

I keep expecting Rosie to do her job and the compartment to be empty.  No.  It is full.

Every. Single. Time.

There is always some dirt to collect isn't there?  If you go to all the corners, look closely at the beaten paths, you will find some dirt. 

I kinda liked it when I didn't know it was there.  Now that I do, I want Rosie to do her thing every day. 





The Lord has used this little dirt collecting machine to illustrate several things to me. 

People too can find dirt.  I can find dirt. Persistence and close scrutiny will reveal plenty of it.

It won't take much scrutiny for you to see it in me, and I can easily find it in you.  None of us are without flaw, we all have dirt in our lives.  We all have those dusty corners and paths we tread daily, paths where we drop little bits of our unclean words or unkind and un-Christlike behavior.

The Holy Spirit can certainly find dirt.  In my life, in my behavior, in my attitudes, in every nook and corner, it is there and He can pull it out of the hiding places.  All I must do is allow Him to roam around my heart and mind like Rosie roams my house. 

I purpose that I do not attempt to hide the filth. I want to be clean.  And to be clean, it must be a continual process.

I purpose to attend to my own house. It is not my responsibility to collect the dirt in yours. And even if you are inspecting mine, I purpose to be confident that God has got me in His hand.  Your scrutiny can not negate what His cleansing power accomplishes.

But I can. By my own rebellion and disobedience. 


Lord God, help me to leave the dirt collecting to you.  And while you are at it, help all of us do the same. 






" Keep your behavior excellent .... so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12 NASB)


" Be careful how you behave among your unsaved neighbors; for then, even if they are suspicious of you and talk against you, they will end up praising God for your good works when Christ returns" (1 Peter 2:12 The Living Bible)

Ring Tones

I have ring tones on my phone for certain callers. One of them is the lyrics of a song, "I've got a lot of things to say, and you'd be wise to listen good."

It is true. 

Sometimes.  Other times, it might be wise to ignore my opinions.



I have an opinion about everything.  We all do.  Some of us are quicker than others about sharing them. Some of us think more highly of our opinions than we might ought to. Some of our opinions are tainted by factors that may or may not be what is God's truth.

I would like to say my opinion is always based on His truth.  I am quite sure it too is sometimes twisted.  The enemy has the capacity to use all sorts of things to put his twist on God's truth, using it to tear down. I wish I could say his tactics always fail, I wish his assaults never succeed.  I wish.

I WANT to be compliant to Him in all things. It is a struggle. 



Every time that certain ring tone sound comes from my phone, I purpose it to be a reminder for me to "...be wise to listen good."  Not to opinions of other people, but to the only opinion that matters.  My Creator.



In a salon filled with gals often much younger than I am, it becomes increasingly important that my opinions are based on truth.  God's truth, not my own version.  I do have a lot of things to say.  Yet sometimes, the wise one should be me.... keeping quiet.

As Paul told Timothy: "Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people.

Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. 

Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.   Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. ..."

(2 Timothy 2:14-16 from The Message)



Father God, You do have a lot of things to say.  And I certainly would be wise to listen good.  Remind me of that truth BEFORE I open my mouth to share what might not need to be said, but lived out. 

Slippery

I remember a lot of sermons about some slope that was slippery.  I didn't pay a lot of attention to it in my youth, after all, young people seem to be very confident in their own judgments.  I didn't see how Elvis's shaking leg was such a big deal. Elvis's style of dancing is certainly not shocking today.

I knew drunkenness was listed in the Bible as a sin, but drinking a can of beer wasn't drunkenness, but doing so was supposedly an act committed on the edge of the slippery slope. 

As I have grown older, my perspective has changed some.  I see the tiny compromises made in the culture around me as time has passed, and I see the huge effects that have come about. 

Once, it was not ok to have sex outside marriage.  (Now, don't call me judgmental, argue with God about it.  He is the One who set the marriage thing up.  It was His design and intent, not mine.) Today, I daresay it is almost expected that couples have sexual relationships, married or not. 

What my Sunday School teachers called petting may very well have been only a few steps away from that dreadful slope. 

In my lifetime, I have personally known young woman who had abortions.  It was a deep dark secret they kept.  Today, it is a topic of conversation and open consideration at the onset of most any unplanned pregnancy.

 Again, don't accuse me of  'judging'... God is the Creator of life, and life begins in the womb.  "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.." (Jeremiah 1:5 NASB)

Today's news truly is shocking to me, even after I look back and see all the many tiny steps it took to get here, killing a full term baby is horrendous.  However hideous it is, it is not a new thing.  It is thought that several civilizations have made child sacrifices.  Even Solomon, the wise son of David, fell into wrong thinking and behavior as he was influenced by ungodly wives he had chosen. 

"Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done.  Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon.
Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods." (1 Kings 11:6-8 NASB)

Molech was a god to whom children were burned in sacrifice. We don't claim a Molech.  We call it different things. I could list dozens, but they all boil down to one thing.  Self. 

I'm not ready...
I can't afford...
I don't want...
The father is...

Me. Me. Me.

All the while, there are hundreds of good solid couples who would love to have the child who interferes with a life as planned. 





Back to the slippery slope....where will this thinking end?  Are we standing just steps away from a slope that will decide for me when my life will be snuffed out?  If I become old and sick, will my choices be overridden by the 'me' society that has decided for millions of babies?  Will that mindset find my life of similar low value? 

Ugh.  God help us. 

Unmet Challenge

For several years, I have issued a challenge to be purposefully thankful for one thing, every day beginning November 1, thru Thanksgiving Day. 

I have failed to meet my own challenge this year. Because of health issues, and feeling bad, I have failed. 

This morning, I remember the challenges of scripture.



 "... let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds..."  (Hebrews 10:24 NAS77)
"...do not grow weary of doing good." (2 Thes. 3:13 NASB)
"...making the most of the opportunity.  Let your speech always be with grace..." (Colossians 4:5-6 NASB)


I could list hundreds.


I don't meet all those challenges either.  I fail miserably.

I am oh so very thankful for the grace God has given me, grace that makes up for my being absolutely powerless to meet all the challenges. 

I had a desire to take the time to count my blessings each day, and be purposeful in articulating that in writing. I failed.

I have the desire to live a perfect and holy life. 

I fail more miserably at that. 


Thank You Jesus that you have never failed. 

"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." (Words of Jesus as recorded in John 16:33 NASB)

Communication

Thankful Challenge Day #11

I am thankful for communication.

Looking back on my life, it is amazing how communications have changed. 

There was a lady who lived on one corner of our block who made coffee every afternoon and invited all the woman in the neighborhood to come sit in her kitchen and share a cup of coffee and conversation.  When she had things prepared, she opened her back door and in this singing sort of yell, called out "Cawwwwwfeeeeeeee!!"   In a few minutes, women from all over the neighborhood were walking to her house. 

Communication.  The coffee was ready. but the coffee was just an excuse to have a small hen party and communicate about life. 

When I was a teenager, citizens band radios were found in a majority of vehicles. 

"Breaker, breaker 19...what's the smokey report?"
"Skip-land, skip-land...."

CB radio communication, whether local, or radio waves skipping across continents, was a way of communicating. 

Telephones have dramatically changed.  When I was a kid, we shared a phone line with most everyone on the block.  Not everyone had a telephone, and only wealthy people had one they didn't share with others.  (The conversation over coffee at the neighbor's house was made rich with everyone wanting to know more about what they did NOT get to hear while they were eavesdropping on the phone....like everyone didn't know they had been listening!!)

Telephone now are almost attached to our hands.  Well, mine is now strapped around my wrist, so....

We all have our own little device, a telephone and tiny computer that will do all sorts of things.  Need directions?  Or information? Or weather report? You got it.

It seems the more communication we have, the less we are able to communicate in some ways. People text from the other room rather than speak face to face.  Voice inflection is absent, often leaving words open for interpretation.

But still, I am thankful for communication.  When the miles separate us, we can look at each other's face and hear their voice.  IF we just choose to do so. 

On this Veteran's Day weekend, I think about what that would have meant to family.  It would be priceless to me.


I am most thankful for the communication we are offered to participate in with God.  Scripture calls it prayer. 

As in all true communication, it's not a one way street.  We are encouraged and invited to speak with our Creator God.  But prayer is not a dictating to God what we want.  It is a conversation that includes listening, and very often waiting. 

On the receiving, listening end of our prayers, if we are honest with ourselves before God, we may find out some things about our requests that need altering.  We may be praying with the wrong motive.  "....asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way. You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way."(James 4:3-4 from The Message)

Of all the little I have learned about praying to my Creator God, I am thankful that I can tell Him like it is with me, not trying to fake it til I make it, or hide behind my own fig leaves.  I am encouraged to "...be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6 NASB)

Yes.  I am thankful for all the methods of communication available to us.  Writing this kind of post, cell phones, video calls, old fashioned cards and letters, mass media, news outlets, and on and on...

But I am most thankful for the opened curtain that allows me to step into the throne room of God, and pour out my concerns, my hurts, my hopes, my regrets, and a thousand other things He listens to me about.  Over and over. 

Thank You Lord Jesus for listening.  And caring. And answering.

In your own time, in your own way.  It is always best. 

Change

Thankful Challenge Day #10

I am thankful for change. 

But change is often very hard.  In fact, if I am completely honest, I don't always like it.  I don't like a new computer,  I don't like stores to move stuff around, (even though I do the same thing in my little store.  It's called marketing but it's really just changing stuff). 

Some change I really love.  I like to change my hair, (And yours!)  I like to change my clothing style.  I like to change the furniture around. (My man hates that!)

I don't care for the time change, but I do like the change in routine that it forces. 

I am certainly thankful for the change that Jesus has made in my life.  Those changes are a continuing process.  "...the God who started this great work in me will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."(Philippians 1:6 from The Message personalized by me)


I am even more thankful that God NEVER changes.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)

Hallelujah.

Teacher

Thankful Challenge Day #8

I am thankful for teachers.

I had several school teachers who made an incredible impact on me.  I had some who could explain things so clearly, then some who made no sense at all to me (Algebra). 

I have had the privilege of being taught by some fantastic hairdressers.  As an adult well into my late 20s, I discovered how I learn best, and why sometimes I just don't get it.  Some of us learn by seeing, or doing, others by hearing.  I was being taught how to teach adult learners so I could teach them about haircolor and hair products.  It was a very valuable thing to learn about myself in the process.

I am thankful for some good Bible scholars, most especially those who can communicate simply yet thoroughly.  It does little good to be dazzled with information if one can't grasp it, apply it, and remember it!

I am thankful for those who have taught me by example, how to be a good friend. 
I am even thankful to those who have taught me lessons from negative examples.  Those are the things I rarely forget.  I never want to make those mistakes that caused me hurt. 

I am thankful for the teachers who speak from the pages of scripture. 

I am most thankful for the Teacher whose words are written in red in scripture, "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am."(John 13:13 NASB)  He was called Teacher 60 times in scripture.  He taught while He walked on earth, He teaches us today. 

And He charges US to teach.   ".... He said to them, Go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to all the creation." (Mark 16:15 NKJV)


I am thankful for teachers, and I want to be obedient to our good Teacher Jesus in teaching others about His good news. 

Patience

Thankful Challenge Day #7


I am thankful for patience.  I don't have as much as I would like, but I have more than I had in the past, and certainly have more than some folks.

I had to be on the interstate today, every time I have to drive in that sort of traffic I am stunned by the impatience of people.  Cars zip around, weave in and out, only to be 5 seconds ahead of me when we reach the exit ramp. 

My man and I aren't in a vehicle together often, but most every single time we are, our discussion goes to the what might be the reason for the delays we experience.  More than once I have witnessed accidents that I might have been involved in had I not had to stop at two red lights. 

I confess that I am not always patient behind the wheel, and certainly not patient in every situation that arises in my life.  Right now, I am impatient with my health.  I want my life back to normal. 

I have been impatient many times in a long line waiting to get checked out. I have been impatient in restaurants, wondering if they had to go catch my chicken and clean it before they could serve me. 

I am not a perfectly patient person, but I am sure more patient than years past. 

I am content to put the cruise on a few miles under the speed limit, and let them pass me.
I am content to stop at the red light, even the yellow, and let other traffic go their way.
I am content to let the person with only a few items be checked out before me and my full buggy.
And I am trying to be content to wait until this heart heals so I can resume my normal routines. 

I am thankful for patience. The patience of friends who listen to my struggle. The patience of the husband who checks on me and does an extra load of every day chores.

Above all else, I am thankful for the patience of God. "The Lord is .....patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)


God is patient, even in the face of our disobedience and rebellion. God didn't have to 'learn' patience... He IS patience.  Oh how thankful I am for His patience.

I purpose in my heart to allow Him access that He might develop HIS patience within ME. 

Truth

Thankful Challenge Day #6


I am thankful for truth.  Not my truth.  Not your truth.  Absolute truth, God's truth.

The more I read scripture, where God's absolute truth is revealed, the more lies and deception I see in the world around me.

All people have a version.  All people make compromises of God's absolute truth. 

God created marriage between a man and a woman.  Humans perverted it.
God created a beautiful perfect world.  Humans misuse it.
God created relationships to be harmonious.  Humans hurt each other.


This morning as I thought about all I have to be thankful for, I realized what I allowed into my mind the hour before....scrolling social media, pausing to watch videos. Families displaying their problems publicly, for money or fame, or whatever reason.  It is like window peeping into other people's living room.  Why should I want to see what causes them pain, or worse....why do I find humor in the suffering?  Why is it funny to me to see someone openly living a lifestyle that God condemns? 


I am not hating.  My focus is on me...not them.  I am examining my own heart this morning. 


And I find myself thankful today for God's truth.  I purpose in my own heart to keep His truth in forefront of my life, both in my actions and my attitudes.  I purpose that the enemy will not allow me to be desensitized to God's holy and perfect truth. 

It may not be politically correct.
It may not be socially accepted.

But God is the One Who gets to say what is right.  His truth is the only truth. 

Choices

Thankful Challenge Day #5

I am thankful for choices. 

We don't always get to choose.  I have often told my sons,when they were criticizing each other's choices, "You don't get to pick."  We all have our own choices to make, good or bad, right or wrong. 

Even though I say I am thankful for them, too many choices is NOT good for me personally.  When choosing tile for my kitchen, I wouldn't let the salesman show me more choices.  I was looking at a box of a couple hundred samples.  Surely one will be good.  When looking at a food menu, I tend to scan for things familiar, not looking at every single item to decide.  (My sister on the other hand, is NOT like me in that regard!)

Eve made a bad choice.  She and Adam were given every freedom except one simple thing, and they chose to do it anyway.  They weren't starving, they didn't need the food.  They simply chose to do the one thing God had said "don't" about.  And so we have the continued problem of the knowledge of evil they chose that day.

I am thankful for the choices I am given.  Today, I chose what to cook for supper tonight.  I will choose what to wear, out of a closet full of enough garments to clothe a tribe.  I chose the vehicle that sits outside.  I could have had one of many others.  I chose the leather chair I am sitting in.  (I did not choose this poodle that lies here snoring beside me, but that's ok!)

I am thankful to have the choices on the ballot, the opportunity to make a choice and vote for the governing positions that are on that ballot.

I am thankful that God gave me the choice of choosing Christ Jesus over my paying my own penalty.  I am not perfect, I am not holy as HE is holy, and because I have sinned there IS a penalty.  A death penalty. 

I am thankful for that choice, and I purpose in my heart that I do not take it lightly.

I purpose to be mindful of every single choice presented, every moment of every day. I purpose to make my choices according to God's standard, what HE says is right.  I don't get to pick, I don't get to determine what is right.

HE does.

Period.

Peace

Thankful Day #4


I am thankful for peace. 

Never in my lifetime has there been war on the soil on which I live.  Though there is a lot of violence in a lot of places, I have not experienced it personally. 

There has been plenty conflict.  Disagreements. Arguments. Hurt. Betrayal.

Plenty.

But in the face of the worst of it, I can have peace. 

I can know that God is not surprised by one single thing.  Even our disobedience is not a surprise, it never was.  He had made provision for the rebellion in the garden.  That peaceful relationship with our holy God was broken when the fruit was chosen over simple obedience. 

Our enemy deceived Eve, and he still deceives us.

Sin disrupted the peace and harmony our ancestors enjoyed with God.  Adam and Eve had walked with Him in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3:8)  It disrupts us still today. 

 But even after choosing to know good AND evil by eating of that forbidden tree, God made a way for us to enjoy that peace once again.  "He shall bruise you on the head.." (Genesis 3:15 KJV) 

It was very costly because the result of disobedience is death.  But instead of me dying for my disobedience, Jesus died in my place. 


My peace with God is what I am thankful for above all else.  Because I have peace with Him, He teaches me and enables me to have peace in every other situation. My peace is granted to me thru faith and obedience to Christ Jesus. When I lack that peace...I can look for what might be hindering it.

What wrong attitude? 
What fear? 
What rebellion? 
What sin? 

Today, I am thankful for peace with God, peace with man, and peace in my own mind. Conflicts may again come, threats, or the hurts that often come from people. Because of my peace WITH God, He has given me the peace OF God. 

 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled.." (the words of Jesus as recorded in John 14:27 NASB)

If you do not know what it is to know His peace, make it your number one priority to learn. 

  "...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God..." (1 Peter 5:6 NASB)

Courage

Thankful #3
2018

I am thankful for courage, and wish I had more.  It fails me periodically.


Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is resolute action when it is hard or even in the face of fear.

We are told at least seventy times in the New Testament, "fear not".  Courage is moving forward in obedient belief and faith in the face of something that threatens and causes us to shake in fear.


Police officers who put on a badge that makes them a target just to make sure others are helped and protected. Soldiers who stand on strange lands, making a stand for what is right. Those are what our thoughts go to first usually.  But what about personal courage?  Ordinary day courage?

Courage to be pleasant when someone is being very UNpleasant.
Courage to speak a kind word to a stranger.
Courage to do the right thing when you could easily get by with doing the wrong thing.
Courage to put your wishes aside, putting someone else first.
Courage to keep on, and on, and on...when you know it is right, but you just want to quit.

Courage is all of that, even when you know the cost might be great. 


The only courage I have is what Jesus supplies.  There have been difficult seasons, long ones, when I was anything but courageous.  I wanted to quit, hide, and never peep out.  But knowing His exhortations to 'Fear not!', and knowing that He is God and I am not, I managed prayerfully to keep walking. 

Courage to stop the knee jerk reactions and pray before uttering a word.
Courage to reel my thoughts back in, taking each one captive to Christ instead of letting then run fearfully wild.
Courage to accept the situations of today, prayerfully waiting, but ready to act in faith.


Today I am thankful for courage, and I am especially thankful for the One who provides it.  I sure don't have much of my own.

Beauty

Thankful Challenge #2
November 2, 2018

I am thankful for beauty. All sorts.

A sunrise, and sunset.
Springtime flowers.
Autumn foliage.
Snow covered landscapes.
Rivers.


Jewelry.
Nice fabrics.
Clothing.

Tapestry.
Woodwork.
Leathers.

Music.
Voices and harmony.

I could sit here too long making lists.

Today, I purposed myself to stop and be thankful for all the beautiful things in my life.

From a baby's sweet smile to the toothless smile of Abby the Spoonlady.
From the colors of spring to the stark beauty of leafless trees in winter.


I am thankful God has granted me the eyes to behold it, in all the unexpected places.  I want to see every single one as the gift it is.

Today.

And every single day I am given.

Thankful For Security

Today is November 1, 2018.  I sit with a laptop in a dry warm house, with a coffee cup, and a sleeping snoring dog beside me, trying to decide what to choose first to be thankful for.

My thoughts go to my husband, who provided the security I enjoy as I write this.  

Our home is simple, but it is ours, and he paid every payment. 

He keeps us warm with the firewood he cuts and splits.  

The roof is secure and keeps the rain out so that we are dry.

I have never had the slightest concern that we could lose our home. 

And I have never had the slightest concern that I could lose him.  

I am secure in his love and commitment to me.  

I think of Jesus, who provided my eternal security.  

For many years I did not feel secure. I knew the story of His birth and His death, I knew the facts about sin and its consequences. I know I am not perfect as He is, I am a sinner.  I tried hard to get myself cleaned up, act right, and do right. My attempts failed over and over, leaving me fearful of eternal punishment for things I simply could not fix.  

One day, I just said "I can't do it".  

One day, I couldn't find words to pray other than "Help me."

And you know what....?  He did. 

Today I am thankful for my security. 

The security of my husband's love, the man who provided the comfort I enjoy at this moment.  The man whose concern for me rises above the concern for himself.  The man who checks on me multiple times a day as I recover from the episode with my heart.  The man who lives the simplest life he can, so we can live in security. 

I am thankful for being secure in the love of my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, whose concern for me was so important that He chose to enter humanity, live a simple and sinless life, just so we can live in security. 

I am thankful for security.  I have not known the difference in regard to my husband's love, but I should not take it for granted. 

I have known the difference in being secure in my eternal salvation.  It is a precious thing to me. I never want to miss an opportunity to be thankful to Him for it, nor an opportunity to share the truth about His love and the security He offers. 

Thankful Day 1 in 2018

Thanksgiving is days away.  Yesterday, I saw stacks of merchandise in the grocery store aisles, all ingredients for the kind of cooking we do at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I added a few of them to my cart, preparing for what I might want to cook when the time arrives. 


I have done this a couple years before.  My Facebook memories reminded me of it today.  I think of it as on purpose thankfulness.

Every day, I purpose to stop and consider what I am thankful for.  NOT a broad, 'thankful for my family'...not that I am not super thankful for my family, I am. But, I purpose to stop and consider the 'what' I am thankful for, and the 'why' I am thankful for it also. 

Will you join me?  If not publicly, then at least privately.  Consider it a challenge and an exercise to examine your life and your attitude.  You may discover just how good God has been to you.  I expect you know it in your head, but counting blessings like this makes us know it in our hearts. 

When you find your thankful thing, ask yourself 'why?'  Not once, but continue to ask that question with each answer to the 'why?' .

For example: Thankful for your health?  Why?  So you can enjoy life.. Why?  So you can work your job.. Why? So you can support your family.. Why?  On and on....




Now....I will be contemplating my thankfulness for Day 1 for 2018. 

I will let you in on it later.......