Thursday, October 6, 2011



Make God beam with pleasure.
Look for ways to make Him smile.

Encouraging words.
Friendly smiles.

Time spent.
Talents used.

Tears shed.
Laughs enjoyed.

Hot meals.
Cold water.

Tithes given.
Offerings offered.

Prayers prayed.
Scriptures shared.

Celebrate.
Sympathize.

Clean clothes.
Warm coats.

Lotsa hugs.
Caring kisses.

Welcoming homes.
Soft beds.

Visit hospitals.
Sit with shut-ins.

Gifts given.
Gifts received.

Love expressed.
Jesus confessed.

Gospel preached.
Lost reached.

Fruit produced:

Wednesday, October 5, 2011


"Lord, help me to stop wishing for life to improve
& start enjoying the life I have right now.
Show me your goodness in whatever today brings."
Journey Magazine
 
The last few days have been a learning experience for me.
I received some bills I wasn't expecting.
I began fretting about paying them.
That's when the Lord took over.
He kept leading me to Scriptures like:
"I know both how to have a little,
and I know how to have a lot.
In any and all circumstances
I have learned the secret [of being content]—
whether well-fed or hungry,
whether in abundance or in need."
Philippians 4:12

"Though the fig tree may not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines;
though the labor of the olive may fail,
& the fields yield no food;
though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
& there be no herd in the stalls--
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
& He will make me walk on my high hills."
Habakkuk 3: 17-19

 "Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4: 6-7


This doesn't mean that I said,
"Okay, Lord, I'm just gonna let You pay my bills."

It means that I quit fretting,
laid them at His feet,
& asked Him to show me how to organize my finances.

Guess what?
He did!

Today I have decided to live now.
Not in the past.
Not in the future.
This moment.

It's so freeing.
It's so calming.
It's so peaceful.
It's so joyfilled.



"Father,
Thank You for providing for my needs.
Forgive me when I fret about what You've
already promised to take care of for me.
Remind me of Your constant love and provision.
I love You so!
In Jesus' Precious Name,
Amen."

 

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Unconditional Love

I lived a life of conditional love for years.
The person who was supposed to love me, didn't.
I lived in fear that something I did would make him not love me.
Found out later he never did love me anyway.
What a relief!
It wasn't me!
It was him.

I lived a life of unconditional love for years.
The Person who was supposed to love me, did.
I lived in assurance that nothing I did would make Him not love me.
Found out later He loves me more than I realized.
What a peace!
It isn't me.
It is Him!


The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
 
Jeremiah 31:3
 

Friday, September 23, 2011


                                                                                    
LIFE!


Oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, & ponds.
Mountains, hills, deserts, plains, & valleys

Birds, bees, butterflies, & bugs.
Dogs, cats, rabbits, & mice.

Elephants, zebras, & monkeys.
Lions, tigers, & bears.
Horses, cows, & mules.
Sheep, lambs, & goats

Crocs, gators, turtles, & frogs.
Whales, sharks, dolphins, & goldfish.

Roses, lilies, petunias, & dandelions.
Trees, bushes, wildflowers, & weeds.

Hurricanes, tornadoes, wind, & breezes.
Snow, hail, sleet & rain.

Sunlight, moonlight, starlight, & darkness.
Dusk, dawn, midnight, & noon.


Man, woman, boy, girl.
Father, mother, son, daughter.


Grandfather, grandmother.
Uncle, aunt.

Husband, wife.
Brother, sister.

Friend
Acquaintance.

Creation.
Created.

CREATOR!


Psalm 148

 
Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven,

praise him from the mountaintops;

Praise him, all you his angels,

praise him, all you his warriors,

Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, you morning stars;

Praise him, high heaven,

praise him, heavenly rain clouds;

Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—

he spoke the word, and there they were!

6 He set them in place

from all time to eternity;

He gave his orders,

and that's it!

7-12 Praise God from earth,

you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps;

Fire and hail, snow and ice,

hurricanes obeying his orders;

Mountains and all hills,

apple orchards and cedar forests;

Wild beasts and herds of cattle,

snakes, and birds in flight;

Earth's kings and all races,

leaders and important people,

Robust men and women in their prime,

and yes, graybeards and little children.

13-14 Let them praise the name of God—

it's the only Name worth praising.

His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;

he's built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God!

Israel's children, intimate friends of God.

Hallelujah!

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Thursday, September 22, 2011

MUSINGS


Jesus is on my mind.
I think I too often take Him for granted.

My life has really been so easy when compared
to other Christians around the world.
I don't have to fear being tortured or killed for my beliefs.
The early Christians counted it gain to suffer for Christ.
Why do I whine so much about so many inconsequestial things?

I'm learning to be thankful for my pain.
My arthritis and fibromyalgia have slowed me down.
I spend more time with God now.

I worry less about what others think about me 
and more about what God thinks about me.

God loves me!
Jesus loves me!
What else matters?

When I make a mistake,
I've learned to accept it.
Not let it define who I am.
I made a mistake.
This too shall pass.

God is love!
God is peace!
God is joy!
God is forgiveness!
God is God!
I am not.
Aren't you glad!


Wednesday, September 21, 2011

BEING BOTHERED

 

The other day I was feeling sorry for myself.  
The morning had been very busy with many people needing me.
The phone didn't stop ringing, people were coming into the office, 
and I had several things I needed to complete for the pastors.

I took a break to catch my breath. 
While away from my office I said,
"Lord, I'm so tired of people bothering me!
I just want to be left alone."

God is truly a compassionate, caring, & loving Father.
But He is also a Father of truth who will discipline His child.
He will rebuke us when we need it.
And I needed it.

I heard:
"Now you know how I could feel.
What do you think I deal with all the time?
Most prayers are 'I need' or 'I want' or 'help me'.
Praises and thank You's are not offered to Me as often.
Yet I always here and I never turn away My children"

"Think about My Son.
When He was with mankind on earth,
people wanted healing or blessings.
Time alone with Me was rare for Him.
Yet, He did not complain.
He just loved people."
 
"That's what I want you to do, Ginny.
Just love people!"

What would Jesus do?

When Jesus heard it, 
He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. 
But when the multitudes heard it, 
they followed Him on foot from the cities. 
And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; 
and He was moved with compassion for them, 
and healed their sick.
Matthew 14: 13-14

Thursday, July 14, 2011


 Nudges  

I had an interesting experience on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia. 
I've made this trip to my sister and brother-in-law's 
many times over the past 8 years.  
Other than construction or other traffic delays, 
I've had no problems.  
This trip was different.  
Things seemed to be going well 
except my car was louder than usual.  
I thought maybe it was a tire but the car was driving okay.
I pulled into the Tennessee welcome center 
and checked them.  
All was okay. 
I drove on past Jellico and headed down the mountain.  
The noise was still so loud and I began to wonder 
if it was my muffler.
Then I began to hear something hitting underneath my car.
I pulled over at a wide spot and checked my tires.  
All was okay.
Just as I started to get back in the car 
I was startled by a loud backfire.
I checked my tires.
Looked under the car.
All was okay.
I figured it was my muffler 
and that it would just be a loud trip.

I started down 75 again.
The sounds from under my car were getting louder.
Big pieces of something were bouncing over the undercarriage.
Something (I believe Someone) 
nudged me to take the next exit.
Appropriately it was the "Stinking Creek" exit.
Nothing there but a road to a campground.
I pulled off on a wide graveled spot and got out.
This time my driver side back tire was flat as a flitter.
Thankful for AAA, I called the 800 number.
Poor fellow had no idea where Stinking Creek, TN was.
He transferred me to an agent in Knoxville 
who knew exactly where I was 
and said she'd send a wrecker my way.
I knew I'd need to get the tire plugged 
before continuing my trip.
About a half went by before the wrecker arrived.
The driver was very polite as he set about 
jacking up the car and removing the flat.
We discussed where I could get it plugged.
He suggested Walmart at the next exit.
Then we saw the tire!
There was a 6 inch gash that ended in a big hole.
No patching for this tire!
He suggested putting my car on his truck 
and taking it where I wanted to buy a tire.
I decided to go back to his store 
which was also at the next exit.
I agreed.

We got to the shop.
He found a tire.
They put it on.
Okay.
Then he says, 
"Oh, they keep getting on me for forgetting to tell people 
they don't take credit cards."
Great.
I remembered that I had about $60 cash.
I had no idea how much the tire would cost.
He said,
"There's an ATM machine next door."
The lady wrote up my bill.
It was $78.
Great again.
Another nudge.
Two weeks before this I had been led to take a $100 bill 
I had put away for my yard mowing and stick it my billfold.
I'd forgotten all about it until the nudge.
I pulled it out and paid for the tire.
I was on my way no harm done and a 2 hour delay.
The rest of the trip there and back 
a week later was uneventful.
Except, my car still sounded louder than usual.
I just thought it was paranoia on my part.

Now for the rest of the story.
Flash forward to the next Wednesday.
The noise had bothered me and I was trying to decide 
who to get to check it out.
I kept checking my tires but they seemed fine.
Wednesday after work I stopped at Kroger.
The noise was terrible and the car began to handle weirdly.
I again checked my tires.
Eureka!
There was a huge bulge on my driver front tire.
I got back into my car and drove slowly to S & S Tire.
I made it!
They replaced my tire, checked my other two, 
and I was on my way.
No more noise!
Hallelujah!

Some people would call the many happenings in this adventure,
circumstance.

I do not.

I am a child of God.
He has promised to take care of me.
If either one of those tires had blown out 
when I was driving on I75, 
I would've wrecked.
I could have killed or injured myself, 
or worse, someone else.
One blew when I was sitting on the side of the road.
The other never blew.
And I "just happened" to stick a $100 bill in my billfold.

I see God's foreknowledge, 
provision, 
and 
protection
in this experience.

This is why I claim the following:



I trust in the name of the LORD our God!
In whom do you trust?