What does it take for God to get our attention?
Last week a friend of mine had a heart attack. She is young and apparently did not have high blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes problems. She does work three jobs, smokes and has no interest in maintaining a relationship with God. When I talked to her after she got home from the hospital, she seemed surprised that this could happen to her when she was so healthy.
Could it be that God wants her to know that He is the one who keeps her heart beating? Is it possible that God wanted to get her attention and draw her back to Him?
If it is true for my friend, it is also true for me! What will God need to do to get my attention? What is He trying to tell me? Am I turning a deaf ear to His voice?
Father, You are good and You have only good things planned for my life. You are faithful and trustworthy. I confess, though, that too often I decide to do things my way. I choose the way that seems right for me, or just plain fun for now. It doesn't last. Thank You for continuing to speak to me. Thank You for not giving up on me! Thank You for letting me have second and third chances! Teach me to wait upon You, Lord. Teach me to not only listen but also obey You!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
His Testimony
Monday night I gave my testimony at the Significant Woman study. I confess I was a bit nervous. I usually am. It is not talking in front of crowds that scares me. It is the uncertainty of being vulnerable.
What will they think of me? Will they understand what I am trying to tell them? Will they see me differently? Better? Worse? These are questions I wrestle with when opening up a part of my life to a crowd. I assume others have those same questions.
I have learned that in telling my story it is not really MY story! It is God's story. I only tell what God has done in and through me. It is a collaborative effort only in that I accepted the challenge to let Him change me. If others see me differently, or I loose face in the heart of men, it matters not. It only matters that I lift up His name and give Him glory!
My advice to anyone choosing to share their story is to put God's actions in your life top billing.
Almighty God, You have done miracles in my life! You have changed my heart, You have made me Your Daughter! No one can do what You have done! I know that I may not have shared the story of You working in and through me perfectly. I agree that pride continues to hold a place in my heart. You are working on that, Lord, and I thank You! Thanks for continuing the work You began in me! I trust in You to finish it so that YOU will get all the glory! Now I ask that as my friends accept the challenge to share, You will guide them and use them to reveal Yourself. You are God!
What will they think of me? Will they understand what I am trying to tell them? Will they see me differently? Better? Worse? These are questions I wrestle with when opening up a part of my life to a crowd. I assume others have those same questions.
I have learned that in telling my story it is not really MY story! It is God's story. I only tell what God has done in and through me. It is a collaborative effort only in that I accepted the challenge to let Him change me. If others see me differently, or I loose face in the heart of men, it matters not. It only matters that I lift up His name and give Him glory!
My advice to anyone choosing to share their story is to put God's actions in your life top billing.
Almighty God, You have done miracles in my life! You have changed my heart, You have made me Your Daughter! No one can do what You have done! I know that I may not have shared the story of You working in and through me perfectly. I agree that pride continues to hold a place in my heart. You are working on that, Lord, and I thank You! Thanks for continuing the work You began in me! I trust in You to finish it so that YOU will get all the glory! Now I ask that as my friends accept the challenge to share, You will guide them and use them to reveal Yourself. You are God!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Questions & Answers
Questions are surrounding me lately. I've always thought that I was good at asking questions, and I am, when they are aimed at someone else. The hard part is asking questions of myself. It isn't that I avoid asking myself where I am heading, what I am meant to do, or who I am. I ask all the time!
It is difficult to find the answers to my self examinations. I figure if I can answer correctly then I could find a way to change the messes I make on a daily basis. Since I don't seem to get concrete answers, I seem to wander around the same questions over and over again. It is a bit frustrating!
Lately, I have again been wondering why the "Me" on the inside does not seem to fit in my outside world. I know who I am on the inside. I know my values, passions, desires and dreams. I've worked hard discovering the things I do well and how to use them, but trying to put those things into my world just doesn't seem to fit. Like the square peg in a round hole, it seems an impossible task. Unfortunately the more I push and work to make it fit the more discouraged I become.
Writing this out I keep hearing the Holy Spirit say, "Integrity." Yes, that is what I want. I want integrity! I want my inner life and my outward actions to be integrated! It is being genuine, honest, unimpaired. The question now is this not what I have been doing? I thought it was. Maybe it isn't.
Lord, You are the glue that holds my life together. You teach me daily what to do and I am working hard at obeying Your voice. I know that I am not perfect, nor will I be. I know that You are perfection and You will complete the good work You have started in my life. Lord, teach me integrity of my inner life and the life others see. Teach me how to become whole and genuine so that You will be seen in the world through me!
It is difficult to find the answers to my self examinations. I figure if I can answer correctly then I could find a way to change the messes I make on a daily basis. Since I don't seem to get concrete answers, I seem to wander around the same questions over and over again. It is a bit frustrating!
Lately, I have again been wondering why the "Me" on the inside does not seem to fit in my outside world. I know who I am on the inside. I know my values, passions, desires and dreams. I've worked hard discovering the things I do well and how to use them, but trying to put those things into my world just doesn't seem to fit. Like the square peg in a round hole, it seems an impossible task. Unfortunately the more I push and work to make it fit the more discouraged I become.
Writing this out I keep hearing the Holy Spirit say, "Integrity." Yes, that is what I want. I want integrity! I want my inner life and my outward actions to be integrated! It is being genuine, honest, unimpaired. The question now is this not what I have been doing? I thought it was. Maybe it isn't.
Lord, You are the glue that holds my life together. You teach me daily what to do and I am working hard at obeying Your voice. I know that I am not perfect, nor will I be. I know that You are perfection and You will complete the good work You have started in my life. Lord, teach me integrity of my inner life and the life others see. Teach me how to become whole and genuine so that You will be seen in the world through me!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Growing Up
The last few days I have been hard at work painting a purple room for my granddaughters. They have been begging for a change for months and it was time to renew and refresh their private paradise!
We are not finished replacing the clothes and toys and all the paraphernalia that little girls collect. It will take a couple more days to put it all together. It was time to enlist the girls' help so that this room would be theirs. I've asked the girls to go through their things. They have been instructed to put their items into three piles: keep, throw away and sell. I've promised they can have a sale and sell some of their things to make some money. They were excited about it today but there is a possibility that the excitement will wear off in the next few days. But for now they are growing up!
They are enjoying the beauty of purple, promises of cash, and a chance to prove they have grown up and can take better care of their room! I am so blessed to be here to see it all happen!
Lord God, You have created beautiful colors and today we delight in purple pleasures! You have given all of us a chance to grow up. We are rich because of You! Thank You for purple. Thank You for little girls growing up and for the refreshment of a renewed room!
We are not finished replacing the clothes and toys and all the paraphernalia that little girls collect. It will take a couple more days to put it all together. It was time to enlist the girls' help so that this room would be theirs. I've asked the girls to go through their things. They have been instructed to put their items into three piles: keep, throw away and sell. I've promised they can have a sale and sell some of their things to make some money. They were excited about it today but there is a possibility that the excitement will wear off in the next few days. But for now they are growing up!
They are enjoying the beauty of purple, promises of cash, and a chance to prove they have grown up and can take better care of their room! I am so blessed to be here to see it all happen!
Lord God, You have created beautiful colors and today we delight in purple pleasures! You have given all of us a chance to grow up. We are rich because of You! Thank You for purple. Thank You for little girls growing up and for the refreshment of a renewed room!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Vision of Provision
Can you see all the robins in this picture? This is just a small part of the flock of robins that descended upon our back yard last Friday at twilight.
I had gone out to ask Patrick something and before I opened the back door I saw all the birds scattered over the yard.
I quietly slipped out the door to get a better look. Patrick and I whispered to one another what an amazing sight this was!
We estimate that there were about 75 or more birds enjoying some kind of feast in our presence. The sweet rustling of leaves as they bobbed their heads to find seed or small insects became mood music for our added enjoyment.
We watched for a long time and later I was pleased to recall the scripture in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them." (ESV)
I sensed that God, Himself, invited the birds to our back yard. It was as if He called to them saying, "Look! Here is a feast I am providing for you! Come, eat and enjoy!" As He provided for those beautiful creatures, He offered a vision to us of his abundant and timely provision. Are we listening to His call? Are we accepting His invitation? Are we going where He says to go?
Father, you have said that I am not to be anxious about my life because You take care of the birds and the flowers and I am more valuable then they. You showed me this vision of provision for a reason. You provide for me in all ways. You will always be enough for me! Thank You for the vision! May I never forget!
I had gone out to ask Patrick something and before I opened the back door I saw all the birds scattered over the yard.
I quietly slipped out the door to get a better look. Patrick and I whispered to one another what an amazing sight this was!We estimate that there were about 75 or more birds enjoying some kind of feast in our presence. The sweet rustling of leaves as they bobbed their heads to find seed or small insects became mood music for our added enjoyment.
We watched for a long time and later I was pleased to recall the scripture in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them." (ESV)
I sensed that God, Himself, invited the birds to our back yard. It was as if He called to them saying, "Look! Here is a feast I am providing for you! Come, eat and enjoy!" As He provided for those beautiful creatures, He offered a vision to us of his abundant and timely provision. Are we listening to His call? Are we accepting His invitation? Are we going where He says to go?
Father, you have said that I am not to be anxious about my life because You take care of the birds and the flowers and I am more valuable then they. You showed me this vision of provision for a reason. You provide for me in all ways. You will always be enough for me! Thank You for the vision! May I never forget!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Simple Faith
I believe Creator God is good all the time and sacrifices Himself to give me a chance to live in heaven with Him for eternity.
My simple faith.
My simple faith.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Kindness
Kind deeds sometimes get overlooked. When that happens the one who tried to be kind can feel unappreciated and used. It is sad and impolite to not thank a kind person for their generosity, caring, or unselfishness, but it happens all to frequently.
I sent an email today hoping to give a kind word to someone who seemed a bit disheartened. I hope she was encouraged. I hope she knows I understand.
My dear husband listened to me and I recognize that he was being kind (although he was a captive audience in the car!) He even told me he didn't mind when I apologized for talking too much! It was sweet and an act of love!
My daughter cleaned the kitchen, did the dishes, and watched the Grandman for me while I took my husband to PT. Her work was a kindness to me after a busy day. she was and is a blessing in my life.
Every day we receive a word, a listening ear, or a loving act of kindness. It is important to remember to thank the giver.
Giver of all good gifts, You have been kind to me in so many ways! You gave Your self as a sacrifice for my sin. You listen to my every prayer. You send me messages of encouragement and hope! You are perfect kindness! THANK YOU! I know that Your kindnesses have cost You much and I appreciate them all!
I sent an email today hoping to give a kind word to someone who seemed a bit disheartened. I hope she was encouraged. I hope she knows I understand.
My dear husband listened to me and I recognize that he was being kind (although he was a captive audience in the car!) He even told me he didn't mind when I apologized for talking too much! It was sweet and an act of love!
My daughter cleaned the kitchen, did the dishes, and watched the Grandman for me while I took my husband to PT. Her work was a kindness to me after a busy day. she was and is a blessing in my life.
Every day we receive a word, a listening ear, or a loving act of kindness. It is important to remember to thank the giver.
Giver of all good gifts, You have been kind to me in so many ways! You gave Your self as a sacrifice for my sin. You listen to my every prayer. You send me messages of encouragement and hope! You are perfect kindness! THANK YOU! I know that Your kindnesses have cost You much and I appreciate them all!
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