CONTINUE RESOLVE.......

Drive Research reports that the average New Year's resolution lasts less than 4 months. What is key in persistence? 

Allen Bible Church in Allen, TX has the answer..........

...............Abide with the Lord and you will continue to abound in HIs purpose. A resolution with His purpose.

Resolve comes from Him, not self!

GRACE-PACE!

There's always much to learn on a "Teaching Tuesday." Today was a time of reflecting on a re-learning that needed to occur based on a recent faux pas.

My hurry-scurry "get it done" pace trampled my grace-pace. Reflection was needed for learning. Reflection takes time. Time adjusted from self-centered, people pleasing accomplishments to God-Centered time. 

I am yours, O Lord. May nothing touch my heart more than your love and acceptance. 

I need a breather from "doing." A lesson in mercy-math requires time.

Recounting God's acts of goodness and mercy, even severe mercy, were my "Teaching Tuesday" focus. 

Re-learning, has me remembering that the Lord loves me the way that I am, and all work is his work. His grace in me and through me fulfills His purpose for me---not self-aggrandizement or personal peace without interruptions. 

Yesterday, as I walked by the practically empty office on our new pastor's first day, "on the job," I peeked in to say, " welcome"....or was it more like barging in to interrupt his time of peace and reflection?  Regardless, he jumped right up with a smile on his face. 

Lesson learned from this brilliant, thoughtful, energetic, kind and courteous young man.

Lessons of grace from Pace to this old lady. 

His Grace-Pace shows how much I have left to learn about responding first to others over self.

ANSWERED PRAYER!

No prayer is too small or insignificant to be heard and answered by God.

Some are answered immediately.

Sometimes we must wait. 

Others are not quite the answer we had sought.

There's an answered prayer here. Look closely!*

It's only significant to me. Hubby knew so he searched. He found it yesterday. It was after I accepted the loss. Acceptance. Then Gad answered  It was like a "trust" lesson.

Call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and might things which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3, KJV)

When our prayers align with God's will (Thy will be done.) and purpose He always answers for our good and His glory. 

*Look carefully in the top right rectangle & it's in the lower left corner of that rectangle.

CHOOSE: NEIGHBORING

"Community" verses continue to speak to my heart.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.
(1 Corinthians 7:17)

Whatever situation my town/city and I are facing is not a random selection but is ordained by God.

My situation and assignment take place just east of the "mighty Mississippi" and extend to my immediate neighborhood.

He has placed me on "my" street for the last almost 39 years.

From one man He made all the nations, that should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed time in history and the boundaries of their lands/habitations. (Acts 17:26)

Choosing neighboring in my city and "my" dwelling place on "my" street, seems all the more important when I remember that He has placed me there----for His purpose.

"mo-TEA-ley" cuppa

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,...(Romans 8:28, KJV)

My jigsaw puzzle working friend, JoLynn, finds joy in looking at the mishmash of colors and motley/dissimilar shapes which have been dumped out of a 1,000 piece puzzle box. She knows that they are all part of a bigger picture----which she doesn't even choose to see ahead of time. She allows the pieces to "work together" to form the picture. (I recommend "Zuplez" 4/9/09 blog entry for a more complete explanation of her unique ability)

Scrabble expert friend, Ann, has a similar approach to all those tiles that tumble out of the maroon velvet bag. As she selects her "unseen" 7 tiles for her tray, she has an uncanny way of perceiving the longer words or the  higher scoring short ones. She takes what is dealt her and begins looking for only the tiles that are needed exchanges. I want to turn them all in for a fresh start. I can't "see" the possibilities. She sees multiple possibilities. Her technique is the winner. At least, I've never won against her.

Sadly, I often approach life seeing only the pieces, the broken pieces---a hodgepodge of events..... and not factoring in the Lord and His bigger picture for me until later. My desire is  to "pray my way out" of the "pieces and tiles" that are uncomfortable or hurtful. 

For many of us, daily events appear to pour out pieces of life that are stressful, troublesome, disappointing even. Yet, these troubles can be used by God to teach us important life lessons. Where we see stress, He sees opportunities. Unexpected crisis are a part of life---at least in the Liles household. But.....a crisis for any of us can be used, by the Lord, as a lesson for growth and betterment in our lives.

Intentional practice is needed to see problems as learning opportunities. Opportunities waiting to be solved in His timing. If one doesn't focus on seeing God's hand or begin quickly praying and asking to see God's hand, then problems can overwhelm and negatively consume one's thought life.

Look for the bigger picture. Exchange all those disjointed and disappointing mo-TEA-ley, miscellaneous pieces of life for His all encompassing peace. Remember to thank the Lord in everything and to ask Him to clearly show the life lessons He has in each piece. 

 

Each piece of one's life exchanged for His purpose = His peace. 

The Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

A mo-TEA-ley cuppa needs to be sweetened with God's peace.

YaYa's Wisdom

8/6/13 Last week, the Texans' Texas grandmother, YaYa,  shared some insightful gems, gleaned from a counseling conference.

Two Questions---children have for their earthly parents.

• Do you love me?
• Can I have my way?

Two Questions---children (even adult ones) have for their heavenly Father.

• Do you love me?
• Can I have my way?

The answers are the same:

• YES, to the love question. 

Parents love their children unquestionably. 

In the same way, God's love for His children is indisputable. 

• NO, to the "have my way question."

Parents need to provide the foundational guidance, safety and moral direction for their children until adulthood is reached.

In the same way God provides the foundational truths needed for His children to live a life of purpose. His purpose. It's not about us! It's God's purpose for us as a part of His plan for humanity and His glory. God must continue to direct one's steps  until maturity in Christ is attained on the eternal timetable.

Many plans are in a man's mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)

Thanks to YaYa for sharing her Allender Q & A.