MONDAY MUSINGS!

After the "Billboard Beckoned" on Saturday we spent some time in....

this sweet and savory place! My camera took over to supply me with scripture and thoughts to think and rethink. Meditation. More for others than self as needs are great for many people in my life who need to be covered with prayer.

For readers, choose one for your own Monday musing.

 The cardinal one is for my KY family and friends having gone through many trials as a result of storms during severe weather days.*

God is worth it all.....even the wait for the storms to pass.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:25)

In times of trouble it's good to remember to whom you belong.

All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

(John 17:10)

Don't lose hope!

THINK ON THESE THINGS! (PHILIPPIANS 4:8)

*....or at least muse for a moment until your electricity comes back on and your recliner works again.....and thanks for making me laugh!

BILLBOARD BECKONS!

"On the Road Again." So Busy. So much fun! 

Seeing family w/ excitement. Leaving family w/ sadness. A plethora of mixed emotions.

So weary-ing. But God knew what I needed and used a billboard to draw me in.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed) and the evidence og things not seen.(Hebrews 11:1)

Bilboard's Beckonings with convincing convictions from a Scripture reference to FAITH in all caps! Plus, an earthly address with heavenly implications in a town named Hope..

More to come..........on Meditation Monday!

Patience with hope

8/12/09
Admittedly, this “patience” lesson has been tough for me. Tough because of the reality of impatience in my life along with my short-sightedness.
I need to address, at least mentally, the long term spiritual results of learning in the midst of a circumstance rather than just trying to short-cut it for the sake of relief.

Have I ever admitted that relief is probably at the top of my “favorite emotions” list? It is. It’s because the dread, suffering, etc. is over and “my” list is checked off or my ducks are back in a row----usually short-lived because another situation is probably lurking around the next corner. But RELIEF does feel good for the moment! I envision eternity as one long sigh of relief.

I am so pitiful that:
…..losing “anything” in my “black hole” of a purse, no matter how many pockets Vera Bradley sews in, feels like a major tragedy in the universe………..
…..Driving to work at least an hour ahead of actual check-in time and catching a red light has my blood pressure up and sometimes I try to hurry thru that yellow light…………
…..even a fax machine being busy or not responding as I try to reach Wage Works for the umpteenth time can feel like life or death.
Stress, Melt-down, Come apart--all inappropriate—all come to mind.
Silly, I know, but that’s the way this time compulsive person manifest a deeper issue than lack of patience. (Maybe "time-compulsive" is a euphemism for wretched.)
The world’s definition of patience according to Mr. Webster is calm endurance. God’s definition is more encompassing. I even have trouble with the world’s description, so I try to circumvent the problems or people who make patience difficult for me. That my friends is not God’s way.
What’s the long term goal of the situation/problem that is causing my reactions rather than a godly response? Learning to endure a trying time, or becoming capable of bearing delay might sound like the right answers but they are MY way----trying to meet MY need in MY strength. Maybe, just maybe they’ll offer ME relief. NOT! At least, not for long.

The long term goal is spiritual maturity---a display of the fruit of the Spirit in my life. How is that done?
Quit trying to practice patience in your own strength but open His word and “practice His Presence.”
Is that your final answer, Dotsy?
Yes, because it’s the right answer. It’s God’s answer.


Larry proofed and suggested I put my journal jottings at the end of the blog, not in the middle---just to reinforce the lessons the Lord has taught me in my patience journey, which has taken a lot of steps forward and backwards and is still in progress.
Journal Jottings----just to give you a peek at all the thoughts, some painful, about my life lessons and struggles with patience.
May 30, 1999 from a Sunday School class taught by Dick Winter.

Notes on DW’s CHART

1.Typical ways---circumventing, rationalizing and faking it
2. God’s answer—Examine God’s word, Phil. 2:1, James 1 :2-3, Embrace His plan, Psa. 27:4, Experience the exchanged life, Isa. 40:31, Lam. 3:25
3. Therefore…(sounds like, "but God"……with Him the response is…)

• Accept all people. (especially difficult ones)

• Give expectations to God and grace to others!

• Invest in others’ lives—(even those “irregular” ones)

God move me from #1 my reactions, my way to #3, His loving response, His way!
Galatians 5:3 By faith we eagerly await, though the Spirit, the righteousness for which we hope.
Long term goal----His righteousness.

(Streams in the Desert, July 26)
He hath made waiting beautiful and patience divine.
That’s definitely a divine viewpoint, not a world’s view.
I want to get beyond just tolerating or coping with a situation just to get by it or forestall/avoid confrontation. When I allow God to meet me where I am and to teach me, that’s “waiting with hope.” The situation or person may not change or go away but He will teach me His response in the middle of it.

There is nothing Christ dislikes more than for His people to publically profess Him and then not use Him. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Streams in the Desert, 8-12)
USE HIM in this area of patience, Dotsy.
Exchange my weakness for His strength.