Monday, February 17, 2020

KINDNESS IN ANY LANGUAGE......

Hubby just called  from the road to tell me today is national "kindness day", more specifically Random Acts of Kindness Day. For me, I seek to b more intentional in kindness. But.....random mentions can bring me back to focus.
Going back to pic log from this week-end as "kindness" were at every turn. Boomers think back to  Kodak moments.
No matter the language of the culture may all take seriously the words of Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind to one another" -----regardless of their ethnicity.
There is no special language for acts of kindness from a pure heart. Maybe it's in braille
 or signed or..
...just pronounced uniquely. Even the English language can have the clip of the British or the drawl of the South in USA. Kindness is a language of action for the benefit of others, not self.

Friday, February 14, 2020

BOOK----UNFINISHED.

The verdict is still out on the rating of this Charles Martin Book. It's not his "typical" writing style. 
Of  course, I've only read his fiction and this is my first non-fiction by Martin. Plus, I have not quite finished it,

His meticulous research is delivered in a very readable form. Martin is a seasoned storyteller and this strength shines in the pages I have read so far......and I am just beginning this journey with What if I't's True?: a storyteller's Journey with Jesus.
One jewel I have already discovered as Martin asks the question, "Who is this Jesus?" Jesus Himself said, I am the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:16)
If Jesus is the way, then He's taking us some where. 
But where? I believe the answer is to HIs Father. (p.15)
One reviewer for Christianity Today said that Martin won him over with his sincere love for Jesus.
As I continue to read this author's journey through God's Word, I sensed that Valentine's Day would be the right time to post this author's work focusing on his Savior. 
Valentine's Day--a day of celebrating Love.
"Greater love hath no man that He lay down his life for His friends." (John 15:13)
That fact stands. 
"Jesus loves me, this I know"--- even if I don't finish reading the book today!

Friday, February 7, 2020

Life is not always as it seems.....

Punxsutawney Phil told us at the first of the week that spring is just around the corner! My daffodils around the mailbox, ready to bloom, would certainly bear witness to that..
Hubby, my resident meteorologist, cut them and brought them into the house a few days later.
He knew things are not always as they seem and "storms" were on the way.

A day later, a severe thunderstorm came barreling through battering down many pre-blooming flowers on our street. 

Mine, however, were in a small vase in the kitchen put there by Hubby himself.

He has an awareness about many things which slip right past me. One being weather.

Life is often that way and we are caught off guard. 
Why? Because our perceptions are limited. Our vision is obstructed when we think that all we can see, is all that there is. We think that way because we don't know the whole story. 
Christians are blessed to know the whole story. Even in the midst of the diagnosis we hate to hear, or the hurtful words that have been thrown our way, we can still have hope---hope for the very thing we cannot see. That's what our faith is. Never does it feel more real than when life doesn't make sense.
God did it for Joseph as well as the thief on the cross beside Jesus. All the "not" seen goodness of those situations were made known. (Matthew 10:26)
"We only "see in part." (I Corinthians 13:12, NLT)
God promises enlightenment, total and true throughout eternity. We will see Him.
"Things are not always the way they seem" is truly an understatement for believers. Aren't we glad!

Friday, January 31, 2020

KALEIDOSCOPIC LIFE

Just like the quick twist of a toy kaleidoscope, a harsh word or unexpected hurt can reshape my  image of a person---turning my world upside down or coloring it gray.
Behavior that is more a reaction than a response. "That's my bad," as the kid's say!
There are kaleidoscopes of responses to counteract self-centered reactions. Forgiveness is at the top of the list. Forgiveness is not only an act of kindness to the offender, but it's a kindness to self as well.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, ....(Ephesians 4:32a)
Life is complex. Ever changing. Kaleidoscopic.
Relationships can cause shifts in our views and expectations of others.
People change.
God doesn't.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
......and forgiving. ",......forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32b)

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

PLAN G

Each Type 1 personality seems to always have a plan. Maybe it helps one feel more in control. 
"Just in case folks" always have a Plan B. In extremes Plan C. Plan D and on down the alphabet allowing for snafus, interruptions, etc.
They make a list and check it twice. (At least twice)

Not so with God. Quote scribbled in the front of my Bible---"GOD ONLY HAS PLAN A!".
Many are the plans in the mind of a man (or on their list), BUT it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21, parenthetical insertions and emphasis are mine)

God only has ONE plan. His will. (Ephesians 1:11, 21)
His good and perfect plan. His Plan is the only plan. It's called sovereignty. (Psalm 115:3) It's a continuous working together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
PLAN G = GOD"S PLAN. GOD'S PLAN NEVER CHANGES! (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Mattie Dear said it well. "Be of good cheer. God is in the plan." 
That would be Plan G.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

Do you hear what I hear?
 
Probably not.
We might have heard the same word or same big booming sound.......but then we add our own experiences to the word or event and each heart hears or pays attention somewhat differently.

For me, that's the way God's word is. As I read it, I ask Him to speak uniquely to me. 
Passages take on meaning that go directly to my heart. Maybe that's why there are different versions and commentaries on the same passages of Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16) Even the same passage can take on new meaning as I refocus on it during a different season of life.
Sometimes God's word whispers to me through the Psalms. Other times God's word SHOUTS to me as in 2 Chronicles 2:20.

I want my heart to hear God's heart.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

THREE R's for a NEW YEAR!

REFOCUS! REFUEL!! REFRESH!!!
  1. Refocus your mind.
  2. Refuel your heart.
  3. Refresh others.
Do all three. Use scripture to chart your course!
  1. Set your mind. Reset as needed to clear your mind of earthly matters. (Colossians 3:2)
  2. Open God's Word and chew on it 'til your heart can delightfully digest it. (Jeremiah 15:16)
  3. Refresh others. You'll also be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)
Refocusing. refueling and refreshing = Renewal of one's Spirit.
Renewal results in transformation. (Romans 12:2)

Being transformed by a renewal of the mind, refuels one's soul and enables one to refresh others.
What an honor for any gal to incorporate the 3 Rs in her new year and be recognized as a Philemon saint...."The hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you...." (Philemon 1:2)

Sunday, January 5, 2020

A CRACKED POT!

A "cracked pot"!!!
Just what I feel like at times.
Note hairline fracture on teapot!
Hardly visible. Yet, crumbly underneath!
At least it's just a cookie. 
In life it's not as visible but the brokenness can still reside, until God's grace takes all those crumbles and tangles and uses them for our good and His glory.
Do I hear an "A-men" from all you cracked pots reading this entry?

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

W.A.I.T.

Question to self,  "Is waiting hard because of lack of practice?"
W.A.I.T.---A perfect acronym for one trying to "listen" well. 
W. Why
A.  Am
I.    I
T.   Talking      (Carolyn Winn, Source)
When I do speak, I need to ask myself 3 questions.
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Does it need to be said?

If not,  you might need to wait a little longer before "opening your mouth".

Question to self, "If waiting seems long when conversation lags, is it necessary for me to jump in just to fill the silent void?

Thursday, December 26, 2019

CHRISTMAS DAY : HOLYDAY

Auto-correct doesn't want to accept holyday! Probably because it is not "politically correct".
Earlier this month I came across the term in a Carol Mead devotional. Her reference was to the "gift of peace" from Psalm 122:6-8. The passage resonated with me as I often pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

But God....in His love and mercy showed me how easily it is for the holidays to become crazy busy with worries about perfection....aka all about me. Will others appreciate my gifts or see them as hokey? Will my food at the Sunday School party be a hit? Will it look festive? Will no one even taste it? 

Conviction---the holidays are not about me. God showed me in a very clear way. 
In order to "de-sensitive" (a Mead word) transitory things, I need to take the I out of holiday.
H o l I d a y. My focus has been on myself. A substitution is needed.
If one exchanges the I for a Y, the focus changes & the substitution is worthy.
H o l Y d a y
Y is the Hebrew word for Yeshua or Jesus the One whose death was our substitutionary atonement and whose birth Christians celebrate at Christmas! My Jewish friends might substitute their Y as for Yahweh but they would not say it aloud.

One of my greatest joys is to see family, friends & others seek God's perfect 's gift of Jesus......
and to rejoice when they find Him. I know no greater joy! (3 John 1:4)

Today to my family friends and blog readers, I pray that there will be peace within you---a deep, abiding peace from Jehovah, the One True God.

Happy Holyday!