Days to come...

My last post was on "Days Gone By..." the history of our lives. 

At some point in our life the realization that our days are numbered and God is the one who knows that number really becomes a loudly proclaimed TRUTH.

I suppose the subject of mortality has been in the back of my mind ever since my "cancer" diagnosis a few years ago.  Once "death" almost smacks you in the face I think one begins to "think" a little differently about "life and living".  You begin to review your "living" of life and what may once have been so important suddenly becomes the "least" important on your list. One's outlook on life drastically changes.  Your WINDOW's view of the WORLD is different today than it was yesterday when you thought your life was in your own hands.  We never "expect" to die. We always think that's for older people and until it hits your own life or family it seems distant.

Yes, I believe God is totally in control of my life.  Yes, I believe in His faithfulness, and love.  No, I'm not doubting His mercy and goodness.  He is GOD and He is GOOD all the time.  Yes, I believe in His WORD.  I love His Word.  I love to feel His presence HUG me and I love to feel His Shekinah Glory sweep over the congregation during a church service.  I love God with ALL my Heart, Mind, and Soul!!

I KNOW He's there through all of life's twists and turns, ups and downs.  Yes, He's there!  Even during a trying day full of trials and hardships... He's there and I know he's there!  Some of my days are not perfect in this imperfect world I live in... but He's there!  I'm not giddy with a school-girl infatuation, I've a deep rooted love and JOY in my Salvation!

When "those days" come... I can begin to "Praise Him" and praise right through the trial.  I've had the Holy Ghost since just after my 8th Birthday... He has never disappointed me.  I'm not one of His perfect children (are there any?)... I have my days when I have to get a grip on my attitude.  I work with the public everyday and I cannot reflect inner feelings to my clients. 

I'm one of those pilgrims who are on a journey through this world and I'm headed for the PROMISE Land.  The path may be rough at times... but there's always the "refreshing time" of His presence when He's walking right beside us, leading and guiding us on that path. 

As a pastor's wife of 40-years, I've seen those newly birthed struggle with the cares and concerns of life and sometimes the baggage of their past life seems to cling tightly.  My concern is that we pray, teach, and be REAL people to these who struggle with trials and tribulations. 

Time marches on... tomorrow will be here in about 4 minutes!  I want to be REAL to those who enter into the realm of my life and through the doors of our church.  I want to encourage them... "you can make it through".  Hold tightly to those out stretched hands. 

Maybe some who are reading this think I'm being "un-joyful", I'm not!  But I've seen the hurting, the helpless, and the hopeless.  Our cities are full of them.  My heart goes out to those who are "forgotten" or "overlooked" and I'm not just talking about the homeless.

And there go I, except by the grace and mercy of God...

I never want to forget that could be me.  Yes, I'm thankful I was raised in a God-fearing Pentecostal-Apostolic home.  Yes, I'm thankful for Sunday School teachers and ministers/pastors who taught the Word.  I'm thankful for the fellowship of my Brothers and Sisters in the LORD.  I'm thankful for a husband/pastor who preaches and teaches God's Word.  I am blessed!

Well Tomorrow has arrived...and it's another Day I choose to purposely live for Jesus. 

Let's be REAL for JESUS... I always think of the "Velveteen Rabbit" story... I want to have bare spots, torn spots, lose an ear or eye, come unstitched with the stuffing hanging out from  being "used" everyday.  I want to be vulnerable, open and willing to be used anyway He wants to use me.    I don't want to be stuck on the shelf and never taken down. 

Let Him choose me, that's my prayer!

 

Technorati Tags: Thoughts,Bible,JOY,God,REALNESS,Vulnerable,thankful,mercy,grace,Praise

Days Gone By...

January 2009 is almost past... wow!  Time is rapidly progressing.  Yesterdays seem to be coming faster and faster and tomorrows arrive too quickly!  We are in the FUTURE before we even realize it.  Our days become HISTORY much to swiftly.

I remember when I was very young and thinking that summer was forever!  The days seemed endless and we played "outside" from early morning until late at night.  Then some where in my span of life... the days started getting shorter and shorter.  It seems I no sooner get to bed than it's time to wake up! 

The phrase "Days Gone By" popped into my head while I was reading my Bible during my morning quiet time.  I'm still pondering all that it implies.

I was reading and thinking, we don't always remember that these are REAL people with REAL problems so similar to us today.  Relationships, financial, clean water and edible food, worship, belief, faith, doubts and on and on...  Yes, REAL people just like we are today.  Same desires emotionally, physically, and spiritually...  Same "intentions" of doing what is RIGHT in God's sight...  And yes, we have the same struggles in keeping those good and desirable intentions. 

Why do we fight so hard and struggle against the powers of this World?  That's the warfare of the OLD carnal fleshly nature and our NEW nature filled with His Spirit!  I've seen New Converts (and some not so new) struggle and wrestle with these two natures and decide they just don't have the energy to "keep on keeping on". 

Why is it so hard?  My thinking is... we just don't totally "give up" and submit to His Spirit and His Will for our lives. 

What's the saying: 

Live HARD for Jesus and it's easy...  Live EASY and it's hard.

I may have messed that quote up some, but you get my point.  Whenever we put our mind to do and live RIGHT that's when the struggle truly begins.  Spiritual Growth occurs during those struggles.  Endurance... Enduring... Patience... Waiting... those are words that many of us just don't like to hear.  We are a NOW generation and I admit, when I've set my mind to do something, I want to do it now!  I want to "git er dun" too!  It's hard for me to realize God may not want "it" done right now!    Sarah (and Abraham) jumped ahead of God's plan... Rebekah took it upon herself to orchestrate God's plan... and on it goes.  Aren't we just as guilty?

I'm not sure we'll totally master this "struggle" until we are "outta here"... but I'm trying and I'll keep on trying!  I've found that in my humanity and struggle to be totally dependent on God and His Will (and not trying to manipulate Him)...  He's so patient, longsuffering, and compassionate, ever loving! 

I can see His tender look and hear His quiet loving voice filled with patience:

Daughter, daughter, you just don't know... wait and see...

Bless the LORD, O my soul...

 

I woke this morning with a heavy heart and "my spirit" was downhearted.  Not totally aware of the reason for my downheartedness, I worked through the morning, being careful NOT to let my spirit reflect outwardly.  

At 1:30pm I jumped into my car for my hour lunch break thinking I was going to run some errands like I usually do.  I soon found myself  parked in a parking lot just down the street from where I work, asking myself "what am I doing here?"  I soon discovered the reason I had parked.

Grabbing my Bible out of my satchel, I opened immediately to Psalm 103... these words jumped out at me: (the underlining is my emphasis)

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

I then read on:

Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.

Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Read all the verses... but then again beginning with vs.17:

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children.

To such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The LORD has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all.   (Read on...)

The last verse of Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.  Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Well, needless to say, after reading this chapter... my heart was once again refreshed and full of God's love and mercy and my faith and trust in His will was strengthened!  How could I ever have doubts about His will?  After all these years.... you'd think I'd have learned to trust Him in ALL things, right?  Be honest though... you have your moments or days too.  But WE Don't STAY there!  We press on toward the prize...

I still am not totally sure what the heavy heart was all about... but I know that when He is ready to show me, He will !!  One can always find just what is needed and required for the soul through prayer and His precious WORD! 

I have never been disappointed in God's response to my prayers! 

My afternoon was much better than my morning!  I was re-assured of His love and mercy and so thankful for His longsuffering!  God is Good ALL the time!

I'm thankful I have that hour during the middle of the day to "touch base" with Him when the morning quiet time just wasn't long enough!  He is so gracious to "reach out" and meet me there!

 

Technorati Tags: Prayer,Soul,Musing,thoughts,Mercy,THE WORD,Bible,Psalm 103

Real Beauty or a Deathly Stench

A recent testimony from one of the Sisters in our church caused me to reflect on WATER, if my cup was just full and stagnant, or if it was overflowing my cup.

As I’m known to do, I pursued the topic in my mind and pondered upon it for several days. I went back to a day years ago in my childhood when I had wandered off from our trailer parked in a remote “trailer park” and headed out into the desert investigating my surroundings (being the curious child that I was).

After walking, what seemed like a long time to me, I saw a group of green trees and shrubs off in the distance and proceeded to find my way to them. Soon, I could see water beyond the tree line and being in the middle of the desert it looked so inviting and beautiful. I started walking faster as my excitement mounted at my “discovery.”

It was so pretty, the green trees and the water was so still and quiet. Nothing moved. Quickly I approached the trees and moved down to the edge of the water.... Yeeeweee, what an awful, disgusting smell penetrated my nostrils. As I knelt down to move the water with a stick I could see the green slime and the green swirling blobs moving around under the surface of the water. It was a deathly stench that swirled up from the depths of this pond!

This reminiscence made me consider... Do we sometimes look so pretty (HOLY) on the outside but we are filled with green slime and stink on the inside (decaying from inside out)? Do we look good from a distance, but when approached, there is a stench inundating from the source of “stagnant” water! Aren’t we supposed to be full of the “living water?”

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Oh, my prayer is “never let me be filled with the stagnant water of self-worth, pride, an unholy attitude, unmerciful, unloving, uncompassionate, uncaring, and self-centeredness. Let me remember your WORD, your MERCY, your COMPASSION, your KINDNESS, your CARING, your UNENDING LOVE toward mankind. I never want to be “too good” to hug the unhuggable, love the unlovable, speak to the unspeakable, and pray for the PRAYERLESS.

Are we “beauty at a distance” with an Ungodly STENCH when approached? LORD help us to be full and overflowing with Your LIVING WATER!!!

Real inward beauty or a deathly stench, it’s our choice to make.

Technorati Tags: Truth,Beauty,Holiness,Stench,Slime,LIVING Water,stagnant

All is well...

Just a brief update to let everyone know I made it to Missouri all in one day.  Didn't have any trouble and it actually was an enjoyable trip.  I had 11 1/2 hours to think, pray, worship, and just contemplate the goodness and God's love and mercy.

Got into my parents place around 7:45 pm their time Saturday evening and Sunday we worked sorting their personal belongings and packing the camper and storage trailer.  Went to church Sunday... their service is at 4:00pm and they only have one service on Sunday at the church they were attending in Missouri.

Monday was a run errands and last minute lab and prescriptions, etc. including a trip to Springfield for Dad's lab work.  I kept the rental car 2-extra days until I was sure all the running around was completed.  I did not want to drive the truck with the camper on it anymore than I had to around town.

However, I did find that with the extended mirrors I didn't have any problem driving the truck.  I only had to back the trailer twice and that was a comedy act.  When you can't see the trailer you're trying to back... it gets a little hilarious.  I can back a trailer if I can see where it's going... otherwise, its direction is anyone's guess!

I will write more... this is the first time I've had a chance to spend more than just "email check".  I know we will all get into a new routine... and we will all adjust to the differences in routines.

Grafted-A Wild Olive Branch

I was reading the book of Romans last week. God is so amazing! He takes something "old" and makes it "new" as if to refresh our minds of His wondrous mercy!

Reading in Chapter 11 regarding the message being brought to the Gentiles... and it seemed as if my heart and mind "burst" with the thankfulness of what had occurred. If you let yourself really think about it, it's overwhelming the mercy He has bestowed upon us, the Gentiles.

I've heard this preached and taught all my life...I know the "principle" of the teaching... but somehow, after all these years it hit me "full force" exactly what God did for us, the Gentiles. Yes, "I've Got it, I've Got it, there's something about the Power of the Holy Ghost and I've Got it...".

Paul tells it like it is... and I'll paraphrase it... "... don't get haughty, arrogant, conceited or prideful about being grafted in...after all, you are grafted in as a result of the hardened hearts that were cut off because of their hard hearts... and the same can happen to you! You, a wild olive branch, were grafted in, in their place, but it is easier for the orchard tree to be re-grafted, so be careful... " Now, those are my words... read it for yourself and read from several different translations. The Message gives a powerful rendering of Romans 11.

Oh my, what a blessed people we are... only by the MERCY of God are we filled with His Spirit. We should be so thankful and cherish what we've been given.

On to 1 & 2 Corinthians... I'm anticipating what God will reveal or remind me of....

Do you ask God to show YOU something when you read His Word? He will if you ask him too! His WORD is new each day!

Have a blessed day with Jesus.