TRUST IN THE LORD

In recent days and weeks various problems and needs of all kinds have come to my attention.  Of all people, we Christians should know how to overcome in these situations.  We should give no place to worry, frustration, confusion, or fear.  How can we accomplish this?  By placing trust in the Most High God.    That sounds simple enough, so what is the problem?

Have we never proven God in the past or do we so quickly forget past victories?  It would be well worth the time, effort and discipline to write, in a special journal, the answers to prayer, revelation of the Word through personal reading, and even visions or dreams we may have that comfort us, to read over in times of weakness or discouragement.  It is an uplifting reminder of God's goodness to us personally.

Our spirit, led by the Holy Spirit, needs to become the ruling force in our lives and when that happens, we will discover that trusting or leaning on our own understanding is fruitless effort.  Who can know the will of God?  Who can really know what is best for us in each situation or how to work out the solution to the problem?  We must learn total dependence upon His wisdom and mercy and grace.  We must abandon our own carnal thinking and trust as Job did...."Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him".   We must have confidence in God who orders the steps of the righteous(Psalm 37:23); who doesn't forsake His saints (Psalm 37:28); who gives strength and blesses His people with peace (Psalm 29:11); who delivers from fear (Psalm 34:4); who heals the brokenhearted and binds up wounds (Psalm 147:3); who answers when we call upon Him (Psalm 91:14-16).

God's Word is full of examples of God's sustaining power through trials and deliverance from them, both Old and New Testaments.  However, we also have modern day examples as well - bookstores are full of exciting accounts of God's never-failing love.  When trials or circumstances arise, go to the Word for reminders of God's precious promises and REST knowing He ALWAYS makes good His promises.

The Meanest Mother in the World

In one of my file folders, I had this little 'article' that I wanted to share.  It was from a church magazine from 1983.  

The Meanest Mother in the World

I had the meanest mother in the world!  While other kids had candy for breakfast, I had to eat cereal, eggs and toast.

While other kids had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had a sandwich.  As you can guess, my dinner was different from other kids' dinners too.

My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.  You'd think we were on a chain gang or something.  She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.

I am ashamed to admit it, but she actually had the nerve to break the child labor law.  She made us work.  We had to wash dishes, make the beds and learn how to cook. 

That woman must have stayed awake nights thinking up things for us kids to do.  And she always insisted that we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 

By the time we were teenagers, our life became even more unbearable.  None of this tooting the car horn for us to come running;  She embarrassed us no end by insisting that the boys come to the door to get us.  

I forgot to mention that most of our friends were allowed to date at the mature ages of 12 and 13, but our old-fashioned mother refused to let us date until we were 15.  She really raised a bunch of squares.  

None of us was ever arrested for shoplifting or busted for dope.  And who do we have to thank for this?   You're right, our mean mother.  

I am trying to raise my children to stand a little straighter and taller, and I am secretly tickled to pieces when my children call me mean.  I thank God for giving me the meanest mother in the world.  

Author unknown 

TAKING A RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try at all is to risk failure.


But risk we must.
Because the greatest hazard to life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, 
      but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Only the person who risks can be called free.  


                       -- Author unknown

ATTITUDE

I ran across something in a file this morning that I thought I would share......  

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, a giftedness or skill.  It will make or break an organization...a school...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past....We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have.   And that is our attitude....

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with you....

Your life can be enriched with success, recognition, security, energy, achievement, happiness, growth, adventure, health, friendship, love, and inner-peace.  These all can be yours with a proper attitude.

Back again!

I was reminded recently that I had a blog that has been neglected for two years. In fact, I forgot I actually actively wrote in it for maybe two years. After looking it over again, I decided that I will see if I can write my thoughts once again and hopefully someone can benefit from something I have to say or experiences that I share.

In the two years since my last blog life has been pretty normal. We found a good church in our community and are very happy. The "claim to fame" is that our church has no fights. That is a blessing and probably pretty rare. We also have watched sermons online from a very large church in the Tulsa area where the preaching is very practical - something that is understandable and can change lives. http://www.churchonthemove.com/service

Our family is increasing. The oldest grandchildren are married and now one of them is expecting their first child in May. Our step-grandchildren have had babies too, adding to the fun and excitement of family life. Another grandson graduates from high school this spring and college in the fall is getting closer for him. My son got married on 11-11-11 to a beautiful gal and blended their families and homes. My daughters' lives have changed with their families growing. Nothing stays the same and that is good. That shows there is normal life, excitement and progress.

Our pets are the same, LC (our kitty) is 13 years old and Gracee (our Australian Shepherd) is 12. They are doing fine and are fun to have around.

So this is an update now for the past couple of years. I will post some pictures to update a little so hopefully I can continue to write this blog and that others will enjoy what I write.

SOUND WAVES

Science has intrigued me lately and I just received this email which I thought was worth sharing.

SOUND WAVES

Some scientists believe that the smallest particle is not the electron, the neutron, or the proton. It is SOUND, sound waves, or vibrating strings that have “notes.” When you take the smallest atom known (a neutron or a proton) and split it to its smallest form, there is one more particle inside the smallest particle - - a vibrating sound wave.

If this is true, and if the Genesis account is true that God used His words, or sound, to create, then I believe that sound waves are the smallest living substance unseen by the human eye that is at the core of every living thing.“The very stones will cry out.” Luke 19:4

Sound is the main ingredient in the base composition of all created things…. There are sound waves embedded in every created thing. Water particles and other sub-atomic particles actually respond to sound and even voice recognition. Every created thing can hear in a sense and respond in some way, as all things were created with the same core ingredients - - sound and glory. In Psalm 148 God commands the sun, moon, and stars to praise Him. He even commands the mountains and hills to praise Him. All creation has the ability to hear, listen, obey, respond, and worship its Creator.

NASA scientists recently discovered that sound waves of musical harmonious notes were coming from black holes. And other experiments revealed similar results from rock samples taken from outer space. In fact, they found that every created thing has musical sound waves imbedded in it. Why would musical sounds be produced from His creation? The Lord commands everything to worship Him. Hence, rock samples from distant planets emit sounds of worship that we can hear when put under special machines that track sound waves and energy.

Have you ever noticed that when you are traveling alone in the countryside, walking in the woods, or enjoying a beautiful natural setting, you often sense the presence of God? Creation emits “sound waves of worship” that are invisible to your natural ear, but your spirit receives them.

Have you noticed that you often can connect with God easier in a beautiful natural surrounding? I believe that all creation, in its natural state, is worshiping the Creator. There is an on-going symphony praising Him 24/7 in nature. Every created thing has sound waves and responds to sound waves spoken with the Glory and the Spirit of God.

Just saying words or reciting scriptures is not the key. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life. Get into the glory zone of His presence first, then speak forth and the creation will respond to your word.

Even cancer responds to the sound and command of your spoken words! Doctors use sound waves to treat cancer… using a procedure called high-intensity focused ultrasound, which is high energy sound waves, to destroy cancer cells. The high-intensity words you speak are much more powerful with the Holy Spirit and Glory.

Now you know why Jesus said we could speak to a mountain and it would be removed. God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would produce water. Satan tempted Jesus to turn the stones to bread. He knew it was entirely possible for Jesus to perform this miracle. You can even command broken bones to reconnect. The bones can hear and respond. Body parts and creation can hear and respond!

More soon.....

Personal experience

A friend and I were discussing (through emails) our spiritual experiences. I decided to share this one with you.

When I was nine years old we used to go to "Youth for Christ" meetings in Seattle. My brother, Arlen, would sit with his friends while Mom, Dad and I often sat in the balcony of this large auditorium somewhere in Seattle. At a specific time in the meeting, the lights were turned down low and they always sung the chorus, Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.... It was a very special time. The excellent meetings had special singers and speakers.

One night we came home and I started crying. I couldn't tell my parents what was wrong but Mom either sensed it or I said enough that she called the pastor. He came over and talked with me. I guess I was feeling conviction. That is when I accepted the Lord.

A very dramatic change occurred. I wanted to tell all my friends about it and get them to go to church. I became a little missionary! :-) I was baptized soon after. We were all to give a little testimony before baptism and I remember the verse I said then as my favorite verse and it stuck with me all my life.... "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus".

I hung onto that one many times throughout my life. And those needs are more than financial. Our needs include emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical. I have claimed it for all! :-)