OVER & OVER... AGAIN & AGAIN

It has been quite a while since I sat at the computer to share my thoughts... seems times get busy, attentions are drawn elsewhere, and life happens and moves on.

I've been doing some "clutter clean-out"!  Going through closets, drawers, and most difficult of all... boxes full of memories, you know... those filled with old letters, trinkets, cards, pictures, wedding and graduation announcements, mine & Steve's childhood memory items, our kids childhood memory items, and obituaries of friends and loved ones, etc.  Things that one moment can bring a smile of remembrance and then the next bring sobs of loss.  

One of my favorite quotes is from T. S. Elliot:  "We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."  

 It seems as if life keeps bringing me back to things that I thought I had dealt with in the past and yet there they are one more time, over & over, again & again.  I "put off" doing these kind of "clean-outs" because of the emotion that often accompanies the chore.  I have turned the art of "procrastination" into a "spiritual gift"!  However, I am still surprised when these feelings rear up like the Loch-ness monster from the depths of a lake and stare me in the face.  

Each time I am confronted with these ghosts of the past, I see that even though I am staring at the same monster, my response is different now than it was a year or years ago.  Tucked into my pocket is the gift of understanding and a continual process of "letting go".  Understanding that when things happen in life that wound me to the core, learning to trust God, letting go, and giving them over to Him, they don't wield the power they once had.  

So in all of my exploring over the last couple of weeks, and arriving back in my memory to places I have been, it has been as if it were a first visit.  Because of God's continued healing and strength the wounds no longer hold the magnitude of pain they once possessed. 

SHE CALLS ME "HER ANGEL"

Almost every Monday and Friday Morning for the past 7 1/2 months... I have gone to an extended living facility to care for a precious lady that we all know as "Sister".  On November 16th she will turn 90 years young.  I had gone to church with her for almost 19 years and admired her "prayer warrior spirit" just as many years.  She sat in the same pew (unless a visitor had beat her to it), was always dressed so neatly, many of her outfits bought by a younger sister, her weekly styled soft white hair, and jewelry that matched almost every outfit.  

I started going to lift her spirits and to pamper this dear friend.  Fragrant soaps, sweet smelling lotions, body sprays, perfume, make-up, hairspray, and all the necessities, along with necklace, earrings, and bracelet to match her outfit... are all a part of our routine.  But the most special part of this bi-weekly event, is that of "washing her feet".  I know a lot of churches do this as a form of worship - but all of the Baptist Churches that I've ever attended, do not practice this example set forth by our Lord.  Fresh hot water is always gotten and I proceed to my floor position in front of her seat.  First, the soaking (and usually lots of laughter), then the washing, followed by towel drying and lotion before shimmying on her skid proof socks.  I can't tell you what an HONOR this ritual is for me!

It doesn't matter who walks into the room, or who calls on the phone - she always refers to me as "her Angel" (and I can't help but smile every time I hear it)!  All of us are made with a desire deep within to be needed, and since my children are grown and have homes of their own... that feeling has to come from somewhere else.  For me it comes from a room, on a back hall, with a pink and green fluffy wreath on the door, at a place called Smithfield Manor.  

I go to encourage "Sister"... yet I leave more encouraged than you can imagine.  As I'm walking out the door - she never fails to tell me she loves me and to "keep looking up"!  The other day she was not feeling well and I bathed her in the bed... when I readied to leave - I kissed her on the cheek, told her I loved her, and she touched my hand, squeezed it and said... "You're my best friend."  I joked with her on my way out of the room, told her I'd see her at our next appointed time, and closed the door on what I call her... 
"MY BLESSING!"   

The Window through which I Look

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman watched her neighbor hanging wash outside.

“That laundry is not very clean,” she said. ”She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband,

“Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.I wonder who taught her this.”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

———————————————–

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others may depend on the purity of the window through which we look. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (Psalm 139:23)

The War Which Rages Within Me

Yesterday morning before leaving for the Early Service at church... I turned on the TV to listen to Dr. David Jeremiah while getting primped and dressed.  He has been doing a series of messages on "Claiming Faith - Finding Freedom," a study of the book of Galatians.  During his sermon he quoted a poem that immediately caught my attention.  I jotted down the first line because I knew that I would later in the day go on a hunt for the complete rhyme.  Amazingly, even in Pastor Rodney's Sunday School Class a verse was used and a reference made to what the contents of the rhyme were concerning - causing again my desire to go on a "google search" ! ! !  Consider the following words:

Two natures beat within my breast.
The one is cursed, the other is blessed.
The one I love, the other I hate.
The one I feed will dominate.
- Author Unknown

I find myself daily aware of "the war which rages within me"... between the flesh "the natural woman - the old nature" and "the spiritual woman - the new nature."  As I mature spiritually it becomes more and more apparent to me that I must daily feed (nourish) the new nature so that it will grow and become the stronger nature in this battle.  At the same time - I must say "NO" to the "old nature" and its desires!

I do not fight alone in this battle... Every Christian encounters these skirmishes in the battleground of our hearts and soul.  The "old nature," energized by its liaison with the world, in numerous ways, molests to disturb the peace and joy of the Believer. 

The spiritual lives of some of the greatest characters in the Bible were marred by "personal weakness" and "major mishaps."  Noah - Abraham - Jacob - Moses - Samson - David - Thomas - Peter - Paul - and the list goes on.  The Lord, with forthright honesty, gives us glimpses of the lowest points in the lives of those He used most.  Even though these men knew and loved the Lord... the same battle raged within each of them.

The "nature" we feed... will dominate!

 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.   

(Galatians 5:16-25 KJV)

Lord, help me to daily "Walk and Live in YOUR Spirit"!

COMFORT OFTEN BREEDS COMPLACENCY

I read this quote by C. S. Lewis the other day and have pondered on it since...  "The human spirit will not even begin to try to surrender 'self-will' as long as all seems to be well with it."

Again I am led to believe that for us (ME) to grow spiritually - we (I) must be moved from or forced out of our (MY) "Comfort Zone"!  In MY own life.... comfort seems to breed complacency!

It is in those difficult times in life that the Lord seems to reveal Himself most, because I have moved ME out of the way.  When I have come to a place of realizing I can do nothing... that is when God steps up and shows He is not only real... but that He is REAL TO ME!  It is in trials that my senses become keenly aware that He is working in my life.  

I am in no way advocating or desiring troubles to make me aware of His activity.  Let me make it completely clear:  I hate pain, I hate how it feels and what it does to me, to those I love and care for, and to others.  I detest the fact that life isn’t fair. I am frustrated that people who love God - must face the blows of life.  I am saddened to see all that is going on in the world around me today.  My heart breaks for friends and loved ones who are now going through loss, sickness, and heartache. 

When I am consumed with ‘SELF’ and take God out of the equation then there remains no purpose to all of it.  No purpose in the trials… no purpose in the pain... no purpose in the frustration... no purpose in the sadness... no purpose in the loss... no purpose in the heartache... no purpose in anything… just random suffering and agony without meaning.  When 'SELF' stands in the forefront... all I can do is ask WHY!

However, when I relinquish my ‘self-will’ and cling to His will, and put my faith and trust in Him… I BELIEVE!  I believe that there is a significant greater  purpose in  suffering, even though I may have no idea what it might be!  I don’t want to look back on life and see that I merely had a comfortable existence filled with apathy and complacency.  I want to look back and see that I have been in "the fire" for a reason.  I want somehow for every tear and every pain to be part of some inexplicable divine plan that my finite mind cannot fathom or comprehend in this lifetime.

The shuttles of His purpose move

To carry out His own design;
Seek not too soon to disapprove
His work, nor yet assign
Dark motives, when, with silent tread,
You view some somber fold;
For lo, within each darker thread
There twines a thread of gold.

  

(1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)   "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know inpart; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

Lord, Keep My Face "LOOKING TOWARD THE EAST"

I know that some of you will wonder... "has she totally lost it now (or did she bump her head in the tumble she took the other day)?"... and some may even think that is the direction her grandbabies will be flying in when they come from Thailand... with praying the Lord to keep her looking east?... but none of the above is correct - let me explain:

In Ezekiel 43:1, 2, & 4 it says:   “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.   And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.”  Then in Ezekiel 10:19 it says:  "And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above."

The "glory of the Lord" entered the temple from the east.  Many times in scripture we see the glory of God manifested from the east.  It was a star in the east that led the wise men to the Christ child.  

Matthew 2:9  “When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”

Many of our cemeteries are designed with all the graves facing towards the east.  This is done so when Christ returns in all His glory and we are resurrected... we are facing east and facing Him.

Matthew 24:27   “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

My prayer of:  "Lord, Keep My Face "LOOKING TOWARD THE EAST" is for the very reason that I always want to be looking for His glory in every aspect of life and hopefully living my life to bring Him glory!  Daily watching and waiting... ready for His glorious return. 

Matthew 24:42   “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

Lord, Keep My Face "LOOKING TOWARD THE EAST"... always "LOOKING TO SEE YOUR GLORY"! 

ARE WE TRULY SORRY???

So often I have heard it said, and even said or thought it myself:  "It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission"!   There are many that live by this 'motto'... believing that getting their actions approved ahead of time is overrated.  Not asking permission in advance for fear that permission will not be granted... we proceed with the activity of choice.  Later if it is found that something has been done wrong or a wrong decision has been made - then time is spent apologizing and making amends or restitution.  Our children do this, employees do this, I have even heard Pastors say this in reference to their congregation, husband and wives do this, and yes... I am guilty of such dreaded activity.

In even contemplating how often I've seen this plan in action... I realized that as Christians we often do this with the Lord.  Going ahead with our own plans and our own personal will... never asking Him what He would have us do - only when later we find we have gone the wrong direction in life... then we want to "blame" Him for not directing our steps.  How can we "blame" Him... when we didn't ask for His guidance and direction to begin with???  The Lord desires our "obedience" more than our "sacrifices and apologies."  So we must ask ourselves:  "Are we truly sorry" or do we just want "what WE want" - no matter the cost - and we will ask forgiveness later???

And Samuel said , Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings 
and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken 

than the fat of rams.  (1 Samuel 15:22)

Humpty Dumpty - Great was the Fall

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the Kings horses

And all the Kings men,

Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty

Together again!

So many things in this life "Rise and Fall"... just like Humpty Dumpty.  Temperatures go up and a cool front moves in - temperatures fall;  flowers work their blooms out of the ground - frost or time settle on them and they fall;  the DOW has a good day and the "Stock Market" rises - depressions happen and the climbing numbers and profits fall;  harsh words are spoken and anger rises - apologies are made and calmness falls;  a blockbuster movie is released and a Star's Fame rises - then tabloids tell lies or secrets and their fame falls;  and the list could go on with examples of Empires, Fortunes, Bank Balances, Egos, Popularity, Prices, Airplanes, Hot-air balloons, etc.  In this familiar Nursery Rhyme not a lot of information is told of Mr. Dumpty's character or how he rose to the status of sitting high upon that wall - but we do learn of the untimely plight of his great fall.  We also learn that when found on the ground his first thought was to turn to the government or to men to fix his quandary (many in our society do the same - but I will not linger here), to no avail.  

It is "human nature" to want to be at the "top of the wall"!  In doing my Bible Study "Walking by Faith" this week - Jennifer Rothschild brought out three very important points that made me think of Humpty and to ponder the "Rise and Fall" issue.  Humpty was on the "Rise" first then came the "fall" - but in the spiritual world we must "Fall" first - then the "Rise" transpires.

• If I desire to rise with the presence of the Lord... I must first fall before Him in worship.
• If I desire to rise with strength... I must first fall before Him in weakness.
• If I desire to rise with purity... I must first fall before Him in repentance.

No matter where we find ourselves this very moment - whether at the "top of the wall" 
or in a "heap on the ground" at the bottom of it - the King, his horses, nor his men 
are the answer:  Our only hope lies in the redeeming and restoring grace of 
the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE HARDEST QUESTION I'VE EVER ASKED!

In finishing up with the "Jonah" Bible Study by Priscilla Shirer... I love doing some extra digging to see what others have gleaned from studying the same chapters in the Bible.  I was reading a sermon on Jonah by Ray Pritchard and in it he posed a challenge to do the following:

Take a Bible plus a notebook and a pen and find a quiet place. Then pray this simple prayer: 

“LORD, SHOW ME THE TRUTH ABOUT MYSELF.” 

Those seven words are all you need to say. Then wait for God to speak to you.

When we pray that way, the answer will begin to come from heaven. Little by little the Holy Spirit will show us our weaknesses, our faults, our mistakes, our bad attitudes, our foolish words, our pride, our arrogance, our need to be in control, our need to tell others what to do, our desire to have our own way, our anger, our bitterness, our lack of mercy, our lack of love, and our lack of compassion. I know from personal experience that if you wait long enough, the Lord will always reveal the truth to you.

It’s hard to do this. God knows that so sometime he forces the issue. Sometimes God puts us in places where we have to face the consequences of our own poor choices.

He won’t take sin in stride.
He won’t say “Boys will be boys" nor "Girls will be girls".
He is passionate for holiness.

He loves us too much to let us go on in sin forever. 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  (Psalm 139:23-24)

A "CONTROL FREAK" ON A TANDEM BIKE

As a child, one of the many feats that we aspire to conquer is that of “riding a bike”!  Desiring to ride without training wheels…  mastering control of balance, the direction, the speed, the destination.  As we approach those teenage years, we aspire the same control of our lives.  Desiring to “do it our way”… no training wheels or guiding influences… wanting to control the balance, the direction, the speed, and the destination!  I for one, being a “CONTROL FREAK” have tried to do this with my own life and with that of my family.  The Lord has lovingly and gradually pried my fingers one at a time cutting the apron strings of my adult children’s lives and is now taking me through the process of loosening the grip on my own life.  I will admit that at times it has been --- loosen two fingers and then grip them closed again… or the prying has been done with me “kicking and screaming” fighting all the way.

In doing the Bible Study… “Walking by Faith” by Jennifer Rothschild – I have come to realize that if I am truly going to “Walk by Faith,” I must loosen the grip on my own life and allow God full control.  (I loosen two fingers and grip them tight again and again.)  As a child, I wanted to ride that “one seated” bike… but as a CHILD OF GOD… the Lord is showing me that I shall learn to ride a “TANDEM BIKE” (a bicycle built for two.)  Thing is… as I run to hoist myself upon it --- I am tempted to quickly take the seat in front.  The front rider (The Captain) is the strongest… they control the ride… the direction… the speed… and the destination.  The Captain is the one who sees the road straight ahead and the obstacles that may lie in our path.  The second seat rider (The Stoker) follows.  Peddling in rhythm with the Captain and leaning through the curves that come our way - are the Stoker’s main duties, but above all this… the Stoker must continually communicate and TRUST the Captain completely!  Along with TRUST and communication, the Stoker also is offered the privilege of resting in the leadership abilities of the Captain.  Working together, beautiful things are accomplished and destinations are attained.  THE CAPTAIN is the LORD HIMSELF… THE STOKER is ME!

The TANDEM BIKE can also be a perfect example of how our marriages should be with THE CAPTAIN being the HUSBAND and THE STOKER being the WIFE… but we will save that for another day ;)  I must iterate here though the fact that “HAVOC CAN BE WROUGHT, FROM THE STOKER SEAT”!  In both these situations we learn that TRULY – GOD’S WAY IS ALWAYS BEST!

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Lord, help me to loosen my grip... take my place willingly and joyfully as the "STOKER" and TRUST WHOLEHEARTEDLY in you as my "CAPTAIN!"

The Pharisee in Me

I am what I would call a "black and white" kind of girl.  Viewing "RIGHT" as right and "WRONG" as wrong!  The halo on my head would like to say that my standard for that "black and white"... "right and wrong" is always the Word of God --- but that would not be the truth.  Oft times, what I judge as right (white) and what I judge as sin (black) is based on my own opinions, views, personal convictions, life experiences, and most of all "MY preferences" --- and does not take into consideration what the Word of God says.  When the Pharisee in me emerges - I become the "standard" instead of the Bible! I detest this in others when they unfairly judge me or someone that I love... but then find myself jumping on my "throne" and doing the same thing.  It is then that the still small voice of the Lord whispers in my ear:

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."  (Matthew 7:2)

UGH!  Sadly, we as Christians hold each other to higher standards than any of us can live up to... resulting in us judging "UNJUSTLY!"  Within our bodies of believers, where we should be the safest and receive the most love, encouragement, and support... oft times fellow Christians are wounded beyond healing.  Keeping myself in line and where I need to be, and judging my own actions, thoughts, and utterings - is enough to consume all of my time.  

Lord, help me to show and give others the forgiveness and mercy that you have so graciously shown and bestowed upon me and cast out that Pharisee in Me!

Underneath this Armor

I would like to consider myself a "Warrior for Christ"!  Each day putting on the whole "Armor of God" to face the world in which I live... hoping to make a difference in someones life and standing against the wiles of the devil.  I must admit though... that underneath all this armor - no matter how "cool" or "together" or "tough" I may appear:  dwells the heart of a child!  The Lord is my stronghold, and without HIM, I would look more like "chicken little" than a WARRIOR!

Twila Paris wrote a song called:  "The Warrior Is A Child" that sums up these feelings that I hold within and expresses them far greater than I ever could in my own feeble words... Here are the lyrics:

“The Warrior Is A Child”  

lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
but even winners can get wounded in the fight
people say that I’m amazing
strong beyond my years
but they don’t see inside of me
I’m hiding all the tears

they don’t know that I go running home when I fall down
they don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
‘cuz deep inside this armor
the warrior is a child

unafraid because His armor is the best
but even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
people say that I’m amazing
never face retreat, oh no
but they don’t see the enemies
that lay me at His feet

they don’t know that I come running home when I fall down
they don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
‘cuz deep inside this armor
the warrior is a child

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."  (Nahum 1:7)

DO I "RESPOND" OR "REACT"?

Yesterday, three special ladies and I began a new Bible Study by Jennifer Rothschild called "Walking by Faith... Lessons Learned in the Dark."  In the INTRODUCTION VIDEO the statement was made that: "When I choose to walk by FAITH and not by SIGHT --- no matter how hard life is --- I can simply say, "It is well with my soul even if it may not be well with my circumstance."  Following is her explanation of the difference between "Walking by Faith" and "Walking by Sight":

1. Walking by FAITH                            2. Walking by SIGHT
    Willing to take a step                                               Usually plays it safe
    Follows God; gives up control                             Seizes control
    Responds with thankfulness                                 Responds with bitterness and anger
    Perseveres, endures                                                Quits
    Is guided by truth                                                     Is influenced by feelings
    Is willing to wait on God                                        Waits on things from God

In looking and studying these two examples of our Christian Walk... you immediately see that in "Walking by Faith" we RESPOND... while "Walking by Sight" we REACT.  "Well, what is the difference," you may say --- and to answer that even for my own inquisitiveness ;) I came to the conclusion... RESPONDING takes thought and consideration, where REACTING is usually a "knee jerk" quick action without thought or consideration.
  
As believers, this beautifully illustrates how our lives ought to be lived... As if we were wearing "spiritual blindfolds."  God did not promise that we would be able to see everything that He is doing in our lives, or even see what we want in this life.  Nor are we guaranteed to understand our circumstances or why we must go through times of hardship, loss, illness, and struggles here on earth.  Instead, we are lovingly commanded to follow the voice of our shepherd... our Lord and to search for and consider what He is trying to teach us or how He is trying to lead us.  We are to focus on things eternal... not on things temporal.  We are to focus on HIM and not our circumstances.  We are to trust in "what we CANNOT see... "Walking daily by FAITH, and not by circumstances or SIGHT!"

TRUST shows itself when it leaves the tip of our tongues and lands on our tennis shoes and we begin to walk --- not just talk --- our FAITH!  ~Jennifer Rothschild

"For we walk by faith, not by sight:"  (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Orange Slice Candy, Circus Peanuts, and Orange Candy Sticks

Orange slice candy, circus peanuts, and orange candy sticks from Cracker Barrel... who would of ever thought that these could be used as witnessing tools for our Lord :)

Can evangelism be creative? We rarely hear those two words used together in the same sentence. Wonder why that is? When it comes to evangelism we often stick with what is customary (a gospel tract, our personal testimony, the Roman’s Road, a Wordless Book), and all of those are good, but what if you want to think outside the box or the Lord is leading you to "think outside the box."  The message never changes but methods never cease to change.

Thus comes in to play the items mentioned above.... The Lord has blessed me with a new friend named Jana that I have quite quickly grown to enjoy her fellowship.  She has an Uncle Ernest that I've never met but for some reason the Lord has burdened my heart greatly for this dear man.  He is from the mountains of Virginia and is in a Hospice Center nearing the end of his life.  Jana is the closest living relative to Uncle Ernest and is the one responsible for his care.  She has numerous times tried to share the gospel with him, but he always stops her from talking about the Lord.  He has a "sweet tooth" and his favorite items to curb that craving are:  Orange Slice Candy, Circus Peanuts, and Orange Candy Sticks!  I have found that "Cracker Barrel" sell all three - so I am keeping Uncle Ernest stocked in his favorite pleasures.  Along with each box that I've mailed to this precious man... I have asked the Lord to give me a unique way of sharing the gospel with him that will not be offensive.  He played the guitar for years - so I have sent him poems about the "Old Violin" and about "The Old Guitar" and shared how they were brought to life by the touch of the Master's Hand... also I wrote him a story about us walking hand in hand down the "Roman's Road," explaining all the sights we saw, and me telling him of my "special friend" who has changed my life!  Each time praying that the Lord would make his heart tender.  Although I may never meet Uncle Ernest in person here on earth... I hope to one day meet him in Heaven.

I'm asking all those who read my blog to please add this dear man (Ernest Marshall) to your prayer list... and will you pray for me as I use the Orange Slice Candy, Circus Peanuts, and Orange Candy Sticks... to show Christ's love to him... that the Lord will also give me the words and unique ideas of how to share the Gospel message in ways that he will not be offended.  Pray he will receive it!
  

Lord, Let my actions reinforce the faith 
I confess with my mouth.

CRUMBS FROM A FULL PLATE

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores."  (Luke 16:19-21)

Definition of CRUMB:  a very small quantity of something

The other day while reading Luke 16... although reading all the way through the rest of the chapter to verse 31 - the Lord is trying to teach us many lessons... but in my pondering just the three verses above, here is what I gleaned: 

We are so busy these days... with work, hobbies, trying to impress the world and make a name for ourselves, climbing the corporate ladder, etc. - so many activities that our "plates are FULL."  Sad thing is, we get so busy with all that, there are only "CRUMBS" left for those we love.  Have you ever noticed how many times, the people that we really love the MOST are NOT those we love the BEST?  Often they get our crumbs instead of the best that we have to offer.  This happens with our relationship with the Lord also.  We are so busy that we even offer Him... CRUMBS.

We are always so worried about how others perceive us that we try so hard to please and do for those that probably and most likely know and care for us the least.  But for those that love us the most, accepting us in our faults and in our strengths, we tend to give the worst of us - most of the time.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox says it best in one of her writings:

There's one sad truth in life I've found
While journeying east and west -
The only folks we really wound
Are those we love the best.
We flatter those we scarcely know,
We please the fleeting guest,
And deal full many a thoughtless blow
To those who love us best.  

As Lazarus sat at the rich man's door, waiting and desiring only the CRUMBS that fell from the table, I wonder if our spouses, children, family, friends, and most of all our Lord... are sitting, yearning, waiting, longing, for once to get the BEST we have to offer... or are they waiting for just a CRUMB we may happen to drop to them on our way to impress a world that will chew us up and spit us out at the first opportunity?

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."  ~Mother Teresa

"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."  ~Carl W. Buechner

MY NAME IS PRIDE

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."  (Proverbs 16:18)

The story is told of two ducks and a frog who lived happily together in a farm pond. The best of friends, the three would amuse themselves and play together in their waterhole. When the hot summer days came, however, the pond began to dry up, and soon it was evident they would have to move. This was no problem for the ducks, who could easily fly to another pond. But the frog was stuck. So it was decided that they would put a stick in the bill of each duck that the frog could hang onto with his mouth as they flew to another pond. The plan worked well--so well, in fact, that as they were flying along a farmer looked up in admiration and mused, "Well, isn't that a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it?" The frog said, "I did..."   

The perfect example of "Pride going before a Fall"... LITERALLY :)

That unruly monster we call "PRIDE" rears it's ugly head so often in my life.  Am I the only one that seems to struggle SO with this particular sin?  

How many times have we missed out on "God's Best" for our lives... because of our own selfish pride?  How many times have we missed out on special friendships because of pride?  How many times have we failed to say "I'm sorry" and receive the forgiveness of others because of our pride?

God has a way of speaking to us and getting our attention... and today He did that very thing.  I am a huge "Beth Moore" fan and while reading a few of her articles that I had tucked away for "another time"... I came across this poem and read:

My Name Is Pride

~Beth Moore

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny…

because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment…

because you “deserve better than this.”

I cheat you of knowledge…

because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing…

because you are too full of you to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness…

because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.

I cheat you of vision…

because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of genuine friendship…

because nobody’s going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love…

because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven…

because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.

I cheat you of God’s glory…

because I convinced you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.

Untrue.

I’m looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…

If you stick with me you’ll never know.

Thank you Lord for those tender lessons you send "screaming" into my heart!

God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.

Dwight L. Moody