was taken in Niger, Africa. I don't know why Danny didn't bring one home for me!
Friday, September 23, 2011
My dream pet!
was taken in Niger, Africa. I don't know why Danny didn't bring one home for me!
Two little words......
Thank you. Two little words that can make such a difference in the day. I heard a quote one time that went something like this - "What if you woke up this morning and the only things you had today were the things you thanked God for yesterday?" Wow - chew on that a little bit. How often do you take the time to thank God for all that He has blessed you with? I know the answer for me is NOT NEARLY ENOUGH! There have been some days that if that quote was true I would have been sitting under a tree wearing my birthday suit, know what I mean! So, in case you're having trouble thinking of some things you can be thankful for, I thought I'd share a few:
1. I am a Christian - going to Heaven thanks to Jesus :)
2. I live in America.
3. I have food to eat today (anyone that knows me knows this is HUGE.)
4. I have a roof over my head.
5. I have a bed to sleep in and a couch to sit on.
6. I have clothes to wear.
7. I have a car to drive and gasoline in it.
8. I have children and grandchildren.
9. I have a wonderful husband.
10. I have a great job.
11. I have an awesome Church and Pastors.
12. I have wonderful friends like you!
Just a few things to help "jump start" your thanksgiving. Let's say thank you today to our wonderful, awesome, loving Father.
Have a blessed day.
Friday, September 16, 2011
What's love got to do with it?
I made the mistake of reading a devotional on love this morning! Seems like all day long I have been challenged to walk in love and I must say, I have not succeeded. So, I guess this is my confessional, ha ha. Walking in love seems like such a glorious goal, such a "sanctimonious" action, and when we read about it we just soar with high expectations. Then, we put down the book and "life comes at you fast."
I'm not saying we can't do it - we can do it, because Jesus said we can. We can do it because the Holy Spirit has been given to us and the Bible says that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Shed abroad means that it has been lavishly poured out on us. So, if Jesus said we could and God said He has poured it out in our hearts lavishly, then what is the problem? I'll tell you - it's our stinking flesh! It just feels good to let the flesh have it's way - to lash out - to say ugly things - to be selfish - contrite - even rude - when we don't get our way.
But you remember that "team" concept I was talking about the other day? Well, it applies here too. Every time that I choose to let my flesh run wild, I am hurting the team. More importantly, I am hurting my testimony and my ability to have some influence in people's lives, to make a difference in this world. You remember the "3 C's?" People of character endeavor to walk in love, people of commitment give of themselves unselfishly, and people of consistency are the same every day. So, if you, like me, have been struggling with your love walk, let's make a commitment right here and now that we're going to do a better job in "walking in love." What's love got to do with it? Just EVERYTHING!
Love ya!
I'm not saying we can't do it - we can do it, because Jesus said we can. We can do it because the Holy Spirit has been given to us and the Bible says that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Shed abroad means that it has been lavishly poured out on us. So, if Jesus said we could and God said He has poured it out in our hearts lavishly, then what is the problem? I'll tell you - it's our stinking flesh! It just feels good to let the flesh have it's way - to lash out - to say ugly things - to be selfish - contrite - even rude - when we don't get our way.
But you remember that "team" concept I was talking about the other day? Well, it applies here too. Every time that I choose to let my flesh run wild, I am hurting the team. More importantly, I am hurting my testimony and my ability to have some influence in people's lives, to make a difference in this world. You remember the "3 C's?" People of character endeavor to walk in love, people of commitment give of themselves unselfishly, and people of consistency are the same every day. So, if you, like me, have been struggling with your love walk, let's make a commitment right here and now that we're going to do a better job in "walking in love." What's love got to do with it? Just EVERYTHING!
Love ya!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
It's not fair!
I was thinking about the Marine Corp. this morning while I was drying my hair. I know, weird, huh? But what else do you have to think about while you're completing this menial boring task? I have just a little knowledge on the subject because my youngest son-in-law, Aaron, is a Marine. We learned a little about how the Marines think when he went to boot camp. The Marine's boot camp is the toughest one in the Armed Forces (Sorry if you belonged to another branch, this is just what the Marines say, lol). The truth is, though, that it is the longest boot camp and also if you decide to enlist in another branch of the service you don't have to go back through boot camp. If you are in the Army, Air Force or Navy and decide to become a Marine you have to go through Marine Boot Camp. So, I think that's a pretty good argument for it being the toughest camp, haha.
My point, though, is that during boot camp you loose your personal identity. You are no longer "one" you are the team. Everything you do, you do as a team. You eat, sleep, exercise, shower, pee and poo together. And guess what? If one of you messes up, the whole unit is punished. I don't care if you weren't even in the vicinity when one of your team members messed up - you get punished right along with everyone else. During this intense training you are being taught to trust your leader without question. He is operating for the good of the team.
In February Aaron was deployed with his Unit. The "team" concept continues to operate! If one of the guys went out during a "free" week-end and did something stupid, there was a strong possibility that all of them would lose their liberty for the rest of the week. There have been times when I have been tempted to think "that's not fair! Why should Aaron be punished because of some knot heads that went out and got drunk, high, whatever, and tore up a hotel room, or jumped out a window and broke a leg?"
Well, I think the Holy Spirit shined the light on that question this morning. The goal of boot camp is to become a team. It is critical when you are in the heat of the battle that you do not think like an individual. You MUST think like a team, move like a team, be a team in order to survive. You cannot think on your own or question why an order has been given - you must obey - even when it does not seem logical or make sense, or seem fair. You do not have the luxury of acting on your own - your actions may cause other people to die. There is a "code of honor" among servicemen - no one left behind. That is why they bring back a fallen solider's body - that is why they risk their own lives to rescue the wounded.
What does this have to do with us, you may ask? Glad you asked! As the Body of Christ, we must develop a "team" concept. We are not an island unto ourselves. Contrary to what we like to think, our actions do affect others. Everything I do, everything I say, every choice I make affects the entire Body of Christ. If you were at the Ladies PrimeTime Event Friday night, you know that I spoke on the "3 C's." Why must we be people of character, commitment and consistency? Because it affects the rest of the team! We must learn to think like a team, move like a team, be a team in order to be the glorious Church that God intends us to be.
So when life doesn't seem fair (which it never is) and decisions that your leaders make don't make sense, circumstances are not what you thought they should be and things didn't happen like you expected - just say "I trust you God." My trust is not based on my understanding. It is based on who God is, His nature, His character, His love. So let's buckle down, get through this boot camp, and be the glorious Church God is calling us to be.
My point, though, is that during boot camp you loose your personal identity. You are no longer "one" you are the team. Everything you do, you do as a team. You eat, sleep, exercise, shower, pee and poo together. And guess what? If one of you messes up, the whole unit is punished. I don't care if you weren't even in the vicinity when one of your team members messed up - you get punished right along with everyone else. During this intense training you are being taught to trust your leader without question. He is operating for the good of the team.
In February Aaron was deployed with his Unit. The "team" concept continues to operate! If one of the guys went out during a "free" week-end and did something stupid, there was a strong possibility that all of them would lose their liberty for the rest of the week. There have been times when I have been tempted to think "that's not fair! Why should Aaron be punished because of some knot heads that went out and got drunk, high, whatever, and tore up a hotel room, or jumped out a window and broke a leg?"
Well, I think the Holy Spirit shined the light on that question this morning. The goal of boot camp is to become a team. It is critical when you are in the heat of the battle that you do not think like an individual. You MUST think like a team, move like a team, be a team in order to survive. You cannot think on your own or question why an order has been given - you must obey - even when it does not seem logical or make sense, or seem fair. You do not have the luxury of acting on your own - your actions may cause other people to die. There is a "code of honor" among servicemen - no one left behind. That is why they bring back a fallen solider's body - that is why they risk their own lives to rescue the wounded.
What does this have to do with us, you may ask? Glad you asked! As the Body of Christ, we must develop a "team" concept. We are not an island unto ourselves. Contrary to what we like to think, our actions do affect others. Everything I do, everything I say, every choice I make affects the entire Body of Christ. If you were at the Ladies PrimeTime Event Friday night, you know that I spoke on the "3 C's." Why must we be people of character, commitment and consistency? Because it affects the rest of the team! We must learn to think like a team, move like a team, be a team in order to be the glorious Church that God intends us to be.
So when life doesn't seem fair (which it never is) and decisions that your leaders make don't make sense, circumstances are not what you thought they should be and things didn't happen like you expected - just say "I trust you God." My trust is not based on my understanding. It is based on who God is, His nature, His character, His love. So let's buckle down, get through this boot camp, and be the glorious Church God is calling us to be.
I'll leave you with this scripture for thought: Proverbs 3:5-6 says "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."
Be blessed today!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Giving Birth
Today Mandy helped me give birth! A healthy bouncing baby blogspot was born. Just warning you - this could get messy. You know that babies pee pee, poo poo & spit up A LOT! So, read with caution. Having recently had a baby in the house (Brody) I realize they can get messy. Just kidding - hopefully this blogspot will not be too difficult to learn how to use. Well, I guess for today that's about all the baby can stand! I'll be back in a few days.
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