Israel's Hope is my Hope.

This caught my Spirit this morning:
Sammy Rhodes, a campus minister (Reformed University Fellowship, Presbyterian Church/America) in South Carolina, TWEETED: 
Culture:  “Be yourself”
Jesus:  “Find yourself in Me”

After reading this, I then started reading my devotion from the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah when he cried out to God, concerned God wasnt there with Israel. 

Jeremiah's calling out to God was desperate yet he continually restated faith, knowing in his heart God WAS there even IN the struggle. 

       Jer.14.8-9
        "You who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress...You are among us, Lord , and we bear your name...!" (Bells & whistles... like the tweet said, "find yourself in me")

Dig further, my spirit prodded.

Sometimes do you have trouble being still?  Yeah, me, too!

So I asked God to put me IN His Word.
Duh, this literally is possible.  Putting my cries IN Jeremiah's outcry:

        "You are my Hope,  my Savior in my distress. ..you are with me, and I bear Your Name."

Then I questioned, "How do I bear God's name?"

Humanly speaking, bearing my family's name,  I receive respect and love, through the actions &/or past actions of my mother, father, grandmother, grandfather.  Their earthly legacy is such a blessing to me in so many ways.  In an even greater way than my worldly family, God is MY eternal Namesake...my Creator, teacher, provider.  (He knew me before I was born, and he counted every hair.)

His leading--making a straighter path for us, preveniently walking ahead of us and our circumstances shows His eternal love for His most-precious creation. 

As He quietly goes before us, could He be mis-perceived as abandoning us in some moments?

Pondering those words over and over, God's providence comes in many forms...obvious and during worldly struggles that may not be so clear.

My heart belief is "He wants 'the Best' for us, His believers, and is eager for our learning how to take on His character and actions. 

Seeking Him like Jeremiah and listening for His  voice, conveyed through His Holy Spirit in the quiet puts the world on hold while we spend time with Him.  (Which is why He sent Christ to reach us and have a personal relationship with Him.)

Yes, spending time in God's Living Word and listening for His voice is an active decision. 

He hasn't abandoned; let's listen,  watch, and wait.  The recognition will come in His time and He will share His love in very creative answers.

Where did Jesus, our Hope, meet you today?

HE IS ALWAYS WITH US...we see Him when we seek Him.

When struggles come into our child's life, we want to help them as quickly as we can...in some way. This becomes difficult especially when they are not within physical reach.


Where can I turn to get beyond my own kind of response? I must again seek God's thoughts on the matter.


His Word is the best place to go and take on the His calming balm. Someone else compelled to help by guiding and/or reminding the new Christians of his day was the Apostle, Paul.


While imprisoned in Rome for his outspokenness of Christ as Savior, he did not yield and wrote to Christ's followers in Collosae (Asia Minor) reminding them to take hold of their "call in Christ".

Colossians 2:5-10 "I'm a long way off, true, ....but believe me, I'm on your side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.

My counsel is simple and straightforward: Go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live Him, deeply rooted in Him. You're well constructed upon Him, knowing your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. Let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk, wanting to drag you off into endless arguments never amounting to anything, spreading ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. (But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in Him, so you can see and hear him clearly.)

Not needing a telescope, microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without Him. When you come to Him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything."

Re-reading this passage in NIV (and posting it here from THE MESSAGE), it captures some very important guidance for those far away and on their own.


Important comforting words, reminding words, truth-filled words, confirming words. 
Yes, communing in the Fullness of Christ...He is the epitome for each of us (be ye writer or recipient).


Blessings,

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

THANKFUL THURSDAYS...'cause pitchforks were flyin'..revised

JOINING THANKFUL THURSDAY...

Have you ever had a little devil flitting throughout your day?

Little meanies whirring around your head?


...my migraine was pounding...making my typing class notes an even bigger job.  


Devil-like Thing 1/Thing2 averting us away from 'details'?   
I left out two members of my class as I typed.  
POOH to those little problem makers!

His little pitchfork continued prodding on class day, eyes aching from only 4  hours of sleep.  
His idea of sneaking 'just one coffee' at dinner.  

Mr. Hot, himself, visiting the classroom, 'heating it' to abnormally warm for the end of Summer.
...pushed us into propping a window for a little of the day's cool-rain breezes.  


Angel classmates supporting attitudes even though the 'prop' fell from the window 'slamming' the window shut...(jolting us all out of our seats).  
He's NEVER going to give up poking...

Struggling to smile.  Asking for His (The Big Guy's) help in moving on instead of lamenting devilish occurrences...
(mindful:  some of God's answers are in HIS time)

Ignoring the little red guy's input, praying he leaves our space, then loading the DVD reviewing an expert's 4-Gospel theology. 

Loading it was SUCCESSFUL; viewing it was IMPOSSIBLE.
No matter what button was being pushed, no matter who was pushing the buttons.  No luck.

Interrupting the class again, then walking the long hallway to the 'building staff'...
finding out thunderstorms jolted all electronics; rebooting was in order.  
I KNEW who I wanted to REBOOT!  hahahah :\

Successfully reaching the finish line for the day, we shared wishes for a better NEXT WEEK.  

However, I must STOP.


Take notice of suffering, our suffering.


What was I learning as he was prodding?


NEVER waste suffering:

• no caffeine after 5pm
• full night's sleep: crucial b4 a 'study' class 
• double-check sign-up sheets
• use steadier props than styrofoam cups for windows 
• ALWAYS double check electronics b4 class 
• keep custodians' pager numbers
• wear comfortable shoes for looooooong walks
• KEEP backup batteries
• God's Power...more reliable than any other...reachable on a prayer's breath...responds without walking down long hallways!

Ephesians 6:10 
"So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials, put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way." 

WEAVING AND BELIEVING...

Do you ever read something that just GRABS you?

Well, I just did...it was over at Lallee's Cottage...she wrote:

God's shalom of

peace--the literal

translation refers to a garment intricately

woven with many

threads making a cloak that completely envelopes and cloaks us (keeps us safe,

warms us--brings peace).

Sometimes we don't like the stories (or people) God chooses to weave us into.

When we comply, by His strength, then we become part of that beautiful garment.

It was this question that really caught my eye: Whose life are you denying to be

woven into to bring them blessings?

What a wonderful question. It

started my wheels pondering...

Denial is a decision...

By denying we are 'keeping our color out of their

life

tapestry' when we 'hold our strings too tight and refuse to let them become entangled with the other colors'.

Why is it we seem to let our eyes go to the knots first?...seeing the ugly, seeing the mess, seeing something we don't want to spend time trying to unravel. I certainly find myself thinking things like this.

We talk ourselves into denial because it is the 'easier stitch to wrap around our needle' and slide away from the Holy Spirit

speaking in our heart.

Our denial turns us away before 'seeing the pattern from God's view', the view where the LIGHT is JUST RIGHT.

Shadows don't overtake His view of His creation because He sees to the very HEART of each soul, He knows

the hairs on every head, and He knows every 'string' by name.

Anyone working with yarn knows that more complicated stitches are best when executed with 'soft hands' while working the harder, more entangled stitches...they become the most-valued portions of the project.

Knots on the back may mean a new direction or a changed color...sometimes we 'run out of thread', we give up on our project and throw the 'unfinished piece' in the bag where it will be alone, without the loving hands of commitment to complete the pattern once intended.

Who but God's people, those who read His Word, should be able to recognize a bad decision (at the moment) but KNOW that God uses poor decisions and/or bad choices to BUILD UP a blessing in His creation. God calls us to be His hands, to reach into that bag, pull out those unfinished pieces and share His Love in every stitch until it is 'completed' and allow yourself to be 'worked in' to someone else's project, too...they might need a blessing of friendship, or possibly forgiveness.

And, hey, they might like your color!

Remember: You're the only YOU God has ever made...and He didn't 'leave you in the bag'!

Blessings,

OH, SUCH A FRIEND...

FOR MORE PHOTOSTORY FRIDAY, visit the Hostesses Cecily and MamaGeek

(Dedicated to: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Friends)

OH, SUCH A FRIEND

I have a friend

oh, such a friend

Who listens as I am struggling...

whether I'm loudly spouting or softly sobbing...

stopping her moment to be "inside my moment"

A moment seeing my fear while I'm trying to avoid it

Holding my hand, whispering His Word to fend off dark arrows

Love wins the battle, overflowing and trickling down each cheek

He promises His yoke, yes taking all concern, all surrendered

Souls, each one; souls, each won!

Oh, such a friend

Have I!

30X5@2ndCup...EVERDAY Epiphanies & FUTURE GIVEAWAY

HOW WAS "WEEK ONE" OF THE 30 x 5 CHALLENGE?? Yes, it really has been only 1 week...Liddie challenged us to answer a few things and post about it. BE STILL & KNOW and I got ours in after lunch today...mine was: 5 miles/bike, 15-min/uphill elliptical, upper body free weights :) Having a work-out partner is the best way I've found to get this done...we count on each other and threaten bodily harm if we don't get our workouts in...unless, of course, we get a hankerin' for a cup of java, and that's gonna win out at that particular moment. You see, sometimes that java helps with those crabby moments when I'm deciding to workout...but once I'm done huffing and puffing, I really do feel BETTER!

Woo-to-the-hoo, as Liddie would say (I'm not having to buy new shorts for the beach trip with the youth group!! I'm back in my smaller blue-jean shorts from last year! )

Guess I shouldn't talk about what I encountered yesterday in the store rhyming with "COALS"... getting my workout trying on *bathing suits* (sorry, I had to whisper the bad word, as I was typing it. Some one-piece suits worked on the top but didn't work on the bottom and vice-verse...Now tell me, "Who has ever heard of having a swimsuit altered!"...looks like I may have to go to the seamstress.

BS&K (BeStill&Know) and I are in for the long-haul and beyond...(where Buzz when you need a loudly yelled, "To infinity and beyond!?")...oh, yeah, you said two weeks, whew!

Thanks goes out to those sweet challengettes (see that name sounds petite, doesn't it?! So, that's what I'm calling us from now on...) Anyway, several of those little darlin's left me encouragement by using extra calories to type a note...comments are golden on a day when the elliptical has thrown you off or the refrigerator keeps yelling my name from the other end of the room or in my sleep.

Do YOU think Adam Lambert looks like Kurt/Elvis? I KNEW YOU'D GET AROUND TO MENTIONING HIM SOMETIME...I blogged about him back in March...YES, HE WOULD BE A GOOD ELVIS STAND-IN.

Liddie asked us about any other goals--You mean like trying to lose this other half of the person that has grown into my body over the last 5 years...the evil one who snuck up from behind me and invaded me through my ears or up my nose??!! After she invaded, the mirrors in my house had become smaller each time I looked into them. She even kept me from being able to bend over and tie my shoes the normal way...do you have an extra buddy who has invaded your body?...I'm ready to get rid of her and her pounds!!

While working hard to stick to my "once-again-new-lifestyle", my favorite "good snack" is GeniSoy cheddar soy chips and Pace mild salsa...I take me a "Mexican Riviera" vacation every time I pop one of those in my mouth...1/2 serving is 8 chips and I get credit for the veggies...can't beat that!!

Are you glad you took this challenge? I am!! ...'cause misery loves company', isn't that what they say?! (who is they, anyway) , NO...it's fun sharing ideas and bumping up the dares!

My "moving" entails various pieces of equipment in my "dungeon"...each reminding me of some kind of medieval torture done by the kings of old...here's a glimpse of where and what BS&K and I joyfully, energetically, excitedly trudge down my steps to endure...no, defeat and overcome!:

From Movies

Can't leave on a negative dungeon reference (and to join with Beverly, who's hosting EVERYDAY EPIPHANIES...)

GOD's POSITIVE PROMISES:
We Say / God Says:
'It's impossible' All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
'I'm too tired' I will give you rest (Matt.11:28-30)
'I can't go on' My grace is sufficient (II Corin. 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
'I can't do it' I can do all things in Jesus, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
'I'm not able' I am able (II Corin. 9:8)
'It's not worth it' It will be worth it (Roman 8:2 )
'I can't manage' I will supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19)

My next post will be my 200th!!

I'm going to do my first giveaway...still pondering what...maybe something from the beach retreat? coffee card? candle? Ben Gay for the "challengettes"? hhhhmmmm? Any ideas?

IT'S HEART MONTH...DO SOMETHING...please

Five minutes is all I ask...
to understand a little better what some babies and families experience...

Are you grateful for your health, grateful for being able to go and do whatever you want?
There are those who struggle just to survive every day...
Our precious great niece, Katie, is a 2yo with CHD (congenital heart defect)...she is a miracle, has struggled through many health issues, and is loving life.
She will be having another surgery this summer...this will bring many extremes for Katie and those who love her.
--fear will try to work its way in
--anxiety will try to overtake the adults
--needles and unknown pain is always a concern
--unknown issues popping up loom in your psyche as she goes off to the hospital.

The following video (down below my comments section) was produced by a congenital heart patient who wants to get the word out about congenital heart defects.
Since I like to blog, I CAN help.

Please view this...become more aware... then, you can help by:
-donating blood or plasma
-sending donations to the American Heart Association for research,
-rocking a baby in a local NICU...some times, presence is more important than presents!
So, let's all pull together and help in some way...

You can also visit the AHA site for more information, etc.

(The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency to help reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.)

TRY-T0-AVOID DAY!

Are there things you just don't like to do...other than your regular "have to's" like going to work, washing dishes?


I've not been looking forward to today...which I know is terrible to say. Every day is a blessing and a GOOD DAY...hence the cartoon to the left.



However...I must do one of my "try-to-avoid" chores...I'll be "steam cleaning" my first-floor carpets...and next week will be the second-floor's turn.

So, changing my attitude is my next step ...immerse myself in those scriptures to uphold my spirit...look to my "how to" book, b/c His Word will give me strength...the strength and perseverance I need to get through the next few hours of moving furniture, pushing, pulling, pouring, re-filling, and finally sanitizing the sink.


1 Corinthians 4:12 "...we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure..."



Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield;My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;Therefore my heart exults,And with my song I shall thank Him."



1 Corinthians 3:8Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.?



Thank you, Lord, for giving me health to be able to clean my carpets. Your strength will uphold me through my labor today...remind me of your Words as I labor. I rejoice in knowing I will look upon my reward once my labor is completed, my clean floors that will be hosting about 40 teenagers later this week for Your glory. Amen and Amen

How are you being challenged in your "laboring" this week?

Right in Your Eyes

It was a busy weekend...I'm tired!
Lord, committing this time to be in Your Word, You will rejuvenate me, please.
Even you, Lord, grew tired... John 4:5-6 "So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar...Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. "

• This would have been around midnight.
• He had WALKED from Judea, which is southern most Israel, to Sychar, which is in central Israel, so this would have taken him about 2 days!
• I traveled in a vehicle at 70 miles an hour during six 100-mile trips--I didn't walk.

While study the word "tired" You told me in Isaiah 40: 30-31 "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. " Things it brought to mind:

• My bones are getting older, and I get comfort in knowing "even" youths grow tired and weary--it's not just us "old" people.
• Speaking of stumbling, I fell in the driveway last Thursday night and RATTLED every bone in my body, feeling like I had run my hands across a grater and jamming my right knee up into my hip. I'm sure it would have made a pretty picture as I went sprawling down onto the concrete driveway!...thank goodness it was at 10pm and dark outside. But I did feel like a first grader running into the house having my hubby "look at it" 'cause I was scared to...I just knew I had split my knee open and taken off the palms of my hands. But, God was good to me and I was just "stove up" for a couple of days (while I drove).

As my last learning point today from "tired", You showed me 2Thess 3:13 "And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."

• I could have stayed home this past weekend and not "chauffeured" my Mom around East Alabama and West Georgia...but it wouldn't have been the right thing. Helping her in this small way gave me BIG blessings...seeing the looks on her face as she hugged and talked with her brothers and sisters-in-law...hearing them laugh about old times while we drove in the car through the country roads and on many highways...making pictures with nieces, nephews, new grand kids...things we couldn't have done if we hadn't made the trip.


• How many times has my Mother done things for me when she would have rather been doing something different? They are too numerous to list because my Mother has always been a giving, sacrificial Mother that I am blessed to have, and I'm thankful for every moment I get to spend with her, pray with her, sing with her, love our family with her.


• Yes, Lord, You have rejuvenated me by seeing what is right in Your eyes!!

3. EXPECT THE TEST OF THE WORD (third of seven)

Testing comes to us in many forms:

-school testing measures knowledge
-mechanics testing car parts for maintenance and upkeep
-mothers’ hands testing baby bottles to ensure warm milk
-then there’s testing of our WILLPOWER

Power to exert our personal will over our actions—firmly, decisively, and yet at times reluctantly, as was the case today at lunch.

Tempting morsels indeed…fried eggplant with tomato sauce, fried chicken and fried catfish…then there was buttery macaroni & cheese, turnip greens with pork, roast beef with dark-brown gravy, candied sweet potatoes, and fluffy white mashed potatoes.

I also definitely noticed the varied layered cakes, fruit pies and deep-dish cobblers, which were audibly calling out my name as I walked back to our table.

You’ve seen these down-home cooking-type spreads, where you are tested and tempted at every step along the buffet. Tested at the sight of the many choices, tempted by the rich smells of the hot food in trays hovering over the steamers.

I was reminded of Beth Moore’s lesson on testing…and how we must be ready for those “decision moments” and “apply victory” attitudes and words.

Being weak I struggle to be victorious in my food choices; however, I can take more steps forward than backward and make changes little by little. Beth also had said last week on her simulcast that “whatever we are not praying through is when we are defeated”.

So, it’s no wonder those around me in the buffet line were eyeing me strangely as I was praying over the choices I was making with the tongs!

In some ways there were victories...
Even though unable to ward off the fried catfish--at least it was fish instead of beef; and.
since I had “fried”, I didn’t get a "dessert"...a small victory, but a victory!!

What tests have you been faced with this weekend?

What scripture will you have hidden in your heart to “ward off” the evil one’s temptations?

1 Cor 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

In the Open or Behind Closed Doors?

Today Internet Cafe Chat questions:

1. In which areas of my life do I continually and regularly experience 'struggle'?
2. Am I willing to turn those areas over to Him, knowing He is fully sovereign and trustworthy?
3. Where do I know God is working out a beautiful, holy plan for my life?
   

I grew up in a wonderfully loving home but when my parents had disagreements they handled them behind closed doors. So, I had a skewed vision for handling disagreements. My struggles involve handling conflict--it's very uncomfortable and makes me uneasy. If I ignore it, will it go away maybe? Our society teaches "taking the easy way out" which doesn't teach us how to truthfully handle the situation. Sin is still sin and will always be such...a turning from God and His ways.

Through Biblical guidance, prayer, and an accountability group that helps me understand conflict and openness--I find help. Those combined helpmates guide me me to hand it to God first to massage my words and direct my thoughts to approach tough discussions...when I'm brave enough to actually do it. Yes, I still struggle but I know He will help me when I give it to Him from my heart.

Close behind conflict runs confession--which rights us with ourselves, with God and with whoever else was involved..(maybe there were spontaneous, hurtful words or rolled eyes, deep breaths or silence?)

When we finally give confession it streams in as salve for the self-induced injury and when shared honestly is followed by grace (from God or from the other person). Wonderful comfort knowing our Savior loved us enough to sacrifice His most precious Son to ensure relationship with us sinners...His Son didn't sin yet he took ours. He IS already interceding on behalf of our confessions, before we utter a word, he KNOWS our hearts and IS already taking our requests to the Father...notice the present verbs...He occupies a seat at the right hand of God!!

Lord, continually give us Your vision for our words, our actions, even the small things we do each day. Give us a want to bring every concern to You for your Sovereign Opinion and Guidance.