Daily Reading:Genesis 28:10-12
In my life I tend to add more tasks as I move through the day. One simple task turns into a string of them. Before long the day is done and I am still pushing to get everything done. I look at the clock and it's already 1 am. In 5 hours I need to be up and start a new day.
Jacob followed the traditions of the time. When the sun went down he would stop and sleep. In our fast paced world it is hard to stop what we are doing. Yet, if we don't stop and rest we cannot dream.
God and his angels visit us in those precious hours when we let go of the days troubles and allow our bodies to rest.
Instead of pushing through a late night, find a place to stop. Give your heart and mind to God and sleep.
Lord, thank you for giving us rest. We may not always realize how much we need that rest. Only you creator of us knows what we need.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Beginning.
Since I began the 1300 mile trip back from South Padre Island, Texas in 2008, I have been seriously thinking as to how I could impact the world to make a difference. The answer has been overwhelmingly to write a blog and share my experiences with the world. They won't be in chronological order. In fact they won't be in any particular order. I have made many poor choices in my life and I am hoping that if even one person will read my blog and it impacts them to make better choices then I have succeeded in making the world a much better place than when I began.
First I will begin by introducing myself and sharing the basic facts of my life which brought me to this point. I am a 38-year-old mother of two teenage children, a fosterchild, and grandmother of one with another on the way. I am married to a wonderful man named Tony who is full of life and inspiration. I was going to college but had to stop last Fall due to a strange medical illness that still isn't resolved. I have had at least 20 different jobs in my life and none of them have been kept for more than two years consecutively. I have been married three times and been in more "serious" relationships than any one person should ever have to deal with. I have used drugs and alcohol. I have lied, cheated, and stole. I have "come to Jesus" and then ran from church as fast as I could. For a 38, I have done more in my lifetime than most 80 year olds ever dreamed of. Somethings I am quite proud of while others I hang my head in shame. I have recomitted to my relationship with God and am going to do the best I can to serve him with my devotional blog called God's Insight for Daily Living.
Although I am not perfect I believe that I have changed my life enough for the good that hopefully someone out there will take what I have to say and allow it to impact their life. Through others we can learn and prevent bad choices, through experience we face the consequeces of what others have already warned. As I reflect upon my choices and trust God that I am where I am supposed to be for a reason, I welcome your responses to my blog and you may email me at Countreefly@gmail.com . Please put Wyndolyn's Blog in the subject line so I don't mistake it for junk mail.
First I will begin by introducing myself and sharing the basic facts of my life which brought me to this point. I am a 38-year-old mother of two teenage children, a fosterchild, and grandmother of one with another on the way. I am married to a wonderful man named Tony who is full of life and inspiration. I was going to college but had to stop last Fall due to a strange medical illness that still isn't resolved. I have had at least 20 different jobs in my life and none of them have been kept for more than two years consecutively. I have been married three times and been in more "serious" relationships than any one person should ever have to deal with. I have used drugs and alcohol. I have lied, cheated, and stole. I have "come to Jesus" and then ran from church as fast as I could. For a 38, I have done more in my lifetime than most 80 year olds ever dreamed of. Somethings I am quite proud of while others I hang my head in shame. I have recomitted to my relationship with God and am going to do the best I can to serve him with my devotional blog called God's Insight for Daily Living.
Although I am not perfect I believe that I have changed my life enough for the good that hopefully someone out there will take what I have to say and allow it to impact their life. Through others we can learn and prevent bad choices, through experience we face the consequeces of what others have already warned. As I reflect upon my choices and trust God that I am where I am supposed to be for a reason, I welcome your responses to my blog and you may email me at Countreefly@gmail.com . Please put Wyndolyn's Blog in the subject line so I don't mistake it for junk mail.
Children and Chores
Daily Reading
Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well. I asked the boys to do their chores and then they could do what they wanted for the rest of the evening. Besides not feeling well I was absorbed in the computer doing things that could have waited. Later, as I got ready for bed I realized I had not ate that evening. As I walked into the kitchen, food fled from my mind. The dishes weren’t done. The laundry wasn’t done. Leftovers clung to the sides of the pan.
Even after I had asked if their chores had been done they
had lied. They had done what they
wanted. How could I ever get these two
teenage boys (almost men) to realize that chores are a part of life that has to
be done? The result was waiting until
morning then starting a new day off chastising them, filling the boys with anger,
frustration and resistance, planning what punishment would be given when they
came home. The punishments overwhelmed
me as I thought; No television and video games, remove the electronics from
their rooms, take away the cell phones, cancel their weekend plans, earlier
bedtimes.
I prayed for a biblical passage to show the boys. Using BibleGateway.com I searched for chore,
nothing came up. I searched task.
17 Results, the first six results didn’t fit their crime. The 7th one, (Really GOD 7th?) cried
aloud. Proverbs 31:17 She sets about her
work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
My favorite Proverb, Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character. A new thought floated in. What
was my punishment? I too hadn’t done
my chores. I hadn’t guided and
encouraged. I hadn’t gotten up from the
computer and checked their work. I had
been as bad as the boys.
As women (and men) it is our duty to work diligently that our families may prosper. 27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. My idleness yesterday helped our household to go awry. My boys are not yet men and it is my responsibility and task to instruct them, over see them and their work. It is I who needed punishment and chastising for not doing my chores.
When the Master and Mistress slack off the rest of the household will too. Remember that we must do our chores and tasks first before we can enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Additional reading: Ecclesiastes
2:26, Romans
15:28
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Looking to Man instead of GOD
Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 5:8-10
Today I was reminded of how truly fallible I am. Most of my life I jumped from relationship to relationship. I had envisioned a perfect partner for me and thought that if I found a man who had most of the qualities I could change the rest of him to be my idea of perfect for me. Every time I tried to do this I failed.
Today I was reminded of how truly fallible I am. Most of my life I jumped from relationship to relationship. I had envisioned a perfect partner for me and thought that if I found a man who had most of the qualities I could change the rest of him to be my idea of perfect for me. Every time I tried to do this I failed.
I had finally realized after many years that I could be happy to live my life without a man. I was content raising my children, going to work, and planning a life for after my children were raised. I had GOD in my life but I wasn't serving him.
Then an amazing man walked into my life. He was exactly what I was looking for; handsome, hard working, affectionate, stable, and he loved me as much as I loved him. We married and I thought everything was perfect. The problem was he didn't have Christ in his heart. Whenever a storm would come he would falter. In fact it wasn't just that he didn't have Christ in his heart, he hated GOD "If there was a GOD, I'd punch him in his face for taking my parents away."
This hatred slowly began to poison our relationship. I began to feel hatred toward the things he hated. I let his hatred seep into me.
GOD gives us wake up calls. I became sick and my mother came to aid me. She saw the emotional sickness and began visiting a church nearby my home. Her love spread to me and I realized that I was looking to my husband for support when I should have been looking to GOD.
Being married to a partner who does not share the same faith as you is very hard. GOD wants your spouse to come to HIM in HIS time, not ours. We can not just stand by and wait for our loved one to change. We need to continue worshiping and praising GOD. GOD is jealous and wants to know we put HIM above all others. Our unsaved loved ones may be a test of GOD on us. Will we pass the test, or will we falter and show our human fallibility, rather than allowing GOD to take control over our actions and emotions? We must keep our eyes on GOD and allow GOD to take the reigns concerning others in our lives.
Being married to a partner who does not share the same faith as you is very hard. GOD wants your spouse to come to HIM in HIS time, not ours. We can not just stand by and wait for our loved one to change. We need to continue worshiping and praising GOD. GOD is jealous and wants to know we put HIM above all others. Our unsaved loved ones may be a test of GOD on us. Will we pass the test, or will we falter and show our human fallibility, rather than allowing GOD to take control over our actions and emotions? We must keep our eyes on GOD and allow GOD to take the reigns concerning others in our lives.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Holding onto the Garbage
Daily Readings: Mark 7:1-23
This morning my computer was getting low on memory and I noticed my Recycle bin had something in it. Even before it had opened I remembered that it was an audio file my fson (foster) and his friend had recorded. The file had been there for several weeks. Every time I noticed it I would think "I will listen to it later before I permanently delete it." So I stopped what I was doing today and listened to it. As my fson knew the file was indeed just plain garbage. A file that was taking up space in my computer.
How much other garbage do I hold onto that I don't need? The Pharisees were obsessed with rituals given to their Father's centuries before. 9“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!" Those traditions had become meaningless. Yes, it is good to wash your hands before eating. We know today that there are germs, parasites, and all sorts of other invisible to our eye creatures that can make us sick. The Pharisees didn't know about these things. They only knew it was a religious "ritual" that they performed because it was a law given in the days of Moses. They were holding on to many things, not because it was a way to worship GOD, but because they couldn't let go.
The television show "Hoarders" is the extreme example of how people can't or won't let go of the trash in their lives. Those people aren't bad. They aren't garbage. They are holding on to things simply because they can't let go.
Jesus said “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from INSIDE and defile a person.”
What is coming out of me that defiles me? The saying "garbage in, garbage out" comes to mind. If I see a violent act it isn't going to make me violent. It can allow ideas to form in my mind about violence. The only way to get rid of the garbage in our minds is to pray and ask GOD to remove the garbage. Ask HIM to permanently remove the things that should be in our recycle bins. If those things aren't in the recycle bin we need to focus on putting them there. Only GOD the super computer of all creation can recycle the garbage. It is up to us to ask HIM to clean us out before we fill up and there isn't space for the good things.
This morning my computer was getting low on memory and I noticed my Recycle bin had something in it. Even before it had opened I remembered that it was an audio file my fson (foster) and his friend had recorded. The file had been there for several weeks. Every time I noticed it I would think "I will listen to it later before I permanently delete it." So I stopped what I was doing today and listened to it. As my fson knew the file was indeed just plain garbage. A file that was taking up space in my computer.
How much other garbage do I hold onto that I don't need? The Pharisees were obsessed with rituals given to their Father's centuries before. 9“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!" Those traditions had become meaningless. Yes, it is good to wash your hands before eating. We know today that there are germs, parasites, and all sorts of other invisible to our eye creatures that can make us sick. The Pharisees didn't know about these things. They only knew it was a religious "ritual" that they performed because it was a law given in the days of Moses. They were holding on to many things, not because it was a way to worship GOD, but because they couldn't let go.
The television show "Hoarders" is the extreme example of how people can't or won't let go of the trash in their lives. Those people aren't bad. They aren't garbage. They are holding on to things simply because they can't let go.
Jesus said “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from INSIDE and defile a person.”
What is coming out of me that defiles me? The saying "garbage in, garbage out" comes to mind. If I see a violent act it isn't going to make me violent. It can allow ideas to form in my mind about violence. The only way to get rid of the garbage in our minds is to pray and ask GOD to remove the garbage. Ask HIM to permanently remove the things that should be in our recycle bins. If those things aren't in the recycle bin we need to focus on putting them there. Only GOD the super computer of all creation can recycle the garbage. It is up to us to ask HIM to clean us out before we fill up and there isn't space for the good things.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Don't shut up, give up!
Daily Reading Acts 18:1-17
It catches my attention how lucky Paul was to be going from place to place. Missionaries all over the world do the same thing. They go from their native home to witness to others. Here Paul had left Athens and came to Corinth. Silas and Timothy had just come from Macedonia. Their eyes were fixed on preaching and testifying to people everywhere.
How can this fit into my life? The Lord speaks "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack or harm you, because I have many people in this city." Acts 18:9 and 10.
How wonderful to hear GOD's voice so perfectly clear! How many times in the bible do those first four words appear? 70 TIMES! http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=Do+not+be+afraid&searchtype=phrase&version1=31&language1=en&spanbegin=1&spanend=73
GOD certainly doesn't want us to be afraid. Even though our mouths may slip and we say something wrong HE doesn't want us to keep silent. Instead we need to put our mouths in HIS hands. When negative words come out of our mouths, when negative thoughts enter our minds we need to stop and pray for HIM to take our words from us and give us HIS own words. GOD is with us everyday and in every situation. He promises us that we aren't going to be harmed but we need to be in HIS arms. We need to put HIM in charge of our lives.
When we are feeling lonely and isolated we don't have far to look because GOD has "many people in this city." Maybe you are in China or India where Christianity isn't welcome. GOD has many people there. Maybe you are in New York, LA, Chicago, or even Collinsville, Illinois. GOD has many people there as well.
Those people are there to fellowship with you. They are there to encourage you and for you to encourage also. Don't be afraid to witness where you are. Let GOD take over your mouth wherever you are. You don't have to go anywhere to be a witness for GOD. Just give up your mouth to HIM.
Father GOD, please take my words away from me. Put in their place the words YOU have to share with my little world.
"Trust and Obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." (song)
It catches my attention how lucky Paul was to be going from place to place. Missionaries all over the world do the same thing. They go from their native home to witness to others. Here Paul had left Athens and came to Corinth. Silas and Timothy had just come from Macedonia. Their eyes were fixed on preaching and testifying to people everywhere.
How can this fit into my life? The Lord speaks "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack or harm you, because I have many people in this city." Acts 18:9 and 10.
How wonderful to hear GOD's voice so perfectly clear! How many times in the bible do those first four words appear? 70 TIMES! http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=Do+not+be+afraid&searchtype=phrase&version1=31&language1=en&spanbegin=1&spanend=73
GOD certainly doesn't want us to be afraid. Even though our mouths may slip and we say something wrong HE doesn't want us to keep silent. Instead we need to put our mouths in HIS hands. When negative words come out of our mouths, when negative thoughts enter our minds we need to stop and pray for HIM to take our words from us and give us HIS own words. GOD is with us everyday and in every situation. He promises us that we aren't going to be harmed but we need to be in HIS arms. We need to put HIM in charge of our lives.
When we are feeling lonely and isolated we don't have far to look because GOD has "many people in this city." Maybe you are in China or India where Christianity isn't welcome. GOD has many people there. Maybe you are in New York, LA, Chicago, or even Collinsville, Illinois. GOD has many people there as well.
Those people are there to fellowship with you. They are there to encourage you and for you to encourage also. Don't be afraid to witness where you are. Let GOD take over your mouth wherever you are. You don't have to go anywhere to be a witness for GOD. Just give up your mouth to HIM.
Father GOD, please take my words away from me. Put in their place the words YOU have to share with my little world.
"Trust and Obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." (song)
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