Daily Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Every day I worry about my family. My boys go off to school and I worry they won't have a good day. I worry My daughter won't feed my granddaughter enough, or she will get diaper rash. I worry my daughter won't find GOD. I worry about my husband's depression and his hatred at GOD. I worry about my parents health and them over working on their little dream farm. I worry, worry, worry.
It's easy to tell someone to "Quit Worrying." It is far harder to listen to your own advice. Every time I worry, I sin against Christ's commandment not to worry. Looking back on my life I realize that every time I worried in the past it was for nothing. It is easy to worry. In worrying we are running scenarios in our minds as to what could happen, if it does happen "How will I next react", and if it doesn't happen "At least I was prepared for the worst case scenario."
All that worry wastes time and energy. Lately I've been trying to help my dad stock up on food in case the government colapses and anarchy arises. It has led me to learn how to make soap, can fruits & vegetables, and read about how to save seeds from vegetables to plant the next year. I haven't worried about the collapse but in helping my dad I have grown as a person. I gained knowledge about things I realy don't need in an age of going to the market to get anything and everything I could possibly ever want.
Something happened along this new journey to self preparedness. I stopped worrying so much. The busier we are the less time we have to fill our minds with worry. When you are in rush hour traffic instead of worrying about being late focus on God. Turn to the local Christian radio station and focus on the music or speaker, turn off the radio and just start talking to God. You don't have to close your eyes to pray to GOD. HE listens to you anywhere and everywhere. Instead of praying for your wants, needs, and worries simply start Thanking HIM for all he has done in your life. The time will fly by and you will be left feeling much better.
When you start to worry start doing a task that takes
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Better Friend
Daily Reading: Job 2:11-13 and Proverbs 18:24
Last year when I was in the hospital my friend Debbie came with me every day. When I was transferred to another hospital, she was there too. When I came home it was she who called the doctor and had them order the hospital bed, wheel chair, and commode. When I got out we saw each other nearly every day. She helped me with garage sales, cleaning, anything that I needed.
Then something happened and we began to drift away. I was jealous of another friend who seemed to be "better" than I was. We rarely spent time together. I found out that Debbie had needed money and didn't call me. I learned later. I found out that Debbie was going to have knee surgery. I went the day of surgery, as did the other friend. I waited in the waiting room until she was taken to her room and sat with her a short time before I had to leave. The next day I visited. I sent flowers when I couldn't go. While she recovered at home I stayed away. I loved her and thought of her everyday but I didn't go.
Like the friends in Job, Debbie was always there. Like Job's wife I was the one who wasn't much help. Look around at your friends. Which ones would be there for you when times get tough? Which ones will disappear at the smallest sign of trouble?
Poem: Reason, Season, or Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown
There is one friend who will always be there for you. One who will accept who you are. Carry you when you can't go on. One who will love you unconditionally and never hurt you. His name is Jesus and if you haven't already asked Him to come into your life, you don't know what you are missing out on.
Last year when I was in the hospital my friend Debbie came with me every day. When I was transferred to another hospital, she was there too. When I came home it was she who called the doctor and had them order the hospital bed, wheel chair, and commode. When I got out we saw each other nearly every day. She helped me with garage sales, cleaning, anything that I needed.
Then something happened and we began to drift away. I was jealous of another friend who seemed to be "better" than I was. We rarely spent time together. I found out that Debbie had needed money and didn't call me. I learned later. I found out that Debbie was going to have knee surgery. I went the day of surgery, as did the other friend. I waited in the waiting room until she was taken to her room and sat with her a short time before I had to leave. The next day I visited. I sent flowers when I couldn't go. While she recovered at home I stayed away. I loved her and thought of her everyday but I didn't go.
Like the friends in Job, Debbie was always there. Like Job's wife I was the one who wasn't much help. Look around at your friends. Which ones would be there for you when times get tough? Which ones will disappear at the smallest sign of trouble?
Poem: Reason, Season, or Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
— Unknown
There is one friend who will always be there for you. One who will accept who you are. Carry you when you can't go on. One who will love you unconditionally and never hurt you. His name is Jesus and if you haven't already asked Him to come into your life, you don't know what you are missing out on.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Tested through Spouse
Daily Reading: Job 2:7-10
Am I Job or his nameless wife? Yesterday I passed the test and remained calm in midst of chaos. It was a close call. When my husband started ranting about problems in the past I so wanted to scream. Yet God opened a door for me. My husband made a statement towards the end of the evening that "If I had to put up with all you do from me, I'd leave. You just sit there taking it all and don't say a word."
My secret is my faith in GOD. A few weeks ago I had gotten tired of my husband's relentless repetition about a matter that he couldn't stand. I snapped at him and he blew up. He didn't speak to me for almost two days. I realized that as a Christian I have to set an example for my non Christian husband. So yesterday, I calmly sat there listening to everything he was saying.
I imagine Job did the same thing when his wife told him "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" I seriously doubt she said a mere two sentences. In my experience, when we get angry we don't simply state what is bothering us. Instead, we go on relentlessly until we feel another person understands us, we convince ourself that we are justified, or we simply can not think of any other way to state our frustration.
If I had told my husband "You are talking like a foolish man. Should we accept good from God and not trouble?" He most likely would have blown up even more. I imagine that Mrs. Job could have done that. Maybe she kept ranting about Job's misery, or maybe she listened to his wisdom and took heed of what he was saying.
Either way we can not control how people around us act and react. The only person we control is ourselves. When we feel we can no longer restrain ourselves we must quickly ask God to take over. Allow GOD to put HIS protective armor around us. Amazingly the more my husbanded ranted last night, the more I silently prayed, the more uplifted I felt. I went to bed last night happy to know that my faith in God and His protective armor had allowed me to weather the storm and find a safe haven in knowing He is always there.
Additional Readings: Ephesians 6:10-18 and 1 Peter 5:8-11
Am I Job or his nameless wife? Yesterday I passed the test and remained calm in midst of chaos. It was a close call. When my husband started ranting about problems in the past I so wanted to scream. Yet God opened a door for me. My husband made a statement towards the end of the evening that "If I had to put up with all you do from me, I'd leave. You just sit there taking it all and don't say a word."
My secret is my faith in GOD. A few weeks ago I had gotten tired of my husband's relentless repetition about a matter that he couldn't stand. I snapped at him and he blew up. He didn't speak to me for almost two days. I realized that as a Christian I have to set an example for my non Christian husband. So yesterday, I calmly sat there listening to everything he was saying.
I imagine Job did the same thing when his wife told him "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" I seriously doubt she said a mere two sentences. In my experience, when we get angry we don't simply state what is bothering us. Instead, we go on relentlessly until we feel another person understands us, we convince ourself that we are justified, or we simply can not think of any other way to state our frustration.
If I had told my husband "You are talking like a foolish man. Should we accept good from God and not trouble?" He most likely would have blown up even more. I imagine that Mrs. Job could have done that. Maybe she kept ranting about Job's misery, or maybe she listened to his wisdom and took heed of what he was saying.
Either way we can not control how people around us act and react. The only person we control is ourselves. When we feel we can no longer restrain ourselves we must quickly ask God to take over. Allow GOD to put HIS protective armor around us. Amazingly the more my husbanded ranted last night, the more I silently prayed, the more uplifted I felt. I went to bed last night happy to know that my faith in God and His protective armor had allowed me to weather the storm and find a safe haven in knowing He is always there.
Additional Readings: Ephesians 6:10-18 and 1 Peter 5:8-11
Monday, October 1, 2012
Perfect or Storm
Daily Reading: JOB 1:1-22 & MATTHEW 4:1-11
You know those days where everything seems absolutely perfect. The kids left for school on time and got their chores done. Every task I set out to do was accomplished quickly and smoothly. I feel like I am walking on air and it feels great! And then it hits.....
My husband walks in the door hollering mad because someone did something. My Fson calls to tell me its going to take him an hour to get home because he wrecked his bike. He admits that instead of being where he ought he went somewhere else and is hanging with an unsavory character. My son was annoyed by another student at school and may be expelled. My best friend's car broke down. It seems that the fire of God is raining down all around.
There are two choices that I see. First I can join in and start screaming and bellering. "Woe is me! Life is ruined. I'm so picked on! What a terrible day." The second choice is to sit quietly allowing everyone else to complain and belly ache.
Like Job we can choose to accept that we have been blessed by God. The things we have in life are not our own. Even when we work hard, GOD has provided us the ability and the opportunities to grow an abundant life. We must take our blessings and return them to GOD because they are not ours, only loaned to us.
When the storm is over we can thank GOD for giving us the good day and accept that life is never going to be perfect. Only Christ is perfect. Christ was tested in the wilderness by the Devil. He stood up against the Devil and never sinned. As Christians we must try to follow Christ's example. We are not perfect and we will slip up. We just need to be aware and try harder next time to behave as Christ would.
Prayer: God, thank you for this wonderful day with its ups and downs. Thank you for all the blessings you have given us. Thank you for the storms we are given, and the opportunity to choose to weather the storm as Jesus Christ would. May your name be praised and may I never curse against you. Amen.
You know those days where everything seems absolutely perfect. The kids left for school on time and got their chores done. Every task I set out to do was accomplished quickly and smoothly. I feel like I am walking on air and it feels great! And then it hits.....
My husband walks in the door hollering mad because someone did something. My Fson calls to tell me its going to take him an hour to get home because he wrecked his bike. He admits that instead of being where he ought he went somewhere else and is hanging with an unsavory character. My son was annoyed by another student at school and may be expelled. My best friend's car broke down. It seems that the fire of God is raining down all around.
There are two choices that I see. First I can join in and start screaming and bellering. "Woe is me! Life is ruined. I'm so picked on! What a terrible day." The second choice is to sit quietly allowing everyone else to complain and belly ache.
Like Job we can choose to accept that we have been blessed by God. The things we have in life are not our own. Even when we work hard, GOD has provided us the ability and the opportunities to grow an abundant life. We must take our blessings and return them to GOD because they are not ours, only loaned to us.
When the storm is over we can thank GOD for giving us the good day and accept that life is never going to be perfect. Only Christ is perfect. Christ was tested in the wilderness by the Devil. He stood up against the Devil and never sinned. As Christians we must try to follow Christ's example. We are not perfect and we will slip up. We just need to be aware and try harder next time to behave as Christ would.
Prayer: God, thank you for this wonderful day with its ups and downs. Thank you for all the blessings you have given us. Thank you for the storms we are given, and the opportunity to choose to weather the storm as Jesus Christ would. May your name be praised and may I never curse against you. Amen.
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