“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4 KJV
It’s Use Your Gifts to Change Your World Wednesday! What will you do? Making a difference doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money. It can be something as simple as a hug.
Today, a lady I worked with shared how she took her mother to the hospital late last night, because her mom was very ill. On the way home after her mother was discharged, she met up with her niece and the niece’s friend. They asked for a ride home. After my colleague agreed, she wound up driving to another town to take the niece’s friend home. Rather than becoming angry, she made conversation with the young man, who was 17 and supporting his entire family. The young man was working and attending high school. He was excited to share that he will be the first person in his family to graduate from high school. While my colleague was tired, she made a difference in this young man’s life, as well as, providing help to her mother and an example for her children.
For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:17 AMP
Good morning! We are so thankful to have survived the storm with no damage. Today, Britt and I are celebrating our anniversary a little late by spending the day together.
The subject of “choices” is heavy on my mind. God is a respecter of people. He gives us free-will. Yet, we struggle with our choices. How many times have you been in the store or maybe on the Internet shopping, and seen something you feel like you can’t live without? You can’t afford it, but really want it. Have you ever juggled bills mentally? I am reminded of a time that I fell in love with a special Bible. It was beautiful. The pages were embossed with roses. There were beautiful images in the Bible and I loved the way the synthetic pink leather felt. For a year I visited the book store and walked around carrying the Bible like it was a baby. Every time I put the Bible back on the shelf and didn’t purchase it for myself. I did, however, buy the Bible as a gift for someone else. The recipient seemed pleased at the time, but I later learned that they didn’t like it. One day I was driving down the road and saw the book store was closing. I rushed over, but the Bible was gone. As soon as I got home from work, I searched the Internet and found one for half the price on Amazon. I ordered it right away and felt that immediate contentment. The next day I learned it was on back order. It stayed on back order for six months. However, individuals were selling the once $40 Bible ($25 on Amazon) for over $2,000. I gave up and ordered a similar Bible, which I didn’t need. The next day the Bible I wanted shipped out. I ended up spending $50 for two Bibles I didn’t need. Yet, I was excited to receive my beautiful Bible. Guess what? It’s untouched in the same place I set it when it arrived. The truth is I have several Bibles and I didn’t need another Bible, especially because it looked pretty. Bad financial decisions are painful down the road and take a toll on relationships. In fact, how many divorces have you noted due to finances?
Have you ever fallen in love and wanted to give into physical desires when you weren’t married? It seems commonplace now, but Paul covers this sin of the flesh in the Book of Galatians. Maybe you have already succumbed to the passion and now you are in a difficult situation related to that decision? Or maybe you are stressed at home and a pretty face provides a temptation you are unable to resist. Have you resorted to crime in order to feed your family? Have you ever been faced with a difficult ethical decision at work? Have you made bad decisions in how you treat others?
The list goes on and on. Not only do your decisions affect you, but also others. Even if no one knows about your bad decision, your attitude and actions will show what is going on inside of you. Some decisions take many years to overcome. Some decisions may change your life forever or even result in a physical death.
So, what do you do? You can’t be indecisive for long periods of time. The answer is accept Christ as your personal savior. Build a good relationship with God. Study your Bible daily. Build relationships with other Christians. Then, when you have an important decision, ask for God’s guidance. It’s that simple! What a super gift! Yet, it does take a little effort every day. The good news is that if you have made bad decisions, and we all have, you can ask for forgiveness and realize that it takes time overcome bad decisions.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and spread God’s love everywhere you go. God bless you.
Clarifying note. After I posted today, my husband pointed out that the Bible tells us in Acts 10:34-35 that “God is no respecter of persons”. However, the phrase is used in a different context. My reference was in regard to personal free-will. God respects our free-will. Acts 10 is referencing God showing no partiality.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6, 8 NIV
Happy Wednesday! As a manager I’m always taking a mental inventory of people’s gifts. Everyone is different and has different gifts. Isn’t that great! Some people are social. Others are more analytical. Some people are detail oriented. It’s not so important what your gift is, as it is to your ability to work within your gift.
There are times all of us work outside our gifts, and that’s just life. However, when we can work within our gifts we are happier. For example, if you love gardening, and you take a job in accounting, well you probably are not going to be very happy. So, when we use and accept gifts, we need to consider the source. If some one very crafty makes you a handmade gift. That gift is priceless to the giver. Regardless to what the gift is, it is special because the giver took the time to remember you.
Go out and change the world today with your awesome gifts! God bless you.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Good morning or good evening, now. I started this post before 7 am. I was going to chat about flexibility today. As it turns out, my schedule had to adapt to the demands of the day. So I’m posting over 12 hours later.
Have you ever planned out your future only to get a major glitch? I’m an urban planner by profession and I plan out everything. I think my behavior makes some people a little crazy. If we go on a trip, I have events schedule from the beginning to the end. I can pack the activities in. Usually, my friends are amazed at what we can do. If I’m going to school, I have the journey planned down to when and how many hours a day I will study. At work I have lists of deadlines. I’m very focused on my goals whether at work, church, home and school.
Over the past few months I have had setbacks in my plans that placed me behind schedule on personal goals. I’ve also noticed that my age has slowed me down. This past weekend God dealt with me on this issue. He helped me to realize that faster isn’t necessarily better. Sometimes we need to learn life lessons along the way, and sometimes we need to take time for others. None of us are promised tomorrow. If you are busy, busy, busy, slow down and enjoy those around you. Help others. Give to others. Make the journey more meaningful.
As I noted at the beginning of this post, I had some delays today. However, I spent time with some of the people who needed my time and I grew along the way.
Today, I’m including a video forwarded to me by someone special in my life. Enjoy. I heard on the radio yesterday that WIllie Nelson has been unwell. Keep him and his family in your prayers. God bless you.
Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen. For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant. But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.
HEBREWS 5:11-14 AMP
Happy Tuesday. It’s a great time to try something new!
Have you ever considered how difficult it must have been for early Christians? Sometimes we make a small change in church and I have a difficult time adjusting. Many of the early Christians left behind all their family and friends. They faced opposition, which often meant death. Jesus’s brother James and James Zebedee were executed at the commands of Herod Agrippa. During Nero’s reign, to cut down on the growth of Christianity, there were organized massacres of Christians. Christianity was seen as a wicked superstition.
Early Christians were forced to question all their beliefs and traditions, and shift to a whole new lifestyle and way of thinking. Suddenly, they didn’t need a high priest to pray for them. They could pray directly to God through Jesus’s name. They became ministers to others. On top of all that, they were taught to take care of their neighbors, the sick, the poor, the widows, and the children left in the street. They were required to begin living a very strict moral life immediately. This only scratches the surface of changes. Yet, Christianity continued to grow.
It’s no wonder the early Christians stopped listening when the author of Hebrews was teaching them. Still, this scripture makes a very poignant statement. As Christians we need to continue to read, study, pray and grow. Being a Christian is not only for Sunday morning. It’s all week. It’s praying without ceasing. It’s continually studying the Bible. It’s growing closer to God.
Today, try something new. Grow as a Christian! God bless you.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Good afternoon. I pray that you are enjoying your weekend. My week was super busy. This morning I have become aware of some friends who are very sick. Sometimes our world seems bleak and hopeless. We find ourselves searching for answers with our minds that we couldn’t possibly understand. That is when we need to trust the Lord instead of trying to make sense with our brains (Proverbs 3:5).
Always remember to count your blessings. There are so many things we take for granted every day. Look around you and make mental notes. There is always someone worse off than you. Just by being able to read this post, you doing better than a large portion of the world’s population who are unable to read and do not have access to electricity, computers, WiFi, Internet, and other technology that we take for granted.
If you are feeling hopeless, ask God to heal you. Then, thank him. He is such an amazing God. If you have any prayer requests, respond to this post. God bless you.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 KJV
It’s Thursday and a great time to forgive ourselves and others. This week housekeeping has been low on the todo list, and it shows. The funny thing about housekeeping is when our house is messy, it puts me in a bad mood, and I waste a great deal of time looking for stuff. It’s much better to have a clean organized house and office. You can find what you need and it’s a pleasing environment. Fortunately for me, my sweet husband was off yesterday and he spent some time cleaning up.
This week I’ve been posting about faith and prayer. Have you ever wondered why your prayers aren’t being answered? It might be because you are holding on to pain from the past or refusing to forgive. Forgiveness is a daily concern that requires constant housekeeping of the heart to remove emotions related to the pain associated with guilt and/or resentment. This type of pain is like a jacket you loved and wore 30 years ago. It doesn’t fit anymore, it just has memories. The difference is we hold on to the jacket to avoid letting go of good memories of the past. We hold on to pain and bitterness to avoid getting hurt again. Unforgiveness leaves our heart cluttered and bitter. The good news is when we turn our emotions over to God, we are released from the pain but our memories are not wiped clean. We can avoid what hurt us in a healthy manner. The icing on the cake is our prayers will be answered.
So, today and every day, ask for forgiveness and forgive others. Be sure to watch Matthew West’s video and story of forgiveness. You will be blessed beyond measure. God bless you.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 KJV
Happy Tuesday! It’s a great time to try something new!
This morning my husband awoke me with a funny question. “Did the Pope like his sandwiches?” I started laughing because I knew what he was talking about. I often walk, talk and laugh in my sleep. It’s a good thing I don’t have any secrets! I’m not catholic, but last night I dreamed that the church didn’t have enough wafers for everyone taking communion, so I made the Pope jelly sandwiches. Turns out, in my dream at least, the Pope can not eat jelly. It’s too sweet. So, I then set about making peanut butter sandwiches for him. He kindly refused all my sandwiches. My husband said that I wasn’t upset about the refusal, because I was laughing. It’s so funny where our mind goes when we are asleep. I don’t think I’ve even thought about the Pope. Funny!
So, for today’s memory verse I chose Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Yes, we are supposed to help our neighbors as much as possible and we chat about this regularly, but don’t forget about yourself. When you are tired and weary, take care of yourself. We can help more people when we take care of ourselves, than when we are tired and run down. Joel 2:25 says that if you have faith, God can restore you. So, while you are meditating on these verses, take a few moment and schedule in a little time every day for you. Restore yourself. Don’t reject this gift like the Pope did my sandwiches in my dream.
The verses today are posted with all the memory verses discussed in this blog in the ScriptureTyper app under the group Hisperfecttiming.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 KJV
Happy Thursday from a very cold and rainy Florida. I’m studying this morning with my grandson by my side. We started the day with Landon taking a drive in his new car.
Have you ever felt like your emotional steering was out-of-control; like you were running off road? Do you need to get your life back on track? Often during the holidays we have a little extra stress, and may find ourselves being short-tempered with our family. If this describes you or what has happened to you, let it go. Forgive your family and friends. Life is too short to hold grudges and stay away from the people we love. You might miss out on moments like the ones in the photos above. It’s important to remember that we don’t all think and behave alike. Usually the ones who hurt our feelings don’t even know it. Sometimes bad things happen to where we can’t be around our family and/or friends. Forgive them and yourself even if you can’t be around them any more.
Today, forgive yourselves and others, as Christ has forgiven us. God bless you.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Isaiah 6:8 KJV
Good morning! Christmas is almost here. I’m busy cleaning house and preparing for Christmas Day celebrations. I have one child and grandchild asleep in our Family Room and one child traveling in this morning. My brother and sister who live in central Florida are traveling tomorrow. I ask that you pray with me this morning for all the people traveling during the holidays.
I’m a follower and a reader of his blog. I especially enjoy the history aspect. However, this image touched my heart. I would dare to guess that every person who reads this blog has either a family member and/or a friend who serves or has served in the armed forces. I have many people in my ancestry who have served. I have retired uncles, and my father-in-law is also retired from the military. I have cousins who have and are currently serving. My son-in-law serves in the National Guard, and my nephew recently began serving in the army. My supervisor at work is a retired Marine. I have had several retired military people who have worked under my supervision. Some of my closest friends have served in the military. Stop for a minute and just think of all the people you know who have served, or are currently serving. Maybe you are one them.
Sometimes we take for granted what this means for us. Sometimes we don’t stop to think about what these men and women are going through or have gone through, when we should. I don’t know about you, but I’ve become desensitized by commercials that play repeatedly. Some soldiers are away from home and family this Christmas. Some parents have left their children behind to serve. Some parents have said goodbye to their children, who decided to serve when they were barely old enough to leave home. Some have already served and have memories of loved ones who were killed during service. Some we see every day.
Today, I ask you to stop for a few minutes and remember the men and women of the armed forces. USO have Facebook pages that provide information on where to send gifts, letters and texts. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to let someone know they are loved. Then, visit my friend’s blog and tell him how much you appreciate him. I’m so thankful to have come to know him through his posts. What a blessing! You don’t have to wait until Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day. You can show you care all year. Trust me when I say that you will receive blessings beyond your imagination! If you are reading this and you are in the military, I appreciate all you are doing!
My son-in-law serves in the National Guard, and my nephew recently began serving in the army. My supervisor at work is a retired Marine. I have had several retired military people who have worked under my supervision. Some of my closest friends have served in the military. Stop for a minute and just think of all the people you know who have served, or are currently serving. Maybe you are one them.
You don’t have to wait until Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day. You can show you care all year. Trust me when I say that you will receive blessings beyond your imagination! If you are reading this and you are in the military, I appreciate all you are doing!