Sitting on the Edge!

10 Sep

Sitting on the Edge!.

Sitting on the Edge!

10 Sep

Sitting on the Edge!

In my last week’s blog entitled Good-bye Summer, I wrote about the seasons changing.  I wanted to once again touch upon seasons of change.  Why, you may ask?  My answer to you would be, because we are always in a season of change!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

When we think of season’s changing in the natural we either look forward to them or dread them!  I feel we do the same in our life’s seasons of change, we either are sitting on the edge of our seat in expectation of something new, or we are pushing back in our seats, tightly gripping the arm rest, in dread of what is coming next! My friend let me encourage you: Change is coming for your good!

There is purpose behind everything that we go through, whether our experiences are good or bad!  I often encourage people who are going through difficult times to be strong in the Lord, because it is only a season! Bad times will not stay!  This bad season, like so many good seasons in your life will pass as well!

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I wanted to really focus on expectation today!  When we are looking to God for our answers, we should have expectation or hope that He will work every detail out for our good!  We may not see how things could possibly work out to our advantage in the bad seasons of our lives, but with God, we can trust that they always will!  His purposes are much greater for us than just simply getting us through each season!  He is constantly proving Himself faithful to us!  He can be trusted with the most difficult of seasons.   Even though what you may be going through is not good, He will use it in your life to develop something good out of it!

We used to play a little game when I was in school called the trust game!  It went something like this:  We would all pair off into groups of two.  One person would stand with their backs toward the second.  The object of the game was for the person standing in front  to fall backward and completely trust that the person behind you would catch you!  At first this was totally terrifying, but the more we fell back and were caught the freer and trusting we became.  Then we would switch partners and have to learn to trust all over again!

Do you know walking through life with God is much like that little game!  At first, you may be terrified to let yourself fall and trust Him to catch you!  However, the more you fall back into His loving Arms and choose to trust Him, the easier it will become! I encourage you today that no matter what season you are in, to embrace it with great expectation and trust!  Trust the One who holds all of your purpose and destiny in His hands and simply fall back,  He will always catch you!

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6 Sep

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Good-Bye Summer!

4 Sep

Good-Bye Summer!

Fall leaf that is dying

 James 1:17 (KJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Good morning! As I sit on my front porch sipping my morning cup of coffee, there is a very warm breeze gently blowing.  Obviously, the heat of summer has not yet realized that we have gone through the Labor Day Weekend which is the general consensus that summer is officially over!  Saying good-bye to the summer is not something I am actually relishing at the moment! The summer season of warm weather actually never lasted very long in Georgia this year as we had a really long, cold winter and mild summer! Somehow, my mind does not want to focus on our beautiful fall seasons, but rather, the thoughts of going into another long winter which is not really appealing to me if you know what I mean.  As usual, though, we will suck it up and deal with it when it comes!  The key is knowing that God is always trying to bless us as we let go of the old and embrace the new!

I do love the fall season in Georgia, the weather is spectacular and the North Georgia Mountains are breathtaking when they are in full color!  I love cooking hearty soups and bake goods for my family.  I especially love making pumpkin rolls, and homemade Apple butter.  As I look out past my front yard today, I do believe we are having an early fall season in Georgia this year.   Already the Dogwood leaves in the past week or so have turned to a light golden and orange.  There is something about the seasons changing that causes anticipation in me to know that seasons in my life are changing as well.   One thing I have learned, whether things are good or bad, they will pass.  The key is to know when to let the change happen.  When do we let things fall away from our lives like the fall leaves that tumble down ever  so gracefully? I believe we know when things must fall.  We become very discontent and begin searching for newness.   It amazes me that even when things seem wonderful, that the Lord is always trying to bless us with better. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to hold on to things that are dead or dying like fall leaves, but rather I want the Lord to be able to bless me with newness!

 

 

 

via Good-Bye Summer!.

Good-Bye Summer!

4 Sep

Good-Bye Summer!

Fall leaf that is dying

 James 1:17 (KJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Good morning! As I sit on my front porch sipping my morning cup of coffee, there is a very warm breeze gently blowing.  Obviously, the heat of summer has not yet realized that we have gone through the Labor Day Weekend which is the general consensus that summer is officially over!  Saying good-bye to the summer is not something I am actually relishing at the moment! The summer season of warm weather actually never lasted very long in Georgia this year as we had a really long, cold winter and mild summer! Somehow, my mind does not want to focus on our beautiful fall seasons, but rather, the thoughts of going into another long winter which is not really appealing to me if you know what I mean.  As usual, though, we will suck it up and deal with it when it comes!  The key is knowing that God is always trying to bless us as we let go of the old and embrace the new!

I do love the fall season in Georgia, the weather is spectacular and the North Georgia Mountains are breathtaking when they are in full color!  I love cooking hearty soups and bake goods for my family.  I especially love making pumpkin rolls, and homemade Apple butter.  As I look out past my front yard today, I do believe we are having an early fall season in Georgia this year.   Already the Dogwood leaves in the past week or so have turned to a light golden and orange.  There is something about the seasons changing that causes anticipation in me to know that seasons in my life are changing as well.   One thing I have learned, whether things are good or bad, they will pass.  The key is to know when to let the change happen.  When do we let things fall away from our lives like the fall leaves that tumble down ever  so gracefully? I believe we know when things must fall.  We become very discontent and begin searching for newness.   It amazes me that even when things seem wonderful, that the Lord is always trying to bless us with better. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to hold on to things that are dead or dying like fall leaves, but rather I want the Lord to be able to bless me with newness!

 

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way!

27 Aug

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way!.

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way!

27 Aug

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way!

1 John 3:17 (KJV) But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Recently I was privileged to watch a video that showed a gentleman simply helping people in his neighborhood.  I loved the video because the gentleman wasn’t rich but yet he would give some money to a little girl and her mother who begged on the street every day.  He gave food to his elderly neighbor and to a little dog that came to visit him every day.  He used common sense as water was pouring from a spout onto the street every day, but he would place trees under the spout so that they could be watered and the water would not go to waste. He would also help a little lady who had a heavy food cart, push her cart over this one hump every day. He would also give his seat to a woman who stood on the bus each day!  In the meantime, there was an old man who watched him and would just shake his head in a disapproving manner.

What is so wonderful about this video is that eventually because of just one man’s help people’s lives were being changed.  The trees and other plants he placed under the spout grew beautifully and bloomed! One day as he went to give money again to the mother and her little girl, who begged on the street, the little girl wasn’t there.   As he looked at the mother, he was afraid that something bad had happened to her, but just when he didn’t expect it, the little girl walks toward him completely dressed in a school uniform and smiling!  The old woman that he gave food to invites him in to share it with here and gives him a huge hug.  The dog follows him around everywhere, and the lady who owns the food cart begins feeding people who cannot afford it.  The look on the old disapproving gentleman’s face was priceless as he realized that one person can make such a difference!

In the video of course the gentleman gets to see the fruit of all that he gave into, and unfortunately we may not always see the fruit of sewing into some bodies life, especially on this side of heaven, but we will see it!  I wanted to share what happened in the video because it was so inspiring!  I know there is a movement called “Pay it forward!”  However, this concept is not new as the Lord as always asked up to “pay it forward!” It is such an awesome opportunity, however, to give.   Do you know if you did just one kind thing a day for someone, you would do 365 kind things a year!  Think about it!  It doesn’t always require giving money or some grand gesture! It could be as simple as smiling at someone who thinks that they are all alone in the world!  Do you know what that smile everyday could do to help them know that they are worthy of a smile every day?  It may seem like a small thing, but it could make such a difference in someone’s life!

I am not trying to boast or to brag but I am going to share a true story about something that happened to my son and I every week.  This happened several years ago when I used to do the books for my church.   Every Monday morning I would go to the bank to do the church’s deposit!  Next door to the bank was a huge parking lot for some businesses but it had a concrete lamp-post toward the street.  There was a little lady who sat on the base of the concrete lamp-post every Monday when I went to the bank and she would have a sign up asking for help.  I knew by her appearance that her little face wasn’t developed correctly and she wore extra thick glasses.  It would be the middle of summer and she wore a huge overcoat and had a small little gym bag of sorts placed safely beside her.  I knew that I couldn’t do much, but every Monday I began giving her at least enough money for lunch.  Eventually, we learned her named and befriended her.  I had even driven her a few places when she needed me to. Every Monday, before we ever got to the bank to make the deposit, my son began asking me if I had money for this little lady!  This went on for many Mondays, until one day we drove to the bank and there was a little memorial set up at the lamp-post for her.  We were heartbroken as she had passed away.  The only comfort that I had, was  that my son learned such a valuable lesson in giving to those that were less fortunate than we were.  He was four at the time and couldn’t wait to give her the money we gave her each week!

I don’t know necessarily how that little bit of money each week really changed her life, but I know it changed mine and my son’s life.   I was so grateful to have done something for her when I saw that little memorial set up for her!  I wished that I could have done more, but I gave her what I had!  I didn’t do this for a reward.  However you can’t give to others that you yourself will not be blessed because of it!  I hope that this will inspire you to do something! This is all the Lord requires of us!  Do what we can do to help others and let Him do the rest!

Triumph Out of Tragedy!

21 Aug

Triumph Out of Tragedy!.

Triumph Out of Tragedy!

21 Aug

Triumph out of Tragedy!
When life seems like you have a handle on it and everything seems to finally be working out the way you thought it should, what then? Our breath catches in our throat for that second as we wish that it could always stay that way! However, a living thing will always change and grow because it is alive! Life is always developing and creating itself! Think about it, what kind of life would we have if everything constantly stayed the same? I know that we would love to just have life on an even keel perhaps, where nothing bad ever happened and we could just live like the Cleavers on classic T.V., but again Life is happening right now! If you are breathing and reading this, you are alive! I personally do not want to waste one minute of my life! I want to be used to produce as much on the earth as I was purposed to!
Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
I know in previous writings I have stated that we are all put on this earth for a reason! According to His word He has “an expected end” for all of us! We are destined by a true and living God, who created us to fulfill a purposed Life that He ordained us to walk in. From my experience in life, my greatest joy is when I purposely walk in His will and try to do what I know to do by obeying His word, (Bible). When I am in His will it is always a place where I feel more satisfied. Does that mean that my life has always been a “bed of roses” without any trouble or trials? Absolutely not, but when trouble comes, I have His strength and grace to get through them! I trust that when bad things come, that although they may be meant for my harm, I have a loving God, A Heavenly Father, who will always turn it for my good! Now I realize that this statement is hard for many! Especially if you’ve faced horrible tragedy in your life! You may be asking, where was God when this horrible thing was happening to me? How can I find good out of this tragic event in my life!
I don’t pretend to know all the answers for life’s woes and sorrows, but the only thing that I can offer to those of you who have been devastated by such tragic events or hurts, is that God is in the same place He was when He faced such tragedy. He was watching His only son be tormented, mocked, beaten, scoffed at, beard plucked, bones broken, until Jesus was finally crucified and put to death for me and for you. Why? The answer is because He knew all of the joys and the sorrows of LIFE! He experienced them so that He could heal our lives and fill them with what truly satisfies!
Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus knows what it is to be forsaken and broken-hearted, because He experienced it all! He experienced every kind of the pain imaginable so that He could heal us of all of ours! I also offer this in light of tragic events, especially death! God did not kill or destroy the life of our love ones! There is a real enemy and his name is Satan on the earth. Unfortunately, His number one weapon is deception! He is the one who causes death and destruction in Life! He is a thief according to the Bible. His number one goal is to stop us from fulfilling our purpose in GOD.

John 10:10 (KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly
So you may be asking, how can you began to live again after such tragedy in your life? My answer to you is to call out to a Heavenly Father who loves you with an unconditional love. He has His arms wide opened waiting for you to come and be healed! He is a God of new beginnings! You may not realize it, but you’ve already got a purpose, a ministry if you will! Once you are healed, you can help others that have been devastated by a tragic event in their lives. What greater purpose on earth could you have then to be used by God to bring healing to hurting people? This is how the tragedy in your life can be turned into something good! I pray that you will let God, turn your tragedy into triumph!

The Peace of God is my Compass

15 Aug

The Peace of God is my Compass.