Saturday greetings all! Here on the home turf it's been a memorable month full of unexpected challenges and blessings.
I've had many opportunities over these past 31 days to gauge how I'm doing thanking God for the "hard stuff". Pluses and minuses I find on my tally sheet. Is your life like that?
Why is it we can be traveling along minding our business on this highway to heaven the Lord has put us on and WHAM, out of nowhere either there is a huge "rut in the road" or a "mountain" in what was moments ago a clear path?
It can happen in a second and if we're not ready for it .."watch out".
Fortunately the Creator of the universe, Almighty, Sovereign God has guidelines and roadmaps to help prepare us for these interruptions. His Word is our "Manual for Living". He augments His Word in our lives with teaching through dedicated pastors and bible teachers.
Many times when I'm reading scripture and have a particular decision or dilemma on my mind the verses for that day are just what I need to either stay on track or change course.
There also are those times that I don't consult the Lord and try to make my own way apart from His instruction,,,trust me, not a good move.
As this month draws to a close, I'm reminded that the remaining months of 2010 will bring new decisions and dilemmas for me and for you dear readers.
It's my prayer that we will fix our eyes on Jesus and trust Him to lead us where He knows best!
Blessings all!
Judy
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Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
HOW WAS YOUR DAY?
Sitting in my "Praise Chaise" re-running the day. It occurs to me that the day is ending better than it began.
Thank you Lord!
Early this morning my bones and joints were aching. Walking seemed to be a chore. As the day progressed (and after 3 Aleeve) aching has lessened and I'm not wobbling at present.
Thank you Lord!
My ADD had me "spinning" just before readying to leave the house. I'm calm and focused as I write this.
Thank you Lord!
A week ago this time of day was usually "the pits" for me. Since last Tuesday I have not been filling up on carbs but eating the South Beach way. Every day I have noticed an improvement!
Thank you Lord!
Looking around the room I'm overwhelmed at this re-decorated & renovated space that Ron and I share.
Thank you Lord!
So very much to be grateful for as I look around my world. I have a God who loves me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus..to die for my sins that I might have etrnal life.
Thank you Lord!
I have a husband who has loved me for 42 years in spite of many life challenges as we've raised a family and lived through inevitable bumps in the road.
Thank you Lord!
I have children and grandchildren I love and they love me back. They even like me.
Thank you Lord!
I have wonderful friends who help me keep my feet on the ground. They love me enough to tell me the truth and forgive me when I mess up! They have laughed with me, cried with me and walked with me through many years and many changes!
Thank you Lord!
Many wonderful pastors and teachers have walked through my life. Through their mentoring and teaching I have fallen more and more in love with God's Word.
Thank you Lord!
So often the ebb and flow of living in this world assualts me and I can fall into keeping a list of "what went wrong today" rather than what went right.
God's Word encourages me to have an "attitude adjustment". God's Word exhorts the reader:
"This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"" in Psalm 118:24 and
"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1Thessalonians 5:18.
For your Word that draws my focus back where it should be - fixed on Jesus, rather than on the world spinning around me - and for rescuing me from the domain of darkness and transferring me into the kingdom of your dear Son - thank you Lord!
Thank you Lord!
Early this morning my bones and joints were aching. Walking seemed to be a chore. As the day progressed (and after 3 Aleeve) aching has lessened and I'm not wobbling at present.
Thank you Lord!
My ADD had me "spinning" just before readying to leave the house. I'm calm and focused as I write this.
Thank you Lord!
A week ago this time of day was usually "the pits" for me. Since last Tuesday I have not been filling up on carbs but eating the South Beach way. Every day I have noticed an improvement!
Thank you Lord!
Looking around the room I'm overwhelmed at this re-decorated & renovated space that Ron and I share.
Thank you Lord!
So very much to be grateful for as I look around my world. I have a God who loves me so much that He sent His Son, Jesus..to die for my sins that I might have etrnal life.
Thank you Lord!
I have a husband who has loved me for 42 years in spite of many life challenges as we've raised a family and lived through inevitable bumps in the road.
Thank you Lord!
I have children and grandchildren I love and they love me back. They even like me.
Thank you Lord!
I have wonderful friends who help me keep my feet on the ground. They love me enough to tell me the truth and forgive me when I mess up! They have laughed with me, cried with me and walked with me through many years and many changes!
Thank you Lord!
Many wonderful pastors and teachers have walked through my life. Through their mentoring and teaching I have fallen more and more in love with God's Word.
Thank you Lord!
So often the ebb and flow of living in this world assualts me and I can fall into keeping a list of "what went wrong today" rather than what went right.
God's Word encourages me to have an "attitude adjustment". God's Word exhorts the reader:
"This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"" in Psalm 118:24 and
"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1Thessalonians 5:18.
For your Word that draws my focus back where it should be - fixed on Jesus, rather than on the world spinning around me - and for rescuing me from the domain of darkness and transferring me into the kingdom of your dear Son - thank you Lord!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
More of the Story
My last Post described a rainbow that blessed my life recently as I stood in God's garden worshipping Him early one morning. The recollection of that moment reminded me of God's faithfulness all my life.
I mentioned that God was watching me through many seasons; watching and waiting. Since that day in my 40s when I confessed that I had not been living according to His will and His way, and asked Him to take charge of my life, I have discovered that yes, the Lord was watching and waiting for me to make a choice but he was not waiting only.
I believe, that while I was living as I pleased the first half of my life, not only was He watching and waiting; he was also putting my world into place for the life He purposed for me.
This morning as I was considering this truth I was drawn to Psalm 139. As I read David's cries to the Lord, each word of the following verses fell on me with fresh understanding.
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
It's amazing! Almighty God "knows" me. He has known me. He knew me before I loved Him and He knows me at this moment.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.
Every move I make God sees. Nothing I do takes Him by surprise. If that weren't enough He understands my thoughts...He knows them before I think them.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
He examines carefully and critically where I walk. He understands the how and why of me completely. My God "gets me"!
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
He knows every word I'm going to speak ahead of time. The good, the bad and the ugly and loves me anyway.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
God is my "safe place". He's in front of me to show the way and to use a current expression He always "has my back"! His hand upon me gives me stability.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it."
He knows me better than I know myself. I don't know what I'm going to do sometimes from one moment to the next. How does He Know? He's God and I'm not!
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit ? Or where can I flee from Your presence ? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there ; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
There isn't anywhere I can go that God isn't there. When I wandered off His path in my teens, He was there. When I lived like the world in my 20s and 30s, He was there.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night," 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
His light is ALL I have ever needed. He illuminates my mind, my heart and my world.
13 For You formed my inward parts ; You wove me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth ; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance ; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
He decided on my DNA and who my earthly family would be. The words "skillfully wrought" speak to me of great sculpters/designers who take great care in shaping unformed substances into great works of art. That is how God put me together!
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God ! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
His words convey His thoughts .... they tell His story .... as they were precious to King David, so they are precious to me, for Jesus assures me in John 17 that I am in God's story and it isn't over yet!!
How does God's Word speak to your heart dear reader? Is the Bible your most read book?
Praying that you will feast on His "Fresh Bread" throughout the coming week.
Judy
I mentioned that God was watching me through many seasons; watching and waiting. Since that day in my 40s when I confessed that I had not been living according to His will and His way, and asked Him to take charge of my life, I have discovered that yes, the Lord was watching and waiting for me to make a choice but he was not waiting only.
I believe, that while I was living as I pleased the first half of my life, not only was He watching and waiting; he was also putting my world into place for the life He purposed for me.
This morning as I was considering this truth I was drawn to Psalm 139. As I read David's cries to the Lord, each word of the following verses fell on me with fresh understanding.
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
It's amazing! Almighty God "knows" me. He has known me. He knew me before I loved Him and He knows me at this moment.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.
Every move I make God sees. Nothing I do takes Him by surprise. If that weren't enough He understands my thoughts...He knows them before I think them.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
He examines carefully and critically where I walk. He understands the how and why of me completely. My God "gets me"!
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
He knows every word I'm going to speak ahead of time. The good, the bad and the ugly and loves me anyway.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
God is my "safe place". He's in front of me to show the way and to use a current expression He always "has my back"! His hand upon me gives me stability.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it."
He knows me better than I know myself. I don't know what I'm going to do sometimes from one moment to the next. How does He Know? He's God and I'm not!
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit ? Or where can I flee from Your presence ? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there ; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
There isn't anywhere I can go that God isn't there. When I wandered off His path in my teens, He was there. When I lived like the world in my 20s and 30s, He was there.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night," 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.
His light is ALL I have ever needed. He illuminates my mind, my heart and my world.
13 For You formed my inward parts ; You wove me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth ; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance ; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.
He decided on my DNA and who my earthly family would be. The words "skillfully wrought" speak to me of great sculpters/designers who take great care in shaping unformed substances into great works of art. That is how God put me together!
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God ! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
His words convey His thoughts .... they tell His story .... as they were precious to King David, so they are precious to me, for Jesus assures me in John 17 that I am in God's story and it isn't over yet!!
How does God's Word speak to your heart dear reader? Is the Bible your most read book?
Praying that you will feast on His "Fresh Bread" throughout the coming week.
Judy
Friday, July 23, 2010
God Sightings
At the end of May as the sun was rising, I found my heart brimming over with joy at the "light show" from the Lord in the western portion of the sky. Many rain clouds were hanging in the sky with bright blue below and as I looked heavenward ...I thought I saw..could it be? the hint of a rainbow... and as I stood in my garden awestruck...this, the sign of the first covenant mentioned in the bible, began to brighten it's hue and form until I found myself overcome with tears streaming down my face.
Sheer joy poured over and in me as our Creator God displayed His power and beauty, one more time, for this ordinary woman. As I put words to the page Selah is singing .."Sweet Jesus, my Jesus, my savior..you are my faithful friend.." ..." faithful, faithful to the end". Oh yes, our God has shown Himself faithful every moment of my life.
I remember that little girl of long ago hungering for acceptance....wanting "to be somebody"....fueled in pursuits by fear. I also remember the people that walked through her life and while in it eased those hungers and fears for awhile (defined as a short period of time). However, humans could not soothe or fill up the place inside, made only for God, Himself.
Day in and day out, week after week, month after month, and year after year...as that little girl grew; first into preteen, then teen, young adult, middle age and now a senior adult, God was watching. He was watching and waiting. Waiting first for me to say "yes, Lord, I surrender all". That took a while. It wasn't until my early forties, with my life in disarray that I found myself ready to let God be God over ALL my life. Suffice to say that it wasn't an instant transformation. For though God's Word assures me the following -
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2Cr 5:17;
Our sanctification is a continuing process toward holiness.
",,and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. ; And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.; .. and But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. "
Eph 4:24, Rom 12:2, 2Cr 3:18
I treasure those special "God Sightings" the Lord blesses me with....the rainbow in the western sky that early morning is a memory that encourages me to keep "looking forward" and not behind!
Where are you looking today? Waiting to read your story.
Blessings,
Judy
Sheer joy poured over and in me as our Creator God displayed His power and beauty, one more time, for this ordinary woman. As I put words to the page Selah is singing .."Sweet Jesus, my Jesus, my savior..you are my faithful friend.." ..." faithful, faithful to the end". Oh yes, our God has shown Himself faithful every moment of my life.
I remember that little girl of long ago hungering for acceptance....wanting "to be somebody"....fueled in pursuits by fear. I also remember the people that walked through her life and while in it eased those hungers and fears for awhile (defined as a short period of time). However, humans could not soothe or fill up the place inside, made only for God, Himself.
Day in and day out, week after week, month after month, and year after year...as that little girl grew; first into preteen, then teen, young adult, middle age and now a senior adult, God was watching. He was watching and waiting. Waiting first for me to say "yes, Lord, I surrender all". That took a while. It wasn't until my early forties, with my life in disarray that I found myself ready to let God be God over ALL my life. Suffice to say that it wasn't an instant transformation. For though God's Word assures me the following -
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2Cr 5:17;
Our sanctification is a continuing process toward holiness.
",,and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. ; And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.; .. and But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. "
Eph 4:24, Rom 12:2, 2Cr 3:18
I treasure those special "God Sightings" the Lord blesses me with....the rainbow in the western sky that early morning is a memory that encourages me to keep "looking forward" and not behind!
Where are you looking today? Waiting to read your story.
Blessings,
Judy
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Ordinary Things
5:15 AM and the day begins with the insistent ringing of the telephone alarm. I stretch before getting out of bed and into today. Next I wander into the bathroom while still in the dark and squint when the light over the mirror illumines a face that is looking more like my grandmother every day; Eye drops, and nose drops and water splashing my face as I prepare to go downstairs to make coffee. It's an ordinary day, filled with ordinary activities involving extraordinary people. Probably much like Sundays at your house.
8:00 AM and we're out the door to church. Not many folks at the 8:30 service but those who are have faces upturned and attentive to the worship schedule, prayer time and God's word spoken through Pastor Kevin. Today he concluded his series on Job. Many lessons learned by Job. A huge one for us to apply to our ordinary days found is found in Chap. 42: 2 - "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." When life threatens to derail us we can remember what God taught Job through many losses in his life.
After church we turn south on Dale Mabry and head to Bayshore Pointe to visit our beloved Kay recovering from surgery to repair her broken hip. The past 9 days have been anything but ordinary for her and those she loves. The days ahead promise more extraordinary days as she wills herself to push through the physical therapy and allows the Lord to heal not only her body but her spirit as well. As we visit together and I watch Kay smile and chat I think of how extraordinary this dear woman is. She doesn't feel herself and at moments she's tempted to worry whether she will "ever" be herself again. Most of the time however her determination and faith keep her strong. The Lord is her closest companion and comfort.
An extraordinary faith that encourages all who come in contact with her.
One of her favorite passage of scripture is Philippians 4:8 -"Finally, brethren whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." I see her deliberately choose to walk through these days according to this verse and my heart is warmed and my faith encouraged and I pray,
O, Lord, as I move through the ordinary things of my ordinary days sprinkled with extraordinary displays of courage and faith such as Kay's, I pray that I would practice living God's Word the same. May your Spirit empower me to walk in faith today and all my tomorrows.
Now dear reader, would you be so kind to comment on the ordinary things and extraordinary people that
encourage you to walk in faith no matter your circumstances?? I'd love to hear from you.
Love & Hugs,
Judy
8:00 AM and we're out the door to church. Not many folks at the 8:30 service but those who are have faces upturned and attentive to the worship schedule, prayer time and God's word spoken through Pastor Kevin. Today he concluded his series on Job. Many lessons learned by Job. A huge one for us to apply to our ordinary days found is found in Chap. 42: 2 - "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." When life threatens to derail us we can remember what God taught Job through many losses in his life.
After church we turn south on Dale Mabry and head to Bayshore Pointe to visit our beloved Kay recovering from surgery to repair her broken hip. The past 9 days have been anything but ordinary for her and those she loves. The days ahead promise more extraordinary days as she wills herself to push through the physical therapy and allows the Lord to heal not only her body but her spirit as well. As we visit together and I watch Kay smile and chat I think of how extraordinary this dear woman is. She doesn't feel herself and at moments she's tempted to worry whether she will "ever" be herself again. Most of the time however her determination and faith keep her strong. The Lord is her closest companion and comfort.
An extraordinary faith that encourages all who come in contact with her.
One of her favorite passage of scripture is Philippians 4:8 -"Finally, brethren whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." I see her deliberately choose to walk through these days according to this verse and my heart is warmed and my faith encouraged and I pray,
O, Lord, as I move through the ordinary things of my ordinary days sprinkled with extraordinary displays of courage and faith such as Kay's, I pray that I would practice living God's Word the same. May your Spirit empower me to walk in faith today and all my tomorrows.
Now dear reader, would you be so kind to comment on the ordinary things and extraordinary people that
encourage you to walk in faith no matter your circumstances?? I'd love to hear from you.
Love & Hugs,
Judy
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Coming Up For Air
Good morning dear readers. Vacation and life in general has kept me from writing these past weeks.
Our beach trip was wonderful. The weather cooperated and was sunny every day.
This photo was taken the evening before we returned home. I'm surrounded by grandsons Stephen and Drew (Ry missed our trip this year) daughter Traci, daughter-in-love Mindy, grandaughter Lindsey and number one son Whitney. Patriarch Ron returned home early and mmissed our "photo shoot". We've all aged since our first excursion together ..my how time flies.
Since our trip...Whitney and family have moved into a new home; Lindsey's been practicing at cheer camp; Stephen broke his arm; Drew is working at Publix as often as he can; Traci is looking ahead to an empty nest come August when both her boys will be in college; Ron and I have revcovered from a pesky resp. infection and life goes on.
As I reflect this morning on all our activity and challenges of the past month I'm blown away (again) by God's great care of us.
How blessed we are to have the opprotunity to spend these days together. How blessed I am to have such wonderfully unique and fun children and grandchildren and privileged to be loved by them.
I'm reminded that our time here on earth is "but a moment". Let's you and I not waste precious moments that we have with our loved ones.
Let's tell them how important they are to us..how they make a difference in our lives and in the world and daily let us lift them to God's throne room for His oversight, protection and blessingsand to thank our God and King for every moment He has gifted us with!
Love and hugs,
Judy
Our beach trip was wonderful. The weather cooperated and was sunny every day.
Since our trip...Whitney and family have moved into a new home; Lindsey's been practicing at cheer camp; Stephen broke his arm; Drew is working at Publix as often as he can; Traci is looking ahead to an empty nest come August when both her boys will be in college; Ron and I have revcovered from a pesky resp. infection and life goes on.
As I reflect this morning on all our activity and challenges of the past month I'm blown away (again) by God's great care of us.
How blessed we are to have the opprotunity to spend these days together. How blessed I am to have such wonderfully unique and fun children and grandchildren and privileged to be loved by them.
I'm reminded that our time here on earth is "but a moment". Let's you and I not waste precious moments that we have with our loved ones.
Let's tell them how important they are to us..how they make a difference in our lives and in the world and daily let us lift them to God's throne room for His oversight, protection and blessingsand to thank our God and King for every moment He has gifted us with!
Love and hugs,
Judy
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