Sometimes You Run

...and you still get caught.

Joseph was just going about his business.  He took it seriously and said "No" in the face of temptation.  His temptress however was not to be ignored and though he ran...he still got caught.  Genesis 39

Sometimes it looks like God may be sleeping on the job!  You truly are living righteous, to the best of your ability, and then "out of nowhere" you get scammed, caught in a web, tricked and the curtain falls!

"How did that happen? Are there no witnesses? Truly someone will stand up for me! This is JUST NOT FAIR! etc.etc."

So...your thoughts?

My friend bad things happen. Without rhyme or reason the tables can turn and not in our favor.
How do we handle this?

I believe, most often, we posture and stand to defend ourselves.  If that does not work we "dance" for a while until we are spent, our energy used up and often fall into a pit of bitterness.

Seems normal to me.  How about you?

Well from the story of Joseph it is evident
that the Lord's hand was over every moment of his life; from the brightly colored coat to the pit, the slave train, the palace job, being forgotten in the dungeon and then back in front of the king. Some of these things seemingly happened in a very short period of time...even overnight!

This is where we must believe what we believe.  

We are in the palm of His hand.
Nothing can separate us from Him.
He knows the way that I take and when He has tried me I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10
All things will work together for good...Rom 8:28....
and many more

Beloved if you feel like you are in a place not of your making it may be true. But if it is not of your making it MUST BE of His making...or it would not be happening! Dig into the Word and gather strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN!  This trial will not last one second longer than He allows. He is using your life to bring Glory to His Holy Name!
You are chosen!

  

Saint Anthony...Where are You?

I was somewhere today when I overheard some women chatting about praying to St Anthony and his ability to "find things"
UGH.  Can you imagine spending your time in heaven having to constantly look for stuff?!

I found this article about this Saint:

St. Anthony of Padua’s life is what every Christian’s life is meant to be; a steady courage to face the ups and downs of life, the call to love and forgive, to be concerned for the needs of others, to deal with crisis great and small, and to have our feet solidly on the ground of total trusting love and dependence on God.



I will look forward to meeting this brother in the Lord but personally JESUS is my GO-TO person.  I pray to Him,God the Father and often to the Holy Spirit.   
"Leave the Saints alone" the Baptist woman said "and let them enjoy heaven" 😍😳😂

Hebrews 7:25.  "Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf."

Oh what a Savior we have

the eternal Lord Jesus Christ.  

Above Him there is no other!!

That Ugly Little Lump

Today I was pondering (another word for musing I believe)

A dear friend had to have an operation yesterday to remove a lump from her breast. It had tested positive and it needed to come out.

It made me start to think about my own "lumps". I have them I'm sure..and like hers many times they are overlooked or deemed harmless.  But cancer is cancer and even though the lump was encapsulated it is BEST that it be gone!  

How about you?  Are you lumpy?  "Feel around."  Any irritation come to the surface? Look around. Do you find yourself ignoring or shunning anyone? Listen inwardly~is there anything you are ignoring in hopes that it will go away?  
The Lord's promise is that He will will not let us stay stagnant. His Holy Spirit will continually be urging us to Holiness... conforming to His Likeness and Image.

You know friend....this is BEST for you. Don't ignore it any longer.  Take a deep breath and do what's right.  Take your own counsel.
He loves you oh how He loves you!
https://youtu.be/X-rW528qiYw

Mentoring

Mentoring has been on my mind for a L. O. N. G. time.

Titus 2:3-5Good News Translation

3 In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, 4 in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God"

One of my Passions is to raise STRONG WOMEN!

The world we live in is  lacking.....on so many fronts.

We've all heard the statement that the "hand that rocks the cradle rules the world".  Personally I see some truth in this.  We are the molders of the next generation.  The family has run a muck and needs Brave Hearts to stand up and be counted!!

To become "That Woman" takes diligent and intentional training.  It spells W. O. R. K and self denial.  BUT once you're "broken in" WATCH OUT WORLD!  Just like those that sign up for the 10-16 weeks of basic training offered by the army  (more for Special Operations), these are the women I'm looking for...those willing to run the race, go the extra mile, be single eyed, determined to follow Christ in every area of their lives.  Those diligent to train the next generation.

Anyone feel the same passion?  I'd love to hear from you!!

I Heard It From a Cupcake

Yes you heard me right!
It's the world we live in!   

Today I was talking with my daughter as she drove to her doctor's appointment. She was excited to hear the results of her ultra sound to make sure that she actually was having a boy.....
"I'm  excited to hear from something other than a cupcake"

You see a new way to announce the gender of the baby is to get the "results" from your Dr. on a piece of paper..take it to the bakery and they will fill your cupcakes with either pink or blue (depending on the Dr's note) you then go home and have the "reveal" by biting into the cake.

All these things are gimmicks and are fun for a season of time. 
But I fear that we have become a generation who believes whatever we hear; whether it's from a cupcake or an Esquire magazine.  Everything written sounds like fact and even has pictures to prove it.  We live in a period of Fake News and many have fallen for it hook line and sinker.

There is one  FACT that will never change! 
One day we will stand alone before the Lord and He will speak to us about our "status".  No other one will be there with us. There will be no one to point at or deflect to.  

Perhaps He'll say "what did you do with your life?"

What will you say?

Friend, we have a Holy Book at our disposal.  
It is full of God's Personal Words and Instructions.  
We stand without excuse.  
I urge you to dust that book off today and begin to read.  
Get your instructions from your Maker...the Creator of Heaven and Earth!  
I promise you that it is Full of TRUTH 
and the 
TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

Just a Crumb

While chatting with a friend the other day, she told me of a long standing rift that she was experiencing between her and a good friend.  As she shared her frustration, confusion and hurt over this broken relationship The Lord began to draw a picture in my mind.

I saw Hansel and Gretel locked up in the wicked witch's cottage.  They were alone and afraid. The difference between what I saw and the storybook tale was the trapped children did not leave a trail of crumbs but to encourage a healing in the relationship my friend needed to drop some crumbs.

I'm thinking that this is probably sounding confusing...but please bear with me.

Sometimes someone pulls away because of a sadness or a self inflicted wound .  They have lost ground and have found themselves trapped in discouragement and or even depression.  They pull away..sometimes for seemingly no apparent reason.

WHAT WOULD/does JESUS DO?

I believe instead of feeling hurt, rejected and frustrated with the "pulling away" of His friend Jesus would begin to drop some "crumbs". The Scripture says "...by His kindnesses He leads us to repentance". Romans 2:4

I suggested perhaps a short and friendly text, a bouquet of flowers, a card or plate of cookies.  Just little bits of "love" strewn along the way that might help draw the friend back.

This counsel I believe was from above with perhaps a heavenly hint as to what was going on.  Would or could it hurt to respond in this way?  I cannot see that it would cause more damage.

I can only hope someone would "hunt me down" and not give up on me.  
We need each other....sometimes more than we know