The Funeral

Today I attended a funeral .  It  was a celebration of the "home going" of a 97 year old saint.  
People shared stories, there was a wonderful slide show and a simple yet profound invitation to know Christ was given to the congregation .   

Years ago I watched a movie of  the life of Howard Hughes.  A brilliant, talented man, he lived a life that would have been but a dream for most people.  Yet I remember as the years went on he became mentally challenged and died a recluse hidden from the public eye and afraid of germs among other things. SO Sad.
The final scene depicted a huge casino filled with people stopping for a moment of silence as prompted by the  the loud speaker announcing  Mr. Hughes death.  

So in comparison;   This elderly woman of 97 years who lived many serving the Lord in a small town  and  this popular celebrity, known my millions, who seemingly had no relationship with the Lord at all and died alone. Pitiful

How about you?  Have you ever thought about your funeral?   People die at all ages you know.  Please don't think this morbid but take a minute and make a plan.   Have your will drawn up.  Think about how you should live NOW so that you will be remembered later with more than a moment of silence.
Our lives count for something. 

May all  who come behind us find us faithful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eERKnxzNzwg

Blessings!

Thinking "Good"

I've been thinking...

How often do I think "good" about someone?  Is it my initial tendency?
When a name or ministry or "whatever" is said to me where do I "go"?

My son and I were chatting about 1 Cor. 13 tonite.    Especially 4-7

" Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, always perseveres."

I need to do better at this....I think that it is a training.  Maybe the elastic on the wrist will help.   ummmmm

I KNOW

Father in the Name of Jesus, 
I come to You for a renewed mind.  I know I am a culmination of my years and experiences.  I ask that You will do the work to right my thinking.  I do not want Your job!  I do not want to be the Holy Spirit!   I want to think positive about people.( even the You-know-who's)
Train me Lord!!!  
I don't want to stand in front of You with NOTHING...for Your Word says with out love it is all void.  
Oh Lord so much work to do....I do not want to be the cause of You tarrying!   
Surgery Lord...Do it!   
and maybe that band aid across my mouth will be a good beginning!

You delight me Father and I am not afraid~


I wonder how it looks...what it sounds like.  I can honestly say that in 60 years only 4 people come to mind that seemed to have this Mark on their lives....they DID NOT speak negative about ANYONE!!  

sounds like a New Years Resolution to me!

Blessings

Disappointment

We have all experienced disappointment before ~ 
and will agree that there are different levels of this emotion
I would like to share some raw emotions that can be brought about by disappointment

"I'm feeling so brokenhearted
 I am so angry
 I fervently prayed
 I'm thinking terrible things...
I know that I shouldn't have "MY OPINION" about this but everything in this broken stinky world seems to feel so oppressive to me that I want to SCREAM !!!
Please pray for me to get right in my thoughts and prayers and be light and salt instead of grit and vinegar."

These words are brought about by disappointment.   We say them, we understand them, we feel them, we eat, sleep and walk them....

BUT  my friend ~  

disappointment can and will, 

if allowed, 

EAT YOU UP!

How do I know????   

I've experienced it first hand!

We must still ourselves and believe that the Lord has heard our prayers.  It is hard to watch the very people that we have prayed for reject God's perfect love and care. But it happens again and again.
Satan wanted more and he was disappointed..That disappointment led to pride and the sin that followed. 

Fall on your knees 
God's word will not disappoint.  He has seen and heard and knows all about your situation.  Confess your anger and feelings to Him for He cares for you.

Disappointment will only "clog" you up.  

Nothing good can come from it.

Let it go~

 Prov 3:5-12  The Message

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all
Run to God!  Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health
your bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give Him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.
But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline;
don't sulk under His loving correction
It's the child He loves that God corrects;
a Father's delight is behind all this.


Blessings

When It All Comes Together

Today I decorated.  

I spent about 12 hours and 

am still not totally finished.  

You see I have a disease 

(but that is for a different muse)

As I hauled out all the boxes and tubs from the attic I sifted thru and pulled out this and that to begin my process.  I do not like to replicate a year so each season poses a whole new challenge as I put and take..looking for "homes" for the decor that I have. 
  
Hours went by and it would seem to most (and even to myself) that I was making more of a mess than not.  Many rooms were in disarray, boxes were everywhere, glitter and needles etc littered all the floors and I was having a hard time getting excited with the process.   I was thinking about calling it a day when I decided that I just needed to do the dining room table. I replaced the fall cloth with red and a lovely centerpiece and all of a sudden I began to see it ~ it was coming  together!!  I worked a little bit longer and then vacuumed and voila it was all loveliness!

I bet that is what it looks like to God as He diligently works on us.  Many times it seems we are going backwards instead of making progress. Things can get pretty messy in the process of growing.  But we know that He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it ~  He will not stop, give up, give in or call it a day.

The God of the Universe has you and His plan is in process.  

I only urge you to work with Him ~  

spend time in prayer and the Word.  

Weed out the things that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.  

Become good at obeying.  

Learn from the Israelites and take the short route rather than the 40 year tour.

He Loves You you know and has committed His whole life to pull you to Him

Blessings!

Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary

The Altar

I long to see the "altar" used more.

Years ago I attended a church whose altar was filled at the end of each service.  God was actively doing a work and people flooded to the front of the church after each service.

One memory of a friend comes to mind.  

Week after week she would go to the altar.  More often than not she was not prayed over.  I remember her testifying about the healing and growth that took place in her life.  She simply would go forward and cry out to her Father, laying all her cares, worries and praises down at the altar, just to receive His mercy and grace fresh again in her life.  
She told me once that she figured that the congregation probably thought that she was a basket case as she was up there so often...but she did not care!  She communed with the Lord and left it all with Him.

How about you..  

Have you ever "run to the altar"?  

Have you knelt to pray up front?   

There is healing at the foot of the cross 

and 

"burdens are lifted at Calvary"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIo5cpHicvE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgkZznGP3dY&feature=related


Blessings!

Thanksgiving...

Dear Readers

I pray that your Thanksgiving Day was filled with just that...

GIVING THANKS

On face book many are posting a thanksgiving every day for the month...

Wouldn't it be a good practice to just keep it going?

Do you think it or say it?   

Practice .. 

It will get easier and will make you more pleasant to be around.

Thankfulness never grows old!

Blessings!

Thanksgiving Medley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3dXCL34aEA&feature=related

Come Ye Thankful People Come
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_2drfgebNo&feature=related

Does Jesus Care?

Sing along with this link....

1. Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
   Too deeply for mirth or song,
   As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
   And the way grows weary and long?
   • Refrain:
     Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
     His heart is touched with my grief;
     When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
     I know my Savior cares.
2. Does Jesus care when my way is dark
   With a nameless dread and fear?
   As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
   Does He care enough to be near?
3. Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
   To resist some temptation strong;
   When for my deep grief there is no relief,
   Though my tears flow all the night long?
4. Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
   To the dearest on earth to me,
   And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
   Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncpuyN01U48&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRT49AwHmfs