Continuing to Learn

I have a job where I'm very blessed to have the opportunity to learn EVERY day!

Sometimes a client says JUST what I needed to hear and that was VERY true today!

These statements seem SO simple, but they are so POWERFUL!

If I crack open the door to the addiction, it takes over. What I thought was just one "drink (bite)" turned into a five days of alcohol (food). I can't open that door."

Was that his voice or mine? Was that his thought or my thought?

It's been a rough few days. 4 days to be exact.

I guess the good news is that it used to take many more days before I came out of the fog. I can remember when a friend of mine would say "but it's only been three weeks. That's a much shorter time for you."

3 weeks.....4 days....

Even though I don't like it, I guess it is progress.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Think on These Things....

I L O V E a good murder mystery.

48 hours....Dateline....Snapped....Disappeared....Solved....Paula Zahn....

The list could go on and on. So EARLY this morning I woke up (as I normally do) and I reached for the remote. At that moment, this Scripture came to my mind:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

I AM NOT saying there is anything wrong with these shows. But I KNOW what I heard, for me, the moment I reached for the remote.

Instead, I surfed the channels and found The Gaither Hour. After one hour of gospel music, I am starting my day refreshed, more connected to God, and with a peace that I would not have had otherwise.

So the "to do" list on my Direct TV is changing. Some deleted. Some added. But all with this in mind....Whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, think on these things.

How Then Were Your Eyes Opened?

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” (John 9:10-11)

I AM THAT MAN!

I wish I could talk with him. I wonder if there were times that he would have preferred to stay blind. Were all the things he saw worth it? Was he excited at first and then questioned this blessing later on?

Regardless, Jesus washed him and then he could see, and one thing is FOR SURE, he had to learn to operate differently in his world because of this great miracle.

I AM THAT MAN!

It's been stirring for a while. Little pieces, like a puzzle, being turned over, sometimes one at a time, sometimes in groups. But I hadn't seen the front of the box. What is this a picture of? What am I going to have once I fit all of these pieces together? AND then it came with such clarity.....Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes and now I can see.

And as if I needed any more confirmation, Jesus must have taken a picture of this puzzle and handed it to my pastor because he held it up for me to see again on Sunday. Here are some of the pieces that he puts words too for me....

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (well not this one, but it was on the overhead)

Fear of ReJection

I will not back down from what God is doing inside of me!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)

Sometimes BIG things can't happen without a BIG problem!

What you fear reveals what you value the most. What you fear reveals where you trust God the least!

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me. (Psalm 56:2)

Oh, Yes, the mud has been applied, washed off, and now I can see.

I'm not sure why God thinks I'm ready to see this now and, even though I'm trying, I can't see the beauty of the puzzle yet. I'm still in shock from the picture that has become so clear to me. But I know it's coming...



The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61

Random

It's odd, but I don't have "normal" quiet time. My quiet time seems to be most of the time. I'm doing life but am aware that bigger things are going on around me, and I try to pay attention.

I use my "normal" quiet time to try and make sense of the things that pop up during the "non-normal" quiet time.

This mornings was random....

(1) I'm feeling led having the desire to memorize a whole chapter of Scripture. Hmmm...that is NOT LIKE ME! I barely have memorized verses of Scripture, so a whole chapter???? I think I'm going to start with James 1.

(2) This Scripture has been coming to my mind more OFTEN than not....A double-sided man is unstable in all his ways. I remembered that it used to be on this blog and I deleted it when I did the re-vamp. However, it popped up on Friday after lunch with a friend. It has continued to surface over the last few days. I'm not sure what God is trying to tell me and I don't want to jump to conclusions, so I'm LISTENING to hear more specifically where I am to apply this in my life.

However, I thought I should, at least, look it up to see where it is in the Bible.

And Guess Where It Is?

James 1.....

Wow! Maybe, not so random....

A Double-sided man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:7

Glorifying God

A few weeks ago, I called a dear, trusted friend. You know, one of those friends who tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Why do I need to lose weight? It doesn't bother me. It doesn't bother hubby. Focusing on it seems to take a lot of attention away from other things that seem really important to be focusing on.

Friend: You're deceiving yourself.

Me: Really?

Friend: Yes, you're deceiving yourself. I've got to go, but we need to talk more about this later.

Although we talk every day, we didn't talk about it again....until two days ago, that is, after God answered the question for me.

I was walking down the hall at my office and OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY comes this conversation. (if you really want to call it a conversation)

God: Do you know why I want you to lose weight?

Me: No, Why?

God: To Glorify Me!

O.K. Well, that's simple enough. Not much to argue with there.

So, I text friend the conversation that I just had with God. I think her words back to me were "Love it".

And isn't it interesting that this Scripture really exists...

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Anger

Anger isn't an emotion that I struggle with a lot. However, within the last 24 hours, I've been a strugglin....

So I thought: What does the Bible say about anger?

After reading a lot of commentaries and Scriptures, here is what resonated in me.

You must recognize your anger is not going to accomplish the righteousness of God. You will confess that you have been responding to your own selfish desires and have focused on your own will and life, not on God's will and purpose.

Well, this obviously isn't from the Bible, but it was what I needed to hear!

And God must be trying to tell me something because the Scripture that went with this was Galatians 2:20 (see Wednesday's post).

This one may take a while to absorb.

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

BIZ - E

Thursday is my long day at work. So, by default, it's the day that I get up, get going, and never even say "Hi" to God. So today, even in the busyness of Thursday, I'm going to pause for 30 seconds and say this little mantra that I used to say daily.....

God, I surrender this day to you. I am yours to do with what You will.

and then I'm going to take a few deep breaths and let it sink in.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 146:10