I just tried to fold a fitted sheet. I have seen multitudes of examples of how it should be properly done, but do you think that has helped me perfect this elusive art? Absolutely not! I'm still a terrible fitted sheet folder. I need to be more studious and deliberate and patient about the method of getting it right, I suppose. Unfortunately my fitted sheets end up in a crumpled mess in the cupboard. I'm pretty sure Martha Stewart would not want to be my house guest at my current level of fitted sheet folding expertise.
Thinking about this ever-recurring flaw in my housekeeping skills as I take the fitted sheet out of the dryer, I start to compare it to my need to take the study of God's Word and be deliberate and repetitive about applying it to my life. My practice of doing so always helps me keep the nuggets of truth and wonders of God's grace neatly tucked into my heart and mind, ready to be unfolded when it's time to apply it. No matter how many times I may have read something or heard someone else teach about something in the bible, it is sort of useless to me unless I take it to heart, unless I put what I see and hear into action. I will end up a crumpled mess if I don't get that part right, or at least make a concentrated effort to put into practice that which I strive to know.
All that being said, I don't want to have to end up being that person that doesn't pay attention to God's best for me and my life. I don't want to disregard the multiple ways and times He shows me how I should do things. I don't want to end up in a crumpled mess instead of taking the time and effort to know how and why I should do things God's way - the right way. I want to study and learn; discern and apply. I want to be able to fold my virtual fitted sheet well so I don't end up in a mess.
But, right now, I'm back at the dryer and there is one immediate option that might work for me. I think putting the real fitted sheet on the bed, straight out of the dryer, warm and comfy, would be a perfect way to apply good wisdom right about now.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
A Day of Celebration
Four years ago today I was scared. I had been sucker-punched with a breast cancer diagnosis the previous month and the time for my surgery had finally arrived. The follow-up doctor appointments sort of became a blur as I just tried to hang on to the fact that God loved me and my life was in His hands. I had peace in His love for me and His goodness, but I have to admit, I was scared. My surgery to remove the cancer was January 20th, 2010. I went into surgery not knowing what to expect, but expecting that God would take care of me - whatever the outcome.
My surgery was a success. The cancer was removed with clear margins and no lymph node invasion. God blessed me with great care and great love. My husband was a rock - still is! My family and friends were so loving and supportive. I was blown away by how much people really care. I was also given a new perspective. One you don't understand unless you experience it. I knew the despair of being a cancer patient. But I also was given a second chance. I knew the blessing of being given a life extension - if you will. One never knows how long they will be around in this lifetime, but when you have a potentially life-threatening illness and you are brought through it by God's grace, you value each moment you are given. And, for me, I recognized exactly where my help came from. My help comes from the Lord and He is my Healer.
If this experience did one thing for me, it caused me to be more bold in sharing my love for the Lord with others. I've learned to worship the Lord freely with gratitude. His praise is always in my heart and on my lips. I am never ashamed to tell others just who Jesus is and what He has done for me. I love to invite them to know Him and His love and peace for themselves. I was pretty outspoken before, but now I have a new purpose. This experience made me see that more clearly.
My purpose is to glorify Jesus; to point people to Him. I do that by keeping my eyes on Him; keeping my heart bowed low and keeping my hands lifted high. I am the worshipper in the room. I cannot imagine living any other way. Gratitude in my heart has been magnified. I remember the song that came to my heart when I entered this storm, "My soul magnifies the Lord for He has done great things for me!" He had already done great things for me by dying on a cross for my sins. He took my place. That was more than enough. He went even further to grace me with His healing touch. When you have experienced that, you just know it. You can disregard it or you can embrace it. I choose to fully embrace it.
So, today - January 20, 2014 - I celebrate what God did for me and I celebrate Him. Sometimes, I still get a little scared, but the Lord tells me in 2 Timothy 1:7 that He did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. With that truth, I can give my fears over to Jesus and let Him comfort me with His grace and peace. My future is not nearly as scary when I place my fears about it into His hands. It's just another great thing He does for me. My soul continues to magnify the Lord - He has, indeed, done great things for me!
Do you know Him? No apologies for asking. I'm just trying to fulfill my purpose. It makes one do bold things. I hope you choose to do something bold. I hope you celebrate Him!
My surgery was a success. The cancer was removed with clear margins and no lymph node invasion. God blessed me with great care and great love. My husband was a rock - still is! My family and friends were so loving and supportive. I was blown away by how much people really care. I was also given a new perspective. One you don't understand unless you experience it. I knew the despair of being a cancer patient. But I also was given a second chance. I knew the blessing of being given a life extension - if you will. One never knows how long they will be around in this lifetime, but when you have a potentially life-threatening illness and you are brought through it by God's grace, you value each moment you are given. And, for me, I recognized exactly where my help came from. My help comes from the Lord and He is my Healer.
If this experience did one thing for me, it caused me to be more bold in sharing my love for the Lord with others. I've learned to worship the Lord freely with gratitude. His praise is always in my heart and on my lips. I am never ashamed to tell others just who Jesus is and what He has done for me. I love to invite them to know Him and His love and peace for themselves. I was pretty outspoken before, but now I have a new purpose. This experience made me see that more clearly.
My purpose is to glorify Jesus; to point people to Him. I do that by keeping my eyes on Him; keeping my heart bowed low and keeping my hands lifted high. I am the worshipper in the room. I cannot imagine living any other way. Gratitude in my heart has been magnified. I remember the song that came to my heart when I entered this storm, "My soul magnifies the Lord for He has done great things for me!" He had already done great things for me by dying on a cross for my sins. He took my place. That was more than enough. He went even further to grace me with His healing touch. When you have experienced that, you just know it. You can disregard it or you can embrace it. I choose to fully embrace it.
So, today - January 20, 2014 - I celebrate what God did for me and I celebrate Him. Sometimes, I still get a little scared, but the Lord tells me in 2 Timothy 1:7 that He did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. With that truth, I can give my fears over to Jesus and let Him comfort me with His grace and peace. My future is not nearly as scary when I place my fears about it into His hands. It's just another great thing He does for me. My soul continues to magnify the Lord - He has, indeed, done great things for me!
Do you know Him? No apologies for asking. I'm just trying to fulfill my purpose. It makes one do bold things. I hope you choose to do something bold. I hope you celebrate Him!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Three Words
Four years ago today, December 9th, 2009, I heard 3 words no one ever wants to hear - three words that will change your life forever. That day, a doctor looked at me and said, "You have cancer". It confirmed the feeling that this was something God was going to allow to occur in my life. But I knew I wouldn't be alone. God was with me. My awareness of Him and my need for Him was magnified in such a way that I came out better for the experience. He does indeed work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. I believe that with all heart.
Today, I consider myself blessed. I unashamedly praise God for the grace He has shown me in this journey. My perspective has grown and allowed me to see through more spiritual eyes - eyes dependent on the God who has saved me. I have discovered that life is short and the things that are important should be the things that I am about. For me those important things are God, family, friends, and a world that needs to meet the Jesus who came to save us all.
On this day, I think Jesus wants us to hear 3 different words that will change our lives forever. He said these three words as He hung on a cross, suffering and paying for the sins of the world. The three words? "It is finished"! That means, no matter what we have to go through in this life, He has paved the way for our journey to end up in heaven for eternity. Yes, it is finished, and I am so grateful to hear those three words!
Today, I consider myself blessed. I unashamedly praise God for the grace He has shown me in this journey. My perspective has grown and allowed me to see through more spiritual eyes - eyes dependent on the God who has saved me. I have discovered that life is short and the things that are important should be the things that I am about. For me those important things are God, family, friends, and a world that needs to meet the Jesus who came to save us all.
On this day, I think Jesus wants us to hear 3 different words that will change our lives forever. He said these three words as He hung on a cross, suffering and paying for the sins of the world. The three words? "It is finished"! That means, no matter what we have to go through in this life, He has paved the way for our journey to end up in heaven for eternity. Yes, it is finished, and I am so grateful to hear those three words!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
The stuff we "write" isn't always the "right" stuff!
Today's blogosphere and various forms of social media offer any number of valuable, and also not-so-valuable, opinions on everything under the sun. A post can make me elated because it has a feel-good factor to it. Or a post can frustrate me because my opinion is so very contrary to that of some writers. Yet, everyone has a right to their opinion and I guess that means everyone may "write" their opinion. Such is our freedom of speech, to a limited degree, I guess, in this great country. My own posts are proof of that multi-flavored pudding, I suppose.
Yet, when I read, or write, various posts, I'm reminded of what the bible has to say about the attitude we are to have in expressing ourselves. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 says, "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will".
Human nature is such that we don't all agree, but godly nature, for those that aspire to have it, dictates that, even when we don't agree, we remain kind with our words. I sometimes see that principal displayed, but, most often, not so much. It even happens in the "Christian" world. People who identify with the person of Jesus Christ as the One they love and follow, can sometimes be difficult to identify by what they do, what they say, or what they write. It's disheartening, but it rings true that people's perceptions vary and their ability to put others before themselves, or to surrender to God's way over their own choices, is a constant challenge. Therein lies the problem of most writings and opinions, as I see it. When it is "my" opinion, it may become so self-focused, according to my likes and dislikes, that it becomes irrelevant to the tastes of others, or even to real truth. In other words, we all tend to have a selfish nature, unless we allow God to keep us in check and reveal those things that tend to glorify ourselves, and the ideas we fancy, instead of pointing people to Jesus and glorifying Him. The nature of selfishness is indeed rampant in our self-serving culture of today. I think we must make God mourn with our little agendas and campaigns.
People, including myself, have opinions on everything from worship preference to social justice, from parenting to personal choices. Our ideas have become our own and it's often difficult to come down off our mountains - even if we proclaim that we will die there! I have found my own stubbornness to be a little silly, really. And I have to inquire of God, "Is this me, or is this You?!" A lot of times, it's been me. Only one Person's sacrificial death on a mountain ever carried enough weight to make an eternal difference - and He arose three days later. I think He should remain the King of the Mountain. All other amateurs should dismount; cease and desist, if you will, from our little pilgrimages of self-proclaimed know-it-all-ness.
So this leaves me in a quagmire. When someone writes about worship, as if it's all about them, and the Holy Spirit, or the heart of God enters nowhere into the equation, will I become frustrated or will I ask God to reveal to them who or what they really worship? After all, it's His job to be God - not mine. When someone is so completely wrapped up in their own version of WWJD "differently"in today's challenging culture and world of injustices, will I carve a path of my own new and revolutionary ideas or will I revert to the path God laid out for us so long ago? After all, He never changes and His ways are not our ways. He is still able to use the truth, love and grace of yesteryear to heal the problems of today. If I take a different path, I'm denouncing that the path of Jesus was always enough. It was enough then and it will always be enough. I think the problem is us recognizing that. We want to play God when we already have one that does His job very well. He doesn't need our little ideas. He just needs our obedience to His wisdom and will. Unfortunately, I think He spends a lot of time in damage control for our follies and for our attempts to wear a crown that only He can wear.
So, in conclusion, let my words and thoughts be kind to those with whom I may not always agree. But may God reveal to us ALL His way of doing things as opposed to us thinking our ideas and opinions will change the world. They just might - if He is at the center of them and we defer to Him. Yes, it's time to come off our mountains if He didn't put us there in the first place. I pray that my opinions honor Him and point people to Jesus. If they don't, they are simply not worth sharing. The stuff I "write" may not always be the "right" stuff. Yet, the stuff God wrote is eternal. I should have a clue as to WHO is right!
Yet, when I read, or write, various posts, I'm reminded of what the bible has to say about the attitude we are to have in expressing ourselves. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 says, "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will".
Human nature is such that we don't all agree, but godly nature, for those that aspire to have it, dictates that, even when we don't agree, we remain kind with our words. I sometimes see that principal displayed, but, most often, not so much. It even happens in the "Christian" world. People who identify with the person of Jesus Christ as the One they love and follow, can sometimes be difficult to identify by what they do, what they say, or what they write. It's disheartening, but it rings true that people's perceptions vary and their ability to put others before themselves, or to surrender to God's way over their own choices, is a constant challenge. Therein lies the problem of most writings and opinions, as I see it. When it is "my" opinion, it may become so self-focused, according to my likes and dislikes, that it becomes irrelevant to the tastes of others, or even to real truth. In other words, we all tend to have a selfish nature, unless we allow God to keep us in check and reveal those things that tend to glorify ourselves, and the ideas we fancy, instead of pointing people to Jesus and glorifying Him. The nature of selfishness is indeed rampant in our self-serving culture of today. I think we must make God mourn with our little agendas and campaigns.
People, including myself, have opinions on everything from worship preference to social justice, from parenting to personal choices. Our ideas have become our own and it's often difficult to come down off our mountains - even if we proclaim that we will die there! I have found my own stubbornness to be a little silly, really. And I have to inquire of God, "Is this me, or is this You?!" A lot of times, it's been me. Only one Person's sacrificial death on a mountain ever carried enough weight to make an eternal difference - and He arose three days later. I think He should remain the King of the Mountain. All other amateurs should dismount; cease and desist, if you will, from our little pilgrimages of self-proclaimed know-it-all-ness.
So this leaves me in a quagmire. When someone writes about worship, as if it's all about them, and the Holy Spirit, or the heart of God enters nowhere into the equation, will I become frustrated or will I ask God to reveal to them who or what they really worship? After all, it's His job to be God - not mine. When someone is so completely wrapped up in their own version of WWJD "differently"in today's challenging culture and world of injustices, will I carve a path of my own new and revolutionary ideas or will I revert to the path God laid out for us so long ago? After all, He never changes and His ways are not our ways. He is still able to use the truth, love and grace of yesteryear to heal the problems of today. If I take a different path, I'm denouncing that the path of Jesus was always enough. It was enough then and it will always be enough. I think the problem is us recognizing that. We want to play God when we already have one that does His job very well. He doesn't need our little ideas. He just needs our obedience to His wisdom and will. Unfortunately, I think He spends a lot of time in damage control for our follies and for our attempts to wear a crown that only He can wear.
So, in conclusion, let my words and thoughts be kind to those with whom I may not always agree. But may God reveal to us ALL His way of doing things as opposed to us thinking our ideas and opinions will change the world. They just might - if He is at the center of them and we defer to Him. Yes, it's time to come off our mountains if He didn't put us there in the first place. I pray that my opinions honor Him and point people to Jesus. If they don't, they are simply not worth sharing. The stuff I "write" may not always be the "right" stuff. Yet, the stuff God wrote is eternal. I should have a clue as to WHO is right!
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