My Thoughts

"...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 ans anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8

Today focus on the joyful things in your life! It's not irresponsible or putting your head in a hole in the sand to think on such things. This is God's instruction to us! We have a free pass to day dream about wonderful things.

Or.........we could find out the facts of the latest happenings in the news or in the medical community. We could load our minds with statistics and be able to quote the experts. We could be up to snuff with all of the latest predictions and forecasts........

I think I choose whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, etc. That will land me in a place of peace in the absence of anxiety, and a proper picture of God in a world of downsized giants.

The other way of thinking will surely result in a burden too heavy. I will be frustrated at too many facts, not enough answers, and my hope will rest on something other than the goodness of God.

I am not just one little person in a sea of problems without answers. I am a Believer in the God who knows all and is powerful and loving enough to work on my behalf, whether I understand it or not!

I love You, Lord!

Anna

A Lesson on Being Still

"Cease striving and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 NAS
The NIV says it like this: "Be still and know that I am God."

What God is saying in this verse is: stop exerting, laboring, contending, working, struggling, and endeavoring. Now, while you're not doing those things, meditate and dream on Me. Relect on Me in delightful ways. Flesh out the dreams I put into your heart, and have quiet reverence. Watch to see what I am doing and let your ear be tuned to My voice. I am the Knower and Revealer of secrets. I am the giver of good gifts. Come to me for wisdom, for healing and for comfort. I will fill you with My love which is beyond description. I will fill you like a pitcher so that you may be poured out for others.

Laughter is the best medicine

How long has it been since you have had a good laugh? I mean the kind where the tears come rolling down your cheeks, and you just can't quit. Doesn't that feel great? They say laughter is the best medicine.

I definitely think we take ourselves too seriously at times. After all, the world doesn't revolve around me nor does it revolve around you. And how boring would it be if it did?!

Sometimes if you didn't laugh, you would cry. I much prefer laughing. Why don't you give yourself permission to have a light-hearted day. Watch a funny movie or look at some Gary Larson funnies. Have fun with some practical joking. Most of all, laugh at yourself. People love to be around other people who are happy and fun - people who smile and laugh. And guess what? You can't be laughing and feeling sorry for yourself all at the same time.

His Grace is Sufficient

There's nothing that will bring you to your knees faster than a serious illness, a sudden castastrophy, or some kind of tragedy. Most of us go along living our daily lives, comfortable in our routines, and for the most part undisturbed in our limitations. But then your worst nightmare suddenly becomes reality.

Or maybe you live in a state of wakeful attentiveness to God. You have always sought His will, trying to live by faith in obedience to His commands. Having been a faithful servant, having a real love for God, you are completely thrown off balance when something very scary looms before you. Something that will turn your world upside down.........

Was it like that when you were diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (or whatever disease you battle, or heartbreak you are forced to endure)? Have you dared to ask God for a miracle? Have you asked Him the scariest question ever - to heal you, but you are still sick?

I read somewhere online (here's the link: http://www.liontracks.org/roarlion/healingnow.htm
"Why would God allow one of His children to remain or become sick? The clear answer of Scriptures is that He will be glorified by it! God uses illness sometimes to correct, to teach, and to give opportunity to other believers for service. Even when we cannot understand the why, it is undoubtedly part of God's plan for the greater good and unquestionably for even my own good. God is working "all things" for our good, even those things that we see as bad or negative."

" If God desires to grant {you} physical restoration immediately and temporarily before death, He can and will, but if He desires that {you} bear this burden for a time, even until death, both are for His honor and glory."

"Some claim a passage in James to guarantee immediate healing, so long as the elders of the church are involved.

James 5:14-16 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (NIV)

Those who turn this into a promise for immediate healing have missed a key portion of the text. It is "the Lord (who) will raise him up". This leaves the time and nature of the healing to our Lord and not to the person who is sick or even to the elders. Truly the "prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" but the nature of all truly God-centered prayer is found in the prayer that Jesus taught:

Matthew 6:10b ... your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (NIV)"

God is God, and He is love, and we must not lose sight of that. His ways are not our ways. We must have faith that He is who He says He is.

"Faith is resting on the character of God." quote from Malcomb Smith

Fuel for Battle

You know that you have to eat right to fuel your body if you are going to run a race or do an obstacle course. In the same way, you must eat healthy when you're fighting spiritual battles. These battles can be extremely stressful, so be sure to make good choices about the foods you feed your body.

For a couple of months now I've been staying away from sugar and not eating wheat. I can't believe the difference it makes! I have more energy. I just feel so much better. Even my balance is better!

Life today seems like one battle after another. Fuel up for winning. Get creative in taking care of yourself. Ask God to show you and make available to you exactly what you and your family need, and He will.

When Everybody Runs Dry

It's so easy and natural for me to give others encouragement and offer tidbits of wisdom. But when it comes to sizing up a situation and seeing clearly into my own state of affairs, it's much harder. I find it harder to get my balance. That's where I need someone else to help me.

What happens when we don't have that support, and everyone around us feels tired of helping out? It seems as though their limit of compassion has been reached, and those we called "friend" suddenly seem more like anything but a friend. Then i feel unsafe. Where do we go?

It's simple: we go to God. We go to His Word. When there is no one else anywhere, that's where we go. Do you think you would know God half as well if life were easy? It's not until we are hurting that we are ready to listen to Him and draw close.

Psalm 28:6-7 "Blessed be the Lord; because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him and I am helped;"

Without Words

I started to write a new entry in my blog the other day......... I was completely stumped. Nothing came. Usually I start writing - not knowing what I will say next - and it just flows out of me. It's rather like turning the water faucet on. Sometimes we don't have words. Sometimes we commune with another by just being there. Sometimes just "being" in the silence is so deep and satisfying.....

I just read this morning that too often we rush into the presence of God with words. We aren't listening or taking in His Presence. We spew out a string of words with singleminded inconsideration.

How are we ever going to get answers from God if all we ever do in His Presence is talk? It is good to remember: "He leads me beside quiet waters." Psalm 23:2

Help Will Come

I've been fretting and not sleeping well over some pretty big problems. Not the kind that you can just brush away. These are definitely outside of my control. My cry to God is, "HELLLLLPPPPPPP!". We all need help. I don't see the answer. So, I have openned my Bible to Psalm 46. Why don't you open your Bible too to this passage. Now, get a colored pencil or a narrow tipped pen and read through it, underlining the verses that comfort you or jump out at you. I wonder if we underlined the same things.............Here's what I marked:



"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (vs. 1)
"Cease striving and know that I am God" (vs. 10)
"The Lord of hosts is with us" (vs. 11)

Are you troubled? Take your troubles to the Lord, and listen to Him. That's where you're going to find help.