Detours and road construction

Good Morning Friends!  Forever HIS, Friday!  I left a couple minutes later than I like to this morning, not bad though, so I wasn’t really worried about being on time to work….until I hit all the road construction on 3W!  Mind you, they have been doing road construction since last week, so I should have been quite aware what I would encounter on my commute in….I should have planned ahead, planned to leave a few minutes early, rather than a few late.....I was beginning to get quite perturbed, stuck behind a slow moving diesel with only one lane open….concerned that I might very well be a couple minutes late to work.  Oh well I thought….I will just tell them about the road construction, they will understand.  Whoa!!!!  Wait a minute!!!!!!  What did I just say….I should have planned ahead….I knew about the construction, I should have been prepared to leave the house early….not the construction guys fault or the diesel in front of me….I was not prepared to deal with the road construction in a positive way!!  Realizing my misconception, I felt my attitude begin to change and I took a couple of deep breaths to relax, willing to deal with the possibility of being a little late to work.  As my attitude was changing another thought came to me…….we face “road construction” everyday all through our lives, not just what’s on the highways…..detours caused by anger, miscommunications with friends, family, co-workers…..off ramps closed due to envy, greed, fear or anxiety for the unknown, flashing lights of temptations…..unplanned, but always lurking waiting for us to 'leave a few minutes late,’ unprepared tempers flare, stress mounts, worry clouds are thinking, hurt takes over where love should be, tears flow while joy is waiting on the edge……We can be prepared for these detours…..time with our Heavenly Father will give us the strength and wisdom to meet difficult situations in ways that give glory to Him.  Ways, that keep feelings, ours or others, from being hurt…..Time with Him in word and prayer our faith grows stronger, we can persevere through the construction stronger, wiser, closer to HIM!  Father, increase our desire to be closer to YOU, stronger in You, faithful to YOU, trusting and believing in Your will for our lives.

 

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:o8..  Everyone born of God overcomes the world (detours and road construction).  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4.  Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.  Romans 10:17.  God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  1 Corinthians 10:13.  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.  Matthew 26:41.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4. 

Love you all!

You Better Not Pout...

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved by Him, Tuesday!  Cooper is out of school today, so Papa has his favorite helper!  I’m not sure who was more excited Papa or Cooper, but I do know who was quite mad about the whole deal!  Oh my, Miss Katy wanted to stay with Papa too and she did not hold back on her emotions one little bit.  I grabbed my robe and ran outside to say hi to her…..Well, let’s say it was definitely a one way conversation and Katy was not a part of it! From the confines of her car seat she did not even look up at me when I excitedly called her name, waving like only a crazy Nana can…..she sat perfectly still and glared at me…eyes squinted, mouth stern and stiff….a look, that to anyone but a Nana, could have actually seemed hostile!  Bless her heart she just does not understand why Cooper can stay with Papa, but she can’t….she loves going to Grammi’s (where she stays while mommy works), but it’s just the thought of missing out on Papa fun.  I keep seeing that look on Katy’s precious face……Katy, just a young child, doesn’t understand……but how about us…..How often do our faces display an attitude that is not becoming…..hostile….unwelcoming….When our Heavenly Father looks at us, what does HE see?  I know that we can’t be running around grinning from ear to ear all the time….but did you know that it is proven that smiling makes us feel better!  More importantly than sporting a smile on our face is what our heart looks like….When our Heavenly Father looks into our hearts, what does He see?  Does He see unselfishness or greed?  Does He see envy or encouragement?  Does He see anger or self-control?  Does He see trust or stress?  Every day we encounter situations that may be stressful, hurting, promote anger, cause worry…..how we handle these situations depends on what is in our hearts……Does He see love?  If our hearts reflect HIS love we have everything we need to get through the worst of situations (even if it means not staying with Cooper and Papa)!  His love is our strength, our guidance, our hope…..our everything!  Father, remove our pouting faces, fill our hearts with YOU, and help us to share Your love….Father when people look at us….let them see You.  Thanksgiving and Praise to You, our Loving Father!

 

The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  The Lord protects the simple hearted; when I was in great need, He saved me….I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.  Psalm 116:5-6 & 17.  Co not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Ephesians 4:29.  A happy heart makes the faith cheerful.  Proverbs 15:13.  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.  Proverbs 15:30.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13.

Love you all!

 

January 3, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Totally trusting in His will Thursday! Happy New Year everyone! Although we never really know what even the next minute is going to hold for us, it seems that the beginning of a new year is always a time for reflection……things that happened in the last year and what lies ahead in the new. Times in our world seem to be unsettled…..stressed…..full of anger…worried about cuts in our paychecks….health care……world unrest…It would be easy for us to feel forlorn, depressed….but we are not alone, nor will we ever be…these are times we must truly draw on our faith, pull closer to our Heavenly Father…..hear His words…."Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8. He is our refuge and strength……don’t leave home without HIM! Remember the sparrows I told you about the other day, frolicking in the rain puddles….not a worry in the world…..”Consider the raven: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Than the birds…..how much more are we worth to our Heavenly Father…..Oh friends, like the angles told the shepherds so many years ago, “Fear not!” We are not alone, for goodness sake….He knows how many (or not) hairs we have on our heads! We are His adored children….now and forever! Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of being with us every day in every way….helps us to totally trust and believe in Your will for us. This is the day the Lord has made……let’s get to rejoicing!

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:34. Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemptions. Psalm 130:7. I love Psalms, don’t you!

 

Love you all!