A Time of Reflection and A Time to Look Forward

Ready or not, here comes the New Year!

2011

We often ask where the year went; it seems to have passed so quickly. At the end of 2010 we sit and think about what events occurred that blessed us and those that were difficult and challenging.We think about what we have accomplished and what we let slide. We make our New Year's resolutions with the greatest intent to keep them. It's very good time for such reflection.

I'm ready for the new year with my workout tape, my Dave Ramsey financial handcuffs, my journal and I signed up for Tuesday am bible study at church. Oh Lord, that I will be faithful to attend to these disciplines.

Two of my favorite verses are Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

You can figure out why I cling to that verse, eh? Oh, yes, I need that mercy daily!



Looking toward 2011 I am committed to living simply, to making each moment count for good by loving God and loving people. I am secure in the knowledge that He loves me and has a plan for my life in the new year.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Just want to share a disclaimer if you will...plans to prosper you is often taken to mean financially prosper and while He may do just that, please consider there are many other ways for the Lord to prosper our lives...

good health, a life of meaning and purpose, a lesson, a challenge, a heart for others and a content spirit.


Whatever He brings...let us rejoice and love one another.

--oOo--

Cute...oh can it be true??

This was on Chachaneen's blog and it made me laugh.

It did make me think about our blogs and how they really do represent the way we talk our walk , don't they.

Everyone watches Christians closely. They either see a good representation of an honest walk with the Lord or one that is fraught with a misrepresentation of how He would have us live as disciples.

We need to be real in our struggles so the world knows we all live real lives, not some super spiritual hyper-religious act that makes others feel so inadequate as to think they can never approach God. My own opinion is that there is a fine line in doing so. Let us not flaunt our sin as though they have no affect on us or others, or in fact did not put Christ on the cross, but be humble in sharing our own failures with people as well as the joys we experience.

And let us be full of mercy and grace to those who know no better (or do) and are looking and watching us all the time. Our own pet peeves or rants can be kept to ourselves as they might serve no good purpose really. Let's not give anyone a reason to call us hypocrites who say we love God but are ripping others to shreds with our words or actions.

Christ even washed the feet of Judas ...knowing he would later betray him....this is the kind of love we experience from the Lord every day. Let's go love others as He did.

--ooOoo-

The School of Suffering

THE SCHOOL OF SUFFERING

"Are we learning love in the school of suffering?

Are our hearts being mellowed and deepened by the summer heat of trial until the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance-is ripening for the harvest of His coming, and our sufferings are easily borne for His sake?

This is the school of love, and the lessons make Him unutterably more dear to our hearts and us to His. In this way only can we learn with Him the heavenly charity which suffers long, and is kind. We see that the very first and the very last features of the face of love, as delineated in Paul's portrait of it (1 Corinthians 13), are marks of pain and patient suffering-suffers long, endureth all things.

So let us learn in the school of love to suffer, to be kind and to endure all things. Surely it will not be hard to love through every circumstance when it is the heart of Jesus within us that will love and continue to love to the very end.

I want the love that suffers and is kind, That envies not nor vaunts its pride of fame. Is not puffed up, does not discourteous act, Is not provoked, nor seeks its own to claim. "--A.B. Simpson

How to achieve love and unity

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,
put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, wih all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossiand 3:12-17 (NASB)

--oOo--

"Difficult moments ...seek God.

Quiet moments...worship God.

Painful moments...trust God.

Every moment...Thank God."

Community

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,

but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

This was a difficult day. My emotions got the best of me. I struggled with the questions of why the house is not selling, the worries of how to pay my bills, and just a general sadness for the loss of family in my life. No, I didn't run to the Word. I needed prayer. I needed someone up close and personal to pray for me. I don't know anyone up here like that so I called my pal Rose Marie. I knew she was at work and looked up the number. I remembered again back to my days working in church where people would call and ask me to pray for them...people I knew and people I didn't know.

Once I got myself together I was able to blurt out..."Is anyone near you?" "No." "gulp, gulp...I need prayer Rose Marie; I need you to pray for me. I feel overwhelmed. Can you, will you?" "Of course." And she prayed...and I cried...and she prayed and I cried. And she prayed...and I was able to get out the thank you. Then we talked about it a bit. We had a good talk. It's good to talk things out, to have a listening ear, to be comforted and assured and encouraged. I am grateful to my friend, Rose Marie today... and every day. Thank you.

God knows what He is talking about when he says to not give up the meeting together. That is about church. The church building is where you can form friendships of a lifetme with a common goal in living as best we can our spiritual walk. When I look at the people who are still in my life so many of them are people I met at church. People who I fellowshipped and worshipped with, done bible studies with, played games with, ate with, traveled with and loved in community. Let me assure you we are not all little peas in a pod with the same little darling personalities, and same little purses or shoes. We have varied interests, talents, and opinions. We are the Church.

Who would I have called today when in such an emotional place if not someone who I knew would pray for me? I guess I could have called a prayer line from a TV show, but how wonderful to be able to call a friend who knows me well, warts and all and is happy to help me in any way she can.

I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful to the Lord for placing me in a wonderful community of believers over many many years now. I hope this writing today would encourage you to find a church community. It can be scary. Everyone is human there, even the pastors. Nothing and no one is perfect or even close to it. But I encourage you anyway. Like the little Mary Engelbreit poster says: Why not go out on a limb? That's where all the fruit is! So true, so true. I imagine you have a lot give (God uses everyone) and you just may need someone to pray for you in a difficult season. Church...people loving Jesus as best they can by loving others. It's good. It's sunshine. It's love.

Best Brother Ever

I've used this picture before in my blog. It's my brother, Kevin and his son, Ryan. Kevin looks the same but Ryan is all grown up and a teenager now.

This is the best brother in the world. I hope you have one like him. I am ten years older than he is and, according to my mother, I acted like a little mother to him. I got married when Kevin was 11 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. On my visits home he and I would visit and I found him to be just a nice guy. I mentioned this to my mother who said, "Well of course you like him, he's your brother." Well that's not about liking, that's about loving. You don't always like who you love. She didn't get it.

When I was grieving over Jeff's death I went to visit Kevin and his family. My sister-in-law, Karen, welcomed me in the same loving way as my brother as did his children. I stayed there from the middle of November til late in February. I can't wait to see them again soon when I sell my house and stay with them again for a bit in my transition.

Today I was thinking about Kevin. He just has a servant's heart. I think that when he sees a need he tries to fill it. In December he sent me hard-earned money to fix my car. It's not like he is wealthy. He is sacrificial in his giving and extending himself to others. He gives his time to people. He is compassionate.

Yesterday he sent me an email that said he had been reading my blog and saw that I was wanting the book The Reader so he just ordered me one on Amazon and it would be arriving soon. HOW NICE IS THAT?

It's as nice as being able to stay with him for months on end, as nice as receiving a check to cover my car repair. That's how nice. I cried. Yeah, I'm a crybaby, but you touch me with things like this and it hits my heart and I cry in gratefulness to be close to people such as my brother. A book may seem a small thing, but its huge in its impact.

God kept this brother of mine around much longer than any of us expected and we are all blessed by the gift of Kevin and his life which serves his Master. I'm sure Kevin will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant" when he is embraced by Jesus one day.

I love and like my brother - everyone who knows him does! Not hard to figure out why. Can't wait for the book to arrive but if there were no gifts except the gift of being able to sit and talk with Kevin I am blessed beyond measure.

MEASUREMENTS

That title might bring some chagrin thinking the blog would be about our human measurements which tend to increase at Christmas with all the holiday parties, food and fun! It could suggest the measurements needed to bring forth some fine Scottish Shortbread. (On my second try I did manage to use 5 cups of flour and not 3 which made for a much better and more firm cookie!) Do not fret, today's blog is a reminder that God's love for us cannot be measured. Dwell on the blessings given to us as written in this Psalm.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

He does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14 NIV

*Fear = reverence and awe