Calgon Take Me Away!

 Usually I write down my thoughts then go back and put them on the blog, but today I have decided to wing it.  Why today you ask? A couple of reasons 1. My house is surrounded by large machines that sound like a 747 is about to land in my backyard 2. I feel like a sandwich with all the plastic that is wrapped around my house. Not to mention that several times a day the doorbell will ring and off goes Pavlov's dogs (mine) and sometimes the cats too. My three story home is being painted, something I have been dreading for a long time. The painters started last week the tedious power washing and the scraping. Can you say nails on a chalkboard? 

   As I thought about a topic for this weeks blog, the first word that popped in my mind was patience or lack of. :)   And yesterdays teaching was on 1Corinthians 13:4-7 Ugh!  Why this week?  You know the one that's all about love being patient, kind...I probably should stop right there.  Do you know how hard it is to do those when all around you there are so many inconveniences. 

  Its then that the Lord reminds me that this is a blessing not an inconvenience. I have to stop and get my attitude adjusted as to what an inconvenience really is, such as no job, no food, bad health, no home. It has been hard to change my whole schedule to adjust to all that is going on around me, the noise ,the people, the mess, gates being left open so I have to watch the dogs every time they are out. The list goes on and on but there is no excuse not to show the love of the Lord. We never know how the Lord is going to use us and who He has brought into our path to change their life. 

 1Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I  am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. 

Its amazing how different circumstances and people seem when we try to view them through the eyes of the Lord.  We never know what kind of mess their lives are in and maybe just maybe the Lord is going to use my little mess of an inconvenience to show them who He is.

1Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have a wonderful week!

Linda

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Yes, No, Maybe !!

Yesterday pastor in his teaching touched on the lack of commitment there is in the world today. Lack of commitment happens to be one of my pet peeves. I guess it can get me angrier then probably anything else. I know we have all dealt with people who do not do what they say they will do, and maybe your one of those who struggle with commitment yourself.

Scripture is really clear about how we should treat our commitments.

Matthew 5:37 Simply let your "yes" be a "yes" and your "no" be a  "no" anything beyond comes from the evil one.

How simple is that? In other words when I commit to something, when I say I will do something, I need to do it. No matter what.

Jesus committed Himself to die on the cross for you and me, it was plain He did not want to do it.

Matthew 26:39 Jesus said, My father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.

Lets not forget to mention here that the disciples had gone with Jesus to Gethsemane to pray. He said to the disciples "Sit here while I go over there to pray."  He then took Peter and Zebedee's two sons with Him.

Jesus said to them. My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.

When He returned to His disciples He found them sleeping.

He said, "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?"

Even Jesus himself had to deal with those who were not committed to the point of their own discomfort. When people don't do what they say they will do  it's usually a sign that they want something else they think is better for who?  THEMSELVES!

 
Look at divorce today, if both people are truly committed to working on the marriage, putting their energy into a person they committed to...there would be a lot less divorce.

Commitment comes in large (like marriage) and small packages. If I commit to be someplace at a certain time, I need to be there. If you know someone who is always late, the problem is a lack of commitment. Lack of commitment is a serious thing in God's eyes.

Psalm 37:5 Commit your ways to the Lord

Lack of commitment doesn't only happen in one area of our lives, it runs into all areas. If its hard to commit to another person or promise, it will truly be hard to commit to the Lord. If its hard to commit to the small things its gonna be hard to commit to do things the Lord's way.

1Kings 8:61 But your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by His decrees and obey His commands.

2Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

The next time you start to say "YES" to something, make sure your committed to doing what you say.

Matthew 5:37  Simply let your"yes" be a "yes" and your "no" be a "no"


Have a great week !


Linda

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Are You Wise ???

I never thought I would say this but I love texting. Now I'm not one of those who can text at the speed of light with my eyes closed, but my tablet has the swype and I am pretty good (if I do say so myself) at swyping. It seems like I am always aging myself..but I remember a time that when you swyped something it was not good...it meant you stole it.  :/  Anyway, I love texting for one reason- I text my son, daughter-in-law and two grand daughters every morning to say "Good Morning" and find out what is happening for the day. They are in the Chicago area, so what a blessing to hear the sound that I got a text back.

This morning Lora (daughter-in-law) and I touched on the topic of wisdom. Which I thought might be a great topic for the blog this week. It sort of started with the fact that where she works is changing their complete phone system to a totally new phone system on the busiest phone day of the week. We both thought that wisdom was not in this decision, but as she said with a :) face what do we know?

Its thinking like this that we see all the time that just doesn't ooze wisdom. Have you ever had someone talk to you about a problem they have and as you listen your thinking why would you do that? That's a dumb idea, and to you the wise answer is so clear,but to them they just can't see it. We might call this not much common sense.

Webster says that wisdom is the understanding of what is true, right or lasting, common sense, good judgement.

If you read or listen to the news you can see lack of common sense and good judgement everywhere. Are we born with wisdom? I don't think so according to scripture.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.

So according to this we need to ask God for wisdom. A lot of the time we decide we're going to do something and ask God to bless our decision. At times that is perfectly fine depending on the circumstance. I don't think God cares if we buy a white car or a blue car, the question is can we afford the car, that's when its time to ask for wisdom.

Psalm 111;10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His commands have good understanding.

That's pretty awesome!!! To get wisdom we must first know Him and fear (respect) Him. When we obey His commands we will have good understanding about those things we need to be wise in.

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

If you want to grow wise don't hang with those who make bad decisions. It is true "birds of a feather do flock together". Be careful who you hang out with.

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Have a teachable heart, don't think you are always right. Be willing to listen to what the Word says and ready to ask others who walk in good judgement their opinion.

Proverbs 9:8 Rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

When we want to do the right thing we will love those who will be honest and tell us when we are wrong.

Daniel 12:3  Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

In other words wise people standout in the crowd, they lead by example and many will follow. In this world today wisdom is a rare find.

1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Have a wonderful and blessed week.
                                                           
Linda

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Clutter Control !

It never fails that when I'm having a conversation with a woman or a group of women, the word organized always seems to pop up. It goes one of two ways: I can't seem to get organized or I am so organized I can't enjoy the people in my life. Like everything else there has to be balance. (I know there's  that word again)

I use to be a real perfectionist, I would clean, organize, have everything the way I wanted it and here would come someone who thinks that drinking glass can sit in the sink, or don't they know that pillow has to be put on the right side of the couch, how come there is a newspaper laying on the table, who forgot to put the bread away, how many times do I have to tell them that throw rug needs to be straightened. On and on until I was exhausted. This my friend is the picture of an over organized person whose life is out of control. The good news is that I either got too tired or there is something about getting older that mellows you out....:)

Being organized is not as hard as it seems. It does take a little planning and some effort. So if you feel your needing to organize some of the clutter in your house lets  first find out what kind of clutter type you are:
 The Collector-collectors collect things. The End.

The Concealer-concealers collect things but the stuff is neatly packed away so the outsider won't see any clutter.

The Accumulator-is your basic pack rat...the person who keeps everything.

The Tosser-doesn't let anything lie around for long.

The big problem comes when the collector marries a tosser..lets don't go there!!

Not only can we have clutter in our house, but a lot of the time that clutter spills over onto our lives especially in our hearts.

  The Collector-collects things people have done to them, what was said, what they didn't do, how it hurt. They get angry and display all your wrongs for everyone to see...gossip.

The Concealer-collects things people have done to them , gets angry but packs them away so no one knows they feel this way. With everything neatly packed away they begin to withdrawal from those who hurt them and eventually from others who haven't for fear they will.

The Accumulator-this person keeps everyone as their friend, wanting everyone to like them no matter what they have to do to please them.

The Tosser-won't let anyone in, they have been hurt by way too many. Don't even think you can have a relationship with a tosser, their heart has grown so cold. 

Clutter in the physical is usually a symptom of the clutter in the emotional and spiritual part of your life. Lack of clutter or being too organized is also a symptom of a void your trying to fill emotionally and or spiritually.

To declutter you first have to acknowledge it, face it and start to work on it a little at a time.

The same goes with heart clutter..
Acknowledge that you can't do this alone you need the Lord's help
Face the fact that you need to forgive those who have hurt you (hard one)
Start to work on it a little at a time; with prayer, God's word and the knowing that you don't have to do this alone.

Psalm 119:32  I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

Have a great week!

Linda :)

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