The Everyday Doesn't Have to be Disney World

 

It's been a few weeks since I have had a chance to post. Life has been super busy! Today I want to talk about traps that parents and grandparents fall into in their thinking. For the past 15 years or more, I've observed and even caught myself getting caught up in the fast pace, create grand experiences for the kids so everything is an adventure and fun and exciting. We think this needs to be done on a very regular basis. I'm not sure if it's because kids today are so easily bored because they have so much access to stimuli or if it's social media creating doubt and guilt in us so that we feel pressure to compete with what everyone else is doing. For me, I think it started maybe because I don't get to see my grandkids in person on a regular basis. Now that we have moved, that has changed with one set of kids. 

What I want everyone who reads this to realize is that everyday doesn't have to be Disney World fun. Simple everyday time spent playing with them is every bit as important as these grand, exciting experiences. Kids today have so much that many of them don't even know what they want if you ask them an idea for a present. They all seem to need to be constantly entertained by the adults in their lives. All over social media memes go around telling us to not purchase toys or games or gifts but rather give gift cards to have experiences. In other words, get them passes to the theme park or movies or mini golf or zip lining, etc. Well, I think we may be doing a disservice to these kids by doing that. Sure, if they are children that have never gotten to go experience something fun like that, then by all means help them go have a great experience once in awhile. On the other hand, the more they experience, the more bored they become with life. They are going to always be looking for the next big exciting thing to do. 

My own children didn't need me to play with them all the time. Neither did adults constantly need to entertain me. Making them play on their own forces them to use their imaginations and pushes their creativity. It makes them self-sufficient. Children are pretty resilient and will figure out how to get something done if allowed the time to do so. How do you think so many learn to build makeshift ladders to reach the candy or toy or game they want?

Now back to the grandiose experiences, I am almost 55 years old and when I look back on my life and my childhood the things I miss most are not the great experiences but the little everyday things. I miss playing with my cousins. I miss them. I miss spending time with them. The everyday fun we had has burned memories into my brain that I still long for. Yes, I have had some great experiences in my time, but those are not what comes to my mind first. We played more Army and S.W.A.T (using whiffle ball bats and sticks as guns!) and cowboys and Indians than any group of cousins alive. Of this I am sure! We played and we played hard! Life was great!  We played every kind of ball imaginable and we made up games to play together. We played in the dirt and the mud and swam in the river and never felt we were deprived because life was so much fun!   Playing anything together was fun! We had rope swings and tree houses and we also had grapevines to swing on, too!  The girls played dress up and house and we played in a net hammock for hours! We went sledding in the winter, built snow forts, built forts and club houses out of cinder blocks, climbed trees, pretended to be in a singing band and sang at the top of our lungs. We spent tons of time in the woods and in the fields catching grass hoppers and having water fights and when my kids were young they got to do the same things. My point is, the movies, parks, theme parks, traveling to other states, zoos and zip lining experiences were few and far between. And guess what, those few experiences are not the things that I miss. They are not what I look back on and think made my growing up life awesome. It was the time spent living everyday with those I loved. I had great cousins on both sides of my family and both sides of my family were inner twined because my mom and her siblings grew up with my dad and his siblings. My mind is flooded with spending the night at my cousin's houses or with my grandparents. My life was full of love and laughter and I had no doubt I was loved even when I messed up. No one can ask for more than that! 

Fun and laughter can come right at home in the house or in the yard! This is what makes a memorable life!

Just something to think about. I shared my heart and my past today. Hope it makes you think and is a blessing.

Backsliding Leads to No More Progress

 

I want to talk for a bit about the subject of backsliding. I heard a preacher say recently that backsliding is not usually a blow out, it's a slow leak. However, both end in no more progress forward. In other words, it doesn't happen all at once. It starts with one step. It always begins in the heart as the above graphic states. 

Maybe it starts with "I don't feel like going to church today" or "I am going to skip my bible reading today" or "I don't want to go on visitation today" or "I don't have time to talk to them about Jesus right now". The heart issue comes into play when we give into these thoughts. Every time we give in, it becomes easier the next time. Just like lying gets easier each time. This goes on until we are out of the habit of doing right! 

Maybe it starts with "I miss my old way of life". If we start desiring old habits and ways of life, it becomes easier to justify not following God. Remember Lot's wife? She longed for her life in Sodom so much that she looked back one last time to see what she was giving up. Even though they were told not to look back and to keep running from there, she just couldn't move forward without regret. God turned her into a pillar of salt. He may not do that to you as a result of longing for a former sin or lifestyle before you got saved, but He may allow something else. Depression, discontentment, anger, disregard for God's Word, etc. can result from allowing these thoughts to take root and lead to action. Or should I say no action? Because that is where backsliding happens. We step back from where we once were. We step back little by little from what is right. In addictions we call that "falling off the wagon" or "relapsing". When this happens we stop moving forward. We not only stagnate where we are but actually go backwards at times. We stop reading our bible and praying and then we stop enjoying preaching, going to church or doing things around the church or with church family. 

Praise God! We don't have to stay in a backslidden condition! We just take one step, back in the right direction and God accepts us back! God forgives and we can then move forward. 

Hosea 11:7a - And my people are bent to backsliding from me; 

But...

Psalm 103:14 - For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are but dust.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and foresaketh them shall have mercy. 

Let's do our best to keep stepping forward for God and not backslide into somewhere we don't want to end up. 

Have a blessed day. 

Quit Your Stinkin' Thinkin'!

We all know the power of words but thoughts are every bit as powerful! Politicians, media, and advertisers all know the power that words and thoughts have on people. Politicians use words to make campaign promises. The media and advertisers use words and imagery to play on our minds. Imagery and the use of the right words creates thoughts and thoughts have great power and control over people. 

Negative thoughts brings us to places we do not wish to necessarily go. Depression and sin are direct results of wrong thinking. Negative thoughts can also bring mental and physical harm to our bodies. 

The bible says in Proverbs 23:7a - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: ...

Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there ban any praise, think on these things.

This gives a list of things that we should allow our minds to dwell on. Notice, they are all positive things! 

When we start allowing negative or any type of wrong thinking, we can get into trouble pretty quickly. That is why we need to do our best to nip it in the bud as soon as the negative thoughts start. In 1 Corinthians chapter 9 Paul talks about bringing his body into subjection so that he doesn't harm his preaching to others. We bring our bodies into subjection and alignment with God's Word by first controlling our thoughts.

Romans 12:2 says And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Here's something to try when you start having stinkin thinkin. When a wrong or negative thought enters your mind, force yourself to stop and then think of (and even say out loud if you need to) 3 positive things. Something that makes you smile. Something that gives you peace in your heart. Anything that takes your mind from the stinky thoughts. 

Having a mindset shift or change of thought takes practice but can be done if you follow my little trick above. Where we allow our minds to dwell effects our lives in great ways. You can live in joy and peace or in fear, anxiety, resentment, anger or any other negative pattern. However, you will reap the consequences of those both in a troubled mind and illness ridden body. The choice is yours. 

Have a blessed day and hope I gave someone something to think about.

Like Vs Love

 

I got to hear my hubby preach recently and it inspired this post. Both love and like are important in a relationship. Quite frankly, "like" is harder to pull off than love. We are commanded in the bible to love others. However, we are not commanded to like them. We can love and show love because of God's commandment or because of respect for authority or whatever and still not like the person. Love is a choice. Like is not. Like is based on personality, character, and conduct. 

I have been sure for many years that my husband loves me. I have not always been sure he likes me; that he likes the person I am. He has tried to assure me that he does but there have still been doubts off and on. His love, however, has helped to push those other feelings aside. 

In relationships, especially marriages, hopefully both feelings exist. If both exist, the marriage has a better chance of lasting. 

As I said above, liking someone, in my opinion is harder to pull off. Loving someone chooses to ignore the faults and love anyway. Liking someone usually means you don't even see the faults. You only see the traits that draw you to them. Like sees nice, funny, quiet, loud, serious, responsible, caring, determination, bravery, opinionated, and the list goes on. Like is the true things talked about at a funeral or memorial service. It's the things that are "liked" about a person that generally make up a person's dash or journey in life. 

I hope to be someone that is generally liked as a person. Someone who is not talked negatively about when my name comes up or when I walk away from a group. Of course, you cannot be liked by every person and there will always be someone who you may rub the wrong way but hopefully there are more people in favor of you than that do not like being around you. Oh, yeah, if you like someone you absolutely love being around them! 

Just a little thought provoker. Have a blessed day! 😊

Truths from the Book of Ruth

 

I've heard a bunch of preaching on the book of Ruth and I don't mean to be contrary or stir up trouble but I don't see this book as many preachers do. Yes, it's a story about redemption and is an example of the redeeming story of us and Christ but there are many good things to take away from this book besides that.

I do my best not to speak emphatically where God is silent. I am not in agreement that Elimelech and Naomi were in sin against God for going to Moab. Shhh! Don't tell the commentators! There's no mention that God was upset with them for doing so. I believe Elimelech was doing his best to care for his family and since there was a famine in Judah, he went where he could provide for them. It said he went to sojourn in Moab so that means it was supposed to be temporary. We are not told in scripture how long Elimelech was there before he died. But, we DO know that Naomi and her sons stayed for about 10 years and that during that time the sons married women of Moab. We can not assume that just because Elimelech dies that it means God was punishing them for leaving Judah and not trusting in Him. Should we assume that God is punishing people just because someone dies?! No! Because death is a part of life due to the first sin! There are countless examples of God allowing death or of Him flat out killing someone because of their sin. In those cases we are plainly told in scripture. There is no indication that because they left they turned their backs on God. As a matter of fact, I venture to say that it was quite possible that they continued worshipping God all along faithfully and were witnesses to their daughters in law. Or if Elimelech died before the marriages then Naomi and her sons were the witnesses. Either way, I believe that Orpah and Ruth were following in the worship of God along with them. When Naomi tells Ruth after she convinces Orpah to return to her family, that she should follow her sister in law who has returned to her gods. At this point is when Ruth tells Naomi that where she goes, Ruth will go and that Naomi's people will be her people and Naomi's God will be her God. She was choosing to follow the God of heaven as she had learned to do. 

We know that Ruth and Orpah were kind to their husbands and to Naomi. When Naomi tells them to go back, she prays that God would deal kindly with them as they had with her and the dead (meaning her sons). She also prays that God give them each another husband so they can have rest. 

The three women obviously had a close relationship because the daughters in law didn't want to go back to their parents. They wept and argued to stay with Naomi. This says much about their relationship. Often mothers and daughter in laws do not get along yet they were willing to follow Naomi to another country and dwell with her rather than return to their own mothers. 

When Naomi and Ruth get back to Judah, Ruth immediately asks permission to go to the field and glean to provide for herself and Naomi. She trusts that someone will provide grace and allow her to glean. This shows her respect (she asked permission), care and dedication to her mother in law. What a beautiful example for us ladies! In chapter 2, we see how Ruth is a hard worker and also how humble she is by reverencing Boaz for allowing her to glean beside his maidens. She questions why he's showing such kindness and he says it is because she has been kind to Naomi and left her parents to follow her. He also prays God give her a full reward for learning to trust in Him. 

Ruth is eager to take advice from her mother in law. Naomi tells her how to approach Boaz so that he could be the redeeming kinsman for them both. One thing is for sure, in Old Testament times, blood took care of blood! It went out to any relation including what we call extended family. In today's world, most women do not want nor do they listen to their mother in law's advice. Actually, it is the cause of much friction! 

Then of course there is the whole story of Boaz redeeming Naomi and Ruth to himself as a picture of what Jesus did. Also, he takes Ruth as his wife and God blesses them with a baby boy named Obed. I love that Ruth who was not born a Jew, gets to be in the lineage of Christ. BTW, there is also Rahab the harlot in the lineage, too! God uses whom he will use and they don't all have to be perfect in action or bloodline.

The more I read the book of Ruth, the more I love it! God has definitely used if of late to speak to my heart about how to conduct myself. I hope this post gives you some golden nuggets of truth from this precious book.

God is Not a Genie

 

I heard a good sermon recently that sparked the thought for this post. In the sermon the preacher said that so many people, including self-proclaimed Christians seek God's hand but not His face. Wow! What a profound and true statement! 

People are always ready to seek God when they want or need something from Him but few seem to truly seek His face. To seek His face, would involve spending time trying to get to know Him. That requires more than turning to Him to ask for things or for help. 

In James 4:8 we are told to Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...

If we want to have a close relationship with the Father of heaven we must first draw nigh to Him. 

2 Tim. 2:15 says to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Studying God's Word and learning it is the only and best way to know how to show ourselves approved. The way to know what is expected of us. The way to rightly divide the truth so that we can understand it. 

In Ephesians 5:15-17 we are told that the days are evil so we should not be a fool but be wise and understand what the will of the Lord is. 

In Colossians 1:9-10 Paul tells the church at Colossi that he doesn't cease to pray for them that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding and that they should walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

So many seek only God's hand but not His face. In doing so they make Him their personal genie that they keep on a shelf until there is a need. 

When we seek His face. We will have joy unspeakable, peace in our souls that passes all understanding and knowledge of how to please Him. We will also be tuned in to His still small voice within us that guides us during every moment of the day when we walk close to Him. 

In Ephesians 6 we learn about how to stand against the world and the wiles of the devil. We must put on the WHOLE armour of God and in so doing we will have done ALL to stand. You can't just put on part of a set of armor. If you try that, there will be parts that are unprotected. Unprotected means exposed to potential harm. Don't make God a genie. Seek His face.

Leaving a Mark During Our Dash

 

I'd like to start this post by apologizing for being absent for so long. Life has gotten extremely busy with moving to a mini farm we purchased and the home and barn needing quite a few repairs. I'm not a daily blogger though I'd like to be but I do try to get in at least one per month if not more. It depends on how life is happening at the time. 

1 Timothy 6:6-7 says But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

I thought about that when I was reading recently and thought this is true. However, we can leave a mark during this so called dash of a life. 

Everyone will leave a mark on someone's life for good or for bad. I hope to make a positive mark on as many people as I can. Telling others about the love and saving grace of Jesus is the most positive mark a body can leave on another. Teaching and instructing for future knowledge and wisdom will definitely leave a positive mark. Showing kindness, mercy and compassion will help someone far more than you may imagine at the given moment. 

The dash of a person's life is the time between birth and death. That dash is what is talked about at funerals and memorial services. Often there is a slideshow of pictures depicting events of the passed person's life. Even the music played during the slideshow often reveals something about the person. Maybe it was their favorite song or the song depicted something from their life. Those that come to pay their respects to the family of the dearly departed have been impacted in some way, shape or form by the one who has passed on. 

What type of mark are you leaving? Is it positive or negative? As long as you are still breathing you can change the mark for good to impact positively in those around you. 

My hope and goal is to help others to think, to help them grow in their relationships, in their education of God's Word, and to accept themselves for who they are as they learn to love the journey they are on and make improvements along the way. This is always a goal of this blog.