Monday, October 18, 2010

The Aging Process

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we my gain a heart of wisdom." 
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

I'm sure that there has been at least one person in your life that you've thought, i hope i'm like that person when i get to be their age. You know what i mean. Someone you want to be when age creeps into your facial features & your step slows.

Someone who showed you that beauty shines from within & has grown brighter with time & experience. Two very special ladies come to mind with me. Both are gone now, but as i grow older, i want to be like them.  And boy oh boy! Do i have a LONG way to go!!!!!

They both were women of strong faith. Recently, i read a bit of advice that could've have come from either one of them: 

"Be today who you want to be tomorrow."


How profound is that! So how do we apply that advice? First, i think we need to ask God to reveal our sins & flaws. Then repent & ask for forgiveness & start living differently today.  Sometimes, thinking about aging & watching our loved ones age, can generate fear.

"Even when I am old & gray
do not forsake me, O God.
till I declare Your power to the next generation
Your might to all who are to come."
Psalm 71:18 (NIV) 
 
But by facing the future with hope & faith, we can begin shaping our tomorrows today. Imagine yourself in your 80s. Which traits could become ugly when magnified by age? Now normally, this is where i would avow what traits of mine that i'm going to work on. However, this week, i've decided to keep my dirty laundry hidden. =) Sometimes, things are just too personal to share. But if we're honest with ourselves, we know what traits need work. My advice is don't limit yourself or think, "i'll work on that later". 

"Be today who you want to be tomorrow."






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Monday, October 11, 2010

Returns

Have you ever had one of those thoughts in the back of your mind of something that you know you SHOULD do? You know what i mean - one of those things that you think you don't have time for, or your scheduled got discombobulated & you let that certain thing slip & have just never gotten around to getting back into the swing of things.

"Therefore tell the people: 'Return to me' declare the Lord Almighty, "and I will return to you''  (Zechariah 1:3 NIV)

This verse reminds me that God waits patiently for our return to Him. We may not even have gone anywhere, but this is something that we need to do again, & again, & again during our life.  It's not how many times we return to Him, but that we make an effort every time we need to.

 Physically, maybe you need to go back to church on a regular basis to worship & give praise with other members of your Godly Family. 

 Emotionally, maybe you need to remember to "worry not" & become determined to rely on Him through troubles. 
http://www.TwinJs.etsy.com

Spiritually, maybe you need to recommit to regular prayer & Bible study.

http://www.knackcreations.etsy.com

The last one is the one that really opened my eyes. Since we moved last spring, i had not gotten into my morning devotional & pray time. This is something that i have done for many years & i can only admit that i have been lazy in this. I have no excuses.


God waits for us every day with open arms. He wants us to continue to return to Him. Whatever your return might be, don't wait any longer. And don't ever be afraid that He won't return to you, because He is always there waiting on us.  

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Monday, October 4, 2010

Father & Son

I've enjoyed today so far, reflecting on the wonderful weekend that we had in this household. Our 14 year old was here. And he & my hubby spent early Friday evening & Saturday afternoon in a hardy & healthy competition of lawn games.... Lawn Darts, Hillbilly Horseshoes (Ladder Ball), etc.


 They had so much fun & i had a lot of fun watching them. Hopefully the weather will hold out a few more weeks so the tournament can continue. But when the weather starts getting cold, it'll not only be time to dig out the board games, but there is talk of going bowling. I had so much fun watching them play these games over the weekend. But when it comes to bowling, they'll have fun laughing at me trying to bowl. I am definitely a Gutter Ball Champion!

It was a priceless weekend, as anytime is spent with our boys. 

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
children a reward from Him."
Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

I continue to thank our Heavenly Father everyday for blessing me with this wonderful family.....my husband & my bonus boys.

But the most priceless part of the whole weekend, for me was watching Father & Son together, playing, laughing, & sharing
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Monday, September 27, 2010

The Season Changes

Fall is officially here & one of the trees on our block is not only green, but has beautiful accents of  gold & orange.

I do love the color changes of fall with it's rich, full colors. But i'm not ready for the cooler weather yet. Most of us have had a extremely hot & humid summer this year & i should be welcoming the cooler temps....and i am. I'm just not ready to dig out the sweatshirts yet. But i suppose i'd better do that this week.

But when the seasons change, i can't help but remember the promises that God made to Noah after the flood.

"As long as the earth endures,
seedtime & harvest,
cold & heat,
summer & winter,
day & night 
will never cease." 
(Genesis 8:22 NIV)

The seasons keep changing. Summer, fall, winter spring. Each season has it's own palette of colors that God has created. Each season is a promise of His love & an illustration of His creativity. Each season is another chapter in our lives. Each season brings change. Every day, i am thankful for that day & that i am able to see the amazing colors & masterpieces that God creates.

But i am even more thankful that some things will never change.

"The grass whithers & the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
(Isaiah 40:8 NIV)
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Monday, September 20, 2010

Do Puzzle Pieces Always Fit?

The past couple of days has been quite puzzling around here. My hubby's Facebook & email accounts got hacked. He has reported everything to Facebook & we're just waiting to see if they can resolve the situation. I'm one of those that tends to investigate & a few hours ago, found even more pieces to the puzzle. Luckily, he was able to get back his email account, but not Facebook yet. 
But it reminds me that life can be  very puzzling sometimes & there are times when the pieces don't fit. Don't you wish that things could fit together perfectly like this tote bag?



But the older i get, the more i realize that here on Earth, sometimes the puzzle pieces just don't seem to fit.



I was alway taught not to question why God gives us the puzzle pieces that He does. But I've realize that it is ok to ask Him why, after all, He's the one that gave us emotions. Just remember, that He may not always give us a reason & whatever puzzle pieces He gives us, He'll be with us to see it through. Sometimes, that reason may be years down the road. Sometimes we may never get the answers until we meet Him face to face. As a good friend always reminded me, " No one knows what the future will bring & the One that knows isn't telling."



So as we go through our life full of puzzle pieces, remember this....

When life hands you a puzzle,



And the pieces do not fit,

Remember God is always there
To help you deal with it.

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Monday, September 13, 2010

It's Pumpkin Time!

It's Pumpkin Festival time in Morton, IL. This is a fun festival with the festivities starting on Wednesday. So much to do, so little time. But as i think about pumpkins, it reminded me of how Christians are like pumpkins. I received this verse in an email quite awhile ago, but i still love it.....


 
Christian Pumpkin Bookmarks by SweetDea484

God picks you from the patch, brings you in, & washes all the dirt off of you, 
some of which may have gotten from other pumpkins.
Then He cuts off the top & scoops out all  the yucky stuff
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, unforgiveness, etc.
And then He carves you a new smiling face.
He puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

This is such a simple illustration of what God can do in one's life. I am living proof of that. I could never begin to list all of the yucky stuff that He has scooped out of my life. I'm just so thankful that He did.
Thankful Wood Country Pumpkin by PACountryCrafts

So what are you trying to scoop out of your life? Whatever it is, God can do the scooping for you if you just give all that yucky stuff to Him. And i mean give it ALL to him. Or do you know someone who is struggling to scoop?  Maybe they need your prayers. Maybe they just need a reminder that God can turn them into a smiling Jack O Lantern.
 
Are You a Pumpkin Christian Toppers by SuzieQsCrafts

My life is so much different than it was before i gave that yucky stuff to God. I pray everyday, that His light will shine through me to all i meet & that they will know that it is HIS light.

 Jack O Lantern Magnet by ifrogcrafts
Are you letting your light shine? Be a jack o lantern for Jesus! 

And for those of you who live in my area, if you want more information on the Morton Pumpkin Festival......www.mortonchamber.org/pumpkin-festival. 
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Monday, September 6, 2010

Happy Labor Day!

It's a beautiful, breezy Labor Day here today & i am celebrating by sitting & enjoying my back yard. Brought the dog out & she's done her business. Next on her list is checking the perimeter. Our back yard isn't anything special, no fancy landscaping, that is, but it's nice & peaceful back here & it's pretty spacious. It's surrounded by trees & we have our table & chairs on a make shift patio made of square cinder blocks. And you can hear the church bells chime every 15 minutes. They are beautiful too.
I don't have a lot of laptop battery, so i guess i'd better quit gawking at the dog & the trees & get on with it. =) I hope & pray that you all are having a wonderful & safe weekend. It's been pretty special here. Our 14 year old has been with us & i love spending time with him. I just sent a text to the 17 year old to see if he was working today. It's been awhile since he's been here, but he does work a lot during the summer. I miss spending time with him. I know, that's what happens when they grow up. I just became a "Bonus Mom" a few years ago, so i really cherish ANY time i can spend with them. They are both pretty special boys & i thank God every day for them. He filled that void in my life, as i wasn't blessed with children of my own.
Hubby & i were kind of "surrogate" parents this week to a very special young man. He was baptized yesterday & his folks were unable to be there, so we were there for him. It was an awesome service! They had an outdoor Party in the Park with a band, barbecue & activities for the afternoon. The service was absolutely amazing. Over 30 people were baptized. There was even a mother & son, who were baptized at the same time. It was just an awesome Spirit filled morning. The joy on the faces of the participants were priceless.
There have also been some health issues in my family & extended family recently. Which i know has brought a lot of frustration & fear. Many prayers have been said. Many prayers have been answered. Many prayers are still in progress & awesome results are being seen. Prayer is such a powerful "tool", an amazing opportunity, & an awesome responsibility. But it is the easiest thing to do. It doesn't have to be fancy, & if doesn't matter what you talk to God about. It just has to be heartfelt. All you have to do is give God a shout out, so to speak. He's there 24/7/365 (366 during leap year). Any time, any place, any where!
There was a time in my life when i took God for granted. I didn't really ignore Him, i just didn't pay attention to Him either. I knew He was there, but He was on the back burner of my life. I am so thankful, that when i was taking Him for granted that He never took me for granted. When i finally reached out to Him, i found Him reaching for me. I'm so glad that i took His hand & am allowing Him to be the Pilot of my life.
I guess my message this week is pretty simple. God is awesome! If you know this, i am very thankful. If you're not sure, just ask Him to open your mind & your heart & start talking to Him and listening. He will be with you through everything. Just remember His timing is perfect.<><
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