Choose Life!

I have set before you life and death -

blessing and cursing

therefore, choose life!

Deuteronomy 30:19

Choice: God's way - Not God's way, but Satan's

Our Father loves us enough to parent us with open hands. He is gentle in His way with us. He allows us to choose. He gives us the freedom to choose. He offers His way as a path we can follow or not. He never demands, He is totally honest and open. His way - love, grace, mercy - no condemnation, no finger pointing, no "I told you so", -  only acceptance and forgiveness. Life and life abundant - freedom to live in His protection, trusting in His sufficiency.

In trusting in the One who loves us, intercedes for us, died for us, our hearts and minds are guarded, resulting in:

Peace

Thankfulness

Patience

Joy

Freedom

Acceptance

The alternative - Satan's way - following the one who hates us, demeans us and wants to destroy us and our families. The one who is determined to distract us from spending time with our Lord.  He advocates the definition of success as the acquiring of power, position, prestige and possessions at the expense of ourselves, our families and our relationship with God.  The result? 

Anxiety

Worry

Anger

Fear

Deceitfulness

Worthlessness

Selfishness

Revenge

Choose life! The Father pleads!

We cannot walk two paths. We can't dabble in both. It is one or the other . . . 

Life or Death

Blessing or Cursing

God's way 

or Satan's

If we are not following the God who loves us - LIFE,

 we are following the god who hates us - DEATH!

CHOOSE LIFE!!!!!

 

 

Silence

The silence is shouting at me this morning after such a wonderful, busy week with my dear friends from the South.

Bruce is back at work and Wendy (my dog) and I wander about adjusting to the change.

I sit quietly in my chair and hear in the silence, laughter, words of friendship and sisterhood, precious  stories long forgotten and reclaimed and encouraging words of love.

Without the distractions – TV off, computer asleep and company gone – I see in my mind all the activities again, the adventures of last week. I hear our laughter -  till we cried. I relive the stories of the past, moments in time we shared together that helped form us into the women we are today. Stories of loved ones, now in Heaven and the impact each had on our hearts, bringing again smiles and tears.

I marvel and thank the Lord for that “sister” love we four share which began almost 50 years ago  and continues, blossoming into a sustaining and supporting relationship we can count on now and for eternity because of our bond in Christ! Love you guys!

I “hear” my Savior whisper, “in quietness I am here, be still and know I am God. Listen and remember. Relive all the times I touched your life. Come and sit with Me, in the silence, and share My love!”

A friend loves at all times!

Proverbs 17:17

What if . . . ?

What if eyes, not of this world, watch our actions and reactions as we journey through this life. 

What if ears, not of this world, hear our words, our whispers, our mutterings in response to this life.

What if voices, not of this world, join us in praise to God or loudly accuse our stumbling and even applaud our rebellion in this life.

Just a thought . . .

Hebrews 12:1

                Therefore, we also, who have all of these witnesses

        who surround us like clouds, let us throw off from us all the weights of the sin

        which is always ready for us,

      and let us run with patience this race that is set for us.

Expecting Company!

Just two more days and three precious visitors will be here with us for a week. Special sisters of years ago. We grew up together, attended school and church together. We supported one another, cried and laughed with each other. We braved the storms of young adulthood together, celebrating life passages of dating, marriage and children.

A friendship that weathers the passage of time and now we are grandmothers together. 

The house is ready, their rooms are cleaned and waiting for the sound of feet on the stairs and laughter, talking and , yes, giggling in the rooms. The groceries will fill the refrigerator and cupboards tomorrow and even sweet Wendy is bathed and smelling pretty! The tickets were purchased -  long ago, the suitcases are almost ready and now we wait in joyful anticipation.

We know the time of arrival and even the minute the tires touch down at DFW.  I smile to think of the fun we are going to have.

This morning I thought of another coming. Easter is just a few days away in which we celebrate our Lord’s short visit here. He is coming again! Everything’s ready on His end. All the plans, all the preparations are completed. The “plane is ready for take-off”! It’s just waiting for the ok from Flight Control . . . He’s coming to take us HOME!

Help! I can't do this!!!!!

Be joyful always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Looking back over these past blogs I get excited over the prospect of being joyful each day, continually  focusing on the Lord and giving thanks no matter what is happening around me.

I pause, knowing this is God's will for me in Christ Jesus but how in the world can I do this!

Knowing who I am, how I react makes me doubt the ability to do this. Then He speaks again . . . not audibly but gently reminding me of Galatians 2:20 - it is not me, it is Christ in me.

In letting go, releasing control and just trusting Him, I obey.

 "Trust Me, Anne, and see Me not only give you the desire to follow MY will but provide the power to accomplish it!"

Now God makes me stand firm in Christ

He anointed me

He set His seal of ownership on me

He put His Spirit in my heart

as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come! 

(personalized)

2 Corinthians 1: 21-22

The God of Peace . . .

will equip me with everything good

for doing His will

and will work in me what is pleasing to Him

through Jesus Christ - to whom I  give glory forever!

(personalized)

Hebrews 13:21

It is God,

working in me

giving me the desire and

the power to do what pleases Him!

(personalized)

Philippians 2:13

 

So, precious ones, join me on this journey to trust our God of Peace, our loving Master to accomplish His will in us through Christ Jesus and bring Him glory for ever and ever - AMEN! 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving in all things . . .

Be joyful always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We have talked about being joyful always and pray continually in the past two blogs. Now for "giving thanks in all circumstances".

Today I experienced an attitude adjustment, a paradigm shift as I meditated on verse 18.

Lordship of my life . . . I am not my own but bought with a price. And what a price it is!

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Gal 2:20

No matter what the circumstance - in light of this verse and others - death to self is a reality. This life I live is not about me. Each day, every part of that day is lived by faith in Jesus who loves me and gave Himself for me. Therefore, every circumstance is directed by Him for an eternal purpose.

His hand is orchestrating not just my life but each of His children's lives to grow His kingdom and bring honor and glory to the Father. 

So when I am blind-sided, surprised or totally shaken by circumstances, my response is to be thanksgiving, quickly followed by, "Lord, work this out for Your glory and honor and may my life  show You."

Thanksgiving is delivered with joy! Right back to verse 16 to be joyful always!

And in being joyfully thankful I express this in communication with the Lord and ask Him to direct each circumstance. I am not swayed by events or "life happenings" but secure in my growing relationship with Him, in my continual communication with Him, thanking him for the joy that flows from Him to my heart knowing I am in God's will!

 Again, amazing!

Pray continually

Be joyful always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus -

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Been doing a lot of thinking about these verses. On a recent large class discussion – our instructor – sweet Dr. Toussaint mentioned “prayer is asking God, not talking to God!” This certainly made me think more of prayer and the context of “continually”. Do I really grasp what this means? Not only am I able to seek the Lord God of the Universe continually, but I am free to bring my requests to Him continually! No request is too small or too big! Dr. Toussaint went on to say “added to asking there is thanksgiving, praise, and worship, but prayer is asking”.

When Bruce and I first met my thinking changed. Bruce was in my thoughts first thing in the morning, throughout the day and when I crawled into bed at night. I wanted to be with him all the time. I wanted to share my thoughts, bounce ideas off  him, find out his opinions, wants and desires. I knew I had someone to run to with problems. I had a champion in my corner to protect me and be there in hard times. These feelings have grown stronger over the last 39 years of being together.

There are times when communication breaks down. Life happens - I  shut down and stop talking, stop sharing, stop taking  time to touch, speak, and connect. I  determine to do “it” on my own although Bruce is right at my side sharing the load, I develop tunnel vision and our relationship suffers. Just as in the same way my relationship suffers with the Lord if I “go my own way” and stop communication with Him.

How can “praying continually” make a difference?

Pray continually – my focus is continually on my Lord. I am free to share my concerns, my desires, my dreams with Him. I develop a complete dependence on Him, a reflex of running to Him with everything. My words then morph into thanksgiving and gratitude for His love and generosity. Praise and worship flow as I see who God is and begin to “know” Him in a life changing way. My thoughts change, my requests change, my desires change to His.

In “praying continually” I am not swayed by circumstances or by the many storms of life. I am firmly anchored and secure in my relationship with Him. My joy increases and is from Him, in Him and through Him. I then am able to “give thanks in all circumstances”!

Amazing, just amazing!