Reflections

I am attempting daily time with God and today was day four (in a row). That's quite an accomplishment for me lately. Anyway, i'm using a Psalms journal i purchased not too long ago. Each day has some verses from various Psalms on one side and then a page for notes on the other. Today i'm letting you in on some of my reflections and thoughts. May they be an encouragement.

One day in God's presence is worth a thousand without it. Consider the value - how many other "things" are worth this? NONE - nothing compares. Even at the threshold; even if i only get to gaze on it or be a doorkeeper, it is better than anything "egypt" (aka the world) has to offer. I believe even if only a doorkeeper, His glory would still cover me by spilling out into the threshold.

God is my protection, my refuge, from he who seeks me harm.

To be taught involves sitting under the tutor, which for me is the Holy Spirit. I must be listening, taking notes, writing essays, taking tests, applying myself using discipline and a schedule, attempting to apply what I learn, receiving rewards for accomplishment and gaining satisfaction when the grades are in. Realize also, that the classroom is not limited to one particular place and/or time; it is all over, wherever He chooses to teach and amongst whomever he wishes to speak. ("field trips" are a regular part of the curriculum)

"I will" walk in your truth is a desire followed by a decision made continually on a daily, even moment by moment, basis. To "walk in...truth" means I must know the truth and not be deceived by what is perceived truth. In order to recognize a counterfeit, you must be throughly acquainted with the original.

I do not want a divided heart.

I am to give thanks regardless of the circumstances and mean it!

When in a desert, remember to realize HE is my only water source.

references are in regard to my study today in Psalm 84:10, Psalm 142:5, Psalm 86:11-12 & Psalm 143:6

I'm also doing a study on "one in a million" at this same time. God is always at work and I'm so thankful He has not given up on me. He has loved me with an everlasting love.

FHG/bkm

"the sky is falling"

The other day I went into a used book store (one of my favorite things to do) and saw an old copy of "Chicken Little". Of course I remembered the story, but not completely, so I read it and realized how like life it could be. Did the author plan this? I do not know, but for me it revealed a spiritual lesson.



Many times we face trials and think "the sky is falling" or in other words: "my life is falling apart because..." and we focus on that particular circumstance: illness, a wayward family member or friend, a financial crisis, marriage troubles, child troubles, substance abuse, or whatever the incident (or plural in many cases) may be.



The truth is we have been distracted. God still holds the sky!! The circumstance is but something Satan would like to use to bring about distraction from God! Satan lies and tells us things are going to cave in, end in catastrophy, break the camel's back; whatever cliche' works, when in reality it is NOT the truth if we are God's child. God has plans of good and not evil for his children (Jeremiah 29:11).



It took the wise owl in the story to point out to Chicken Little that it was only an apple - not the sky - that had fallen; and then suggested that Chicken Little eat the apple. The very thing that he thought was part of destruction instead ended up providing sustenance for him. How like God to provide "food" - strength for our souls - through the various trials that we find ourselves, if we will but be wise and listen to the truth - not the distractions.



Also note that Chicken Little believed "the sky is falling" and proceeded to tell numerous others. We must caution ourselves on how and what we proclaim to others for it seems to me that it multiplies, though it did eventually take Chicken Little to the owl who was able to reveal the truth. Not sure exactly how to balance this except to say we should seek wisdom first and not upset others along the way unnecessarily.



Have i made any sense here? it seemed so clear to me :-)



BTW - i bought the book - it was only 85cents!

the pursuit of excellence

ok, it's been quite a while since blogging. i want to "vent" today about how there seems to be a lack of excellence in society. whether it's a restaurant, a store, or people in general - it seems difficult to find a place that people really care about what they offer in the way of goods or services. quality is lacking in many places and at many times.





restaurants that offer low standards of service; either they don't get the order right, are very slow to fill the order, ring it up wrong, or are just plain rude or snobbish and then offer nothing more than "sorry" with nothing to compensate for your time, gas, inconvenience etc.





now i'm not of the mind that the customer is always right, because we aren't. however, when you order food and it's on the receipt with "no onion" or whatever your particular choice is, and you drive for miles to bring it home and it's still wrong - and so you go without eating it - you return it and all they offer is your money back and/or another sandwich, i have to ask "why would i choose to do business with them again?" what have they done to encourage me that customer satisfaction is their goal and that they would like to keep me as a customer? perhaps...they really don't care if i'm a customer...perhaps it doesn't matter if they lose my particular business. however, they should know that i will most likely let others know and word of mouth will usually spread.





or how about if you're neglected while waiting for your food at a sit down restaurant? it takes literally an hour, even though you requested assistance from a manager(?) who takes nothing off the bill, and just offers excuses with no real reasoning? and then, you take it to the next level (or so you think) and they offer NOTHING to say "i'm sorry, we'd really like you to give us another try, enjoy....on us". or, when you order a steak and it takes 3 times to get it cooked correctly and then nothing is taken off the bill and by then everyone else in your group has finished and you get to take the steak "home" and maybe eat it later. and then there's getting bleach water in you water glass as a beverage, actually taking a drink and swallowing before you realize it, because someone used the wrong pitcher (yes this happened and pretty much all they did was say i'm sorry!! - guess maybe we could have sued, but...)





then there are stores who don't credit your account (charge accts) when you've made a payment and you have to spend 30 plus minutes with numerous people on phone calls to be asked to wait 10 days for it to get cleared up and over 30 days later it still isn't cleared up! and of course there was the whole employee at the store spending 30 minutes talking to some other employee when there were six or seven people in line waiting to check out and then used (allegedly) the wrong register to ring in your payment. Come on...





is it really that parents/teachers/society as a whole have taught no "pursuit of excellence"? or is it that most people know, but really just don't care?





once again, i am not offering a paid endorsement, however, i find that Chick-fil-A generally goes over the top in trying for customer satisfaction. perhaps that's because employees are taught to take to heart that they're there to serve. ("How may I serve you?" "My pleasure.")





Jesus himself, came to serve, and we are to be examples. I know i lose my temper at times (my husband has to pray for me when i get on the phone with these types of situations), but really, it's all too common. less than exemplary has become the standard. whether it's doctor's appts., stores, restaurants, traffic, and so on...excellence or caring about the other person and going the extra mile has become almost non-existent. i really don't like that it is this way. am i alone here or have you noticed it too?

"Its tough being a woman"

well it's been a long time since "blogging". i've actually considered discontinuing it, but here i am wondering what would God have me say?

i'm in a Bible study by beth moore on Esther. it is great!! i recommend it to women and young ladies to study if they have opportunity to do so, though i don't think i want to recommend it for mixed groups of men and women. in four weeks we've learned and touched on so many diffferent things; why do we get angry, or mean (yes, us). why is it so tough being a woman? when are we vulnerable? do we realize that being disobedient will bring results that can last for many many years and affect many many people? why do other women dress provocatively and flaunt their bodies and body parts at our men? (us wanting to shout "please keep your breasts to yourselves"!)...and here i thought it was about the jews being saved -- and it is, but so much more. please ladies...check it out if you have opportunity to do so...it's rich with spiritual truths that prove beneficial for our lives and for these difficult days...

by the way, this is not a paid endorsement :-)

have a great day and hope to be able to be back on the writing path more regularly soon.

"writer's block"

for any and all who read this (i believe there are few, but am glad for all) i seem to be experiencing "writer's block" or lack of inspiration or something. who knows....whether it's the stress of family issues, medical challenges, spiritual deprivation (can't seem to find a fellowship we fit in with) or just laziness (but i don't think that's it) i can't seem to come up with much to write about. i'm still following some blogs but can't seem to find words for comments most of the time - so i'm sorry if you're not hearing from me and thinking i'm not reading. it's frustrating and depressing because i've written thoughts, etc. for so many years...i have journals of pages and writings from about 15 years or so and wrote a lot until the last year or so. weird...as i've enjoyed writing since early childhood days. what do you do with "writer's block"? or, sad to think, is my time of authorship gone? i pray not, i've enjoyed it...getting into my emotions, saying with written words what my heart is feeling...but i can't make it happen. i can only write as inspired...perhaps that's the problem--

"let your conversation be..."

why is it that so often we let out the worst of ourselves and cause pain to others? why can we not just control ourselves better, be nicer, kinder, considerate and think beyond our own self-centered desires?

i hurt my husband today, with words - again - and, actions. seems i do that a lot. at least to me it does. i've done it to many i love and at the time i guess i'm just thinking "if....you'd done that, or said this, or just thought, ...then....." when in reality i'm the one who should not have... "done that or said this or just thought" and then put voice and action to my thoughts.

once words are out they cannot be taken back, regardless of the apologies or thoughtful, kind, loving words after. the resulting emotion(s) are not easily discarded. they can hurt for moments, hours, days, and sometimes years. i've known this from first hand experience; both from being on the speaking and hearing side of conversations and in the doing and seeing of various behavior.

i know God has addressed this problem - more than once - through His word. we are to exhort, encourage, edify, lift up, bless, and other various profitable communicative ways - yet we so often do the opposite. I know he addresses this as well - that evil is there to do that which i do not want to do - and i'm sorry for the many times i've failed and allowed that evil to flow from either my words, actions, inaction, or however else i may have succombed.

for those i've hurt, i'm sorry. God, my husband, my children, my extended family, friends, acquaintances, and those i may have just been rude to who i've come across; forgive me - and pray that i'll do better, that i will choose God's Spirit over the desires of the flesh.

pit stops

i don't know much about racing, but remember when i was young watching movies or something and the pit crew would hold up signs for the drivers racing around to come in to the pit.

guess that's where i am

for whatever reason i'm in a pit stop

i guess they'd change tires, lube, whatever was necessary to keep the car in order so that it could continue the race

perhaps that's what God is doing for me

personally i'm tired of pit stops, especially when they take a while and take me back to the pit of despair and bring with it feelings of despair and wanting to escape

wonder how the driver felt being out of the race - knowing, probably that it was needed, but possibly feeling "what a nuisance"

although, in truth, a nuisance it's not - at least not for a car race

maintenance is necessary to keep it going

what maintenance or preventive care am i needing?