Saturday, August 17, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
THE BLESSINGS LIST...
Good mornin' y'all.... Today I would like to make a Blessings List. Last night at our church meeting our pastor was talking to us about the committment we should be willing to make to our church and therefore to the Lord. He reitereated that after ALL that HE has done for us, should we not be willing to give up, just a very few hours in proportion, of our week, back to HIM? Hmmmm..... well, now there is a thought! AND.... our pastor also made us think about this.... that by being a Church Member we are a part of a "team" if you will. He compared it with being a player on a football team, and how if one of those players are missing how much impact it has on the team as a WHOLE. Hmmmm.....ya know, he had a point there. How can I not, give him back ohhhh, what.... approximately only 3 hours a week, when HE has given so much MORE to me.... ALL of my LIFE.... for instance? Wow. compare that .... CAN YOU? 3 hours.... an entire LIFE? Okay, so I totally get that perspective. Loud and clear!~ Now, Pastor Ron wasn't saying all of this to make us feel bad, if we are not in "our places", at church when we should be, but to help us to see that not only are we being a team player, but we are not there to receive the MANY BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR US DURING THOSE TIMES. Reeeally? Well, right then, I thought back to the times when I wasn't in my place there, meaning that I stayed home from church, for one reason or another.... and my sweet friend, Dottie, would always send me a text (or fb message, or call, whatever) and say those SAME WORDS to me... You missed your blessings.... I'm sorry you couldn't be there, because you missed your blessings! WELL.... wonder what those blessings were? Hmmmm..... I will never know because I was not there, to receive them. I wasn't in my place, at my church, being a PART of that church family, holding up MY end of "the rope". Hmmmm..... Now when putting it that way... I have to ask myself, why wouldn't I want to receive any of God's blessings? Life is really waaaay to short to miss even ONE of those. Yes it is!
Soooo.... I come back to The Blessings List... that another friend, asked all of her friends on fb this morning, to make! Think of all the many things that you feel God has BLESSED YOU WITH, and write them down! I am going to. But felt the need and desire to share these words here with you before I go to do that. BECAUSE believe it or not, I am feeling like a blessing myself.... Really? Did I just say that? THAT I CAN BE A BLESSING??? Well, why not? THAT is exactly what God would want me (or you, or you, or YOU!) to be to those along Life's way we meet.
Yes, I will write that list, but before I WRITE THE THINGS I AM BLESSED WITH..... let me see if I CAN WRITE THE WAYS IN WHICH I CAN BE A BLESSING..... Hmmmm..... now THERE really is a thought, huh? Yes, I have accepted God, in my heart, a long time ago, and now not so long ago, I have joined this church, of whom I wanted to be a part of, but yet how can I be a blessing, if I am not there, at that church, whenever the doors are open, to receive the BLESSINGS GOD HAS FOR ME???? I figure if I am to BE a Blessing, I need to GET FILLED UP with the Blessings God has in store for me.
Hmmmm....it all seems to go hand in hand, and comes back around full circle, when you think about it. So, this morning, before I get to writing my own BLESSINGS LIST, (because I know in my heart really by now, what they are, and I could be here all day writing that list!).... maybe, just maybe it is TIME for me to make a Blessings List, of ways that I CAN BE A BLESSING! I really think that that is what GOD is asking of me today.... He is saying, maybe... "Now Lynn, my dear, you KNOW all of the things I have done for you, you REMEMBER all of the times that I was THERE for you, and you surely can THINK of ways now, that YOU can be a BLESSING. Don't you? Soooo I think for you today, my dear Lynn, it is time for you to make a list that shows ways that YOU CAN give back, and BE a blessing." ..... Hmmmm.... now THERE is a thought!
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Dear Heavenly Father.....Thank you Lord for helping me to realize this morning, that my Blessings List is long, and plentiful, and help me to remember that without YOU, I would be nothing. BUT WITH YOU, I can be ALOT of things.... things that would bring joy to me, to my family and friends, and also a BLESSING to SOMEONE else... in some way! So Lord, I will concentrate on that today... and I pray YOU will show me the ways, and help me to break out of my comfort zone, if need be, to do just that! Help me Oh Lord, to focus not on the things that need to be done around here, with these boxes or this STUFF, but to realize that TIME is short, and I need to use the Blessings you have given me, in order that I might be able to share them with others, in some way. That is my prayer this morning, Lord. And I want to THANK YOU for the people you have put into my path at this time of my life, that have been a blessing to me, in order to help me see that me, little 'ole me, can DO SOMETHING, to give back to YOU! Thank you Jesus, and I thank you for loving me and forgiving me of all of my sins, and giving me of your bountiful GRACE daily. In Jesus holy name. ~Amen.
Soooo.... I come back to The Blessings List... that another friend, asked all of her friends on fb this morning, to make! Think of all the many things that you feel God has BLESSED YOU WITH, and write them down! I am going to. But felt the need and desire to share these words here with you before I go to do that. BECAUSE believe it or not, I am feeling like a blessing myself.... Really? Did I just say that? THAT I CAN BE A BLESSING??? Well, why not? THAT is exactly what God would want me (or you, or you, or YOU!) to be to those along Life's way we meet.
Yes, I will write that list, but before I WRITE THE THINGS I AM BLESSED WITH..... let me see if I CAN WRITE THE WAYS IN WHICH I CAN BE A BLESSING..... Hmmmm..... now THERE really is a thought, huh? Yes, I have accepted God, in my heart, a long time ago, and now not so long ago, I have joined this church, of whom I wanted to be a part of, but yet how can I be a blessing, if I am not there, at that church, whenever the doors are open, to receive the BLESSINGS GOD HAS FOR ME???? I figure if I am to BE a Blessing, I need to GET FILLED UP with the Blessings God has in store for me.
Hmmmm....it all seems to go hand in hand, and comes back around full circle, when you think about it. So, this morning, before I get to writing my own BLESSINGS LIST, (because I know in my heart really by now, what they are, and I could be here all day writing that list!).... maybe, just maybe it is TIME for me to make a Blessings List, of ways that I CAN BE A BLESSING! I really think that that is what GOD is asking of me today.... He is saying, maybe... "Now Lynn, my dear, you KNOW all of the things I have done for you, you REMEMBER all of the times that I was THERE for you, and you surely can THINK of ways now, that YOU can be a BLESSING. Don't you? Soooo I think for you today, my dear Lynn, it is time for you to make a list that shows ways that YOU CAN give back, and BE a blessing." ..... Hmmmm.... now THERE is a thought!
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Dear Heavenly Father.....Thank you Lord for helping me to realize this morning, that my Blessings List is long, and plentiful, and help me to remember that without YOU, I would be nothing. BUT WITH YOU, I can be ALOT of things.... things that would bring joy to me, to my family and friends, and also a BLESSING to SOMEONE else... in some way! So Lord, I will concentrate on that today... and I pray YOU will show me the ways, and help me to break out of my comfort zone, if need be, to do just that! Help me Oh Lord, to focus not on the things that need to be done around here, with these boxes or this STUFF, but to realize that TIME is short, and I need to use the Blessings you have given me, in order that I might be able to share them with others, in some way. That is my prayer this morning, Lord. And I want to THANK YOU for the people you have put into my path at this time of my life, that have been a blessing to me, in order to help me see that me, little 'ole me, can DO SOMETHING, to give back to YOU! Thank you Jesus, and I thank you for loving me and forgiving me of all of my sins, and giving me of your bountiful GRACE daily. In Jesus holy name. ~Amen.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME.
“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but
shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more,
but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and
smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees
but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more
problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too
little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our
possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and
hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to
life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but
have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer
space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom,
but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but
accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more
computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we
communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small
character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but
broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway
morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything
from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the
showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can
bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share
this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember, to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not
going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks
up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave
your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the
only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most
of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from
deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person might
not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to
share the precious thoughts in your mind.”
― Bob Moorehead
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That was the prelude to the sermon that Brother Ron had for us today, this Sunday, August 11, 2013. The title of this sermon was "Getting Your Mind Right" (1Peter 1:13-16) Apart from God, we are nothing, apart from God, nothing much matters.
The Need for Sleep
Very sleepy-eyed,
tired body,
so give out.
As I feel the need
for sleep,
I fight it
even still.
Why won't I let it
take me,
far beyond
the clouds,
where the shrouds
disappear
and I never have to fear.
Sleep to me never
comes easy,
and when it does
I fight it.
okay, I give.
Goodnight. Goodmornin'.
whatever time it is.
Sleep... I'm here!
tired body,
so give out.
As I feel the need
for sleep,
I fight it
even still.
Why won't I let it
take me,
far beyond
the clouds,
where the shrouds
disappear
and I never have to fear.
Sleep to me never
comes easy,
and when it does
I fight it.
okay, I give.
Goodnight. Goodmornin'.
whatever time it is.
Sleep... I'm here!
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