You Just Never Know

Read an article this morning I wanted to share. A young lady going off to college was shopping at a local thrift store for things she was going to need for her room. While in a lengthy line, the older woman at the check-out seemed very angry, unhappy and rude. When she was checking out, two of her things were not marked and the checker unhappily had to go and find the prices. She was not shy about expressing her unhappiness.

As the young lady was paying, she remembered a few extra bills in another part of her purse and found herself arguing with God. Surely, God, there are more deserving people than this old grouch! But God would not stop nudging her so she folded the bills and put them in the older woman’s hand. She lowered her mask and simply ask “Why?” She was told it had been a “soul nudge”.

The woman removed her mask and told her that today was her 75th birthday and “I ain’t heard from any of my kids or my sister or nobody.” A few of the people in line had overheard this even though she had lowered her voice. They soon began singing “Happy Birthday” to her and giving her tips.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Watching my Thoughts and what happens when I don’t

Yesterday my husband and I had errands to run to purchase fixtures for our bath. Walking across the parking lot in 106 degrees heat, we were discussing how this store had changed since the pandemic. Once we both had loved this store, but now we found it difficult to get help when we were here.

As we went to our section, sure enough, the two salespeople were on the telephone with customers and we had to stand around waiting for someone to help us, which I found irritating. Soon I found myself irritable myself. Then last night we went to a testimony meeting at Church and one of the testifiers told of an experience she had had at a store. Everyone had been loving and that what she had expected! A lightning bolt went off in my head because I had expected the opposite and received it. I am so grateful to see the Truth when I need to see it!

Ephesians 4:29 states “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen,”

Mission Possible, Never Mission Impossible

The creek down from our house is completely dry, even the water lilies are going. Over 100 degrees daily and no sign of rain! Tempers are short as the heat rises. Caught myself this morning getting a little irritable until I said aloud, “No way! God has this and only Good is going on.” I was immediately humbled and began giving thanks for everything we have, even the lessons that turn into blessings when understood. Yesterday I heard a testimony where a lady was cleaning her bath and glanced across the room where she studied her shower curtain. One of the hooks, which is two-toned, looked strange so she decided to go and fix it. When she went over to the other side, it was an optical illusion. There was nothing to be fixed. It was just how she was seeing it.

In the Amplified version of 1 John 4:18, it reads “There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection).

This is just a call to slow down with all the building and fracking. Appreciate what we have. Enjoy our world, not try to change it in the name of greed!

#Missionpossiblenevermissionimpossible #1john418 #drycreek #testimony #fracking #greed #illusion

Look on Me

As I was pondering the healing of the crippled man begging for alms when Peter and John passed by, he was told they had no silver and gold. Peter then told him to look on them and in the name of Christ Jesus, he would be healed. It came to me that the man was required to look to the Christ and look away from himself. When we have a challenge, shouldn’t we do the same thing? Not focus on the challenge but on Christ, which is the Truth of Being, man’s spiritual perfection.

Psalm 100:4 states “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” By doing just that, our thoughts are lifted up where peace and harmony reign.

Service, Not Bondage

As I was studying the Bible this morning, I was drawn to the word, “Bondage”. The first thought brings slavery to mind, which comes from Hebrew history. Searching further, in Greek the word is douleuo, which means to serve. In Galatians, Paul is illustrating a practical demand of Christian liberty – love for each other and serving each other in Christian love and service. That is so much more appealing!

“We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor all things work together and are fitting into a plan for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.” Romans 8:28 AMP.

Uninterrupted Good

Yesterday morning as I was sitting at my desk beginning my daily studies, I was ruminating over the previous day where I had watched the televised hearings in Washington. The afternoon was filled with prayer requests for depression and fear of the human state of affairs. It was almost dragging me down mentally as I thought about the prayerful needs of our world. Then, like a lightning bolt, as I thought about the prayer request, if the world was in such a state, how could I ask God to help me on different things when I thought He had failed in the world! It was such an awakening as my thoughts began to fill with gratitude over all the things He had done for me.

Then I remembered different times He had brought us through perilous times, like Biblical times or the 60″s or whenever. Deuteronomy 31:6 states “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Ultimate Freedom

Yesterday I was sitting in the dental chair for ages as I was having work done. Of course, I was praying and I reach into my purse for a small book to read with the same title as this blog. It was the true story of a man who spent three years in a prison camp during World War II. During this time, he refused to allow fear, hatred, bitterness and anxiety into his thinking. Each time he would refute the thought replacing it with love! It got my attention quickly and I knew it was no coincidence I had picked it up to carry with me to read.

James 1:2 states “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”

Love and Gratitude Needed

As I look out my windows from my desk, all the trees are covered with leaves with the exception of the large tree to my left of my desk. Several times my husband and I have discussed cutting this tree down since it looked “dead”. Last night when I was out back watering plants, I walked over to this tree and began to water it. As I did, I gave gratitude for the wonderful shade it provides during the summer. Love came into my thinking as I thought of the beauty it brings when in bloom.

Well, this morning I turned toward it and sure enough, it has new growth throughout. It was not dead and far from it. It bloomed in God’s time! Just called my husband into my office to once again see God’s handiwork. Thank you, Father.

“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14

Listening is Prayer

This morning I listened to a podcast telling about a man who went to a testimony meeting where before it started a woman walked into the back where he was and began ranting and raving about challenges she was experiencing. During this time, he didn’t have a chance to open his mouth but just silently listened and prayed. At the service that night, the woman stood to give a testimony telling how she had come to Church that night heavily burdened and ill. She went on to say she had run into a fellow Church member and they had a conversation and she had been healed.

The man knew she was talking about him and there had been no conversation at all since he had been quietly listening. That was enough.

Zechariah 2:13 states “Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because He has roused Himself from His holy dwelliing.”

No Need to React

Recently at the Award Ceremony in Hollywood, there was an incident of one celebrity slapping another for insulting his wife. The news has been on fire with opinions. As I was thinking on this, I realize we all have thoughts like he had but we don’t take action. Then as I prayed, I realized the healing actually appears when we don’t even entertain those thoughts.

Proverbs 3:6 states “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.