Be Thankful!

     "Never let someone else's joy ruin your grumpy day!!"  That's what I say... before I've had my coffee anyway.  But seriously...
      Joy and thankfulness are not  my first reaction in a difficult situation.  But that is what God wants.  ("Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice." Philippians 4:4)  I don't think it is just to glorify Him...it is actually better for US.  It is healthier to our bodies and better for our pysche (both medically proven).  And it is certainly better for the people around us.
     A short story...my husband is a pastor.  There was a very stressful time in our church.  There was a vote being taken determining if we would stay or go.  While people were voting I had my head bowed in prayer.  I heard someone softly singing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name."  I started looking around and discovered it was my husband.   Thankfulness and joy in the midst of trials.
     When we dwell on the problem it weighs us down.  When we can be thankful in the Lord, despite the problem, we begin to rise above it.
     I pray you can be thankful today and find JOY.
     Laura

Illustration Note:  "Grumpy Kitty" was my first 'official' sale since starting this new career.  For that I am 'thankful.'  :)

God Sees Things Differently

I observed my granddaughter one day in this pose.  I smiled and asked, "what are you doing?"  Her answer was a delighted giggle.  She stayed that way for nearly a minute looking around the room.  I guess things appeared 'different.'

It reminded me of the scripture from 1 Samuel.  God sees so much more than what we ever will.

Perhaps you are struggling with a situation right now.  It may be family, finances, job, child rearing or serious illness...and you just don't understand what to do or why God will not remove you from the situation.

Yet God does not see just a single moment...he sees into our hearts, into our future. He knows what is best to strengthen us, to help us mature spiritually so that we may help someone else.
Trust that God loves you and has the best plans for you.   "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  Jeremiah 29:11

And if we trust, God will give us a 'different' perspective.
May God bless you today!
Laura

Cast Your Cares Upon Him

Do you have a difficult time giving ALL your cares to God?  I do.  I feel as though there are some things too small for me to bother him.

But then there is that little 3 letter word . . .A-L-L.   Did you notice it?  A-L-L your care.

My grandchildren will get frustrated with the tiniest things.  A plastic car gets stuck in the plastic parking ramp.  They start to shriek, I step in and turn or pull the right way - problem solved!

Don't you think God is like that?   If we only ask him he is willing to step in because he cares for us.

The illustration above was done based on a true event, our grandchildren's dog escaped. (click here for another story) My daughter told me that her oldest (3 1/2 at the time) was praying in the back seat that the dog wouldn't get hit by a car. She knew that word...A-L-L. . . your cares.

If there is a care you would like to share and have me pray with you, leave a comment below.
God bless A-L-L your needs today.
Laura

Thanksgiving Is Everyday!

'In everything give thanks' 
(1 Thessalonians 5:18a)

When those little girls open their eyes what will they say to the little boy?  What would you?  'That's not fair?  I'm gonna' tell!'      Children always want things to be fair and even. As adults we know that doesn't always happen.  Events and circumstances change, sometimes for the worse.

I've been rereading some of the "Little House on the Prairie" books.  Ma Ingalls would always say, 'there is nothing so bad, that some small good can't come from it.'  The Ingalls lost their cash corn crop to huge flocks of blackbirds - but they ate tasty blackbird pie.

It's been in some of my life's most difficult situations that I have grown the most.  Have I always given God thanks for the trials?  To be honest - not until someone either reminds me or when it's the only remaining thing to do. And I'll admit, my giving thanks may only be half-hearted. But amazingly, it seems when I start thanking God even for the trials, or sorrow, or humbling of my heart,that God begins to change the circumstance and even my attitude about it.

Today, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and I pray that your heart will give thanks in everything, and remember that the God of all will help you through the trials.

May God Bless you,

Laura

Living with Rabbits or How to Handle Irritation

Ziggy with his favorite chew toy.

My husband confessed the other day that he secretly snickers when I walk in the den and he hears, "RRRR.......RABBIT!!"  He knows the bunny has done something....chewed through a cord, eaten an important piece of paper, nibbled an art pencil, or knocked down the jar of food...and he has the nerve to find it amusing!

We have lived with a rabbit in the house going on 13 years now.  You'd think we would have ourselves trained by now.  We've owned two bunnies, Ziggy who lived for 11 years, and Sully who is almost 2.  These bunnies have been fun, engaging, charming little balls of PURE DESTRUCTION.  Both of them have eaten through computer and electrical cords, nibbled their way through piles of books, ripped open bags of rabbit food and hay (that were in cabinets they managed to open) as well as chewing their way through bedroom slippers, shoelaces, stuffed animals, and stripping wallpaper.

The rabbit ate my homework.!

WHY DO WE KEEP THE BUNNY?  Entertainment?  Fuzz Therapy?  It's not for the calming affect they have on me that's for sure.  I had an impulsive moment yesterday and bought blue nail polish.  I painted my fingers and then....I painted my toes.  As I was getting ready to write this I was standing in my bare feet in the den and I felt a nip and a nibble on my big toe.  The bunny was trying to eat the nail polish off my toe.   RRRR.....RABBIT!   I had to get up and put on slippers....which I hope he doesn't eat.

Scolding a bunny does not work.  Their expression never changes.  We've tried to rabbit proof things.  Cord covers, locks on cabinets, keep things off the floor, but occasionally something slips by the radar.  It's as challenging as having a toddler in the house. Interestingly this whole scenario reminded me of dealing with irritating people in our lives.  The person might be immediate family (not MY husband...), a relative, co-worker, or *gasp* church member, or just someone you meet while shopping, or dining - you know who I mean.    How do we handle the irritation?

There is only once when Jesus got irritated enough to yell. (Matthew 21:12-13) This was because the temple of His Father was being profaned.  But there were many times when the Pharisees were murmuring against him or trying to trip him up with sly questions.  Jesus, however, maintained his calm, answered respectfully, and showed love, even while on the cross, "Father, forgive them..." (Luke 23:34).

How do we follow Jesus' example?   Philippians 4:5 says, "let your moderation [gentleness] be known to all men."  Again we see gentleness mentioned here, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient" (2 Timothy 2:24).    But how can I achieve this level of kindness or gentleness?  How can we bite back bitterness or anger?

Some years ago I attended a workshop on puppet ministry.  Patty was the leader's name and she made a profound impact on my spiritual life by one simple statement.  She was telling us that in starting a ministry for the Lord we needed to be prepared for conflict.  She told us that when they started their puppet ministry, Growing Vines, a man from their church came and said he thought that it was a waste of time and money for such a foolish venture and did not see how silly puppets could tell the Gospel. There were many of us in the group that gasped audibly.  Then she said to us, "I am so glad I was 'prayed up,' or I would have answered in anger."  Prayed up.  Prayed up.

  ^"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." (Mark 1:35) If Jesus, being God, still needed to take time to pray about his day, how much more do we need that solitary time to let God prepare us for our day?

The Growing Vines puppet ministry is still going strong.  And by the way, after seeing their first performance, the church member came up to Patty crying and apologized and said how wrong he was about the puppets.  

Have a blessed day - and get PRAYED UP!
Laura

P.S.  If you would like to see my favorite bunny book, Marshmallow, click here.
   And also - We keep the little irritating ball of fur because he is also one of God's creations that teaches me patience every day.  

Stand Still and Wait On God

There is Hope Ahead

There is a group in which I am a member called "Blogging For God," whose members all have a Christian  blog, whether on homemaking, family life, music, art, children, devotions and more.  We were challenged to do a post about "Waiting On God."  My offering follows and the other posts have a link at the end of my story.
    
There was a time in our new ministry when a group of folks at the church we were at wanted us to leave.  They could not state any biblical reason why my husband shouldn't be pastor.  We had some rough edges being new in the ministry, and needed to grow and learn - but I think it basically boiled down to  - they didn't like us.   The previous pastor had been there 20 years and he and his wife were dearly loved and good people.  Worship was comfortable the way it was and any small change by us was not welcome.
      There was much backbiting about us, complaining and gossip.  Someone started a a rumor that I'd been married before (I have not).  They even took issue because my husband (the pastor) dared to wear white socks with dress shoes while on the platform-how unprofessional! He's allergic to the dye in colored socks and it was the week following a 6 day revival.  His feet were all red and itchy, and bleeding in spots - and *gasp* - he chose to wear white socks.  So the next night - he put on white socks and black dress socks over them so he wouldn't be a stumbling block. That's when I realized how idiotic the battle was and my temper flared.
      It was a small faction of nay-sayers making a very loud noise. The flesh in me wanted to stand up and tell everyone off.   I wanted to start pointing out the flaws in their lives and tick off the imperfections.    What was happening wasn't right and was hurting my family, children included.    My husband had the 'nerve' to tell me we just needed to pray for these people.  I just wanted to do battle!  Dish it out the way they were.  It did not seem fair or right, I wanted to cast the first stone!  No - I'm not without sin - but I hoped just this once Jesus might make an exception.  
     It was when I was driving home from work a short time later (I had a 30 minute commute) that I heard a radio message given by Dr. David Jeremiah on this scripture from 2 Chronicles 20:17
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves,stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you."
      I started weeping.  It was as tho'  God  spoke those words at that very moment just for me. "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle:  SET YOURSELVES  (WAIT), Stand ye still."   Stand ye still-it was not our battle.  This battle was the Lord's!   I pulled the car over and called my husband.  I told him to turn on the radio. I sat listening to the message feeling the weight of the past months falling from my shoulders and the bitterness leaving my heart.  If this was the Lord's battle then of course He would win!  If this was the Lord's battle no one could stand against Him.  If this was the Lord's battle ----I began to feel sorry for the other people, because they were battling against God.  I remember shivering at that thought, and I asked the Lord to awaken these people to the evil that Satan was doing. Satan after all was the one wreaking havoc.  He was the one handing fiery darts to the people. 
    I won't go into details here - but God had the victory and it was AMAZING to watch Satan's trickery revealed.  We stood still and prayed and we saw the salvation of the Lord.   We stood still and prayed and saw God moving.  We stood still and prayed - and saw a cleansing.  Branches were pruned and new fruit began to grow.    15 years later we are still here and our church is involved in a fair ministry that has seen over 4000 salvations in the last 4 years.   
     Without the battle the fruits would not be so sweet.  We have grown and our flock has grown spiritually  in a desire to defeat Satan and build God's kingdom.
     Was it easy to 'Set ourselves' (wait)?  No.  Was it easy to 'Stand Still'?  No.  Was it easy to wait while the Lord did battle?  No, I kept wanting to give Him advice. (Hey - I'm just being honest, you can quit snickering.)   If God graded me on Waiting and Standing Still during those events I probably would have received a D-, a barely passing grade.  But He was tolerant of my impatience. One of my favorite verses through that time became Romans 5:3-5  ^"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."  
      Have there been more trials in the church?  Of course - we're only human.  The only perfect church is an empty one because it doesn't have a person in it.  But now, we have experience. Whether for us if it's been health problems, financial, family, jobs, or heartache, experience has taught us to 'Stand Still and Wait.'  God's way is much better than our way.  (And yes, I still have to remind myself of that.)
      Do you have a trial you are going through?  I would like to pray for you.  Please leave a comment and feel your needs lifted up to God by  someone who has been there.

Other Posts In The "Waiting On God" Series

Sometimes We Wait

Sustained With Favor

Waiting on God?

Why Doesn't He Change?

Waiting Isn't Fun

Live Like Someone Left The Gate Open

The Waiting Place

Waiting For God

I Can Do It MYSELF!!