You're Just Like Me"

Florida tells her friend Jodi..."know what your problem is, Jodi Baxter? You don't want to accept that you're just like me. I didn't deserve God's love when I was strung out on drugs, now did I? But the thing that turned me around? I discovered He loved me anyway. Jesus died on that bloody cross to save me- - and look how far He's brought me! With all your blessings, all your middle-class-white American privileges, you don't deserve God's love, either. But you seem to forget that He loves you anyway, that He saved you, and ain't nothin' yo can do gonna change that."

This book has really made me wonder,...do I ...have I forgotten what it's like ... that I am really no better than anyone else? Do I treat others as if they are just as important as the next person? Read Psalm 139 ...put the name of your friends...those who are not your friends...and your own name in the place of "I". Let it speak to your soul.

2 Kings 6:16

Don't be afraid! Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

There is more than we can see....trusting God is essential to our inner peace. Jermiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

Knowing and believing all this, why do we experience fear? I suppose the flesh speaks out. Yet, the lesson I seem to be learning...let my faith outweigh my fear....let faith win!

Friends

Friends...they come in all shapes and sizes. There are various levels of friends from close to aquaintances which last for a duration of time...only a true friend will last a lifetime.

What is the importance of friendship? I like to think of friends as someone who will help us continue on the right track, someone to share the good times as well as the bad, someone who helps to make you a better person.

Before one can truely have a friend, they must be a friend. That takes risk...risking that your loyality and gestures of friendship will be taken and appreciated.

Hungry But Can't Find Anything!

This week has been busy and draining! Each morning, I still get up for my morning "quiet time" to focus on what God has to share with me. Yet, each day I have not quite "got-it". Talking with my mom on Mother's Day, I told her that reading through the Psalms has not really spoken to me...she suggested that I just skip it and move on. I guess that isn't something I want to do...I want to say I've read them...(does that really mean anything, I don't know). Yet, still thirsting for more I have started reading one of my summer book choices. The yadayada Prayer Group is a story that begins with a couple of friends attending a Christian Women's Conference. So far (and I haven't gotten very far...too many interuptions) it's fun along with my own anticipation for this summer's Women of Faith Conference.

At the same time, still sticking with my morning tradition (and New Years Resolution) I came once again to the Psalms. Yet this morning, I changed the routine and read from Wendy's Blog first. There it was...the inspiration I needed...
Psalm 124:1 What if the LORD had not been on our side?...
Psalm 124:7...The trap is broken, and we free!

Noah The Musical

What a wonderful time we had on our anniversary. It was rather unexpected, actually. We weren't really going to do anything special; my husband needed to work cattle.

Alas, the rain came! It not only canceled the big day of working cattle, but it also canceled my son's baseball practice. Whew Hooo! The rain opened new opportunities (never curse the rain...it makes the hay grow...our cows need hay). I've been wanting to see "Noah, the Musical", my husband found the time and desire to go. Even though it was an anniversary outing, we took our youngest son (the only one living at home) with us!

"Noah the Musical" is a wonderful production! So many truths brought out...
* We all have the time to do what's right...yet do we?
* The time is coming when our Saviour will return, are we mocking
Him by doing our own thing...are we ready?

"As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in
the days of the Son of man, They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they
were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the
flood came, and destroyed them all (Luke 17:26-27)."

He is worthy of our praise!

Since January, I have been reading the One Year Chronological Bible. This bible is written in the order of a time line...all in the order that it happened. It is also broken down into 20 minute readings so we can finish it in one year.

To make it even better (as if it can get better, but yes it has) I have been participating in a blog with women who are reading through this too. Wendy, our blogger, has relentlessly posted her thoughts each Monday through Friday; the rest of us comment with her.

Some weeks, much like this one, I have a hard time gleaming much from our reading. Yet, it is so neat to read what others have to share with the group. This week we were reading about King David and how he danced when bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the City of David. A beautiful comment was made by Debbie - North Carolina. Rather than parphrase what she had to share, I just "Copy" "pasted" what her pastor shared about Praise and Worship.

Worship and praise is the only part of our corporate gathering that is for God and God alone. God doesn't come to church to hear the Word, he is the Word. He doesn't come to see who is there and how much they are giving in the offering, He knows that already. He comes because he is seeking such to worship him in Spirit and in Truth. When we are worshiping we are speaking to God, When we are listening to the Word, God is speaking to us. So for those people who are interested in just the Word and not worship, What they are saying is God I have nothing to give you, so I'm only showing up for what you have to give me.

I am so thankful for this group of women...each one of them brings a special part of herself to the group and we all grow closer to God. WOW, it's great!

uuuggggghhhh,... it's Monday already

Do you ever have something you need to do but really don't want to do? Along with this feeling, do you procrastinate and try to put it off as long as possible? That's where I am today...but it isn't that it's ONE thing...it's a bunch of things. I'd rather just skip this week and call it done! Instead I have to simply move into it and do the best I can.

It's going to be a busy week. From past experiences, I already know how easy it is to get caught up in the stuff and forget what is really important. Quiet times in the morning help me to re-focus on my priorities...yet tomorrow I won't even have that time...a late night tonight and an early tomorrow...I dread it. Focusing on Wednesday doesn't help me get the Monday and Tuesday things done...uuuuuggggh! I need a cup of tea!