Monday, July 23, 2018

Stop, Look and Listen

◄ 1 Corinthians 2 ►

New International Version

1And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.^a 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”^b —

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.^c 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?”^d

But we have the mind of Christ.

Today was the first day I woke up and just let go of the pain of loss in my life. I felt finally free of the garbage thrown to me and I just let go. I went swimming and then I went to the whirlpool to relax a bit. Instantly I was irritated by the person talking on her phone. I thought it must be pretty rude to talk and disturb and ignore me when I greeted her. I thought about how I was able to unplug but was sad for her who could not. I went to change afterwards and that same lady was talking to someone in the shower. I thought to myself how ridiculous that was until I heard her share about her late husband. Then I realized this woman did not want to be alone even when she was in a public place with others. I went from irritation to prayer and silently prayed for her. My swimming laps were not an accident but an opportunity that only the Lord and I would know that I got to pray for this lady because He taught me to stop, look, and listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox4X4ymXd5s

Friday, July 20, 2018

God's Eyes

1 Corinthians 2:9 New International Version (NIV)

9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”[a]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

You think you are over something and then out of the blue something hits you. I got up this morning and then I reminded about because I made the honest decision about something I have had something precious taken away from me. I also realize others have taken things from me because of their foolish decisions. Then I think of my friend who has a ex-husband who has decided to leave her for another woman. Just like my friend who has beauty inside and out, two different colored eyes which as beautiful, I know God sees everything. I know God has prepared for me something and things pretty amazing. I have had these situations like this happen before and my job is to just wait.

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Target Shooting and Soybean Fields

Isaiah 43:19 King James Version (KJV)

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Today I had a few new experiences. One was that I saw some interesting soybean fields as I traveled to meet my parents in the country. There were some fields that had nice soybean fields with no cornstalks in them, some with obvious stalks and others with brown cornstalks. Different seeds were planted in each field and I read the signs that were in each field. Very different variety of seed brands. I wondered who was the best and which ones were different year to year.

Then I went shooting. I was not planning on hitting targets but I guess the inside of me really wanted to. This made me think of some new opportunities that have opened up at church to work with the children's ministry. I wonder if it is part of God's plan or I am biting off more than I can chew. I think of the youth I will get to help along side of them and how I can impact children that might of been written off by others or not understood. I have to get over my feelings in anger toward the person who took me off another ministry because my chronological age was not a good image for their ministry. Maybe this is another one of those situations where I shoot a lot of bad bullets like I did this morning but maybe by taking the step of faith just like I did this morning with the 22 I can hit a new target. Lord help me know the right decision.

I know right now sitting around angry about what is happening to me will do no good. I like to be busy. Since I was nervous about shooting I found I really liked putting in the bullets for the 22 for my dad and me. He even got a kick out of it. Too bad he only has three reserves. I could do a serious filling in front of the TV if he would be willing to stop by. This Sunday I will try something new. It may work and it may not. Second I might have to try something else if it does not just like the farmer tries various seeds of soybeans as he rotates corn and soybeans every year. Eventually something will fit.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Bitter or Better Battle

I think I am through my situation and then something gets tossed in and I am bitter again. I believe this situation has happened to show me how to act in a challenging situation and how to treat others when I am the boss and I have to make difficult decisions. But it does not get any easier. I choose in this moment to do the right thing even if it means I have to relive my decision many times today.

Romans 7:15-20 New International Version (NIV)

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Circle Swimming and Drivers on your bumper

I enjoy swimming. It is a sport for young and old. I was taught if you circle swim with a swim lane you can literally put 15 people in one lane. But when I go swimming, see the circle swim sign but it is funny how people have their own rules of lane swimming. I do my best to go with the flow but i am learning I can't change others wills. I like the lines on the bottom of the pools. It shows me where to go and I can control my breathing but either taking a breath at a selected time or an extra if I need one. I can also stop every lap if I want or just keep going. This is just like some decisions that have affected me in my life. It is hard to keep circle swimming when other people can obvious not do what they are supposed to do. Just like swimming laps at a busy pool I make the choice whether it will ruin my day or if I can make the best of a tough situation.

Today I was going through an intersection and that guy in back of me just cracked me up. He was obviously for no reason in a hurry. I thought about all the times I have been in a hurry and wasted needless energy and adrenaline when if I would of just took my time I would of gotten to the same place at the same time stress free. Every stop sign I hit he hit despite his speeding. I use this situation to show me that I need to get out of the drivers seat and allow God to work in my situations.

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In my professions of personal training and teaching special education I rely on predictability and practice instead of perfection. I thrive just like my students on schedules and fair firm rules. It is hard in life when you are associated with someone who believes in rules when it is only convenient for them and not anyone else. I have learned two things. First I can only control how I respond to another person who does not follow the rules and second I can with the Lord's help provide a safe stable environment for those around me. I can't control others but I can control how I respond to a situation. And lastly I don't have to make hasty decisions.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

A Story of a Fool

I was walking along yesterday thinking of some interpersonal struggles I have in my life. All of a sudden it was like God spoke to me and said let me fight your battle. Everytime you struggle give it to me. A light went on and what could of been a difficult day turned out all right. Then later one of my friends was defending her passion of her sped ed job as a OT and a fool really ripped into her. A few people commented and I joined in. The fool ripped into me and later I shared how the fool was an idiot. I thought of the scripture and how even a fool is thought smart when he keeps his mouth shut. I still needed to defend my friend but as my grandfather used to say with idiots consider the source. May I remember the scripture in Proverbs.

Proverbs 17:28 English Standard Version (ESV)

28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Monday, July 2, 2018

Cake Story

If you look over the years, the styles have changed - the clothes, the hair, the production, the approach to the songs. The icing to the cake has changed flavors. But if you really look at the cake itself, it's really the same.John OatesI thought I was over the whole thing about worship team. I said nothing to no one and even though Mike practicing the songs was painful for me to listen to I kept it together. Then last night my friend tells me it is not a style thing I was kicked off but a sound thing. I never took worship team for granted and I really tried to work within the system. My bitterness crept up again and I wanted to run away. I wake up this morning with the same anger I feel toward the situation and other injustices I feel toward others. I need to remember that even though I have aged with weight, wrinkles and physical appearances I am still valuable. This is just another test to see if I can keep positive in a toxic situation. Help me Lord to do the right thing with my church and of course with my boss despite the fact my heart has been hurt over and over again. I am a good cake. I have lots to offer. I am also willing to change with the times and styles. Let me know Lord I am still valuable and let me as I wait to be justified to glory in the other talents and abilities that I still have to offer.