Having a Good Name

Proverbs 22:1 (ASV) A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and good.

As a teacher we have an opening day that we have to stand in an extremely long line and get our IDs taken.  Yesterday was an exceptional long line.  The first thing I noticed was the new people.  Quite a big group.  I thought about all the people who had left and also the people who retired.  My next thought was all the returning people especially certain people.  Everyone else seemed so happy and talking non-stop.  I thought about the people who were surrounding me.  There were people who were from various schrolools and some were hard workers and some did the bare minimum.  Others were constant complainers and others were hard workers.  I wondered what the people for just a second were thinking of me.  But really for the first time I did not care.  I thought about doing my best and that as far as I am able to have a good name.  I can't control what others think of me but I can make the choice to have a good reputation.  May I continue to have my good name with the help of the Lord. 

Stealing My Peace

Yesterday was a day of opportunities to steal my peace.  First of all my tire pressure light went on.  I am so thankful that that Lord gave me the peace to find a place and learn how to use the gauge pretty easily.  Then my dryer was not working.  The place I called gave me some advice and it helped that someone did not have to come out. I got lost after a meeting last night and got into some pretty unfamiliar territory late at night.   Last I got some emails about my car needing service.  I called and it was just that their program was sending out wrong messages and they were able to sort it out.  With the first day of meeting starting today it was a crazy day for that to happen.  I am so thankful for the Lord's wisdom and peace to help me through each of these situations. 

Psalms 29:11 says

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Slow and Steady

Proverbs 21:5 Living Bible (TLB)
⁵ Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty.

I have this series of bushes out front I almost killed.  I got too eager and cut all of them down to the roots.  Fortunately after a bit of rain and much prayer they are slowly coming back.  This reminds me about how in life we want something but sometimes we try to do it in our own power.  I am the queen of doing this myself. With God's help I know I can accomplish many things.  I have done it before and I know having the right attitude I can do it again.    I want to lose weight but I know with my age, lifestyle and that I live with Mr. Snack it is going to be a daily and hourly choice.  Today I could of let all go loose with some jealousy and some negativity from others but I choose to not let others affect me.  I would rather have slow sustained weight loss just like my bushes.  It took 10 years to get there.  Hopefully in 6 months instead of days and weeks I can get back to where I used to be.

Just Keep Swimming

I Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.


Today I was reminded that it is better to keep on doing the right thing even if you don't feel like it.  I was swimming at the pool and I noticed that my laps were going really slow.  I know I was not feeling like my usual self but something was different.  I quickly realized my laps were dragging on because right next to me the aqua aerobics was having their class.  Their horizontal movements back and forth were upsetting my vertical swimming movements.It was also a spiritual thing.  Swimming for me is usually a calm and relaxing experience with peace.  With all those people in the water it was like I was feeling all the stress that they were feeling and the blaring music compounded the situation. 

I had a choice to make.  I could stop and quit or keep swimming with the knowledge that I could easily finish but just a lot slower than usual.  I chose to keep swimming.

Later I ran into one of the toxic people at work I thought was being transferred.  Then she came in the room to deliver bad news.  I decided instead of being short like her like I had done in the past  I would choose to be nice.  It was a good decision.  We actually had a good conversation and she shared some intimate details about her life.  

That also happened in a few other situations this week.  I allowed myself to slow down and just keep going forward ( vertically).  Like my swimming adventure this morning my job is to keep swimming  at any speed whatever is going around me and with the Lord's help I know I can.  

Hurting People Hurt People

1. Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

2. Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

3. Psalm 34:14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

4. Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

 I just found out the person who caused me a lot of pain is returning in my life.  I thought he was gone but I had this gut feeling even though his position changed he would still be in my life.  And even though it is difficult I was somehow prepared for it.  I know why he acts the way he does.  I see the pain of a former life that was difficult.  I want to reach out to him and say you don't have to be the big bad wolf.  Show a little compassion and you can succeed.  Be nice to me.  I will be one of your supporters whether you are nice to me or not.  But it would be nice to be kind to me.   I feel like you are Saul and out of nowhere you throw your mental spear of hate and anger.  I choose to  stay in the background and pray for you.  But you have to be the one to change and I pray that through my consistent witness you will transform.  Until then I will pray for you and that the Lord will heal your heart.  

Last in the meantime I choose to be my own cheerleader.  I can't control others but in the midst of the trials and tribulations the Lord can give me wisdom on how to handle the test. 

Counting my Blessings, giving up control to the Lord

This is the week before the insanity of starting school starts again.  At least I hope so.  It is also a week of teaching a little extra for my second job and also getting the last parts of jobs I promised myself I would start or finish done.  It is always stressful.  Mostly of the unknown.  But I am so thankful for the little blessings like completing a task, seeing something pretty amazing outside or just knowing that the Lord has my back like He has in so many other things.  I have seen Him do it before and I know He will be faithful again.

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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.”

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Secret Life of Hard Work

Hezekiah Purifies the Temple

29 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. ² He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.

³ In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. ⁴ He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side ⁵ and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. ⁶ Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. ⁷ They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. ⁸ Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. ⁹ This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. ¹⁰ Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. ¹¹ My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.”

 

 

Today I read about Hezekiah.  It was very insightful because he was human and not perfect.  He made mistakes but he sought God and the Lord blessed him.  I think about a leader who has recently made a decision to take something very precious to me away.  It hurt for a month but now I am getting over it.  I feel that the Lord allowed the situation so I can not only use the gift temporally away to use all my latent talents of teaching, guiding and acting.  It does not change how I feel about the decision but I make a choice to forgive that person and pray for them.  I can't change how others respond to a situation but I can change how I react.  I am now part of the youth and children's ministries.  Instead of getting mad that I am no longer part of the Sunday morning worship due to my age I am making more of an impact on the future generation by using my talents and abilities and showing them the value of seasoned adults.   I feel like the Lord allowed the door to be closed so I can truly be used where I am needed.  Instead of getting mad and bitter because the same thing would probably happen somewhere else I choose to use my trial and triumph under the leading of the Holy Spirit.   I will sing again but next time it might be to a different audience but greater than before.