What Was My Problem? Simple...

What Was My problem? Simple…

Psalm 119:105

Hello All ~

It was dark:30 a.m. (I don’t know the exact time, but it was early and it was dark!) Ronnie and I both awoke to the sound of Herschel’s tail beating on the side of the bed like a drum. Ronnie sprang up out of bed and I followed! We needed to figure out how our dog escaped the kitchen barricade. Ronnie glided noiselessly through the doorway towards the kitchen. Like Robin partners with Batman, I shadowed close behind him…until my body mass collided with the sheet rock of our bedroom wall, bunging me dead in my tracks. I stopped (obviously) dazed and brainless for a few seconds trying to figure out what just happened. I think God must get a kick out of times like that.

Now generally (I say generally, because I cannot in clear conscious claim that it never happens) I have no problem making it through the doorway without running into the wall. So what was my problem this morning? Simple. It was dark. I had no light. I couldn’t see a thing. (I know Ronnie couldn’t either, but …he’s sort of like Spiderman. One time he slipped into the pool and no lie – he caught himself before he got wet! I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes) If only I’d had just a little light I’m pretty sure I would have managed through the doorway without a hitch.

Believe it or not, this silly incident excites me about knowing and memorizing scripture. The Word of God is just like the light I needed this morning. “Thy Word is a lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

See, this morning I just crashed into the wall. There were no injuries, no after affects. But life is not always like that. We cannot make it through life without the light of God’s word to warn us of harm and keep us from evil. “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11

All that to say, memorize God’s word. Use it to fight off the Enemy! “The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword…” Hebrews 4:12

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca

I Spy...

I Spy…

Matthew 5:16

Hey, Got A Question For You ~

Do you agree with this statement: “Everybody is being watched by somebody”? Let me ask it another way: “Who do you notice or watch?”

In the office, do you note how a coworker or employer conducts business? Do you notice if your neighbor faithfully walks the dog or if they always wave hello when they check the mail? What about how others eat, how much salt they use or if they don’t eat the bread? Do you observe if someone is consistently friendly or sour, even if you don’t know them very well? Parents, do you watch how other parents, parent? Married couples, do you notice how other married couples treat each other? Do girls watch boys? And on and on it goes…news flash ~ People watch you, just like you watch them! Even my dog, Herschel, loves to go up on the top porch of our house and spy on all the neighbors in their backyards.

Be encouraged today. What you do matters. It matters to someone. I don’t know who it matters to, and more than likely neither do you, but I can tell you it does. I love this quote: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring – all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

My prayer for us is that we would be so full of the love and peace of God that we will spill out all over the place! Someone is watching! “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca

Frozen or Fresh?

Frozen Or Fresh?

Psalm 19

Hey Everyone

I have a question for you. Would you rather have a frozen TV dinner or a home cooked meal with fresh ingredients? Duh…I know that’s a stupid question. Another stupid question – which one is the healthiest, most nutritious? Of course the fresh meal is going to be. But so many of us choose the quick food solution, right? Right. Why? It’s quick. It requires very little effort on our part. The clean up is a snap…chunk it in the trash when you’re done, dish and all. I just wonder how differently we’d feel if we ate better. (I said I just wondered. I didn’t say I was going to try it!)

I couldn’t help but think about the spiritual food I eat. How much of it is fast food, prepared ahead of time by someone else? How much of it am I preparing on my own? In studying for Sunday’s lesson I very nearly made a huge mistake. I almost skipped my own digging into the passage and jumped right in to what someone else had already prepared. It sure would be quicker. The clean up would be a snap. The only problem…it may be rubbery or stale or frost bitten, but most of all, not very nutritious.

What about you? I love Bible studies – I’ve been highly enriched by them and they most definitely have their place, but sometimes you just need to leave off all the extras and see what God wants to give you…fresh…directly from His Spirit to yours. Take the time – It’s worth it. “…the law of the LORD…sweeter also then honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

James 1:15

Howdy ~

A few weeks ago, glancing out my window, I spotted something growing in one of my poolside flowerpots. I hadn’t planted anything there, but I didn’t think much of it. My curiosity piqued. I wondered what it would be so I decided to leave it alone; besides I didn’t really have time to fool with it. A few days later I noticed this “thing” getting bigger. It appeared to be some type of weed or maybe even a tree. The snarly thing looked long and branchy with defined edges. It was an obvious eye sore to the rest of the pretty flowers by the pool. It reminded me of the picture puzzles we saw when we were kids in the doctor’s office magazines that asked, “What’s wrong with this picture”. But it could wait. That pesky thing was the least of my worries.

A week or so passed and I noticed the blasted thing again. As I walked by, I nonchalantly grabbed it to pull it out, but quickly yanked my hand away. My mystery plant didn’t intend to go away quietly. Whatever this vegetation’s name, it included little baby thorns all up and down its stalk. I tried again this time being much more deliberate in where I placed my hand, but to no avail. I needed my gloves to get rid of this thing. Ah… I didn’t want to mess with it now. I’d take care of it later.

Every time I’d look out my window all I could see was this “thing” growing bigger. I’d have this nagging thought “You know you’ve got to get that out of there”. Every time I’d tell myself, “Ah yeah, I know. I don’t want to deal with it now. I’ll do it later.”

Finally I could not ignore the “thing” any longer. By now it grown as tall as the shrubs around it. Finally I grabbed hold of myself and said, “Doggone it Rebecca. Take care of it…right now! Take 5 minutes. Dig out your little garden gloves and pluck the crazy thing out!”

So I did…. or at least I tried. The initial little sprig had developed into a full-blown branch, and its roots had run deep into my pot. I tugged and grunted and tugged some more trying to loosen the plant’s grip on its illegally gained territory. No doubt I was a darling sight! I just kicked myself (interesting imagery, eh!) for not taking the 2 extra seconds that first day to grab my gloves and pull the little fiend out. Now instead of a quick fix, I needed garden tool reinforcements. After several minutes of wrenching and tugging it finally surrendered! Victory at last!

As I flung the thing into the pond, I thought, “What an unnecessary ordeal this had become.” If I had pulled it out when it was small it would have been quick and painless, not to mention all that wasted energy I used warding off the nagging thoughts to take care of it. Instead, I waited till it was so out of control, special measures had to be taken to rid myself of the problem. Wow. What a life lesson.

How many things do I ignore because I don’t want to deal with it now? When will I learn that it’s only going to get more difficult and zap more energy the longer I wait? Who says weeds don’t have a purpose? This weed sure did. I should have dealt with it right away. It would have been easier on both of us! May I never forget my lesson from the weed!

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca

If I Had Been Creator...

If I Had Been Creator…

Revelation 4:11b

Good Morning~
The gorgeous day enticed me do it. I decided to bite the bullet, put off my “to do” list and enjoy one of my all-time favorite things. It had been awhile since I’d been, so I packed up my stuff and cruised on down JTB to the beach. It did not disappoint me. The bright hot sun with a nice cool breeze that felt like a fan blowing on you the whole time created the perfect day! Is Florida great or what!
I rarely get in the water, but I do usually venture down to the shoreline to feel the intensity of the ocean’s presence. I don’t know that I ever stand there, tide splashing around my feet, sand rushing out from under me, that I don’t feel a sense of awe at such a magnificent and powerful God. I am reminded of how glad I am to be on His side! (Can I get a witness!)
This particular day I had been standing there simply staring out into the vastness, swishing my feet back and forth, when a wave came in and I witnessed one little shell float in and then burrow down under the sand as the tide dissipated.

And this thought occurred to me: If I hadn’t been standing here, it’s very likely that no one in this whole wide world would ever have seen that shell. Then I looked out into the mass of water and tried to imagine all the creatures and activity in the ocean depths that no man will ever see. Next my mind took flight to the Amazon and then great forests and mountains. I couldn’t help but ask, “God, why have you created so many amazing things that no one will ever see?!”
If I had been creator, the world would probably look a lot like my Christmas tree. You know, splashing all the jazz on the sides of the tree that everyone sees, but the backside? Not so much. That’s where all the homemade or school project ornaments go, a few lights and a holly or two, just to ease your conscious...or worse yet, nothing at all!
But God isn’t me (and we can all say AMEN to that!) He did fashion mind-boggling creatures that only He would see. Why? I don’t know all the reasons but I do believe one explanation is because – He likes it! Yes...God delights. “...for Thou has created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11b
Hey, guess what? You know all those things you do that seems that no one sees?

Times when you feel you did a good job,
but no one will ever know?
Times when your hair turned out just great,
but you’ve got no place to go?
There is One who enjoys, no, delights!
in watching your every move.
No matter what anyone else will say
Guess what? He’s loving your groove!

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love
Rebecca

Ahh...relax

Relax

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6

Hello All ~

Just curious…any perfectionist out there? A perfectionist is someone who only wants to do something if they think it will be perfect. If it’s not going to be perfect, than they will either procrastinate or not do it. For example, if they can’t get their house cleaned perfectly - they won’t do it at all. (Oh! So that’s why you’re house is a wreck! See, you knew there was a logical reason.) Or if that project cannot be done to it’s fullest potential, they want no part of it.

I must admit; I have these tendencies…OK, Ok…maybe it’s more than tendencies, but I’m making progress. There are a lot of things I could say about perfectionism, most of it bad. But actually, the idea of wanting to do things right is good and from God. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” The problem comes when I become out of balance and demand that the outcome be to my liking and control. My fear of failure urges me to reject any bit of vulnerability I may sense. And I fail in trusting the results to God to do as He sees fit. Anybody else?

Ecclesiastes 11 says that if we observe the wind we’ll never sow and he that regards the clouds will not reap…meaning if you have to wait for every condition to be right - you’ll never do it. It goes on to say, “In the morning sow your seed and at night go out and reap…for how do you know what God will make good?”

Exactly. So you know what…just go for it! Just do your best with what you’ve got. Not the best you’ve ever had - more energy in the past, more resources - just the energy and resources you have right this moment. Who but God knows what will happen! Whew…once you’ve obeyed…relax.

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca

Feelings, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa Feelings…

Numbers 13 & 14

Hey Everyone ~

“Hope is the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent.” Jean Kerr.

When I was in elementary school God gave me such a funny friend. I don’t mean funny like weird. I mean funny like - she could make me laugh till I wet my pants- kind of funny! One of her regular routines was to act out singing the song, “Feelings…whoa, whoa, whoa, feelings...” No matter how many times I saw her do it, it seemed as funny as the first time.

As time went on her solo act became a duet, with me singing back up. We’d start off acting like we were world-renowned recording artist on a grandiose stage. In our most poised positions we would begin to sing. As the song progressed, despite these “singers” best efforts to keep their emotions at bay, they would become more and more emotionally wrapped up in the lyrics they were singing. By the end of the song these “professionals” were nothing short of blubbering idiots on stage with no sense of pride or shame, lamenting unabashedly their “feelings, whoa, whoa, whoa, feelings…” It was great fun!

But in real life, feelings can be brutal. I know sometimes how we feel ain’t good! If by chance you find yourself reading this and you’re feeling “hopeless” it may be because you feel the feeling you have IS permanent. But I encourage you to hang in there. It may not really be! I’m speaking to myself too!

I love to remember Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13 &14.When the other spies looked at the enemy they said, “…we saw giants…and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers…”

The problem seems to be that they were looking at it from their own sight. But don’t ya know God is so much more than our sight can see! He has things up his sleeve we have no idea about. Oh, what a relief. Someone bigger and greater and wiser is in charge! And he loves you to death!

Sometimes when were battling our thinking and feelings, being around other believers helps shake us back to the truth of God and His word. That is one of the beauties of being a part of a church. Whatever you do, “…don’t forsake assembling yourself together with others.” Hebrews 10:25

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca