Journey into Forever

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."              - Colossians 3:12   "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."              - 1 Thessalonians 5:11   "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."                 - Galatians 6:2   I have fibromyalgia.  Just to look at me, I seem perfectly fine, for a 62 year old woman that is.  Most of the time I look and act like there is nothing at all wrong.  But the truth is, it's always there.  Some days are good and some are not.  I try not to let others see or know, or let it influence my life. I have thought a lot about that during this Christmas season. My reason for that will be clearer later.   We are in full swing, aren't we?  As Christians, we try to be sure we keep Christ in the center of our c

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then , and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery."                         -Galations 5:1 "This is what the Lord says:  "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.  That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.  They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.  But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."                    - Jeremiah 17:5-8      Trying to wrap my head around The certainty of an uncertain future. What will it be like? Today, when I listened to

"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."         - Nehemiah 1:4 My friend and I are planning a retreat.  There are a lot of things to do to put a retreat together, and as with any project there are a lot of people 'behind the scenes' that contribute to the project.  I met with one of those people this week, and I think I got my "retreat experience" when having that 15 minute conversation. One of the things that happens before the retreat is a lot of prayer.  We have one prayer warrior we count on for a lot of this.  I met with her to give her the names to pray for, people who have registered for the retreat so far.  This lady is 86 years old.  She has not had an easy life.  She has a child to cancer, has watched other children suffer with it, and faced many other difficulties and trials along the way.  Her body does not allow her to do a lot of the things she was once able

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."        -Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)   " The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."       - James 5:16 (NIV)         War Room -  If you haven't seen it, go.  It is the best movie I have ever seen.  I wonder if God has been calling me to examine my prayer life in preparation for this time....a time when He is calling us to get serious with prayer, possibly ushered in by this movie.  I really believe most of us have a prayer life that is superficial.  I know I have had.  In my last post I talked about lack of time...no time to devote to prayer or study because of all the other responsibilities and events we have going.  The director and co-writer of War Room , Alex Kendrick, stated in an article in Mature Living:            "

".... To seek to live a quiet life, to mind your own business  and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you."          - 1 Thesselonians 4:11 "Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk - not as unwise people but as wise - making the most of the time, because the days are evil."     -Ephesians 5:15-16 I have always had issues with time.  Never enough of it.  Seems like I have always met deadlines by the seat of my pants, pushing and running the entire way.  Many who know me say I have too much on my plate, that I try to do too much and juggle too many balls.  Probably a lot of truth in that.  At 62, though, I'm not sure any of that is going to change at this point. I don't think I am alone.  Our society is moving at warp speed.  Families are rolling out of bed at 6 am, running to jobs and school.  Then after school/ work, there are sports activities, meetings, church responsibilities, house maintenance, homework.....the list goes on and on.

"You shall have no other gods before me."     - Exodus 20:3 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."     - Deuteronomy 6:5 I have to admit I am in a downer lately.  Sorry.....guess I'm not supposed to be that way.  But that's just the truth.  I wonder if that is one of the reasons we fail to convince others sometimes.  When we don't admit we have ups and downs, feel low, discouraged, even depressed.....does that tell others it's not allowed?  That if they experience these feelings they don't "get it?"  Since I'm a "Everything is out on the table" kind of girl, I tend to express everything.  It's all out there.  So here I am today.   Downhearted, melancholy, a mess. A friend posted something the other day that really caught my eye.  This is what she said: "What are you wanting in life right now? I had to take my own advice today as I reminded someone

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."                                    -Proverbs 3:5-6 "If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold. 'You are my confidence'; If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much;  If I have observed the sun when it shines or the moon moving in brightness, so that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand; This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above."                                   -Job 34:21-28 Trust. Idols.  These two words seem to be spinning around in my mind this week.  Examples of loss of trust, who we can and can't trust, what we trust when we shouldn't.  So many examples... When watching the 'Today' show this morning, I saw part of the interview with Brian Williams.  When

" Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."    - James 1:12 I like to think I have it all together.  In all the periods of my life,  I can look back and see God's presence , His guidance, His plan. That's  not to say I saw it at the time, trusted at the time, and at one period even believed at the time.  But He had a plan.  Knowing that, I want to believe I could weather anything now, knowing what I know and witnessing what I have witnessed. Then reality sets in.  I do pretty well with the minor, mundane irritants.  The driver  who is irritating the soup out of me....the rude person in line..... The appliance I cannot get to work right.  It's the big stuff I'm still not very good  at.  And I wonder, if the REALLY big stuff happens, do I have what it takes to still trust Him? My last post was all about family...regrets....con

Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:4 Another Mothers Day is over. As with many holidays in our culture, the build-up and hype is tremendous.  Emotion sells.  And, for some, it WAS a marvelous day with family...moms, grandmas, children, dinners out, smiles, laughter, and flowers.  But it was certainly not that way for everyone, and possibly not even for the majority. I have the whole gamut of mothers in my circle of friends....moms who lost children to death.....moms whose children are trapped in addictions to drugs or alcohol.....moms whose children are estranged.......children who have turned their backs on their parent's beliefs and lifestyle.... moms who, although they see their children, the relationship is strained at best.....moms who were alone or forgotten on this holiday.  When the circle is extended even farther, there are moms who have children lost to adoption or abortion, and those who have recently lost their own mo

" As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:12 Well this week I did it.  You know the feeling.  Hated life, hated circumstances, came close to hating others.  Although I'm pretty ashamed to admit it, I was so fed up with what was going on in this life I was ready to chuck it all....move to Siberia......commit an "accidental" murder......shake my fist at God.  From relationship issues to untimely deaths to scary illnesses....at one point this last week it did not seem worth it anymore.  I was way beyond the " even now, Lord Jesus come! " phase.  I was more into the "I've had it...I'm done....what's the point?" phase.  Can anyone relate?     I have struggled my whole life with the right way to do things. I look back at some of the things that I've done and I think, "That was way beyond stupid!" I struggle with the what would Jesus do thing, when the what would Ve

"A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother."     -Proverbs 18:24 I have children and grandchildren.   In thinking about this scripture in regard to emotional closeness between  brothers, I have to shake my head.  You know what I mean.  I have a couple of grandchildren who are probably plotting as we speak about the demise of a sibling.  And my adult children are not that close.  But when I think about the proximity of brothers, then I get it.  You know the scenario....when the kids are in a back seat traveling, we hear things like " He's touching me! He's looking at me!   Make her move!  Why do I have to have her around ALL the time!"  Remember those conversations ?  Maybe you have even heard them today.      So THAT kind of closeness is what I picture when I think of this scripture in Proverbs.  So close.....always there.... even when we want to bask in our self-pity and/ or sin. He waits patiently, som

Searching for a little peace today.....I am drawn to the end of the book "Forever...Why You Can't Live Without It" by Paul David Tripp.  I know I have quoted this book so many times, but it has really spoken to me.  Today, it did so again.  I'd like to share 3 of the six forever guarantees he presented in Chapter 13.    " 1. The future grace of eternity guarantees me present grace .             If God has promised that I will live with him forever, then implicit in that promise is the reality of all the grace I need to face what I will face in this fallen world until forever is my home.  I don't need to fear people and situations, because grace will be supplied for what I am facing when I face it.  I have always believed in the gift of God's grace, but after my eyes were opened, I had new and life-changing appreciation of the now-ism of that grace.  Today I can face life with courage, not because I am able, but because I know I will always have the gr

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience , not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?      - Romans 2:4 I am not, by nature, a patient person.  I guess I am better than I used to be, but that is not saying a lot.  I am like my infant granddaughter....I want what I want, when I want it.  Period.  I may act like I'm accepting my circumstances when they are less than desirable, but deep in my heart I know I cry out for what I really want. Luckily, we are the children of a God who has infinite patience.  I know that for a fact, because He has shown infinite patience with me.  He still does.  Paul David Tripp says it this way:         " Again, most of us don't like to wait, but our God, in grace, is willing to wait.  We want life to be a series of completed events; God is willing to live with incompletion until his work is finally done.  We want what we want, and we want it now; God is willing to i

Lots of truth here..... "I would like to think that I am one of the good guys, that I am basically righteous.  Okay, I'm not perfect.  Maybe I do need some minor tweaking, but that's all.  But the truth is, I am not okay.  I have a deep and abiding sin problem that I have no ability whatsoever to solve.  I give empirical evidence every day that this dark thing lives inside me.  Maybe I show it as a moment of irritation or selfishness.  Maybe it's revealed in unkind words or a vengeful action.  Maybe it's shown in an unwillingness to serve or a refusal to give.  Maybe it's shown in impatience with other people or anger at my circumstances.  Perhaps it's revealed in demanding to be right or in control.  Somehow every day I prove I am a person in need of help - and so do you.  God is working and will continue to work to solve our biggest problem and to meet our biggest need.  And he will be faithful to his agenda until forever is our final home."     

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”           - John 8:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.               - Hebrews 4:12 You know,it never fails. Life is always changing, many times not for the better. It's tough. I know just about the time I think everything is going really well, I get slammed into a wall with something else. Or, some previous problem or event rears its ugly head once again.  Life is not stable.  It is never stable. I like to think that life will someday just be serene. Then I won't have to worry about my kids, grandkids, my mom, my husband, or how much money we have in the bank. One advantage to being 61, however, is that I know better. My life is not ever g

                                 "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength."                                                        -Phillippians 4:13       Well here we are.  Another year, another contemplation of what it will bring.   A day for assessing ourselves, thinking of what we need to change, hoping for the best.  New Year's resolutions are really cliché, because most of us know they will last a few days or a few weeks or even a month or two, but that's it.  We just don't seem to have the strength, determination, or will to 'get 'er done'.      As I began this first day of the year, I turned again to the book I am reading now, Forever by Paul David Tripp.  The remainder of this post is a quote from this book.  A paragraph of this quote refers to a period of time in the author's life when he and his wife dealt with a devastating accident their daughter was involved in.    Read it, think about it, and consider who you r