Procrastination/Forgetfulness?

"A New Leaf" photo by Maria Teresa Ambrosi (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

No matter how much you want,

 laziness won’t help a bit,

 but hard work will reward you

 with more than enough.

Proverbs 13:4 CEV

He asked me about a month ago to learn the part.  Even as I sang it in rehearsals with the choir the past few weeks and the score was in my hand, I forgot that he had asked.  I'd like to blame it on procrastination but I simply forgot.  Hopefully the hard work I've put on it this week will reward me with actually making it through without affecting the choir THIS Sunday.  Stress.  Why didn't I just write "practice this" on the top?  Oh, the plague of old age!

Autumn Blessings

"Autumn Rain" photo by torange.bix Valdemar Fishman/www.torange.biz (CC BY 2.0)

As they pass through the Valley of Baca [ “weeping,” location unknown],
    they make it ·like [ a place with] a spring.
    The ·autumn [early] rains ·fill [wrap; cover] it with ·pools of water[or blessings].

Psalm 84:6

Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

With my leanings toward pessimism, I sometimes think a forecast of rain is negative.  Thanks should be pouring from my lips like water from the leaves when God sends rain.  Because of this reminder, today I'm taking my umbrella with a smile underneath and thinking of those pools of water as blessings. 

Keep On Spinning

 You say that God is your Father, 

but God doesn’t have favorites! 

He judges all people by what they do. 

So you must honor God 

while you live as strangers here on earth.

1 Peter 1:17

Sometimes God's workers get tired of spinning.  They want a break, a respite from their labors.  Discouraged by the lack of love for God from those to whom they minister, they just want to go home.  People are dying in their sin and there are not enough believers to spread the Word so they give up.  They forget the words "work as for the Lord" and they lose heart.

Keep on spinning, Dear Ones.  Every believer has a message.  The Lord has not come for you...

 yet.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

Early Dawn

Early dawn outlines the hills
like stitches on clothing
    or sketches on clay.

Job 38:14 CEV

These are words from God to Job.

He asked Job why he talked so much.

He asked if Job was there when the foundations of the earth were placed and the oceans were given boundaries.

He asked if the sun obeyed Job's commands and then proceeded to give this beautiful description of a sunrise.

Here God is presented, not only as the Creator, but also as the Great Poet.  He knows what is involved in the making of clothing and ceramics and I like the fact that He used these examples for us who also try to "create."

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

Fading

The grass withers,

 the flower fades,

 but the word of our God

 will stand forever.

Isaiah 40:8

There are just some things I don't like about changing seasons and this is one of them.  My daisies are almost gone but...

 God keeps His word.  

Thank you, Lord, for your promises.  The next season will offer more beauty in different ways.

Photo Credit: LongitudeLatitude on Flickr

Timely Words

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
    and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 15:23 NIV

Saying the appropriate thing at the right time...a gift.

I'm still learning the art.  In the meantime, I'm also learning to keep my mouth shut...

at the appropriate time.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

Making Rocks Live

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV

I love smooth stones.  My grandchildren and I have been picking up rocks since my first ones were four, fifteen years ago.  I have a jar of pink tiny stones picked up by 4-year-old Jarett on walks we took that long ago.  These were picked up by Hannah, Seth and Micah on walks taken recently.  They are just rocks until

they become something special and take on life.

Like us...

We are nothing, born to sin, until we take on the life of Christ.  We believe He is who He said He was...the Son of God.  He gives us life eternal.  Once we were lifeless.  Now, we have life in Him.

Photo from personal files.

Going, Going...

 So whenever we are in need,

 we should come bravely

 before the throne of our merciful God.

There we will be treated with undeserved kindness,

 and we will find help.

Hebrew 4:16 CEV

Yes, I'm beginning to sweat just looking at this photo.

There have been so many times when I've felt like this was the end.  I've done all I can.  Just take me to heaven.

   But...

God had other plans.  At that point, when I've turned it over to Him, He saves me...literally, saves me.  Things fall into place instead of my falling off the cliff.

 "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.  

Oh, my soul, praise Him for He is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear, 

Now to His temple draw near;

Praise Him in glad adoration."

(Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, German Hymn, Joachim Neander; tr. Catherine Winkworth)

Photo Credit: epSos .de on Flickr

Lights in the World

 God is working in you

 to make you willing and able

 to obey him.

Philippians 2:13 CEV

My light grows dim...most of the time.  I miss opportunities for service because I'm...well,...selfish.  I need to be more aware that God is working in me.  I just need to answer His text and do what He says.

Photo from personal files

Anything and Everything

 Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

It's an open road between us and God if we know the password...

Jesus

Notice...we offer our prayers with thankful hearts before we even pray.  Now, that's the clincher.  I love the peace He gives after a fitful struggle with myself and my "I can do it" attitude.  It gives me hope and strength for the task.  Thank you, Lord, for your unchangeable ways.

Photo Credit: Maureen on Flickr

Copyright license for this photo.

You Alone

Lord All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true.

2 Samuel 7:22 CEV

You alone are God.  I bow in humble praise.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

Change

Don’t be like the people of this world,

 but let God change the way you think. 

Then you will know how to do everything

 that is good and pleasing to him.

Romans 12:2 CEV

I love the changing colors of Autumn...from green to gold, red and orange but there are some changes that are more difficult to accept.

"Don't be like he people of this world," (those who make their own plans, do their own thing and create their own morality)

"but let God change the way you think."  (listening to Him and doing what He tells us to do, i.e. obey).

"Then you will know how to do everything" (don't stop here)

"that is good and pleasing to him." (Not everything we decide for ourselves is His decision for us.  Listening and learning from Him and His Word is the best policy.)

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

As a Pretty Necklace

 My child, 

obey the teachings of your parents,

 and wear their teachings

 as you would a lovely hat

 or a pretty necklace.

Proverbs 1:8-9 CEV

I think it's interesting that the Bible includes mentions of everyday, mundane things like hats and necklaces.  Who knew that they even had hats back then...what kind?  

I'm glad that the Bible speaks in things I understand (as well as in mysteries that I don't understand.)  I can relate.

(I sold this necklace in my last sale two weekends ago.  Last week's craft show got rained out and I have another this week (the last planned one this year.)  I enjoy making jewelry and am grateful to be able to sell a few pieces.)

Photo from personal files.

Who Is Your Master?

The Lord your God will be watching to find out whether or not you love him with all your heart and soul. You must be completely faithful to the Lord. Worship and obey only the Lord and do this with fear and trembling, because he rescued you from slavery....

Deuteronomy 13:3-5 CEV

  Why do we allow ourselves to be enslaved by people or things?  God just wants us to love Him with our whole lives, not just a designated piece.

(There are paragraphs I could write about this chapter.  It troubles me and I find it difficult to understand.  Read it and see what you think.)

Photo Credit: Marc Falardeau

Seeing the Light

“I sinned and did wrong,
 but God forgave me

and rescued me from death!
  Now I will see the light.”

God gives each of us
 chance after chance

to be saved from death
and brought into the light
  that gives life.

Job 33: 27-30 CEV

...and this was written in the Old Testament before the coming of Christ.  Way back then Christ was being foretold...even by the friend of Job.

In John 8:12 Jesus confirmed such statements of old by saying, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” (From the Contemporary English Version)

All our momentary trials can be washed in light if we acknowledge that we are not the "Fixer." Christ is.

  

We need to ask:

Are these sufferings because I've sinned?

Are these just part of being on Earth?

Are these because someone else sinned and I am suffering the residual effects?

Are these to allow God's Glory to be displayed?

Whatever you decide, Christ is the answer.

Turn toward the Light of the World.

Bask in His Glory.  Allow Him to right the wrongs and soothe your soul.

Photo Credit: Rachel Kramer

Thirsty?

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1 ESV

Do you feel empty, like something is missing, like there's a hole in your heart?  You long for an unknown something to satisfy a craving but don't even know what you crave?

Think about God...how He's cared for you and loved you regardless of your lack of acknowledgment.  He's the one for whom you long.  Start counting all the wonderful things He's given you even when you didn't deserve them.  Then step back and drink in His peace and love.  He is still the giver if you want Him to give.  And, oh, by the way, be thankful He hasn't given you what you deserve.

(All these "you" words point back at me, too.)

Photo Credit: David Shankbone

Trust or Fall

Trust in the Lord forever,

 for the Lord God

 is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:4 ESV

It's so easy for me to take off on my own, even if the way is questionable.  "Oh, I'll be OK.  I can do it."

My insides start to churn; I begin to sweat; I begin to doubt.  Then I remember..."Trust in the Lord."

I'm so stubborn and a very slow learner but when I do trust, I find peace and the job gets done with God's leadership not mine.

Photo Credit: Tavis Ford

Stop Hiding

Don’t fall into the trap of being a coward—

 trust the Lord, and you will be safe.

Proverbs 29:25 CEV

I'm a little cowardly posting this verse because I realize that bad things happen to good people but I liked the wording in this translation.  I also know that things happen for a purpose...to glorify God.  The safety mentioned here is the hope of eternal security...something we tend to forget in dire circumstances.  However, there have been many times I know God has protected me with His kind mercy.  I've felt it.  I've been convinced that God was the one who saved me from something bad.

I've also prayed for courage and received genuine peace in trying situations.  

It's all in the trust.

Photo Credit: Dar'ya Sip