What are your “current priorities?”  Yes, I realize it’s the Christmas Season, but I still challenge you and me with the question of our “current priorities.  It’s a heart-felt question, isn’t it!  For what we hold “dear” to us really occupies the priorities of our heart.

I don’t know about you, but I find it a challenge sometimes when I go for a walk and see all the Christmas decorations scattered around the neighborhood on lamp posts or garage doors or have a stroll in the Hobby Lobby store.  It seems to me that the clients of those department stores seem to have a lot of decorations on their mental agenda.   The lights of the season are beautiful, for sure. 

But my heart has been drawn to another “Light…. the Light of the World…. THE SAVIOR.”   You know, as followers of this wonderful Savior, we have the privilege and honor to “celebrate every day of the year…because of His residence within our hearts.”   Yes, we “carry the Holy Spirit of the Living God” wherever we go!  

We carry Him in our words, our attitudes, our smiles, our patience (in a shopping line).  Think about that for a moment!   So, wherever we are, we can express Him to those around us.

We all have a HISTORY of past Christmas events, good and not-so-good, happy times and saddened times when we’ve experienced a great loss in our lives.  Nonetheless, if we belong to the Savior, He has come to “inhabit” and “made His home in our hearts.”

But He hasn’t come to just “live within us,” but to burst forth on the scenes of our everyday lives to make an impact on others.   He yearns to ooze out of the pores of our individual lives to touch those around us.  Our every step of life is orchestrated or allowed by Him for grander purposes…. His purposes and His plans.

For you see, He is the “Orchestrating Author” whose main purpose in life is to make us more like His Son, Jesus.   So that everywhere we are, people can see that His presence within us makes a difference. 

He designs our circumstances so that we “reflect Him.”  In a very real and wonderful sense, God, “your Creator” longs to “AUTHOR YOUR LIFE.”   Each moment of every day is like a page, unwritten, but ……. each day and the moments therein, is like a page in a book waiting to be scripted on your life.  I love the Scripture in Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 5 and 6.

Your name _______________” Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; but in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”

Read that verse aloud and very slowly.  The Creator God is asking each of us to “recognize and grant His intervening presence” in all our daily events.  He’s asking us to allow Him the privilege to orchestrate and establish the journey of our moments.

For you see, He is wanting to write upon your life HIS STORY!   HIS PLANS!  HIS PURPOSES!   For that’s why you were designed.  As He authors your moments of each day, your life becomes the “HIS-TORY” of His love and care for you.  So that when others look at your life……. THEY SEE THE SAVIOR!!!

Just yesterday I heard a song come across the radio that I have never heard.  I tuned in to hear Christmas music.  The song is called “Make Room.”  My heart seemed to pause a beat when I heard the lyrics and especially the chorus, which was, IS THERE ROOM IN YOUR HEART FOR GOD TO WRITE HIS STORY?

The phrase in that song brought my thoughts back to Bethlehem, where God became human, (that’s Jesus) to show us Who God is and what He is like.   But……………there was no “room in the local inn” to allow Him a pleasant entrance to our world.

So, with that in mind, let’s not make that mistake within each of our lives.   Let’s make sure we ……

“make room in our heart for His residence and His authorship of our lives.” 

May this Christmas Season be especially meaningful to you!  

How many times in a day do you and I “look up?”  That may be an odd question at first.  If a poll was taken, I’d guess that not everyone here on earth looks up at the sky every day.   Our eyes are drawn to down-to-earth living.   We often speak of being on vacation and catching a sunrise or sunset, but some only notice those daily joys when they’re on holiday – not every day.

My husband and I enjoy the sunrise most mornings as we sip our coffee together and interact over our plans for the day.   Then we separate to head off to a quiet corner of our home to spend time reading our Bibles and then speaking and listening to our Heavenly Father.    It’s there we commit our agenda of plans and activities for God’s intervention and/or redirection.

Prov 20:24  “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.  How then can anyone understand their own way?”

All through God’s Word, we’re told that God is sovereign, almighty, all-knowing, and present everywhere.  He knows everything about “each of us” and is surprised by nothing.  And yes, He longs to be involved in the “details” of everyone’s life…. upon our invitation.   I’d guess to say that most people either don’t believe that, or don’t want that involvement.  We can be like two-year-old and say, “I do it myself.”   How foolish we can be.    How thrilling to have the Creator of our world and each life on earth want to be intimately involved in the events of our daily, oatmeal-like life.

Just the other day I began the journey of reading through the Bible, from beginning to end.  I’ve done that many, many times.  But rather than read three or four chapters, just to get through the Bible in a year, I’ve been choosing to read to absorb, learn and enjoy the events portrayed.   It’s like I want to climb onto the pages and “live out in my thoughts” what’s portrayed on paper of those real-life events.

I love it that God paints people and circumstances just as they are, not as we wish they’d be.   The Bible is a real-life journey into a wide variety of personalities, challenges, agreeable and disagreeable people, sinful behavior and their consequences.  His paintbrush of truths was carried by His Holy Spirit onto a wide variety of men who wrote what they heard and saw.  It’s the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

My eyes were stepping into the second book in the Bible, Exodus.  God had seen the awful oppression of His people, the Israelites, by the Egyptians.  He had given Moses the “Divine assignment” of his life at age 80.  So, if you’re feeling your age, be encouraged that God desires to use each of His children at any age, 8, 80 or l08.   If you’re breathing and still here, He has things for you to do.

My heart stood still when I read the commentary by Dr. David Jeremiah on Exodus, chapter 2.  It’s too good to pass up, so I’m sharing it with you.

“As the Israelite journey into that vast wilderness began, the Lord reassured His people with the CLOUD OF HIS PRESENCE, showing them WHERE and WHEN to CAMP.  But that meant that they had to WATCH THE CLOUD EVERY DAY.  When it STAYED, they stayed.  When it MOVED, they LOADED UP and FOLLOWED. 

Knowing that God goes ahead of us removes so much of the fear from the dramatic changes in life.   In such seasons, however, it is easy for us to become preoccupied with our situation and take our eyes off THE CLOUD.

Our all-knowing, Omniscient Leader has promised to guide our steps and give us the wisdom we need (Prov 16:9; James 1: 5-7), but we must first set aside our anxiety, quiet our hearts, and set our minds on seeking HIS WILL and HIS TIMING (Phil 4:6-7).  That way, when the CLOUD MOVES, we will be READY.”

Honesty prevailing, I went outside later and looked up….and I saw no clouds, but it made me “think.”   The desert wilderness is vaguely bland, with no billboards or caution signs and the weather is “warm.”

As the 2+ million people traveled along, following God’s presence (the CLOUD), it wasn’t difficult to get too distracted, I would think.  The Israelites were glad to get out of the country where they were so mistreated.

The leaders and people would be keen to follow this CLOUD.  They had their directions from God through Moses….and their focus would be “upward.”

I don’t know where you are in your journey with Jesus Christ, or perhaps you’re not even sure you want to journey with Him. 

Jesus said: “I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

As long as the people followed “the Cloud,” they would have clear direction because God was “with them” in the presence of the Cloud.   Amazingly, our God wanted His own to realize that He wanted to walk “with them to the Promised Land.”  Why?  I think God wanted to show the people that He cared and would give them direction each and every day, as they kept their “focus” on the Cloud. 

Haven’t you ever wished for “road signs” here on earth?  You know, so His will would be clear and precise.   We’d read the sign and say, “Got it.”  And hopefully we’d be off and running “in His revealed will” on the sign we just read.  But how would our “faith grow.”  Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7

Today we have His Word, His presence within us through His indwelling Holy Spirit (if we’ve given our life over to Him) and guided circumstances to accompany our life.  Their walk in the desert was “moment-by-moment” and “day-by-day” just like ours.  Not everyone is in the desert.  We are, because we currently live in Arizona; but all of our individual life paths are before our God, just like the Israelites.

When Jesus said He is the “Way,” He’s saying stay close to Him in a moment-by-moment, day-by-day walk, interacting with Him throughout the day, as you would a friend or guide on a hike in unknown territory.  Every moment in the future is unknown to us, but known to Him. 

 I wonder if we just had a sign to read and move on…. we may be tempted not to draw close to Him.  It’s “intimacy in our walk” that builds our character and faith.

Well, I have no idea where you are at this time; but my husband and I are preparing for a BIG TRANSITION.  We’ve done our part, as God has led us, but our eyes are fixed on Him (The Cloud).

FROM GEORGE MULLER…HIS GLEANINGS ON PRAYER

Get your heart in a state that “it has no will of its own in a matter.”

Don’t leave yourself to feelings or impressions…so you won’t be filled with delusion.

Seek the “will of the Spirit of God…in connection with the Word of God”

          God will never lead you contrary to His Word.

Take into account “providential circumstances.”

These clearly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word & Spirit.

Then ask Him to “reveal His will to you.” 

          _{We can’t know His will unless He reveals it to us.  My words…}

After study of His Word & meditation/reflection on what He gives me.

If my mind is at peace, as best I know from what I’ve read & meditated from His Word to the best of my ability, I lay my petitions before God two or three times.   If my mind is still at peace, I proceed accordingly to the best of my knowledge & ability

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

1. Read your Bible & medicate upon it
2. Seek to maintain an upright heart & good conscience
3. If you desire to have your faith strengthened, you should not shrink from opportunities where your faith may be tried

Trials, obstacles, difficulties & sometimes defeats are the very “food of faith”

REMEMBER:   the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith…and…. the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

• Let God work for you.  When the hour of trial comes, do not work a deliverance of your own.  The greater the difficulty to overcome, the more to be seen to the glory of God.  And much can be done by PRAYER & FAITH.

George Muller’s life was lived in a way to prove that God is real!”

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I listened on YouTube about the story of this wonderful man of God who came before the Lord with His cares and needs.  He never shared his needs with others…. He just brought them before his Lord Jesus.  Through his prayers, God responded and he was instrumental on building many orphanages for poor children on the street.  What I’ve written is just a brief “introduction” to his gleanings on prayer and his walk with the Lord.

It isn’t the amount of faith we have, but in the “object of our faith….the goodness and character of God.”

I wrote down all I could from his testimony and gleanings on what he learned about prayer and waiting upon God in his journey of faith and obedience.  It was so helpful that I typed them for myself so I could reflect and learn from his life.   I’m sharing them on my blog for your own reflection.

I long that my life is lived in such a way that proves God is real!

Isn’t that what we all should long for…that God should LOOK GOOD in our lives.  Let’s live to “make God look good!”

In moving ahead in our life we need to look to Jesus….who knows all the routes offered to us, as well as the pitfalls as well. He always knows the best route. When we remember the Israelites running from their pursuing Egyptian enemies, God led them the “long way around” to the Red Sea. They didn’t think God made the right choice…after all, it was the long way around.

However, when they reached the end of the road (literally), they realized it was the best and safest route. Why? Because they would “see God” in their dilemma, working on their behalf.

Isaiah 64:4. For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who wait for him.”

And what a sight to behold of two walls of water standing erect on each side of them as they crossed through the dry land to safety on the other shore. Then, after their passage, they witnessed God handling their enemies, right before their eyes.

In our moving ahead, moment-by-moment and day-by-day, we need to “look forward.” However, there are times and seasons when it’s helpful to “look back” in the rear-view mirror of our situations, and see the “hand of the Lord” working on our behalf and for our best.

Below is something that ministered to my heart at a crucial time of my life (like about a year ago) and this morning I needed to have a “heart review” again. So I’ve copied this for you, in what you might be facing this week or this month. It’s a beautiful pause at life from Dr. Charles Swindoll (from Insight for Living Ministries). I trust it’ll cuddle and give courage to your heart.

Quote:

“15 THINGS I’VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS…………Chuck Swindoll”15 THINGS I’VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS…………Chuck Swindoll

Age 70….there’s something wonderful about aging (growing, learning, disappointment, pleasures, etc)

Long learning curve….and the lessons don’t stop whether you’re 40 – 50 – 60 – and onward

I’m not intimidated or afraid of anyone.

Practical things I’ve learned over a good many years in ministry…..or qualities you’ve seen me model.

1. I’ve learned that I should tell people what I feel about them NOW
2. There are things I’m not even aware of in my life are being noticed and remembered

Something they heard me say, or do I wasn’t even aware of

• Being REAL is always better than trying to look or sound pious…..There’s nothing that touches people deeper like authenticity……just be what you are
• Huge difference between letting things FLOW and FORCING IT.   When the Lord is in it…there’s a flow, that’s beautiful; and when I’m driving it, there’s force and usually it is followed by a big regret.
• It’s unwise to talk someone into or out of a BIG DECISION.  That’s God’s job!
• Some people aren’t going to change no matter what….they’re just ornery to the bone.   They’re going to be that way when you come minister to them and they’ll be that way when you leave.   It’s not your fault and not your responsibility. 
• SAYING LESS is always better than saying TOO MUCH.  
• PERCEPTION OVERSHADOWS REALITY.    What people perceive is usually more powerful than what really is…and they’re often wrong.  Happens in fake news all the time.
• GRACE IS WORTH THE RISK….especially with family.  Don’t be too hard on your kids, your family

Too busy, too harsh, too demanding, and too rigid

1. Stop saying ALWAYS and NEVER when it comes to the future.  You may have to eat your words
2. TIME SPENT WITH MY FAMILY is always an EXCELLENT INVESTMENT…never wasted time
3. Days of MAINTENANCE are far more than days of MAGNIFICENCE

Difficult situations, responsibilities…maintaining day in and day out….a relationship with my mate

1. FORGIVENESS IS ESSENTIAL.   If you’re dragging a grudge…get rid of it and any resentment or hatred
2. GIVE CREDIT where CREDIT IS DUE.  Stop trying to get the credit.  You don’t worry that your name appears somewhere.  Be glad God gets the glory.  You’re not worried that your name doesn’t appear somewhere
3. You can’t beat HAVING FUN

Don’t save anything for a SPECIAL MOMENT

READING MORE and dusting less”

What do you think of when you hear the word “walking?”  I think about the incline in the road my husband and I walk on in the evening that brings on a huffing and puffing sound from my anatomy.  Now I know that’s negative, but it’s a reality with proceeding up that incline.   Yes, I need that incline to push my heart into better breathing rhythms.    And after I’ve completed that part of our walk, I’m not breathing any better, but there seems to be more oxygen in my steps down the hill.  I can even contribute to our conversation.   

Then my husband, who has much longer legs than I, seems to think that we can advance from a slow saunter with our feet, to a faster stride.   Our agreement each evening is walking…. not running or jogging, but a pleasant, even-paced movement of our feet.

It’s akin to travelling in the car with my hubby to a designated holiday spot.  Does your husband resemble mine on a motorized vehicle?   He has one goal:  get there in the quickest possible way, avoiding all refreshment stops and “pauses that do refresh.”   I often hear the phrase, “can you hold it another 20 minutes.”   I needn’t go into details.   I sometimes chuckle inside because if he’d ask for more directions, we would arrive earlier, don’t you think.   Is that a man thing in this country?

I’ve been thinking about this phrase “walking with God” and wondered what might be God’s perspective on a walk with Him.   And what would that look like in the shoe-leather of your life and mine?

Sometimes I don’t feel like the brightest button in town, so I thought it wise to check what the word “walking” actually means.   We could spend hours or more just on the word itself, but here’s what it means in its basic intention.

In the Hebrew it’s Halakha:  It means to walk in a particular way along life’s journey.  Generally speaking it implies going “along with, or moving.”   More specifically it’s a term for walking regularly in relationship or companionship with another; and, in that walk, go along with the other person’s set of ideas.

The Bible is full of stories of people encountering God’s movement in their lives.  Yes, He is “on the move” in your life and in mine.  But He wants each of us to travel with Him.   Isn’t that a precious truth?   He never wants us to travel alone…. or, even at a different speed than Him.   Don’t move ahead of Him, or lag behind, just walk with God.

In my study of this walking adventure, God brought my thoughts to Genesis.  Why not begin at the beginning where its first record of walking with God was communicated.

So we’re not alone on this road, I wanted to peek in on just two people:  Adam and Enoch.   There’s a common thread with these two individuals and each of us.  Each of them was “designed by God.”   Each was a masterpiece.  Their personalities, interests, appearance and walk of life were uniquely different, but each was framed by a loving Creator.  Both were designed to walk with God. 

Let’s peek in at the “first human companion” that God designed.

After God created the heavens and the earth, then He designed light (day light and night light), water, sky and land with grass, shrubs and fruit trees.   Then He made living creatures like cattle, creeping things and beasts of the earth which included everything we see in a zoo and more.  I love that He created koalas.

Here’s a good moment to indulge you in my “koala education program.”    Before moving to Australia I came to visit my sister-in-law over a year ago and we journeyed to the Corrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

 The moment my eyes fell on the Koala area, I just burst into tears.  As we approached the area I stood in the “I want a photograph of this experience” line.    I blew my cover and showed my ignorance by enthusiastically announcing how much I loved the Koala bears.

I was met with a firm insistence of the young lad that they were classified as marsupials, not bears.   I thanked him and moved to the end of the line.   I wasn’t going to allow his educated comments to ruin my eagerness for the marsupial hug.

At first, I felt self-conscious about my tears, but when I thought about it, my tears expressed my joy in what God had created.  And that’s a good thing!   So, if you ever see me at a zoo and I’m bubbling forth, just know I’m personally appreciating God’s critters. 

Back to Genesis.  Verse 6:  the first sprinkler system, “a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.”

Verse 7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” 

Had you ever thought that God created Adam as an adult?  He was created to walk as an adult…. with God.   He never had to crawl or learn to walk.   That thought never entered my mind until I did this study.

Verse 8 “The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.   Adam came alive and God placed him in a “perfect environment.”

Verse 15 describes the first job description.  “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”   Adam was given a master gardener assignment. 

God also brought all the animals to Adam to give him the pleasure of naming each kind of animal, whether it flew, crawled or walked.

Then verse 21.  “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.   If there are any anesthesiologists reading this, can’t you appreciate God’s touch on Adam.  He did what you do for a living.

Vs 22 “Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.” 

Vs 23 “And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woooooo mannnnn, because she was taken out of man.”

Verse 16 “And the Lord God commanded the man, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (in other words, have at it to everything before your eyes…my thoughts) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The perfect garden setting came with good & clear instructions.  Don’t you just love how clear, plain and precise God’s instructions were to this young couple.

And we all know what happened after that.   Adam and Eve ate from the one and only tree God told them not to eat.

Does this remind you and me of anyone?   Kind of like us, eh!   Just say don’t do that….and voila, we perk up to find out what we might be missing.   They went against God’s careful instructions.

God loved them so much that He never wanted either of them to see or experience what evil was.   God knew if they ate from that tree they would eventually die physically, and immediately die spiritually.

Meaning, the closeness they experienced with walking with God before they indulged in the “bite” …… would end.  Their eyes which had only experienced good, now they saw the evil of their hearts and lives and began to experience things they were never designed to see or feel. 

 God knew about sin and its consequences before this couple ever experienced the backlash of that tasty morsel.

Genesis 3, verse 7, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.”   They never needed covering before.

Their experience before they disobeyed God (which is the big SIN word) was glorious.  They had a perfect mind, body and spirit and lived in a PERFECT WORLD.  Whatever that fruit was, it killed them.   More importantly, it killed their “closeness with God.   Oh they were alive, but now not attuned to God in a loving relationship like they had once experienced.

Verse 8 spills the beans on the events that were about to take place. 

“And they heard the sound of the LORD GOD WALKING in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the PRESENCE of the LORD GOD among the trees of the garden.

This is the first mention of GOD’S PRESENCE WALKING in the garden.   God’s presence was made real and personal to Adam and Eve.   They enjoyed their “walks in the garden” before their devastating cuisine experience.

But when they sinned and ate from the tree they were instructed not to, everything in their physical and spiritual lives changed.

Verse 9 “then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “where are you?”    People may think that an unusual question God was tossing out there in this garden scenario.   

God wasn’t puzzled trying to locate the first couple, He was asking the question to help them see where they were……where they were in their “walking predicament.”

In reality their walk became disabled.  They could still proceed on their feet and walk physically, but there began a “strain” in their once close union with their Maker.

Adam responded in verse l10.  “So he (Adam) said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

His and her sin brought fears and apprehension about their Creator/Father.  They wanted to hide from God.  Are you kidding?  Where did they think they could hide from God?  They wanted to hide themselves, and all that they were, from the One who loved them.  

Let’s not be too harsh on them, don’t we many times want to hide from God.   Like the little girl hiding in plain sight of her Daddy with her hands over her eyes…. thinking if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.

After God finishes with explaining the consequences of their sin, He then does a beautiful thing in verse 21.   “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of “skin,” and clothed them.  

Here’s the first Fashion Designer, God Himself covering their exposed bodies….and it wasn’t a flimsy covering like the couple designed themselves.  It was with the skin of some animal. 

See there, before we skip to another word, the death of someone had to take place to cover them in the garden.  We’ll see that later in history with Jesus.  

Are you wondering now…. when…… are we getting to the point of “walking with God.” 

You see Adam and Eve were the first couple to walk WITH HIM.  They were in a right relationship with Him…nothing blocking their friendship and intimacy in conversation.  All was out and in the open with nothing to hide.

Genesis 3:22 brings us to a conversation within the Trinity…. “Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like ONE OF US, (trinity conversing) to know good and evil.  And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever,”

If that couple remained, no doubt they would have gone to the Tree of Life and lived forever in that sinful state.”  

Vs 23 “Therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.   So He drove out the man (and woman) and placed a cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden.”

In a phrase…..they blew it.  Now they had to work for their food and deal with life in a new way.    Life would not be lived as usual.   Something they did willingly caused a separation of a wonderful walking relationship. 

He still loved them…. but there was a strain…a separation in intimacy.  They were still His creation …. but there was a problem, they weren’t in close relation.

God took care of problem in His way and time by coming to the earth Himself many years later….in the Person of Jesus Christ.   Jesus is GOD…. WITH SKIN ON.  

He died to take away the sins of the entire world and all the anger and judgement of God against sin and what it did to keep us from WALKING WITH GOD.   His death offered the entire human race complete forgiveness and an opportunity to WALK WITH GOD.

Personal application here……. He COVERED YOUR SINS and MY SINS…. all of them…. forever so we could “walk with Him.”

NOW…..LET’S GET WALKING ………………………………………………………….

Webster’s dictionary states that walking means:  moving!   Being in step, at a pace, a stroll, meandering or accompanying.

HEBREW:  Halak:  to walk in a particular way along life’s journey, in fellowship/relationship with God.   

Specifically it’s going along with and walking “regularly” in companionship with another and their set of ideas.

If your nylons aren’t off yet…. they will be before we finish our time on this walk.

The Bible is full of people walking with God…. but our travelling companion for a few moments will be Enoch.   If you have your Bible, his journey won’t be difficult to find.  It’s in Genesis 5…beginning with verse 18.

Spot checking Enoch’s life will be a “truckload of encouragement” to you and me.    

Let’s read God’s journal on Enoch; and let’s do so very slowly because we often miss so much of God’s truth when we read at a rapid pace.

The Bible wasn’t written so we could get through it quickly…. but God wants the Bible to “get through us!”

Gen 5:18 Jared (Enoch’s daddy) lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. 

: 21 Enoch lived 65 years, and begot Methuselah.

: 22 after he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years, and had sons and daughters.

: 23 so all the days of Enoch were 365 years.

: 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

We sometimes think that the people mentioned in the Bible were super-spiritual and beyond human.  But they weren’t.  They are described as “humans.”  May I add some letters to that description? 

They were HUMAN…. BEINGS.   They were “being” “human.”   That’s not always a pretty picture, but God writes and communicates with accuracy. 

God inspired the writers to write the whole truth and nothing but the truth, with their warts and hang-ups and all.  

Aren’t you glad you weren’t living then so He could possibly write about your life and mine?

Here is God’s summary of Enoch’s life….in writing.  Circle if you wish, some tiny words that summarized his life.

LIVED

    BEGOT (he had a family)

          WALKED WITH GOD

                      LIVED 365 YEARS

                                WALKED WITH GOD

Can you notice with me all that was written about Enoch’s life?  There was no mention of accomplishments, goals realized, dreams, sermons, books written, speeches given, no mention of his education, trophies won, gold medals accepted.  

He was born, lived, had some children (family life), walked with God a very long time and then God was so pleased with Enoch that He just took him home.   He never died really; he just left the earth.

While we’re in the Old Testament, I want to share some verses that God introduced me to one year prior to the biggest move of my married life…. moving across the Pacific Pond to Australia.

Some years ago I began adjusting my reading material and realized I needed to see an ophthalmologist.  While I was in the waiting room, I saw this picture on the wall that said it all. 

It was a picture of a little boy trying on his new glasses.  It said:

          Dear God:   I can see you much better with my new glasses!

Seeing life out of the lens of God’s Word will give us all a proper perspective.   Here’s some verses for you and me to take seriously, and memorize in the next few months, and allow them to be a “compass of encouragement” for you….as they continue to be for me. 

Here is some walking with God verses.

Proverbs 4:24 “Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established.”

Watch your feet, where you take them and where God takes them.   Allow or let your ways or paths be established.   No manipulation or orchestration by you.   We humans can do that so well. 

A new discipline would be to allow and look for God’s orchestrating your steps, responsibilities, goals, relationships, interests, opportunities.   

Your “plans-in-concrete” may look good to you; but we need to allow Him room to interrupt our plans and goals to re-establish where He would want you to be, to do and live. 

A friend I knew shared how she had heard about a party and wasn’t invited.   She manipulated an invitation.   Afterward she realized it wasn’t a place she needed to be and regretted that she “had herself invited.”   If you and I aren’t welcomed at an event, let’s not get our diapers in a knot and rejoice that God will see to it we ARE where HE would have us.

Proverbs 5:21 “For the ways of man (you and me) are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his (our) paths.”

Belonging to God is wonderful because He’s committed to watching, lovingly, to all our plans, steps and where we go.   His eyes of love, correction, care, encouragement and redirection are always before Him.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

You and I can make all the plans we like, and that’s not bad; but we should hold them lightly with margins and space for God to re-direct and move us in directions we never thought possible.  Plans for our “good and growth and His glory.”

And finally, to help reduce the stress that sometimes comes from the tug of war between our plans, and what we want and God’s plans are the words in Proverbs 20:24

Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way.”

If we belong to and are committed to Him—— going His way…. every day, in every way, even when we fall, fail and sometimes not on board with Him, He is committed to helping us walk with Him.

He assures us not to be in stress mode trying to understand all the details of our walk.   Trying to understand the details will just bring you and I stress and take our eyes off the Lord.

Remember the story in the Bible about Joseph and his being in prison, and he wasn’t in there for any wrong doing on his part.

QUOTE FROM:  The Upward Call (by David Jeremiah):

“But the butler forgot him, and Joseph’s hopes again faded.  Still, he waited on the Lord.  He had no choice; but no other choice could have been better for him.   Though forgotten by the butler, Joseph was not forgotten by the Lord. 

The folly of not waiting for God & walking with Him and His timing is that we forfeit the blessing of having God work for us.”  

Isaiah 64:4: “For since the world began, no eye has seen or ear heard of a God like You Who works on behalf of those who wait for Him.”

Here’s a promise for our heart’s journey:

Walking with God is moving at His pace, with His companionship, and with His purposes(His set of ideas/plans/purposes) in mind.

WALKING WITH GOD IS…………………

Putting one foot in front of another, one step at a time, one moment at a time, one day at a time each & every day in our daily oatmeal routine, allowing and working at God’s pace, His establishing your moment-by-moment steps……as your companion.

Walking where He leads, at His direction and orchestration, going hand-in-hand with Him, not pushing ahead of His timing, or purposes.

Walking with a disciplined habit, routine or activity that helps you practice His living presence with you.  Listening to His Word, Christian lyrics in music, being with encouraging Godly friends who enjoy talking about the Lord.

Reading the Bible is the compass that journeys us with Him and through its pages of truth and encouragement.

And when Jesus was here on earth, the disciples were walking around with Him.   John 1:38

“Andrew’s mind was filled with questions he longed to ask.”   Instead of entering into a theological dialogue with Andrew, however Jesus turned and began ‘to walk’.    Andrew’s questions would not be answered by discussion alone, but by walking with Him. 

Christianity is a Person to follow!  Andrew not only learned about God; he actually experienced Him as he walked with Him.”

He loves you and He loves me and sometimes He walks where we’d never choose, but His love and knowledge of you and me will take us the best route for His kingdom purposes and our growth in faith and ministry to others.    

The entire purpose of our life is to know and experience God in the everyday, oatmeal days and oatmeal realities of our lives; realizing God is alive and cares about every detail of our life. 

THAT IS OUR WALK WITH HIM.

The one incredible aspect I learned about this journey of studying how God walks is that our feet aren’t the main ingredient. 

We begin walking with our mind and heart…our will…. our choices.   He never pushes us to walk with Him, He just invites us to walk with Him and get moving in His direction. 

Perhaps you’ve never considered walking with your Creator or perhaps you’ve wandered off the path you once were on.  His arms are always open.

When a baby first begins to walk and stumbles and falls over and over again and again, a good and loving parent’s arms are always open and their words filled with encouragement.   Yes, you can do it.  Come to Daddy or Mommy.  

Maybe for the first time, you’ve realized that God’s voice to you is always ….

“Come unto Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.    Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”   

Our soul is the real you and the real me…. resting in the care of our Creator-Savior.  Matthew 11:28, 29

Can you hear Him say, to your heart?

” COME TO ME……COME TO DADDY”

Some time has passed and I’ve been away from my computer…and for good reason.   After having a rendezvous with the optometrist a few months ago, she informed me that the cataracts on my eyes were growing; and it was now time for me to consider “clearing the horizon of my vision.”

All that transpired on my birthday.  I knew my vision seemed somewhat hampered, but must that be announced on my birthday?  My next determined step was to locate a specialist in cataract surgery.  My doctor game me a referral and within a month or so, I arrived at this specialist’s office.

After 45 minutes of testing and his consultation, it was determined that I should have this surgery.  He assured me that my vision would be clearer, sharper and an overall “surprising experience.”

Over the years I had heard from many a friend who had these procedures done.  Many said that you’re awake the entire time.  Well, this surgeon said that they would administer a medication that would make me sleepy, yet I would not be fully asleep.  The purpose of the medication was so I could hear, understand the surgeon’s requests, but yet I would remain perfectly still.  And the best part was that I wouldn’t remember a thing.  Hard to believe, but he proved correct in his instructions.

Skipping over the “details of the day,” my first focus (good word here) was coming out of the anesthesia.  I recall my husband driving me home and even eating a little dinner in the evening, but groggy was the theme of my evening.   I went to bed very early for a wonderful sleep.

The following morning, it was “eye drop routine” for me.  For those of you who have experienced this, you’ll understand.  Nowadays, they don’t use a black patch that completely covers your “operated eye.”  They place a plastic like cone over the operated eye, with a strip of tape.  So you can see just a little around the corner of the tape.  

As we removed the cover, I looked around carefully and thought that I’d like to cover that eye and see how my other eye’s vision was.  To my utter amazement, the eye I thought was good was VERY BLURRED.  I was stunned.  Yes, I wore glasses to help, but without the glasses and the use of my other eye, I couldn’t believe how fractured my vision was.

After all these five years of knowing “about the beginning stages of the cataracts” growing, I began adjusting to the blurred vision. 

Without further ado, I covered the blurred-vision eye and looked out at the “new miracle eye.”  Surprised and shocked aren’t even accurate words here.  I yelled out, “I CAN SEE!  I CAN SEE!”   I could see things I hadn’t been able to see in years.   Every appliance and door knob were clear, even my husband’s eyes came into “perfect focus.”   I routinely placed my hand over the good eye to see the comparison.  Then I’d switch to cover the bad eye, so I could see “accurately.”

For the remaining week, I keep giving thanks to God for my eye sight and the surgery that enabled that.  Often, I’d find myself chatting out loud, “I can see!”  No one heard me, but God.

It was during the week in one my quiet times with the Lord and reading His Word that I was struck with the thought that I “thought” I was seeing clearly for years, but I wasn’t.  It wasn’t until I experienced the “cataract surgery” that removed the “blurred vision” was I able to see clearly and accurately all the color and details around me.

You may sense where all this is leading.  It took a “qualified and accurate” surgeon to locate and detect in microscopic detail where my blindness was located.  And unless I underwent the surgeon’s delicate procedure, I would have continued to lose the visual perspective of my life and surroundings.

That’s when “the penny dropped” within my mind.  I began to realize that’s what happens when we read the Scriptures.  Unless God, through His Holy Spirit within us, opens and clears away the “fogginess” (if I can use that word) that surrounds our vision, we won’t see clearly what God is trying to say to us.

He is always at work, but we need to cooperate with His work.  I think that’s called sensitivity to God throughout our day, and it’s worked out in the sneakers of our lives through active obedience.  It’s day-by-day yielding our will to His, and then walking it out in our lives.

Oh, how we need the working of His Spirit within us.  We receive the Holy Spirit the moment we invite Jesus Christ into our lives.  We can often hear people talk about getting more of the Holy Spirit.  Well, quite clearly the Scriptures teach us that He doesn’t come “in doses.”  We get all of Him at the time of our conversion into God’s family; but the critical target is that He longs to have “more of us.”

In fact, our lives are really composed of our “responses to God.”

As God works on our vision and shows us things in our lives that need “His touch,” and we yield to that “spiritual cataract” touch, we begin to see more and more of the areas of our lives that He is conforming.  Why?   So we look more and more like Jesus in our everyday life.  Why?  So that when others are around us, they’ll be exposed to a more accurate reflection of Jesus. 

Perhaps like me, we wouldn’t want our words, responses and behavior to blur another’s “sight of the Savior in us” and turn them away from “seeing their need of Him.”  No wonder God’s #1 goal is to “make us more like Jesus.”

When the eye surgeon examined me, he kept insisting that I look at him.  He used a variety of instruments to check my focus.   I wonder if the circumstances you and I might currently find ourselves, would be representative of “Divine instrumentation” to help us “focus our vision on our Savior more intently.”  Actually, all our experiences are custom-built to keep us close and attentive to Him daily.

I’d like to close with some words from a recent devotional from Dr. Charles Swindoll as he spoke about the imprisonment of Joseph.

“You see, the Lord God remained first in Joseph’s life; He was the focus of his life.  The LENS OF GOD’S WILL STOOD BETWEEN JOSEPH AND HIS CIRCUMSTANCES, enabling Joseph to SEE GOD IN THEM, to READ GOD IN THEM—and enabling God to use him in them.”

Years ago, when I first began struggling to see clearly the words on any page I was reading, I went to have my eyes tested.  In the waiting room I saw a cute sign where a little boy was wearing his brand-new glasses.  The sign read:  

“Dear God, I can see you much better with my new glasses.”

My regular prayer is: “Lord Jesus, help me to see you in my day-to-day with clearer vision and sharper focus.”

                                                                                      June 23, 2023

Good Morning

This may appear to you as an “unusual” post– and it is.  Each morning as I shower and dress for the day, I enjoy listening to the teaching on the URBAN ALTERNATIVE, with Dr.  Tony Evans.

Many of you may be very familiar with his program.  He is an “excellent teacher/encourager/challenger” to what the principles and teachings are from God, through His Word, the Bible.

Tony enjoys and is good at applying so many truths to our everyday lives…where “our rubber” hits the road of our individual lives.  God has given him a wonderful and sometimes humorus way of sharing truth.

This morning was the “BEST I’VE EVER HEARD” on what happens when we die.  In our lives down here, it’s like the “elephant in the room,” where no one wants to talk about or think about it.

What he shares in “today’s broadcast” (June 23, 2023) is absolutely exceptional and “thought-provoking.”  It’s only about 20 minutes in length, but regardless of where your thinking is about “when” we die (and we’re all going to participate), you’ll be gripped by its truth….and filled with peace & hope, if you embrace what God has to say about it. 

In our world we need “hope & peace” and an anticipation of better things to come…. if we embrace God’s wonderful provision for us.

GOOGLE on your cell phone, tablet or computer:  

Urban Alternative & then press “Listen to Today’s Sermon”

Scroll down to “Listen now” & press arrow.

It may not only encourage you, if you’ve been afraid, but the truths he shares will awaken your mind and heart….so you can “be ready” when your Creator calls you to stand before Him.

Even if you currently aren’t a believer in Jesus or have no interest, it’s still worthwhile for you to “check it out” (it’s only a 20-minute pause in your day) …. as it could literally “save your life.”

I’d enjoy any feedback, if you wish to write.  I couldn’t proceed in my day without posting it.

Warmly – Dianne

 

“A man’s steps are of the Lord:

  How then can a man understand his own way.  Proverbs 20:24

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.”  Proverbs 5:21

Are you ready for a read and a “cuppa tea” or “coffee?”  Today is the day I wanted to let you in on a surprise I had a few weeks ago.  Now, like you, there are some surprises I enjoy.   But this one took my breath away.

I’ll preface this with my husband’s thoughts about doctors and dentists.  He prefers a dentist over a doctor.  When I inquired as to why, he simply stated that: “A dentist must stay in your mouth, whereas a doctor can go anywhere.” I appreciate both careers and their helpful focus on a patient’s health.

My husband was going to the Mayo Clinic for a thorough exam on his body.  The results were a few biopsies, and then later was told about a basal cell carcinoma on his head which needed surgery.   All that has now been accomplished, with cancer cells removed, and a long two months or more of healing.

At the time of his appointment (which I called in), it passed through my mind that maybe I should just make an appointment with a thorough dermatologist locally.   My physician suggested a doctor, and I made an appointment. 

Honesty prevailing, I felt I had no need for this, but felt it might be a cautious idea worth pursuing.

A week later I was sitting in this examining room and my ears perked up when I heard the physician say, “I don’t like this spot.”   The next thing I knew, he proceeded my direction with his needle in hand.  Within a few moments, I felt nothing, but watched him carefully lean over my leg like he was dissecting a frog.

“All done now.  We’ll send to the lab and be in touch.”  Within just a few days, the office phoned and poured out a new word to add to my personal vocabulary.   Their message was brief, “You have a melanoma on your leg and the doctor wants to see you in a day or two to discuss a little surgery.”

I hung up the phone in shock.  It was just a little spot I thought, nothing to be concerned about.  Immediately I had a thorough conversation with Jesus about this.

This blog won’t be long, but I wanted to let you in on this surprise and WHAT GOD DID.

A week later he removed a portion of my leg and told me to stay off my feet for almost two weeks.  With my personality, I asked, “Does that mean no housework?”   His response was, “Absolutely not.”  So, I jumped into gear and requested that he write a prescription for “no housework” so I could present that to my husband.   We both laughed and then I was released for “rest.”

A few days later he reported that the lab result was good; all the cancer was removed, and then some.

After both our surgeries, my husband and I began to reminisce about our two adventures, and our good news.

A number of people wondered why we were moving to Arizona.  All we could tell them was that through God’s Word and His ways and job circumstances, we felt strongly this was His will.

Perhaps you’ve had similar circumstances where you just knew what God was moving you to do, and others questioned you about your “step of faith, or better yet, “step of obedience.”

As we thought about it, two dermatologists (one in Canada and the other in Australia) never caught my husband’s spot on his head through their examination with that delicate light they use.   And two of my doctors never noticed or commented about the spot on my leg.

It was after all this was over, that it dawned on us……………. GOD KNEW and even though this was a SURPRISE to us, it wasn’t to God.   If we hadn’t moved to Arizona and had the orchestration of our steps to these specialized physicians, we would never have known about the cancer.  I don’t think I even need to add more to this paragraph of information.

Many times, we have no idea of God’s plans and purposes, so we just go day-by-day.  And that’s what we should do and trust HIS PROVIDENCE and SOVEREIGNTY.

So, we’ve ceased asking God to show us why we’re here in Arizona.  We already have one BIG idea.  ISN’T GOD GOOD…and thorough!

Its been awhile since I’ve posted anything….and there are reasons for that. But at the moment, I’m going to introduce a new method of blogging. I still am not fond of that word, but you know what I mean. lol

I thought that from now on, I’d just write as though you were sitting on the other end of this screen in front of me. Perhaps pretending we’re having tea together. Sound good to you?

Let me begin with a “verbal event” that took place a few weeks ago. It was a “difficult” conversation, to say the least. I was experiencing a “physical difficulty” that came as quite a shock to my equilibrium. This conversation came on quite suddenly by someone who was attempting to give me “unsolicited advice.” We’ve all had that happen, haven’t we? But I confess that I was not in a calm place emotionally to digest everything they poured out.

This individual, I know, didn’t mean bad by it, and they had the utmost of good intentions. But it took me a few days to get over it and past it. Can anyone relate to this?

Yes, I brought it to Jesus for His help in maneuvering through this. The best thing I did was to “NOT COMMENT.” I can only thank the Holy Spirit for “closing my lips….” which prevented any unkind or unnecessary words in response.

A few days ago, in my “marinating time” with God, I asked Him about what I could learn from this unwelcomed encounter. I had no idea, at the time, that God would add a volume of advice for me. But He did.

So this blog will bring you into my “character class” on WORDS. I’ll just share the “Divine Advice” He placed on my heart. Yes, it felt like a “DEFINING MOMENT” with my Savior….and I needed that.

God was fully aware of what was coming my way and He permitted it. So, I figured there was something for me to learn about what took place. Isn’t it wonderful that we can take anything that comes our way to our Great and understanding Father.

Here goes………..let me have your feedback, if you wish, to see how this maneuvers around your heart.

ISAIAH 64:4 “For since the world began, no eye has seen or ear has heard of a God like You WHO WORKS ON BEHALF OF WHOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM.”

EPHESIANS 4:29 “Let no UNWHOLESOME/CORRUPT (rotten or decaying) WORD PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, but what is GOOD for ‘necessary edification,” that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Compass thot:

A POSITIVE FILTER FOR MY LIPS:   

 Is what I’m about to say:  TRUE…. KIND……or NECESSARY???

Lord Jesus, help me to apply the brake to my thoughts and mouth before stepping on the accelerator of my lips.

Compass thot: 

Our WORDS are either a “construction zone” or “demolition site.”

Our WORDS either “nourish” or “destroy” as they exit our lips.

Our WORDS can be “deadly.”

JAMES 1:19 “Everyone should be QUICK to LISTEN and SLOW to SPEAK, and SLOW to ANGER.”

PROVERBS 6:19 “A false witness that speaks lies, and he/she that sows (dropping information at will without discernment, wisdom or kindness) DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN.

Compass thot:  Sowing discord is the result of a heart that HARBORS POISON.

Compass thot:  Better to come away from a conversation wishing I had said MORE than wishing I had said LESS.

PROVERBS 13:2 “A man/woman shall eat well by the FRUIT of his/her MOUTH.”

Compass thot:

Sooner or later, if I don’t put the brakes on my opinions or words, I will suffer inwardly from what I’ve said.

Compass thot:

If I don’t deal with the attitude of my heart, the POISON will remain there and move to my mind, lips & stomach…reaping what I’ve sown.

My/our inner attitude of heart (what I/we think about, rehearse or dwell on) can and will POISON me/us first…. for what isn’t corrected in my heart, it will eventually EXIT MY LIPS.

POISON SPREADS LIKE A CANCER:  if not dealt with & repented of………………….

Poison infects:  us within if not realized.  Then spreads and infects every part of us (our spirit and approach to others).

Poison unattended to:  keeps me/us from intimacy/closeness with our Lord

Poison unattended to:  keeps me/us from experiencing answers to prayer

Poison unattended to:  keeps me/us from experiencing God’s favor in our life

Poison affects not only my heart, but usually travels right over my/our tongue and exits my lips…… (affecting & infecting people and the environment we’re in).

Poison so easily leaves my personal environment & enters the environment of others.

Compass thot:

When this happens:  I/we can be like a serpent filled with “poisonous venom spewing out on others.  Once it hits the “air” and “ears” of others, it becomes a DEMOLITION SITE.

PROVERBS 11:13 “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”

Sharing “opinions” is not always wise or healthy…because if our “opinions” aren’t based on Scripture, what use are they.    Many times, it’s wise to keep our opinions to ourselves.  It’s not always healthy to share my/our opinions for it reflects more on the person sharing than those who hear….and can do great emotional damage.

PROVERBS 16:23 “The heart of the wise TEACHES his/her mouth and adds LEARNING to his/her lips.

Compass thot:

My/our lips need to be in school to learn not only what TO SAY &HOW TO SAY IT, but what NOT TO SAY.

PROVERBS 26:20 “Where there is NO WOOD, the FIRE GOES OUT.”

Compass thot:    CUT THE KINDLING in our CONVERSATION

Kindling meaning:  material (words to ignite something) that burns easily and is used to start a fire.

2 CHRONICLES 20:15 “Do not be AFRAID or DISCOURAGED because of this vast army (people going again me), for the BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, but GOD’S.

Compass thot:   What kind of “results do you want…. yours or God’s?”

2 CHRONICLES 20:12” O our/my God, will You not judge them?  For we/I have no power to face this vast army (this person or these people) that is attacking us/me.  We/I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT OUR/MY EYES ARE UPON YOU.

OUR CHARACTER IS THE LEGACY OF OUR LIPS!!

I love the term “compass thot” because it presents a fresh & Godly perspective on how I will or should handle or respond to another.

We each are to take responsibility for our own words.  Getting a compass on my heart & words helps me RESPOND better rather than just REACT.

My prayer:

Father You were privy to every word and tone of the words given to me the other day.  You alone know how they not only hurt, but they were so “untimely” in what was going on in my life.

Please heal my heart and strengthen it by your power, as I have no ability to heal the damage done.  Help me leave this person and their attitude and words displayed on me to you.   Be my defense.   And if I’m to ever encounter this again, quiet my heart and by your Holy Spirit, give me YOUR WORDS if You would choose to allow this to occur again.   It’s YOUR BATTLE…. not mine.

Thank you for understanding my heart & the person who hurt me.

You Lord, saw this coming & allowed this….so I know I can “gain something through this experience.”   But I can’t do it without You.

Well, it has been about 5 months since placing a post on the blog!  As I mentioned last November, we were in the transitional phase of moving from Surrey, B.C., Canada to Goodyear, Arizona, U.S.A.  Let me tell you, it was a BIG MOVE and I’m still settling into our new location.  

With an international move, this requires finding a new doctor, dentist, grocery store, hair salon, meeting neighbors, the mail carrier and a myriad of other “new experiences.”   By the way, I have met all the close-by neighbors, and just the other day, I introduced myself to our nice mailman.  I’ve promised him “cool drinks” throughout this upcoming HOT season they call Summer.   He arrives by 9:00 a.m., so I compliment his service with a cold drink first thing in the morning.  His reaction to this:  a big GRIN on his face.

Since I’ve been placed in a “new season” myself, I thought that I might introduce a new approach to this blog.  I think I’m going to call it:

COMPASS THOUGHTS or COMPASS THINKING

My reasoning behind this “new route” is that I’d like to just share with you some of what the Lord has been sharing and teaching me in my journey down here.   Since we’re all human, we experience similar challenges, fears, doubts and anxieties in our individual walk of faith as we continue to experience God’s faithfulness.

I’ve found that we “need each other” to encourage, challenge, correct and uphold one another.  One thing we all have in common is that we aren’t perfect, or do we  have our “act” together as we see it appear on many Facebook posts.  I rarely walk the pages of Facebook; my time is precious: and I’m not into what people had for lunch or how they appear “air-brushed” and “all-together.”  Sometimes perusing our cell phone information can be addicting and very “distracting” from the important things in life.

So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to pretend that you are on the other side of my computer screen and we’re having “tea” or a “latte” together.   I’m a “people person,” so I’d love your feedback or input anytime you’d like to share that with me.  Feel free to email me personally, and if you have “signed on” to receive my blog, your email address will be kept confidential.

My posts will be transparent and honest.  They won’t appear as perfect, so if there’s a typographical error, please grant me grace & mercy.   We’re walking this life down here in the grace and mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a journey we’re on … but we’re not alone.

Someone has requested that I begin posting with the following poem.  Each of our lives “tell a story.”  Each day is a new page for our Creator/Author to work in, on, and through us. 

I appreciate this poem, because it states so clearly that our lives “do influence others.”   My prayer is that God will continue His work in us so that we more accurately reflect Him in our day-to-day living.

The Gospel According to You

Men are not reading the Bible today

They’re dashing about in their own reckless way.

Most of them don’t care what God has to say,

But brother, they’re reading you.

What is the gospel according to you?

Can people see that to Christ you are true?

Your neighbor reads your actions and deeds,

What can he read in you?

Timothy read what was written by Paul,

I like to read about David and Saul.

But most people don’t read the Bible at all

But brother, they’re reading you.

The gospel according to Matthew I love,

Mark, Luke and John point to heaven above.

They all fit together like hand in glove,

The blessed whole Bible is true.

But most people don’t care what Jesus has said,

Their minds may be keen, but their souls are so dead.

The Bible ignored – they read comics instead

But brother, they’re reading you.

You are writing a gospel a chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say.

Men read what you write whether faithless or true

Say, what is the gospel according to you?

Anonymous