Emotions, Hormones And Sin!

Ever since my children were small I've noticed that it can be easy to make excuses for sinful behavior. When they are two we call it "the terrible two's". Many behaviors are excused because it is said that they "are normal for that age". When they turn 13 "their bodies are changing"! When they are 16 "it's hormonal" or "they are teenagers". When they are college age "they are just immature...it's 'normal' to act that way 'at their age"! What I find interesting is that it doesn't stop there. Women blame sinful behavior on hormones. When we're pregnant, "it's hormones". When we're in our 40's, "I'm perimenopausal". In our 50's, "It's menopause".


And so on...

With each age and season of life it can be a challenge to respond correctly. I've had my share of days when I haven't felt good or when I've felt "hormonal"! It is not easy. Thanks to some faithful women who have been living examples to me, I am also aware of the fact that regardless of how I FEEL, I am responsible for how I respond to life! I am responsible for every word that comes out of my mouth, for every response, and for every second that has been given to me.



I have a friend who regularly gets terrible migraine headaches. Although she will ask me to pray for her when she gets them, it is not normally prayer just for herself, but prayers that she will be able to serve those in her family or get accomplished what she needs to get done. I have never heard her complain and have observed her push through many things while suffering with a migraine. She has pushed through migraines (and menopause!) with self control and grace!

I have another friend who went through breast cancer, surgery and chemotherapy. Not too long ago her oldest daughter passed away at age 28. She never ceases to have a cheerful spirit. Whenever I talk with her one of the first things she says is, "Gina, God is good! He really is, Gina." The only explanation for both of these women's responses is that God is POURING OUT HIS GRACE that they might choose to glorify Him in their hard circumstances. He is also enabling them to be examples to those of us who are younger as we face our share of difficulty.

One author put it this way: "The problem is not that we have emotions--they are a gift from God. The problem is that our emotions (unlike God's) are tainted by the fall. The challenge is to let the Spirit of God sanctify us in the realm of our emotions so that they can be expressed in godly ways."

Brian and I have made it our goal to teach this to our children since they were very little. Although we are aware that there is a process of maturity going on with them (and we give them room for that) we also know we would not being doing them any favors if we made excuses for sinful behavior.

I am also aware of the responsibility I have to model this in front of my children. It would be hypocritical for me to tell them they need to respond well to difficulties and then melt down whenever I face a challenge! With the combination of health issues and hormonal ups and downs, this can been quite a challenge at times. That is when I need to be honest with my family and tell them how I am feeling. I tell them I am working very hard to control myself and that if I am more quiet than normal it is because I am working at responding correctly. In doing this I feel like my son is learning to be aware and sensitive, and preparing for the possibility of being a husband. My daughter is learning that she needs to be in control even when she has PMS! (Her husband will be very grateful!)

I understand that what happens in our bodies is very real and can affect us in many ways. I know women who have gone through very hard times both physically, hormonally, and emotionally. I have gone through it too! Yet we need to be careful that we do not buy into the lie from the enemy that we can justify sinful behavior because of these challenges.

Two year olds might throw fits, yell "NO!", and hit other children. They need to be taught that is sinful. Teenagers may become emotional or disrespectful. They need to be taught that is sinful and unacceptable. College age students may may feel like their parents have no right to tell them what to do, they may resist authority, or may act foolishly; however, they need to be told that rebellion is sinful, that they still need guidance, they need to press on to maturity and that they need to honor God. AND, women need to remember that it is sinful to allow how we feel to control us and our responses.

I find that I need to CHOOSE to practice this on a minute by minute...no...second by second basis! With the help of God I am determined to persevere in this. I don't want to make life miserable for my family. I don't want my children to remember me as a "basket case"! Teaching self control to my children is one of the greatest gifts I can give them. I pray that I would live that principle out before others. I pray that others might see God's goodness and grace, which helps us get through anything that He allows into our lives.

"Grace abounding strong and true,
That makes me long to be like You
That turns me from my selfish pride,
To love the cross on which You died...for me!
Grace unending all my days,
Will give me strength to run this race
And when my years on earth are through,
My praise will all belong to you."

This is the grace that is available to us in all circumstances! I am grateful!

I Thessalonians 5:23-24 "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

(Gina has begun writing again after taking a few months off. She has some fresh, new perspective after going through some very dark times. She would love it if you stopped by for a chat and some coffee! You can find her at her personal blog: Chats With An Old Lady.)

Just Breathe

Someone shared with me once that she does not have time to nurture friendships. Because she does not see that as a priority, I don't really have much interaction with her.

I know another lady who is a "self proclaimed" loner! The times that I have spent with her she has mentioned to me several times that she doesn't really need friends. Because of the way that both of these women view friendships, our relationship does not go very deep.

I have another friend who is very busy home schooling 4 children and is busy with activities and church-but she is a wonderful example of what it means to nurture friendships. I can remember one day she called me on her cell phone while she was standing in line at a department store, just to see how I was and to let me know she was thinking of me. We didn't talk for long. Neither of us really had the time. But she was just touching base...she was nurturing.

Relationships need to be nurtured.

I have heard people say, and I have probably said it myself, that I "just don't have time" to have a "quiet time". When we say that, we are saying that we don't have time to nurture our relationship with God. In the back of our minds we know that God will always be there if we have a need. We talk ABOUT Him. We may "wave hello" occasionally. But how much do we do to NURTURE our relationship with Him? Nurturing our relationship with God should not be reduced to something we do for 15 minutes each day, and check off our list. (I don't know of many friendships that would grow deeper if they were approached that way!) It should be a part of who we are!

When I think about walking with God, I think about how our relationship with God can become as natural as breathing! This is how I picture walking....breathing...with God. Nurturing our relationship. (It is what I STRIVE TO DO. It is not something I have mastered!)

BREATHE IN...

I wake up. I say, "good morning, Lord." I thank Him for a good nights rest. I sit up and prop myself up on my pillows, and open my Bible. I read and pray through whatever I am reading. I get up and check my e-mail. Any prayer requests? I pray. I help get breakfast, we thank the Lord for the food. I get on the treadmill or walk outside. I pray through my prayer list or for whatever comes to mind. I listen to praise and worship music. I lift it up to the Lord, and worship Him.

BREATHE OUT...

I take a shower and get dressed. When I look in the mirror I ask, "Lord, is this outfit okay? Does it honor You? Is it modest?" I straighten up the house, and do my chores. While doing whatever I do in the morning, I have a conversation with God...I pray...I help my kids with school, or through whatever is bothering them...I pray for wisdom. I thank Him. I decide to not eat lunch....I decide to fast...in order to pray that I would "hunger for God"....to focus on Him.

BREATHE IN...

In the afternoon if I am running errands and I turn on some worshipful music. I listen for a God's message in the music. I sing really loud, and worship God. I pray for those I come in contact with. I pray that God would open my eyes to needs. If someone comes over and we are talking or I am able to serve, I try to remember that I am serving God...not the person..."as much as you have done unto the least of these..you've done it unto me!!!


BREATHE OUT...

I make meals for my family and whoever happens to be at my house. I pray to be flexible, to be aware of God's schedule and not mine! I ask God to make me sensitive to His voice that I would speak when I should speak and know when not to speak! I ask for Him to give me the words to say to whoever I am with. I listen...I serve. I hug. I seek to encourage. I laugh. I ask for forgiveness when I ignore His prompting! I thank Him for guiding me!



BREATHE IN...

We sit down to relax for the evening. Me. My family. Whoever is here...and God! I turn to God and ask, "Is this TV show okay?" "Should we do something else with our time?" I go to the computer and I ask, "What do you want me to write on my blog, Lord?" I thank Him.




BREATHE OUT...

I get ready for bed. I thank the Lord for another day. I crawl under the covers. I pick up whatever book I'm reading, or the Bible, I seek the Lord. I learn. I pray. I say goodnight to my family. I thank the Lord for them. I turn out the lights.

This is what I want my day to look like! A day of breathing and walking with God. Of nurturing our relationship. Of making time.

"Father, Please cause me to LOOK FOR all the ways I can breathe with YOU, and never be too busy to nurture the most important relationship in MY life!"

(Gina has begun writing again after taking a few months off. She has some fresh, new perspective after going through some very dark times. She would love it if you stopped by for a chat and some coffee! You can find her at her personal blog: Chats With An Old Lady.)

"Lord, please change my heart!"

"I don't know if I love my husband anymore." "Being a mom is too hard." "I don't like the fact that I am aging."

"Lord, please change my heart!"

"The Christian walk is too hard." "I'm tired of struggling." "It feels like I've lost my desire to serve."

"Lord, please change my heart!"


"I don't really have the desire to read my Bible regularly." "I don't feel like praying anymore." "I think I'll sleep in this Sunday...."

"Lord, please change my heart!"


These are all thoughts I have had or that have been shared by others. What do you say to someone who is struggling in one of these areas? What is the answer? God has been gently opening my eyes to the fact that I am powerless to change my own heart. He has to do it for me. I cannot "will" myself to change any of these things or "muster up" something from within myself and make it better. It has to be a work that God does in my heart.
As I have been learning this I have felt such a sense of freedom wash over me! Now when I become aware of an attitude or thought that is not what it should be my prayer is simple, "Lord, please change my heart." That's it.

I am His precious child. I picture myself holding up my heart to him and saying, "...please fix it!" And He begins the beautiful process of changing my heart!

I am so thankful that God has been showing me this because it has begun to make such a difference. Praying this way is producing things in me that I never imagined!

Attitudes and mindsets that I have wrestled with for years are changing because of one simple prayer and a merciful, loving, grace filled God that delights to change his child's heart and bring it more into conformity to His own heart.


I have a long way to go...but I find hope and comfort in the fact that all I have to do is ask and He will change me.

The best part is that as my heart is changing and I am more aware of the fact that it is nothing that I could have done, I then give Him all the credit...and He gets the glory...and that's really why we are here anyway.

To glorify Him!

"Lord....please show us the areas in our lives where we are in error and not thinking Biblically. Please place within our hearts the desire to want to be changed, and then...PLEASE change our hearts...that we might glorify YOU!"

(Gina has begun writing again after taking a few months off. She has some fresh, new perspective after going through some very dark times. She would love it if you stopped by for a chat and some coffee! You can find her at her personal blog: Chats With An Old Lady.)

Have You Worked Out Today?

A few years ago someone GAVE me a treadmill that had become a "coat rack" in their bedroom! It was such great timing because my doctor told me that one of the best things for me, in dealing with some of my health issues, would be to exercise hard and to SWEAT!!! So..that is what I do. Every day I get on the treadmill and walk/run really hard. I feel so good after I'm done. To be honest, I have to push myself to do it every day. I am not an athlete at heart and have never done much in the way of exercise. Almost every day I am tempted to skip it. (How did I marry an athletic director who played every sport in the book during high school AND college!?) I am drawn to the benefits of the exercise, but don't naturally like the discipline it takes or the process I need to go through to get those benefits!

One day while on the treadmill I was thinking about how hard it is for me to step on the thing every day. I started to think about how I am the same way spiritually. I am drawn to the Word, know how important it is for me to be in it, and love the "benefits" of spending time with the Lord. Unfortunately, my flesh does fight the discipline of sitting down, quieting my mind, and listening to the Lord. It seems like it is a battle every day to not get distracted and to choose to spend the time I need in the Word!

I heard someone say once that American Christians are "lazy, fat, and happy!" Just like I would probably be lazy and fat if I didn't discipline myself to get on the treadmill every day, the same would happen if I didn't discipline myself to be in the Word. As I age, I will become more vulnerable to disease and obesity if I don't exercise. The same will happen if I am not in the Word, learning how to discern between biblical and unbiblical thinking. I will become lazy and fat spiritually, and will open myself up to wrong ways of thinking, if I don't discipline myself to spend time with the Lord, nurturing our relationship.

I am finding it is necessary to turn everything I do into a way of nurturing my relationship with God and drawing near to Him. Not because I am so spiritual...but because I am NOT! When I wake up, I try to read some scripture. Then my family and I have breakfast and bible time. Next, I get on the treadmill and listen to worship music on the i-pod that my kids gave me for Valentines Day! As I am showering and dressing, I try to turn the thousands of thoughts going through my mind into prayers. As I'm working in the house, or driving somewhere, I like to listen to doctrinally sound, uplifting music. As our family interacts, we try to constantly direct the conversation towards how God would have us respond to different situations. If I sit down to rest, I read a chapter from a book I'm working through, or pray through some of my prayer list, rather than turning on the TV. I am working at doing something before bed as well. It seems like it is a constant battle to choose what I'm going to fill my mind with and how I am going to spend my time. Everything I do can be used to nurture my relationship God, and every part of the day can be an opportunity to hear from Him. I am not perfect in this, but it is becoming more of a habit.

I find the following verses very convicting:

I Corinthians 9:26-27 " Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;I box in such a way, as not beating the air; But I buffet my body and make it my
slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others I myself should be disqualified."

Romans 12:1,2 "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable and perfect."

Old lessons.

Great reminder.

"Father, I pray that I would draw from the strength You have already provided for me, and that I would choose to do what is most needed and most important!"

Come visit me for some coffee and a chat, at Chats With An "Old Lady"!

HER GAZE WAS FIXED ON ONE THING...

Occasionally I will get to the point where I think I've run out of things to write! Somehow God always seems to bring out something, from a normal every day experience, and then He inspires me...again!

It seems like God keeps bringing me back to one familiar theme.

I have a burden to point others to the Word of God and to encourage them to read it as consistently as possible. I don't mean it in a "legalistic", "check it off your list" way. My desire is to constantly be reminded, and to remind others, of our great NEED to be in the Word and to desire it as "our necessary food" for life! My desire is to hunger for it and see others hunger for it! To be inspired by it. I don't want it to be just a bunch of head knowledge that I have stored in my brain! I want it to be be a part of everything that I am, to ooze from my pores. I want to sing it...and dance it! I want it to become a living reality in my life! I want it to affect my speech, my attitudes, my actions, where I go, what I watch and what I read!

Today I was reminded of something that happened not too long ago. I was at a local Christian bookstore, and as I was standing in one of the aisles I glanced up just as a lady walked in the front door with her young children. One of the little girls happened to look over to the other end of the store and noticed immediately that a television was playing a "Veggie Tales" video. She started to jump up and down and squeal! As soon as she laid eyes on that video she was drawn to it! She ran down the aisle and plopped down to watch it. She giggled and laughed the entire time she sat there.

What I thought was so cute was that as soon as she saw those little characters, she forgot there was anyone else around! Her gaze was fixed on one thing. She could not get to the other side of the store fast enough!

She was ecstatic!

Completely uninhibited!

Those around her could not help but be drawn in by her excitement!

I've been thinking about how I want to be like that little girl! Each day when I wake up, I want to be like her. As soon as I think about meeting with the Lord, or see the Word sitting by my bed, I want to lose sight of everything else...my eyes fixed on one thing. I want to feel like jumping up and down and squealing with anticipation! I want to be automatically drawn to it....and run to meet with the Lord. Ecstatic. Completely uninhibited. I want those around me, as I go through my day, to be drawn in by my excitement and zeal!

I want to sit as His feet and take it all in.

I believe that the things that we hold dearest to our hearts are the things we will spot a mile away. They are the things that will captivate us. They are the things that will excite us the most and are what we want to talk about. Those things that preoccupy our minds are the things that cause us to lose sight of all that is around us and even lose some inhibition as we as we are tempted to squeal with excitement when they catch our eye!!

If I am a child of God--and if I love Him with with all my heart soul and mind--then this is how I should automatically respond to my Lord. I want my love for Him and His Word to be what drives me. What motivates me. What causes me to lose sight of all that is around me.

"Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:16)

"I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food." (Job 23:12)

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)

Psalm 42:2 "...My inner self thirsts for God, the living God..."

Psalm 87:70 "...all my springs (my sources of life and joy) are in YOU!"

If a little child can become consumed and excited about a couple of singing, dancing, animated vegetables--then surely I, God's child, can be consumed and excited about the God of the universe and all that He wants to say to me. Don't you think?

"Oh, Father...please stir within our hearts a hunger and thirst for Your Word!"

Chats With An "Old Lady"

and

Bearing Burdens

(You can visit Gina at her personal blog: "Chats With An 'Old Lady' ")

Love The "ONES" You're With!

The lyrics of a song came to my mind the other day. I googled the song/lyrics and saw that it was a pretty ridiculous song, but there was one line that kept running through my mind!

It was this:

"...so if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with!"

Now, I haven't heard that in years, but for some reason it kept going through my mind!

Today I sat down to reflect and write about what God has been teaching me lately. I opened my journal and started typing a few of the verses that I have written down. Some of them were the following:

Ps. 34 "I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My life makes its boast in the Lord, let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad. 4. I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him (of necessity and on the authority or His Word) and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.22. The Lord redeems the lives of His servants..."

Ps. 35. "And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, and justice, and of (my reasons for) Your praise all the day long.

Then I read something I had written down. It was this: " I should never "check out" mentally from a place where God has put me. If I am still in this place, then God has me here and I need to be 'all here' and use this time for His glory."

So, how does this fit together?

There are some circumstances in our lives that are hard and I have been tempted to "check out" mentally. To quit. To say "I've had it. I'm done!" The whole time I have been tempted to do that, all the verses I have been reading have been saying, "bless the Lord...praise Him continually...boast in Him...seek Him....He is in control!" When I am tempted to "check out", my focus is on me...poor little old me! ME! ME! ME! When I choose to bless, praise and boast in God, my focus is on God....a big God! THE ONE TRUE GOD!

The older I get I am growing in my understanding of what it means when people say they "long for heaven". When I was younger I didn't really "get" that because there was so much life to live! Even though, Lord willing, I have a lot of life left to live, the aches and pains of life have caused me to look forward to heaven. Not in a morbid way, or even in a way that wants to escape suffering. I really have been blessed beyond measure....far more than I deserve...but life--the Christian life especially--is HARD. And the thought of actually meeting the God that I have been privileged to get to know in a deeper way BECAUSE OF THE HARD STUFF IN MY LIFE is actually becoming much more appealing to me!

That's where the song comes in!

I am learning what it means to long for heaven. To want to be with the ONE I am learning to love more. BUT, until that day I MUST NOT "check out" mentally. I must live my life, in all of my circumstances, as an act of worship to God. Serving and loving those who come across my path! So....If I can't be with the ONE I love...I MUST love the those I am with! My husband. My children. Anyone who comes to my door. The homeless lady at the grocery store. The lady who cuts my hair. The check out lady at Target. The people at my church. The lady sitting next to me in the waiting room at the doctor's office. Love them. Let God love them through me. Bring Him glory. Show Him how much I love Him by loving those I am with!

If I can't be with the ONE I love, love the "ones" I am with...serve them, hug them, tell them about the ONE I love, praise HIM continually and talk of HIS righteousness, rightness, and justice, and of (my reasons for) praising HIM all the day long.

"Oh, Father. I need YOUR strength to enable me to not "check out". I need YOUR strength to enable me to see...I mean REALLY SEE the ones you have put in my life that YOU have called me to love. And I need YOUR strength to enable me to be faithful to what I've been called to do, for YOUR glory!

Amen."

Chats With An "Old Lady"

and

Bearing Burdens

I WILL NOT LET HIM WIN!

Accusation.
It stops you in your tracks!
Like a sharp knife being thrust into your stomach!
That's how it feels!

Yes.
That's how it feels.

The accuser. Satan.
He's looking for that opportunity to...
Attack. Defeat.
Sidetrack...
Accuse!

That is exactly what he has been doing.
I barely even recognized it for what it was
until I found myself in a heap on the floor.


Almost defeated.
Crying.
Saying, "I quit".

I am not the one to lead a small group of college girls.
I am not the one to meet with a college girl on Tuesdays.
I am not the one.
I am not qualified.
I am a hypocrite.
I have not responded well to life's challenges lately.
Withdraw into your home...
into yourself.
Quit.

I often feel guilty for FEELING.
For feeling sad about life's circumstances...
when God is Sovereign.
For feeling angry at injustice...
when God is in control.
For feeling lonely and longing for fellowship...
when God has not provided it.
For feeling hesitant about the future...
when I know that God has it all planned out.
For feeling overwhelmed and like I've had too much...
when I know God says He won't give us more than we can handle.
For feeling, at times, like what I have is not enough...
when God says He will withhold no good thing from me.
For feeling...

Then comes guilt
and accusations...

While reviewing the book of Acts,
and thinking about the disciples
and what kind of men they were,
some verses stood out to me.
It was like they were placed on a billboard
with neon lights!

They said this:

Acts 4:8,13
"Then Peter,
filled with (and controlled by)
the Holy Spirit...
Now when they saw the boldness
and unfettered eloquence
of Peter and John
and perceived that they were
UNLEARNED AND UNTRAINED
in the schools (common men with no education)
they marveled;
and they
RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN
WITH JESUS."

The disciples were:
Imperfect. Sinful.
Simple. Untrained.
They doubted. They fought among themselves.
They were prideful.
One of them even denied Christ in His darkest hour!

Was it right?
No!

But God used them anyway.

He chose to fill them with His spirit
and enabled them to speak with
"boldness and unfettered eloquence"!
He used them.

As I wrestle with my feelings
and then choose to offer them up to Him.


Repent...when necessary.
Submit.
YET...STILL FEEL
He chooses to fill me and use me.

I am so grateful.
What a mystery!

You can visit Gina at her personal blogs:

Chats With An "Old Lady"

and

Bearing Burdens

NEW YEAR...SAME OLD LESSONS!

Last week I bought a new journal to start the New Year. There's nothing like opening it up and seeing the fresh empty pages just ready to be filled with lessons from God.

More...of how He wants me to live!

I have been praying and specifically asking God to show me my areas of need, my blind spots, and the changes that need to take place. He has very clearly been impressing on me some areas that I have not glorified Him as I should. He has also been causing verses and thoughts from books I am reading to stand out, that are giving me a clearer understanding of what exactly it means to glorify God.

As He is teaching me, He is also creating with in my heart a deeper desire to obey HIM and GLORIFY HIM. Now comes the LIVING OUT of what I am learning.

The first verse that stood out to me as I began to pray in this way was found in Jeremiah 4:3 "Break up your ground left uncultivated for a season, so that you may not sow among thorns..."

"What thorns,Lord?"

I didn't have to ask Him twice!!! He has faithfully shown me what I need to see!

"Okay, Gina. Lets start from the beginning!"

I am being reminded that the areas that I would say I "struggle" in, are actually areas where I have not submitted. Where I have held on to MY will rather than submitting to HIS will.

"Self-will is a lack of submission. Independence is stubborn weakness!" (Oswald Chambers)

Matt. 6:33 reminds me to "Seek (aim at, strive after)FIRST OF ALL, His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right.)"

"YOUR kingdom come...but MY will was done..."

"How can I help further YOUR kingdom When I'm so wrapped up in MINE?" (Casting Crowns)

HIS kingdom...NOT MY OWN! It's not about me! But, man, do I ever live like it's about me at times! That would be the independence He has revealed.

YUCK!

I really don't like seeing THAT ...but I'm thankful to see it so I can change!

Then...I Corinthians 10:31 "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ...the glory of God. Sure. I want that. But, do I?

Elyse Fitzpatrick shares that glorifying God means this:

"That everything we do-whether we're eating, drinking, reading a paper, driving our car, whatever we're doing-is to be done with the attitude and in such a way as to cause others around us to say, 'Isn't God great!' Because of His abounding grace and mercy He has allowed us to be involved in this great plan and purpose...God wants to use your life to show others that He is real and that He can change people..."

GULP!
You mean that others might actually want to know God because of my life?!

That means every part of my life must be lived before Him. That is being a light. So, it's not really about ME glorifying God. It's about me GLORIFYING GOD, so that others might be pointed to HIM!! That means "ME" MUST GO!

THAT IS SOBERING!

Oh, WOW Lord, this is a lot. Can we stop now?"
"NOPE! KEEP READING!"

Philippians 1:20 "...so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death..(21)For me to live is Christ..." (27)"Only let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel of Christ..."

BE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL!

That is the most important part, I think. It's about the Gospel. It's about my life pointing others to Jesus, and THE GOSPEL!

These areas in my life that are coming to mind. This self will. The things I have trivialized or not seen as such a big deal ARE a big deal. They are a big deal because they are areas that have not pointed others to Jesus, and the Gospel! Even though I know that God would love to see me have peace and victory in these areas because of His great love for me, there is a much bigger picture I need to be looking at.

God wants to use these areas for His glory so that others might see Him.

As I write this post I hear a song coming from my daughters room. A song by the group "Mercy Me" and it keeps repeating these words, "Nothing else matters here, but glorifying Your name..."

"I hear You Lord!"

Oh, Lord, I pray with the hymn writer...

"Take my will and make it Thine-It shall be no longer mine; Take my heart it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne, It shall be Thy royal throne!"

You can visit Gina at her personal blogs:

Chats With An "Old Lady"

and

Bearing Burdens

I AM A CONTROLLING WOMAN!

We've all heard the phrase--"SHE wears the PANTS in THAT family!" We shake our heads and talk about how controlling THAT woman is. We wonder how she can be that way and how her husband can let her do it.

Every time a woman complains and is discontent with her "prince"...
or corrects or criticizes him...
or tells him what to do...
or interrupts him...
She is controlling!

I see it so clearly in others, but the truth of the matter is...

I am a controller. I wear the pants in my family.
It's a part of who I am.
It's a part of EVERY woman.

The Word of God tells us that ALL women want to "wear the pants" in the family! All of us want to be in control!

Genesis 3:16 tells us of the consequences of the fall of man. It tells us that because the woman usurped her authority that she would "want to control her husband, but he will dominate you.”

So the truth is that we, as women, are ALL controllers...It is the a part of "the curse"!

So if it is a part of who we are--what can we do about it?

When I see OTHER women being controlling it motivates me to work harder at NOT being that way! When I see the ugliness of it--it causes me to cry out to God and confess my own rebellion and pride! Only as I cry out to the Lord in repentance and depend on Him and His strength am I able to CHOOSE to not be an overbearing and controlling wife. But...I must see my need.
I must be able to acknowledge that I am a controller and that I need help.

I must ALLOW MYSELF TO BE CONTROLLED by the holy spirit and choose...minute by minute. Situation by situation! I need to allow my husband to lead me...to lead my family...to lead in the church.

I need to crucify that part of me that is controlling!

Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

I need to WORSHIP GOD by choosing NOT to be controlling.
And when I do that...
He is seen.
And He is glorified!

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

1 Peter 4:11 "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

"Oh, Father! Please open our eyes that we would see the ways in which we are controlling, overbearing women. I pray that You would enable us to glorify YOU in the way in which we interact with our husbands. I pray that we would CHOOSE to be godly women who CHOOSE to treat our husbands with respect, not just because they deserve it...but because it's what YOU desire...even when they DON'T deserve it! Amen."

(You can visit Gina at her personal blog: Chats With An "Old Lady")

JUST DO IT!

"I'm not a morning person. I can't get out of bed in the morning to be in the Word."

"I'm too tired at night to be in the Word. It's just not effective!"

"I don't have the time to be in the Word. I don't want to do it just because someone tells me I HAVE to."

"There's nowhere in the Bible that tells me I HAVE to do it a certain way..."

"I don't want to do it if my heart isn't in it."

What would have happened if Jesus had looked at His Father and said:

"I'm not really a "cross person"...those nails may not be comfortable!"

"You know, moving from heaven to earth to live like those people do, and be rejected and persecuted and treated like dirt by a bunch of ungrateful people won't be very fun...I'm not really an 'earth person'!"

"So what if I am going to be raised from the dead in three days, I'll still have to be tortured and then laid in a tomb for 3 days...I'm not really a 'tomb person'!"

"I don't know how effective it will be for me to stay up and pray all night, while my disciples fall asleep, in order to get through what You have called me to do. I'm not really a 'night person'!"

"I know, Father, that you say that this is the only way that Your people will be saved from eternal death, but I'm not so sure that I want to go to earth just because You say that it is the only way. Do I have to do it just because You say I HAVE to?"



This doesn't look like very much fun to me...
But He did it!

He had to.

His heart was in it.


He was willing to be inconvenienced.
He lost a whole lot more than a little sleep.
He was willing to suffer.
He was willing to discipline Himself and choose the hard road....

FOR US!

Why is it that we are so quick to sit around and analyze and argue whether or not we HAVE to be in the Word--and WHEN we're "supposed" to do it?
Why do we come up with so many excuses? WHY isn't our heart in it? Why are we not willing to be uncomfortable and inconvenienced in order to get alone on a daily basis with our Lord? Not because we HAVE to...but because we owe it to Him. Because we NEED to. Because we can't function without it. Because it's really the ONLY way to get to know our God and what He desires for us.

Because we want to KNOW HIM!

Because we are so grateful for what He has done for us and all He had to go through...far more than we will ever have to experience.

We need to stop waiting until we feel like it, until it's convenient, until we've had enough sleep or enough time. We need to MAKE time, we need to CHOOSE to do it, we need to BE WILLING to be inconvenienced.


We need to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.
(1 Timothy 4:7)


We need to CHOOSE to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
(Romans 12:1)


We need to look at the cross--see all He went through for us--and stop making excuses!

We need to stop sitting around and making each other feel better for not doing it.

Just do it!

I think it's the VERY LEAST we can do.
Don't you?


You can visit Gina at her personal blog "CHATS WITH AN 'OLD LADY"

and

Bearing One Another's Burdens

WHO ARE WE ACCOUNTABLE TO?

When I was in college I began to meet regularly with a Titus 2 woman. We met once a week and she would share with me what God was teaching her in her daily Bible times. After I got married, and even after I had my first child, we continued to meet once a week.

I can remember a few times that I didn't FEEL like meeting. Maybe I felt convicted about something in my life or I knew that I hadn't been faithful in a certain area. One night we were supposed to meet at my on campus apartment. She came and knocked on the door. I hid in a back room! I didn't want the accountability that came with meeting--so I hid! Can you believe that?

It is very popular to be involved in "accountability groups" or with "accountability partners". Although I know this can be helpful, we need to make sure that we are mindful of what is most important--ultimately our "accountability" is to God. I do not mean to minimize the value of having other believers in your life that encourage you in your walk with God. In the past I have been involved in groups, and I have had the privilege of meeting "one on one" with some very godly women. Both have been helpful to me! If you are involved in an "accountability" relationship it is so important to evaluate what your purpose for meeting might be, and what exactly is being accomplished.

Are you learning to further rely on and look to Jesus or are you relying on and looking to others? In these types of relationships do the people you meet with constantly point you to the Word or their opinion? Are you only meeting with people who are your age or are you meeting with women who are older than you! (Titus 2) Do the people or person you meet with encourage you to think Biblically? Do they encourage you to be committed to your church body, honor your parents, live a holy life, be godly, submissive, respectful wives?

When I met with my friend all those years ago, the main thing that characterized our time together was that I went away longing to be in the Word and excited to live it out in whatever season I happened to be in. When I was a college student I was challenged to be in the Word and live a holy life. After getting married I was excited about being a wife. I remember coming home so motivated to serve and love my husband! (Brian used to joke with me that maybe I should start meeting with my friend twice a week because I came home so excited to be a godly wife!) And after I had children I would come home motivated to be a godly mom. I remember there were times I would come home from our meeting and I would go into daughter's room and pick her up out of her crib so that I could just hold her! I came away from those times with my friend having been encouraged in the Word and having spent time with a woman who lived out her walk with God in a way that made me want to do the same. She never encouraged me to go to HER church, or do things HER way! She simply focused my attention on God and His Word. It was what SHE was focused on! I never felt dependent on her but always felt the need to be more dependent on God.

I love what Amy Carmichael says:

"God make us all His Jonathan. There is a great hunter abroad in the world. Like Saul who sought David every day, he seeks souls every day, never a day's respite, always the hunt is on. Although the words stand for ever, "but God delivered him not into his hand", yet sometimes souls tire of being hunted, and like David they are in a wilderness in a wood. Then is Jonathan's chance. BUT NOTICE WHAT HE DOES, HE DOES NOT SO COMFORT DAVID THAT HE BECOMES NECESSARY TO HIM. 'HE STRENGTHENED HIS HAND IN GOD.' (I SAMUEL 23:16) HE LEAVES HIS FRIEND STRONG IN GOD, RESTING IN GOD, SAFE IN GOD. HE DETACHES HIS DEAR DAVID FROM HIMSELF AND HE ATTACHES HIM TO HIS 'VERY PRESENT HELP'. THEN JONATHAN WENT TO HIS HOUSE, AND DAVID ABODE IN THE WOOD---WITH GOD!"

We can hide from a person! We can tell them what we think they want to hear. But there is nothing that we do, think, or say that is not seen by God! We are accountable to Him for our daily, minute by minute choices! He is the one who sees our heart of hearts...our deepest desires...our deepest thoughts! No group or person can do that.

I pray that I will follow only God and His Word, become dependent on HIM, and that I will LEAVE MY FRIENDS STRONG IN GOD, RESTING IN GOD, SAFE IN GOD. THAT I WILL DETACH ALL WHO ARE DEAR TO ME FROM MYSELF AND ATTACH THEM TO MY 'VERY PRESENT HELP'!

You can visit Gina at her personal blog "CHATS WITH AN 'OLD LADY"

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND AM I?

I have been evaluating, in light of scripture, what should characterize me as a friend. (And who my close companions should be...) Although I will not be perfect in any of the standards that are set out for me, I need to honestly search my heart and see if I am CHARACTERIZED by these things.

I am praying and asking myself these questions:



AM I CHARACTERIZED AS BEING AN ANGRY PERSON?
Proverbs 22:24-25 do not be friends with an angry man, or you will learn his ways.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO LACKS SELF CONTROL?
Proverbs 23:20-21 do not associate with winebibers, gluttonous eaters....this will lead to poverty.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS REBELLIOUS AGAINST AUTHORITY?
Proverbs 24:21-22 do not associate with those who are given to change (of allegiance, against authority, change for the sake of change.)

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS PROUD, AND LIKES TO DEBATE, ARGUE, SLANDER, AND BE HEARD?
I Tim. 6:4-5 withdraw from the proud arguer. (he is puffed up with pride, although he is ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes and strife about words, which result in envy and jealousy, quarrels and dissensions, slander, etc.)

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS USES FOUL LANGUAGE, WHO IS IMMORAL IN THOUGHT OR DEED, WHO IS GREEDY, OR DISHONEST?
I Cor. 5:11 Do not associate with, or even eat with anyone who claims to be a Christian, but is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is devoted to anything that usurps the place of God, or has a foul tongue, is a drunkard, swindler or a robber.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS DISOBEDIENT?
2 Thess 3:14 do not associate with disobedient.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS PRIDEFUL AND WHO SLANDERS ANOTHER?
Ps. 101:5 cut off him who slanders his neighbor, and who has a haughty look and a proud arrogant heart.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS A LIAR, OR WHO IS DECEITFUL?
Ps. 101:7 do no allow those who are deceitful and those who lie to dwell in your house

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS NOT REPENTANT, AND IS CAUGHT UP IN HABITUAL SIN?
Pr. 1:10-15 Do not walk with sinners

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO SPEAKS TOO FREELY, AND DOESN'T THINK BEFORE HE SPEAKS?
Proverbs 20:19 Do not associate with one who talks too freely, flatters, reveals secrets

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO DOES NOT USE THE WORD OF GOD AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN GIVING COUNSEL?
Ps. 1:1 Don't walk in counsel of ungodly, stand in way of sinners, sit in the seat of scornful

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO LIVES OR SPEAKS FOOLISHLY?
Pr. 9:6 Forsake foolish and live.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS DIVISIVE, AND CONTENTIOUS?
Rom. 16:17 be on your guard with those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, or are in opposition to the truth that has been taught. Turn aside from them.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS WILLING TO SHARPEN ANOTHER, WITH THE TRUTHS OF THE WORD, AND AM I WILLING TO BE SHARPENED?
Pr. 27:17 my companion should be one who sharpens, strengthen and build each other up.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS WILLING TO GIVE GENTLE LOVING REPROOF...BUT IS ALSO WILLING TO RECEIVE IT?
Pr. 27:6 my companion should be one who gives loving, gentle reproof when necessary

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS GROWING IN WISDOM, AND ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME?
Pr. 13:20 my companion should be one who helps me grow in wisdom

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED?
Pr. 11:13 my companion should be one who can be trusted

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO IS LOYAL, AND LOVES EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE HARD OR A PERSON IS DIFFICULT?
Pr. 17:17 my companion should be loyal, and love at all times.

AM I CHARACTERIZED AS ONE WHO FEARS GOD AND SEEKS TO OBEY HIM?
Ps. 119:63 my companion should be those who fear God, and obey Him

If I am to be honest with myself, I must admit that I have fallen short in many of these areas at times. It is humbling. My desire is to be perfect in all of these areas, and yet I am in a process of growth! It has been so good for me to search the scriptures and be reminded of the standard. I pray that God will continue to "grow me up"! I pray that this little exercise has been helpful to you as well.

Lord, please reminded us to strive to be the kind of friend that YOU want us to be. Please help us to show each other grace as we grow in our understanding of what that means!

You can visit Gina at her personal blog "CHATS WITH AN 'OLD LADY"

We Are Saved To Serve

My husband runs sports camps every summer. Each year he has one week of volleyball camp. My daughter plays volleyball and looks forward to participating in the camp each summer. It's the beginning of Brianna's volleyball season and really helps her to get into shape! It's so good for her!

There is another way that volleyball camp helps her! It helps her get into shape SPIRITUALLY! When you have groups of high school girls there can be some challenges. Insecurity, cliques, bad attitudes. It's a good opportunity for Brianna to practice how she responds personally, but also how she responds to other girls and the challenges that come.

One night last summer a group of girls from the camp were going to the mall. This particular group had not been very friendly and had kept to themselves all week. Brianna battled feelings of wanting to feel accepted...and she felt left out. That opened up an opportunity for us to have a great talk.

It's normal to want to feel accepted. We all feel it. I feel it even as an "old lady"! Even though it is a normal desire, it really is not what we are here for.

A friend of mine used to say, "We are SAVED to SERVE!" I love that. That is what we are here for. To serve. If we can keep this first and foremost in our minds then we will be able to fight those feelings of wanting acceptance, and we will also go out of our way to make sure that OTHERS feel accepted!

~Cliques show we are self-centered...not others/Christ-centered!
~Not including others shows we are self-centered....not others/Christ centered!
~Bad attitudes show we are self-centered...not others/Christ centered!

As Brianna and I were talking through all she was feeling we looked around and there sat a girl...all by herself. I said to her, "Brianna, if we are called to serve and not focus on ourselves what can you do right now?" She got up and went over to the girl and sat down. They talked a little and then went running off into the gym. A little while later she came back with two other girls and asked if they could come over for the evening as they had nothing to do. They ended up spending the evening eating ice cream, playing games, and watching a movie. THEN they came back the next night for another movie, more ice cream and popcorn...and they brought another girl!

Afterwards Brianna and I were able to talk about it. She was so encouraged because she was able to see how God blessed her choice to take her eyes off of herself and put them on to some girls who needed to be served! She had fun in the mean time!

These lessons are lessons that are so important that my children learn because the reality is that selfish behavior doesn't end with the teen years. I have been in situations as an adult when I have not felt included and I have had to take my focus off of myself, and on to someone who needs to be served. It never ends! If young people can begin to learn how to conduct themselves and how to deal with situations when they are hurt or left out, they will be "in shape" as they get older! I didn't begin to learn this until I was an adult.

It's so easy to fall into the mentality where we just brush certain behavior off as "normal teen aged behavior". It IS normal teen behavior but it is sinful and we need to call it what it is and teach them to look beyond themselves.

I must first live this out before my children. Then I can help them as they face similar situations.

They will learn to serve...and God will be glorified!!!

"Father, please forgive me for the times I have been a so focused on myself, my own comfort, and my own enjoyment that I have missed those around me that need to be served and encouraged. Please open my eyes to the needs of those around me."



I'd love for you to come visit me at my personal blog "Chats With An 'Old Lady"!

Is God Sovereign Over THAT?

Is God Sovereign Over THAT?

God has been reminding me that since He is Sovereign over all, then He is Sovereign over what family I was born in to. That might sound a little simple, but when you think of how easy it is to "go down the road" of reflecting on the past and holding on to those things that have been hard, it is easy to get into them mindset that there was some kind of mistake along the way! To look back over the years and remember those things that have been hurtful, or not handled correctly, can cause me to become tempted to give into bitterness and resentment.

There was a time that much of what I did as a parent was done with the attitude that I wanted things to be different for my children than they were for me. If I am not careful my focus can be on "how I'M going to do it 'differently' rather than "How does God want me to do it?"

God has been changing my perspective on this, and I am so grateful. I find that if I am focused on God, rather than what I perceive to be the "mistakes" that were made in my own childhood, I experience such peace! As I look back over the years I can learn so much. I can learn from the good and I can learn from the bad. I can be a better mom as a result of the good, and as a result of the bad. There are lessons from both. It is so encouraging to know that God uses both the good and the bad in our lives, and that they can both serve to make us better if we can see them as God sees them. Not only is it encouraging and freeing for me personally but it encourages me to know that my children will be able to look back on their lives and see the good and the bad, and that God will use it ALL for their good.

As easy as it might be for me to slip into "remembering" and use THAT as my standard for what I do, I am praying that God would constantly remind me that the only standard I have is His Word. If I seek His face and do things the way He tells me to do them, that will be enough.

"Thank you Father, that Your Word gives me everything I need for life and godliness, and that when I focus on YOU I can be confident that YOU will help me to be the best mom I can be! Thank you that YOU show me such mercy when I "mess up" as a mom. I pray that I would see my own parents through eyes of grace!"

Come visit me at my personal blog:

Have You Worked Out Today?

A few years ago someone GAVE me a treadmill that had become a "coat rack" in their bedroom! It was such great timing because my doctor told me that one of the best things for me, in dealing with some of my health issues, would be to exercise hard and to SWEAT!!! So..that is what I do. Every day I get on the treadmill and walk/run really hard. I feel so good after I'm done. To be honest, I have to push myself to do it every day. I am not an athlete at heart and have never done much in the way of exercise. Almost every day I am tempted to skip it. (How did I marry an athletic director who played every sport in the book during high school AND college!?) I am drawn to the benefits of the exercise, but don't naturally like the discipline it takes or the process I need to go through to get those benefits!

One day while on the treadmill I was thinking about how hard it is for me to step on the thing every day. I started to think about how I am the same way spiritually. I am drawn to the Word, know how important it is for me to be in it, and love the "benefits" of spending time with the Lord. Unfortunately, my flesh does fight the discipline of sitting down, quieting my mind, and listening to the Lord. It seems like it is a battle every day to not get distracted and to choose to spend the time I need in the Word!

I heard someone say once that American Christians are "lazy, fat, and happy!" Just like I would probably be lazy and fat if I didn't discipline myself to get on the treadmill every day, the same would happen if I didn't discipline myself to be in the Word. As I age, I will become more vulnerable to disease and obesity if I don't exercise. The same will happen if I am not in the Word, learning how to discern between biblical and unbiblical thinking. I will become lazy and fat spiritually, and will open myself up to wrong ways of thinking, if I don't discipline myself to spend time with the Lord, nurturing our relationship.

I am finding it is necessary to turn everything I do into a way of nurturing my relationship with God and drawing near to Him. Not because I am so spiritual...but because I am NOT! When I wake up, I try to read some scripture. Then my family and I have breakfast and bible time. Next, I get on the treadmill and listen to worship music on the i-pod that my kids gave me for Valentines Day! As I am showering and dressing, I try to turn the thousands of thoughts going through my mind into prayers. As I'm working in the house, or driving somewhere, I like to listen to doctrinally sound, uplifting music. As our family interacts, we try to constantly direct the conversation towards how God would have us respond to different situations. If I sit down to rest, I read a chapter from a book I'm working through, or pray through some of my prayer list, rather than turning on the TV. I am working at doing something before bed as well. It seems like it is a constant battle to choose what I'm going to fill my mind with and how I am going to spend my time. Everything I do can be used to nurture my relationship God, and every part of the day can be an opportunity to hear from Him. I am not perfect in this, but it is becoming more of a habit.

I find the following verses very convicting:

I Corinthians 9:26-27 " Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;I box in such a way, as not beating the air; But I buffet my body and make it my
slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others I myself should be disqualified."

Romans 12:1,2 "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable and perfect."

Old lessons.
Great reminder.

"Father, I pray that I would draw from the strength You have already provided for me, and that I would choose to do what is most needed and most important!"

Come visit me for some coffee and a chat, at Chats With An "Old Lady"!

Agnus Dei

Last May we had the privilege of spending a week at a resort in the mountains of Vermont. Having spent several years of my childhood living in Norway, I have always ADORED the mountains! If I could pick one place to live, it would be somewhere in the mountains! Vermont was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Life seemed to revolve around hiking, rock climbing, biking and being outside. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking! The people were very friendly and there was a sense that the area was "safe".

It struck me one day as we were driving through the mountains, that God has created such amazing things for us to enjoy. Such gifts! Yet we as people seem to be tempted to focus on the gift rather than the Giver...the creation rather than the Creator. In a state as beautiful as Vermont, how can one not seek God when everything points to God! As we drove up the winding road to our resort one afternoon, a song started to play from the worship CD we were playing. It was so fitting. We listened quietly...

AGNUS DEI
Alleluia! Alleluia! For the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Alleluia! Alleluia! For the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Alleluia! Holy! Holy! Are You Lord God Almighty!
Worthy is the lamb! Worthy is the lamb!
For you are Holy! Holy!
Are you Lord God Almighty! Worthy is the lamb!
Worthy is the lamb.
Amen

BACK TO THE CITY!
It was a little bit difficult to come down from those mountains and drive home! In the city I am surrounded by different things. The mountains were replaced by buildings! The beautiful log homes were replaced by town homes and apartment buildings and strip malls. Yet...I am still surrounded by things that point me to God. (And, I am still tempted to focus on the gift rather than the Giver!)

Here are some things that point me to God in the city?

*The Azalea bush outside my kitchen window.
*The miracle of my children growing up.
*The provision of my home.
*A faithful pastor(and pastor's wife!)
*Another day to breathe!
*The college student that chose to live by a holy standard even when those around did not!
*The dog we saw at the store who was wagging his tail...doing what he was created to do!
*The homeless guy across from McDonald's, although dirty and in torn clothes, who was created in the image of God!

All of these things point me to God!

So as I drive down the road, fight traffic, and sit at a red light, I can still sing...

Alleluia! Alleluia! For the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
For the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Alleluia! Holy! Holy!
Are you Lord God Almighty.
Worthy is the lamb! Worthy is the lamb!
Amen!
For You are Holy! Holy!
Are you Lord God Almighty!
Worthy is the lamb! Worthy is the lamb!
Amen!

What things do YOU see, in the setting God has place YOU in, that point you to God?
"Oh, Father. You have made all things well! Please open my eyes to all the things and people around me that point me to You!"

Come visit me for some coffee and a chat, at Chats With An "Old Lady"!