FUMBLING AROUND

#1 Grand made the BRASH statement while I was with him recently, that he could text on his I phone while the phone was in his pocket.  This brag came while discussing what electronics were allowed in school and how it was all handled.  Slight side note here--their class agenda is sent via TWITTER---that is an ENTIRE other blog!  I just could not let that pass--flat screen--with flat keypad--in your pocket---SO- I said just text Hello.  I believe it looked like this:


   

I have to give him credit he did get it sent--WHATEVER it says!






While in Austin, with a house full of people and not as many bathrooms as people, I put my makeup on in the bedroom I was given WITHOUT a mirror.  This finished product was charming!

Rarely do I wake up in the middle of the night, but when I do I never turn on the lights.  I have been in my apartment for a short time--this can lead to stumbling around in the dark--and sometimes a disastrous outcome.

All this to say---stumbling around in the dark or fumbling without seeing or working without a guide can beget bad results.  The same can happen if we are stumbling around in life- in the dark and without reading the instructions.  When we have The Light to point the way and the instruction manual right before us, why would we leave anything to chance?  Turn on The Light and follow His direction---it is all there spelled out in His Word for our good.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light onto my path."

Psalm 119:105
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ROAD BLOCK!!!

One of the things I LOVE about Texas is the 75 MPH speed limit on the interstates--YEAH FOR SPEED---I usually do not push my- give me an extra 5- rule with that speed limit since I drive such a small car.  LABOR DAY WEEKEND FRIDAY---I am driving to Austin on what has to be the WORST interstate I have EVER driven on---with bumper to bumper--side to side traffic in three lanes of traffic---all flying in the same direction.  I always try to keep a little distance between me and the car in front of me--THANKFULLY!---as I top a hill-- right in front of me--the line of traffic is almost at a dead stand still---ROAD BLOCK--and I am on cruise at 75 MPH.  When I literally stand up on the brake pedal---I suppose I think my weight will help slow this hurling missile- all I can think is I AM GOING TO HIT THAT CAR!  The bumper of the SUV in front of me is like a strong magnet and I am the opposite pole with no course but to be joined.  THANKFULLY--I skidded and squealed and stopped---heart pounding--shaking--praying---I stopped!  

If you come to a sign that says detour--do you think what could be the harm in keeping the course?  If the sign says bridge out- do you think it is probably not really out?  If the sign says--danger rising water--do you think it can not be that deep?  There are signs placed along the road to warn us of the danger ahead, but the choice of heeding the warning is ours.  Do you tend to place yourself in the path of danger or are you heedful of the warning and make the detour?   Is your patience thin and are you willing to risk the danger in your path when you do not obey the signs?

Life is like that---we have roadblocks and signs thrown in the path we are rushing down by our Father--you have two choices---You can listen to the warning that you are being given and take another route--or you can slam into the road block and bear the pain that results.  There is a reason that God throws roadblocks and posts warning signs in front of us.  Perhaps we are headed for something dangerous--or out of His will.  Perhaps He is teaching us obedience.  Perhaps there is a better way--a better path that He has planned.  We are not given those answers-but we are given the free will to turn or run headlong into the block or danger.  Either direction you chose, He will still love you and be by your side as you travel the path--He is trying to point you in the right direction though.  Stop-Listen and Obey!

"The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do."

Proverbs 16:9
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WHO STINKS????

With the 3 littlest boy grands---4 1/2- almost 3--and almost 9 months, I live in the Land of Poops and Toots!  LITTLE BOYS---can become rather fixated on producing smelly things so they can then ask the question---WHO STINKS?  and roar with laughter.  The 4 year old takes GREAT DELIGHT in calling out Mr. Pootie Head.  I try to NOT laugh, but sometimes it is impossible.  It is the way he says it and the tone he uses---MR POO-TA HEAD---with a mischievous grin and irresistible cackle.  

Those times that someone--might have a diaper that needs changing - or the room is filled with a pungent aroma-The GREAT SEARCH ensues---The mystery of the stink can rival the greatest mystery novels.  Most of the time---the mystery can be solved and the stinker nullified with a diaper change-- or the gleefully admitted guilt with the announcement, "I TOOTED!"  but there are times---the source of the smell-can not be traced and the entire crew are innocent unless proven guilty. 

I read recently a sweet friend's comment that he wished he had taken the dead skunk off a greater distance from his house.  Had that same experience with a dead dillo---if the stink is too close--it will permeate the very air you breathe and soak into the pores of your skin--contaminating EVERYTHING in the near vicinity.

So it is with sin---it stinks--oh you may try to disguise that aroma by applying some smell good disguise BUT underneath it stinks!  It will permeate and soak into our pores and we will reek of the sick aroma of it---until we confess what is causing the smell and then receive our cleansing-- We will just plain down right stink!  Momma was right again---I need a cleansing EVERY day!  I do not want to be the Stinker!

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

 and will cleanse us from all unrighteous."

I John 1:9

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DIGGING DEEPER!

Unofficial Fall has arrived!  The real Fall season does not come until later in the month, but once school begins AND football seasons kicks off---in our world here in the South --FALL is HERE!  I have been waiting all summer for this time to finally roll around--knowing how busy summer is and how many are away from their home bases during the summer--I have been anticipating things going back to normal and beginning activities to help build friendships here in Fort Worth.

I have joined a small group with the church I am attending---I was asked to be an accountability partner by one of the members----I have signed up and trained to be a tutor/mentor in an inner city school---I am going to my first women's Bible Study . I go to the Y's weight lifting class each week.  I am meeting people---LOTS OF THEM!  They all seem lovely--and most are very welcoming and interested in why I am here---frankly though a lot of it is a blur!   Hello--how are you--yes I moved here----- MANY faces and many names to go with those faces---it is difficult to keep it all straight.  I have to stop and remember how long it took me to build the sweet friendships I had in R.  I MISS those sweet friends--we knew each other so well!  There is a reason that God has me here--and I am looking---searching for it.  For now--I have to start at square one and begin to build new relationships.  How is this done--by spending time---listening--talking--communicating--being together. I must be courageous and take a step of faith by walking out the door and seeking fellowship.   It will take time and involvement to build those relationships.  With commitment, they will grow and we will draw near to each other--I have to be patient.

It is exactly like my relationship with my Father.  It has taken time to mature--time and willingness to listen, to share, to communicate.  Our relationship has grown much deeper over the past two years.  I have been actively seeking Him.   There is no other way to build that deep relationship with Him or a friend--but by committing time and energy to helping it to grow and deepen--there is just no other way!  When all else falls away--all we have is Him!  I am praying that we all dig deeper and know Him more intimately--a new season of renewed desire to know Him better.

"With my whole heart, I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments."

Psalm 119:10

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HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

We women come into the world loving "Happily Ever After".  It speaks to our hearts!  We all want to be saved by the knight in shining armor--for him to sweep in and save us from the evil that is trying to destroy us--and after declaring his ever lasting love for us---ride with us into the sunset --and we live happily ever after.

It can be a devastating blow when we realize that is not the way our lives are playing out.  Then we look around us and we perceive there are those that ARE living happily ever after---which begs the question---WHY NOT ME?  We see it played out over and over in novels--in movies--on television---and we begin to feel entitled to our own happy ending.

HERE IS THE TRUTH, GIRLS---we have been fed a lie by the world!  This is NOT to say that some do not live happy--contented--joy filled lives--it IS to say that we live in a Fallen World!  PERIOD!  If you allow yourself to believe this untruth--you are setting yourself up for a HUGE FALL when things do not go as planned!

I HAVE FOUND my new "Happily Ever After"---it is the story of redemption---redemption from pain, sorrow, heartbreak, death, illness, bankruptcy--YOU NAME IT---What EVER the world can throw at you--It can ALL be redeemed!  This is NOT to say---your knight is just around the corner, that your illness will be miraculously cured, that there will no longer be a loss of our loved ones, that your long lost EXTREMELY rich relative is going to leave all their worldly wealth to you--that you are going to win the power ball.  It IS TO SAY---if you FOLLOW HIM---CLING TO HIM---CLAIM HIM as your KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR---he WILL redeem it all.  BUT you need to remember, you may never see the redemption--nor know the way it has all been redeemed---BUT HE IS REDEEMING IT ALL!

I had the chair pulled out from under me---and do not have a knight in shining armor---BUT I KNOW in my heart of hearts---HE IS REDEEMING IT ALL!   I am not promised that all will be restored and even more---but I AM promised that He is in the business of redemption and will redeem it all.  I may never see or know on this earth how it has all been redeemed--BUT I TRUST HIM and believe in His Redemption Power---after all He has already done the biggest job by redeeming me from my sins---SO why wouldn't I believe that the rest will be likewise redeemed--HE IS IN THE BUSINESS OF REDEMPTION!

"O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with Him is full redemption."

Psalm 130:7

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UP FOR A CHALLENGE??????

I am taking a challenge that was given in church yesterday--60 days of intentional--walking with Christ--all day long everyday.  The scripture was taken from I John 1:1-7 and the book that the challenge is based upon is Soul Revolution by John Burke.

We are encouraged to set our watch to beep every hour--if you have one of those beeping watches like I do.  (He also said if you have someone in the bed with you -it might be good to leave it in the other room at night--LOL!)  The beep is a reminder to stop and examine where you are in your fellowship walk with Him.  This does NOT mean stop and pray at that point--it does mean evaluate how your constant stream of conversation with Him is going.  It's about the RELATIONSHIP! Here are my meager words of wisdom--at the end of the day---when the final curtain falls---all you REALLY HAVE are the relationships in your life---including the most important one--with Him!    

There is also a free app called Soul Revolution for smart phones that will give you a reminder every hour--the hours that you set---7AM to 10 PM for me--it will give you a scripture with the alert.     I chose this because I have worn my beeping watch so long, I do not consciously hear the beep.

The goal--a closer walk--moment by moment with Him--a heightening of consciousness of where your mind is during your day.  Training yourself to be conscious of your relationship and conversation with Him and what the distractions in your life are.  BELIEVE ME--my mind will not be where I desire it to be all day-everyday---BUT with this help--and learning the discipline of consciously seeking Him---I will report back to you in 60 days and tell you what God has shown me during the process.  By the way--the App has a countdown---for the 60 days--days and minutes in each hour--so let your countdown begin!

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE??

"God is light;in him there is no darkness at all.

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness,

we lie and do not live by the truth.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin."

I John 1:5-7

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STAND BY ME!

Before listening to this video-you need to go to the bottom of the page and pause the music from the blog by clicking on the left side -the two parallel lines in the blue bar.

There are times that a song says it so much better---put your toe tapping shoes on and get ready---I am joyfully dancing--

I have One that ALWAYS stands by me:

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will NEVER leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

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