Love or something like it...

I sat and listened. I wondered is this really what young people think? Read a book, get the way its done and it will work?

I ask, what's the book about and she replied love. Going further she explained I want a marriage that works and this book will help me. I thought about all the young people I knew that read books like this thinking it had some magical formula to make a marriage work and thought you need a book alright, but not the one you are reading. Why is it that we always reach for a book other than the Bible? The Bible teaches us all about love and how to make it work. All types of love are explained in the Bible and yet no one to take this wisdom from the Bible. It is easier to pick up a book by the latest love guru and believe it will happen.

Sad...sad...sad...

She went on how long have you been married? I replied since 1983 and how did it work? Lots of give and take...lots of turning the other cheek...lots of loving the other person in spite...She told me this book said you have to love yourself first and she agreed. I pondered a moment and replied "well I think our society does pretty well with loving ourselves first." What do you mean, she probbed...well look around you. Listen to the television isn't it all about what do you want? What do you need? How to get it and it is always about be sure you are getting everything that is rightfully yours. We have the me part down, it's the loving the other we don't have down very good. It's truly sad, what we older folks are leading our young people to believe.

The picture shows an older couple watching the sunset. It made me think I wonder how many times they picked up a book, rather than turn the other cheek...or say I know honey I love you...how many times they prayed Lord help us...Lord, forgive me and help me to turn the other cheek...

Indeed, love is turn the cheek and love in spite...Love is always saying you are sorry and asking forgiveness. After all, don't we all need forgiveness? I am reminded of Love Story and that famous line of love means never having to say your sorry...I disagree strongly. After all, dont' we ask Our Savior forgiveness? Shouldn't we ask the one we love forgiveness as well? After all, isn't this another way they know we care? We care if we want them to forgive us, right?

Anyway, pondering thoughts on love after discussions with a young girl....

Sweet blessings,
Debbie

Be encouraged!

Turning the page today, we found Paul sharing his testimony with the people, with the leaders, with anyone who would listen. Of course, not all listened and the crowds were still shouting and growing violent. At night alone, we are told the LORD appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged." Imagine! Paul probably was feeling pretty alone after the day he had and suddenly the Lord appeared to encourage him.

Have you had a time like that recently? I know quite a few people around me that have been feeling pretty beat up. Not physically by a person, but health wise or mentally indeed! It is my prayer that they were encouraged by a nudge from the Spirit that indeed they were not alone!

I was encouraged when I turned the page today and across it from last year I had written Kenny very sick, but I feel the LORD encouraging me here. It's been a year and he is getting better everyday and the LORD is still encouraging me. Yesterday, we got news that a great friend after four months in the hospital is coming home! Two days ago, we got word that another friend after a year battle with a diabetic wound it is finally healing. Another friend is finally feeling better after battling sinus issues for a year...We are encouraged! The Great Physician is at work!

It is my prayer that you are receiving the encouragement that you needed to hear this morning that the LORD is working and healing! He is with you each step you take and will never leave you! Be encouraged and give Him praise!

Did you notice the picture? When I typed in encouragment this came up with steps to paradise and I thought someone needs to be encouraged to take steps toward paradise...so take the steps!

Sweet Blessings,
Debbie

Bound, but willing

Over and over today the reading stated Paul knew that jail and suffering were ahead. The Spirit warned him, the people warned him, but yet he was willing. Willing to proceed to Jerusalem.

I kept asking myself would I proceed? Would I keep taking boat after boat to suffering? It wasn't an exotic vacation, waiting but...it was eternal life! He was upset by the tears and crying, telling the people you are breaking my heart. Would it break your heart that people cared? They cared about Paul, but were forgetting the big picture. Do we forget the big picture? The picture of doing whatever for the sake of the LORD?

Paul was praising God. Paul was preaching. Paul wasn't hiding, he immediately met with believers and went to the temple. He was letting his light shine in public doing what God called him to do...Are we doing what God calls us to do?

I was reading Kay Warren's new book ~ Say Yes To God and it is fabulous! The point was to say are we willing to surrender to whatever God calls us to? Are we willing to die? Are we willing to let others call us Jesus crazies? Are we willing to be alone? Are we willing to suffer?

Yes Lord I am willing, but that doesn't mean I don't say that with a little bit of hesitancy and concern...but all I know is that I want to pursue God with all my heart so that means I will respond with YES LORD - will you???

Sweet Blessings,
Debbie

Asleep?

Today, my eyes captured the scriptures from Acts 20:7-12...I am going to ask you to place yourself in the story...It was the beginning of a busy week, but tonight you are going to gather with other believers to share the LORD'S supper and say good bye to Paul. You arrive to a room that is lit with flickering candles, perhaps share fellowship, a meal and you sit towards the back of the room to listen to Paul speak before he leaves town. You are tired. You had a lot to catch up on, since the week was starting over and yet you couldn't miss this time together.

You settle in the back next to the windowsill to catch a breath of fresh air as you listen. You listen and you feel totally at peace. You are among other believers, you are with those you love, you feel peace in your heart, you give into the worn out body from work and the darkness of the room lulls you to sleep. Suddenly, you have fallen out of the room into the air landing 3 floors below.

I must pause here a moment and ask us to look at ourselves before we make any judgment about this happening. Take Sunday morning you've had a long week, but you get up and head to church. You walk in grab your usual seat and speak to a few people in passing and wait for the message. The whole time with thoughts of all the things you need to do going through your head. You begin to make mental notes of the things and marking things off the list, when suddenly you look at your watch and the preacher is over by 10 minutes, 15 minutes and you are boiling...you aren't sleeping you are mad...What does he mean going over time? We give him a certain amount of time and he thinks he can go over? Okay, maybe you aren't that bad, but have you had similar thoughts??? Be honest at least with yourself. First, off you've missed the whole sermon with your to do list going on...you've just sat in your seat making an appearance..you want credit for showing up is all you did and yet you are angry. You don't know what he even said, but he's over...

I find the story from Acts different. Yes, he fell asleep, but he had other factors...It was dark and only lit by candles. It was after the evening meal, a long day of work and it tells us it was after midnight...not a few minutes talk - a long talk. Perhaps others were feeling the same way and this was God's way of getting everyone's attention...He fell 3 stories and Paul went bent over him, said a few words and brought him back to them. We are told they returned shared the Lord's Supper, and Paul spoke until after dawn and then he left. I think this woke them up to hear more powerful words from Paul before he left. What a visual to finish off the sermon with the impact to make a difference for the Kingdom!

God is so amazing! He wanted these people on fire for Him and He wanted to get their attention! What does He have to do to get our attention?

I feel the excitement in that room and know these people were ready to speak to others about Him! Do you? Are you ready? Why is it hard to speak to others about Our Savior? He is amazing, so why don't we want to share this amazing story along with others? God isn't ho hum -- oh no He is all out! Doesn't He amaze you with the way He shows up? The Word from a friend that you know God placed that word in their mouth to share with you? The Word from the pulpit that hits you right between the eyes and without a doubt God sent to you? What about the amazing way He shows up in His Words?

Don't get caught up in you to do list that you miss His words for you...I think about all the times I have sat in the pew and missed my words because I wasn't listening. Not only could God not amaze somebody with me falling out of a window, but my heart and ears weren't open to even let the light shine through...Don't be the one just showing up and grabbing your seat without feeling the love, the peace that passes all understanding flowing around you to just pass the time and get credit for showing up...Don't miss God's amazing love being passed through someone around you!

Sweet blessings,
Debbie