Sunday, February 28, 2010

Honesty IS the Best Policy


Hello Bible Study Ladies!

This is Laura, and I'm guest blogging today! How wonderful and thrilling and scary ... all at the same time!

I want you to know that I'm praying for ALL of you as you are in the process of cleaning out your "thought closets"! Have you been honest with what you need to get rid of? Boy! I am 65 years old (shhhh, it's a secret) and I've had some real revelations about what thoughts have had control in my life. I'm being honest because I really did not think I was so down on myself! How about you?

A precious verse to dwell on (it's for you and me!) is Philippians 4:8. Honestly, I believe it will change your way of thinking ... and your day! I encourage you to take a minute and see for yourself.


Your fellow closet cleaner,
Laura

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Run the Race and Finish Well



It's been three weeks since my momma's Home-Going. Three long or short weeks, depending on how I feel at the time. Not sure I could adequately describe how I've felt at any given time throughout these past weeks ... but one thing I know that I know that I know ... Heavenly Father has been faithful to this humble and weak servant!

My chosen 2010 word is TRUST. Little did I know I would be asked to TRUST so much right out of the box! I suppose the test of whether to TRUST God wholly, or carry myself with hurt and worry was yet another opportunity for me to see and feel His love and care for every detail of my life.

We've just finished a very looong weekend of cleaning, sorting, and moving things from mom's house. Today I'm headed back to work ... back to reality. Mom's "stuff" is moved - gone - disposed of - the place is empty - empty like a whole in my heart. But there are some beautiful reminders now inside my home, which are encouragements to me every time I look at them. Things that say "Kay, run the race with perseverance and finish well!" I can actually see the open arms of Jesus.

Re-read 2 Corinthians 4: 2-18 if you can do it with me this week. I've listed some highlighted verses below that I am concentrating on.

VERSE 7: But this precious treasure-this light and power that now shine within us-is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.
VERSES 8-9: We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.
VERSE 16: That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.
VERSE 17: For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!
VERSE 18: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

These verses are a great reminder to me that there is a bigger reason to finish well ... so that we can hear God say "Well done, my good and faithful servant! Come and share your Master's happiness!"

So ... what's your 2010 word?

Friday, February 19, 2010

Not So Well With My Soul


IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

If you know me and know the songs that I have collected and sung throughout the years, you would know that's one of my key songs .... but it doesn't have to be well with your circumstances to be well with your soul. God has continued to show me this truth throughout the seasons of my life. I really mean it ... it is well with my soul. He has once again lovingly led me to this theme through Jennifer Rothschild's bible study entitled Me Myself & Lies.

The month of January has proven to test my trust in God in ways I could never have imagined. Let's take the gall-bladder surgery the first week of January ... the process of saying Goodbye Ms. Bladdie. Months worth of gallbladder attacks, stress, and the many unknowns as I watched myself and my health spiral downward, not knowing exactly what was happening to me. My self talk wasn't exactly confident, pretty or spiritual ... why can't I just pick myself up and feel better, everyone else does! But the words I spoke to my soul really did make it "well" with my soul. Lord, I know you love me enough to hear my cry and I boldly approach your throne. See the difference?

Continuing on through January ... let's take the untimely death of a dear old friend during the second week of January, whose life was snuffed out in the Haiti earthquake. Jeanne Acheson-Munos is now enjoying heaven. My self talk was full of fear and disbelief! Why would God take Rev. Acheson's only daughter now when she and Jack were doing so much good as missionaries? I begged the Lord to make a way for them to find her in the rubble. But my soul talk spoke words of peace through His Word ... Lord, please let revival begin amidst the hearts of those left behind who are hurting, starting with my own. See the difference?

Continuing on through January ... let's take the heartbreak and shock of my mom's death during the last week of January. We celebrated her earthly christian life and rejoiced knowing that she met Jesus face-to-face. But it is bittersweet. Just imagine my self talk, soul talk on that one?! And it continues even now! But ... there IS a difference.

What's your self talk, soul talk? The words you speak to your own soul really can make it "well" or "not so well" with your soul. Why? Because words have great influence ... even the ones you silently speak to yourself. That's why it matters how you use them.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Blog is Born: Grace 4 Today


There's just something so special about going to your computer-mailbox to find that you've got mail ... not a bill, not a piece of advertisement ... but a real letter written just to you from someone who cares about you.

This blog and its author desires to bless you with just that. Filled with thoughts and letters from someone like yourself about the very best friend of all -- your Heavenly Father. It is my hope and prayer that a community of women will be born as we identify with the prayers, needs, emotions, feelings, and struggles that life presents to us on a regular basis. Let this little blog bring you closer to the heavenlies and to the living loving breathing word of God that will guide us today, tomorrow, and into our eternal destination.

GRACE 4 TODAY:
Words of encouragement from God (excerpt from Heavenly Mail by Philis Boultinghouse):

A LETTER TO HEAVEN:

Dear Father,
I come to you needing your calming peace. Lately, my heart has been all tied up in knots, and my head has been full of worry. I don't know how long its been since I've felt truly at peace. It's as if there's a huge boulder in my life, and it's my job to carry it. I've got it up on my shoulders, but I'm crushed by its weight and I'm going nowhere. The peace I once knew has totally left me, and it's been replaced by nagging worries and self-doubt. I've thought and thought about what I can do to fix this mess, but it seems to be out of my control. It's too big for me. I've prayed about it -- oh, how I've prayed! But that big boulder is still up there. This burden is with me in everything I do. I carry it with me everywhere I go. I can't get free of it. I long for your peace. I ache for your comfort. Hold me in your arms. Take this burden from me.
Your Fretful Child

A LETTER FROM HEAVEN:

Dear Fretful Child,
The burden you are trying to carry is not yours --- it belongs to me. Have I not told you to cast all your anxieties on Me? If you will throw your cares on Me, I will sustain you. I never let My righteous ones fall. If you will but let Me, I will remove the burden from your shoulders and set your hands free. Though you have prayed about your worries, you have not left them at My feet. Everytime you leave My throne-room, you pick them back up and take them with you. Instead of trying to figure all this out on your own, you must trust Me with all your heart. If you will acknowledge Me and My power, I will make your paths straight. Whenever you find yourself beginning to worry, re-direct your worries into fervent prayer. Pour out your heart to Me, for I am your God of refuge. Bring everything to me -- all your requests and petitions, and bring some thanks too. If you will learn to substitute prayer for anxiety, you will find that My peace will begin to fill your heart and your mind. Whatever troubles you, you can look to Me and know that I will rescue you. I have never forsaken those who seek me.
Your God of Rescue

From 1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalms 55:22; 81:6-7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 62:8; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 9:10