Thoughts of time!

Time is passing by so quickly I can hardly keep track of the date. I need to keep some sort of track as Popa has a doctor's appointment next week and it has already been postponed once. He keep asking me what day it is and I keep saying "I don't have a clue". "Uh-duh", he says back at me. He has known for some time that I don't have a clue and is just happy that I have come to realize it for myself. HA! (and we aren't talking about the date here) I often find myself confounded by the fact that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and the all knowing sovereign ruler of the universe. No time constraint in HIS frame of reference. HE was, HE is, and HE always will be. HE never changes, HE never leaves me, HE simply is present. I am grateful for HIS constant care in my life and that nothing takes HIM by surprise. HIS commitment to be "in the know" never changes, HE knows my name, my whereabouts, and what time it is.  Nothing takes HIM by surprise; so glad HE is in control!

Once again Island Thoughts

Just so happens we find ourselves living on this island several months out of each year. Because it is a small island, we find ourselves surrounded by masses of people which takes some getting use to. The driving is bizarre, the weather is HOT and HUMID, the food is spicy and the people are God's creation. It is the people that pull at our heart strings and compel us to make the long journey over and over again. Of course, the people on the other side pull at our heart strings and we find ourselves eager to see them and spend time with them. I often say "there is nothing quite like grandchildren." They are a lot like God, they love you even when you don't deserve it and they bring utter delight to your life. It is sometime possible to feel isolated when you live on an island but the truth is that God never isolates HIMSELF from us, HE is ever present, ever faithful and ever willing to hear our prayers. If you are feeling isolated by circumstances today, just whisper a prayer and HE, the God of all creation, will comfort you and envelope you with HIS love. Remember there are two sides to almost everything! For us it is an island side with those who love us and a USA side filled with those whose love makes our world go around.

Thoughts of where oh where have the years gone?

Celebrated Daughter #1 Birthday at Cottage Grove Lake this week-end. This is the campground where she learned to ride her bike, lost her first tooth and learned to water ski. Cannot believe she has graced our lives with 38 years but it appears she has. We have loved her through them all and have been loved by her through them all. She shared the lake with her children this week-end and they loved it as much as she. She is a loving wife and mother. We are proud to call her our own and look forward to the next 38 years. She loves God and HIS church and this is all a mother could ask for. Happy Birthday to a beautiful lady!!!!!!!

Thoughts of middle daughter!

Thirty-five years ago our 2nd daughter was born. She was beautiful when we were first introduced and she remains beautiful to this day. This last year she displayed great inner beauty and became the adoptive mother of five children. She loves God and works hard at becoming more like Christ every year of her life. I am thankful to be in relationship with her and grateful that she loves me. I pray daily that she will be a great mother and that her children will rise up and call her blessed. She is a blessing to others and definitely a blessing to this mother. May her year be rich and full!

perplexing thoughts

How is that a few can steer a ship away from safety? How is that a few can turn a nation away from God? Why is it that the weakest link becomes the predominant link? I am alarmed at what we have become as a society. Where is the effect of a little leavening or the biblical idea that a little salt or a little light can change the entire environment. I do believe we are called to love the unlovely, but do we have to adapt to their preferred environment to prove we love them? Blending in has become our undoing! I cannot find the standard of righteousness that the bible declares is proof of our love of God. We as a nation have come to our current state not in one giant leap but baby step by baby step not realizing that we have and are leaving behind the standard of the ONE who loved us and gave HIS life to redeem us from sin. What does God require of us as proof that we love HIM, that we keep his commandments John 14:15. We are not to be conformed to this world. I am observing a lot of people want to fit into the world but very few understand what it means to be identified with Christ. A mentor of mine has always said "living for Jesus is not seeing how close you can walk to the world without sinning but living as far away from the world as possible and still loving the sinner." I believe the lie of the enemy has been to convince the Christian that loving the sinner is trying to find common ground with them. I find that all to often the Christian is drawn away subtlety into the ways of the ungodly rather than the ungodly being drawn into a life of godliness. That is why the bible says come ye out from among them, be ye separate. 2 Cor 6:17. I don't want to be compared to anyone in this world, I want to be compared to Jesus Christ. When I compare myself to others, I always come up short, when I compare myself to Christ I am filled with the grace to say "no" to sin and to the compromises that lead to sin. I find Christians in business with non-Christians, believers dating non-believers, and churches who have watered down their standards so that no one will get offended. The cross was meant to offend. I am perplexed and undone! What is my role to be in this current situation. I want to run away, I want to hide my grandchildren in a cocoon and protect their innocence as long as possible. I am perplexed by it all!

Provoking thoughts for June 2012

Note the title, just in case I blogged under 'Provoking Thoughts' before. I have been reading the 5th chapter of James over and over and have begun to ponder and re-think some of my previous conclusions. 1. When the sick call for the elders of the church to come and pray, it is the elders faith that is needed, not the sick persons faith. (whew, that takes some of the pressure off the guy who is already suffering). 2. WE always think that the sick person should confess their sins and be healed, how about if those praying confess their sins and therefore their faith is no longer hindered and healing takes place for those they are praying for.....just a thought! 3. the patience of Job is often thought of as being in a place of peace waiting for God to show up......what if having peace is not the key, but the strength to endure and keep believing God loves you. Endurance does not always include peace. I know Job was discouraged, for goodness sake, he sat in sackcloth and ashes....that does not create a picture of peace in my mind. 4. We always think that verse 9 means Christ is about to appear in the clouds of glory, I'm talking imminently here, but the verse says he's standing at the door.....who knows when he will open it....all we know is that HE WILL!!!! 5. It is our responsibility as the redeemed, who have experienced the love of God, to be busy trying to convert others from the error of believing that sin is not going to be punished. We are to snatch them from the very fire of hell.

New thoughts regarding how much I love God vs how much HE loves me. I can never love him enough to be found righteous....HIS love for me, however, allows HIM to see me as righteous and I am compelled to live righteously because I have experienced the magnitude of HIS great love for me. I don't serve because I love HIM, I serve because HIS love compels me to serve; HIS love becomes the enablement to live upright among fallen humanity.

If these thought provoke you to know God more, great! If they do not, just put them in your mental junk mail and carry on being loved by the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth.

Questioning Thoughts

Time is passing very quickly! I find myself questioning my accomplishments for the day; questioning my motives for service and even questioning my personal resolve. I find it very comforting to know ONE who never changes, who is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Of greater comfort is to be known by HIM and still be accepted and loved. I find the simple but complex demonstrations of love bestowed upon me as contemplative as any elusive diagnosis. Others choosing to love me by the mere exertion of their will has provoked me to find a true Christ-likeness I desperately want to imitate. I seem to be caught up in this season of life between loving God and people and questioning the effects of a rare disease. Poor Papa, he troops through it all like a stedfast soldier bent on making his maker proud. I sometimes want to throw up my hands and say "I quit"; however the sounds of those words don't change the reality of my current life and I am left with questioning thoughts!

Questioning

I wonder THOUGHTS!

I wonder what this season in our lives is really about. I wonder if we are gaining wisdom as we traverse through these difficult passages. I wonder if our hearts and minds are focused on the things that really matter. I wonder...........................................

Papa has had four eye surgeries since December 21st, 2011 and his eyesight is not stable; I no longer wonder if we take sight for granted. Papa has had to be in a specific position for adequate healing of the macular hole; I no longer wonder if the human body can remain face down for seven weeks and survive. Papa has had to let me do all the driving. I no longer wonder if I can drive in excessive traffic at all times of the day and night. Papa has had to let me do all the lifting; I no longer wonder how much I can lift and how often I can lift it. Papa has been house bound; I no longer wonder if we can maintain our sanity if we don't get out at least once a day. Papa has devoured the word of God; I no longer wonder if he can live it out. I have witnessed first hand what it means to be content whether we are abased or abounding. I only wonder if we are pleasing unto our Maker; I do not wonder if we volunteered to be made into HIS likeness.

Wonder is thought provoking and leads us to self examination.....this can be a good thing! We all get to make choices, I wonder......will we choose to be like Jesus?

Thoughts of 33 years ago today!

My third daughter was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka at Joseph Frazier hospital thirty-three years ago today. Where have the years gone? She is a lover of God and family. I am amazed at her determination to walk upright even in difficult situations. My heart is filled with awe and pride that she is my offspring. How did God do that in spite of who I am? I love who she was as a child and I love who she is as an adult. She is a great wife and mother and her family does called her blessed. Her compassion never fails and she serves with a great heart and attitude; one that inspires others to raise their own standards. May she find the necessary grace and strength to rise to new heights this year and may her life exemplify Jesus in all she does. Happy Birthday, you are a treasure and we celebrate YOU!