Archive for October, 2008
October 31, 2008
· Filed under relationships · Tagged actions, feelings, forgiveness, God, hurt, Jesus, love, prayer, relationships, words
Forgiveness can be tough.
Has anyone ever said something or done something to you that hurt your feelings? You wonder to yourself, “how could they have done that, or said that?” Don’t they understand what they are doing, or did do?
When we get hurt, or feel wronged in some way, it is a natural reaction to want to see that justice is rendered somehow. Of course, there is nothing wrong with justice, but there is a healthy and non healthy way to accomplish it. Sometimes, finding a way to make things right is sufficient.
In relationships, many times it’s not so much that a wrong has been committed, but that there was a misunderstanding. The words we may have used could have been too strong, or too weak, or not the right words in the first place. Perhaps our mannerisms may have been misconstrued. By trying to understand one another and keeping the lines of communication open we can avoid bitterness and anger.
This is where forgiveness becomes so important. I would like to know that I would be forgiven if I made a mistake, so I also need to be ready to forgive someone else if they made one.
The Lord’s prayer tells us “to forgive others as we have been forgiven”. Our Heavenly Father granted us the greatest forgiveness by His Son dying on the cross for all our transgressions. When I received that kind of amazing love it became more natural to extend that love to someone else. Forgiveness is one of the most powerful ways I can express my love for others. How about you?
October 30, 2008
· Filed under relationships · Tagged blessing, Christian, disaster, encouragement, faith, fire, God, holiday, problem, relationship, thankful
I am already looking forward to Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays. So much goodness can be associated with it. When I stop to think about all I have to be thankful for, problems I thought I had can fade away. If I start my day in a spirit of thankfulness, my attitude already softens. Being reminded to also “give” thanks projects goodness outward and affects people around me.
Who are you giving thanks to? If you think about it, there are probably many people in your life deserving of a hearty “thank you”! Besides the obvious good things that folks do for us, even things that might seem bad at first can end up turning out for the good. It’s not easy to feel thankful when an event looks or feels bad. When our house burned down, things seemed pretty bad at first. I remember asking God why He would allow that to happen. But as time went by, I found out that our lives became better because of it!
Only God can turn something disastrous into a blessing. He promises to work “all” things out for the good. Because of my close relationship with Him, my faith can sustain me while I wait on Him for the “good” ending to the story.
Now that’s something to really be thankful for !
October 29, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged anxiety, encouragement, fear, forward, God, help, horse, power, unknown
Sometimes when I ride my horse through an area he has never been before, he will stop and not seem to want to go forward. As I give him the signal to move on, he may slowly move ahead, or sidestep to avoid really having to go forward. He sometimes needs some extra help to get over any fear he has and enter into the unknown. Once in awhile, I will get off and quietly lead him through the area until he is ok with it. I always like the fact that although he may be reluctant at times, he is still willing to give it a try.
Many times in my life, when I feel afraid, I want to sidestep away from a straightforward course. It may seem easier to avoid whatever it is I should do. This seems to just make matters worse by prolonging the anxiety feeling that follows me around. I have found that if I ask for God’s help, He is always willing to help lead me forward into the unknown. He tells me through His word that He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of a sound mind.
With “Him” to guide me into the unknown, I know that I can be “more” than willing !
October 28, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged adventure, Bible, discovery, encouragement, exercise, Lord, neighborhood, thoughts, walking
Today I experienced a whole new place. It was a place I had not seen before. It was new to me so I felt a sense of adventure. It was a “new discovery”! The people were friendly, the flowers and trees were pretty…………..Where was this great find? It was my own neighborhood!
I had decided to go for a walk. I tended to want to walk the same ”tried and true” route, knowing exactly how many minutes it would take, but today, why not? How about something new? Well, I surprised myself when I discovered a part of my neighborhood I never knew existed. The added bonus was that the flavor of the day changed from uneventful, routine and dull———to an exciting anticipation of what might be around the corner!
As I walked home, I was reminded that each day can be turned into an adventure, because we really don’t know exactly how the day will unfold. In the Bible we are told about living each day with joyful anticipation. Every day is “the day that the Lord has made”.
So instead of thinking each day will be the same “tried and true”, let’s see what the Lord will do! Even in your own neighborhood!
October 27, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged assumptions, Bible, Christian, encouragement, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus, Lord, mirror, Savior, thoughts
I heard someone say, “what would I be thinking about myself, if I didn’t even know it was me?”
Let’s say you were standing outside yourself and you were describing you, without being you. What would you have to say? Well, first of all, you don’t know this person, so you could start making assumptions. If these assumptions are wrong, and if they were negative, you would feel very bad about thinking those things about yourself!
In Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, He said, “why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”
Sometimes I need to take a good look at myself. Sometimes I need to tell myself the truth, whether it’s good or bad. Sometimes I need a close friend to help me do this. Frankly, it’s scarey. Looking in the “mirror” may not be pleasant (especially if you are older like me!), but the good news is, there is hope.
Jesus promises that we have the power of the Holy Spirit to draw on when we are faced with the truth. By receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, I now have the Holy Spirit to help me change whatever it is that needs to be changed. Our Lord promises that we become a “new” creation in Him. The old has passed away, for good. Forever………………Now looking in the “mirror” can become a whole “new” experience!
October 25, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged beliefs, Bible, Christian, facts, thoughts, truth
“Just the facts, madam, just the facts”.
What a familiar phrase to those of us who used to watch a television program called ”Dragnet”. The detective would remind people to give him “just the facts”. Many times people’s emotions would get in the way and cloud or distort the reality of the “facts”.
Factual information is often what helps lead us into the truth of a matter. We can speculate and we can form opinions, but ultimately, clear cut facts are hard to argue against. Interestingly, sometimes facts don’t become facts———until “after the fact” !
Facts are defined as “objective truth”. So, when someone says, “as a matter of fact”, does that mean that what is stated is “true”? Hmmmm……………..
How about something factual? Well, the sun rises every morning and sets every evening and “that’s a fact!” We all know that to be true, we have all seen it for ourselves. So if something is witnessed, then that something can become fact. Therefore, it can then become truth? Hmmmmmm……………
In the television program “Dragnet”, witnesses were very important to get to the truth of what really happened. In the Christian Bible, eye witness accounts were duly recorded. These “facts” were handed down through the generations for anyone who would want to know them. Now the question is, do I believe?
Hmmmmmm…………………….
October 23, 2008
· Filed under relationships · Tagged caring, cooperation, empathy, love, relationships, respect
It was a brief stand-off.
The sun was setting, the lighting had gone dim. I latched the gate to the horse corral and turned to begin my walk back to the barn area. It was then that I noticed a coyote slowly trotting toward me, only about fifteen yards away and steadily advancing. I stood very still, transfixed, wondering why he had seemingly not noticed me. Only six feet from me he stopped and did not move. I knew he had just now realized I was standing there. In between him and me was a round cement post which was just wide enough to block me from seeing him on the other side. I knew he was still there and he knew I was still there! Neither of us moved. I waited for him to move and it seemed he was waiting for me to move! Not ever being faced with this type of situation, I was not really sure what would be the safest thing to do. If I moved, would I frighten him? Would he then attack me or would he run away? It seemed a very long time we waited on each other. It became almost humorous, as if he was thinking the same things about me?
Well, I finally took a chance and chose to slowly turn and walk in the opposite direction from where he was standing. As I did so, he did the same thing and I saw him slowly trotting away from me. We both casually moved away from each other in our own directions. No harm done.
This reminded me of how it can sometimes be with relationships. There can be a “cement post” in the way, blocking our way to understanding one another. Each person on either side wondering about the other person’s possible reactions, afraid to make a move, for fear of hurting one another or getting hurt. So nobody does anything, both sides waiting for the other to make a “move” ?
Take a chance, make a move – you just might find out that you can get along, even in each other’s territory!
October 22, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged Christian, eternal, exercise, Jesus, life, swimming, thirst, water
Water is truly amazing. We clean with it, play in it, admire it and most importantly drink it. Without it, we would die and so would all the plants and animals. Life on earth would not exist. It really is a most precious commodity.
I also like to swim laps in it. This has been a part of my exercise routine for the last twenty five years and has always served to replenish me mentally as well as physically. Drinking water to quench my thirst gives me a physical boost, and swimming laps gives me an adrenalin boost. Both are important aspects to providing and improving my life here on earth. But what about eternal life?
Jesus said, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. It will become a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Apparently there is more to “water” than meets the eye! Besides drinking water from your own cup, drink the water that Jesus has to offer, from “His” cup. Your thirst will be “eternally” quenched!
October 21, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged Bible, Christian, faith, Jesus, money, trust
Who do you trust? What do you put your trust “in”? I suppose most of us would think first about our relationships. What people in our life do we put our trust. And then we could also think about material objects that we trust, such as buildings, roads, tools, etc. Our American currency states “in God we trust”. Well, we all know by now that our currency isn’t the best place to put our trust!
So how about God? After all, the phrase “in God we trust” is something we’ve all heard or read at some point. I have put my trust in God. I also admit that there have been many times when I have felt like “He” has broken that trust and failed me. Even Jesus, who was dying on the cross, cried out to God, “why have you forsaken me”?
So then, why should I put my trust in anyone or anything, even God? Whenever that question comes up, I am reminded that trust isn’t complete without the element of faith. My faith will always have to carry me through the times when it seems that trust has been broken. Eventually, at the end of the day and at the end of my life, it is where I put my faith that will really matter.
October 20, 2008
· Filed under thoughts · Tagged Bible, Christian, encouragement, laughter, medicine
Has anyone ever told you that laughter is good medicine? When you smile and laugh at life, all of a sudden things seem better. Smiling and laughing promote a feeling of being merry. In the Bible, there are many references to being merry. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance” is one of my favorites. So how can I be merry amidst all the troubles of life?
Jesus said, “be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”.
Wow! Jesus has already taken care of everything! All I have to do is give my burdens to “Him”. He can handle it, no problem! Not only did He give His life for me but He promises to take care of everything. Well then, that sure puts a different spin on things. No other medicine on earth can make that claim!
Cheers!!
