The Law of Kindness

The simulcast was amazing as always.  Plus it really convicted me that I need to be speak more the Law/The Torah of Kindness.  In particular, there are certain people that I would be wise to stop and consider what I am about to say/post/complain about before I speak.  I really do need to stop and consider not only what I am about to say but also about my motivation for speaking.  I need to remember that what I put out there in the form of words (spoken or writen) needs to be guarded and brought under the discipline of God.  All to often I tend to complain, particularly about certain people, but also sometimes of the circumstances God has placed in my life instead of following the guidance of Colossians 3:12 where I am instructed to be thankful in all circumstances.  When I really stop and consider just what my life here in the USA is like compared to so many other places in the world, I have nothing to complain about and everything to be thankful for. 

Beth Moore tomorrow

Tomorrow is the Beth Moore Simulcast that the church I attend is once again broadcasting.  I really enjoy Beth's messages and look forward to these every year.  I also have an opportunity to see people I don't get to see to often.  Don't think food will be an issue but am carrying my little food chopper just in case.  I am hoping Beth covers information from her latest book on dealing with insecurity.  This is an issue that so many women deal with, myself included. We will also be debuting the new Women's Ministry t-shirts.  Like the colors but am not real certain I like the new Women's Ministry logo (church logo is okay).  I just don't know how I feel about being called a "Jesus Girl" at my age.  However, like the meaning and significance.  This is sure to be a good day even though it means an early start.

It's Amazing

It is truely amazing how God allows each of us to hear just what he wants us to hear from a message/sermon even if it is totally different.  Yesterday as I glanced through the various posts on Facebook by people who had heard the same sermon I had that morning, I was amazed by how each of us heard different things.  What each of us heard was of importance and significance to each of us.  Some of us heard how powerful God is, some how he has a purpose for each of us, and others how we need to be of service to others.  Yet the sermon words were the same.  Each person was setting in the same service and heard the exact same sermon.  It just totally blows me away when God mets each of just where we are at that moment in our life and gives us just the message we need to hear. 
It is the same with prayer.  God heards lots of prayers all at the same time, and in some case all for the same people but the response he gives to each person who prays maybe different. 
What a truely wonderful and awesome God we serve that can speak to each person's heart. It makes me feel humble and also makes me want to be obedient to the message I hear.

Good intentions

I keep telling myself that I will post regularly but things (life) just seems to get in the way.  Is that the way with our relationship with God sometimes.  I let other things get in the way.  Yes, they are good things, they can even be things I know God wants me to do.  However, he also desires for me to spend time with him alone. 
Today as I sat knitting I was reminded again that when I follow the pattern things go so well and the piece looks like it was designed to look.  However, when I don't keep my attention focused on the pattern the work does not go well and the piece does not turn out.  Same thing with following God's instructions/pattern.  I also realized that at times he wants me to just spend time alone with him studying, praying, listening and RESTING.  I can allow myself to get to busy with life that I forget to just take time to rest in God's presence. 
I have also been struggling with the issue of waiting upon the Lord.  By that I mean being patient and waiting for God's answer in God's time.  I am preparing for WLS and everything has come down to one last item from my primary care physician in order for the Bariatric Surgeon to schedule the surgery.  I keep getting impatient with my PCP because I want her to hurry up and write the document and fax it to the surgeon's office.  I have to remind myself that I am not her only patient and this will happen on her time schedule and God's which isn't always as fast as mine.
The other thing on my mind recently has been that God does not answer "Maybe".  His answer is either "yes, no, or wait" but it is never "maybe".  He does not say "well maybe I'll let you do that even though I know it is the wrong choice."  He also does not say "well maybe I'll have you serve in a foriegn mission field".  He gives us a clear calling and clear answers.   I however, don't always listen or chose to accept his answer.  I keep trying to turn a "no" into a "yes" and a "wait" into a "yes, now".  When I do that I am unhappy and things do not go well.  I become anxious, angry, irritable, and unfortunately those around me often suffer.
Lord, today my prayer is that you help me to hear your answers clearly and accept the "no's" and "waits" as readily as I do the "yeses".  Help me to keep my attention on your pattern for my life and to follow your instructions.  Relieve me of my selfishness and self-centeredness.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

A Much Better Week

Although I am still missing my old clown dog, I had a very productive weekend.   I am looking forward to a much better week.  Tomorrow I have my visit with my primary care physician to get my medical clearance for bariatric surgery.  Over the weekend I finished a crocheted cotton Empire top, my first serious cable project, and learned to make socks.  The cable project is a purse.  I used some fat quarters I got a Hobby Lobby to make the lining and added some studs from my Beadazzler.  The socks took so long to figure out because it took me a while to locate a website that explained that knitting in the round is a little different from flat knitting.  With knitting in the round to make sockinette stitching and garter stitching you do just the opposite of what you do for flat knitting.  It made me think of the fact that although there are several good theologians and preachers whose sermans can be found on the good Christian websites, there are also those who are not completely Biblical.  Several are what are commonly called Good New/Prosperity Evangelists.  You have to find the complete instructions and for that the website is the Bible.  Only by studying the Bible in its entirity can you learn what you really need to have your life knit together as God intends.  By that I don't mean that you must read the whole Bible every time you hear something but that you must read the full passage and take it in context.  It is also very helpful if you can also study the Bible with a few reliable teachers, in a group so that you are not basing your understanding on your own interpretation.  Then you are more apt to grasp the full content of God's message (his instructions).  Like the socks, when I do that things flow so easily.  However, when I don't I struggle.  With the socks that means I have to unravel stitches and sometimes rows and start over.  With my live, I go through periods when things are just not right and again I struggle with doubts, irritability, fear, etc.
I also read a really wonderful devotational this morning that came in my email.  It talked about how sometimes we just need to sit in silence with God.  This is a skill that has taken a long time for me to acquire but one that every time I will slow down long enough to do it, brings rewards. 
Therefore, my prayer today is that I will spend time in God's Word learning his instructions for my life but that I will also spend some time just being silent before him as a form of prayer and a sign of my obedience.

Sad weekend

It has been a very sad weekend around my house.  Sunday morning when I got up to go to church I discovered our old dachsund/beagle mix Doodle Bug had died during the night.  So instead of going to church I took a trip to the emergency clinic to have them take care of the body.  He will be very sorely missed.  He brought us so much joy and laughter.  He truely was our little fat clown dog.  Our other little dog is at a loss as she can not really understand what has happened.  She has been very quite and just follows us around from room to room.  I prefer to think that he is now in heaven making the angels laugh.  As for me every time I think of him I start crying.  I know my tears are for me and my loss because he is most certainly healthier where he is.  Some people may think it is silly to grieve the loss of a dog but they are just as much my friends as any human. 

I've been out of the loop

Have spent the last week battling the crouping crud that seems to be making the rounds.  Missed three days of work and some activities.  I seem to be on the mend though so hopefully sometime this week will get back in the swing of things.  Have not really been in much of a mood to write lately.  May need to dig out the Daily Writer or the assignments from there that I never started.  Have been much more active with my knitting and crocheting.  I am also approaching the final items on my pre-op checklist in preparation for bariatric surgery.  Was in good stride to lose the last five pounds when the crud hit and have not been to the gym in over a week.  Hopefully the first the month will start a new page.  Have stayed within point for the last three days which is a break through there.  After my PCP put me on Metformin was really struggling with hunger cravings so instead of loosing weight like most people do when put on that prescription I was stalled and about to start back up.  Doing better now that I have stopped the medication.  Am also considering taking a summer Bible study.  Have gotten very lax in that area also and really need to get back into a routine.