Encouragement

This morning at church a woman hugged me said, "I am so glad you're here. You are such a good person. You inspire me and we really need you here."

I hugged her back and said, "Thank you but I'm not good. I have my struggles too and need your encouragement too."

She hugged me again and said, "You encourage me."

It sure was a pick-me-up because what she didn't know was:

When my alarm went off I was grumpy because I hadn't rested well.

I began to think, This is my only day off. I sure would like to stay in bed.

I have to get up and shower because yesterday was so busy that I was too tired to shower last night.

I didn't feel like being pleasant.

I have so much stuff to do around the house. When am I ever going to get it done?

I tried on 3 outfits before I settled on one. Why am I so fat? I am trying so hard to lose weight and I'm not and I'm disgusted so I might as well eat French toast and sausage.

I wondered about my kids and grandkids. Will any of them get up and go to church today? Probably only one of them. Why don't they go? What did I do wrong when I was trying to teach them to love God because He loves them?

Because my mood was so foul, I snapped at the dogs and Bill and now they were feeling bad. What is wrong with me? Why am I feeling so out of sorts?

Ugh! Lord, help me! Save me from myself! Oh Lord, I love You and will be very grateful for the chance to worship You alongside others even when, no, especially when, I least feel like it. Because then it truly is a "sacrifice of praise." Maybe someone there will be an encouragement to me today.

So thank you, lovely lady, for saying such nice things to me. By doing so, you encouraged me.

“Do not forsake your own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

Hebrews 10:25 NASB

Inner Beauty

Have you ever seen a beautiful woman? I'm sure you have. We all have. And each of us probably would name a different name if asked who the world's most beautiful woman is. 

Have you ever seen a child that is so beautiful that it almost knocks the wind out of you? 

How about a baby that is so precious you just want to pick it up and hug it tight?

Is there a seventy or eighty year old woman that, in your eyes, is a stunningly lovely woman?

What makes a woman beautiful?

Is it her clothes? Then what happens when she undresses?

Is it her jewelry? So it's just glittery things that attract you?

Is it her hair? Then why are hairless babies so gorgeous?

Is it her skin, eyes, smile?

God says that it is our "inner beauty" that is precious to Him. A gentle and quiet spirit is what makes a woman in God's eyes. 

If this is what pleases God, then this is what should please godly men. 

Your adornment, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

1 Peter 3:4 NASB

Promises promises

A man was late for a job interview because he couldn't find any place to park. As he circled the block one more time, he cried out, "Please God, this interview is so important. If you will provide a parking place, I'll be in church every Sunday morning."

Just as he spoke the words a space opened up, right in front of him. "Oh never mind," he said. "I found one. " 

This makes me wonder how many rash promises God has heard. Maybe I have even done it before. Maybe you have too. 

Be careful of foolishness toward God. His wisdom cannot be outdone. 

It is evil to offer Him this kind of sacrifice. 

“Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.”

Ecclesiastes 5:1 NASB

Walk the walk

I have a habit of looking down when I walk. I really don't know why I do. But sometimes it is good. I see tripping hazards before most people do. I find a lot of interesting small things. I can see if In about to step into mud or walk on a patch of ice. 

Have you ever heard, If you're going to talk the talk make sure you walk the walk?

This means that if we are encouraging or training or teaching others verbally, we need to be mimicking that through our behaviors. 

Have you ever seen a person claim to be a Christian then participate in activities that seem to suggest otherwise? 

We will reach more people for Christ by looking like Christ. 

Lord help me to walk in Your ways. 

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV

Love the bride

Bill and I had a really good friend once. He's still a friend, just not as close. 

This man spent so much time at our house and with our family. In fact he was with us so often that when we were invited to family events it was a given that John would be invited too. 

When I was pregnant with my youngest child our car broke down about the time the baby was due. John came everyday and spent the whole day from sunup to sundown in case I went into labor and needed a ride. Fortunately we got our car running before our son was born. 

John was a very devoted friend. 

But then one day he found himself in a relationship. And the woman he chose was not one that we would've ever thought he would go for. She was bossy and took for granted his kind spirit. 

Eventually she became his bride. And slowly but surely our friendship dwindled to occasional visits and phone conversations. 

But I must add, John has been married to her now for many many years. He is committed to his bride. He may see her faults, but his love for her overshadows everything else. 

And I know that despite everything, she loves him. 

It is a devoted, committed relationship between a man and his bride even if we can see some faults with her. 

It reminds me of the church and its members. We, the people, ARE the church. Are you devoted and committed to it. Do you love the church even if you see the faults? Does your love of the church overshadow all else? Christ loves the church so much that she is His bride. He would die for her. He did die for her. 

Don't take the Lord's church lightly. Don't just be a part of it. Don't just be involved with it. 

Would you want a marriage where your partner was just a part or just involved? 

No! Be devoted to the church. Be committed to the church. Give yourself to the church. Live, cherish and hold dear the church. 

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

Time

I just looked at my watch and was amazed to see how my morning is flying by so quickly. Yesterday time seemed to drag on forever, each moment lasting a long time. 

That's the funny thing about a "moment," they aren't a real specific time frame. 

To a child with no concept of time, a short time seems like a really long time. This is why car trips with children are usually dreaded. 

To an older person with dementia time also is a mystery. They lose whole days, asking, "What day is today?" And their "yesterdays" seem to be like, well, yesterday. When in fact their yesterdays were really years ago.

When we pass from this life into eternity time will never matter to us again. Our time will be like God's time. 

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

2 Peter 3:8 ESV

No Light

On Saturday we had ice and heavy winds. Our electricity flickered a few times then went off. 

I hunted for matches to light the candles but couldn't find any. (Remember when businesses gave away free matches?)

My lighter (Zippo) is not there because I just sent it back to the company to be repaired. 

I searched my whole house in the semi darkness for matches or a stray lighter. 

Do you understand the fear of rooting through a junk drawer with your bare hands in the dark? I have razor blades in there for my box cutters. I have needles and pins in there. I have...... well, every thing in there. Everything but a lighter. Or matches.

I finally found a book of matches in my jewelry box of all places. It was an old book and had only 2 matches. Haha

Then the Power flickered. It came on. Then it went out again. Then it came back on and stayed on. 

I have learned two lessons.  

1. Obtain a reliable source of having light, always!

2. Clean up the junk.

God is my Light. With Him there will never truly be darkness. 

His light illuminates all the junk in me and helps me to see what I need to be rid of. 

Then because of Jesus' saving grace, I am clean and now I reflect light for others to see. 

Thank You, Lord

"For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.”

Psalms 18:28 ESV