Happy Thanksgiving

I have so many reasons to be thankful This year. And one of them is the reason that I have not posted a blog in quite a while. You see, this is the busiest time of year in my line of work. I am a Medicare insurance agent, and this, being the open enrollment season, has kept me away from my blog. I'm not complaining mind you. In fact I am very very thankful to God for blessing my business.

 I've been doing a study with the "she reads truth" morning devotional on "Giving thanks in all circumstances". You can join by going here: http://shereadstruth.com/2013/11/16/give-thanks-circumstances

And one thing I've learned is that it is so easy to be thankful when times are good. When we're being blessed in our work, when our relationships are good, when things are going the way that we want, it is natural to give thanks.
It is not so easy however to be thankful in times of sorrow and pain and sadness. But, we still are to be thankful because a grateful heart is good medicine.
I'm not saying that we should be thankful for our sorrows pains and suffering. No, instead we should be thankful "in" these times, during these times. Why? Because our thankfulness, our gratefulness for what is good in our lives can and will help us to heal. I know it's hard to find the good when you're in the middle of a crisis. But there are many things that you can be thankful for. Start with just one. Find one small thing in your life and give God thanks for it. The sunshine, the rain, the sound of a childs laughter that brought a smile to your face. This will start the healing process. I encourage you to check out this devotional if you are in the middle of a trying time. I think it could help.
This wasn't where I thought I was going when I sat down to write this today. But somehow it is where I ended up. This is one thing I know, God is good, He loves us, he is there for us even when we don't feel it.
I hope and pray you have Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day. May God grant you peace and love In whatever you are doing this holiday weekend.

Posted with Blogsy

To love or not to love

Love is a choice

Love is not something you fall into. It is not an accident. It's not that heart pounding feeling of twitterpation you get when the object of your desire walks into the room. It's not the inability to think about anything other than the person of your desire. It's not the feeling of passion, or sexual arousal or the need to be with, or even the feeling of comfort and security that you get when you are with that person.

Love is more than that...

If not, than what happens when all that emotional newness wears off? If all you had was excitement, passion and desire, what happens when you aren't feeling, pretty, sexy, passionate? What happens on the days when you look and feel your worst? When you don't feel like combing your hair and you want to stay in your pajamas all day?

Love is not a knight in shining armor sweeping us off our feet. Love is not always a happy ending. Love is not always pretty. It's not always kind, sweet, or even happy. Sometimes it can even be downright painful. and yet... you have a choice...

...to love or not to love.

Love is a choice. When the butterfly's in your heart settle down. When the flowers stop coming so frequently. When the romance actually takes work. When the routines of life settle in, and the kids, the bills, the job all begin to take precedence over romance... You have a choice...

...to love or not to love.

If you choose, you can have the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. But you can be assured that it's not always going to be easy. It is going to take some work. There will be problems, like lack of passion, fatigue, extended family, etc There will be dissagreements. There will be hardships. There will be times when you actually hate that person. And yet, you have a choice...

...to love or not to love.

It is something that takes work. Love is not a feeling, it is an action word. It is not something that you wait around and hope happens to you. It's something that you DO. You decide what to wear to work, you decide to wash your car, you decide to love that person, even when you don't feel like it. When he doesn't ignite your fire. When he sits on the couch all day watching football while you clean and cook for his family to come visit. When he's not what you thought you were bargaining for... you have a choice...

...to love or not to love.

And after all of that, you may be wondering, why would I want to?

Because when you do the rewards are soooo goooood! When love is deeper than the passionate infatuations that movies and books seem to over emphasize, it is so much better! It's better than the best friendship you ever had. The memories that you create are a mere drop in the proverbial bucket of the rewards of a long term, true and godly love....

A love that is patient, a love that is kind. A love that doesn't envy, boast, or isn't proud. A love that honors the other and isn't selfish. A love that holds no grudges or anger toward the other. A love that delights not on evil, but on truth. A love that protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. (1 Cor 13:4-8). This kind of love ensures long, joyful, rewarding relationships. This is godly love.

In generations past, when marriages were arranged. Many women weren't given the option of who to love. Yet... They had a choice...

...to love or not to love.

Many chose to love, and went on to have long happy marriages. We have the same choice today. Our circumstances may not be what we always planned. Our lives may have turned out totally opposite than our expectations. And (barring abuse) we have the privilege to decide to stay or leave, to forgive or hold a grudge...

...to love or not to love.

37 years ago, I chose to love....and I choose every day.

 And I've never regretted it.

Posted with Blogsy

Words

Monday Praise – Words

 

There is a very thought-provoking Christian song out now called "Words", By Hawk Nelson. And the lyrics are;

 

"Words can build us up, words can break us down, start a fire in our hearts, or put it out." Here's the full song on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anVweXDcxhA

 

Praise God for words.

Words that can be so powerful in constructing a human life.

Words that plant seeds of hope.

Words of encouragement

Words that communicate.

Words that point others to God's glory.

Words that bring change.

Words of instruction and correction.

Words of joy, peace, and love.

Kind words, loving words, thoughtful words.

Thought provoking words.

Poetic words.

Passionate words.

Words of caution.

Words that cause action.

Words that bring life.

 

Words are powerful things. And we have the power and the responsibility to use them with wisdom and compassion. It's also our responsibility not to misuse them. Because once they are said, you can't unsay them. And words used wrongly can actually drive people away from God.

"Set a guard, oh Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalms 141:3

 

I am reading a book right now by Paul David Tripp. It's called The War of Words. And it really speaks to God's divine purpose for our words and our communication. If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you read it. It is a very insightful and thought-provoking, biblical look at how we should, and can use our words.

 

"… There is hope of substantial change because Jesus Christ, the Word, the Redeemer, has given us every resource we need to speak as we are meant to speak." Paul David Tripp

 

I praise God for words and I praise him for His Word.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." John 1:1–2 ESV

 

Proverbs 16:24"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

 

Dear God,

May my words be like a honeycomb.

Amen

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy