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Showing posts from April, 2015

Listen Up!

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Me and my big mouth. It gets me in trouble sometimes. It gets me noticed sometimes. I usually have a lot to say. Even in prayer, I can get pretty chatty. There are times, though, when it is vital for me to hush and listen carefully to what God is trying to tell me. He's the Teacher, and I need to be quiet in the classroom. I had a teacher in high school that made an important point about listening one day. He distributed a three-page essay-only test, and then proceeded to tell us to ignore all the written instructions and only write our name and the date at the top of the page and hand it in. Some students worked the full hour, sweating over the entire examination, but those of us who were listening to his instructions were done in mere seconds. When I'm having a conversation, am I just waiting for the other person to shut up, so I can say something else, or am I really listening? When my ears are open, my mouth should be closed. I need to be an active listener. Don'

When God Seems Far Away

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Some days, you just want to run away and hide. Your emotions get the best of you and things aren't going right and you're squeezing back the tears until you can be alone with your fears, your regret, your failures. These are the days when God feels removed and far away. Is He really? I sometimes let my emotions get the best of me. It's not a woman thing; it's a me thing. When more and more negative events and problems occur, I get the feeling they are defensive linemen and I am a tiny quarterback with the coveted football. Everyone pile on! Are you there, God? Yes, He is. Times like these, I have to get out of my head, out of my own way, and get real with God. He's not picking on me, He's trying to teach me to depend on Him alone. Life will let you down. God won't. *** Notable Quote: Psalm 69:16-17 (KJV) Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face fro

Death and Taxes

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"Nothing is certain except death and taxes."--Benjamin Franklin Last night, Pastor Chris taught on death, but it wasn't a maudlin subject. The title of the sermon was "Moving Day." His premise was that we must be prepared to leave this earth. No, not collecting boxes and cleaning out closets, but winning souls to Christ and clearing the sin out of our lives. Death is not something to be dreaded. We were born to die. It's the living in between that is crucial. Let's live while we're living and thank God for the chance to get it right. Are your reservations made? *** Notable Quote: Psalm 116:15 (KJV) Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Mission Minded

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My department supervisor came into the office last week, and asked if we all knew the Rainbows mission statement. After a rather long pause, we all admitted ignorance. Since then, I've been working a few minutes every day to commit the mission to memory. I do love a challenge! These words are simple and to the point:   Rainbows United Inc. enhances the lives of children with special needs and their families by bringing together community resources and providing customized services. Personal branding is not just for big business any more. Our church's mission statement is "A Place to Be: Believe, Belong, Become." Restaurants, boutiques and even convenience stores have their own objectives. I'm starting to see more ministries and families stating their goals. Female in Motion has its own mission statement: My faith simply wraps itself  around everything I write  and I consider it my mission  to encourage women around me  to seek God's will