Encourage don’t commiserate

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one an other and build each other up, just as in fact as you are doing."    I am so thankful for the encouragement I'm getting.   Encouragement helps so much more than commiserating.    The world is quick to commiserate with each other acknowledging, "that's so hard, you don't deserve that..... That's not fair....   those types of word don't help at all.   If we commiserate we are like jumping in a capsizing boat.  It just makes the boat sink quicker.   I love it when my friends encourage me.   Especially when they use the Word of God.  Philippians 4:14 " I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."    I have a freind who was going to get divorced.   All of her other friends and family jumped in her sinking ship telling her He was a butt head.   I said, it's true.  He is a butt head.  But we are all butt heads.   You can chosen to forgive him like Christ forgave you.  She chose to look to Jesus and he did too, today they are still happily married.   Life is hard marriage is hard, we need to encourage each other.  When we do it's like having teammates helping us finish and win the race!!😇🙏♥️🦅

It is well. …it is hard

1 Thessalonians 5:23 " May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  24 The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."    May the God of peace sanctify you through and through, may your whole spirit,soul and body be kept blameless, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.    What beautiful words!!!    My mom was admitted to Hospice yesterday,   She is extremely weak and she is definitely dying.  She assures us that she has had a wonderful life.  She is so appreciative of her children.   She used to be filled with talking about "her stuff" she was an extremely materialistic lady.     Now, all she can talk about are her kids.    Jesus has changed my moms heart.  We had our pastor here yesterday, and He assured us, "Your mom knows the Lord and she is on her way to Heaven."   Mom says she is not ready to go yet,    She has more to do here.     I know God will take her home at His appointed time not a minute to early or a minute to late.   My moms theme song is "My Way".   But as she is facing this she acknowledges it's really Gods way.    We can’t understand God!!  Why does my mom suffer and linger and our lovely young beautiful Erin go in a moment, way to young with so much left to give? We are not able to understand God.  One of my friends said, trying to understand God is like having an ant build a rocket ship.    We can't.  But if we TRUST Him in all things we can let His peace guide our hearts home to eternity and in our here and now as we deal with the difficulties in this life.  In Heaven we will be done with the battle, we will be in pure Joy.   I hope this helps you look to His peace deep in you Soul, Spirit and Body today😇🙏♥️🦅

Thanksgiving is the perfect remedy!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, 17 pray continually; 18 Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  Give Thanks in all circumstances!!! My best defense against against my problems, is to Give Thanks!🙏.  There are many circumstances I am not thankful for, but I can be thankful during them.    Thankfulness is a great remedy!   When I'm in the middle of hard, if I intentionally decide to be thankful the difficulty of the hard becomes manageable.  Being Thankful gives me the strength, faith and hope to keep on keeping on.    Today is such a beautiful day to celebrate Thanksgiving🙏♥️🦃🍁.  May you have a Happy,blessed Thanksgiving!😇

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will gaurd your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Happy Thanksgiving 🦅😇🙏♥️🦃🍁

Preach the Hospel and if you have to use words

Luke 18:27 "Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."    This Thanksgiving many of us will be around people we love.   Many of our loved ones are not "Saved".  Personally I want everyone  to know Jesus as Savior, so they can have the peace I have found in Him.    Only the Holy Spirit can save people.   I can share the Good news of Jesus but I can't force people to believe .   If I get preachy then I am doing the opposite of my hearts intentions.   Preachy can come across as judging.   I like this quote, “Preach the Gospel always, and if you have to use words.”  Here is a poem that illustrates this; " The Lord is the only one who can Transform a persons heart; But when we share God's saving truth we play a crucial part.- Sper".  This Holiday season let’s be the love of Jesus share His word, don't jam it down peoples throats.  Let’s use discernment. Jesus said we are to Love others as He loves us, He loves us where we are, as we are.   He loves each of us so much that while we were yet sinner's He died for us!    Everyone sins and falls short of the glory of God.   Not one of us is without sin.  Not one of us is better than an other. This Holiday let’s preach the Gospel, by being the love of Jesus, Let’s love others for who they are, not try to make them who we think they should be.  Simply Love!! Preach the Gospel and if you have to use words.    TRUST The Holy Spirit to do His part.   We can pray for our loved ones, and love them, knowing Jesus loves them even more then we do!!! We don't need to “fix” people. It’s not our job.   Its our job to Love them!!! We win more flies with honey than vinegar!!!  Be inspired this Holiday to be the love of Jesus!  

Slave to sin?

Romans 6:12 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."  Sugar is one of my additions.   It’s not destroying my life but once in a while I notice I’m up a few pounds and when I look at why it’s usually because I have given myself permission to lose control.   With alcohol I can simply decide to stay away from it.   With sugar, I have to take control.  Sugar is in many foods.  Our bodies turn Carbs into sugar.  Medical experts identify sugar. As one of the most addictive substances, so I am not alone in this battle.    Gluttony is a sin. Our bodies are temples not trash cans, but sometimes the way I shovel in the crap, I certainly am not treating my body as a temple.   Discipline is a gift of the Holy Spirit.     With the Holidays coming there will be more sweets available to indulge in.   How will you handle it?   Personally, I want to try a lot of the special delicacies that are only available this time of year.   So my plan is to only eat the special treats after dinner and to savor every bite when I do.   I usually disciple myself this way. I enjoy an 8 pm treat.   I’m not recommending it to everyone, but for me it works.   I  allow myself the treat but I don’t allow myself indulgence.  When I start with sugar mid day I have a much harder time stopping.   One little Hershey kiss turns into 6 in a few minutes.   It’s like being a slave to chocolate.   Crazy huh?    Today I will try again to be a slave to righteousness desiring to do what will help me and help others above the sin that can easily hurt me and others.   Hope this helps you today too😇 Control the cravings for what you really don’t want. Even though you think you do.

Water into wine

John 2 is the chapter when Jesus turns the water into wine.  2:4 "Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the Jars with water; so they filled them to the brim. 9 Then He told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.  He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.  Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."    Jesus turned water into wine the first of His miraculous signs.    When I first quit drinking I told myself when Jesus turns this water into wine I'll drink it.  Because of this miracle, I started trusting Jesus in my sobriety.  When I first quit.  I really wanted the wine but I knew it was destroying my life and I could not keep going the way I was, so trusting God to turn water into wine if I was ment to drink, helped me.   Today, as I read this chapter, I thought,  I still trust him in my sobriety but why do I try to fix everything else?  I can't turn water into wine, not do I want to.    I can't fix many things, but I can TRUST His hand is on it all and I can pray. Two things really jumped out at me this morning 1.  The servants did as Jesus said, 2 Jesus made the water into even better wine than the original.    Today know…..He can do it and He can do it way better then we can.    Let’s just do what He says, to the best of our abilities.   We’ll mess up, but we can keep turning to Him and He’ll keep turning our water into wine(So to speak). Personally I hope there isn’t wine in Heaven I’ve learned to really really prefer life without it!!😇🙏♥️

Tired of it?

Today I'm looking for a bedspread I threw away,    I had gotten tired of it so I tossed it.  I liked it a lot, but I grew tired of it.     When I was in college I bought a really nice black wool cape coat, by the end of the Winter season I grew tired of it and threw it.    I am almost 40 years out of college and I still wish I had the coat.   Sometimes we grow tired and we think by throwing things or people away we will be happier.  We will be less "encumbered"   Many marriages end this way, people say,”We grew apart". Loosing deep relationships can start gradually, we get tired of checking in with them, we get tired of listening, we get tired of their......, it takes a lot of work to maintain relationships.  Today, don't grow tired grow together toward Jesus. "Do everything in Love." 1 Corinthians 16:14.   

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

She won’t remember but I will and it will help me

John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  17 This is my command: Love each other."

Go and bear fruit....fruit that will last.   My son and I went to visit with my mom.   He said, “Why are we doing this? It's not like she will remember?  “.  Sometimes we do things for others and the fruit that lasts is the fruit in us.😇🙏♥️🦅

Gossip is a poison

Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man stirs up dissension and a gossip separates close friends."   Gossip, complaining and blaming are things that produce a poisonous venom in our souls.   It's alluring to fall into it... Even now after years of trying to follow the teachings of Jesus if I here someone talking about someone else.... my ears perk up and I can feel the pull of...."I want to know".    Sin is alluring and we can justify bit so easily.   I've heard people say I'm only listening so I know how to pray for that person.....hypocrite!!! We can pray for people without knowing the gossip about them.   Often gossip is entirely false anyways.   Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Today I will combat my deceitful tendencies by being thankful for what I have and thankful of the good in others even when their bad is loud!😇.   Thankfulness helps me have cheerfulness, so does genuine love, respect and kindness towards others while firmly TRUSTING God.😇🙏♥️🦅

Mess to message

Proverbs 19:11 " A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Proverbs 19:21"Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."   I like reading Proverbs.   An easy way to get in the Bible each day is to read one proverb a day.  Chapter 19 is filled with wisdom. I especially like the advise not to take offense!!! When I was a drinker I used to take offense easily.    I felt like people,”Had it out for me”.  I didn’t realize with alcoholism came paranoia.  I’m thankful to be clean so the constant “fog” doesn’t distort reality .    I do sometimes live in fantasy land, hoping for things that are likely not for me.  How silly, I’m not God and even though sometimes I think I have things figured out.  I’m often quickly reminded I can’t see the big picture, God can.    Yesterday I was working with a friend in recovery.   If I hadn’t have gone through all I’ve gone through I couldn’t have pointed her to real Hope in Jesus.  God takes our mess and turns it into His message.   Today I hope not to take offense in what ever crazy thing happens and to remember it’s God’s eternal plan not my limited knowledge one that works!!   Hope this helps you today too go through what you are going through for His glory!!😇🙏♥️💃🦅

Loving others can be hard

John 13:14 “A new command I give you: Love one another.   As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”     Love, put on true love!!!♥️.   I am the caregiver for my mom.  She is failing quickly and it’s hard for me to have patience.    We have a theme, “We are going to live until we die”. But my mom can hardly walk and she just physically “can’t”.  I have told her, “put on your hoots bah!” We don’t quit mom!   You taught me that.   Don’t quit!! This morning as I’m reading John 13, I’m feeling like if I truly love my mom, I would be more patient with her.   That’s how Jesus love each of us, patiently. He never gives up on us and is constantly with us, even when we keep failing.  Today, as a caregiver I’m going to try harder to put on the love of Jesus and be patient and loving not because of who my mom is, but because of who Jesus is in me!   I hope this helps you too today, to put on a real love for someone in your life that has been hard to be patient with.😇♥️🙏🦅💃 Nothing is impossible with God!! Put on a Christ like love, a humane type love is simply not enough, for Hard!   Mental illness and addiction is often even harder to love someone through then physical.    You can do it through The powerful gift of Jesus!!!

Walk in the fruit of His Spirit😇

Galatians 5:22 "22 But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,".  How are you doing in His walk today?    Faith not Fear.   Hope not defeat.    May we each choose to walk in the fruits of His Spirit today!!!😇🙏♥️🦅

Love deeply even if you disagree

I haven't checked the election results as of yet.    What I know is that about half the people will be disappointed and likely upset about them.    We are all on the same team!! I pray that we as a Nation, of Gods Gods children can unite and move forward in Jesus. Colossians 3:12-14 "Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved,clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity."  Jesus died for us so we could be set free from our bondage to sin.  That we can truly live forgiven and restored.   We may not be able to understand why others see things differently politically or religiously or...... it's best not to take offense in the first place.   If you have allowed yourself to be offended extend to others the forgives you have been given in Jesus Christ.   Extend that forgiveness to yourself when you feel hostility or anger.  Jesus said if we hate in our hearts it is as if we murder.  Don't let your political passions turn into hate.   Forgive, repent and forward!   We each are guilty of sins.   No person is without sin one is not better than an other.  Each of us have been knit together on purpose in our mothers womb.   Love each other deeply even if you disagree.   😇🙏♥️🦅

Enjoy…. Don’t try to fix it!

Psalm 46:1-2,5. &10 "1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea,...5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. ...10 Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

When I sat down to read this morning my Bible opened to 46:5 "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day." The sun was  rising  at that moment it felt a lot like a "God wink" I use Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." As one of my "life verses".  So I lingered on Psalm 46 today.    It's such a beautiful Psalm.  I need 46:10 as a life verse because I'm a high energy, fix it girl.   Most of the time when I try to "Fix it" I just wreck it worse.   God is within her.....she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day.   This is talking of a city of God but as I read it this morning I am reminded  God will help me as I am still and trust Him.    So.... I will choose to simply be still, trust God and enjoy the rest of this glorious sun rise He is providing.   What is right in front of you that you need to simply enjoy and not fix?

Sincerity of heart toward what is right

Galatians 4:18 “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”   Be zealous for the “right things” always, not just when someone is looking.   Have sincerity of heart for what is good, pure, lovely…..have sincerity of heart in love.   When I was married I was kind to my husbands face but I would bad mouth him, behind his back.   Wow.  That was horrible.  It truly hurt my sincerity of heart toward him and We eventually divorced. If I could go back in time I would have talked to him and Jesus, alone about our issues.  When I was a fire fighter I would warn the young married people not to bad mouth thier spouses at the kitchen table or pretty soon that spouse would be getting half their stuff, pension, and custody of their kids.  Learning to speak well of people even when you are angry with them is an important life skill and it’s extremely important so we can have a loving sincerity of heart towards them.   

“True love is an act of the will—a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves.”

Billy Graham.     Love is intentional!! Love is a feeling yes, but not always.   True Love is a choice.  

Just Believe…

Mark 6:34 "He said to her, " Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."   4:36 "Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Don't be afraid just believe!!! I look at the glass half full most of the time, usually after I have envisioned worse case scenario and played it through seeing Jesus in my worse case.    If I do this remembering He is there no matter what, I can simply believe.   My negative thinking gets enlightened with Hope, when I simply Believe😇🙏♥️🦅

We live even though we die

John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?""    This verse helps me in my mourning.  When we loose someone here on this earth.  A. Deep emptiness takes hold of us. A loneliness that can't be quenched apart from Jesus.    As I long for my beloved I try to simply TRUST God is who He says He is and Heaven is our reward.  It's a place of no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain, frustration or anxiety.   It's a place greater than we can imagine.  When I simply TRUST my beloved is there, happy, complete and smiling it helps my heart here.  😇♥️🙏🦅.  Let's fix our eyes on Jesus and TRUST He is who He said He is!!!