A little TV; a lot of damage

Isaiah 64::6 “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away…..8Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the Potter; we are all the work of your hand.”   This morning I was startled as I woke up from a dream, in that dream I screamed out a swear word.  This startled me!   The other day on the Pickleball courts my friends pointed out that a cuz word came out of my mouth.   I told them , “No, I said, “shoot”.”   They were in agreement that was not the word I used.   I have been watching a Netflix  series that is a bit dark.   I’m embarrassed to admit it, 

but I’m binge watching it at night.  I wanted to think that it wasn’t affecting me, but it is.   Whatever we feed ourselves shows up in our attitudes and behaviors.   I like the old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out.”   It’s funny, I know this show is poisoning my mind.   Yet, I still want to finish the series.   How crazy that I can know something is hurting me and still want to participate in it.   Sin is like that.   It's alluring, I can think, "just a little, won't hurt me". Then it becomes the very fiber of my being.    Thank you Jesus for freeing us from our sins!! Please Lord let me turn from it and turn to you.    What are you filling yourself with?   Is it drawing you closer to God? ( See James 4:7-8)

He is our Strength and Portion!

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”   When I’m sleep deprived I feel I have “lack” in my life.    I have more “give up”.   None of this is true!!  I live in abundance with Jesus Christ. He is my strength and my portion!! I’m on a health and wellness mission to get more regular quality and quantity sleep.  Like any new health routine.  I need to keep trying.  I failed again last night.   This verse reminds me; my help comes from the Lord.   He gives me strength and portion that enables me to go the heights.  We are never alone in our fitness quests.  He is right here with us helping us do what He has put in our hearts to do.   Let God be your strength and your portion today.   Keep on keeping on!!

Sleep well so you are not asleep

1 Thessalonians 5:5 "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.  We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  6 So then let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self controlled."   In order to be alert, we need physical sleep.  We are not to be asleep as in ignoring what is right.   We are to sleep as part of our health program. It's important for an average adult to get 7-10 hours of sleep daily.   Too much sleep is not good nor is too little.   Personally, I have a tough time disciplining myself to get enough sleep.   Lately is been catching up to me.   I get weary, overwhelmed, loose focus and even feel physically ill when I have a prolonged time of sleep deprivation.   It's on me!! I am the one that has to develop a better sleep pattern.    Without regular good quality sleep  we can be asleep in our lives. Today be motivated to sleep well so you can live well.

We can make it through the storm

Psalm 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts.  24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."  Last night we had a huge storm North of us.  I could see a ton of lightning but couldn’t hear any thunder and it was dry and hot from my vantage point.   I thought it was “ heat lightning “.  But come to find out there is no such thing as heat lighting.   It is however a name given to the conditions I witnessed last night.  Heat lightning is a “Misnomer”.   Storms come and go in our lives and sometimes in the middle of a storm it’s devastating and sometimes you watch storms far off and it looks like a light show.  Today,  there is peace after the storm.  I’m sure there was damage too.  Every storm we make it through helps us realize we can weather all the storms through the powerful gift of Jesus.   We need not be anxious about anything.   Psalm 139:23-24“ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me to the way of everlasting.”

Not in my heart, not out of my mouth!

Proverbs 26:20 "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."   When my time is short I will read the Proverb associated with the day.   The Proverbs have great life skills in them!!   Today I’m thinking about what happens to my heart when I tell people about offenses I feel.   Those offenses grow into me thinking I’m justified in my anger.    As Christians we are not to take offense in the first place!!   Gossip is a wicked thing.   It draws you in like candy to a child.  Today, if I am tempted to tell someone something negative about anything I hope to remember to simply, “Shut Up!”    Grumbling and complaining in my heart or to an other person only makes me miserable.   "without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down."   Great verse to live by today and always!!😇🙏❤️

Clean the toilet with a happy heart.

Isaiah 40:28-31 "Do you not know?   Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and increases the power of the weak.   30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”   Much of life is " doing the work".  The secret of happiness is to enjoy the work we are given.  Many tasks are not what I would choose to do, but nonetheless they have to get done.  I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment, when I finish the tasks.  God doesn't grow tired and weary.   He is 100% all the time.  We are not to grow tired in well doing.   Enjoy what ever the work is you have to do today.      When I get the little things done each day and don’t grow weary in my attitude , I have more energy for the big things.     If I let my mind grumble and complain I get weary and tired .  Today,  I am choosing to be thankful I have the ability and need to get my work done.   (We are each very fortunate if we have toilets to clean and the ability to clean them.)

If we will in Heaven, why not now

Proverbs 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."  We don’t get to understand things in this life.   We can simply trust God.  In trusting God completely in all things we have true peace in our hearts.    A friend of mine pointed out that once we get to Heaven we will be at complete peace with the way things are.   Why not be at complete peace with the way things are now?   So simply, so profound, why is it so hard to do?   It’s hard for me because I think I need to “ figure out the reason”. Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”   Today, I hope to let the worries and reasoning things out, go and simply TRUST God in it all!!

Just keep trying

Proverbs 21:20 "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but the foolish man devours all he has."  This proverb reminds me that we are to be "savers" not "spenders".      How do you do with that?   I try to budget so God gets 10 percent and so does my savings.  It's easy for me to spend instead of give to  both these places.    I have the most peace in my life when I behave the way the Bible tells me to behave.   Why is it that I do the things I don’t want to do and don’t do the things I do want to do?   Paul asked this same question.  It is my sinful nature.    Thank you Jesus for being my redeemer!! For justification even in my failures.    Keep the faith and keep on trying.   We won’t get this life perfect.   But God knew that,  before each of us was born. Each of our days was ordained for us before one of them came to be.   Today, I’m going to shake off the old and keep trying my best to walk in His ways.   I hope this helps you “Shake it off” and keep on keeping on too!!

Don’t let guilt wreck you memories

Jeremiah 17:7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.  8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in the year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 17:14 "Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved for you are the one I praise."    Grief is a funny thing.  It plagues me with guilt.   I am reminded of the stages of grief I have experienced.   In the passing of each of my loved  ones,  I would like to go back and do things differently.   If I dwell on that,  then my memory of them, becomes the memory of my own guilt.  How sad that would be!!   People and pets come into our lives for a reason and a season.   Today, I choose to cherish the wonderful memories and experiences of my life and let go of the “me".  Isn’t it funny how pride shows up?   Father, please help me live in the humility required to truly trust you in all things.

Remembering what’s right

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans of a man's heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails."  Yesterday I lost my little dog Isabelle. She was almost 20 years old.  I had hoped that she would simply fall asleep and not wake up.   Instead, she wondered off and fell in the lake.   I of course am thinking of how I could have prevented this tragic end  to her beautiful little life.  Today,  I am going to try to remember the beautiful of her life not the shock of her end.  She was born the day I quit drinking and I call her my little sobriety dog.   She helped me so very, very much these past almost 20 years.   I really, really miss her.  My son and his wife are here and that’s not an accident.   Yesterday, when I couldn’t find her my best buddy came over with her son to help me find her. That wasn’t an accident either.  God has His everlasting hand on even my small little dog.  He has His almighty hand on me in my grief.  Helping me to remember to treasure what she gave me and have peace with her end.    I hope this helps you too.  Remember what is right even when things seem wrong.    😇🙏❤️

Don’t fret, be content

 Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. ".  Philippians 4:11 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  

 1Timothy 6:6 "But Godliness with contentment is great gain."   My son and his new wife are visiting me here at the lake.   They haven’t been able to be here for two years and I wanted everything perfect for them.  The weather forecast up until yesterday was perfect.   Now we have North winds and rain.  I wanted the house to be perfectly clean and nice but at last minute, my handyman  was able to come and fix a couple projects I’ve been wanting fixed all Summer.   So the house was a bit of a mess when my beloved got here.   It was and is tempting to be anxious.  I am choosing to believe that no matter what the weather, no matter what the circumstances, we will enjoy our time together.  God can work out amazing even when the circumstances are not as we would choose.   Trust and enjoy what is!!

Attitude of altitude

 2Corinthians 5:21 "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"   As I read these verses today, I am pondering, “Do I live in the newness of life God has given me?”.   I was recently on a Holiday.   I took a cruise through Norway.  On the ship absolutely everything was taken care of for me.  I could just go get already cut up fruit.   I didn't have to clean up my dishes.  I didn't have time commitments or obligations.  I noticed I could remember more people's names and I could genuinely be in my present moments.   It was an easy environment to shine.  As I reflect on that time I am wondering why I let the cares of this world snuff out my light?   On my vacation I practiced an attitude of altitude.   I spent my time in thanksgiving and awe of my surroundings.    Why should that change when I get home?    Today let’s live in the newness of life Jesus died to give us!! Have an attitude of altitude!!

Climb the mountain. One step at a time!

John 5:14 "Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See you are well again.  Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."    Recently a couple of my friends have “relapsed”.  When I read this verse I thought of my relapsing with alcohol. I spent 29 years starting and stopping drinking before I hit my last low.  It was always the same old story, I would be sober for a little bit of time, (most I made it was 99 days) then I would decide to have "just one".   I could have just one or two for a week or so and then I'd be back at it full force with in a few weeks.   For me, once the drinking took me over,  it was like a mountain to climb to get even a 24 hour time frame sober.  I learned,  just like climbing a mountain, it's one step at a time.   Don't turn back just keep on keeping on!!   I'm so thankful I am clean today.   It's only because of the powerful gift of Jesus.   I keep looking to Him for my strength and my song.   If I don't; the deception of sin can easily snare me.   In AA I have heard many say, " I might have one more drunk in me, but I don't know I have one more sober in me.   The fear of the consequence of sin has been good for me.   It is the joy of Jesus that helps most.  Through Him, I enjoy my life,even with all its challenges.   What ever the sin is, knocking at your door, keep turning from it and keep turning to Jesus.   He is our great healer and redeemer!   One step at a time!!  Climb your mountain!! Never give up!!! Try,try, try  again.  Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

Don’t quit!

Proverbs 3:25-6 "Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."     I’ve got confidence God is going to see me through!!!    One of my dearest friends says, “God didn’t bring me this far to drop me now.”   I love that!!!  When I used to race, sometimes that last lap was where my head would start to give up.  Of course my body would be tired but when I would loose the race it’s because I would give up in my head.  Everyone’s body was tired at the end of the race.   The winners have learned to fight the “give up".  Life on earth gives us many  curve balls, "give up” can stop us from the success that is right around the corner.   We develop perseverance and character as we continue to try.  Let God be your confidence today!! Victory comes through perseverance!!

Slimy pit?

 Psalm 40:1-3 " I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.  2He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;  He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."  When I read “ He lifted me out of the slimy pit” I think of my drinking days.   So much of that was a slimy pit.  But that’s not my today!  I feel so blessed.   I still sin and fall short of the glory of God.  When I fall I try to remember, He is my great deliverer and I need not be stuck!    I am thinking of a neighbor of mine that became consumed with how horrible the crowds were on the weekends by his house.  He completely stopped enjoying his beautiful home.   He sold.  The new owners told me, 340 days a year this is the perfect place!!  We all have different “slimy pits”.  Often,  because of how we think.   If you fall in to a pit; try, try, try to remember to let God pull you out!  He is our great deliverer!!

Seek it like silver

Proverbs 8:10 "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."   Wisdom, knowledge and understanding, seek wisdom like silver.   I can read the Bible and learn, but it’s not until I apply it to my life that I experience wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  I think it difficult to follow the Word, it’s always worth it but often my knowledge comes because of the consequences I face because I chose the behavior that was in direct contradiction to Gods word.    I am thankful that no matter how many times I may fall, God picks me up, brushes me off and gives me the strength, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to try, try again.   Today, try your best to learn it and live it!!  Wisdom, seek it like silver!😇🙏❤️

Gratitude gives us surplus

 "Gratitude turns what we have into more than enough."  This is a plaque I have on my wall 

John 6:11 " Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.  He did the same with the fish."   I am just getting home from my Norway adventure.  What an amazing experience!  I of course am a little tired, and with that comes temptation to cut things I had planned from my day.    I was growing weary in expectation of my day and then I decided to be thankful for the opportunities I have and I have a renewed sense of of excitement.    Being thankful takes what we have and turns it into more than enough!!   

Give God the credit!

 John 6:63 "The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life."   Last night I was dancing.   I truly love to dance.   One lady asked me where do you get your energy?   I said, “Jesus!  He gives me the joy in my heart and that gives me this amazing energy for life.”  She wasn’t sure how to take that she said, beside from Jesus where do you get your energy. And I confirmed it’s the joy of Jesus in my heart that allows me to truly enjoy my life.   I told her, “ I used to be plagued with guilt and shame, but Jesus freed me from my sins and has given me His righteousness and if that wasn’t good enough , I have Heaven to look forward too.   How can my heart be anything but joyful? “.  She thanked me for sharing.  God gives us His joy, let’s make sure we give Him the credit!😇🙏❤️

Seek it like silver

 Proverbs 2:1-6 " My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding." We are porting in Alta, Norway today about 150 miles from Russia.  When I think of Russia I think of  the war.  If we could all simply seek wisdom, understanding and insight by seeking Jesus  first; how much more peaceful this world would be.  Patience, kindness and understanding is something my great grandma Guniel used to tell me to pray for.  She was born in Olso, Norway.  She also knew “The Powerful Gift of Jesus”, She shared it with me and that’s why I’m here!😇🙏❤️