Desire

Here is a quote from Paul Tripp about our desires.

You and I are creatures of desire. There is nothing you ever choose, do, or say that is not the product of desire. Desire not only directs your choices, it shapes your dreams. Desire forms your moments of greatest joy and darkest grief. Desire makes you envious of one person while being glad you're not another.

 Desire keeps you awake at night or puts you soundly to sleep. Desire makes you willing to get up in the morning or causes you to be frustrated at the end of the day. Desire makes you expectant and hopeful in one moment, and demanding and complaining in the next.

Desire sometimes makes you susceptible to temptation and at other times is the thing that defends you against it. Desire can lift you up to God or it can make you a willing friend of the devil. Desire can make you a celebrant or drive you to the pit of depression. 

Desire can make you the best of friends or cause you to drive people away. Desire can cause you to lovingly edit your words or make you willing let it rip with little regard for the damage your words will do. Desire will make you willing to give or cause you to hoard everything you have. Desire will cause you to submit to the King or to set yourself up as king. Desire can cause you to fight for freedom or can be the very thing that causes you to be addicted.

Desire can give you power or rob you of the power that could be yours. Desire is your biggest problem and one of God's sweetest graces. But there is one thing for sure; your life is always shaped by desire.

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So, we all need to cry out for help once more, we all need to seek God's rescue and his power, because we must all humbly admit that there is evidence in our daily living that the war of desire still rages in our hearts. 

There are times when Jesus is our priceless treasure, but there are other times when we would rather have other things than him. This means that we cannot quit seeking his help until the day when we are able to say with complete singleness of heart, "...There is nothing on earth I desire besides you."

As we 'fight the good fight' that Paul speaks of, may we continually go back to our grace giving God for all the help and power we need! He is our only hope!

Silence

I have been silent on this blog for awhile. Good for the soul.

We are going through the book of Job on Sunday mornings at our Church. Rather, our Pastor is preaching through Job. What an amazing man Job was and we can learn soooo much through his life and relationship with God.

Silence! Job was silent for 7 days along with his friends. I don't know about you but I have a hard time being silent. I am learning lots about myself in this new adventure in learning to be silent. We were given the assignment last week to read Zephaniah 3:17 and then sit and listen for 30 minutes. No problem.....I thought!

Saturday was my day, no rush and time to do this assignment. I was very surprised to find out it was hard work for me. I at first tried to sit quietly. Thoughts came rushing in, all over the map. So I tried reading my Bible and doing my devos. Having spent the time praying and doing devotions, I tried again. Now my thoughts were racing....like on a bike race. I went inside (I was on the cool deck in our back yard) and mentioned to Dave that my mind was a whirlwind and I could not stop it. He suggested I get up and walk around the gardens and just pray and talk with the Lord about it. So I did.....for 30 minutes.

Then I came back and sat on the deck and thanked HIM for being with me, loving me, helping me, caring for me. And I sat in silence. What did I hear? I made a long list of what I heard. At first birds chirping, wind in the trees, chipmunk stirring around, squirrel in the tree. Then near the end, I heard the Lord speak. He tells me in the Bible, "My sheep know my voice." What did I hear? I heard him say " you know and see how I have made all the birds, all the flowers, all the butterflies and how I care for them. Sherry, you constantly thank me for my faithfulness and goodness as you work in your gardens. I want you to know I care and love you so much. You are my daughter and I love you." Precious and real!

I am so grateful I went through the 'hard work' of fighting to be silent!!!! What about you? Do you find it easy to sit in quietness and silence? I am definitely on to something special!

Song for a Rainy Day~

Our family was discussing 'songs' last week as we sat around. I love children's songs and have so many rattling around in my head. I started singing this one.....Dave was the only one who remembered it. I couldn't believe it! I sang this song with everyone of my kids! Go figure!

~Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam~

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day;
In every way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I'll be a sunbeam for Him.

Jesus wants me to be loving,
And kind to all I see;
Showing how pleasant and happy
His little one can be.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I'll be a sunbeam for Him.

I will ask Jesus to help me,
To keep my heart from sin;
Ever reflecting His goodness,
And always shine for Him.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
I'll be a sunbeam for Him.

I'll be a sunbeam for Jesus;
I can if I but try;
Serving Him moment by moment,
Then live with Him on high.

A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,

I'll be a sunbeam for Him.

A very nice song for a rainy day, don't you agree?

So my kids think I'm nuts, I don't care....

Singing here ~

Lynette

Energy from God~

Are you ever super super tired? Do you run out of gas some days? Do you struggle with your long 'to do' list?

I know I have at times. I have a little picture frame by my front door on the wall that states-- "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 It is the JOY of the LORD that gives us strength.

God gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. —Isaiah 40:29

The dictionary defines energy as the vigorous exertion of power. It has to do with effort, strength, potency, and might. Who has all these attributes? The Lord!

Scripture tells us that God not only has his own power and strength, but he’s given that same power to us. He enables us to have energy when we tap into HIS.

David says to God in Psalm 31:4, “You are my strength.” And again in Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” What great verses! What comforting verses! God gives us all the energy we need.

When I’m exhausted and fall into bed at night, I often think I’ll never get up the next morning because I’m so tired. Or when I have no more strength to take care of a need or do the things that have been assigned to me, I have to force myself to remember my strength comes from God, not from inside me. There’s a vast difference.

So, remember—strength doesn’t come from exercise; strength comes from waiting on God. Tomorrow is another day, and God energizes us for it . . . no matter our age. Every day that I get older, his strength brings more comfort to my own life.

I have all the energy I need, Lynette

Marriage Monday

Went to the Airport on Saturday and picked up my wonderful, awesome hubby and our son Caleb after a week in Chihuahua, Mexico on a missions trip with 14 guys. God is amazing. God is at work in the hearts of men, women and children there.

Yesterday was a really really huge blessing to our Church family. Each of the twelve men (two were not there, Juan and Rich) shared a 'snapshot' of what God did in their life during the week. It was amazing.....I cried through it all out of happiness! The Spirit was really present. It is hard to put into words of the blessing of it all.

My heart is full. I am so thankful. I am overflowing with gratefulness and happiness to be envied. Because God is good, so good. He has a plan and it is for our good and for HIS glory!

Since today is Marriage Monday I am sharing a link. It is about intimacy in your marriage. Taking the initiative in your physical union. Sheila says it well and I agree 100% with this one blog.

I don't usually read many blogs other than Pioneer Woman (recipes--yummy) http://thepioneerwoman.com/ and Girltalk http://www.girltalkhome.com/.

Yet, I think this is one very good post from Sheila. She says it well. If this is a struggle for you (tired, worn out etc.), I would say, pray and ask the LORD to give you a willing heart. He will! I know, because HE has done it for me!

http://internetcafedevotions.com/2011/01/a-new-years-resolution-lets-initiate/

Bless your hubby soon by taking the initiative! If you love him you will care about this too!

My cup runneth over, Lynette

Surprised again......

It has been awhile since I have been on here. I am not one to just blog for the sake of blogging. If I have nothing to say, I think it better to be quiet. Smile!

The Lord did something remarkable for me today. He met me where I was.

I usually sleep like a log. Last night, I woke up three or four times. As is my habit when I awake in the middle of the night, I prayed for those I love and for friends who need prayer. I prayed each time I awoke. In my sleep I think I was praying too....

I awoke and something wasn't right. My heavenly Father felt so far away. I am not one who lives by her feelings. Yet, this was strong. What? I kept praying and asking the LORD what is wrong? This heaviness, a distance in my soul, this bad feeling. Today was a day I work. As I got up and started to prepare for the day, I kept praying. The Lord reminded me of James 4:8 "Draw near to God and HE will draw near to you." Even though I was running late, (sometimes it's worth it to be late) I stopped and grabbed my Bible off my desk in my bedroom.

I noticed I was a couple days behind in my Bible reading plan. I like to keep it in order...ha....so I don't just 'skip' days. I read what I 'would have' read two days before. One of the readings was Psalm 66. WOW.....and WOW. Verse 20 says, "Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer, or removed his steadfast love from me!" ESV

I immediately started to cry. God's words for me for today! How precious. I would have read those verses two days before, but in HIS care for me, they came to me today! Amazing and thrilling how God meets us exactly where we are! My heart is so full and I went off to face the day with joy, gratefulness and a song in my heart. His love to me abounding and full!

Just thought you should know!

Isn't HE wonderful! Lynette

Food for Thought:

I am reading a really good book now.

a SHELTER in the time OF STORM by Paul David Tripp

~meditations on God and trouble~

I am not in the midst of a storm right now. Yet I know that storms hit all of us. Storms are part of living here on earth in a fallen world. If you are like me, you like peace. I know I love sunsets, clear skies and sunshine. God gives those to us all the time. Yet because we need water, we have storms. God knows what is good for us, we do not.

I have grown so much due to storms. I am grateful God ordained storms for me, as I have seen HIS love manifested in the midst of such storms. His presence, his love, his nearness has been so vivid and real in the middle of such storms. His forgiveness in my 'kicking against' the storms. I have learned much about my GOD in the midst of storms, much more than in the sunshine and blue skies kind of weather.

This book is a drink of fresh water to a thirsty soul. This well written book is about Psalm 27 and insights about not only the storms in your life, but where to find shelter and treasuring the true treasure.

Can one Psalm really change your life? It can if you dig deeply enough! 52 meditations (some are poems he wrote) on Psalm 27 ~ Good reading for Sunday devotions or in the evenings anytime.

When troubles come knocking (and they will) , do yourself a favor and read this book. You will not be sorry ~ I promise! This book will help you find your refuge in time of need!

Daughter of the King, Lynette

Marriage Monday

Today is Marriage Monday!

Our Sunday School class always has homework. I like this kind of homework....smile! I like it because you don't have to do it alone. We get to do our homework together! Bonus!

As we studied Song of Songs yesterday in Sunday School we were looking at Chapter 6:11 through 7:10.

These are the most amorous verses in the Bible relating to intimacy in marriage.

Our Sunday School teacher began with some observations about men.

~ men are visual. They notice a pretty woman but this doesn't mean he prefers her over his wife.

~ men's minds file snap shots. God has wired them this way.

~ temptations and sin are different. He notices but lingering is sin.

~ wives are not to 'judge' their husband for noticing. She can help him avoid some images.

We discussed so many aspects of these verses. I will just note two.

!. Men are visual ~ wives are to be "visually generous" to their husbands. They are to fill up his mind of 'Rolodex' with images of his own wife. This is loving her husband.

2. Wives like words ~ husbands are to be "verbally generous" to their wives. She wants to hear his thoughts and words of love from his heart to her.

Also notice that these verses are descriptive, not prescriptive. This is a goal not a rule. We are not to 'demand' but to seek to minister to one another unselfishly in intimacy

Homework~

Husband to wife: How can I be more verbally generous to you? Do I speak enough during our times of intimacy?

Wife to husband: What are your favorite snapshots of me? Which ones do you recall most fondly? What can I do to be more visually generous with you?

Homework is good because it helps us to apply that which we are trying to learn and apply.

I love being married to Dave and I love "homework" too!

"I am my beloved's and he is mine", Lynette

Fruit

In my Bible reading this morning, I came upon a very familiar passage.

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and it fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure bing forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:33-37

Jesus is talking to Pharisees, for he knew their thoughts (vs.25). Yet, as a Christian, there is wisdom for me in all of this also.

We know that out of the abundance of our hearts comes what is IN our hearts. Jesus reminds us here that the words we speak demonstrate what is in our hearts for all to see. God knows and sees already. When we open our mouths it is then apparent for all to see, (as well as ourselves--for we do deceive ourselves at times) what is in our hearts. God's kindness to us.

This is a battle I fight daily. God is constantly bringing me back to this point. I find myself running to the cross often due to my mouth. Yet, not really my mouth, but my heart. My mouth demonstrates what is in my heart. Over and over again.

I want to bless. Yet, I don't. I want to encourage. Yet, I don't. I want to build up with words. Yet, in a weak moment, I go negative. I want to help. Yet, I fail to give truth. It is a battle. How blessed I am to have a 'tender God' who knows and is FOR me, in this battle. He sent HIS SON for me, because HE loves me.

The battle is won by the stripes of Jesus. The battle is HIS. I rest in knowing I am HIS and he loves me, forgive me for past, present and future sins. This is truth. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

I am free.

To bless, to help, to encourage, to build up ~ but then it isn't really me, it is HIM!

Thinking about fruit, Lynette

Ordinary?

Today is Friday. End of the week. Beginning of the week-end. Another Friday.

We don't have big plans this week end. I know the Super Bowl is Sunday. Our team didn't make it. We don't care who wins.

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I was struck with how 'ordinary' so many of my days seem to be, lately. Ordinary? Ordinary?

Each and everyday is a gift from the Lord, I remembered. Today is new. Today is potential for praising HIM, loving HIM, learning MORE of HIM. So much of it is what I think about. Where is my heart and where is my mind?

Not ordinary. Fresh. New. A GIFT ~ to be used for HIM. How easily I fall into wrong thinking. No, today is NOT ordinary. I will not take today for granted. I will commit it to HIM; He who is faithful. He who is worthy of today!

I will hum praises to my God. I will kiss my hubby. I will smile at my kids. I will make dinner. I will pet the dogs. I will be a blessing to those around me. Because today is NOT ordinary. It is a day unto HIM who loves and cares for me.

I know whom I have believed! Faithful is HE!

No ordinary day here, Lynette

Dirt

My Kitchen Dirt Today!

Everyone has something weird about them. Mine is sweeping. I love to sweep. I mean it, I like sweeping my kitchen floor. For a number of reasons. One of which is, a very long time ago I realized if I was going to go barefoot I better learn to love to sweep floors.

I am a barefoot girl who grew up in California and even though I live in Maryland now, I still like bare feet. Since I like going barefoot except on the iciest of days, I feel every crumb that I step on in my kitchen. The kitchen and the bathrooms need sweeping. Everything else in our home is carpeted.

One of my girls or I sweep the kitchen floor most days. We usually enter our home at the kitchen door, having passed three door mats. One at the entry door in the garage, one at the school room door and one into the kitchen. Three doormats! You'd think that would keep the dirt out since most of the dirt in a home is brought in from the outside.

Nope.

The above picture is of the dirt I swept up this morning, having missed yesterdays sweeping due to Basketball Games and a busy day, all day! Yes, all kinds of findings in there, including pop corn kernels from Monday nights pop corn fest.

So what? What is your point?

I was thinking last week about the dirt on my kitchen floor as I asked one of my girls to please sweep before I would be returning from an errand. Why Mom? The floor looks clean. Yes, darlin' it 'LOOKS' clean. Yet it is not. Trust me, you'll see.

When I returned, she had swept. "Mom, you were right, it was amazing how much 'stuff' was on the kitchen floor."

Then the thought came. Our lives are sometimes like my kitchen floor. Looks clean. Smells clean. Only a crumb or two in the corner. But if I 'sweep' with the 'broom' ....oh my what do I find? Dirt. Sins. Not just sins of commission but the ones of omission too.

~ Time wasted

~ Selfishness

~ Neglecting my quiet time

~ Unkind words

~ Gossip

~ An ugly look

~ Being in a bad mood

~ Over indulging (you pick of what)

~ Lack of self control

~ Gentleness neglected

~ Rebellion or rebellious thoughts

~ Disrespect

You name it. Some little crumbs (or big kernels) that just lay there, un-confessed. Day after day of not confessing and the pile mounts into a bigger pile. The answer? The gospel!

The Bible tells me there is none righteous, no not one. It tells me as I confess my sins, HE is faithful and just to cleanse me and make me white as snow. That's a fact. True for me and true for you, if you belong to HIM.

I still like to sweep. I found myself this morning talking to the Lord about 'sweeping' my heart even as I finished up sweeping my kitchen! Isn't that amazing!!!

Now I have a clean kitchen floor AND a clean heart!!!!

So Grateful to be HIS, Lynette

How do we know we love God?

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

So many people think being 'called' by God is just for pastors, missionaries, church leaders and Sunday school teachers. Yet the Bible says everyone of HIS true children is called to serve God by serving others. This is true for me and you. This is true for children, teens, all believers!

We are never saved by serving, but we are saved to do good works and serve others. Paul gives us three insights related to to this subject.

1st ~ The basis for serving others is salvation.

"YOU were called to be FREE. You cannot serve God until you have been set free by Jesus ....set free from the darkness of your own sins.

Until you experience the transforming power of God's grace in your life, you're too enslaved by your own hurts, habits, and hang-ups to think much about anyone else.

Without the freedom of forgiveness, you'll end up serving for all the wrong reasons. Like trying to earn approval of others, trying to run away from pain, trying to kill guilt, trying to impress God. Serving motivated by these will leave you burned out and bitter in the end.

2nd ~ The barrier to serving others is selfishness.

"Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature." The biggest reason we don't have energy to serve others is that we are preoccupied with our own agendas, dreams, and pleasures.

I was hit with this again recently. Every year Dale and I work to decorate for Christmas at our Church. It is one of those things that is not much noticed, unless it goes undone. She went to Mexico on a Missions Trip and I oh so much missed her expertise! I was in charge. To my own shame, I started to get irritated. I prayed about it. The Lord graciously asked me....who are you doing this for? OUCH! Then HE sent me 3 sweet angels of mercy ~ and YES, it did get done. After praying, my heart was again in the right place......how easily I can be selfish!

"If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will ever know what it means to really live." Mark 8:35

3rd ~ The motive for serving is love.

"Serve one another in love."

"No matter what I say, What I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love."1 Corinthians 13:3 ~The Message.

God is way more interested in why I serve others than in how well I serve them. He is always looking at my heart, serving willingly and eagerly out of love for Jesus and gratitude for all he's done for me.

Why do I do what I do? It is the love of Jesus that compels me. Some are looking only to do what they get paid for, or for applause of others, to 'feel' good. Yet these are empty. It is the love of God for me that makes me want to love HIM by serving others, even if they notice not.

We are most like Jesus when we serve others. After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus said, "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you." John 13:14-15

So what now?

~ How can I help?-----Consider your response to this Scripture verse: "Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, 'How can I help?" Romans 15:2

~ Who will I serve this week? Ask God to bring to mind someone you should serve this week, and ask him what you should do for that person. Then do it!

Who will you serve this week? Who will I serve this week? Ask HIM!

We love because HE first loved us! Lynette

Christmas Gifts ~

I have been reading a terrific little book titled "Come Thou Long-Expected JESUS" by numerous authors and edited by Nancy Guthrie.

This little book makes an excellent addition to ones usual Bible reading leading up to Christmas ~ the celebration of Jesus' birth; although Jesus was not born in December.

One of the readings has stayed in my thoughts. Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift we could ever receive. He came, born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, was both very God and very man, died on the cross for me and for you and rose again and is seated at the right hand of GOD the Father, making intercession for the saints. He is faithful, good, holy, eternal, just, full of mercy and perfect in every way, all knowing, all powerful, present everywhere and creator of everything.

I have only skimmed the subject ~ HE is more, so much more!

We love because HE first loved us. Why do we give gifts at Christmas time? My hubby has asked our children that question many many times over the years. We give gifts because we love. GOD loves us and sent us the ultimate gift, His Son. So we follow HIS example. We give gifts because we love others.

What gifts are you giving this year? I asked myself that same question, again this year. I have put some thought into it ~ asked the LORD about it. Here are a few suggestions ~

* Forgive someone who has hurt you.

* Do something kind for someone you don't like.

* Die to self and let someone butt in line.

* Be silent when someone says something hurtful about you.

* Love an enemy in a tangible way.

* Comfort a hurting child.

* Give that $$$ you got to someone who is going without.

* Pray for a hurting friend, and then pray hard for them again and again.

* Accept someone different than you ~ really accept them with the Love of Christ.

* Give that teenager who bothers you a BIG smile and a pat on the back.

* Admit you are wrong...really wrong.

* Stand up for the one everyone else makes fun of.

These are just ideas....but could rock your world. I know. They did mine!

So joyous this Christmas, with the Love given me, Lynette

Marriage Monday

~ Marriage Monday ~

Our Sunday School Class for this quarter is studying about Marriage. We finished up our study with Ted Tripp called "What did you Expect" and had a time of discussion.

Somehow the question came up, "Why is 'public display of affection' between a husband and wife often times seen as 'not appropriate' around Church (before or after the services) ? Kissing and hugs. Read Song of Solomon. We read the first 5 verses. Some amazing things came out! The very first topic is KISSING. She initiates the kissing too.

Our Sunday School teacher (my husband) mentioned the fact that God's Word is truth. Kissing is a clear indicator of the health of a marriage. If you have a healthy marriage, you probably kiss a lot. A LOT is good. Very GOOD! If you hardly ever kiss, if you don't ever kiss better check things out concerning your marriage. God likes married people to kiss. He has given us marriage as a picture of Christ and His Church (His bride).

Kiss him in the morning, kiss him in the evening, kiss him at noon-time, kiss him when you go out, kiss him when you come in, kiss him always and ever! There is no such thing as kissing too much.

One of the things my husband said is 'your children should see you kissing all the time. When they say...ohhhh stop....then you are just where you should be.' Kids need to see parents kissing!

I so enjoy this Sunday School Class. It makes me think. It is timely. So many marriages are in trouble, all around us. Christian marriages too. It should make us all sad. Don't wait until you have trouble. Do as God tells us in HIS Word. Kiss your husband. Love him. Be loyal. Respect Him because God tells you too. What man doesn't love being desired by his own wife. Just do it! Go kiss your husband, really really kiss him!

A new slant on kissing here, Lynette

Little Red Pail ~

I went to WalMart on Monday with my girl. We have debit cards, which I usually use when I shop. Easy way to keep track with the budget, so that is what we use. So Monday I did as I usually do. When I exited the store, it was cold and windy.

There stood a man ringing a loud bell by the little red bucket on legs. "Put something in" was what I heard in my heart. I had used my debit card ~ "I don't carry cash." I reasoned. I took two more steps. "Put something in the pail, Sherry." "Everyone else will", I told myself. Two more steps.

An amazing thing happened to me. "He who says he loves God and does not love his brother is a liar." ~ jumped right into my head. (I came home and looked it up...1John 4:20) What? Did I hear correctly? Yes! Okay, Lord! I opened my wallet and there were three one dollar bills. I turned and put all three in the little red bucket.

Convicted, I said "YOU are so good LORD, and YES, I do love you and I love my brother too."

Small.

Little.

Obedient.

I hear HIS voice because I am one of HIS sheep!

What a little blessing to me in a BIG way!

Grateful to BE HIS sheep~ Lynette

PS. It happened again this week and YES....I put something in! It isn't the amount, it is the heart condition ~ a willing heart!

Food for Thought:

As 2010 comes to a close and we begin 2011, we each should stop and consider some things to think about!

Everyday we make important decisions about how we live our Christian lives---decisions that concern our character, conduct, commitment, and contribution. These choices reflect who we are and who, by God's grace, we are becoming. Consider the following with me.

Character ~ who a person really is, even when no one else is watching or sees. God sees.

*(Gal. 5:22-26; 1 Peter 1:13-16) What character issues do I want God to help me work on in my life in the coming months?

Conduct ~ a person's actions that serve as an extension of her character. God sees.

*(Ephesians 4:23-43; 5:15-21) How would you like the Holy Spirit to help your conduct reflect more accurately who you really are in Jesus Christ? Are there specific actions that need to be put off or put on?

Commitment ~ the quality in a person that enables her to do what she said she will do, even if circumstances change or no one sees her actions. God sees.

*(Psalm 15:4; 2Timothy 2:2; Matthew 5:37) Where do I need help in aligning my priorities and commitments with His heart and ways?

Contribution ~ positive results that occur when a person uses her unique gifts to reflect Christ to unbelievers and serve the body of Christ.

*(1 Peter 2:9-12; Ephesians 4:11-16) In what areas do I want God to help me make more significant contributions in the lives of others?

Let's pray and seek the Lord as we close out 2010. If you journal like I do, just make a page for these items. Pray over them and 'dog ear' (I use a sticky tab) and check it once a week. Leave a page or two to write thoughts, things you notice and victories gained. It only takes a few minutes and think of the 'gain' in your walk with Christ!

So grateful to be a daughter of the KING! Sherry Lynette

Since it is rainy and cloudy and dark outside today.....I thought I would post a happy, sunny picture as a 'toast' to my 'happy heart' today! Happy not because of 'circumstances' but because of 'WHOSE' I am! It really is all about HIM!

Why?

We ask ourselves 'why'. Why are things all turned upside down? Why is my life not going according to plan? What is going on in me? What is going on at work, school, church, our neighborhood, with our friends? You name it. There is a mystery to LIFE. Mystery. Why? What is happening to my life? What is happening to those around me, those I love?

My plan was to graduate and marry a Californian and live my years out in sunny California. God had other plans. He loves me. He wants my good as well as His glory. I spent almost 5 years in Germany with snowy hard winters, far away from family and friends. God was at work. He had a plan. He knew what HE was doing. I didn't. I cried. I wanted to be back in California. I was miserable at first. Then God got my attention. He had a plan. He was using 'Germany' for my good. I came to find that I can be 'home' where ever Christ is. My HOPE is really in HIM. Home is not a place but a PERSON! Yes, I have a home here. I enjoy it, yet it is temporary. My real HOME is not here on earth. It is in Heaven.

God taught me so many lessons in Germany. He has taught me so many lessons since then too. He is up to something in my life. The two questions really are "What is God doing?" and "What is my response to it?". Those are the questions!

Here is a quote from Paul Tripp that I love~

"Are there places where you’re crying for the grace of God and you’re not realizing that you’re getting it? But it’s not the grace of relief and it’s not the grace of release; it’s the boiling grace of personal transformation. Again, God will take you where you do not want to go in order to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own. In those unexpected moments, don’t run away from your Lord, run to him. You are not being forsaken you are being loved.

What does all this really mean? Well here it is! You can look mystery in the face and have hope. You can live in the middle of a life that you don’t really understand, that you can’t really figure out and you can rest. You can deal with the unexpected with joy. You can accept mystery; and you can do it because you can look through the clouds of mystery and see a God of love who is actually near when he seems far. He’s actually active when he seems passive; who is doing something very good right in the middle of when things seem that they’re going very badly.

Are there places when you just can’t figure out what God is doing? Are there places where it feels that he’s not near? Where right now in your everyday experience are you dealing with the unexpected? God is at work in your life. He hasn’t turned His back on you. You see, you can accept mystery because in the middle of the unexpected there is love and grace and help to be found. God is right smack dab in the middle of your unexpected moment and he is up to something very, very good."

Good words for a day when my heart cries 'why ?' Good words for you too when that day is your day! Run to the Cross....it is our HOPE !

Trusting He who is Faithful, Sherry Lynette

Thinkings.....

If you are like me, I like it when things go according to the plan. Neat. Easy. Organized. Planned. No hitches. Just easy peasey. Why am I surprised when I am reminded life is not that way? Life is messy. Life is turbulant. Life is real. I can be honest with God and with myself!

'But he said to her (Job to his wife), "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.' Job 2:10

I like Job! I want to be like Job! I must admit though that I understand his wife's struggle, even though she is way wrong. I have never said what she did, yet I have known the frustration of trying to 'figure' things out. God tells me in His word that somethings are not to be figured out. We walk by faith not by sight. He knows what He is doing. I can rest. I must rejoice in the process of what He is doing. Sight is way easier yet it is not the walk of faith for the christian.

So I wait. I trust. I pray. I hold on to my Lord and learn to lean on Him. I seek His face. His grace is abundant to me. He knows, He cares, He is in control, and He will glorify HIMSELF in my life as I run to HIM! So I run to HIM daily and ask HIM to help me be like Job ~ trusting Him who is faithful!

Gratefully His, Lynette

PS. Here I am...'humming' again! It's a good thing!

Elisabeth Elliot

I was introduced to Elisabeth Elliot, the speaker and author many years ago. We were living in Utica, NY and my first three boys were young back then. Dave and I been invited to hear her speak near by and we went. She was mainly speaking to women (not preaching) that night. I connected with her right away. I have read everything she has ever written since then. She has a heart for Christ and a 'trusting' walk with her God faithfully through the years, always depending on him and his grace. She has been widowed twice. She is now in her late 80s and lives in New England along the shore.

Elisabeth once said she had ladies ask her all the time "why has God not given me a husband and yet He has given you three?" She does not know, she says. God does. She never went looking for them, they found her. I appreciate that answer in a day and age when it seems so many young women are on the 'prowl'......even ones who call themselves believers. Rare is the young lady who waits for God's timing.

Many blessing have I received from Elisabeth. I do not personally know her (although I do have books signed by her hand) yet have stored up much practical wisdom for my life from her sharing. When my boys were little, I would get so overwhelmed, so frustrated with 'daily-ness', so tired, so wanting adult conversation and yes, maybe felt a little sorry for myself that I was in the trenches always with too much to do and not enough time. We had one car back then, so getting out was not easy. I love being home, I love homeschooling, yet some days were just so routine and mundane. I sometimes would get 'stuck' ~ until I came across this poem Elizabeth loved back then and shared on the radio many many times. (she used to be on the radio everyday...I loved it)

Here is a quote of hers from her radio program many year ago:

"Have you had the experience of feeling as if you've got far too many burdens to bear, far too many people to take care of, far too many things on your list to do? You just can't possibly do it, and you get in a panic and you just want to sit down and collapse in a pile and feel sorry for yourself?

Well, I've felt that way a good many times in my life, and I go back over and over again to an old Saxon legend, which I'm told is carved in an old English parson somewhere by the sea. I don't know where this is. But this is a poem which was written about that legend. The legend is "Do the next thing." And it's spelled in what I suppose is Saxon spelling. "D-O-E" for "do," "the," and then next, "N-E-X-T." "Thing"-"T-H-Y-N-G-E."

I hope it will encourage and strengthen you for the next day you may get 'stuck'.

DO THE NEXT THING

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,

There came in the twilight a message to me.

Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven

That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.

And all through the hours the quiet words ring,

Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from heaven,

Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care.

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

Working or suffering be thy demeanor;

In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.

Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.

I cannot count the times this poem has kept me on the right path. Helped when I was worn out, helped when I wanted to quit, helped when I wanted to run away, helped when I was selfish or sad. Helped me when I didn't know what to do first. As the burdens seemed so big, I would remember Elisabeth and this poem. The haunting words would come sweetly......"Sherry, do the next thing."

Do you ever struggle and want to know what to do? Sweep the kitchen, hug that child, smile at the mailman, fold that laundry.....just do the next thing! Leave the results to Jesus!

Gratefully His, Lynette