How will you remember me...

Death is not an easy topic...it is painful whether it comes as a surprise or if it's arrival is long suffered. But it's arrival is inevitable for all us. There is a saying that states, once we're born two things are certain, death and taxes. We just finished tax season, but what season of life are we in?

What would be preferred: to be branded with an expiration date - see it coming and know more or less when it will occur, or to have it occur totally unexpected.

But when we really think about it - should it ever be 'unexpected'? We are given the gift of life - a true miracle. Then from that first moment of birth, each milestone, each day, each minute, each breath is a new gift. We do not have the assurance of next year, next month, tomorrow, or even that we will finish out today. An accident while driving, a heart attach while working, an anurism in our sleep, a surgery gone wrong, an undetected illness, or maybe just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. What we can be assured of is that our 'time' is coming. So, what should we do, live in fear or focus on the fact that our journey is coming to an end? NO!!! Fear is debilatating and negative and who needs it, and while the journey is coming to an end - it's not over yet!

Use what we have left (how ever long that may be) of our lives to do two things:
Prepare for eternity - because that is coming too. Get to know our Lord and Maker. Nurture a relationship with our Savior and Redeemer. Listen to our Counselor and Comforter. God loves you - He loves you so much that He gave His One and Only Son as a sacrifice for your sins in order to redeem you unto Himself. Jesus paid the price for you - He is The Rock we can stand on, and it was His redemption of us that gives us the confidence to approach God not as strangers or servants, but as His children. It is because of Jesus Christ that we can have more than just hope for a joyous eternity, we can have the assurance of it! And it was Jesus, who asked our Heavenly Father to leave us with the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us; that we would never be alone while here on earth. We need to be using the time we have here on earth to deepen our relationship with God - to grow in understanding - and to serve and honor Him. Use this time to help guide others toward Him so that they too may know the joy of salvation, and so that we may be found faithful.
Enjoy the Present! - Take time to enjoy the blessings you've been given; relish the moments we have the gift of having. TODAY - the PRESENT is YOUR life...everything else, your family, a job, friends, the ability to sit, walk, see, read, eat, talk, hear, think, remember, EVERYTHING is a blessing - and all things (including the 'bad') can be used to bless us if we trust in the Word of God and believe in Him. Focus on the good, focus on the positive - everything we need has been provided, and many of our wants as well. Develop and nurture an Attitude of Gratitude and you will find that 'life' is sweeter. Today, is important, this moment does count - use it wisely; give it your all!

God is with you and me always - talk to Him, spend time with Him, and focus on all that you have and not the few things you're missing. Life can be hard but God is good, and life is better than the alternative.

If you have lost someone you loved, I'm sorry for your loss...honor them and the life they lived by living your life to the fullest.

If you are facing a serious illness and death's timing is drawing visibly near for you or for a loved one, I'm sorry for the pain and burden you are carrying...don't hesitate to share Life and Love with those around you, and know that this life we live hear on earth is tempral... better things lay ahead for those who are with the Lord! If you have God in your life then you know that joy unending is your assurance. If you don't have God in your life and you haven't accepted His gift of Jesus Christ then do so NOW - invite Jesus into your heart, accept His gift of eternal salvation and welcome to our family of belivers... it's that simple. God is waiting for you with open arms here and now.

If life is in progress...like it is for most of us, then remember to enjoy the gift of today to the fullest - live in the will of God - put Him first in your life and all other things will fall into place. Count your blessings and enjoy the journey - life's road can be bumpy at times but joy can be ours at every step if we choose to see it with God in perspective.

Keep on keeping on for as long as we are gifted the blessing and opportunity of life!

God is with you and me...always!: The PRESENT -

God is with you and me...always!: The PRESENT -

The PRESENT -

Everyday there is something that's not right. You wake up and it hurts to get out of bed, you look in the mirror and realize there's a new wrinkle or gray hair...you've got so much to do and you're already behind the eight-ball! Ahhh! Getting old, and having responsibilities can be a pain! But consider the alternative...

You woke up today! Already that put you and your loved ones ahead of many others that didn't make it through the night. Hey, and by the way, if there are 'loved ones or even just one' you are blessed. So, let's start counting the rest of the blessings. Were you able to get out of bed? Did you stand up, walk, and get yourself to the mirror in the bathroom? Can you see? Do you have hair? I think you 'see' where I'm headed... each of our 'burdens' can be a blessing if you choose to 'see' it in that light. How many people would love to have all you have to do today? Perhaps you have a job? Maybe you're job hunting? Maybe you care for others? Whatever you're 'to-do' list entails, it's something that someone else would love to 'have to do'. Think about it! Are you starting to see blessings where before you saw burdens? If so, great! You're refocusing on the positive and not the negative.

Paul wrote in the Philippians 4:8
"Finally, bothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

And he wrote this while imprisoned awaiting his death! So, if Paul can lead us to doing this type of focus while in that situation, don't you think we should strive to focusing on what is excellent and praiseworthy in our life situations?

Focus on the positive and see the blessings God has given you today - enjoy the 'presents' of the PRESENT!

May your day be blessed with the realization of God's omnipresence, and of His faithfulness and love in your life today - Praise God our Heavenly Father who has seen fit in His mercy and grace to provide for us each day so much more than we deserve.
Amen

Using Time Wisely - part 1

My Dear Friend -

It's been a while since my last Blog posting, but life has been busy and I'm sorry to say this wasn't at the top of my priorities list as of late. But today, TODAY it is!

So, I hope you'll enjoy this entry - that it helps you appreciate and use the gift of Time more wisely - each of us have a finite number of days on this earth, and God can and will if we ask Him, help us to use it more wisely.

Before I get into my post though, I want to ask you the most critical question in reference the wise use of time . . . have you prepared for eternity?

Life is short, regardless of how many days or years we have left, preparing today for ‘today’ is good – many of us do that already. Planning ahead for tomorrow, next week, or developing a 5 Year Plan is good. But it’s done on the ‘hope’ of days to come, not the assurance that they will be.

Preparing for Eternity, well that's critical! Because that journey has already started, since before you were conceived, your days have been numbered – unbeknown to you but known to God – your time here on earth is limited. But if you plan ahead for your eternity, you can rest assured in the knowledge that ‘FOREVER’ your future is bright! You’re ready!

How? Well that’s easy and wonderful wrapped into one – accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, ask Him into your heart as Lord over your life. He will go ahead and prepare a place for you in Heaven, and your eternity will be assured!

If you’d like to get more information on being ready for eternity and what it takes to invite Jesus into your heart, write me and I’ll write you back to provide you with some help or resources. If you want to do it right now, ask Him – pray – talk to God, He’s listening . . . He’s been waiting for you.

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Now, we’ve been given the gift of TIME here on earth, we should use it wisely. I hope you’ll find this series of Posts on Using Time Wisely helpful. Enjoy! =)

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Steps Towards Using Time Wisely

In today’s world there are so many distractions and things vying for our attention – Cell Phones and PDAs going off - TV, Movies, and Theaters, all sorts of entertainment opportunities – Magazines, Newspapers, and the Flash Bulletins showing us what’s happening, and flooding us with information from all over the world and from celebrities’ personal lives – The Internet with YouTube, EBay, Google and all sorts of opportunities for gathering information, entertainment, and communications we didn’t even know we were missing. It’s so tempting to be distracted by any and all of these things - to let them grab our attention and take up our time.

King David of the Bible, a wise and beloved man after God’s own heart, prays in Psalm 119:3a (TEV), “Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless”.

Consider this: Time is our most valuable resource - we can't make or earn more of it. Unlike any other resource - once it's spent, it's gone! Shouldn’t we pay attention to how we spend it?

Relaxing, researching, learning, building friendships and connections - like work related or other activities that might be seen as 'productive' - are good uses of your time, IF they are done with forethought and/or intention - in their own due, planned, or available (free) time-frame.

When we let time just 'slip away' or let it be 'taken' from us with our implied consent (in that we allow it to happen - usually without any need/benefit being fulfilled), by doing something we didn't have time for - then we've misused or misspent our time; because we have used it for something other than what it was intended. When we misuse, or misspend time we have wasted it. We have not benefited ourselves of its use - as we needed to have done. We’ve been poor stewards of our time. We face the 'temptation' to waste time everyday (See James 1:13-15 / Galatians 6:1 / Hebrews 4:15 and 2:18/ and Corinthians 10:13 for more on temptation and how we should deal with it).

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If you have a chance, please look up these verses I’ve listed on dealing with temptation. Temptation is a part of all of our lives, and we all fall prey to it at one time or another, whether it’s the temptation to waste the gift of time, or something else. But God has given us a way out – the strength we need to be victorious over all types of temptation! Read and meditate on these verses, and He will show you the answers you seek.

We’ll talk more about that in future posts, for now, know this my friend – I am praying for you, and God loves you!

It’s God, you, and me – Godunme – together we’re better!

Do you know God?

In doing my Bible study today God led me to a verse to share with you - Hebrews 8:11


11"No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest."


Wow! This is the Spirit that God was speaking about... God made it possible that we would 'know Him'.

We need only to seek His word (the letters and stories God set in the Bible to teach and guide us - Life's instruction manuel - The Bible), and listen to what He has to say to us (that still small voice in our heart that warns us when we do wrong, and encourages us when we do right - the voice of our conscience when we are yet not believers - and the conviction of the Holy Spirit when we are His) to know God . . . to KNOW GOD! Wow!

God the almighty Creator of the universe made it possible for me to get to know Him without needing to go through anyone, just me and Him... WOW!

I don't know about you, but I don't think I could get a meeting with the Governor, let alone President! But I know The Great and Holy one and only - none before, and none after - GOD. Wow!

Do you know God? Not just know about Him, but know Him?

You know this passage doesn't preclude us from helping one another to get to where we know God - it just says we can directly know Him - that inside of us we will recognize the truth of Him when we see it. If you don't know God personally today is a good day to start - to meet Him.

If you'd like me to help you please post on my blog and I'll write you back and help you to meet Him personally, guide you to some resources and provide you some tools.

But if you'd rather not post but want to meet Him - just pray with an open heart - ask God to show Himself to you, give your heart to Him and tell Him you need Him, that you want His love - His presence in your life - invite Him into your life today.

He is faithful, and He will answer your prayer... see, wether you know Him or not, He knows you intimately and He is longing to hear from you - pray.

Everything you need...

What is it you need today? Let me ask it again in case you didn't get the question... what is it that you NEED today?

Think about it...

What is it you are lacking that you NEED - that you can't live without? That you can't fulfill your purpose without having?

If you're like me, and you take a few minutes to think about it, I think you'll find you have all your needs...and by virtue that you're reading this on the Internet, you have much more than just what you NEED...

When someone asks that question initially we hear it and think of all the things we wish we had, but often we don't really need these items. Do we? Even when we think of our 'needs' they often tend to be more 'wants' than needs...

Maybe you think 'good health', or 'a job', or 'a loved one' . . . these are more than 'wants' - aren't they? Are they?

God said He was sufficient to meet all our needs - do you believe Him? Do you trust Him to know better than you? Then trust Him to meet your 'needs' and let go of the rest.

Recently I was ill - literally deathly ill - in and out of the hospital, on oxygen 24/7 and barely able to talk or walk... did God meet my needs? Yes! But I don't just say that because I'm still here today - I say that because 'through my illness' God brought healing into my life. I was dying in my daily life, and He gave me 'life' in the midst of my illness. Confusing perhaps, but hear me out...

I was at a job that was literally 'sucking the life out of me' - I loved what I did, but was hating the environment and the circumstances I was working under. I was unappreciated, and over abused - worked beyond what I knew was healthy for me, or my family life. I needed to make a change, but was to 'vested' to do it, to scared to move in a different direction - stuck in my need for income, and status - afraid to loose what I had. But through the illness I saw what was really important, I understood how silly my dedication to 'job' was at the cost of 'family' at the cost of 'self'.

God used my loss of health to open my eyes to what was really important - it was when I was weakest that I sought Him the most - He was, and is, my provider of all - health, money, status, everything! God healed me physically, emotionally, and psychologically - He gave me a chance to start anew, in a different direction.

I found the only 'status' I need is to be His - a child of God! A princess in His Kingdom - what more could I want than this! =)

I have come to the conclusion that since I accepted His gift of 'eternal salvation' I have all I need - I say that in more ways than one... can you understand this? If not, think about it - are you His? Have you accepted His gift? What more do you 'need'?

While financially things may at times get difficult, and life can be hard, I'm sure He is present in my trials, and as His word states - He will bring good out of every situation. I trust Him, and I see how He does meet all my needs - and so many of my hearts desires - do you?

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; ...who satisfies your desires with good things so tat your youth is renewed like the eagle's"
Psalm 103: 1-5

Bad Habits

We all have habits - some good, and some bad.   

A good one might be to shower and brush out teeth daily... hello!  Hygiene!   

A bad one might be smoking.  Or maybe it's something even more common, like procrastinating, or stretching the truth... another way of excusing a lie.  

We fall into bad habits, rarely with the thought that we're creating a habit, just wanting to try something, or just every now and then do something, we know isn't what's right or best for us.  Yet, that's exactly how bad habits begin... with just one small (yet negative) action.  

So, how do we change these bad habits if we want to do what's right (once we recognize that they're not what is good for us or others)?  Whether it's smoking, lying, over eating, or being angry for no reason, etc... how do we change these actions we've done for so long; that now they've become habits?   Is it even possible???

YES!!!  =o)

Anything that is saying to you, 'No - YOU can't!', you should recognize as Satan's deceit.   You can, and I KNOW IT!  

How can 'I' know that 'YOU' can?  Because God told me - and He never lies.  He's telling you the same thing too!  

Listen: 

' I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.'            Philippians 4:13

He tells us in this verse that we CAN do EVERYTHING through HIM -  HE will give you the strength you need to do what you need to do!   He can, and He will!   

You and I are maybe not able to even 'change ourselves', even if we want to.  But He made you, and He can help you to change - and through Him, YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING!!!  

So, talk to God ask Him to give you the strength you need to get rid of Bad Habits, and make yourself better than you are today!  

What Bad Habits do you have?

My list is pretty lengthy, but I'm in prayer, and giving it my all. I know He is helping me, everyday in every way - one step at a time!

May God bless you and keep you - Know that He loves you!  =) and will never leave you!