tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2911205683461427922023-11-16T09:23:04.171-08:00In The BeginningA call to encourage and invite women to be a Daddy's girl. Please feel free to comment below each blog. It is my desire this will help someone.Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-51470107624194640482014-03-19T13:45:00.000-07:002014-03-19T13:45:03.348-07:00Unloved, Unappreciated, Second Place"When the Lord <i style="font-weight: bold;">saw </i>that Leah was unloved............................... Genesis 29:31<br />
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Ever been there?<br />
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I am married to a man who has loved, appreciated and chose me. It wasn't like he HAD to take me and then demand to be given the one he really loved. My relationship with my siblings is good not that we have always lived the same lifestyle but we managed to grow up to appreciate and love each other. In my circle of friends, acquaintances, and extended family things are for the most part good. I can think of two people who might not be happy with us but we have reached out and now have to wait on God's timing to restore. But if I was truthful, I would say there has been times I felt and known that I was unloved/hated. <br />
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I just pulled down my mom's old KJV translation and sure enough it says Leah was hated...not unloved. In other translation they made note of it; but I wanted to see it for myself. Tuesday I touched on this subject in ministering with some ladies at the nursing home. One lady and I were tag teaming and as I finished talking regarding Leah being hated, I walked back to another lady and I whispered , "She wasn't hated to much with all the children she bore ." Lighten up, it is humor. Let's face it though there is a huge difference in being loved and having sex. In that time and culture it was a sign of blessing and prosperity according to how many children your wife or wives bore along with the riches you attained. Women viewed their lives by the number of children they were given.<br />
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I don't want to concentrate so much on Leah's relationship with her husband and sister so much as I do on the fact that the Lord saw. <b>He had compassion, love, attentiveness, and he did something to ease her pain.</b> It spoke freshness into my heart. He opened her womb. As this verse struck a chord within me my second thought was, "Oh, what ever You do DON'T open my womb!" :) He touched her just in the area of her life that was important to her and she knew it.<br />
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Verse 32 ......."The Lord has surely looked on my affliction....."<br />
Verse 33......... "Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved/hated....."<br />
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She realized the Lord saw and heard of the pain she was dealing within her heart. And because He <b>saw </b>Leah we can take comfort He sees us, also. But, and it is a big but. Let us look at what her expectations were from the blessings:<br />
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Verse 32.........."NOW therefore, my husband will love me"<br />
Verse 34...........NOW this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons."<br />
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Yet, her circumstances didn't change, if anything her relationships got worse; but there seems to be an inkling forming in her mind that even though her relationship with her husband isn't better after she bore the fourth son she said, "NOW I will praise the Lord".<br />
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I can so relate to her. Why does it take me to the fourth, fifth, and so forth time to realize I just need to praise Him? His expectations and mine don't always see eye to eye. His purpose and mine don't always jive. She goes on to bear other sons and a daughter and we see her once again slip back, "NOW my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons."<br />
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Oh, Leah! Oh, Barbara! <br />
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Oh, for the day I can rest in the Lord that He has seen, He has blessed, and He is working to carry out His plan and purposes. Not mine. Maybe I will still be unloved/hated. Maybe I won't. If I just sit at His feet and let go. Maybe if I seek His face and not His hand. In other words, I am wanting His relationship over what He can change or do. Will you join me? <br />
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<span class="nkjv_first-word" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><b> In Your Presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."</b></span></div>
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<br />Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-10809895624301259192014-03-17T12:14:00.001-07:002014-03-17T12:14:17.153-07:00Didn't See That ComingWe were leaving for church Sunday and as My Man was yielding to turn from our driveway he mentioned a squirrel had not made it across the highway. Followed by asking if I had seen it lying on the road. Uh, no. Why would I? So, not to disappoint him I looked. Then I gave him a good laugh when I said, "Probably a male squirrel chasing a female and never saw it coming."<br />
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As weird as this sounds, it made me think how true that is in our own lives. I'm speaking of the 'didn't see it coming' not 'the male and female thing'. :) Isn't it true that we can be going about our day focused and getting thing accomplished and then life hits us out of nowhere? Even though we don't experience physical death we can experience having the life knocked out us. It can be emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical and often it can be a combination of all of them.<br />
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As I was mulling over something else I am working on, I heard in my spirit, "all fear is gone". The thought stopped me in my tracks. I knew it was from an hymn but it took me awhile to realize it was the chorus to Because He Lives.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">(Chorus)</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Because he lives</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">I can face tomorrow</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Because he lives</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">All fear is gone</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Because I know</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">He holds the </span><nobr style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;"><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.elyrics.net/read/h/hymn-lyrics/because-he-lives-lyrics.html#" id="FALINK_3_0_2" style="background-color: transparent !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-width: 0px 0px 1px !important; color: rgb(243, 91, 0) !important; display: inline !important; padding-bottom: 1px !important;">future</a></nobr><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">And life is worth the living</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Just because he lives</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 14px;">Source: <a href="http://www.phonelyrics.com">Phone Lyrics</a></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: x-small;">I hope if you are going through one of those <b>'never saw that coming'</b> season this will encourage you. Praising Him all day long......wait, isn't that another song? </span><div>
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Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-38662380204920570842014-03-15T08:41:00.000-07:002014-03-15T08:41:28.735-07:00MommaI had a dream last night about momma. It was in the middle of many dreams that didn't make any sense but this part did in some ways. She has left this earth for nearly fourteen years now. <br />
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I had walked into a place that looked as though it was some type of arena because when I looked at the seating there she was sitting about four rows up making eye contact and nodding her head so I would see her. She would have never made a spectacle of her self, well not in public anyway. :) Always prim and proper in actions and dress. She smoked but would have never smoke in public. She once told me she knew she could quit smoking because she never smoked at work; but when she came home she changed into her robe and sat down in her favorite chair and enjoyed taking a long drawl. She enjoyed smoking and didn't want to give them up. Eventually, she would go into the bathroom stalls to smoke on her break. Always dressed to the 'nines' or to the 'T' with everything matching until one day I walked in told her that her t shirt was turned inside out and she replied, "It doesn't matter. No one was going to see it." Then came the day to take her to the doctor and she was sitting dressed in a cute skirt and top and she reached in her purse and pulled out her compact and began to powder her nose even though the compact was empty. As she was sitting on the exam table, I glanced at her feet and had one of those I could have had a V8 moments where I thumped my head. I had not checked her close enough before leaving. She had on two different dress flats. The last few years she became more cynical and fearful and her sense of humor had a lot to be desired; but she never lost her heart for the under dog. Maybe because all her life she felt she had been in that position as a single mom.<br />
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But in my dream she stands and steps into the aisle and smiles at me like I remembered growing up. She is frail but happy. She is dressed in an ankle length light yellow denim skirt and jacket which I bet she made. Her hair is gray but fixed nicely. And she is smiling. She is smiling.<br />
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I thank God this morning for that dream. It is a gift that will be written again in my gift journal. He has brought tears of gratitude this morning. But why was she at an arena?<br />
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Momma was a life long, die hard, Arkansas Razorback basketball fan planning her evenings around TV broadcasts and a good book and a long drawl on her cigarettes.Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-12451531758986676402013-07-31T09:17:00.001-07:002013-07-31T09:17:14.881-07:00Divas, Rawhide Bones, and Stinky Fish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Let me introduce Miss Foo Foo Diva on the left and Miss Practical Diva on the right. They both love to shop but when you take Miss Foo Foo Diva into a shop her eyes glaze over and she starts talking very fast. Not that she doesn't anyway but it goes into high gear when shopping. "Nana, can I have this!? Oh, I want that! Please, Can I get this, also!?" On and on it goes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Because of my history of shopping with her I found myself preparing a speech to give before I picked her up to buy a birthday gift for a party that she and Miss Practical Diva were about to attend. It went something like this: "Remember we are not buying for you. We are not looking at stuff for you. We are looking for a birthday gift. You have to hurry because we have to pick up Pop and then go pick up Miss Practical Diva." Knowing this could fail I went on preparing my speech. " You just had a birthday in May and were blessed with so many gifts. You don't even stop to think how many things you got and how much you are blessed. You need to be thankful for what you........" In the back of my mind I heard this voice starting to speak, "You really want to go there?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">"Uh, no. Let me rework that speech". I found the rest of the day and the next day bordering on the ridiculous thanking Him for every little thing. That was Saturday and part of Sunday. Monday not so much, if any. Tuesday, nope and now it is Wednesday. It isn't that I'm not thankful and I do thank Him but I find I take Him for granted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">So, as if it wasn't clear enough or because I wasn't putting what I heard into to practice He made it a little clearer through a dog. Yes, a dog. This dog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">When Ronnie retired I told him if it had to be fed and taken care of I did not want it. He could stay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> Before we took a trip Mother's Day weekend I emptied our fridge and threw the food in a scrap pile in the woods. On our return the above dog met us with a grin on his face while running across the yard as if to say, "You're home! You're home!" I actually started laughing. As true to form, Ronnie got out and started trying to run him off (he does this often with neighbor dogs) and I began unloading the car. I was putting the first load down when Ronnie comes in telling me the dog just cowered down and got under my storage building. I nodded thinking he would leave. The dog not Ronnie. Nope. He adopted us. Nothing we did could run him off. He would cower down and get under a building. You could see his ribs so I started giving him scraps of food and Ronnie couldn't stand his cowering down so he started talking to him. Then we bought dog food and the rest is history. Ronnie named him Trespass since that is exactly what he did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">He was so thankful for every morsel of food and loving we gave him. He took to me and cowered with Ronnie which shows which sex must have mistreated him. We bought him a rawhide bone he devoured and he learned to sit instead of jumping when he wanted to be petted. He is good with the grand kids They wanted to walk the trails so Ronnie told him to go with them. He did and they said he stayed with them the whole time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">He also likes to drag up dead things and roll on in them and chew the bones. Once he was so proud of himself he came bouncing toward me with that grin on his face to give me something dead. I threw up one finger hollering, "NO!" He dropped it and Ronnie had to remove it to the woods although it was back the next morning. I had the bright idea of buying rawhide bones and maybe he would quit bringing us gifts. Remembering how he loved the first rawhide bone we gave him I found him lying under my new ride. I called him to me. He looked at me like I was interrupting his nap (I was); but he grudgingly came to me. I showed him the raw hide bone. He sniffed and looked at me. WOULD NOT EVEN TAKE IT! I said, "Are you kidding me! You are not going to take it?" Yes, I did. He just sat down and looked at me. It was a flavored one, too. I pitched it across the yard thinking he would go get it. It laid there a day and half until another dog came through and took it. Spoiled rotten and has taken things for granted where he was once thankful for every little thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Remember those times? When you were first saved or we see Him do something really special in our lives? Yeah, me too. How thankful we were! Then we start focusing on day to day things. Things we want to do and what we want. Just like Trespass we may choose to drag dead things into our lives rather than the living Word. We may dwell on dead things, also. Rolling around in our minds the woes in our lives. Preferring dead thoughts and actions and taking granted those things which have been given to us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Then there are the stinky fish. One Hundred Fifty Three of them. Who counts fish, anyway? A fisherman. My dad would call me to tell me how many he caught on any given day; and so did Peter. One of Ronnie's cousin posted on Facebook a blog she had read and it was so timely. I know I will never be able to write like others; so I want to share the link. Take the time to read it if life is stinky right now. It is during the stinky times of our life that we really need to count our blessings. Even more so if our memories are stinky. If we are busy counting blessing it doesn't matter that the fishy part stinks. There will be a feast laid out for us.</span></div>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; white-space: normal;"><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/07/how-to-live-through-anything-the-fish-principle/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer;" target="_blank">http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/07/how-to-live-through-anything-the-fish-principle/</a>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Blessings and my love to you today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">................Rejoice that your name is written in the Book of Life</span></div>
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Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-6032647839331756292013-04-08T13:18:00.001-07:002013-04-08T13:18:53.214-07:00The Battlefield and JoyI've done it again. I haven't been posting. My excuse...we took a hard life blow in the gut, the emotions, our spirit and soul. In the beginning, it took faith alone to make myself crawl out of the bed and drop to my knees before Him or just put one foot in front of another. It has been a battle set before me to win. We are more than conquerors rather we feel like it or not. I've watched how He has gone before us every minute of everyday. Placing people in position that I barely know or have not seen in years. I've been amazed they would even remember who we were. There is so much I want to share but won't. I have been writing in a journal the good, the bad, and the ugly. Scriptures galore. Every detail. I stand in awe what God will do when we take our hands off and let Him be God. <br />
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Trust. I always thought I trusted Him. Then that day comes when you receive the phone call. The one you thought you might get but deep down wanting it to turn out anyway but the way it had gone down. Earlier in the day we had received another phone call that could have potential to wreck us; so now is the time the rubber meets the road. Again. We've all had life trials where we have to trust beyond any other time in our lives. In reading "Beautiful Battlefields" by Bo Stern she reminded me every battle we have been in prepares me for the next one. The more intense one. She reminded me I had been born for such a time as this and God was in the business of saving and helping people. When we are done with this battle God will use it to do just that. Helping people. She reminded me that people are drawn to us not because we carry a bible, go to church, or seem to have perfect lives; but because they have watched us do battle. So, it was time for me to take my hands off and quit begging and start praising Him. It was time to trust Him with all that was in me no matter what His plan. Therein lies the problem. Fear of what He would allow to accomplish His plan. When I took my hands off that untied His so joy returned & peace reigned. Tears? They still come and go. Pain? Still there. Fear? Cast down. The unknown is still daunting but not destroying. My heart? Examining it daily and asking Him to show it to me. Several surgeries have taken place and I expect more in my future.<br />
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Having finished a bible in plan in the You Version Bible online I was scrolling through the topical plans when I came across Holy Emotions written by Carol McLeod. I highly recommend it as well as the book I mentioned above. I could feel God's tangible presence when I saw the title and took it as my cue to do it. I find it amusing I had never noticed it before. The plan was so good I ordered the book "Holy Estrogen" which I am only about half way through at this time. (Guys, you would understand your women better if you read the book but the You Version is geared to all.) She recounted the story of Esther and her Uncle Mordecai. Remember when he receives the news of the horrid future that was planned for the Jewish people? He puts on sackcloth and ashes and goes through town wailing and then the verse flew off the page at me. I knew where she was going before my eyes could get there. <b>"He (Mordecai) went as far as the king's gate, for no one was to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth." "Esther 4:2 </b><br />
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I miss my dad so much but if he were here he would be telling me to get that sackcloth off and to <b>"Enter His</b> <b>gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name." Ps. 100:4 </b>And that is where Mrs. McLeod was heading and I knew it so very deep down I knew it was coming. Honestly, through it all even with the sackcloth I felt His presence from the first phone call. He does want us to voice our pain to Him but I also knew I couldn't keep wailing; not if, I wanted His joy and peace.<br />
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Later I was reminded when our two younger daughters were with us at my in-laws who lived in the country. They had walked down the road to a neighbor who had horses. When they approached the fence to pet one of the horses he stuck his head through the barbed wire and took hold of Daughter number 3's t shirt and began pulling her through the fence. Daughter number two grabbed Daughter number three around the waist digging her feet into the ground pulling her sister away from the fence. I hope you can see the mental picture as one is pulling away from the fence and the horse has dug in pulling the other direction. Somehow she was able to save her sister from being pulled through the fence but the t shirt was never the same again. I asked Daughter number three why she didn't raise her arms and slip out of the t shirt She said, Are you crazy? I wasn't going to have to walk home without a shirt on!" I looked at her and said, "So you would rather be dragged through a barbed wired fence rather than take the shirt off?" It was an affirmative.<br />
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So many of us will not raise our hands in praise and slip out of our sackcloth. We would rather be drug through the barbed wire fence of life that will scar us. We will carry those scars and show them and wail rather than slipping out of the sackcloth and entering His gates with Thanksgiving. If my earthly dad were here I could tell him I have slipped out of the sackcloth. I'm sure the tendency to slip the sackcloth back on will always be there but His joy and peace is so much more appealing. I don't want to be any other place but in His presence and He knows it. I It is my hope that if life has handed you the mourning sackcloth attire, you will slip out and join me in His presence. Spend some time with your Daddy God today. You will never regret leaving the sackcloth in the ashes.<br />
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Beautiful Battlefields<br />
www.bostern.com/blog/beautifulbattle-fields/<br />
Can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes and Noble<br />
<br />
www.justjoyministries.com<br />
Holy Estrogen<br />
Harrison House Publishing www.harrisonhouse.com<br />
Carol McLeod<br />
<br />
You Version Bible<br />
topical plans<br />
Holy Emotions by Carol McLeodDaddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-23969316086170390312013-02-06T10:03:00.000-08:002013-02-06T10:03:40.029-08:00That Grey Matter Between The Ears<br />
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First of all, I want to ask
forgiveness from those of you who have read the few things I’ve written in the
past and asked when I would post again. I’ve already asked my Daddy God for
forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I got overwhelmed
with life and the pressure to produce blogs that would speak to you instead of
letting God do all the speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now there
is a chance you may be overwhelmed with blogs that will come out of my not
writing. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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This week Ronnie and I will attend
funerals number six and seven of the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have gone to at least one funeral for the last six weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please don’t tell me it is because we are
getting old!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would rather think it is
because our Daddy God has blessed us with so many people we love and care about
deeply and vice versa. Also, there has been a lot of stuff happening in our
lives that I have had to remind that gray matter between my ears to keep
praising the One who has everything in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He sees darkness and light as the same. You know pain isn’t always in
the death of someone we care for but in day to day living. </div>
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One thing I did this year was to
start journaling each day and making it a gratitude journal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you would like to start one yourself
because it helps to stay focus on Him and what He does each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the best way to stay focused is to focus
on the Word each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do short bible
readings each day but I also do word searches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can thank my mother for giving me the love of words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might not be the sharpest pencil in the box
but words do intrigue me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several months
back I started on a journey of each word of the fruit of the spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think not it just happened that I’ve been
on the word ‘peace’ for awhile when everything started to get murky in
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to share with you my
favorite verse for my life right now. For me my favorite verses changes as life
changes. I like the following version with all the thees and thous but will use
another translation later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee;
because he trusteth in thee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust ye in
Jehovah for ever, even Jehovah, is an everlasting rock.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is. 26: 3-4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>ASV</b></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps, I
like this version because my Daddy God is referred to as Jehovah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The God of Israel who we see performs all
kinds of miracles for the nation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps, it reminds me he will perform
miracles for me, also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like that He is
called the everlasting rock which simply means He is my everlasting strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Perfect peace! I don’t know anyone
who doesn’t want perfect peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find
myself calling it perfected peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
can only be perfected if my mind is stayed on Him and He gave me a visual
illustration of perfect peace this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sunday, Peyton and Gracean wanted to come home with us after church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Softball season has started for their dad and
they had been at a tournament the day before. At one point, I looked in the
back seat to see Gracean staring off in space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told Ronnie she was in la la land and it wouldn’t be long before she’d
be asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning around again she had
closed her eyes and a few moments later the mouth was wide open ready to catch
flies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was out like a light with her
head rolling from side to side then on her chest and then rolling back onto the
back of the seat.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Would it not be nice to go to sleep
like that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all </b>the time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say all the time because Ronnie says I can
do the same thing at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
We found the reason she could fall
asleep and stay asleep was because she had no worries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She felt secure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wouldn’t be able to tell you why she
could fall asleep as she does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
just her existence. It is her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
has not experienced life with the hurts of others, grief, disappointment,
fears, or rejections. You could fill in the blank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go ahead fill your blank. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Isn’t it what our Daddy God is
telling us in this verse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> keep </b>us in perfect peace if our mind
is<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> stayed</b> on Him; but not if our
minds are playing our favorite game of ‘what if’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bet you are good at this game our enemy has
played with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know my record has
scored high in the past. I still try to play it from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
if this happens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if such and such
doesn’t happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I had done or
not done…..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there is the blame game
or the control game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rules are so
simple:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just don’t think on what
victories Jehovah has done for you in other circumstances. In circumstances
only He can be given glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
remember He is our refuge, fortress, our everlasting rock or strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t praise Him, worship Him and think only
of our circumstances; not that He is in them. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Every translation I looked in used
the term <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘stayed’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Granted I didn’t look at all the
translations the wonder of technology allows me to see; but I did look at a
lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stayed</b> reminded me of Lamaze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">discipline my mind</b>
to know the pain was there for a short time and not try to ignore it away or
grit my teeth through the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
fact my body was hurting every few minutes then every few seconds until a
bundle of joy emerged from the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Lamaze, you are told to have a focal point to concentrate on while doing the
breathing techniques <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you were suppose to
have practiced</b> before labor racks your body with pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With one pregnancy we were racing through the
night to the hospital when Ronnie passed a car in front of us whose tail lights
I was using as my focal point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
realized I had to find a focal point that could not be moved because when I
complained he hollered he wasn’t delivering a baby! I then used a light on the
dash board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second pregnancy we did a
refresher class in Lamaze but I didn’t practice, after all I knew what I was
suppose to do and what was expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Life happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith isn’t faith if we don’t go through pain
and learn to have our focal point-our mind stayed- on Jehovah. Our minds won’t
stay on Him if we haven’t practiced our breathing techniques (focus on the
Word) when (not if) life racks our minds with pain. Remember when I didn’t
practice my Lamaze because I knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, that labor was harder because I had trouble relaxing and had to
concentrate harder on what I was suppose to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we don’t keep His Word fresh in our mind (no matter how well we know
it), we will struggle with the pain. Know that “….His anger is but for a
moment, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">His favor is for life; weeping
may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Ps. 30:5</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does
not matter if we bring on the weeping or someone or something else does; if our
mind is stayed on Him, then joy will emerge from the pain.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I don’t know what the Capitol One
commercials are now but they used to ask what is in your wallet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to ask what is on your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your focal point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be careful what you dwell on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like those tail lights some focal points will
change or leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Daddy God will
never be moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me go </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
back to my love of words where I found the biblical
definition for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stayed</b> is the
following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“a primitive root; to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to
lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense):--bear up,
establish, </b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(up-)hold, lay, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast,
stay (self), sustain.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I promised another translation and
it is from the Amplified Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
you would like to write it down or write it down from your translation to have
with you.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose
mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he
commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him,
leans on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever, for the Lord God is an
everlasting Rock (the Rock of Ages).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>IS. 26:3-4 Amplified Bible<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PERFECTED PEACE!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-9201553764307932202012-06-28T11:28:00.001-07:002012-06-28T11:29:52.517-07:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OUR HEARTS TOWARD GOD</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
Forgive me
if I shared this with you back in 2004 via email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know what to do with anything I
wrote then and probably have nothing left from that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was moving things around the other day and
came across this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow it made it
through the move by being under stuff and as I finished reading I found it
still spoke to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Logan</i></st1:place></st1:city><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> spent the summer with his grandparents so
his mom would not have to pay childcare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She came in each weekend to be with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since his grandparents raised girls; the summer was an eye-opening
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was leaving the baby
stage and, was entering the boy-man stage of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had begun to get nasty, smell nasty; and
leave everything nasty. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He
was Pop’s Partner and Nana’s Sweet Pea (when no was near to hear).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop taught him to burn ants with a magnifying
glass; do yard work and work hard; to be a gentleman and watch out for your
women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also learned to rig a fishing
line; how to safely handle his hunting rifle; and a million other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pop and Log enjoyed riding on Pop’s
motorcycle and swimming together and watching Fear Factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nana hated Fear Factor!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nana
taught him how to swim under water and made sure he got swimming lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She fed him every 2-3 hours when he said he
was starving.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They
went to VBS together, shopped together and popped fireworks together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nana made sure he had household chores and
when he tried to sneak through the house to scare her she turned the tables on
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most importantly, Nana and Pop
talked about God a lot and made sure he went to church.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Night
times were special to Nana as she prayed over him and she got her Nana sugar
and he got his <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city>
sugar.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One
weekend when he was going home with his mom, and Pop had to work; Nana sarcastically
made the remark that she would try not to cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city>
whispered in Pop’s ear that it would be all right because God would be with her.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Logan</i></st1:place></st1:city><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> almost never stopped talking, eating, or
moving; so Nana learned a survival tip early in the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every afternoon after lunch she set a timer
and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city> would
go to his room and watch a video, read, play, or lie down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time was his unless she noticed he really
needed to res.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that case, he was to
lie down and watch a video.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
was on one of these occasions that she was standing in the doorway of his room
setting the timer and chitchatting with him that he called her name.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Nana?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">She
turned and looked at him as she was putting the timer on the bookcase.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
love you.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
love you, too”, she replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Rest well,
ok?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As
she closed the door, she felt a surge of emotion as she realized the impact of
the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and Pop had always
initiated the “I love you”; and he had always responded with “I love you, too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time he had initiated the interaction.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nana
had seen his body language, heard the tone of his voice, and had seen the look
in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that moment, they both
realized how much he loved her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
about receiving anything from her or talking to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about how he felt toward her.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Later
she realized she might have tasted what the Father feels when His children
respond from their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just
because they should thank Him or love Him or because it is expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simply because of who He is and because
they know His heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Late
in the night she heard her Pastor say what he had said many times nearing the
end of church praise and worship time.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Open
your mouth and tell Him how much you love Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a million voices out there; but He is longing to hear your
voice.”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He
is longing to see your body language, see the look in your eyes, hear the tone
of your voice and when you call out His name He will stop and turn and look at
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that very moment you will both
know how much you love Him.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
B.D.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
August 7, 2004</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It is hard to believe <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city> is now a
teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart still melts at the sound
of his name or any of my grandchildren’s names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want my heart to melt at the sound of my Daddy God as it does with my
grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you will join me
in seeking His face and more than you seek what is in His hand.</div>Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-16771906379175540862012-04-04T10:39:00.000-07:002012-04-04T10:39:19.042-07:00Ressurrection Sunday!<div align="justify">
I have a couple of soap boxes I climb on a couple times during the year, one being Easter and the other is Christmas. Now, stop rolling your eyes until I'm finished. I happen to love both holidays; but, I have evolved during the past few years to trying to understand the attitude of why people get upset over holiday traditions.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
Start with Easter and I will save Christmas for later. On one hand you have those who holler it is/was a pagan holiday. True, I just don't know if it is or was. Another group gets upset because they say it is a Christian holiday and we shouldn't do the chocolate bunnies, Easter egg hunts, etc. Others think we should only observe Passover. Then there are those representing all of the above!</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
While I was reading the account of what many call the holy week this morning I had several thoughts I would like to share with you.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
We were not asked to observe the resurrection of Christ. It is/was a pagan holiday that we put a Christianity spin; but that is OK as long He gets glorified. Jesus used objects and parables to get his point across all the while glorifying the Father. We were only told to observe communion and baptism. It is time we quit getting upset with each other. We are family. Jesus, by example, washes the disciples' feet telling them they ought to do the same. John 13:14 Let us humble ourselves in the way we speak of our brothers and sisters. <strong>"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all will know that your are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13-34-35 </strong>ALL WILL KNOW. Hmmm. We have never gotten this down in our hearts, have we? I think not.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
The world sees us bickering over this holiday all the while making money while we shop with them. Most people, even if they don't recognize Easter, will have a family dinner probably with ham and all the trimmings. I find it amusing that God tells the Jewish people not to eat pork and almost everyone will have ham for Easter dinner. Now I'm wondering if I can get a friend of mine to bake me one of her fabulous hams. Sorry, rabbit trail. No pun intended. Seriously, does it really matter if we dye eggs and hide them for our kids and grand kids to find? (dye the eggs to eat but hide plastic!) Does it really hurt for them to receive chocolate bunnies or eggs? I always told my kids that it had nothing to do with why we celebrated Easter. It was a game we can do anytime of the year. Personally, it is easier this time of the year because I can buy those little dye tables this time of the year.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
If you think by not celebrating Easter sends a message to the world, it doesn't. It shows them we can't agree on anything. Nor is it going to change your brothers or sisters minds. Why don't we show the world we love one another instead? Understand me loud and clear, I'm in full agreement we need to correct one another in love when one is straying or breaking a commandment. This disagreeing over participating in Easter is not breaking any commands or expectations God has given. Do you really know someone who is worshipping a chocolate bunny or any of the pagan idols? Loosen up that was a funny. :)</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
Then there are those who only have Passover celebration which I think is a cool idea. If you are recognizing that Christ is the Passover lamb. (ICor. 5:7) No need to slaughter the lamb without blemish that never took away sins but covered them. Unless you want leg of lamb for Easter dinner! Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb, took our sins into his own body; so we can experience the joys of His resurrection!</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
In Matthew 26 we find Jesus celebrating Passover with his disciples and while He is celebrating He institutes the Lord's supper. Maybe it is more important we have communion with Him as a way to celebrate Easter than anything else we do. We are to do this in remembrance of Him. Remembering what He did on the cross and that He was resurrected by our Father. Resurrection power!</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
Speaking of resurrection power, I enjoyed Matthew 28 this week. HE IS RISEN! I love reading the reactions of those who were grieving and fearful then we find them rejoicing. Would you like to know my favorite verse this Easter? <strong>Matthew 28:9: 'and as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.' </strong>Wow. Rejoice. Rejoice He wasn't left in the tomb, rejoice your sins are forgiven, and rejoice He has given eternal life! Rejoice the veil in the temple was split from the top to the bottom so you can fall at His feet and worship! There are so many promises we have been given that we could rejoice until He calls us home! The resurrection is meant to be celebrated every day of our lives and you can take that to the bank.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
I know this a departure of what I normally blog but it has been on my heart all week. I've already dyed eggs with two of our grandchildren. I have to get the other one over here to dye eggs. I will be buying chocolate bunnies/eggs for all of them. I won't be having ham this Sunday because I'm sure my friend isn't going to bake one for me. She knows who she is. :) I just hope you will relax and enjoy all the trimmings of Easter. Only be sure to rejoice and worship and spend some time remembering Him by partaking with the Lord's Supper. While you are doing all this, also take time to show love to your brother and sister in Christ. Show some love to someone who is trying to fill their lives with anything but Him. After, all, a chocolate bunny will come close to filling, but we know it isn't lasting. </div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<strong>Again, I say, Rejoice!</strong></div>
<div align="justify">
<strong> </strong></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-43721934343026264932012-03-15T12:51:00.000-07:002012-03-15T12:51:26.371-07:00Offended<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
OFFENDED</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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After many shared at bible study and as we talked among ourselves in different small groups before leaving, I felt the need to re post this but with some revisions or new thoughts I feel God gave me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I’m wide awake at three am with these thoughts running through my head knowing if I don’t get them down they will disappear by the time the sun is up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who knows me at all knows they are from God because I am don’t like to function at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </div>
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It seems the opportunity to be offended or hurt is always being offered up on a silver platter for us to partake of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan will never miss an opportunity to use flesh and blood to hurt us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think God understands the hurt considering how Jesus was betrayed and the offenses he endured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often like to say, “This is experience talking.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the course of time, if you read anything I write or talk with me you will hear the expression along with ‘life isn’t fair’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said life isn’t fair so many times when my kids were growing up that before I could get the word ‘life’ out of my mouth they would finish the sentence being careful not to let me see them rolling the eyes. </div>
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Let me say first, I am thankful for word document when writing because it corrects my grammar and spelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It perplexed me when it kept telling me the word unforgiveness was misspelled (there it goes again) and it didn’t have a spelling for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept thinking, “But I hear it all the time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can it not be in the dictionary?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not the sharpest pencil in the box when it comes to grammar but my spelling isn’t bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered from my English class that ‘un’ meant ‘not’ so unforgiveness would mean not to forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I’m up at three am looking in a dictionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Webster’s New World Dictionary does not give a definition for the word unforgiveness .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does give a definition for the prefix ‘un’ but let me tell you what it says at the end of that definition. “The list at the bottom of the following pages includes many of the compounds formed with un- (either prefix) that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do not have special meanings”</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seventeen pages of compound words, if I counted correctly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with the word unforgiveness it list unforgivable, unforgivably, unforgiven (and word document refuses to recognize the word unforgiven, also).</div>
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I may have bored you with an English lesson but it occurred to me that if the dictionary and word document does not recognize the word or it does not have a special meaning then we shouldn’t recognize it either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would it not be great not to have the emotion of an unforgivable spirit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus tried to tell us when he told Peter to forgive 70 times 7. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 18:21 How often should we forgive someone who continues to hurt us?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to carry the 70 times 7 in a little different direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if the person hasn’t sinned, offended, or hurt you often?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if it is just one time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One horrible, devastating time and you have to face God wondering why He allowed it to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Are you feeling Job’s pain, yet?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if you have to forgive seventy times seven because it keeps coming up that many times in your thoughts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because the person has offended that many times but because Satan keeps bringing it to remembrance that many times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We assist him by not recognizing we are not fighting flesh and blood so we sit down on the thought and dwell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We struggle with an unforgivable spirit knowing full well we are to forgive but are dwelling on the hurt, the whys, the anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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How about forgiving you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seventy times seven the guilt enters your mind. Day after day and sometimes moment by moment the guilt takes up residency. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daddy, who worked on death row as a lay chaplain, often said new believers on death row struggled with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They believed they were forgiven by God but struggled with forgiving themselves. I think many felt it wasn’t fair to the victim’s families who were still suffering for what they had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many gave up their appeals in hopes of giving the families some closure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe in the comment box below you can give some insight how you do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one of the hardest things I’ve found to do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know when I don’t let my Daddy’s love wash over me and forgive myself I’m giving Satan a victory in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am giving him a foothold that will hold me back from fulfilling my purpose here on earth and stealing my peace and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like slapping my Daddy in the face saying Jesus’ death on the cross wasn’t enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Ever shook a spiritual fist at God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have and what I found out it is a trust issue I have with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plain and simple trust issue when I question why he would allow something to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I distinctly remember questioning him once and he reminded me by asking who the potter was and who the clay was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John 6:60-71 finds Jesus asking the multitude of disciples if they are offended by his words and when many left he asked the twelve if they wanted to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes his words are ‘hard sayings’ but like Peter I have to say, “Lord, to whom shall we go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have the words of eternal life.” (v.68)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The trust issue is with God and not with who has offended or hurt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is something I have to continue to remind myself over and over since the opportunity is always presenting itself and always will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Below is something I wrote in 2011 and it bears repeating. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, as Ronnie can testify there is a streak of stubbornness in me so I’ve decided not to take the word unforgiveness out. I suspect this subject will appear with revisions again. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">UNFORGIVENESS</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">I have been giving serious consideration to doing a 21 day fast in January for physical and spiritual purposes. Believe it or not I have so enjoyed the results in the past of things God spoke to me and how I slept and felt so much better. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">As I sat this morning reading devotionals and the Word, I thought of one way to feel lighter that so many people never experience. It is forgiveness. So many refuse to give forgiveness because it is the one thing we feel we can control. Many times it isn't a conscious thought; but it is what we do. Only unforgiveness controls us not the other way around. In fact, when we have unforgiveness in our lives, nothing is going right. It hurts us physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally and it hurts those we love. It hurts while they stand helpless to help while watching us hang on to the unforgiveness. Let's face it how great is it to be around someone who is grumpy, angry, unhappy, resentful and depressed.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">If the sight of someone or the thought of someone or some situation causes all kinds of negative emotions, then there is unforgiveness inside of us. We have to let God heal the pain.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">The truth is God established forgiveness for us not for the party who injured us and it is to be unlimited forgiveness. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells Peter he must forgive his brother seventy times seven. Continuous, overflowing, and forever. Do they deserve it? Absolutely not! Should they pay for their actions? Absolutely! Do they deserve what is coming to them? Absolutely! Yet, I am absolutely thankful that God doesn't give to me what I deserve! He only gives me forgiveness and mercy.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">One year I was walking up the back steps of my house and anger rose up in me over a situation. I stopped and stomped my foot and said out loud, "I do not want this anger and I refuse it. Devil you are not going to have my life." The anger left and lightness came. Something you might try is what I did when I grew up and God was growing me up. I wrote down all the people who had harm me or people that it hurt me to think about. I then carried my list to the kitchen sink and burned it never to look back again. There is nothing spiritual in doing this but it is a memorial of forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">If you want to feel lighter and in control and looking forward to 2011, then let go of unforgiveness. Make it a deliberate act and a goal for this New Year; then you can meet people and God with a joyful Happy New Year and mean it!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">I can say I have been able to go into many a new year with a light heart because I chose to forgive. It is my prayer you will be able to say the same for the rest of your life.</span></div>Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-40449343154540474612012-03-03T10:28:00.000-08:002012-03-03T10:28:45.087-08:00The Honeycomb<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; punctuation-wrap: simple; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our pastor mentioned Proverbs 27:7 Thursday morning before we began to pray. “<b>A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”</b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">His point: if we stay full of things that distract then we will not desire the Word of God or the things of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he said if we eat junk we will loathe the steak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This proverb became a reality this week in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Prayer began at six am afterwards Ronnie and I ate breakfast at a local restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we got home I enjoyed a two our nap before we drove to <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Camden</city></place> to a gun and pawn shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Camden</place></city> we decided to try a new place for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only had a biscuit, bacon, and egg sandwich for breakfast but; I was still satisfied so I didn’t finish my lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our way back we decided he needed to go back into Magnolia to run a couple more errands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suggested before we left Magnolia that we share a small chocolate milkshake which translates: “I want a couple swallows and you can have the rest.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he was ordering my mind had wandered to other things when I realized he had order two milkshakes instead of one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, you know I drank the whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By six thirty that night I still wasn’t hungry even though he said we had to grill the steaks he had marinated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very thought of eating again was loathsome to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t believe our Pastor had just talked about loathing a steak and here I was staring at one that I loathed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We split a steak and a bake potato; but, in truth, I could have done without food until the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next morning I used the other steak and scrambled eggs and had biscuits for breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakfast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite meal of the day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The steak was the best ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I was hungry.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is also so true in the spiritual realm. Let me make a confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been times in my life that I have loathed the Word of God, prayer, and/or church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything spiritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out in the open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please don’t tell me I’m the only one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t believe you! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will happen when I’ve stayed away from the things of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking open rebellion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking when life throws a curve ball of an emergency or more than one emergency at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A curve ball will send me to my knees to the only One who can help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking about when life distracts me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’ve run and run or people have demanded my attention for a long period of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I am on someone else’s timetable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those times when I fall into bed at night and drag myself out the next day to do it all over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the times it is my fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve gotten up running to finish my ’to do’ list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m nothing if I’m not a ’to do’ list maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also guilty of reading, playing computer card games, watching movies, or Facebooking too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I have a witness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then one morning I will wake up realizing that although I pretty well know the Word, I haven’t spent anytime with the Word made flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit seems to be elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dried up internally and hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the times I loathe getting back into the Word, dread facing prayer because I’ve been too busy doing other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even good things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the times I loathe the honeycomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the times I have to get on my knees spiritually and most of the time physically, as well, admitting how much I have missed my Daddy God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then all is right in my world.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">I will make another confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t happen as often as it used to because I have come to love the Honeycomb more than anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 19 speaks how perfect, sure, right, pure, true and righteous are the commandments, statues, and judgments of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<b>More to be desired are they than gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. “v. 10</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will often do small fasts which usually start out as physical cleansing but end in a spiritual fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fasts are never easy in the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to start slow and I admit I fail at them more times than I care to confess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, but the sweet time I’ve had when I’m able to discerned the voice of God and his leading in something specific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No guilt trip here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fast when I need a specific answer but if we are always distracted we miss his voice. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20/%20cr-descriptionAnchor-1"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."</span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20/%20cr-descriptionAnchor-2"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> Then a great and powerful wind</span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20/%20cr-descriptionAnchor-3"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> tore the mountains apart and shattered</span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20/%20cr-descriptionAnchor-4"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 after the earthquake came a fire,</span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20/%20cr-descriptionAnchor-5"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Kings 19:11-12<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NIV</b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A gentle whisper, a still small voice, a delicate whispering voice are some translations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are we going to hear Him if we are listening to the entire racket in our lives?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When we lived in the home where we raised our girls my kitchen faced the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times daughter #2 would walk in the kitchen and say, “Daddy’s home.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would turn to look out in time to see Ronnie’s truck rolling in front of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He drove a stick shift and would put it in neutral as he approached the house rolling to a stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would decide I was going to listen for him the next day but I always became distracted by preparing dinner or by the noise in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I <b>never </b>heard him coming. <b>Ever</b>. She always did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was listening for her daddy and was not distracted by other things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew when and where he would be coming home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, that our ears would be that in tuned to our Daddy God!</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One thing I noticed about the verse above is we have to STAND and wait for the noise to subside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I describe it as internal noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are times I feel as though there is a powerful wind tearing through me and shattering the very rock of my </span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">foundation shaking me to the core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told Elijah to go and stand in His presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever notice how hard it is to stand in His presence when every thing around you is falling apart around you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elijah wasn’t exactly in the best spiritual high when God gave him this command.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought he was the only one left serving God.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>“I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” v.10</b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">And yet, God tells him to go and stand on the mountain before the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not always be able to control our circumstances; but, we can choose were we will stand.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If we discipline ourselves during the quiet times in our lives to listen for Him then when everything is falling apart around us, we will be able to stand and listen. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What are you hungry for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you craving?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you too full of the things of this world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will ask you what are you willing to give up to hear that small, delicate whisper?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it getting up a half hour or so before everyone else?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it giving up a favorite TV show, Facebook, video games, music or a hobby?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only you know what replaces your time with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you need to realize what is filling your thought life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it negative thinking, bitterness, envy, unforgiveness, hopelessness, frustration?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it isn’t giving up things of the world maybe it is things in your emotional realm that you need to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look into the Word of God for the answers to the emotional junk food in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then submit to the Word which became flesh then stand still and hear the small, whispering, gentle voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daddy God wants to talk with you; after all you are His daughter, royalty, the apple of His eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not give it a shot and see what happens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Daddy’s girl would love to hear how He speaks to you, my sister.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"> I can’t let you go until I ask you this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you a Daddy’s girl?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you my sister in Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves you so much He wants you to become a daughter of His.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you consider bending a knee before Him so you can sit at His feet and lean your head in His lap?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you can hear for yourself His telling you how much He loves you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">If you would like to talk, email me and I will get in touch with you.</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: blue; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><a href="mailto:mrsbarbdaniels@gmail.com">mrsbarbdaniels@gmail.com</a></span></u><span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Until, next time I pray you will sit at his feet and enjoy being with your Daddy God.</span></div>Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291120568346142792.post-65514020943988478252012-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:002013-04-08T13:20:30.648-07:00Daddy's Girl<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Unlike my girls or my granddaughters I missed having times with my daddy when I was little. Those times when you wake in the morning and curl up in bed with them or sit in the lap as they read to you. The times when you look at your daddy and know you are the apple of his eye. My time was two weeks in the summer and alternative holidays. The one gift he gave me that no one could take away was I was the first person he led to know the salvation of God. He often said he was shaking and stuttering when he led me in prayer. Then around twelve or so distance in miles and distance in the hearts separated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">God in all His goodness brought us back together when I was pregnant with my first child. There seemed to be a void or longing to talk to him again. So strong was the void that I wrote him a letter letting him know he was going to be a Papaw. Chalk it up to hormones but I will chalk it up to the Spirit of God moving in my life rather I recognized it or not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">And so, began our journey together began. Two people reaching out who knew too little of what made the other tick and too little of our Abba Father. We began to open the can of worms by talking things out, confessing, and forgiving all the while growing closer to our Abba Father. When daughter #2 was enjoying her wedding reception and everything was in full swing; I had him go back into the church and gave him the gift of walking me down the aisle. Something he didn't get to do when I got married. A remark our pastor said that day stuck in my memory. "God is a God of second, third, fourth chances." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My daddy ran ahead of me spiritually so close was he to His Abba Father. So close that he ran right into His arms and once again left me in 2010. This is not a journey of tears but of victory for both of us. His is completed and mine is ongoing every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">My Abba Daddy has always been patient with me rather I was in full swing rebellion or walking close with Him. He has allowed me to open cans of worms, listening to my confessions, forgiving me, and loving me. Little by little He has walked the painstakingly path of faith until I could fully trust Him with my heart and because of that I can honestly say, "I am a Daddy's girl".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I started this blog because within twenty-four hours two people unknowing of the other told me I should share the things I write with other people. I told one that I would pray but had my doubts. On our way home last night in the darkness I began to think on the conversation I had with one when I began to feel the tangible presence of God. I quietly asked if He was giving me the go ahead and in the recesses of my mind He brought back a memory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Years ago I attended church with my daddy and his pastor said something that struck a chord within me. Later that afternoon I started writing and daddy asked to read what I was writing. After reading it he said, "You should share your heart with people when you write. You have a gift". Then the words came,"Daddy's Girl".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Maybe you have always been a daddy's girl or maybe not. I don't know where you stand in your own journey but I hope you can glean from the things He has given me. Oh, and the title, In the Beginning. Well, this is the beginning of His creation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Come and enjoy this journey with me. After all, you can never be to old to be a Daddy's girl.</span>Daddy's Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00553763057242180251noreply@blogger.com0