Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25
Hey friends, I'm back!! Safely drove around 7,620 miles. We saw so much of this beautiful country and had contact with so many beautiful souls. I know we are supposed to be in hard times, however, almost every gas station and motel were busy. Restaurants had diners, store parking lots were full and golf courses had players. Amazing how I did this with my eyes directly straight ahead, on the road all the time. Well, maybe I peeked over now and then.
We saw some really interesting golf courses as we flew by, didn't have time to stop at any. Courses where the grass was so green because of all this years rain in parts of the country, others that were brown and dry as a bone. Hilly ones, flat ones, some with lots of trees, some with none. All a home course to someone. I'll be so glad to play my home course next week for the first time in about four weeks.
Yes, we are to keep our eyes looking straight ahead, focused on the Jesus way to the Kingdom, but that path goes through an amazingly beautiful place. God's created world and its people are diverse and beautiful, don't miss that on your walk. Look straight and directly at all the good and beauty around you. Enjoy it and praise the Creator that you are walking through it. Enjoy your home course.
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Friday, August 1, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Psalm 16:10
because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. Psalm 16:10
Do I believe God's promises?
Do I believe God's promises?
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Way Is Love
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
This is to be a busy week. Today I help a dear one set up for a member/guest golf tournament. Tomorrow is the tournament. I think this weekend we are having a visit from an old friend. I say "think" because he is on the road and said he might swing by our town. So, as I was sitting here doing my devotion and prayer I was a little preoccupied with the week's work. My devotion was primarily concerned with walking closer to Jesus, in the hands of the Holy Spirit. How do I let go of tension and worry and busy stuff... put the devotion to work?
As I put the dishes in the dish washer, pondering this question it became clear...I do it Jesus's way, and we know Jesus's Way is love. I realized I need to help make this tournament an opportunity for these lady golfers to have fun, fellowship, laughter. So every task I undertake needs to be done in love to shine love on the situation. Change the word task to gift.
I need to prepare the house and guest room for our friend so it will be filled with a feeling of welcome and love. So all tasks must be done in love and gratitude that we are available for our friend, who needs some unconditional love right now.
Let's walk this week, our hand in the hand of the Holy Spirit. Each task done in Jesus's love for the objective of shining love on the whole situation. Bet we will have a better week than last!
This is to be a busy week. Today I help a dear one set up for a member/guest golf tournament. Tomorrow is the tournament. I think this weekend we are having a visit from an old friend. I say "think" because he is on the road and said he might swing by our town. So, as I was sitting here doing my devotion and prayer I was a little preoccupied with the week's work. My devotion was primarily concerned with walking closer to Jesus, in the hands of the Holy Spirit. How do I let go of tension and worry and busy stuff... put the devotion to work?
As I put the dishes in the dish washer, pondering this question it became clear...I do it Jesus's way, and we know Jesus's Way is love. I realized I need to help make this tournament an opportunity for these lady golfers to have fun, fellowship, laughter. So every task I undertake needs to be done in love to shine love on the situation. Change the word task to gift.
I need to prepare the house and guest room for our friend so it will be filled with a feeling of welcome and love. So all tasks must be done in love and gratitude that we are available for our friend, who needs some unconditional love right now.
Let's walk this week, our hand in the hand of the Holy Spirit. Each task done in Jesus's love for the objective of shining love on the whole situation. Bet we will have a better week than last!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Prayer Friday
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Pslam 17:6
Today the smell of onions from the field down below is surrounding me as I write. I cannot see the onions fields from where I sit, but I know they are there by the essence of their odor.
My spouse left this morning for a short business trip, yet his "feel" is still here in the room with me. His essence is left behind to remind me of him.
When you pray know that the essence of that prayer is around you all day. Its "feel", its spirit and power is carried by the Holy Spirit through the heart of our Lord.
Mighty and Wondrous Creator, we are so blessed to be in your creation today. We praise and thank you for all you have given us, all you have taken away and all you have left with us. Please open our eyes, ears and hearts today so we can be aware of you at all times of the day. We want to live in your will. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, who will not leave us. Please guide us to recognise those people you have put in our path today that need your love and help. We pray all of this in the name of our Christ, AMEN.
Today the smell of onions from the field down below is surrounding me as I write. I cannot see the onions fields from where I sit, but I know they are there by the essence of their odor.
My spouse left this morning for a short business trip, yet his "feel" is still here in the room with me. His essence is left behind to remind me of him.
When you pray know that the essence of that prayer is around you all day. Its "feel", its spirit and power is carried by the Holy Spirit through the heart of our Lord.
Mighty and Wondrous Creator, we are so blessed to be in your creation today. We praise and thank you for all you have given us, all you have taken away and all you have left with us. Please open our eyes, ears and hearts today so we can be aware of you at all times of the day. We want to live in your will. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, who will not leave us. Please guide us to recognise those people you have put in our path today that need your love and help. We pray all of this in the name of our Christ, AMEN.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Hold Your Peace
Jesus...said to them,"Peace be with you." John 20:19
As I said yesterday, no golf. I have two days, yesterday and today, to get ready for another trip. This one is a cruise. As I get terribly seasick I am getting ready with some apprehension. I have tried every drug made by man from the time I was 3 years old to handle this problem. Maybe I'll lose some weight on this trip, instead of the opposite!
I am trying hard not to lose my cool. I have my check list and the one from the cruise line, both of which I am doing a good job following. They help to keep me from running around like a chicken with it's head off. So far so good. I haven't snapped at the husband nor yelled at the three dogs under my feet.
Jesus gives us peace for everyday of our lives if we will let him. His presence at our side can keep us centered and calm no matter what. I believe we have to ask for it and stay focused on it. Do I have a checklist for doing this? You better believe I do. I read my devotional every morning first thing. Then I go to my favorite blogs listed over there on the right side. These are followed by prayer. If I'm on a trip with no computer then I skip the blogs, which I hate to do. I gather my peace. Breathe it in and out. Then during the day when I get frazzled, I remember a word or phrase from the morning that God has placed in my mind. Breathe it in and out. I let God put me in God's kingdom, out of the hassle, problems and worry.
It works, trust me. Take Jesus' peace and live in it. Let it roll around you, let it fill you. Remember, God loves you more than you can ever understand. He gives you peace.
Please hold that peace until I get back and we talk again. In the mean time try those sites I have listed, but remember to come back here. I'll miss you if you don't!
As I said yesterday, no golf. I have two days, yesterday and today, to get ready for another trip. This one is a cruise. As I get terribly seasick I am getting ready with some apprehension. I have tried every drug made by man from the time I was 3 years old to handle this problem. Maybe I'll lose some weight on this trip, instead of the opposite!
I am trying hard not to lose my cool. I have my check list and the one from the cruise line, both of which I am doing a good job following. They help to keep me from running around like a chicken with it's head off. So far so good. I haven't snapped at the husband nor yelled at the three dogs under my feet.
Jesus gives us peace for everyday of our lives if we will let him. His presence at our side can keep us centered and calm no matter what. I believe we have to ask for it and stay focused on it. Do I have a checklist for doing this? You better believe I do. I read my devotional every morning first thing. Then I go to my favorite blogs listed over there on the right side. These are followed by prayer. If I'm on a trip with no computer then I skip the blogs, which I hate to do. I gather my peace. Breathe it in and out. Then during the day when I get frazzled, I remember a word or phrase from the morning that God has placed in my mind. Breathe it in and out. I let God put me in God's kingdom, out of the hassle, problems and worry.
It works, trust me. Take Jesus' peace and live in it. Let it roll around you, let it fill you. Remember, God loves you more than you can ever understand. He gives you peace.
Please hold that peace until I get back and we talk again. In the mean time try those sites I have listed, but remember to come back here. I'll miss you if you don't!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Emptied
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus...emptied...humbled...obedient.... Philippians 2:5,7-8
Over the weekend we played in a golf tournament with another couple. Didn't do too badly, came in third. Could we have done better? Yes. How? I could have listened to advice. How is that for confession on a Monday morning? My putting is horrible right now. Did my spouse offer help? Yes. Was he correct? Yes. Did I listen? I am sure you can fill in the answer to that! I was not humble, nor was I obedient. I could not empty myself of "my way".
I don't care if it is golf advice, medical advice, cooking or parenting tips, if you don't put the ego aside you are not going to learn. If we cannot do the little things, how can we do the big important things? We have to train ourselves at all levels to be open to advice and change. If you want help you have to let it flow from the source of that help and you have to be open to let the flow come into you.
God is so available. Always there to help, teach, lead. We can learn from everything around us, from everyone around us. However, if we are not empty of our own ego, our tight hold on our way, we cannot have room to let God in. If we are not humble enough to accept the right leading it won't flow into us. And if we are not obedient enough to listen and put it into use we will never change.
To me that is what wisdom is all about; having the mind of Christ. We can have the mind of Christ. We can...if we empty our minds of our truth and fill it with God's truth. From the small to the All. Empty...Listen...be humbly obedient.
Over the weekend we played in a golf tournament with another couple. Didn't do too badly, came in third. Could we have done better? Yes. How? I could have listened to advice. How is that for confession on a Monday morning? My putting is horrible right now. Did my spouse offer help? Yes. Was he correct? Yes. Did I listen? I am sure you can fill in the answer to that! I was not humble, nor was I obedient. I could not empty myself of "my way".
I don't care if it is golf advice, medical advice, cooking or parenting tips, if you don't put the ego aside you are not going to learn. If we cannot do the little things, how can we do the big important things? We have to train ourselves at all levels to be open to advice and change. If you want help you have to let it flow from the source of that help and you have to be open to let the flow come into you.
God is so available. Always there to help, teach, lead. We can learn from everything around us, from everyone around us. However, if we are not empty of our own ego, our tight hold on our way, we cannot have room to let God in. If we are not humble enough to accept the right leading it won't flow into us. And if we are not obedient enough to listen and put it into use we will never change.
To me that is what wisdom is all about; having the mind of Christ. We can have the mind of Christ. We can...if we empty our minds of our truth and fill it with God's truth. From the small to the All. Empty...Listen...be humbly obedient.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Palm Sunday
"Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Mark 11:9
Palm Sunday. I hope you are having a beautiful Palm Sunday, rejoicing that we have Christ entering our lives. Whether he comes into your life on a donkey, through a friend, from a book, in the middle of the day or dark of night...HOSANNA !! He is here and accessible. You can approach him at anytime, in any place. He is there and wants you to find him. It doesn't have to be on a public road with people all around you shouting. Just sit still and look and listen with all your heart and he is there.
If you are in a situation that means you cannot go out from your home, shout your Hosannas by yourself, he will hear. By the way if you are not able to get out and sometimes feel as if you have no work to do in the Kingdom, remember you can always pray. While reading the paper get into the habit of praying for the people you read about. Take the crane accident in New York. Those families need your prayer for peace and healing. The people who saw the tragedy need your prayers. God has put people around them to help them, pray that their eyes are open to see and ears clear to find the help.
Cloudy and windy here. A good day to get in my chair and settle into a book. I am going to finish The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Crossan. It is an excellent book about Jesus' last week in Jerusalem. Based on the story found in Mark, it takes day-by-day account of the week leading to Easter.
Palm Sunday. I hope you are having a beautiful Palm Sunday, rejoicing that we have Christ entering our lives. Whether he comes into your life on a donkey, through a friend, from a book, in the middle of the day or dark of night...HOSANNA !! He is here and accessible. You can approach him at anytime, in any place. He is there and wants you to find him. It doesn't have to be on a public road with people all around you shouting. Just sit still and look and listen with all your heart and he is there.
If you are in a situation that means you cannot go out from your home, shout your Hosannas by yourself, he will hear. By the way if you are not able to get out and sometimes feel as if you have no work to do in the Kingdom, remember you can always pray. While reading the paper get into the habit of praying for the people you read about. Take the crane accident in New York. Those families need your prayer for peace and healing. The people who saw the tragedy need your prayers. God has put people around them to help them, pray that their eyes are open to see and ears clear to find the help.
Cloudy and windy here. A good day to get in my chair and settle into a book. I am going to finish The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Crossan. It is an excellent book about Jesus' last week in Jerusalem. Based on the story found in Mark, it takes day-by-day account of the week leading to Easter.
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