Harmony

My sister once told me of a Bible Study her ladies group at church had, teaching that a wife sets the harmony for the home! What responsibility that places on the woman of the home, if she is the only one trying to harmonize. She can burn out so quickly!! I know, Here I am. Weary, tired and burn out again. Each day I have to pray and ASk God to renew my strength and I find myself hearing what My sister said all those years ago. Oh, I dont disagree with her, I do believe that a Wife sets the mood in the home because she is responsible for so many things in and of the home and family. BUT, I also believe that the other members of the family has a responsibilty to contribute to that harmonizing, come on now. Think, in a band, if only the guitar is in tune, and every other instrument is out of tune, it's horrible!! The Screeches, the out of pitch notes and off beat drummer creates the most annoying and frustrating sounds that can send one jumping off the nearest cliff!! So what is the secret of create a harmonized home, well, selfless sacrifice of each member involved in the family. Each one must set aside his or her own selfish desires to contribute to a common generousity and compassion within the family. All live in the same refuge, all run to this refuge at the end of the day for comfort and rest, so all must take ownership of this refuge of creating a harmonized environment where all can reside in peace and harmony. See, if the responsibility is all placed on MOM in the home, everyone sits around waiting to waited on, waiting on their clothes to dry and be folded, on their food to be delivered to them on time HOT, oh but not too hot and you find one drained out sad mom who wishes her refuge was somewhere else. Harmonizing your refuge requires the efforts of all who dwell within that refuge, or isn't it a refuge any longer. It becomes a Lions' den of agony. Train them up young and they will not depart from it, and make sure that when they grow up, they are reminded of the those statues that were set into place years ago when your refuge was established, or remind them, theres a wonderful road outside that will lead you to your own refuge to build.

"Love One Another"

Jesus said over and over, "Love One another" it wasn't a suggestion it was a Commandment. Love motivates us to be kind to each other and to be concerned for each other's wellbeing. Love is not selfish. Love is not bitter. Jesus first loved me and you, before we even knew Him. He died for us on a cross for our sins and iniquities. Jesus said "Love the sinner, not the sin." So with that, I would say Jesus was the first one to speak against Bullying. He laid the foundation of love. To share His love. He knows our weakness and still loves us. He knows our hearts and still Loves us. So we are to share that love with others. Others mean People! All People. Everyone has a heart, has a mind filled with dreams of good things. Poor choices and circumstances lead people to do drastic things. And you know, I have failed many times, I have fallen, I have sinned, Yet, My Jesus was there with His love, Loving me and picking me back up and dusting me off, and setting my feet back on the path. My Jesus, tells me His mercies are new everyday. So let us love as Jesus Loved. He loved sinners, this is why He bore the pain of the Cross for all. His Love for us. Imagine, if all people knew how much Christ Loves them. His Love can change lives and the World. Love others. Be kind to others. Care for others as Christ has cared for you. Let us teach others to Love as Christ has Loved us. If they never receive that love of Christ, then that's their choice but at least we know that we extended His Love to others.

This Too Shall Pass

Many childhood memories come to mind and many saying My Mom use to tell us. But lately, I have been hearing one of Mom's favorites quotes, "This Too Shall Pass." She said it often when difficult times would occur. When I was little, and I would cut my foot or stepped on a nail, and I cried, She would hold me and tell me "This too shall pass." And it did! Then When I was a teenager and my heart was broken and I cried, she held me and talked to me, then told me, "This too shall pass." and it did!! When I was married and our kids were little, times were tough, and we were sick, Moma told me again, "This too shall pass." You know each level as the the trials intesified, Mom's advice seem to fit. Even though in the midst of the trial, her words didn't seem to comfort me all that much, but I knew she was right. Now as I face more difficult trials in life, and there are days where Peace is such a Valuable Commodity, I find myself repeating her words to comfort my hurting heart, "This Too Shall pass." Because now I understand in stating this short quote, I am professing Hope for my situation! Just as a rain storm moves into our city and pours out all it has to dump on us in a small time, then the storm moves on. Leaving behind many small droplets of shining lil pieces of evidence that the storm has passed. And then there is peace. So no matter what you are going through today, know that Our God says He will never leave you nor forsake you and know that This Too shall pass and there will be Peace.

Treasures of Life

Jesus said that we will be known for our love for one another. His unconditional Love that draws us to the Father and draws us in Faith into a confident relationship with God our Father and Jesus Christ His Son. This love bares all things, this love motivates us to serve Him with a renewed passion daily and to
share His love with others. Jesus spoke over and over again about relationships throughout the New Testament from the Prodigal Son, to Lazarus, Mary and Martha, to addressing His mother at the wedding and so many parables where Jesus is laying the foundation of Love! Even before and after Peter denied Him, Jesus refered to Peter as His brother and one He loved. Jesus Knew Peter would sin against Him, yet He let Him stay at the feast of the Last supper, and then after Jesus rose from the dead and spent days with the apostles, He asked and Told Peter, "Peter do you Love me? Then Feed my sheep." Encouraging Peter to Press On in Faith extending His love to others. Christ saw Peter's heart. Christ could of casted Peter out of His presence, but He didn't, Jesus Christ saw the potential of His Love manifested and working through Peter, and Wow! Look at the ministry for Christ, that Love motivated Him to accomplish even to His death he proclaimed the Love of Christ. So, today, as I look at my life, and around me, I Thank GOD for His Amazing Love, His Love drew me from the depths of sin, into His Loving Grace and Salvation. And His Love has drawn some of the best loving friends in my life bringing Joy and reminding me constantly of the Hope we have in Christ, encouraging each other in love and God's Peace. Witnessing God at work around us brings us so much Hope for our future. And Hearing How God is bringing others through difficult situations brings me JOY in knowing, that what He is doing for others and He can and will do for me. He will complete the GOOD Work in me until the Day of Christ Jesus! [Phil.1:6] I so Thank God that He has placed loving caring Christian Ladies in my life that are real with me and I can be real with, and share our disappointments, our hurts, and most importantly our Praise Reports when God answers our prayers or moves mountains like Only His Love Can! Thank You Lord, for my friends who I call Treasures of Love!

Motivated by Love

I wash and clean, not because its my job but because I love you.
I prepare and cook a hot meal for you not because I am hungry, but because I love you.
I manage things in our home so that you are able to do the things you have chosen to do and go where you need to go, because I love you.
I forget about the things I would like to have and
get what you have asked for, because I love you. I put aside money and save so that we can give you the things you think you need in this life, while knowing its only to bless you with something you would like to have.
I watch you grow up, sometimes make mistakes even though you didn't heed the warnings,I watch you grow and learn from those mistakes, often wishing I could carry the burden for you, but knowing in order for you to learn you must experience the consequences, because I love you. I used to rock you to asleep after a long day of cleaning house, fixing supper, washing and folding clothes, tending to everyones needs, all because I loved you. My heart holds so much love for you, my child, more than you could ever know, well until you hold your child in your arms one day. Then you will understand how everyday Daddy and I were motivated by our love for you, to get up early to go to work, to clean house, to organize life in an orderly way so that you may be comfortable. Why? Because we see how Christ was motivated by His love for us, in order that we may have a more abundant life. So my prayer for you today is that you understand Christ's Love for You, and how His Love can motivate our hearts to serve each other in Love. Please My child,rest assure and know I love you.
mom

Life is a Journey

Life is a journey of turns, obstacles, dead ends and sometimes U-turns! Even change-overs. Most importantly Yield Each day to Jesus Christ!

Growth Spurts Can Be Painful

I remember as a child my legs would hurt and my mom and grandmother would say "Aw, that's just growing pains." At first I believed them and had aspirations of being TALL and being able to play basketball! I really did! I would day dream of being tall and slim and moving through the air like warm metal slicing through butter! Well, needless to say my dreams didn't come true. I am 5 foot 2 and have been since the seventh grade! Even though maybe mom and mawmaw were believing that my pains were growing pains or just pacifying me, they were real. They really did hurt! And I have come to realize that most of them were just that growing pain. While some were just exhaustion from over doing myself during the day or some were from a little accident or mistake I had done that day and strained a muscle. Needless to say Pain is Pain and it hurts flesh! We deal with it and move on!
Well,Pain is real physically and mentally as well. As Christians we sing that hymnal "Trials dark on every hand and we cannot understand." This is true! Trials come through our life while some are unexplainable at first, some really are growing pains! Spiritually we go through some pain. Attacks from Satan and really take its tole on us. Persecution causes us to suffering and confusion. The pain in our hearts and pain from worry or stress of it all is real. You knowGod does allow many of the trials in our Lives to grow us in Him. Do they hurt? Yeah!!!
But once you press on in Faith and Worship and you are through it, you can look back and see how God has grown you, How He has lead you and ministered to you. It is amazing! And If you stay connected with Him through each Trial through devotions, prayer and reading His Word. You will see How He places His Word in Your heart and mind and how it brings you relief. A Word of the Lord in season is like little Peace Droplets in your heart that bursts open and spreads through your whole being. I can take a deep breathe and the air feel cooler and moister bring me a moment of relief in His Spirit! The funny thing is each growth spurt can last as long as years or as little as a day! I know for certain that God will take You through, each being a test of faith. Trust in God and He will see You through. Be open to His leadership and not only will He give you strength, He will heal your heart like the trial never happened! I can't explain it, the memory is there but the pain is gone! Only God, Our God Can work such a miracle! And you will be able to look back and thank GOD for the many things you've learned about Him and yourself through this trial. You will Praise Him for taking down the strongholds that needed to be removed for new growth in Him; in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. God will Grow You, stay focus on Him. Don't look to the left nor to the Right keep Your focus on Him and His Word. Be strong in Him in faith. Never Give up. Oh! It's okay to cry. Crying is showing God your humbled heart and need for Him. And shows those watchng you, you are human! And When God is Done and His Light is Shining through the work He has done in You, He Will Recieve the Glory for Everything! When Everything falls apart, God has your heart, and He will see and carry You through. He will pick up the pieces and when His light shines through You, it will be like sunlight shining through a Stain glass window. His Glory Will outshine the the pain of the trials you have been through.


So Take notes if you must, Get your Bible Open, get prayed Up and Saddle Up in Faith, because you never know if your next growth spurt could be around the next corner. OH!! Recently, God revealed to me through my pastor's message that these growth spurts are making room for expansion! Look, at Job's! How God blessed Him at the end of his trial and doubled everything he had lost. God is amazing Being and His ways are supernatural. Trusting in Him will certainly bring about the Peace that surpasses all understanding and will provide the strengh we need to press on in pain while placing Hope in our hearts that our Joy is coming in the morning!