Scattered

Everything feels so scattered lately. My thoughts, my new house, my belongings still in storage. I feel as if each day is never quite put together and I am pretty sure I know why. I have so neglected to be steadily in the Word of God the past month or so. I chuck it up to being busy with the move, new house and health issues. But truthfully, they are just excuses. I am not saying that reading God's Word is going to magically solve the chaos of my physical life at this moment, but what it will do is give me a peace within that slowly, but surely, works its way out and allows me to enjoy the moment I am in, count the blessings I already possess and give my burdens to the ONE who truly cares and wants to take them away.

With that said, my new priorities... to spend time in HIS Word (the Bible) each day, count my blessings and praise HIM for Who HE is. The three things in life that yield a return far greater than anything else I can spend my time doing.

Matthew 11:30 (New International Version)

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Galations 6:7-9 NIV Bible

Galations 6:7-9 (NIV Bible)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

In pondering the above verse, I realize that I am reaping what I have sown for the past several years. Some good, some bad, but it gets me thinking. What if I lived every moment to please the Spirit of God? How would that look in my life and how would that change what I do in life... why I do things? I can only imagine the joy and blessings it would bring. I am not saying trials would still not come, but I am realizing that I would view the trials differently and also, give them over as quickly as possible to the Lord, instead of caring them so long by myself. For the fruit of the Spirit...

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV Bible)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The kindness of strangers...

I already wrote about this on my Facebook today, but just in case someone else stumbles upon my blog... thought I would share on here as well.

Today I was shopping at Parable Kregel Christian Bookstore, one of my favorite places to shop. While there I looked through the Bibles. I was looking for a different version or something new for next years Bible reading. Well, I picked up the NIV Archaeological Bible. I took it to the counter and asked how much it would be and they said $32.00 (approx). I said thanks and said I would think about it. The woman next to me in line asked me what type of book it was and I opened it and showed her that it had different historical facts and archaeological site findings throughout it. She asked why I would want to read such a large book. I told her that it makes Biblical times more real to me. I love reading about the culture and how they lived then.

This is the amazing part... She then tells me she wants to buy the Bible for me for Christmas. I was in shock. I told her I could not let her do that, but she insisted. She said I should not prevent her from having the joy and blessing of giving it to me and that she could afford to do it. I did not know what to say. I thanked her profusely and still said that she did not need to do such a thing. I was so overwhelmed with emotions I started to cry a bit. She hugged me and was so sweet.

Before she left, she hugged me again. I got her name and told her thanks yet again. After I got to work I wrote and mailed out a thank you card to her, but that does not express how much she effected me today.

Today I learned that some people are still worth trusting. They are full of the love of Christ and have somehow learned in this dark and evil world how to truly love and give of themselves for others. Christ loved like that, fully. Maybe the money part was not a big deal to this woman, I do not know, but the effort she gave to reach out to me and to show kindness was beyond putting a value of money on. Truth be told, I could have afforded to buy the Bible, but God knew I needed to experience this today. He knew that I needed to see HIS love demonstrated. He knew I needed the reminder that there are still trustworthy people. HE gave this to me, so that I could "Pay it Forward" as well.

I am forever changed by a woman who was generous. Generosity... it can mean a world of difference to someone. Try it and see.

Kids and their honesty

Conversation with my AWANA kids tonight. Innocence is so honest:
Guinevere: MISS? Adeana, I thought you were married?
Adeana: No I am not married
Madelyn: No kids either?
Adeana: No kids Madelyn: How old are you?
Adeana: Guess
Guninevere: 23, 26, 31, 19? Ben: 25, 27, 39, 44
Adeana: I am 36
Madelyn: My mom is only 31 or 32 and so is my dad, that's weird tha you are older than my parents and you are not married. If you are not married by 50, you know you don't have to get married anymore.
Adeana: Well, God blesses us all in different ways. Sometimes it is a blessing of marriage and sometimes it isn't.
20 minutes later... upstairs Guinevere says (very concerned): "Miss Adeana, you need to start looking for a husband (as she looks around at all the "married" people in the foyer) You are running out of time.
Adeana: Yes... I know Guinevere.

Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon Quote

Morning, October 20

“Grow up into him in all things.”

Ephesians 4:15

Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so
as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing
of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but
do not “grow up into him in all things.”
But should we rest content with being in the “green blade,” when we
might advance to “the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in
the ear?” Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I
am safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the
fulness which is to be found in him. It should not be so; we should, as
good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge
of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men’s vineyards, but we
must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it
always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is
true, but O for a spring time—yea, a summer season, which shall give
promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live
near to Jesus—in his presence—ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We
must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of
his face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast;
then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith,
in hope—yea, in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on
mountain-tops and gilds them with his light, and presents one of the
most charming sights to the eye of the traveler; so is it one of the
most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the
Spirit’s light on the head of some saint, who has risen up in spiritual
stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp,
snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun
of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence high aloft for
all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven.

Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon

Welcome to the 90's

So... I finally have internet at home. Wireless to boot! I am excited and praying that I can be disciplined to not be on too much. But excited to stay connected to friends and family more.

With that said. Off to get ready for bed and do some reading before I go to sleep.

Do I never eat toast again?

So, with the whole mouse in the toaster situation. I was on a shopping expedition to find of new toaster and a toaster cover. Then I had a wonderful discovery. A toaster oven. So I bought it. I love it. Thanks mouse for giving me the blessing of owning a new toaster over. I can toast the bread and so much more. :O)