Come Into The Deep End... with ImHisServant (3)

[Starr SDA Living Word]

I have no problem with people coming to me, if they think i need to change. I always take it up in prayer. I let GOD change me, NOT MYSELF> I will fail every time.

I am not afraid to speak the truth. I believe the truth shall set us free.

I believe God forgives me my sins. I believe he sets my heart to want to repent, when i have done wrong.

But.

Proverbs 17:9
Love covers over all wrongs.

Ephesians 4:32
Bekind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

This is my way of living. I ask the Lord daily to change my heart, make me more like him.

I believe, He has been changing me for sometime. Praise You Lord. I surrender my life to you. Thank you for making me what you want me to be. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

 

[cristianna]

In the United States our country just observed Memorial Day—a day to honor those who paid the highest price for the freedom of our country and its people. During times of conflict and war, headlines provide us with glimpses into the fallen soldier’s life. We read about the tragedies of the fresh out of high school graduate, 19 year military veteran, and the middle-aged man who was a father, brother and son loved and liked by all whom he met. And many of us have firsthand felt pain through the loss of friend or family member.

But over two thousand years ago the most crucial sacrifice was made for the freedoms of you and every person in the world. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 18:19 How powerful a verse, bold enough to ensure we understand our real freedom was not sought after through material trade or objects, but through the blood of Jesus Christ.

We gained our truest form of freedom with the loss of a pure and genuine family member. Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:31-35

On January 4, 2007, Senator Inouye again proposed a bill for America to set aside May 30 for our country to go back to the real root of Memorial Day observations—obsolete from celebrations of three day weekends and a marker for the beginning of summer. Instead to spend the day mourning and honoring those who died for our freedom. Today I ask you, no matter your country, spend time in prayer and in thanks for the real freedom you have received through Jesus Christ.

 

[jenrenee]

Today I ask you, no matter your country, spend time in prayer and in thanks for the real freedom you have received through Jesus Christ.

My hubby and I just returned from our vacation to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. While there, we went to the Great Passion Play - depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It was an amazing play and it really brought to life the feelings and emotions that went on during that time. I just wanted to share this with you - and if anyone ever has the opportunity to see this, I highly reccomend it!

 

[rosiecotton]

In part 13, Nancy Leigh DeMoss has testimonies from listeners. I almost decided to skip it and go to the next one, but then thought it'd be good to read about ladies who have been impacted by this series.
I will be on vacation next week, with no access to a computer. So if someone wants to do the topic for Thursday, that would be great!​

How's Your Love Life?, Part 13
Series: How's Your Love Life?​

Listener: Well, I took Nancy's 30-day challenge. I don't think we're even at the end of that yet--of reading 1 Corinthians 13 every day and trying to remember those characteristics. What I have found in my home is that it absolutely eliminates every excuse I have for any type of behavior that doesn't look like Christ.

Constantly what has happened to me (in the last two weeks, especially) is that every time I respond to my children in a way that is irritable or short or unkind, instantly those words pop into my head like they're on a neon sign in front of me. Even just last night as I was reading through that again, the words there at the end of that passage where it says "Love never fails. Love always bears all things." I mean, it just eliminates every single possibility I have of escaping what Christ has put into my life and seeing it from His perspective. So that's what Nancy has done for me--through God's Word--in the last few weeks.

Listener: One of the ways that I am easily irritated is with phone solicitors. I'm just so rude to them. It's awful. I'm just the opposite of how I usually am, but they just make me so angry because they always call at the worst times. But after your series on 1 Corinthians 13, one (a soliicitor) called. My first instinct was to be rude and hang up or something. I said, "No. Love is not irritable."

So I was very kind, very patient to this woman. She wanted to know if we wanted estimates for new windows and siding, that type of thing. I told her that I'd talk to my husband and for her to call back. I was very friendly. Wouldn't you know it? It was one of the few times my husband was interested in something they were calling about. He does want them to come back. I was just so glad that I'd been kind to that woman because I knew she'd be calling back. As it turned out, it was a good application.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Love is practical. Anyone else in relation to love? What has been your greatest struggle in applying that passage?

Listener: The Lord this year has just really been teaching me to love people unconditionally and love them for who they are and to not be judgmental. So even before your exhortation to read through it, I thought the Lord was asking me to memorize the chapter on love. If my goal for the year was to love people unconditionally, then what better chapter to memorize than 1 Corinthians 13?

You know, God does this when we memorize Scripture: You can know something forward and backward, inside out and upside down; but you apply it to your life or you see it in a way that you hadn't seen it before because it is written on your heart. "Love never fails" jumped out of the page. I was like, "Lord, how does that apply?" I knew how it applied in my life. My dad professes to know Christ, but there is no fruit in his life. That's painful for me to see the way he treats my mom. They are married and they still live in the same house, but they are not even friends.

It hurts me. A lot of times it's hard for me to love my dad because I think, You love me and you're a super Dad, but you're a terrible husband.

So the "love never fails," I felt like God was saying, "If I choose never to reconcile this relationship between your parents, will you still love your dad? Will you still choose to love him despite his response?" So I said, "Yes, Lord. Love never fails. I'm going to love him, despite his response to love my mom."

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: That kind of love--you don't have. I don't have it, naturally. But if we have Christ living in us, we have the source of all true love. Because of the love of Christ that has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit, there isn't anyone I can't love. That's why the Scripture says that older women are to teach younger women to love their husbands. It means you can love your husband. You can't, but Christ in you can love your husband.

It says that younger women are to love their children. Some of you have a child for whom no textbook was ever written. There's just that child who tries and he pushes all the boundaries. You say, "I just can't love that child." The truth is that you can't, but God does. He wants to love that child through you. Love never fails.

So when we say in a marriage, "I just don't love my mate anymore," what we're really acknowledging is that we're failing to allow God to love that person through us because love never fails.
I challenged a woman who is in a difficult marriage a week or so ago. It's interesting. In this case, I had heard the husband's side of the story. Based on what I had heard, I had assumed that she was largely responsible for the problems in the marriage. Then we sat down for a couple of hours one night to talk. I heard her side of the story. If I had only ever heard her side of the story, I would have assumed that he was mostly responsible for the problems in the marriage. I suppose that is not uncommon.

But I wasn't talking to him and God didn't call me to set husbands straight. I was talking to her. I challenged her to a 30-day commitment. I said, "I want to ask you to do two things for thirty days. One is negative; the other is positive. First of all, for the next thirty days you have to commit yourself not to say one negative thing about your husband--not to him--not to anyone else about him." You should have seen her eyes.

She had gotten into a bad habit, which so many of us have in our homes, of picking on the things about her husband that bothered her. She had come to the place where she could only see her husband through those glasses of failure. He couldn't do anything to please her. I knew enough about the situation to know that he had issues; she had issues. But there were qualities in both of them that were worth admiring. She had lost sight of those, and maybe he had, too. I can't speak for him.

So I said, "Thirty days. You can't say anything negative about your husband." She swallowed hard. She had come to the place where she really wanted God to change her. If she hadn't come to that place, I don't think she could have received this suggestion.
I said, "Here is the other part of the 30-day challenge. Every day for the next thirty days, you need to say something that you appreciate about your husband. Say it to him and say it to someone else about him. Every day think of something you appreciate about him. If you can't think of thirty things, think of one thing and repeat it every day for thirty days. I can't make you any promises about what'll happen to him within the next thirty days, but I could promise her and I can promise you that you will be different in thirty days."

Why? Because you'll be seeing that man through eyes of love--the kind of love that never fails. According to God's Word, you can learn to love. There is that supernatural source of love that is within you, if you're a child of God. That means there is hope--hope as big and as great as the love of God.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Thank You, Lord, for Your incredible love. You loved us when we were Your enemies. You loved us when we were running from You. You loved us when all we had done was to be despiteful toward You, and You still loved us. You loved us so much that You gave. You gave the best that You had. You loved us knowing that there was no reason to expect that we would love You in return. But Your love captured our hearts. It transformed us. It saved us. It lifted us out of the pit of sin and self that we were in and gave us hope and life.
Now You say that Your love has been shed abroad in our hearts by Your Holy Spirit. You have put us in this world, in our churches, in our homes, in our workplaces to love, to be lovers, to love with Your love. So, Lord, for everyone in this room who has some name or face come to mind as we're talking about loving hard people to love, I just pray for a filling of Your Holy Spirit, for humility, for a crying out for grace, and for a baptism of love--not the feelings first, but the choice, the surrender, the commitment, the covenant.
I thank You for particularly one or more marriages represented here that I believe You're in the process of healing. You've already done it with some here, and there are some that are in process. Any marriage that is working, it's only because it's Your love that's keeping it. We pray for grace, for love, and for Your healing where it is needed. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

[cristianna]

How lovely-- just look at all the lives being changed one by one and how the domino effect will ten-fold it!

Enjoy your time away; I'll be thinking and praying for you!

 

[rosiecotton]

How lovely-- just look at all the lives being changed one by one and how the domino effect will ten-fold it!

Enjoy your time away; I'll be thinking and praying for you!

Thank you!! We're going to Myrtle Beach!!

 

[cristianna]

June 4, 2007

A Former Couch Potato Runs the Race

By Amy Carroll

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” I Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)


Devotion:
My friends Maggie and Rhonda are real runners. They run marathons and are teeny tiny. I have not, and I am not. Up until now, I’ve been a fairly well-confirmed couch potato. An upcoming birthday has changed all of that, though. Let’s keep this between you and me - I’m turning 40 this year. I decided on my last birthday that I wanted to do something to combat the feeling that forty was a marker for the downward slide. The idea that captured my mind, heart and imagination was running a 5K for the Susan B. Kommen Foundation! My friend, Rhonda, wrote out a training plan for me, and I’ve been following it pretty faithfully. To my amazement I’m making progress. Here are some lessons I’m learning as I run.

1. You can’t finish if you never start -

I have so many ideas that my brain feels likes it’s on a constant spin cycle. Sometimes, though, I never muster up the resolve, make a plan and get started. Fear is one thing that holds me back. Even the thought of running a race boiled up some fear. “What if you don’t finish? What if you’re dead last? What if you’re not cut out for this?” Too often I also let the tyranny of the urgent push out my dreams. Instead of hearing God’s voice and obeying by making time for His plans, I let the daily urgency of my schedule push the lid down on my box of dreams until they die from lack of attention. I encourage you to get started! Pick up God’s dreams for you, dust them off and resolve to put His plans into action today.

2. One step builds on another -

I wanted training to happen quickly, but I can’t say that it has been easy. To run a race, I have to spend time taking one step after another and building up my endurance. In the same way to grow as a Christian, I have to commit to time with the Lord and practice putting His Word into. I shouldn’t be discouraged that I’m not a spiritual giant today, but I do need to be faithful as I increase my time and endurance in the practice of spiritual disciplines. Be faithful and watch your endurance grow!

3. Fix your eyes on the goal –

One morning last week, I was tempted to quit running before my time was up. In one last effort to build my determination, I focused my eyes on the trashcan at the end of the track. Every step was one closer to that trashcan and to the end of my run. We have a prize to fix our eyes on that is the ultimate inspiration —Jesus! He is the King of Kings, the one true and perfect Man, the Giver of eternal life, the Beginning and the End, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is awesome, and I want to meet Him at the finish line. When my eyes are firmly fixed on Jesus, I find endurance and strength to run this race of life that defies my understanding. Let’s let Him set the pace and run hard after Him.

I still have some fears about finishing my 5K, but God has used the physical training to remind me of some truths about spiritual training. By the time you read this, I should have finished my physical race (I promise to tell you all about it!), but the spiritual race that I’ve embarked on will last my lifetime. I’m thankful that I have such an inspiring goal and that He is the One who will enable me to finish the race.


Dear Lord, Help me to race for a crown that will last forever. Although the race is hard sometimes, I want to run well and finish hand-in-hand with you. I fix my eyes on You as the goal. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Reflections:
Ask God to show you if there are any dreams that He wants you commit or recommit to fulfilling.

Where are the places in my life that I’m only willing to implement the “quick and easy”?

Who has God put into my life that might serve as coach, trainer or partner?



Power Verses:
Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (NIV)

Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (NIV)

 

[woman.at.the.well]

Sorry about not posting the topic for last Tuesday guys! Finally made it around for this Tuesdays ODB:

June 5, 2007​

Something For The Soul

READ: Psalm 119:9-16

Your Word I have hidden in my heart. —Psalm 119:11


Filled to the brim with inspiring anecdotes and stories, the books in the series, Chicken Soup for the Soul, quickly became bestsellers. It’s no wonder. A title that includes “chicken soup” brings back memories of childhood, stuffed-up noses, and scratchy throats—a time when only a warm blanket and Mom’s steaming chicken and rice soup will bring about relief.
Scientific evidence now indicates that Mom was pretty smart. Chicken soup is beneficial for fighting colds. It’s also one of the foods that people describe as “comfort food.”
When it’s not my body but my heart that is aching, I long for the comfort of God’s Word: soothing words like “[Cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7); assuring words that nothing can “separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).
The Bible—the world’s all-time bestseller—is filled with promises, reminders, challenges, and knowledge of God. When you’re feeling discouraged, try ladling up a big serving of God’s Word. Having a Bible within reach (or better yet, Scripture hidden in your heart) infinitely trumps a bowl of Mom’s chicken soup. It will warm your heart and begin your healing. —Cindy Hess Kasper
God’s Word is the healer, the comfort, the strength,
To fill your heart’s need, giving food for your soul;
Instead of exhausting all sources you find,
O taste the Lord’s goodness for making you whole. —Hess
If you fill your heart with God’s Word, He’ll bring spiritual health to your soul.

Please discuss ​

 

[cristianna]

Great topic!

I find it very true. There are times I read the bible daily whether it's ten minutes or 45 minutes. And then there are just as many times I don't read. This can last for a day, a week, or even weeks.

If and when I get out of the habit of reading I know I'm doomed. I'm doomed for several reasons. Primarily it's a habit that I will have to strive to get back into and also I can feel a distance between myself and God. Maybe it's totally psychological, completely irrational-- I don't know, but I do know it's how I feel.

 

[cristianna]

Pop Goes the Weasel!
By Susanne Scheppmann


Proverbs 29:11, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (NIV)


Devotion:
Today we live in a society of anger. Road rage rears its ugly head over minor traffic infractions. Small annoyances infuriate us. Corporations offer anger management courses to help us deal with our tempers. Anger rules our lives.

I understand anger. My oldest son was hyperactive to the extreme. As a young, high-strung mom, I became furious at times with some of his antics, though never to the point of harming him. I realized that when my anger popped up like a sneaky weasel, it was time to put my son in time-out for a while. I needed the break, and so did he for his own safety.

What we must realize is that anger in and of itself is not sin. Anger is a God-given emotion. Even Jesus became angry at times (See Mark 3:5; John 2:13-17). Anger is an emotional response to certain situations. However, when anger begins to consume us or turns us into people of uncontrollable rage, that is when we need to look for guidance and learn how to manage it.

Fortunately, God gives followers of Christ their own handbook on anger management—the Bible. Ephesians 4:26 reads, “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” I can’t count how many times I have gone to bed in anger with my husband. I roll my back to him and stew for hours about the perceived injustice, while he snores peacefully in a deep sleep. Grrrr . . . growls my anger. How dare he sleep when I am mad? He wakes up with a cheery outlook; I roll out of bed with a migraine. How much better would it be if I were to let go of my anger and to sleep with peace in my heart?

Another verse states, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 NIV). I learned the truth of this verse with my teenagers. They responded much better to a gentle verbal response than when I lashed out at them with a harsh word or tone. I plastered this verse everywhere in my home and even in my car. The verse reminded me that I could choose anger or gentleness. It was my decision. I could choose gentleness or pop my emotional cork!

So now, when my anger threatens to run away with me, I grab my anger management Book. I search the Scriptures to determine which ones apply to my immediate circumstances. I want to be wise in my anger, not like a fool who pops like a weasel.



Dear Lord, teach me how to control my anger in a godly manner. Help me not to rage out of control at the people that I love the most. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:
If you feel the desire study, memorize or write down the scriptures in this devotion to reflect on when you feel your anger surge.

What types of circumstances tend to make me angry?

Do I hold onto my anger for days?

Do I use gentle words when I am upset about something?

 

[cristianna]

Reflections:
If you feel the desire study, memorize or write down the scriptures in this devotion to reflect on when you feel your anger surge.

What types of circumstances tend to make me angry?

Do I hold onto my anger for days?

Do I use gentle words when I am upset about something?

I will need to memorize and write down some of those scriptures.

What makes me angry? Not really much, but if hormones are flowing it could be something ridiculoulsy stupid that I'd never get upset over any other time. Off the top of my head I can only think of one thing that makes me angry: lieing. Don't get me wrong, I know there's more, but it's the only one jumping out right now.

Do I hold onto anger? Definitely not. And let me tell you... my dh LOVES that. Once I get it out in the open, I'm fine and I move on. I don't know how or why, but I really think it's just a part of my makeup as I can recall always being like that. There are only two people I still cling to anger and hold harsh, ill thoughts toward.

Do I use gentle words? No, not always. I'm going to work on that!

 

[SunMessenger]

 

[jenrenee]

What types of circumstances tend to make me angry?
Seeing others, or myself, being treated unfairly - people taking advantage of others, people lying - and people trying to tell me how to live my life

Do I hold onto my anger for days? I used to - I've gotten a lot better at it, especcially where my hubby is concerned. My mom used to say I would get mad at her, go downstairs and think of all kinds of points, and come back up to finish the argument. But just the other day - I was able to tell hubby "I'm not going to be mad at you for this, I'm going to forgive you." He knew he did wrong, and he was shocked and asked why. I just said it was the right thing to do.

Do I use gentle words when I am upset about something? Once again, I used to be pretty mean. But have gotten a lot better. It does no good to use harsh words when you are angry, and you will just regret them later on. I try to think before I speak.

Great Topic as usual!!

 

[Criada]

oops - I've missed about three topics here!

Dear Lord, teach me how to control my anger in a godly manner. Help me not to rage out of control at the people that I love the most. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:
If you feel the desire study, memorize or write down the scriptures in this devotion to reflect on when you feel your anger surge.

What types of circumstances tend to make me angry?

Do I hold onto my anger for days?

Do I use gentle words when I am upset about something?

Hmm.
I'm pretty good when it comes to the big things - it's the little ones that get me! Someone not being able to find their reading book five minutes after we should have left for school...
I don't hold on to it - I blow up, and then forget it.
and I am getting better - but I still have a long way to go.

Again - in major situations, I do think about what I say. But in the little things...

Definitely need to work on this one.

Thanks for posting it!
God bless you all.

 

[cristianna]

Again - in major situation, I do think about what i say. But in the little things...

Definatley need to work on this one.

Thanks for posting it!
God bless you all.

I'm the same way. When something signifcant occurs, I'm graceful, cautious and encouraging with my words. But the little things do add up, and that's when I tend to show my anger. Weird how I'm more aware in the big ones.

A prime example would be my #1 was suspended off the bus yesterday for the remainder of the week. I know alot of parents would freak out if that happened to their kid. And I'm sure the principal thinks I'm neuortic and "that kind of mother" because I laughed when she told me. I wasn't angry at all. This is a straight A child with numerous awards and certificates who is never in trouble outside of our home, let alone in school. #1 truly meant no harm, and really didn't do anything "wrong". Rules are rules, and unfortunately for her she is the one being used as an example.

God bless you too Criada and all of us here!

 

[blueanjel]

stopping by to say HELLO and hope you have a great evening

 

[SunMessenger]

Good Morning ...

​

 

[cristianna]

Good morning SunMessenger!!!!


But Will It Make Me Happy?

By MaryBeth Whalen


“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14, NIV)


Devotion:
When my son, Brad, was about three years old, he went through a phase of playing on my emotions when he wanted something. If I told him “no,” he would reply, “But mommy, that will make me happy.” Then he would give me his most drop-dead gorgeous smile and bat his eyes at me for effect. Boy, did he know how to work me over! Some of the requests were for things like a lollipop before dinner or staying up several hours past bedtime. And while I knew those things might make him happy for a moment, they definitely weren’t the best choice for him. As his mom, I knew that sticking to my “no” was the wise choice—no matter how many manipulation tactics he tried!

And yet, how many times do I act just like this before God? I kneel before Him and present Him with a laundry list of things I think would make my life better. In reality, I don’t have any better idea about what is best for me than my child does. My view of happiness is very temporary and circumstance based. While I think I know what will make me happy, I am learning that, in truth, I have absolutely no idea. And this is where trusting God and submitting to His will is always the better choice.

How many times in your life have you wanted something so badly—yet when you got whatever it was, you realized, “Nope, this didn’t do it for me either.” That house you wanted to move into so badly, that person you wanted to date, that achievement you thought would bring success, that child you longed to have—they all brought you momentary happiness, but they didn’t fulfill you as you had hoped, or bring you the significance you longed for. I am learning slowly that whenever I find myself begging God for something, with some whining thrown in for good measure, I have to step back and ask myself the question: But will it make me happy? I know that whatever “it” is, it doesn’t have the power to bring me lasting happiness—that deep indwelling joy that only God can bring. I may have a flash of happiness, only to lose it mere moments later. I am learning slowly to push aside these momentary longings and seek God instead. To tell Him, “Here’s what I think I want, but I trust You to do what’s best for me.”

I have learned that a book with my name on the cover, an outfit hanging in my closet that looks great on me, an accolade for my child, a trip to the spa, or an address in the right neighborhood will not make me happy, as much as I think it might. I can’t look for happiness in the things of this earth, or I will certainly live in a state of disappointment. Instead, I can spend my time seeking God, and allowing Him to bring along unexpected blessings—little bouquets of happiness along the way. That doesn’t mean I don’t still look longingly at a new digital music player or a sleek new laptop and think fleetingly, “Oooooh, now that would make me happy.” But I am learning to pull back and refocus my perspective when I have those thoughts. Will it make me happy? Maybe for a moment. But in the long run, only God can bring me the joy I seek. I am learning that truth, minute by minute, day by day.



Dear Lord, Please help my perspective to be Your perspective. Help my focus to stay where it needs to be—fixed intently on You and not on the things of this world I think will make me happy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.



Reflections:
Write down actions and steps you need to take to keep your focus on God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Are you being honest with yourself about what truly makes you happy?
Are you looking to the wrong things to make you happy?
What part of this devotion is speaking to you today?


Power Verses:
Ecclesiastes 5:19, “Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift from God.” (NIV)

Isaiah 33:6, “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” (NIV)

Proverbs 10:2, “Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.” (NIV)

 

[cristianna]

Are you being honest with yourself about what truly makes you happy?
Are you looking to the wrong things to make you happy?
What part of this devotion is speaking to you today?

I think I am honest with myself about what would make me happy-- my husband coming to God and passing a legacy of faith to my children. The other things I ask for are generally "tools" to make everything "easier".


I definitely can look at the wrong things to make myself happier. A maid would be wonderful. A three car garage instead of two would be fanastic. A pool instead of a pool membership would be grand. It's all too easy to eye up the wrong things to make life grander, more pleasurable, easier, etc. Don't get me wrong, I would warmly welcome those "tools" if God chooses to pass them my way!

The part of this devotion that spoke to me today is:
I can’t look for happiness in the things of this earth, or I will certainly live in a state of disappointment.

I have seen this first hand with some family members who are all about living a large and in charge lifestyle, keeping up-- if not outdoing the Jones'. I've been dirt poor, and I mean poverty poor, and I've been extremely wealthy, and now are just comfortable. I've seen and felt firsthand what material objects do, and I'm glad to have that experience. Because if not, I'm sure I'd right in the middle of needing more, more, more trying to fill that void.

 

[Maharg]

Just wanted to drop by and say sorry for not being around for a while. I've just started an online course on the Old Testament so will be doing that for the next 6 weeks. Will drop in time to time here to say hello. Hope everyone is doing ok.



maharg