I’m not Mari Gras(ing) but I am playing with GRANDS so I have consulted Just Between God & Me by Sandra Drescher and I think her entry for March 8 will speak to us today. Just Between God & Me. Zondervan Publishing House. 1977.

Growing Pains

Hurts, hurts, and more hurts. If I’m a Christian and God loves me as much as He says, why does He allow me to be hurt this much? This question may be asked often and may turn into bitterness if I don’t keep reminding myself why God allows hurts in my life.
Being a Christian doesn’t mean my misfortunes will automatically disappear. God doesn’t simply move into action every time I need a miracle performed. He does what’s best for me whether I realize it at the time or not.
Looking back, I can see how various hurts in my life have helped me. It’s easier for me to understand what a friend is going through if I have already experienced a similar hurt. I can help that person pull through rough times by sharing my experience. Hurts can become blessings.
If all Christians were shielded against hurts, we could no longer be sensitive to non-Christians, and communication with them would be lost.
I want to learn to look for good in every situation.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (I Thess. 5:18 NIV).
Equip me, O God, in any way You choose, to be a better servant for You, even if it means hurts. Grant me an attitude which seeks to find the good in everything, even if it takes awhile. Amen.

PRAYING FOR THESE

Until Then + + +
Kathie

Good late Friday afternoon, y’all. I have a special treat for you.  Jamie’s been writing again and I am delighted that she has allowed me to share her thoughts with you.

Enjoy! And be blessed!

Once again

by Jamie Martin on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 1:47 pm

So, God used our youth pastor to bring an amazing and challenging message last night. Prior to that, we had worship. We sang a song I know, but do not know much about. Such as title, artist and so on. The last part of the chorus says “once again I thank you, once again I pour out my life”. I’m not sure if the writer of this song was meaning it the way I took it…but ya know! As we sang those two lines, I just saw a mental picture of my life and heart being poured out to God at that moment. In worship, I believe, that is essentially what you’re doing. Pouring yourself on God. Giving Him everything you are.

Well, as I saw this “mental picture”, I began seeing some of the things I fill my heart and life with. I was literally watching myself “pour” these things on Jesus. Everything. Good. Bad. Ugly. Are these really things God wants me to offer Him? “No” He said to me in that moment.

The following message would only push that further. I can’t begin to tell everything here, but essentially the challenge question was “does your life look like THE book?”. When others look at my life, do they see Jesus? The one and only? The perfect son of God? The one who left all the majesty of Heaven to live among us? The one who was persecuted and hated? The one we put to a cruel death? The one who sacrificed Himself for you and for me? That’s the Bible, right? Jesus. He was there from beginning to end. Genesis to Revelation. Does my life point others to THAT Jesus.

I’m challenged to rid my mind and heart of the junk that’s crowding all the things God is looking for. When I come before my Holy, perfect God to worship Him…to pour out my life to Him, I SO want it to be God honoring things. Not trivial junk. Not “idols” I have placed before Him. Not “good” stuff that I know HE has said is not HIS doing. Just because something is a good thing, doesn’t mean it’s a God thing. (I wish I could remember who I heard say that recently, but I can’t). When all that stuff is gone, then and only then will my life point people to Jesus. And that is why I am here. To tell people about this Jesus that has come into my life and radically changed me.

Praying for These

Until Then + + +
Kathie

I have ‘asked’ Sandra Drescher to share with us today. Overcoming Loneliness is recorded in her book Just Between God & Me. Zondervan Publishing House. 1977.

     After I discovered what causes loneliness, I began to think of ways to overcome it. By admitting loneliness, I was really saying, “I can’t think of anyone but myself.”
     Therefore, to overcome loneliness one must think of others. Ideas came to my mind such as baking something for a sick neighbor, sending a note of appreciation to a teacher, or just spending time talking to someone. After a few experiences of reaching out, I realized the truth of this cure. The joy of giving of myself to others took the lonely feelings away.

     Do for others what you want them to do for you (Matthew 7:12 LB).

     Lord, when I’m feeling lonely, help me to recognize my selfish attitude and get ride of it by doing something for someone else. Amen.

Please continue to pray for Jenny Biggs and Iris Ziglar. And as you are led pray for families, for husbands and fathers, mothers and children. The Enemy of Families is having a fiendish time these days.

Praying for These

Until Then + + +
Kathie

Today’s (February 18) selection from Beth Moore’s book Breaking Free Day by Day tells me I am in good company. If you missed my KT Paraphrasing post, click HERE.

Beth paraphrases too! Read and enjoy — well, it’s a negative paraphrase which should give us real incentive to go positive with it.

The peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

I decided to bring home the impact of this passage by paraphrasing it from a negative standpoint, turning this prescription for peace into a no-fail prescription for anxiety. My result looked like this:

“Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like, ‘And this is the thanks I get,’ present your aggravations to everyone you know but Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will cause you a heart attack, and you will lose your mind.”

There you have it.

Good Company.

Praying for These   — Please remember we added Iris to our list yesterday.

Thank You, ABBA, for Beth and for the insights You have given her. I pray each of us will take Your Word to our hearts and live in Your Peace every day; refusing to give up the Peace You have provided for us.  Thank You for loving us and for receiving our petitions and our praise. We declare here and now You along are worthy of worship and praise. And we thank You for tending our prayer charges and our IDOK Troops. We have no doubt You will do right by each of them in JESUS Name. Amen and amen.

Until then + + +
Kathie