21 PEACE

I don't think I have covered the word Peace in my musings.

 I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Pretty much in the confines of the Whole Armor.

 The shoes of peace....putting them on and wearing them all day would certainly keep your heart and mind on The Prince of Peace. 

I am one who goes shoeless most of the time...maybe a carry over from childhood where we were lucky to have a pair of shoes for school and another one for Church. We didn't wear them much in the summer. 

 Greg, you said once to someone that if your Mother was in their home for 10 minutes and I didn't have my shoes off or were not crying, something was the matter. I admit that is true, I am more comfortable shoeless, and I am very emotional, about...well just about everything. (smile)  

 A movie? Definitely. A song? Absolutely!!! Something sweetly said...oh yeah!...well, most everything! 

So as I was putting on the Whole Armor the other day, and I was thinking along this line, it came to my mind...that perhaps, just perhaps I am too quick to slip my feet out of the shoes of Peace....You think? 

In my 'old age' I lose my cool too quickly and too easily. Can I blame it on old age? You bet!!! Is that really a good excuse? Not really. So I did what preachers do sometimes, to help you 'get and keep' the message...I'm not sure what they call them, but here is the result of mine...(whatever it is called) smile : 

P....Placing 
E....Everything 
A....Actively...Absolutely...Always...Appropriately (I  couldn't choose just one. smile) IN 
C....Christ's 
E....Embrace 

 So my peace does not depend on what I can conjure up, but on what Christ says in His Word. 

Mr. McGreggor, here's the deal...It doesn't matter what we say or do...(well it really does in the end)... God gives us peace in the midst of the storm, and those are not just words, they are God's words...
The same God who made the universe, the same one who created you and I. So today put on your shoes of Peace, tie the laces tight, so you cannot easily slip them off, and walk in His Peace today...
Not too much has changed, you still need a place to live, you don't have much to live on, but... 
God is the "same...yesterday...today...and forever." 

We don't know about tomorrow, and we can't change yesterday...but we sure do have a lot of input about TODAY!!!! (Our thoughts can make or break us.) We need to begin to tear down those 'strongholds' that we have allowed the enemy to build...brick by brick.....The strongholds are just that...STRONG HOLDS that the enemy has wound around our minds. 

 So brick by brick, thought by thought, resist the enemy, literally put your mind, at that moment on Jesus and His Peace that He has provided for us. Yep, that is the only way to be 'more than conquerors' thru Christ who loves us and made a way...where there seems to be no way. 

One single thought at a time!! 

So, Look up! Hang in there! Hang on tight to His hand.
We will see you here there or in the air. 
In the morning, Cray! 
Nanny/Marker

20 Complaining vs. Whining

What a way to start my day!

Are they different?  Complaining and Whining?  If so...what is the difference?  

Am I a complainer?  Not so, I thought!  (however as I turned on the computer to 'compose'  I thought, ‘here it is the second of May, and I have to go put on a sweater...just to be comfortable?’)  

Oh boy...now I really need to look at my heart, mouth and mind!   

And not just look at it, but let Jesus turn His spotlight on the real problem areas?  Yep...that is the way with these problems that God wants to deal with in our lives...Hey, you too!!!  I'm not alone in this!!!! SMILE!

Well, I have to start out this diatribe with a story of 'long ago'...that goes like this:  I had an area of my life  that  needed attention...and when it came up, I just let it (my thought patterns) run...and finally I would say, "Oh Lord, forgive me, but You know my heart!"    After many times like this, the Lord stopped me cold, and said, 

"Yes, My Dear one, I know your heart, but do you know it?"  

And like a little recording, He said, 

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked!   Create in me a new heart, oh Lord, and renew a right spirit within me."

Now I didn't know that I knew these two scriptures, but I knew it was from God. Which goes right along with the scripture that sez that we can't judge our own hearts, only God can do that.....Why?  

Because He is all wisdom, He knows the end from the beginning, and knows our own heart better than we do.

So today, I must lay my heart, open, bare, Greg, and let you and the world see, how foolish I am, and in doing so, maybe it will give your spirit a little lift.  When you are sooooooooo far down, you can't even see any light, while looking up, that is when we (the Body) need to lift your hands and hold them up, to help you fight this battle.

Now it is no coincidence that our Prestbury Ladies Bible Club is studying, 'Lord, Change My Attitude.'  I seem to be at an all time low, in my trusting...(ability to Trust God,)  for who He says He is, and why He seems so silent, when we need HELP RIGHT NOW!  'Job ' was only in his MESS  about a year.  Here it has been nearly five years to the date, and your situation seems to only get worse.   (Am I complaining, whining?  Well let's be truthful--I definitely am! )   But a day or so ago, I didn't think I was.  So NOW what do I do? ...I get myself in a position to read and devour the Word, let it cleanse my doubting heart, and let The Lord, refresh my whole being, with Truth, the Truth of the Word.  Strange, but Jesus IS Truth, Jesus IS the Word... 

"Oh, Lord, create in me a new heart, and renew a right spirit within me."

The Word sez, that the devil is a liar, he came to steal, kill and destroy...that is his mission statement!

So am I going to let that DEFEATED foe, that was DESTROYED at the Cross tell me how to think?  How to act?

Well, I am laughing in his face, because he can't stand the name of JESUS, and  I am going to put that Name on my lips, day and night...until this thing with you, Greg, is broken, and you are back in the land of the LIVING.   Anyone who reads this Blog, stand with us in prayer, because Jesus is the answer, prayer changes things, Jesus came to give us Life, and more abundant life at that! 

It is so hard to see your son go thru this...Will he come out on the other side, and be whole again?  That isn't negative thinking,  we are just traveling through this life waiting to get to the other side, which IS our HOPE, the only thing I am sure of,  because He did say we would have trouble...this much trouble Lord?   Whining again?  Looks like it...old habits die hard…smile ...Lord get rid of my deceitful heart, and keep on, creating  in me a new heart, bit by bit, by bit by bit...

Thank you my precious Friend, Jody, who is my prayer partner for life…has been for nigh unto 70 years!!!!

Of course we met when we were 3 years old I think!....big smile

Look up...hang in there....hang on tight to His hand, and we'll see you here, there, or in the air!!

See you in the morning, Cray...Marker, aka Nanny

19 His Chosen Delights

 I sometimes think I must sound like a broken record.  But really I am just walking, and learning, walking and learning, and once in a while I might have a word or two that will encourage you, strengthen you, or just make you laugh.  Haven't had too many blogs that have brought merriment, but soon I am going to start "A Merry Heart" number one.......and just set out for a laugh.  

Watch out Greg it just might be about you.   

But that is not today.

I was quite dry this morning, and wondered if I would get an inspiration for my blog.  So this afternoon I started reading the beginning of this journal.   Do you know what I saw?  No of course you don't (smile)  But I saw a pattern in my entries.  Time and time again I would be writing about how I try and be faithful to my Quiet Time, and trying to 'practice His Presence', and how I fail, again!   

I am seeing over and over, that the enemy of my soul is at work on my mind with condemnation.

I want to say right now, I feel there is a good guy (God) and a bad guy (devil) and if it is good it comes from God, if it is bad it comes from the devil.   Maybe you think that is too simple, but that's the way I see it.  I'm a very simple person.

Now about this condemnation thing.....if I as a Mother saw my boys try and try to please me, but they mess up somehow, am I disappointed?  No, I see they are trying to please me.  Love covers a lot!

So why do I think every day as we are walking this long, hard road, Greg, that I am not walking good enough, or I don't spend as much time  'practicing His presence' as I should.....and that God is not pleased by this?

I think He jumps up and down with joy, when I do take the time, and He relishes that time.   

He said I/you are the apple of His eye, He says He CHOSE us!

Eph 1  (Living Bible)  sez He chose us because He wanted to!  It goes on to say,   

"Moreover, because of what Christ has done we have become gifts to God, that He delights in!"

 ...It also sez in that same chapter, 

"I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ's have been given to Him."

I am a GIFT to God, that He delights in?    God was made RICH because we were given to Him?  

I am concerned about your health...your kidneys (or lack thereof).....your heart.....your eye.. (or lack thereof) your moving date (by the end of the month) your very life!!!

Why do I think God is disappointed in me because I feel like I am not trusting Him enough?  Who do you think is telling me this?  The devil, because God sez in Rom 8:1 

There is no condemnation for those in Christ.

Father I see that you are pleased, very pleased with our progress....you know how human we are, you made us. 

It is not that I am not trusting, but 'ole slewfoot' sez , "yes , but you aren't trusting enough."  he is trying to make us think God is disappointed, and  that we don’t do better....well we are improving and we are better, but not as good as we will be!!!

My Father loves me, you too Greg, and He is not at all disappointed in us...

He sees and knows our hearts....remember He was concerned for His Mother while He was on the cross?  He said to John, 'Behold your Mother, and to His Mother he said,'behold your son.'  Help us to keep this uppermost in our minds, and  stop worrying.....He loved us enough to die for us!

Well, again....hang in there, hang on  tight to His hand, and we'll see you here, there or in the air.

Cray, the key word....is secret.  ;)

Nanny

18 LIFE-DEATH-LIFE

Pretty ominous title there....but what is life?  

You wake up when you are born.....live your life....then death comes...you go to sleep....and wake up REALLY ALIVE!!!!  Since our dear friend, Dawn, went to sleep yesterday, and woke up in Heaven....that is pretty much what I am  dwelling on today.

Every morning I wake up, (and that is a blessing) sometimes Cliff comes down the hall, telling me (in a not so quiet voice) that the coffee is ready.  I try to have that first cup with my most Precious Friend Jesus, and start my day.  But mostly I am up, feeling good, not too many aches and pains, and thankful that I can walk, talk and move myself....as

opposed to Sug, who can still do these things, but with a very limited ability.

This life thing is pretty interesting....the other day I was reading about how God knew us BEFORE we were in our mothers' womb.....which is pretty deep in itself,  but He also said, before you were in your mother’s womb, 'I carried you.'......well!!!   What is that all about?   I don't have a clue!!!!    However, when He says He carries us between His shoulders, to me I get a picture of Him carrying us like a child, in His arms, or literally 'on His back'.

Is He trustworthy?  Absolutely!!!   He is omniscient, omnipotent, sovereign, and very much EVERYTHING else.....He can do all He says He will/can do.....

He has it all planned out, from the very beginning,  and He knows the end of the Story as well .

So what is birth, death and life?  When you think about it, we do not have any of the answers.  But He does, and He is so willing that we know as much as we can learn, HOWEVER, He is past finding out, so stop trying, and start Trusting, stop running, and try Resting.

My heart is not heavy this a.m. even tho' not much has changed about your condition, Greg.  They put in a stint in your eye to relieve the pressure and it has.  At this time, they took the option of removing your eye off the table.  That is a blessing.  You have to move next weekend  (and can't lift anything for 30 days...smile, could it be any more difficult?) so I guess we just wait and see just where this move is going to be, and how it is going to happen.  Maybe He will send angels to help, that IS a possibility, you know...but maybe He will send angels with 'skin' on to make this happen...Just keep your eye (eyes if possible, smile)  on Him, 'Who doeth all things well!'

Dawn has her wedding garments on, and is sitting at the feet of Jesus, this is what we are all waiting for eh? Maybe she has seen Andy....think?

So hang in there, hang on, and look up...for He is coming soon, and for you that don't know Jesus and the wonderful Hope that we have about Heaven, what are you waiting for...Jesus is your ticket out of here and into His presence...

See you here, there or in the air!!!!

Crayola, thank God for the Hope we have in Jesus!!!!!!!

Nanny

17 Thought Patterns

Today I am back in Romans 8...(a replay isn't bad. Smile) In vs 5.....it sez,

“Those controlled by the Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”  

We are BUSTED from the start, because Ps.90:11 sez,

 “The Lord knows our thoughts...”

Isaiah 55:8 sez,

“My thoughts are not your thoughts...”.  

Very interesting!

So according to the Scriptures, our thought life makes or breaks our Daily Day.

But always, God makes a way out and Phil 4:8.  proves this......

”Fix your thoughts on  what is , True--Honorable--Right--Pure--Lovely--Admirable...Think on these things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Normally I have a plaque above my phone that sez just that....I need daily, hourly to be reminded.  smile

Phil 4:6 sez...

”Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He HAS done.”  (already)

Phil 3:15…

”For God is working in you giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.”

Father, how, how, how do we do this? How?

As a baby, as you learn to walk, you don't just say at 1 month, 2 months, or 3...o.k. now I am going to walk.

(what came first, the chicken or the egg, an age old question, but I know the  answer, and so do you.  God created all living things, in the beginning.  The Word sez he started  all, with grown, mature things, animals, trees, bearing fruit...there you have it, the chicken came first....my trivia for the day...SMILE)

So as a baby you learn the teensiest, things...focus your eyes, get that arm moving so you can touch things with your hands......In time we put you on the floor, and THEN you walk....no…not yet. Finally you can lift your head and hold it steady...the you learn to roll over, and THEN you start walking?  No again...I think you get the drift, though he will, he will!

Practice.  Practice, practice...

The same with our Christian walk,   First you read the Word, and start realizing what the Word teaches us, then with a lot of prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit, you learn....to do.....Today I am centering in on our thought patterns, Greg, with which at 82 3/4 years old (smile) I am still learning...so take heart, you will learn, also.

So as a defeating thought comes our way, the Word sez,  

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

...so resist the negative thought and think of something lovely...pure....

 Hard work? No!  Just consistency....most of our Walk, is just

being consistent....day by day, hour by hour.

Remember in this Holy Week, that the battle was fought at and on the cross, and when Jesus said, "It is finished",

IT IS FINISHED!!!!

He finished it without me having to fire a shot!   So do as I am trying to do, not to sweat the Big Stuff, let God take care of that, you have things to do, and we can do it, can't we?      

Oops....song coming up.....

"God is able,  more than able, to  accomplish what concerns me today,

He is able more than able, to handle anything that comes my way.

He is able truly able to do much more than I can ever dream,

He is able, more than able, to make me what He wants me to be."

Oh, Greg, (I don't know how we happened to get purple ink just now, but I don't know how to stop it, so let’s just let it be something beautiful to my eyes, since this is my favorite color)  How you keep walking this week and next, where you will move to,  I don't know!!!!!!  But God does, and...give us GREAT grace, Dear Father, to follow you, stumbling, seemingly blind, to what you want us to do.....and TRUST....this is soooooooooooo hard, ‘cause as your Mom I want to fix....fix.....fix...and as My Father, God wants to fix... fix...fix...and He is so good at fixing.  We'll be praying tonight at 7p.m. my time....5 p.m. your time..............God answers prayer!!!

O.K. time to relax in Him, hang on, look up, and see what God has for you.

You are firmly in His grasp...  We'll see you here, there or in the air.

(You too, Cray)

Nanny