The Hearer and The Doer

Please open my heart like a flower before you.

There are some that don't know, but don't know that they don't know
There are some that don't know, and know that they don't know
There are some that know.......but don't do.

What is it about implementing the Word of God? It convicts us doesn't it?
The Lord talks to us through His word. What have you read in your bible lately that you really want to do more? When we increase Him in our lives we automatically decrease.
Lord, I am thankful for all your mercy and grace. It is my desire to be a willing honorable vessel in your site. Not only a hearer, but a doer of your precious Word.

Provoking to Good Works

"Well I double-dog dare you!"

There are many ways to provoke someone. It always seems to be used in a negative way for some reason. I was having a teacher meeting and teachers complained to me that there was a particular child that went around 'provoking' others as well as them.
"Provoking in what way?" I asked.
One teacher rolled her eyes and explained, "You know, bugging kids when the read a book or tapping them all the time to get their attention. It makes everyone angry."
I thought of the scripture about provoking one another to good works. With the same attention and energy we give to provoking others negatively we can actually do it with love, understanding and compassion.
I suppose we can even use provoking as a form of teaching.
After some brainstorming the teachers came up with some great solutions to helping this child that clearly didn't know how to make friends. His actions were hurting his chances of making a friend, really.
"Looks like we will wind up provoking this child right back." I said.
The buzzing and chatter in the staff room went quiet.
"For the good." I explained.

Lord, help me to provoke others to good works. Help me to recognize what is in me that wouldn't want to bring out the best in others so that I may see myself each day. By your mercy and grace you can change my spirit to be one of a good servant. Being kindly affectionate one to another.

Forgiving Our Brothers and Sisters

"Brothers are fun to do stuff with!"

I am so glad there is a process to making things right in the scriptures. An apostle once asked Jesus how many times should he forgive his brother. That question wouldn't have been asked if there weren't  problems. It is so easy to get swallowed up with resentment for things that have been done to us in our past. Matthew 18 talks about an order no how to make things right with our brother or sister.
There are many ways to offend someone. Often time I have to look at what it was that someone touched within me that made me angry. Anger is something for me that clogs up spiritual pathways to the Lord. I would like to always be ready and quick to forgive. Then there will be nothing in me the Lord will see in my own heart that he can't forgive me for.
Create me a clean heart, oh God, and renew the right spirit within me...

Got Guilt?

Having a guilty conscience seemed to be built in my DNA. Even as a kid there were things I simply 'couldn't' do.  My friends did certain things they knew they would get  in trouble for but I couldn't go along with the crowd...even if no one found out.
 It was my conscience.
When I decided to give my life to the Lord I felt relieved. He can forgive me for all my sins, too. That was huge for me.
I had read in the scriptures, "cleanse me from my secret faults". Wow.
There are things I do wrong I don't even know I have done wrong....
Like hurting someones feelings and they never said a word, or being careless or wreckless with what the Lord has given me.
Job prayed and sacrificed for his own family 'just in case' they had done any wrong doing.
Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace.

A Sweet Smelling Savor

Protect me from knowing what I don't need to know. Protect me from even knowing that there are things to know that I don't know. Protect me from knowing that I decided not to know about the things that I decided not to know about. Amen......
Lord, lord, lord. Protect me from the consequences of the above prayer.
 ~Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless

I was at work one day and feeling pretty good. Having practically no pain is such a blessing. I was in the staff room when I said, "Thank you Jesus, I really appreciate you." A co worker was standing there and I nearly jumped out of my skin when she spoke. "Who are you talking to?" She asked.
"Jesus," I smiled- panting somewhat, "I was just thanking Him for this wonderful day."
"You thank Him?"
"Sure."
"For a wonderful day?"
"Of course."
"Oh....I only call on Him when I am in trouble."
At first I laughed because I thought she was joking. She wasn't.
I don't know or pretend to understand everyone's relationship with the Lord. I am by no means perfect. In my own understanding and love for Jesus I wouldn't want Him to be a fair weather friend to me. I  look at the flowers and they appear to praise Him each morning. I consider it a privalege to praise Him-in all the seasons of my life. I want my prayers to be edifying and give off a sweet smelling savor to Him.
Lord, in my heart, I truly wish to be thankful to you in all situations and keep a good spririt. Even when the hour seems darkest you will still let me see the stars....

Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaks....

Respect

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." ~Galileo Galilei

“I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.”
~Abraham Lincoln

Attitude

It isn't our position but our disposition which makes us happy.

"Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved."
~Marcus Antonius

There are two types of people - those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are."
~Frederick L. Collins

"People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them."
~Epictetus


Courage

Come to the edge, He said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, He said.
They came. He pushed them,
And they flew . . ."
~Guillaume Apollinaire

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared."
~ Eddie Rickenbacker
World War I hero

"Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them."
~Winston Churchill

Resiliency

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."
~Maori Proverb

Patience

"Nothing is interesting if you're not interested."
~Helen MacInness

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."
~Joseph Campbell