Guilty by Association

Did you know that as Christians, we are the only Bible some people will ever see? So what are you saying about Jesus, by association?

Join me over at Titus 2 in Action to read more.

Who's at the Helm?

Sometimes I imagine my life as a boat. The photo is the view I should be enjoying, (although I'd have painted toe nails. *grin*). Jesus is at the helm of my boat, my life. My job is to sit back and watch it come. I view the horizon and feel complete peace. Sometimes even the peace that passes human understanding. That is, peace when I see a storm quickly approaching because I know Jesus is in charge. That is the view I should have.

Unfortunately, I must not like peace! Because after I sit and enjoy the view for a moment, I realize I want to drive the boat. So I take the wheel from Jesus. I love the feel of the control in my hands, for a moment. But suddenly the storm takes the boat over and I'm tossing and turning and in way over my head. So of course, I call for Jesus to take the wheel. (yes, I know that is a song, but it's a song about a car. This is a boat).

But as soon as the waves get the slightest bit less choppy, I want the wheel again. Why do I feel that I must control the boat? Things run smoother, and I could relax if I'd just sit down and enjoy the view, knowing Jesus is in charge.

And so I keep learning the same lesson again, and again. Control freak. I need to pry my fingers off the steering wheel and let Jesus take the helm. How about you? Who is at the helm of your boat?

Matthew 8:23-27 -- Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

When You Crash

I don't back up my computer as often as I should. My daughter's birthday was the first week in March, and as I uploaded the photos I'd taken to the photo service I use online, I realized I hadn't uploaded photos since her last birthday! A year. So I took the time to upload all the photos on my computer to the photo service.

After that, I thought, while I'm uploading, I might as well back up my word documents too. I copied all those to a jump drive. I hadn't done that in at least a year either! Who has times to back up your computer? And besides how often does a computer actually crash?

Monday, I sat at my computer for three hours while I typed and researched. I ended up with 7 pages of single spaces notes for a retreat I am speaking for. I was pleased with my work. Tuesday was my birthday, so I was out and about all day and didn't type any more notes.

Tuesday night as I was online, my computer started giving me error messages. I could tell something was wrong, and my very first thought was my retreat document. I tried to open Word, so I could print it out. "Your word.exe program is corrupted." I tried to open the "My computer" file, so I could copy the file to my jump drive. "The My Computer program is corrupted." My PC was failing fast. What could I do?

The only program that was open was my email. So I sent myself an email and attached my word document to it. Then I shut down my PC. When I rebooted, my hard drive was in essence gone. Fried. Everything lost.

I went to my cell phone where I receive my email. The email was there, but with no attachment. Usually it will show a line that says "There is an attachment, do you want to download it?" This time nothing. I forwarded the email from my phone to my husband. "Is there an attachment to this?" No attachment for him either.

And so I prayed. I stormed the heavens. "God I know you can recover this document!" I believe it! I need it! The devil wants it be gone, but I believe you are the RESTORER. Then I sang, "He is Able"....a lot. And the document was restored on my email server.

I don't know what is crashing in your world today, but God is the RESTORER! He can do all things. Put your faith in Him, and let Him achieve on your behalf. He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns you today!

Psalm 80:19 -- Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

1 Peter 5:10 -- And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.



He is Able Video:

Thankful Thursday

I am finally getting to join Greg for the Thankful Thursday meme. My hope had been to join him last week, but my computer crashed, so here are my items for last week and this week.

1. I am thankful for a new hard drive! And that I had much of my stuff backed up.

2. I am thankful that my daughter is working toward the transition to middle school in September, and the Lord is with us every step of the way.

3. I am thankful for my birthday! It was a great celebration. (See photos below!)

4. I am thankful to be in Bible study. I love learning more about my Savior. I am also thankful for good friends who show up at just the right time. The song "lean on me" is so true. I'm thankful for good friends to lean on, when I'm not strong.

5. I am thankful that I am getting time to write. It isn't always easy to get that time.

#3 - My Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me. (Yes, I needed a hair cut):

My ice cream party:
My cards:

The cutie tote from a good friend. (notice it's my colors!)

A fancy suit from my husband & girls:

Turn your head, the photo is the wrong angle. This is an insulated hot/cold mug with my intial in it (hot pink of course). It can hold either my coffee or my frappachino! From a friend.

From my sister, MyADHDMe. Seinfeld used to be my favorite show. A devotional, Mocha with Max, which I've already read and loved, a mini-frame (Says Hershey's in it, like I would frame chocolate or something. LOL! That was a joke from her). And finally a notebook with a pug on it. She bought it because it looked like my dog. Except it doesn't at all. To a non-dog person a pug & a Boston Terrier might look alike. So she said other than the color and the breed, it looks just like my dog. A typical MyADHDMe gift, and I think it was my favorite, just because it made me laugh out loud, and still makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Beuatiful book mark & Bible ribbon books marks from a friend.

It was a great birthday!

And now, just for my sister.

Boston terrier:
Pug:

Please make a note of it. LOL! I am teasing her.

God IS Everywhere

I know God is everywhere. But sometimes I tend to segregate him to certain places. You know, God is at church, at my house, my Bible study.

My children have always gone to private school. I know God is at the small, Christian private school where they attend. Next year, however, my 10 yr old will begin middle school, and for the first time ever attend public school. Now if you or your kids or grand kids already attend public school, you are thinking "no big deal." However, this is a new experience to us, as I also attended private school K-8th. Could we find God in the public school?

After much prayer, I do believe that we are sending her the place best to get the best education. So, in January when we enrolled her, she & I sat in the car in the parking lot, and prayed before we entered the school. If we were in the "right" place, would God show himself to us, and if we were in the wrong place, to put up a road block.

As we sat in the office waiting, three teachers entered. They were talking about Esther. From the Bible. They were going on about the Beth Moore Esther Bible study they were doing. (The same one I happened to be doing at the time.) Christian teachers. In the Public School. I saw God.

Monday my daughter went on a tour of the school. Together with about 20 students, we toured the facilities. As we entered the chorus room, the teacher asked if we'd like to hear a song. The chorus belted out a rousing rendition of "Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel?" As they sang about Daniel delivered from the lion's den, and Jonah from the belly of a whale, I said to myself, "The Lord is in this place."

God is everywhere we go. No matter what decisions you are facing, remember the Lord is with you today. Put your trust in him, and he will deliver you.

Daniel 6:27 -- He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.

Daniel 4:2,3 -- It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.



Traditional Spiritual: Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel

"Emergency" Numbers

Emergency Telephone Numbers
These are more effective than 911
When...

You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressed, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12


ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.
NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.
FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH

(I'd like to give credit to whoever wrote this, but have seen in multiple places on the internet, with no credits. But I didn't write it.

Recovering from my hard drive crash and busy busy times, and hope to be back to writing myself this week. Thanks for visiting! )

Technical Difficulties

My hard drive crashed, so I am without my PC. My new computer is expected to arrive Friday, so I hope to be up and running with a new post on Monday. Thanks for understanding.