God’s glory.
Thankful for this time with precious friends.
Saint George Island, Florida.
Blessings.
Category: Sunday
Sunday Thought
“Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some people will every read.” – Unknown
Everyday I need a reminder of this. My walk, my actions are viewed by many. All of our steps are viewed by our loved ones, coworkers, and strangers. Our actions speak louder than any words you may say.
I struggle with this. Who doesn’t? But I am trying to be a better person. To my husband, children, friends, and just those small encounters with strangers. Don’t they deserve the best in us?
“This is the path I have set before you. As you follow it wholeheartedly, you experience abundant Life and Peace.” Peter 1:2 (Jesus is Calling) Are you walking the path set before you? Am I?
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy
I was in New Orleans for the U2 concert with Carmen over the last few days. Home now, and need to do homework, but first this post.
We spent Friday exploring Cafe’ Du Monde, and Jackson Square. We had the famous beignets (and water not coffee), and wandered around looking for a cheap protein for me to eat. We found a cafe (that also had beignets), and ordered ham and cheese croissant, and a turkey and cheese on French bread. Carmen and I only ended up eating half of each sandwich (I only had the meat and cheese off of a half). It was a ton of food.
As we were sitting and waiting on the food to be delivered, we talked about the homeless and despair in the city. I had taken pictures of the inside of the cafe (ceiling tiles) and outside – just in general pictures.
I had noticed a guy sitting on the corner with a handwritten sign. What did it say? I don’t know. But the discussion of what was on it was typical. Don’t give him food, he will just throw it away. They only want drug money. Or they only want money for booze. I kept trying to read his sign. 
My heart was heavy. I had eaten half of this sandwich, and was unable to finish it. Carmen was unable to finish her other half as well. We were just going to throw it away. We didn’t want to carry the leftovers around with us. I got a to-go box, and placed both of our uneaten halves of food in the box. Well, I said, if he throws it away, I tried. I at least would give him the opportunity to eat. Something kept telling me to do this. No one else was noticing him. He was just sitting there. People kept walking by—avoiding eye contact. Most of the time with his head in his hands. Tired. Dirty. Hungry. I heard “you don’t know his story. it isn’t for you to judge. just love.”
As I walked up to him, I was bothered. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to look at him. It was leftovers. I had touched it. …wasn’t my choice… all I could read of his handmade sign said… anything will help. Looking straight at him, green eyes. I asked if he would mind that it was my leftovers. “No, ma’am. I haven’t eaten in 3 days.” It’s not much, but I am happy to help. “God bless you.” I walked away sadder than I did going over with the food. I didn’t look back at first. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to know what he was doing with the food. I didn’t want to be proven correct.
By the time I got back to my chair in the cafe, he had already eaten one of the sandwiches per Carmen. He was very hungry. Eating everything in front of him. My heart was sad, but felt good about not just throwing away our food. Carmen and I needed more water, so we bought an extra. As we were leaving the cafe’, I noticed he was still there finishing off one of the sandwiches. I took over my bottle of water, and as I was walking towards him, his head was shaken “no.” “you have done enough” – I said not near enough, and I had given you bread, but nothing to drink. “someone kicked my cup and broke it.” I am not sure that I heard him correctly, but again, not for me to even think about what was being said —just gave him a small bottle of water.
Drugs. Alcohol. Dirty. Poor. I prayed for him then. I prayed for him on Saturday, and again this morning. I can’t seem to get him out of my head. My heart was heavy sitting there with a plate of food that I couldn’t finish. How many others did the same thing and ignore that man sitting there hungry? Something so simple. Not for me to judge, just love.
I had a great time with seeing a band that I love their music. But now, and for as long as I can remember, has a mission of helping others. Many may not agree with what they do, or how they go about helping, but they give. My heart always wants to help, but I have gotten burned but people that have abused that gift. This weekend, that man, helped my heart give willingly again even if it was only a leftover sandwich.
“That one day is today.” – Thega-Alem Berhe
God has a way…always. Sometimes we listen.
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
“Let’s go out there and show the love of Christ to the broken, the numb, the mean, the addicted and the overlooked.” – Beth Moore
Show love today.
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
Restoration.
“Praying this is a season of restoration. Sometimes it’s about swallowing our pride, owning our own part, and saying a real, live “I’m sorry.”” – Beth Moore
Restoration. So many hurting right now. So much loss in Texas. So far most of my family is okay. One cousin is washing and drying clothes for those in need. Another set of cousins rescued some people in their canoe. Everyone is doing what they can with what they have.
Everyone has something going on. Every day we have the opportunity for restoration. The sun rises everyday whether we see it or not, no matter what we are going through. Harvey has placed this in real time with lots of things that need to be done. First, waiting on the water to recede so that clean up can happen. Second, ripping everything down to the foundation. Third, rebuilding.
It is the same in anything we go through. Some things are more devastating than others, but we all have something that gets destroyed, rips through us, and we have to rebuild. Most of the time the hardest part is letting go to get the let the new in.
I feel this way with my anxiety. It is something that I have to psychically push my way through it. I know that staying calm in a situation is the best. With my anxiety, most things appear to be a huge mountain, and in all reality, it is probably more like a mole hill. A gentle bump in the road to slow down, take a breath, and just be okay.
Hoping all is well wherever you are.
Blessings, always.
Sunday Thought
Storms. Hurricane Harvey. Life. Anxiety.
“A bad storm can blow in a beautiful season. The Bible proves over and over that how something begins does not get to dictate how it ends.” – Beth Moore
The storm and flooding from Hurricane Harvey is devastating today and it will continue for a while longer. I have family in Houston, and friends close by. Worried about them, and will be there if needed.
The quote above reminds me that in the midst of whatever we are going through, God will shine if allowed. I have to remind myself that homework is a gift. That I get to do it. I know that homework is nothing in comparison to a hurricane – please know that.
I have had many opportunities to do different things in my life. This one has caused more anxiety that others. I have to be perfect, right? No. Only Christ. Only Christ is the perfect one. I can strive to be perfect, but will fail daily. Failing is okay (okay, maybe not with class). Stumbling is better. Remembering to get back up after the fall is even better.
Remembering that storms bring rainbows. We just have to wait for them to come.
My anxiety is much like a storm. It comes in waves, hard and heavy. After it passes, I can see the rainbows. I don’t remember how bad the storm is really, just that I got through it. Wanting to get through my storm today.
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
Today, especially…
“In a Christian world of hammers looking for nails, a little gentleness can be a breathtaking thing.” – Beth Moore
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
Ecclesiastes 3:6 continued.
“…a time to keep and a time to throw away”
A lot has been going on this weekend. We moved Carmen back to LSU on Friday, and Stephen began to move back home yesterday and today.
Carmen’s move, this time, has been more permanent. We took more time going through “keepsakes” and disposing of items (donating some) that were no longer loved. It was hard for her to let go. It meant letting go of parts of her childhood. Items that just couldn’t be parted with are in stored in the attic.
Her room was to be more of a guest room (she didn’t take her furniture or a lot of her books etc). That was the primary reason of really not leaving everything in her room. More of guest feel, but the ability to come home at any time and have a place to stay. She is getting settled at LSU, and ready to conquer this school year.
But, now Stephen will be occupying her room on a temporary basis. The majority of his stuff will be housed in the garage. I don’t like the idea of not parking in the garage (very selfish I know). Although, he was not thriving on his own with the people he was living with, he realized it before it got to be too much.
He is letting go of some bad relationships and behaviors. Not allowing people that he thought of as friends continue to hurt him. His move is harder. It’s far more emotional than just some stuff being donated. He has been hurt, and needs to feel secure in this decision. My concern is not just some stuff in the garage, but his need to be back on a healthy track for his life.
Adjustments and changes.
Letting go. Asking for continued prayers and good thoughts please.
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
Struggling today with so many things.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive (idolatrous) way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” – Psalm 139:23-24 This was a verse in my bible study a couple of weeks ago. I just grazed over it. You know, just read it without really thinking about it. The writer suggested that when a circumstance or sin arises in your life for which you need to ask God’s forgiveness, do so.
We have gotten a lot of rain this summer, and our roof has been in need of replacement for several years. Our money management hasn’t been the best with several factors (David being out of work for 8 months, living on credit, living paycheck to paycheck, etc), but with God’s grace we have been able to do what needed to be done and get by.
The past month has been even more stressful with money. Things are hitting us all at once, and I have to go back to not being the best stewards. Well, yesterday, I noticed in the craft room, a nice brown spot on the ceiling. A leak. The roof is at a pretty steep pitch (second story), and getting to the point of the repair will be a challenge.
We have called on a friend to come and help, and hopefully the rain will hold off until he can come over. Stephen will be by as well to assist. I will be standing on the ground and praying for the safety of all.
Pray for us as we are struggling not to go deeper into debt, and to be prayerfully blessed by precious friends.
“When things seem to be going all wrong, stop and affirm your trust in Me. Calmly bring these matters to Me, and leave them in My capable hands. Then simply do the next thing. Stay in touch with Me through thankful, trusting prayers, resting in My sovereign control. Rejoice in Me – exult in the God of your salvation! As you trust in Me, I make your feet like the feet of a deer. I enable you to walk and make progress upon your high places of trouble, suffering, or responsibility. – August 6, Jesus is Calling
Blessings.
Sunday Thought
Colossians 1:11 in the Message says,
“We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.”
Colossians 1:11-12 Holman Standard
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
While the Message states something more like today standards, I prefer the Holman Standard version of this verse especially verse 11. “…for all endurance and patience, with joy…” – how perfect is this? For all endurance. Many of us struggle with parenting, work, school, illness, finances, just the day to day struggle. Are we doing the right thing? Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing. Struggle. I will call on this verse more often now after re-reading this, giving all thanks to God.
Thanking God for my struggles has always been difficult for me. I am sure all of us struggle with this…except Job. But, to be reminded in the thanking. We are to thank each other for their help and grace. We are to thank God for the struggle, so that we will be strengthened with His joy.
May you have strength in your struggle today…and tomorrow.
Blessings.
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