Finding the Keys

I don't know about you, but at our house we sometimes have trouble finding the right key.  We have a "key drawer", but it seems that the key we need has not found its way there!  ...And so the hunt begins until we find the place where they have been laid!

This morning as I was doing my First Place 4 Health Bible Study,

the verses from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 jumped out at me:

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death,

between blessings and curses. 

Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. 

Oh, that you would choose life,

so that you and your descendants might live! 

You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God,

obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. 

THIS IS THE KEY TO YOUR LIFE..."

My choices are the keys!

What choices do I need to make today?

Well, I know one of the choices I need to make,
and that is to put good food into my body!
(This is especially applicable after some of the rich
foods that were consumed over Thanksgiving!)

The First Place "Balanced Living" study says it like this:
"We can choose to treat our body as God's temple or as a trash receptacle."

Wow!  That's really saying it like it is!
May God help me in finding the keys to good health
by making right food choices today!

"I guess you'll do!"

"You're not exactly what I wanted, but I guess you'll do!"

Have you ever been told those words?

Not exactly a morale builder, are they?!!

The good news is, God never says those words to us!

He says, "I made you.  I want you.  I have a special job for you!"

Ephesians 2:10 says,

 "For we are God's masterpiece.

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,

so we can do the good things

He planned for us long ago."

My Defender

Okay, so I just wrote a pretty heavy subject on my Rock4Today blog,

so I need to do something a bit on the lighter side on this one!

This is me at the CRAFTSFEST this past week,

where I enjoyed visiting with many people

as I had my rocks, cards, and "Joy in the Mourning" book for sale.

This was the post I was planning on doing for

Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday,

based on the words from Isaiah 51:22,

"Your God and Defender."

And this is my brave little dog

that thinks he alone is my defender!

The Beauty of Small Things

I have a friend who revels in the beauty of small bouquets.  Nothing makes her happier than to present her with a few tiny flowers in a teensy vase.

To give you an idea of the size,
this little vase is actually an empty vial,
and is only about 1 and 1/4 inches high!

When thinking about how much my friend appreciates these tiny acts of kindness, I began to think of the significance of seeing beauty in other small things - small creatures, whether human or animal.

Then I thought about deeds that we do for others that we deem unworthy of attention, but are beautiful - little acts of kindness; maybe brushing someone's hair, tying their shoe, holding a door, or even giving a smile.  Tiny random acts that show love can mean more than costly gifts or large gestures.  Things we all can do.

Gary - Giving words of reassurance to his Mom

It's often the little things that count.  Little seemingly insignificant things.  I need to remember that today.  Small things that are "not about me" - things that are major to someone else; things that put a smile on their face or ease their fears.

Shoebox filled to be delivered by Samaritan's Purse

One of the small things that I can do today - fill a shoebox with items that will bless a child this Christmas!


Linking with Charlotte's Spiritual Sundays and Laura's "Not About Me" November! 

Seeing God in Nature

   I've been taking part in Laura Krokos' "Not About Me" challenge.

Today as I thought about what to post, I thought about Job.

Job probably thought a lot about himself and his terrible circumstances

until God showed up and opened his eyes to the wonders around him.

Today, I just want to look at some of the awesome

handiwork of God that is near me.
If you wish to enlarge a picture,
just click on it!

Swans and Canadian geese at our neighborhood duck pond

God's beauty in the clouds

God's beauty shining at Buffalo National River

 God's beauty showing in ivy growing on our oak tree!


Sometimes I just need to remind myself that
I am so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place!
Taking time to enjoy God's wonderful nature
takes my mind off ME and reminds me
how BIG and how AWESOME God is!


For more about the greatness of our God,
click here to check out my other blog with
the Names of God on Rocks!




Linking with Winsome Wednesdays and Women Living Well Wednesdays,
Alphabe-Thursdays, Brag on God Fridays, and Spiritual Sundays.

 

Not About Me - Keeping balanced!

Some of the best advice I received in Bible College could be summed up in two short words from  L.E.Maxwell, the founder of the Prairie Bible Institute. 

What were those two words? 
KEEP BALANCED!

This morning before my feet hit the floor and I was soaking up the last bit of comfort of being under warm covers in a soft bed, my thoughts turned to the "Not About Me" challenge from Laura.  Caregivers immediately came to my mind - caregivers of all kinds, those who are not only carrying their own load, but are carrying the burden of meeting others needs, many of them having to do it 24/7. 



Taking care of Grandma Reba

I thought of grown children who care for their aging parents, many of them still having their own children at home that need them.  I've been there -  holding a nursing job while trying to juggle the every day crises that arise with teenagers,  aging relatives needing help with shopping, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, doctor appointments, and general care, as well as trying to be a help-mate to a busy husband involved in a political career and the challenges of owning his own business.

As I lay there, I thought about parents who have special needs children.  As a Home Health nurse, I saw many of these parents s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d thin with all the caregiving requirements.  I saw spouses putting their own needs on the back burner as they were stretched thin emotionally and exhausted physically - "looking out not only for their own needs, but for the needs of others" (Philippians 2:4).

So, when I write this "Not About Me" note, ...what about them?  For some of them it's been "Not About Me" for years, and they are about to fall apart.  They need some time apart to care for their own bodies or they will not be able to provide care for others. 

Did Jesus have anything to say to caregivers?  I think so.  In Matthew 11:28 He urges people to come to Him to find rest.  In Mark 9:2-13 Jesus does this as He takes Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain away from all the demands of ministering, and reveals His true identity to them.

Taking time to spend with God and His Word, making sure I eat right, get plenty of rest, and plenty of exercise - that's taking care of myself so that I can take care of others.  That is actually part of what "NOT ABOUT ME" is all about! 

But like Mr. Maxwell challenged us, sometimes the hardest thing in life is to 

"KEEP BALANCED!"

Linking with Spiritual Sundays and Not About Me November.

  

"Not About Me" - Putting Love into Action!

This morning I'm glad I didn't give in to the temptation

to crawl back into my warm comfortable bed.

One of my husband's employees says,

"Don't let yourself fall in love with your bed!" 

That sounds like it came straight out of the book of Proverbs,

doesn't it?!!!

Why am I so glad I made myself stay up?

Well, for one thing, I wouldn't have been able to have

 any alone-time with God if I had crawled back in bed.

And I probably wouldn't have seen that verse

at the top of the page.

It was on the calender, and caught my attention

when I flipped the page over to the new month.

As I saw it, I asked God how He wanted me

to put love into action today.

I didn't have to wait long -

A call from Gary,

A granddaughter out of school with an injury,

A grandmother needed!

How have you put love into action today?

Linking with Jenny Matlock, Tracy, and Laura.

To follow my A to Z names for God, click here.