Honor....

Honor.....

Who do we honor?

 Throughout the Bible it speaks of honor.  I don't hear that word very often more. A few of us put our flags up for various holidays or patriotic days...

At parades, people usually stand when the color guard passes....

We stand when dignitaries arrive...

We have funerals, memorials either at funeral home, churches, or gravesite s to honor our loved ones...

We honor the people who are held in high offices...even those we do not respect...the Jews were told to honor the emperor even though they did not like him or his leading....

I remember visiting my husbands mom daily while she was in a rest home....so tiring, but needful...we did it if not for her, but to teach our children about honoring parents....then again for my parents, each one as they finished life....and again for my husband....honoring them In Preparation for another life not here , but eternity....taking that time to talk, listen..honoring them with love, care....

We are to honor God with our first fruits....when we gardened, we gave away our first veggies to others, not on an alter, but for their use....to those in need....

Numbers 25:13

He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”

Exodus 20:12

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Samuel 2:8

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.

1 Kings 3:  12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

John 12:26

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 13:7

Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

1 Corinthians 6:20

you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

1 Peter 1:7

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 2:17

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

2 Peter 1:17

He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

3 John 1:6

They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God.

Revelation 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 5:13

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

This is worthy of watching,...honor to the fallen.. Honor to one another....especially our Creator....

Note:This is at Atlanta Ga. Airport.

 

This is wonderful. Thank God for the 49% of we Americans who still stand for dignified patriotism. Sadly, we are becoming outnumbered.

 

Delta Airlines

I had no idea Delta does this. God Bless them!

Thank You Delta Airline employees.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_VGxfmDmEo

Unforgettable scenes....

Unforgettable  Scenes......

Scene one-5 th grade, Mrs. Domagalla's classroom. I had had enough...he had teased me over and over again, so I kicked him as hard as I could and there he lay on the floor, hurt from my anger....I remember thinking, I need to control my anger....

Scene two- newly married, pouting, crying to get my way about something....I remember thinking this is childish,   I need to control my anger....

Scene three-seated in a chair in our living room,  praying "help me me control my anger..."

Scene four-driving away, looking in the rear view mirror at three children standing, waving...raging inside, I need to control my anger and I am not getting my way....

Scene five-being introduced to my daughter's friends,,"this is my mom who doesn't get mad"......

The Bible holds quotes like-"burned with anger", "hot with anger", "fierce anger", "cursed anger", "aroused with anger", "furious anger", "anger flared", "great anger".... And I know that I am not the only one who has an anger issues....

Over and over, these scenes have played out in my head as my anger rises.....not ME, I don't have anger issues..."..I just ", "if only".....whatever excuse runs through my head...mine are associated with jealousy, not getting my way, things not done "correctly",  innumerable reasons....all needing taken care of by the forgiving grace that only God can give...and then  taken to those whom I have made my victims..... The fifth grader who became a friend, the husband who willing forgave, the God who works and continues to work n my life, the children who have grown and still remember "that" day.....

Exodus 34:6

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

Psalm 37:8

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Psalm 86:15

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 29:8b

....but the wise turn away anger.

Proverbs 30:33

For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9a

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit....

Isaiah 12:1

[ Songs of Praise ] In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Ephesians 4:26

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Ephesians 4:31a

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, ....

Colossians 3:8a

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, ....

1 Timothy 2:8

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

James 1:20

because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

These verses, I have claimed over and over ...over the years and still cling to....anger still remains...not as often,  not as consuming...hopefully not as visible...

I want to produce that righteousness that God desires, that love that abounds...that gentleness in spirit....Him....not me showing through.....thank you for the scenes, the forgiveness, the growth....I can't do it on my own....only You....

Orthotics and life....part two

Orthotics and life.... Part two

I have never done a part two before, but here it is...

The list of learning how to walk anew goes on...

Further instructions

- take time with the change, don't do it all at once...

-expect pain in using new muscles,  

- be conscious of the change...keep watch

- don't be afraid of change, new outlook, views as you look up and out

-feel healthy, look healthy

-use your knees, legs , 

-relax, don't stiffen 

-use good, well fitting shoes, no cheap ones

- don't wear the same shoes over and over, try others so that your feet get some movement and aren't stuck in a rut...

-there are standing shoes, dress up shoes, walking shoes, hiking shoes, ,use appropriately..

-come back for further lessons if needed...

Good lessons for life again.  

When God is making changes, he uses time....he has  lots of it, we don't want to change immediately usually...adjustments show times come the hard way.  Job had immediate changes and then learned again from God hoe to deal with  them.  But in the end his life w as more prosperous than before, but not without pain...

A new habit takes 40+ days implement...

We will use new spiritual, thinking muscles a s we change.....

We need to keep watch, vigilance on the change..analyze, am I doing it right, which direction...asking God, reading his Word...seeking counsel...

Look forward, up.....don't go back....seek movement to a goal rather then looking backwards....with regret...  The Israelites went toward the Promised  land....not back to slavery.....Christ was always going toward the Cross, faced each day...

Use our whole body to walk straight, upright, but knees, back to flex... Don't be stiff necked...and rebel with hardened hearts, hear God's voice....be listeners, does and not hearers only....

Don't settle for cheapness....

In Proverbs, there are so many warnings against letting the world rule, cheap life.....e for the higher calling, it may cost more, but  it is worth it in the end....we don't want die fools because of poor choices.....

Use the right garments......

Ephesians 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Be appropriate.....know when to use  the right words, shoes, clothing...be ready....

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

And the last,.....there is always refresher courses....we have the opportunity to keep on learning to perfection comes....then we will have a whole new set of learning in heaven...it never stops....

Walk the walk....

You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint” (Isaiah 57:10).

Orthotics and life....

Orthotics and life.....

Yesterday, I was at the office getting new set of orthotics for my shoes.   I always thought having high arches was good thing, but it puts more strain on both ends of your foot..so orthotics are the way to go to help the strain in the middle arch....less plantar fasciitis problems... But this inventor of arch supports, not only makes the supports, but coaches you how to improve your walking, posture....walking straight, not leaning forward, watching forward and not looking down, not clomping around, limberness, movement, balancing correctly, working through all your shoes to make sure you are getting the proper support, which are good, bad, And how to improve in the future.  A whole education with mirrors, 

,practice, homework,  etc.  

The use instructions caught my thoughts, "for improvements to occur, change is necessary. The new feeling in your insoles can be explained  as a new perception for the ground.  The new perception allows you to experiment with the form of your gait and try new positions of the foot and body that are more efficient....the technicians will teach you correct stance and stride, and over a period of time you will Develop new muscle habits.....give yourself time to become accustomed to your new......"

Do I want improvement, change, ? Am I willing to make corrections, practice? Do I want new muscle habits? In my heart, thoughts......

Isn't this life?   Will I stay stuck in old habits, not changing, not growing, forever in pain, because I don't want to change ?

Or am I willing to step out, stride differently into life, learning new walking styles, walking straight, balanced? Maybe less pain....

This is not just about feet....it is about life.....Change seems inevitable.....do I get help from God, listening to His instructions, practicing His word, with mirrors showing what I am doing? Do I seek to improve? Moving in a balanced life, with Him as the instructor? Do I catch myself, shifting in the posture of my thinking, readjusting to get it right?  Am I looking at that mirror of His Word, aligning myself to it???

Walking isn't so easy....but I do have an instructor....The God of all creation...who desires that we walk with Him....

Leviticus 26:13

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

Deuteronomy 5:33

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Proverbs 4:12

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint” (Isaiah 57:10

3 John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Oh the restlessness, vulnerability of it all....

Oh the restlessness, vulnerability of it all.....

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze...

Notes from friends  In the past.....the month anniversary of my father's passing,.. a familiar face for times past and hug In a sea of strangers...a love note, " you are an amazing lady, thank you for being my wife".... A misunderstanding...more sorting .....more paperwork.. Restlessness.....more pain.....and I felt like I was sinking........vulnerable to the world of change again and again....a happy face covering a hurting heart.....

What are the questions...where are the answers.....You, who are the comforter, the friend the holder of my heart....the refuge In times of trouble...my shepherd, .....

I open my email, an advertisement, Asking the same things I am asking....

"What if the detour is the only way to the destination?

Sometimes we seem to be wandering aimlessly, far removed from our real passions and purposes. The roadmap to our destination takes crazy turns and leaves us either scratching our heads or crying out at God. But as we look at Scripture, we see in the life of Joseph, as well as many other biblical characters, that this process is not the exception, it's the norm. This is how God works. It may be excruciating at times, but there is purpose in it. He is writing a bigger story and fitting us into it in ways we cannot yet see.

Detour: Finding Purpose When Life Doesn't Make Sense.

A Study of the Life of Joseph

For all of us who are frustrated because life seems more like a maze than a clearly sign-posted journey,...." 

Thank you, thank you. Again and again.....help me, Lord in the waters and the fire and the changes....the maze....the journey......the detours or the destination.....purpose......

To those who much is given, much is expected....

Psalm 23.....a oompete message of comfort and hope

Psalm 23... A complete message.....

I have been listening to the book, "the grand weaver" by Ravi Zacharias.

It is really good, encouraging and uplifting...

We have heard the comparison of our lives to a tapestry weaving where we see the knots from the underside  while God, the designer see the finished picture from the top.

Having been raised In India,  Ravi compares our lives with the intricate weaving of the sari designers of India, each tiny thread added or dropped by the designer with the help  of the son who pushes the shuttle Back and forth for months on end until the sari is completed for the bride to wear on her wedding day...

In one section, he talks about the completeness of the message in Psalm 23. So this didn't originate with he or me...but was so good...

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd,                                                       Relationship 

 I lack nothing.                                                                                Supply

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,                    Rest

he leads me beside quiet waters,                                              Refreshment

3     he refreshes my soul.                                                          Healing

He guides me along the right paths.                                        Guidance

    for his name’s sake.                                                                  Purpose 

4 Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,[a].                                             Testing

I will fear no evil,                                                                             Protection

    for you are with me;                                                                  Faithfulness

your rod and your staff,                                                              Discipline

    they comfort me.                                                                        Comfort

5 You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.                                             Hope

You anoint my head with oil;                                                      Consecration 

    my cup overflows.                                                                     Abundance

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me.           

    all the days of my life,                                                              Blessing

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord.                                Security

    forever.                                                                                         Eternity

Thank you for simple and so very profound words, simply spoken, that sends such message to those who listen...

Slugs and their slimy legacy....

Slugs and a slimy legacy....

On a recent trip, I went to place that there is an abundance of snail and slugs....

They are fascinating  to watch.  The snails slowly, ever so slowly move along their path to the next plant to eat away at the leaves, their little tentacles moving in and out , their soft bodies gliding over the surfaces with seemingly ease....

The slugs look like miniature bananas, moving slowly also.  But they leave a slimy trail as they move, working their way from plant to plant.  They devour certain plants as well. It is hard to see their mouths and see how they eat, but the plant slowly disappears when they are on it...

As a child, we spread out salt on the slugs to prevent their defoliating the whole garden....they melted away like the witch In "the wizard of oz", but with no sound effects....

But you always see their trail, a shiny, iridescent line from one point to another....

when my mother visited us shortly after we were married, she went to the bathroom, where she stepped on a slug in the night with her slippers on.  The next morning, we laughed about it  as the bottom of her slipper was completely covered with the slim.  For years after, we chuckled about it as even after repeated washing, the iridescent residue was still visible on that slipper...quite the reminder....

In the Bible, slugs are even referred to as a comparison with the wicked ....the psalmist desired that the wicked would go away like the slug as it melts away....what an interesting comparison......

Psalm 58:7 let them vanish like water that flows away;

    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.

8a May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,

Lord, I don't want to leave a slimy legacy as time marches on.   help my trail be filled with You....