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Demanding < God

 

"The on-demand world has created a demanding society."

This does not line up with God's teaching. What does God ask from me?

Mark 12:29-31 – "Jesus answered, 'The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The"second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.'" Nothing demanding is found in these words, only love.

 

Isaiah 2

1-5 The Message Isaiah got regarding Judah and Jerusalem:

There's a day coming
    when the mountain of God's House
Will be The Mountain—
    solid, towering over all mountains.
All nations will river toward it,
    people from all over set out for it.
They'll say, "Come,
    let's climb God's Mountain,
    go to the House of the God of Jacob.
He'll show us the way he works
    so we can live the way we're made."
Zion's the source of the revelation.
    God's Message comes from Jerusalem.
He'll settle things fairly between nations.
    He'll make things right between many peoples.
They'll turn their swords into shovels,
    their spears into hoes.
No more will nation fight nation;
    they won't play war anymore.
Come, family of Jacob,
    let's live in the light of God.

6-9 God, you've walked out on your family Jacob
    because their world is full of hokey religion,
Philistine witchcraft, and pagan hocus-pocus,
    a world rolling in wealth,
Stuffed with things,
    no end to its machines and gadgets,
And gods—gods of all sorts and sizes.
    These people make their own gods and worship what they make.
A degenerate race, facedown in the gutter.
    Don't bother with them! They're not worth forgiving!

 

But, He says we are worth it! Amazing Grace!

 

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Romans 12:9

 

Matthew 16:19, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 1:3

 

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Demanding < God!!!

 


Today's Specials

 

Today's Special included seeing Andrea & Rusty Ingram at the drive-through window at the cleaners. They are sweet friends, and I admire their servants' hearts.

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Today's special included wearing this ring that Sir Clinton gave me a few Christmases ago. The date is my Baptism date. I was saved at age six, but I'm guessing it took four years for the church to be sure I understood my decision. Back in the olden days, when we rode to church in covered wagons...not really, but long ago, they questioned whether younger children could comprehend the greatness of this decision. I did and I do!

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The Anchor Holds

 

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The anchor holds in spite of the storm. Very, very few know about the storms of my life. My ship is battered. My life has been dependent on trusting God to answer my prayers. I've watched things that I imagined for my life slip away. I know many of you are in the same boat. 

In faith living, I've discovered true peace and freedom on the stormy seas. I've been on my knees more days than not, and most days, I've been carried by my God who has mended my brokenness; he has been my guide and, most importantly, my life Savior! I'm blessed.

I choose joy. I choose Jesus. He has never failed me yet.

 

This song, it speaks to me. 

 

 

I do not own the right to the words or music, but God speaks to me through it. I pray he does you, too!

 


A Day-Life of Blessings!

 

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I had seen these beautiful Elvis playing cards & I knew Stephanie Thompson Sweatt needed them! She is a bit of an Elvis fan. So, Saturday, I stopped by to see my childhood 'Sears' friend (our parents worked for Sears).  We both had been in the yard working, but we were still willing to share our long-time friendship by capturing a photo.

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Then, on Saturday evening we dined at the Plainview Country Club and got to see my longest-tenured friend, Debby Duncan Ketchersid & her hubby, Jimmy. We had our picture taken! Yay!!! The PHS Class of 1972 was having their 50th reunion ... It was Jimmy's!
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And I got to see Linda Chapman Bearrow, a special high school friend (and I worked retail with both her mom & dad in later years @ Gabriel's; they owned Dargen's when Linda & I were in school)
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Both Debby and Linda were in our wedding (along with Becky Leach, Janis Alexander and Jennett Dickerson Berlin). Such a life of blessings shared! That's my fantastic dad right there, too!

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What I heard

 

God always amazes me with his Holy Spirit words. We walk and talk throughout the day. God's wonderful gift is that our worship is individually prepared for our hearts. The following is what I heard in worship. Share what you heard.

 

Ephesians 3.16 ... be strengthened by his Spirit - not brute strength but a glorious inner strength. Ohhh, this is Power, people!

We sing 'every praise,' yet there are these worldly expectations ... God, move the mountains!

Yes, He IS!

To hail Him is to hurl ourselves into His presence with urgency!!!

The One, Great I Am, ever in joyful song!

 

Blessed be the Name of the Lord

    God exalted Him

        Our Defender

            The Author of Salvation

                The worker of revelation

                    Jesus, Alpha & Omega

                        The Lion AND the Lamb

                            Rock of ALL ages

                                Creator, Messiah

                                    The Great, I, Am!

 

Get out of your ordinary into God's extraordinary!!!

We are one in the Spirit we are one in the Lord. Dissolve our differences; dilute our soul's hatred with Living Water.

Every sound is intentional; at age six, he called me to seek His Kingdom first.

Our obstacles are simply communion opportunities!

Humans have limits, God is eternal.

Father God, allow me the comprehension of your heart message.

God guides, but we must participate for the Christian life to work.

Become a prayer pole vaulter, disciplined to new heights.

How far away is your lifesaver, or are you wearing it?

Make my heart transparent to absorb your goodness and with eyes to see others before me.

We may have nothing else at our disposal but prayer; freedom found there.

Unmet needs are a soul infection when we don't trust God to answer.

God's plans are always good and way more complete than anything we can imagine; he is Greater.

 

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Day Trip

 

One way I treat myself is an occasional trip to Silverton, Texas; it Is an easy 40-minute scenic drive with very little traffic. I visit Briscoe Marketplace and Ghost Horse Gallery / Night Owl Espresso & Tea and then head home. Today I detoured to an old family boat race & fishing spot, Lake Mackenzie. My grandfather built and raced boats, and this was a favorite spot. I had not been to the lake area since my childhood. It was a beautiful drive.

 

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God Works

 

Today was my day to deliver Meals on Wheels. I love my route, and I'm praising God for the good favor he shows my friend whose place I am taking while she recovers.

Last evening I asked God to let it rain while I delivered Meals on Wheels today. It sprinkled when I went to Covenant Health Plainview to pick up my route deliveries. I must admit that I was sad it did not rain, rain, but I thought, He does hear our prayers, and there was an answered prayer in those drops!

On the route, the first stop provides a most precious blessing to me. It takes her a little bit to get to the door to unlock it (I'm so thankful she keeps it locked), and once she moves her walker and sits on the edge of the sofa, I take her meal in and place it on her table. We visit. She often has Catholic TV on, and we talk about that. I usually ask her if she is having a good day, and she smiles and says, "Yes." Today, she added, "It is a very good day. I am 82; it's my birthday." I sang Happy Birthday to her. We hugged, and I asked her if she was allowed to eat fresh tomatoes. Her eyes lit up, and she said, "Fresh?" I smiled and handed her one for her birthday. She took it and held it, and I'm just gonna tell you...I'm the one that felt like I had gotten the very best gift of all, her smile. I love how God works!

Everyone on the route I deliver to is so unique and special. Every smile, conversation, and hand exchange of a meal connects.

I have been thinking recently about my passion; what is it? I believe the best way to define it is that I have a desire within my heart to connect with people on a level that allows me to link them to others who will benefit from their passion. It is like God places people in my life and then uses me to get them involved in a specific place.  100% of the time, these people bless me. They are encouragers!

I saw sunflowers while I delivered, too!

The sunflower is an encourager, correct? Don't you just feel better around sunflowers? Sunflowers follow the sun, east to west, to capture as much sun as they can. Then, finally, they rest east, almost prayer-like, ready for another day. As they mature, they will mostly face the east, awaiting the day's first sun. All this sun makes them warm, and warm attracts pollinators. Then, as they run their life's course, the seeds they drop continue the sunflower generations!

From the east to the west, we must capture the Son and bow our heads in a prayer of praise, thanksgiving, and intercession, ready for a new day of sharing the attributes of Christ. I believe that God blesses hearts warmed by the Son. As we age, we know that the seeds planted will be pollinated by the Son, and new life will bloom!

 

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God works!


Sweet Millie

 

Sweet Millie Magnolia, we have a bloom!!! The magnolia symbolizes many different things in cultures around the world, but the two that stand out to me for our tree are endurance and perseverance! It has been some hard, hot, and windy days since I planted this tree a month ago. I was pretty sure it would not make it. It did not look healthy when I bought it, but she is doing so much better. Her name is Millie the Magnolia. We will see how she continues to endure and hopefully thrives!

 

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