Have You Ever???

Have you ever given thought as to what God might want to do in your life?

 

Most people have never given that idea a second thought nor even a first thought. Yet we each have a unique soul and a spirit that hungers for a connection with God. That spiritual relationship can be positive, wonderful and filled with love.

 

What hinders us from the experience of God in our lives? God never forces us into a relationship because for love to be real it must be freely given and freely received. We are in the driver’s seat when it comes to loving or not loving God. To feel the love we must be open to loving from deep with in. When you open yourself to God’s Holy Spirit get ready for some awesome wonders. I speak from experience.

Girl Friends Lunch Reunions

GIRLFRIENDS AT LUNCH

  A group of 40 year old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the waiters there had tight pants and nice buns.

10 years later at 50 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the food there was very good and the wine selection was good also.

 10 years later at 60 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they could eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant had a beautiful view of the ocean.

 10 years later, at 70 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the restaurant was wheelchair accessible and they even had an elevator.

 10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group once again discussed Where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because they had never been there before.

 

Anger Management

I learned a hard lesson as a young man in Texas. When I get angry enough to be out of control I lash out with abandon and create havoc in the world around me. This havoc would often come back to haunt me and cause me grief. I decided that my anger needed to be managed.

 

This was before the days of “Anger Management Seminars” so I was left to fend for myself in finding a solution to my fits of peak. My best example was my mother who had plenty to be angry about but always seemed calm. I sought her advice and she said to pray about it. Well that was her answer for everything as she is a lady of great faith. At that time prayer did not come easy for me because even though I could say the words I didn’t have a feeling for it and it was just words.

 

Then I experienced a spiritual awaking and found the power of a daily prayer life. I read in Daniel 6:10 that Daniel prayed three times as day to put himself in the presence of God. When you put yourself in the presence of God you are doing more than just saying words. Now I am having a conversation and it put my anger at others in perspective. Prayer becomes my source for patience, gentleness, self control, and a sense of power. Now havoc no long rules. 

How To Start A Fight

A woman was standing in the bedroom looking in the mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to her husband, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment."

Her husband didn't even look up and said, "Well at least your eyesight is near prefect."

And then the fight began

Happy Earth Day

Today is the 40th "Earth Day" and a time to remember that our stewardship of the earth today provides a better place for the next generation to live.

Here in Kentucky we are being reminded that because of Earth Day the Ohio river is being cleaned up. 20 years ago it was an open sewer and now it is coming back to life. It has a way to go but it is coming along.

Earth quakes and volcanoes also remind us that mother earth is still more powerful than we are. 

Learning From History

This week in my Basic Bible Study I am teaching the Book of Judges and I have always been intrigued by the cycle of life presented there. When times were hard or threats of war were immanent God called out strong Judges to lead the people. Under strong Judges like Othniel, Ehud and Deborah Israel grew strong and prospered through forty years of peace. That should have been a time of spiritual growth and devotion to God.

 

An interesting human fallibility occurred after the strong Judge died, Israel immediately returned to doing what was evil in the sight of God. Years of peace and prosperity did not foster spiritual growth but rather complacency and sin. The people of the covenant let down their guard and spiritual lethargy crept in and took over.

 

This human condition prevails today when we forget that spiritual warfare is going on all the time. During the times of peace or when there is no visible crisis at hand we relax and the forces of the dark side creep in to take over. By the words of our mouth, such as debased language and hate talk, and by the actions we take such as doing harm to others we allow evil to take control. When that happens we are led down the path of ruin both as individual and as a people.

 

Can we ever learn from history?

Maya Angelou

Tonight my darling and I went to hear Dr. Maya Angelou at Canaan Christian Church and were awed by her gift of words. She kept repeating a phrase from a black Roman poet and writer named Terentius, he lived from about 190 to about 160 B.C.

Latin citation: 

“Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto”

 

In English, “I am a human being and nothing human is alien to me.”

I will be thinking about that idea for a long time.