Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in your Word

Posted on October 12, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

A book rests idly on a table gathering dust.
It’s easy to see that it has been ignored for some time.
The pages are dog-eared and worn out, but the content hasn’t changed.
Notes are scribbled in the margins – phrases underlined.

This is no ordinary book. It’s stood the test of time.
The words hold meaning still today.
The book is merely pages bound with leather on its spine.
Withered and torn it still can show the way.

The content of this book remains the same as it did so long ago.
As our mother strained dimmed eyes to read each precious word.
It is a gift from God’s Himself. His words through men did flow.
Inspired by Him, they penned each truth. His voice was all they heard.

Lord, you have made your truth available and free.
Now help me to remain so tightly intertwined with You,
Through this tangible, unchangeable love letter sent from You to me.
Through it my life is ever changed and others can be too.

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MY GUARDIAN ANGEL

Posted on October 12, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

angels

I can’t help wondering how my guardian angel is doing.  I’ve lived for over seventy years and given that angel a run for his money.  I’m convinced he earns his wings over and over every day.  I imagine him to look pretty beat up from fending off the dangers that often beset me.  His hair is most likely completely fried or he doesn’t have any.  He has bags under his bloodshot eyes.  His hands tremble more than mine do and he definitely needs a chiropractor.

I do believe that God sends His angels to watch over us and that they sometimes appear to us in human form.  We might see them on a street corner, begging for money.  They could be knocking on our front door to tell us our house is on fire.  They might be there at just the moment when your at the end of your rope financially or spiritually. Many times we turn away and ignore them.

Mine has protected me through many difficulties.  There was the time I drove my car home with a broken axle.  I even turned a corner without it falling apart.  There was the time we had no money for Christmas presents and very little for food and someone placed a package of frozen beef on our car while my husband’s boss wrote a bonus check for my husband – the only one written that year.  There was the time when I felt my life drifting away as my blood pressure put me into shock.  When it seemed that we might not find a place to live, a friend provided a home for us

I could go on and on about all the times when we’ve been smiled upon by God and His angels, but it would take a whole book to cover them.  The point is that we never know when we might meet one.

Not only are we given God’s protection through His angels, we are brothers and sisters of the King of the Angels – Jesus.  WOW!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Walking with Jesus

Posted on October 11, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Footprints in the sand

pressed deeply by two sets of feet.

They have a purpose in walking side by side.

But when one set disappears it easy to see,

by the weight carried by those lone prints,

that one has lifted the other and carried him when he could no longer walk alone.

The burdens that the one carried are now placed on the back of the other.

Not only does He carry the burdens – He lifts the other to a perfect peace.

JESUS!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, jpoetry/prose, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

COLUMBUS DAY

Posted on October 11, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Columbus Day Ships

I remember the days leading up to Columbus Day when I was a child in elementary school.  We’d draw pictures of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.  We were told stories of how people viewed the world as flat and if they were to sail too far, they would fall off the edge.  We thought of the man, Columbus as a hero of sorts.  He paved the way for more discovery – the dawn of the Renaissance in Europe – and the spread of Christianity.

The truth of this man and his discoveries has been hidden from the history books for quite a while now.  In fact many of the early discoveries have become tainted with stories of greed, removing natives from their own land, brutally taking what wasn’t theirs.  The stories I looked forward to as a child have been corrupted and in some cases men like Christopher Columbus have become villains.  I think we  need to take a look at the history books our children are reading today.  They, like much in our world, have been polluted considerably.

What was the purpose of these early ventures by courageous?  The major trade routes of the time were controlled by the Islamic Ottoman Empire which dealt in the slave trade as well as piracy on the open seas.  In order for Europe to trade with the east, they needed to find a different way to get there.

Exploration of an unknown always holds a bit of excitement along with a great deal of trepidation.  Each day we are faced with things we may have never thought of doing.  We can think of it as an adventure or we can hide from the possibilities we might find.  We can push ahead with no fear, or we can shun what lies beyond our own front door.  Sometimes it takes great courage just get out of bed in the morning.

God tells us in His Word, to be strong and courageous.  He promises to be with us in all that we do.  With that in mind, we can do anything – even discovering what lies beyond our comfort zone.

I still consider Columbus a great man, but my greatest hero is the One who gave His life for me – Jesus, Christ.

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NOT GUILTY!

Posted on October 9, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

When you’re raising a family, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. As a young mother, I often felt overwhelmed with tons of menial tasks which seemed to sap my energy. I felt guilty for not spending enough time with my children. I felt guilty having a sink full of dirty dishes and laundry piled up to the ceiling. I felt guilty for not having a quality moment with my husband.

Guilt – guilt – guilt! It can eat away at your self confidence. It can devour you and throw you into a pit of despair. It can swallow up and spit out your faith.

I think this is one of the devil’s most insidious tools. He wants us to think we are unworthy of any kind of forgiveness or love. As soon as he grips us with these thoughts, he as gained a small victory.

Praise God that He has provided the answer for this ugly feeling. He sent His own Son – Himself in the flesh – to take all this guilt off our shoulders and bear it for us. Each of our sins has been washed away through His suffering and death. He did this willingly because of His love for us. What a friend we have In Jesus!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

HAVE WE SHORTCHANGED OUR YOUNG WOMEN?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

When the Feminist Movement got underway in the 60’s, women applauded the rights they demanded.  They burned their bras in protest.  They shed all evidence of the things they felt were binding them or holding them back.  Their cry for equality was loud and clear and set the stage for what would become a total different society.

Women, up to that point in time, were considered by some as second class citizens.  Their career opportunities were limited.  Society had loosened the reins somewhat and didn’t frown nearly as much on women working outside the home, but the stigma was still there.

We’ve come a long way, baby – or have we?  Today women hold high positions in almost every area of the “civilized” world.  They run large companies – they hold political office (and we may eventually see one in the White House) – their career paths are endless.

The Feminist Movement made a huge impact on society.  Many women now make more money than their male counterparts.  Women take time off to have babies, but soon reliquish the actual raising of that child to a nanny.  Women can choose to have babies or to abort them because it isn’t convenient.  Young women soon learn that power equals sex and morals are a thing of the past as long as you have protection.  Girls can physically become boys if the want to.  Women may be treated as equal, but they are no longer revered or treasured as God intended them to be.

Our young girls need to know they have value – not only to their parents, but to the One who created them.  They  are precious human beings who have been created in a way that allows them to produce new life, but they also contribute to the success of their children by encouraging them and instilling in them God’s truth.  They have dignity, strength, a compassionate spirit, tender hearts, the ability to encourage and inspire and so much more.  God did not create women for man’s pleasure, but as an extension of him.   We are all equal in His sight.

I am not against feminism, but I think there are limits and I also believe we have done a great disservice to the young girls who will someday become women.  Maybe the old ways aren’t so bad.

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

FAIRY TALES OR TRUTH?

Posted on October 7, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

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I grew up on fairy tales.  These stories filled my brain with hopes of finding the perfect mate, the wonderful life, the answers to all my dreams and hopes.  Unfortunately, those stories were also filled with fearful characters that got in the way of the protagonist.  There were ogres, evil stepmothers, dragons, frightening villains of all sorts.

Life can be that way too.  We begin our days filled with anticipation and desire for perfection.  On the road to fulfilling those dreams, we encounter all kinds of obstacles.  We soon find that our fairy tale existence isn’t what we thought it would be.  We try again and run into the same conflicts – over and over and over again.  Why can’t things just fall into place like we want them to?

I have found another book which may seem to be another treasury of fairy stories.  It is a book filled with the biographies of underdogs, kings, queens, the very rich and the poverty stricken, the sick, the weak, the abused, the physically strong, helpless victims, the obsessive compulsive, the paranoid and those who would easily sell their soul to the devil to get what they want.

The characters in this book face real and sometimes impossible circumstances.  They carried on in adversity –  they looked up instead of back – they became stubborn when they thought they knew better – they accomplished great fetes of strength – they rose out of the depths of despair and made successes of a life that seemed doomed to destruction – some of them gave up and tried to follow their own path.

This book has been accused of being filled with fantastic stories that are nothing more than fairy tales, but  it contains more truth than this world will ever know.  It was written by the pen of ordinary men, but the true author is God Himself.  He breathed His words into men and we can be convinced that they are truth.

The Bible is our greatest heritage.  It contains His thoughts and words.  It is a manual for life that far exceeds any self-help book out there.  It is a book for every man, woman and child.  The stories are not merely examples of the perfect life. They lead to the perfect life.  If you want a really good read – dust off and open that Bible which has been collecting dust on your coffee table.  Make it your goal to devour every bit of it on a daily basis.  It is not a fairy tale.  It is truth!

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, politics, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

WORK, LABOR, JOB, EMPLOYMENT, TASKS, ETC., ETC., ETC.

Posted on October 6, 2014 by atimetoshare.me


“The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”  Robert Frost

Many of the railroads in our country were cut through mountain sides and across wide rivers with simple tools, dynamite and many strong men who lost their lives in the process.  Many of the original buildings that lined the city streets in the 1800s are still standing while the ones built in the past few years have already been replaced.  Some of the old barn buildings have stood the test of time as well.

Physical labor has given way to computer technology and now muscles are growing weak and minds are engaged in ways of making work easier by replacing people with machines.

In a nation like the United States, we don’t think much about contagious diseases – we have the CDC to watch out for our health.  We don’t worry about our roads.  We have the Department of Transportation to handle that.  We may be concerned about identity theft, but the FDIC will help us out.  Our government can help in almost every area of our lives, except with our salvation – though sometimes I think they may even think they can do that.

No matter how hard we try to avoid working, we still have to face the fact that in order to earn a buck, we should work for it.  There are those who would rather sit by and let someone else do it, but work is part of our existence.  The minute we allow others to take care of us financially, we open the door to laziness, dependence, unnecessary neediness, entitlement and so much more.  God blessed man with the ability to work by designing the body with strong muscles and a mind that could figure things out.  He placed Adam as the caretaker of his paradise.

Thank you, Lord for giving us the ability to work well into our older years.  I know many are struggling to find jobs and are willing to work, but there are those who take advantage of the system and let others do their share.  Help us grow strong as a nation once more, by flexing our muscles and digging in to the work that still needs to be done.  Amen.

 

 

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, politics, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

POLITICS AS USUAL

Posted on October 4, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

We have already been inundated with political ads in my part of the country as I’m sure most of you have.   If this is any indicator of what lies ahead, I think we’re in for a long couple of years.

As a Christian and a American, I believe that God is the One who instituted government in its purest form.  I don’t think He had anything to do with the process of campaigning however.  In fact, I think He’s undoubtedly shaking His head in disbelief as our nation prepares for another local election and setting up for the next presidential vote.

TV ads have become so filled with lies and deceit towards the opposing parties, it’s difficult to determine which party the candidate is running for.  Tremendous amounts of money is spent on these ads.  The money is raised by those already in high office so that their party will remain in power.  Special interest groups get on the band wagon and throw in their tribute to guarantee payback from their investment as soon as their choice is elected.  It makes you wonder if there is any truth in the political process anymore.  It also makes me wonder why anyone of any integrity would want to be a candidate.

Lord, I know that you are in control of all things that are happening in our world.  Help me to be discerning when choosing the right candidate.  So much false information is infiltrating our ever changing world and I find it difficult to see truth in any of it.  Help me remember that you control the universe and everything in it.  Give me the faith to trust that you will make something good from every situation – even the things that have been corrupted by the devil. Amen!

 

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Inspiration, Life, Optimism, parenting, politics, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

THE ONLY WAY OUT

Posted on October 3, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

Life is tough.  It wasn’t intended to be that way, but temptation got in the way.  With one bite of forbidden fruit, the perfect relationship with God became tainted.  That could have been the end of the story and we could all be doomed to an eternity in hell, but God doesn’t work that way.  He provided the means of escape for us.

The world tells us to be self-reliant.  We’re supposed to find our own way – to be self-sufficient, independent, thinking individuals who can figure things out for ourselves.  Unfortunately, as soon as we go that route, we are sure to run into countless road blocks and detours.

There is only one escape from tribulation.  The road isn’t always the one we would choose.   We might decide on the easy road to get to our destination. We may choose to ignore the obstacles – to take our own path – to think we know better, but it would be so much easier to just let God take the wheel.  He has a clear vision of what lies ahead.  He has a perfect plan for each individual on this planet and He has promised to bring us safely home.

Just as we cannot earn our way into heaven, we must submit completely to the will of God.  He will direct our footsteps and when we no longer can walk – he will carry us.  Trust in His direction for your life and He will help you endure any difficulties you encounter.  Though His dear Son, Jesus, we can look forward to reaching our final objective.

Lord, help me to rely totally on your plan for my life.  Amen!

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BUMPS IN THE ROAD

Posted on September 30, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

I live in Minnesota where there are two seasons – winter and road construction.  Actually, my home state has much more to offer than just those two seasons, but these two events are something we’ve learned to tolerate over time.  When the weather is inclement, we have to deal with the mending of our roads and the filling of potholes caused by that same difficult weather.

The life of every human being is kind of like that too.  Things may seem to be coasting along nicely when suddenly we hit a bump and it can mean major repairs to our car or new tires to get you through the next pothole.  Ever since sin was established in the Garden of Eden, God’s perfect creation has been pock-marked with all kinds of delays and disruptions.  The paradise originally created for our enjoyment has become a constant work in progress.

We face bumps in the road from the minute we rise in the morning until we go to bed at night.  Even as we try to gain rest from some of those disturbances, our mind is invaded with dreams that stir up our peace and trouble us.

The only remedy for a big pothole is to fill it up and re-pave it.  Trouble is, this can be just a temporary fix.  With our sin, we can be guaranteed that we have been reborn through the price Jesus paid on the cross to eliminate them.  The cost was immeasurable – the payment made by God Himself – a new beginning for all of us – a promise of eternal paradise when we leave this world.

Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for rebuilding our lives.  Your gift of salvation holds so much promise and hope.  You alone are the clear path that leads to our lives in eternity. I know that my road here on earth will not always be easy.  There will be huge obstacles to overcome, but you will be right there with me – guiding me through them;  shoring me up so I have the fortitude to withstand them; giving me the directions to reach my final goal.  Amen!

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, parenting, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Posted on September 29, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

I wonder if Pontius Pilate had any idea what Jesus was saying when he heard the accused firmly state that he indeed was a king.   Here was an ordinary criminal declaring His defense.  Pilate probably was trying to engage our Lord in some philosophical pander, but Jesus told the ruler that His purpose was to bring the truth to the world – truth which had been diluted and polluted over the centuries before His birth – truth which the devil had undermined with his many lies.

Satan has been manipulating the truth to fit his own agenda since the beginning of creation.  He still continues to do so today.  We can’t always see the workings of his hand.  It’s often sugar coated and presented to us in a beautiful package.  He even uses God’s own words to finagle his way into our hearts.

Those blatant untruths have permeated the church today as they did in Jesus’  lifetime.  This often happens when the body of believers tries to rewrite scripture to fit their own needs and desires.  This is one of those sneaky ways that Satan uses to twist the truth.

We must constantly be on guard.  God’s Word is the only truth we need for every area of our lives.  When we allow the devil to sabotage that truth, we are opening the door for all kinds of deception.

Dear, Lord, you gave your life in defense of your Father’s truth.  You continue to make your Words available to us today and we often misuse them.  Help us study and re-study your amazing scriptures.  Help us see how those words support themselves.  Keep us always on track.  Allow the truth to permeate our souls and give us the fortification we need in this deceptive world.  Help us to fight off the devil and his lies.   Amen!

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Day off

Posted on September 27, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

Today I’m taking off to enjoy time with family and friends who will join with us to celebrate our special day – so I’m re-posting an older one of my posts. See you tomorrow.

The icy grip of the world has taken hold of many churches of our day, causing some to accommodate the politically correct or those who want nothing more than to feel good.  We must be on guard to make sure that the church is following God’s Holy Word. 

Many folks have a difficult time with some of the concepts and teachings of the Bible.  For example, no one likes to hear about their sin. Some tend to think that sin was designed to keep us in line through guilt. The idea of a world flood is unimaginable even though we see the power of God in the weather every day.   It’s inconceivable that a virgin could give birth.  It’s impossible for a man to return to life after suffering a brutal, horrendous death. We find it difficult to understand that God actually spoke to people in the early days of history.

The Bible is really a manual for life and it was written by God Himself through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament is filled with stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.  It shows how man cannot save himself from damnation and a cruel punishment in hell.  It also gives hope for a Savior and has over 300 prophesies about Him which were fulfilled in the little town of Bethlehem.  

Lord, I am so grateful for a church that remains based in your Holy Word.  Each passage can take on new meaning in any of my circumstances.  Thank you for inspiring men with your Holy Spirit, keeping your words alive and the lines of communication open to you.  I know this is how you talk to us today.  By giving us this beautiful book, you have drawn me closer to you each day.

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LIFE CHANGING SEASONS

Posted on September 26, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

There is nothing like autumn in Minnesota.  It’s the reason we live in this part of the country. The other seasons hold their own special beauty, but fall is full of amazing colors and elements that fill the senses to capacity.  This is why we chose to be married at this time of the year.  It’s a time of splendor where God pulls out all the stops when it comes to painting the landscape.

It was 50 years ago today.  Somehow the weather wasn’t so splendid.  It was raining.  I had heard all the old wives tales about a rainy day being a good sign for a happy marriage.  Who makes up those stories anyway?  Rain has nothing to do with it.  I was a little annoyed that my special day was going to be one mad dash from house to car to church to car and to reception with hopes of not destroying the dress I had spent six months salary on.

As I looked out the window early that morning, my mind was filled with anticipation.  It didn’t matter that it was raining.  I was going to marry the only man I ever loved in a few short hours and nothing was going to spoil that.

It has been fifty years today.  The sky is a little overcast. I wonder if it will rain.

Anticipation still remains after all these years.  We have had our share of storms.  We’ve learned to tolerate some of each other’s idiosyncrasies – we ‘ve spent many days wondering if we would ever get on our feet financially – we’ve prayed together when faced with difficult decisions and health issues.  We’ve at times wondered if we would stay together forever.  We’ve had major disagreements, spats, tears, highs and lows and yet we’ve remained faithful to each other for all this time.

I am thankful to God for blessing me with such an outstanding Christian husband.  He has been my inspiration, my motivator, my encourager, my teacher, my lover, my guide and through all the rain that has fallen on us, he has been my umbrella – protecting me with his love.

Dear, Lord – You have given me one of life’s greatest gifts – a husband who loves You.  Through him, I have grown closer to You.  He has shown me how important it is to have You as the center of our lives together.  Thank you for showering me with Your love through this wonderful man.  Amen!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, PAUL.  I LOVE YOU YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.

 

 

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, marriage, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

You Can Do It!

Posted on September 25, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

For three days a week I have the pleasure of working one-on-one with 5-8 graders, developing their public speaking skills. I have already had some of these same kids in drama classes and it has been so much fun watching their confidence blossom.

When they come to me as 5th graders, I can see that glazed over look of fear at this new assignment. It’s much different putting yourself in such position than anything they’ve done before. At least when you are playing a part in a play, you can hide behind a mask – become another person for a while and show a different side of yourself.

I have been teaching drama for over 35 years. I have been in many plays, but when it’s time to be the “real” me, I find it tough to do as well. It’s like taking a band aid off and exposing something ugly for everyone to see.

I think we all like to have people see the best in us – without our flaws – without our warts or our self confidence. Each day we may be covering up those things with a mask of protection.

If God were to judge us in this way, we wouldn’t stand a chance at being one of His heirs. We have fallen way short of the mark in so many ways. Because of His amazing love for us, all of our sins have been covered over through His Son, Jesus. He is our shield, our protector, our confidence. Through Him we can do anything.

So, since I am fortunate to work in a Christian school, I can tell these precious children, that they can even get up in front of their peers with confidence, because the mask has been removed and they can do all things through Christ, Jesus.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to share you with these kids. It’s so good to know that you value all your children. You have redeemed us with the greatest price anyone could pay. If you think so much of us, let us also feel confident in what you can do through us. Amen!

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, parenting, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Compromise

Posted on September 22, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

compromise

The first year of marriage is a time of learning the most intimate thoughts about the one you love. It means discovering that he hasn’t yet learned to put the toilet seat down and she doesn’t roll up the toothpaste tube.

Its an exercise in giving up, giving over, just plain giving. You soon learn that it isn’t all about you anymore. I knew before marrying my husband that he loves hunting. We changed our wedding date so that he wouldn’t miss the bow hunting opener. We spent one day of our honeymoon hunting. He hunted – I waited in the car. He didn’t much appreciate my beeping the horn when I thought he might be in danger. Not quite sure how I thought that would would help anyway.

I got accustomed to seeing dead birds in the refrigerator with rigor mortis already setting in. He had to tolerate going to bed with a woman with rollers in her hair and sweat socks on her feet. Gone were the days of trying to impress. Now it was a matter of putting up with each other’s reality.

Each of those tiny adjustments were just the beginning of a lifetime filled with them. Compromise is right up there with laughter in importance. You must put aside your own personal needs and take on an attitude of selflessness, but still maintain the same personality that drew you together in the first place.  Not always an easy task.

We can never fully mirror the love that Jesus has for us, but we can use His servant attitude as an example. When you are fully devoted to the one you love, you put them first.

As years pass, you become more and more of one mind, despite some disagreements, but every step brings you closer together and closer to your Creator.

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YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Posted on September 21, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

The giant reaper opens it massive jaws and its teeth consume the hay – It spits out bales of  golden chunks as it forages through fields of fodder – food that will keep the cattle happy for the cold months ahead.

The smell of fresh, homemade bread and southern fried chicken wafts from the kitchen of the run down old farm house.  Nutmeg and cinnamon are among the tempting scents.  An apple pie or two awaits.  The aroma tickles the nostrils of those in the fields and calls to them.  Work will have to wait for a while.

A harvest moon appears in the distance.  Maybe just a little more can be accomplished by the light of it.

 

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, God, Inspiration, jpoetry/prose, Optimism, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

SUPER HEROES

Posted on September 20, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

idols

The idea of separating the exceptional from the ordinary isn’t new.  The Greeks were masters of setting them up on a pedestal.  They told stories about their heroes – they performed plays about them – they even worshiped them.

Today, society puts the same importance on its “special” people.  We go wild over every new singing sensation.  We want to dress and look like the hottest super models.  We wish we had the talent and strength to do amazing things ourselves through those we adore.  We believe that the ones we place our hopes and dreams on will always be perfect.

Then something happens.  Either they become so full of themselves that they believe they can live any way they want or they actually believe they are invincible.  Part of that problem is created by those who worship them.

There is no man on this planet that is perfect.  There is no one person who is better than anyone else.  There is no individual who will not fall if placed up so high above others.  This is true of each and every one of us – from the athlete to the pop star to the politician to the teacher to the every man.  We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

He is the only One that belongs in such a position of power.  The minute we substitute Him with some thing or some one else we are setting ourselves up for great disappointment.

Posted in Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Inspiration, Life, Optimism, parenting, politics, reflections, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on SUPER HEROES

I CAN’T DO THIS ALONE!

Posted on September 19, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

encouragement20There are days when we wonder how we got through the day.  We can become discouraged by all the evil in the world – by a difficult health diagnosis – a day at work that was impossible to handle – or just the thought of facing yet another problem in our already overloaded lives.  Sometimes it just takes every ounce of courage we can muster to get out of bed.

When days like that assail us, a good place to look for the fortitude necessary to overcome our insecurities is the Psalms in the Bible.  They are an intimate conversation between man and His Creator.  I often envy David for his ability to communicate his every need to his Father in heaven with such beautiful words.

God doesn’t expect us to be great writers or orators.  He just wants to hear from us. Some days it seems like he wants to hear from us more and more as the tests in life become more and more difficult to endure.

Our courage doesn’t come from us really.  The little voice inside of us telling us not to give up is the Holy Spirit.  He is our encourager – our fortifier – our strength.  It’s hard to imagine the voice of God being anything but powerful and strong.  The voice of his Spirit can sometimes be just a whisper telling us to try again tomorrow.

Psalm 16:8  “I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Posted in aging, Christian Devotions and Reflection, Encouragemet, Faith, Family, goals, God, Hope for the hopeless, Inspiration, Life, Optimism, parenting, reflections, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Today’s Quote

Posted on September 18, 2014 by atimetoshare.me

What an amazing quote – surely applicable to all of us.

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