Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Kindness and Compassion, Always

 Its been a while since I have written.  

Life has been busy.  The loss of my father in law.  My fathers fall and the spiralling of his health and wheel chair and walker bound.  For two years he needed me to care for him.  The selling of my dads house and now my brother has cancer.  

My brother has just me and my children and grandchildren in life.  Cancer is not cheap.  Quite costly infact.  I care and do whatever my brother needs to get through this battle.  This is what the Bible says to do and what God expects.

Compassion, help others, always show kindness. Pray for others

There is a prisioner who gets cancer treatment where my brother goes.  

Cancer.  Painful, sickly, saddening, 

This man is cuffed in his hands and his feet.  Such a sorrowful face.  

Just as my brothers sad face and bone thin body.  Limping because he had a total hip replacement years ago.  

My brother is also is on the Autism spectrum.  Aspbergers which affects his communication especially in groups of people.  This makes cancer even harder for him.  1000 little details being thrown at him.  so much information to keep track of.  It is even overwhelming for me.  But that is why I am there, sitting, at every meeting and dr visit.  

My brother and this prisoner that I see, need compassion.  Kindness.  

No matter what.  Prayers.  

I see people, christian people joking about others in the world.  Jokes about what others do wrong. 

being negative, then they say,  "oh I am just joking"

this is wrong!  Bible says this is wrong.  Everyone, no matter who, need

compassion and kindness.  Its what the Bible says to do.   

Focus on the good, holy, positive.  Bible says to do this too.  

Dont joke!  Pray for them.  Pray! for those who believe different than you.

Show love by being kind and compassionate.

Love

Not jokes.  

:If you cant say something nice, dont say anyhting at all.

Be kind aways

be compassionate always

show love always.

Pray for others, always.

KINDNESS, COMPASSION AND PRAYERS TO OTHERS, ALWAYS!

READ THE BIBLE EVERYDAY.  PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.  

Monday, July 30, 2018

Lifes Jouneys

      Last week was an great week for me.  I had a really bad panic/anxiety attack that I thought I should tell my doctor about, and he could prescribe something.  But I felt he would not believe me and I really don't want to "take another pill."   The cause of my anxiety is because of two people who conned and used my husband and I.  Liars and thieves, they are.  I do have a lot of anger and hurt towards them, well I did.  I have been praying.  Giving it to God.  He has my back. He will deal with them.  I have to trust this.  I have to trust God.  So now I pray.  The anxiety left and I had a wonderful week.  I felt so good.  One day I did have really bad migraine and all that goes along with that.  But it passed.  God has been teaching me little lessons all week.  The biggest thing that I learned is that when in a situation that affects us, God will teach little lessons along the way.  As long as we keep our focus on him and not let the situation rule us.  At first I was so angry with these people, angry with my husband.  I also felt conned by my husband.  Lies to me even before the other two were in my life.  The harm my husband did to my children and grandchildren.  The whole situation with so many different irritants and hurts.  My regrets of my marriage.  I did marry him, and divorce is not an option...not really.  God has my back.  He will handle all my struggles and hurts.   So at first when these two (three) stole and used us and my hubby enabled them to do so, I was raging angry.  God had to work on me with my anger.  Now almost two years later, God has taught me to just "let it go".  For the past four months I have been trying to make up the anger I showed to the two people.  Apologizing.  Their thing is they don't want to defend themselves or talk it out.  No responses or appreciation towards me.  I let them know that all is well with me now.  I just want to get along and be friends. 
      One lesson that keeps coming up is to be kind...TO EVERYONE!  Kindness. So I am working on kindness. 
        There is a preacher in Tennessee that I love.  His name is Cory, and he pastors Experience (something) church in Murfreesboro, TN.  He did a sermon on Family.  It was so good.  All of his sermons are good.  The one thing that stood out was wives are to respect their husbands.  Respect...don't talk badly of them.  Give the hurts to God.  Let him handle it.  Be kind.  Also, don't gossip.   kind and say kind things.  Give the negative to God.   He said a lot that really hit home in my heart. 
            I learned that God teaches little lessons as we grow and when our hearts change.  It is a process.  A journey.  I couldn't go from RAGE to Kindness.  It had to be a process and I had to learn why and how.  Journeys. 
          Last Sunday, my pastor's wife talked of the prodical son story in the Bible.  He welcomed his son back who had wasted all of his wealth.  But he did not exclude the son who stayed home and did as he should.  There was also a song that we sang that said, "The world is as it should be"  One line in a song that just jumped out at me.  Why get angry or hurt by those who are lost and blind.  They know not what they do.  God can work in peoples lives.  We are to just be kind and share Jesus Christ by the way we live.  I read somewhere that "We may be the only Bible they read"  We are the examples, The lights, the candles. 
         My son reminded me of who I was.  He read previous blogs and reminded me of the horrible person I was.  I am not that person anymore.  God used my wonderful son to remind me that I am not the person anymore. 
        My pastor, Dan, at Dayspring Christian Church in Knightdale, North Carolina, has been doing a series on journeys in the Bible.  The Bible is full of "journeys."   Life is full of journeys.  Pastor Dan's sermons are always good and seem timely for what I personally need to hear.  God is so good.  His doing this series has made me really think about "journeys" and the reasons and purpose of them all.  As I said, the Bible is full of journeys.  Life is full of journeys too.  PRAISE GOD!

            

Saturday, July 21, 2018

GOD IS ALWAYS TEACHING US



       Whenever you hear the same message, sermon, devotion topic, etc... over and over....it is God teaching us something we need to learn, or relearn or something we need to work on. 
       I have been hearing the same topic to be KIND to others.  Today, I read Titus 3 and once again, it told me to be kind.  We may be the only Bible that other's "read".  We need to set a Godly example with our lives.  Anger does not set a good example.  I get so upset (and angry) because people don't act like they are supposed to.  Self mindedness...treating other badly.  But getting angry only caused me ulcers and anxiety and panic attacks.   All we can do is state facts to others in a loving way.  Tell them what the Bible says.  Share our story to help others.  If they don't listen, it is not us they are rejecting, they are rejecting God.  The Bible says to just brush the dust off our shoes and move on.  The Bible also says to keep doing good.  Don't cause a harm for a harm.  Just keep on being kind.  Sometimes we just have to be silent and let God deal with a hurt that someone has caused on us.  We are also to tell God about how we feel. Pray pray pray.  Don't talk to others and bad mouth someone who has cause harm or sinned, that is gossup.   These are all things that I personally need to work on.  I feel that if I don't get angry or let someone know they have done wrong, then are getting away with hurting me.  It's not fair.  But this is not God's way.   Be kind and keep doing good.  That's God's way. 

Titus
3; Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Monday, July 2, 2018

MY PAST IS MY PAST

I AM NOT WHO I USED TO BE

   I have a past that I am so ashamed of.  I want everyone to know that I am not that person who I was when I did shameful things.  I will never do those things again.  God has forgiven me and HE has forgotten them.  I would like to forget them as well.  But that is hard to do. 

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

1986

1986

A very memorable year for me.  I was happily married and we had a four year old little girl.  I wanted another baby.  A baby Joshua.  1986 I was pregnant with my baby Joshua.  My favorite song for that year was Madonna's, "I'm keeping my baby"  It happened to be the number one song for the year.  Madonna and I were born on the same day.  So I like her and she sings well. 

I watched the video today and it brought back so many memories of that year, and another time in my life when I  was so in love and found myself pregnant.  I married the guy of that haunting time of life.  It was 1978.   I had wanted to be a mommy ever since I was 8 years old.  Here I was pregnant.  But I felt no hope and was in fear of losing my job.  The shame of  being pregnant and not married.  We were both young, he was VERY young.  Marriage was not an option.  Three years later, marriage was the answer, and so we married.    I watched the video and cried.  Why wasn't I bold to say to everyone,  "I'M KEEPING MY BABY! I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MOMMY. IT IS ALL I WANTED IN LIFE."    God did give me three children.  Five pregnancies.  The first one, I gave back to God.  The horror and shame that I felt for  so many years.  My biggest regret in life.  I also had a miscarriage, but didn't know I was pregnant until then.  That was a blessing, (another long story) but God had my back.  I think back to the days of my youth and I would not change a thing.  I wish I had kept the baby, but now I truly understand God's forgiveness.  He loves me.   My husband passed away and even though we had a rocky marriage, I cherish it.  I miss him a lot.  A whole new life began a year after he died...another long story for later.  

My baby is with Jesus and that's all that matters.  He loves all the little children.  .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G333Is7VPOg

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

THIEVES AND THOSE WHO HURT YOU

What does the Bible say?  I have had someone hurt me by taking advantage and conning me out of money.  Lies and promises of paying back.  This has overwhelmed me with hurt.  Lies hurt.  I thought they were family, but they saw me as a stranger.  So, what does the Bible tell me? 



Ephesians 4:28               
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Romans 12:19               

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Let God deal with those who hurt you.  (this is hard for me) 

John 10:10              

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus came to save the thieves from themselves.  They just need to confess and repent.  Accept Jesus as their Lord and savior.  Steal and lie no more.  But if they do, confess and feel real shame for their sins.    

Revelation 21:8               

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

  

John 8:44               

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 John 2:4               

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

Exodus 22:1-31               

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double. “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard. ... Thieves are to  pay back!!  

1 Timothy 5:8               

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.   Family helps family..even our brothers and sisters in Christ.  But not enable them.     
   

Matthew 18:15-17             

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 22:37-39               

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.     Love is saying something and not wanting anyone to  go to eternal damnation.  Love is wanting everyone to go to Heaven.  So making then accountable for their sins is not wrong.  Talk to them in love.  Love is wanting them in Heaven. 

John 14:15               

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.     

1 Corinthians 6:10               

Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 21:13              

1 Corinthians 6:9-11               

      

Galatians 5:19-21               

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Repent. 

  

John 3:18               

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  

  

Luke 19:46             

Saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Mark 11:17               

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”   Jesus was angry that there was evil going on in his house.  It is ok to be angry about the sins of others.     Anger without sinning. 

  

  

Exodus 20:15               

“You shall not steal.

 

Matthew 5:19               

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

  

Leviticus 19:11               

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.

  

  

Isaiah 61:8               

For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.   God hates thieves and liars. 

  

Luke 10:27              

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”     Jesus first!

2 Timothy 3:16              

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.  Read the Bible every day and do what it says!!  

 

2 Peter 3:10               

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. All will be judged by God.  Those who have not accepted God's son will be exposed.  God will deal with them.    

Hebrews 13:5               

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God is our provider.  He will never leave us.  Don't worry about anything.    

Romans 2:21               

You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?    Evaluate yourself.    

Luke 12:16-21               

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ...   Don't hang on to things or be greedy.  "Stuff" will just rot away.    

Luke 10:25-37               

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ...

  

Matthew 6:19-20              

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

  

2 Corinthians 5:17               

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.    If your are a believer of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.    

Malachi 3:8-9               

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.   

Hosea 4:2               

There is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Jeremiah 49:9               

If grape-gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves? This is fine.  We are to help others.  But some take take take more than they need.  Greed.  This is wrong. 

Proverbs 29:24               

The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing. Interesting.  The thief in my life does has a partner, who has not said anything during the conflict between myself and the one who stole from me.     

2 Peter 3:9              

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.    God is patient with us.  He knows and will wait for us to come back to him.  Confess our wrong doing and repent.    

Luke 12:33               

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.    Our treasure is in Heaven.  Not on Earth.    

Ezekiel 33:15               

If the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live; he shall not die. A thief is to pay back and do good. 

  

Proverbs 6:30-31               

People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.   We are to help others.  This is true.    A thief shall payback according to the bible. 

  

Proverbs 30:8-9              

Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.      One of the ten commandments is to not steal.  No matter what, don't be like them.  Liars and thieves.  Keep eyes on Jesus.    

 

My conclusion....be still and lay the burden down at Jesus' feet.  Pray.  Trust the Lord.  He knows your hurts.  Don't sin in anger.  Don't avenge.  Be loving.  Speak truth.   But when feeling overwhelming hurt and anxiety, just be still and wait.  Don't let the evil one fill your head or heart with sadness.  Look to Jesus. 

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

    LIFE IS CHANGING, BUT...


          I was driving past Garner High school and it brought back many memories and thoughts.  Garner High School was built in the 60's and my children's father went there in the 70s.  My children went there in the 90s and 2000s.  Many football games there.  Many activities that we participated in.  Now the building is gone and a new bigger one is coming up.  This then led me to think about how life has so many changes.  Nothing stays the same.  New growth in housing, buildings businesses.  People come into our lives and leave our lives, by moving on or by passing away.  It is sort of sad in a way, but we are to think forward.  The past may have been wonderful, but God says to not look to the past.  Memories are good and they are bad.  Forget the bad and hurt.  Hang on to the happy memories.  Hang on to the memories that made us grow.  We are not who we used to be.  There is a verse in the Bible  about not thinking the past was better than today. (Ecc 7:10 ) Even though our lives are always changing , seasons they call it.  Seasons of life as there are seasons of nature.  The seasons are not always the same.  Our lives are not always the same.( Ecc 3:1)  BUT, there is one thing that is always always the same.  God's word, and Jesus. (Heb 13:8)  We can count on this.  We can depend on this.  We can trust this, as we can trust God that he has plans for us  (Jeremiah 21:11)  and he has our backs always always always!  You just have to love His Son, Jesus Christ and believe He is the only way to eternity in Heaven. (John 14:6, John 3:36 and Romans 6:23) Heaven where there will be no more tears ever again. (Rev 21:4)


 
Hebrews 13:8               
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.