He watches over me

November 6, 2010 Leave a comment

One morning I was on the back deck with my coffee mug in hand, doing some reflecting. It was one of those rare calm and peaceful moments, like the whole world was sleeping. As I was enjoying the silence I decided to let our two dogs outside to just stretch their legs. The sun was just peeking out from behind the clouds and the air had that autumn hint to it, it was relaxing to take a couple deep breaths of the crisp air. I went back inside but left the patio door open so that I could keep and eye on the two mischievous canines.

The dogs continued their investigating with their noses to the ground not aware that I was standing in the door watching to see if they would go outside the perimeter of our yard. All of the sudden a loud noise cut into the silence that startled the dogs. Automatically one dog looked up toward the house to see me standing there watching. It was like an instant of security for her, everything is ok, and she went on with her investigation. But my other dog ran away from the direction of the sound.

I then thought; I am like those two dogs. I get busy going about life, nose to the ground, moving on my path, all of the sudden I hear something that makes feel frightened. I sometimes run away into the opposite direction to get away from that thing that is making me feel anxious. Then, there are other times when I look up, and see that my Father in Heaven watching me. He has his eye on me. I then can rest assure that I am ok and can keep moving ahead on my path. I pray that I remember to keep close to Him in the “perimeter of His Protection” and feel secure that HE is watching over me.

How about you? Can you think of times that fear makes you just want to run in the opposite direction? Don’t run, just look up.
Psalm 121:1-3
I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.

Cackle like a Chicken

October 30, 2010 Leave a comment

A girl’s night was scheduled at my home church at 6:30 p.m. and as tired as I was I pushed myself to go, I arrived a little late but was there. Different activities were planned throughout the night and as I got comfortable I was really starting to enjoy the ladies. By the end of the evening I was “cackling” like a chicken, it has been a long time since I laughed so hard. I think that I surprised many of the women that night, even though they see me each week at church I don’t say too much, maybe a little giggle here and there but never a heart felt laugh. As we were parted for the night I thanked the ladies that organized the night, and I went on to say that I really didn’t have any “girl” friends and it was just nice to be just one of the girls.

The next morning when I was getting around for work I was reminiscing about the night before, I even started to laugh again about some of the things that were said. That is when God told me; “You have girl friends Georgia, you just choose not to do fun things with them. I want you to enjoy your life that I have given you; it isn’t always about things that need to get done. It is ok to relax and do something fun. I love to hear your laughter.”

How about you? How long has it been since you had a heart felt laugh? Or how long has it been since you allow yourself to have fun, doing maybe some things you haven’t done in a real long time, like go down a water slide?

Being a mother I love to see my children play and have fun, laughing so hard that it gets the whole room laughing. I believe God is the same; He loves to hear our laughter! So go ahead “Cackle like a Chicken.”

Scibbled Notes

October 21, 2010 Leave a comment

The other day I received a note in the mail. It was an unexpected nice surprise, because I really don’t know this woman on a personal level. She had written how things were for her and wished me and my family well. What a lovely thing to receive a note like that.

Then I started to ponder the different notes that I have written the past few weeks. I have left notes on the counter to let my family know that I love them and to have a good day, or, to instruct them on some things I would like them to do. Sometimes at work I will write information down that a nurse is giving me about a patient that is coming into the office. It seemed that each kind of note that I’ve written have been in a hurry, on the go, rushed. They have been “scribbled” notes.

Then I started to think about my prayers. They have been rushed, scribbled notes too. To think that I’ve been scribbling notes to God makes me feel sad. I have learned this past week in my Bible study that our prayers are to have real substance, original thoughts flowing from an individual’s heart, personal and intimate. I believe God is ok with our little prayers that we say on the go, “Lord help me have compassion… Lord help me see this person as You do.” Things like that, but he would like us to write Him a love letter once in a while. Taking the time to really share with Him what is on our hearts and mind’s.
I asked God to forgive me for always being rushed and for the “scribbled” notes that I have sent him over the past few weeks, maybe even months. When I pray to God I am going to be reminded that He really wants to hear from my heart. He wants me to take the time and write Him a letter.

Three Unselfish Minutes

October 16, 2010July 7, 2018 1 Comment

I’ve said it before (many times) that God places people in our paths for a reason. I have to look at people that way, especially with the position that I have as front desk receptionist. The majority of those individuals who cross my path daily are in pain. And if I don’t remind myself that these people have been directed my Papa God to cross my path, I can get in a “rut.” Just going through life as a routine, going through the motions without thought. And when I do get the attitude of; “this is just the same day over and over again.” I am not very friendly, and sometimes I don’t even really look at the person that I am talking to.

But last Friday I was reminded that I need to make each person that I come in contact with feel valued, even if it is for just a few moments.

As I was rushing around to get things done that I usually have 8 hours to complete a very tired looking man walking with a limp and a cane in his hand made his way to me. He gave me his usual smile and stated the doctor he was scheduled to see. In the past, I would usually make small talk with him but that day I was in a hurry, the office was to close early because of Good Friday and I still had lots to do.

As I rushed through the usual questions I didn’t glance up him, only looking straight ahead at my computer screen. I printed off his “Care Slip” and finally looked up as I asked him to sign his name. I then noticed that the smile that was on his face was no longer there. I thought to myself, did I make this man feel “not valued” or even as a “inconvenience”? In that moment I heard God say… “Slow down!”

I took back the care slip once he signed it and look directly in his eyes and asked him how he and his father was doing. In the past he had shared how he cared for his ailing father and the health struggles of his own. He told about me how he had met a very nice Coke Cola delivery man at the store last week and how he helped him get into his car after he had locked his keys inside. That his father health was the same and how much pain he himself has felt the past few days.

As I listened to him share a little of his life the smile returned to his face. I asked him if he had plans for Easter Sunday and he went on to tell me the celebration that he had planned with his family. Once we were done (maybe three minutes later) I told him that I would put him and his father on my prayer list. The man went on to say with tear in his eye, “isn’t that amazing how GOD places people in your path just at the right time when you need it, thank you for your prayers.”

To tell the truth I felt ashamed of myself, because before I asked him how he was doing I asked myself a selfish question; ‘do I really want to go there with him?’ was rolling around in my thoughts. I was in a hurry and really didn’t want to make the time. But it only took maybe 3 minutes longer to “check him in”. He left my desk with a smile and a warm feeling in his heart that God had placed me in his path at just the right moment to encouragement him. And in a small why he felt comfort to know that someone was actually going to pray for him.

What if I didn’t take those three extra minutes? What if I just kept looking at my computer and not asked him how he was doing? God knew what this man needed, I didn’t. And just think I almost was to self centered to let God use me for a brief moment in this mans life. What would this world look like if we all took 2-3 minutes to extend a kind smile, a word of encouragement or even just our ears ( for listening)? What if that person at the store, doctor’s office, work, gym, bus stop, school … has no one to value them? What if you are the only one in their lives gives them the time to share what is on their mind, or what is heavy on their heart?

Mental Blocks

October 10, 2010July 7, 2018 Leave a comment

Mental / Psychological = relating to the mind or mental processes.

Block / Obstruct = something that obstructs or prevents progress.

Mental Blocks = an inability to carry out a mental task such as remembering something (what Gods word says), especially when caused by subconscious emotional factors, that keeps us from progressing / moving forward.

What are some of your mental blocks? You know those beliefs that have been engraved in your mind, opinions, reasoning, thoughts that you really don’t take captive, just automatic responses to different things.

We all have probably millions of different examples of where we have struggled with our thoughts. In fact, we may all agree that one day we can have the right mental process, and the very next day struggle as we stumble over those old “mental blocks” and our habitual ways of thinking.

What are Thoughts? Thoughts = to use the mind to consider ideas and make judgments.

And we all make judgments on the things that we believe to be true, our perspective. For an example, a tall woman may walk into a room that has 8-foot ceilings and “think” the room has low ceilings. A shorter woman may walk into the same room and “think” the room has high ceilings. Two different perspectives but the fact is that the room has 8-foot ceilings.

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

What does that really mean to take captive every thought? Just thinking about that overwhelms me. We have thousands of thoughts that cross our minds, maybe even millions! When you don’t take captive of one thought it WILL SNOWBALL!! It really happens fast. For me, one negative thought (or a belief that is rooted in a lie) leads to another and next thing I know my imagination gets carried away. The enemy does not want us to walk in victory. So, he WILL set up road blocks (mental blocks) to keep us from truth. Who are we going to listen to, the god of this world, or the God of all creation? Are we going to hold tight to the truth, or are we going to allow the enemy to lie to us? The choice is ours.

Matthew 12:36

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Do you think maybe that means our thoughts too? Will we be accountable for every careless thought that we think, every thought that we do not take captive?

How do we stop the old way of thinking?

Focus on God’s Word. “Is that what God says about me?”
Know where your hope comes from. “We are more than conquerors!” Romans 8: 28-31
Exchange your fear for FAITH! One produces death one produces RIGHTOUSNESS!

Colossians 3:1-4 (MSG)

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective..