PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION

"We must share the truth of the Word with the next generation (2 Timothy 2:2) and prepare them for the battles and opportunities to come (Psalm 78:1-8; 102:18).

Warren Wiersbe
Be Worshipful  p.59
David C. Cook  2004


As For Me

I appreciate the need to share both sides--struggles and opportunities.

 I have to smile, though. I wonder how many times struggles are opportunities.

Just Thinkin',

Lonnie

AS THEY ARE

"God, 
Help me to love others as they are, because
I want to be loved as I am."

Lonnie

ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD

" We can always look forward to His faithfulness."


James Banks
Our Daily Bread   Volume 62  #6


As For Me

I would have disputed that -- for years.

                      But . . .

Faithfulness is not synonymous with easy. That's where I stumbled.

I'm EverGrowing. God is EverPatient--and faithful.
Lonnie

UNABLE TO PRAY FOR MYSELF

"The inability to pray troubled me the most.
. . . I would eventually recall He made two preparations for such occurence: the prayer of the Spirit for us when we can't pray and the prayer of others on our behalf."
( Romans 8:26)

Randy Kilgore
Our Daily Bread  Volume 62  # 6


As For Me

"Can we pray?" Ray has asked.

At times, I admit, I've just been too lazy or too angry.

But there have been other times when I've said,

"You'll have to. I can't."

The hurt is too deep. I'm angry with God. I don't have the breath or strength. "I" can't pray.

Ray is so faithful. So are friends. And so is the Holy Spirit who takes my tears, groans, fears, and anxiety and translates them into prayer.

WHO NEEDS WORDS?
Lonnie

HOROSCOPES AND TEA LEAVES

" . . . I will confound their strategy, so that they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead and to mediums and spiritists."

Isaiah 19:3  New American Standard


As For Me

Why? Why not resort to God?

I've walked the path the Egyptians took, short of consulting the dead. Too scary.

Quija boards, horoscopes, and tea leaves. I resorted to those because I wanted immediate answers. I wanted hope that there was something better ahead. (To be clear, though, they never kept their promises.)

I knew about God, yet didn't understand a one-on-one relationship with Him. Still, I can well imagine that I'd turn to horoscopes and tea leaves first, because I could choose whether to believe or not; choose whether to follow their advice, or not.

Four decades ago, I chose to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.

He keeps His promises and holds my heart until He does.

He could never love me more,
And He will never love me less.

Lonnie

WITHOUT RIVAL

"Jesus . . . O knit my thankful heart to Thee
And reign without a rival there."

Paul Gerhardt -- translated by John Wesley
The Essential Tozer Collection  p.118
(emphasis and desire mine)


Lonnie

DEVOTIONS . . . DO THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

"David began his devotions seeking help for himself but ended by seeking blessing for all people, including his enemies. That's the way our devotion times ought to end."


Warren Wiersbe 
Be Worshipful (Psalm 5)   p. 39
David C. Cook    2004


As For Me

Colour me CHALLENGED!
Lonnie

OTHERS SEE ME DIFFERENTLY

"Even though I've made my share of mistakes, I am totally loved by You. And even though others may see me in a different light, Yours is the only light that matters."


Susie Larson
Embracing Your Freedom   p.77
Moody Publishers    2009



As For Me

I need to pray this until I believe it. How about you?

Years ago, I walked into a gathering where I felt totally misunderstood and unloved. A man greeted me at the door: "How are you?" I was NOT fine. And I was determined not to lie.

So, I looked him in the eye and said,

 "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Lonnie

(So are you. See Psalm 139.)

HATRED OF EVIL

"God's hatred of evil isn't emotional; it's judicial, an expression of His holiness."

Warren Wiersbe
Be Worshipful  p.37
David C. COOK  2004

As For Me

Oddly enough, I find comfort in this. God's hatred isn't the absence of love. I think we all know what that feels like. 

God NEVER stops loving us.

He never turns our picture, face-down. He never purges His heart of all the gifts we've given Him.

He isn't petty or juvenile.

He's righteous!

I'm so thankful. It's scary to think of someone, less than righteous, controlling my life/our world.

Reminders To Self,
Lonnie

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

"It's well been said that 'the good old days' are a combination of a bad memory and a good imagination."

                          
Warren W. Wiersbe
Be Worshipful  p.34
David C. Cook    2004


As For Me

Remembering or reading of 'the good old days' comforts and encourages me.

 Days, decades, and centuries gone by hold such lessons of adventure, perseverance, and neighborliness.

To long for 'the old days,' is pointless; they aren't coming back. I can, however, bring forward what I learn from them. How about you? Share suggestions.


I'm Learning,
Lonnie

BEEN THERE--DONE THAT

"Like Israel of old, people today trust the gods that they have made instead of the God who made them;


These include the false gods of pleasure, wealth, military might, scientific acievement, and even 'religious experience.'"




Warren Wiersbe
The Wiersbe Bible Commentary   p. 1166
David C. Cook    2007


As For Me

Not unlike a person falling from the pedestal we place them on, the things we trust will let us down . . . just when we feel like we need them the most.

Been There--Done That.

Lonnie

WHAT WE MIGHT BE MISSING

While talking and praying with a friend, I remembered a conversation with Mom.

She was afraid to hear God speak--afraid He would tell her everything she'd done wrong.

As I shared with her, I'll pass on to you: If we shut our ears to God, afraid of conviction, we also shut our ears to some other very important words. 

"I love you."

So, don't be looking over your shoulder to see who He's talking to. 

It's YOU!

Lonnie

NOBODY KNEW BUT GOD

" . . . Somebody saying, 'I couldn't quit praying for you this morning. I feel God really wants to remind you that He is with you and that He loves you so much.' 

Nobody had seen your angst that morning but God. Nobody but He heard you wail. The Creator of the Universe literally appointed someone through the leadership  of His Holy Spirit . . . "

Beth Moore

Audacious   p. 160

Broadman and Holman

As For Me

I've been the recipient of such blessings -- treasures! To know that God sees and cares; and that a friend or a church person risks being wrong or feeling foolish to speak out what they feel from God----that's Body Ministry! That's life-saving!

Thankful,

Lonnie

LET'S BE LIKEABLE

"There is no estimating the revival we could have in America if we were all less convinced that being unlikeable is a Christian virtue."




Beth Moore
Audacious  p.146
Broadman and Holman



As For Me

Beth is one Bible thumping lady, so she's definitely not asking us to compromise or dilute God's Word. But she does say, "Audacious is not obnoxious (p. 144)."

God, help me to be pleasant to be around and may that pleasantness whet appetites for Jesus,
Lonnie

HARVEY AND IRMA

God and I took a walk this morning. The sun shining on rippling waters brought healing to my heart.  I love it when He and I have conversation--even when it's not easy.

With Harvey devastating Texas, Irma is on her way to Florida. I keep praying that God will steer her away from people and buildings.

God, I beg for mercy; but let Your Hand be seen--whether it's judgment or mercy. And, may Your Hand not be missed.


It is possible to see both judgment and mercy. But, even though it's not missed, it may be denied. Don't become angry or discouraged when people deny My Hand. I'm working.


God, I also beg that Christians be wise in what they say; or that they would  refrain from speaking at all. Let them pull back their fingers of blame. We ALL need to repent.

Thank You For Your Unfailing Love, God,
Lonnie

DONE AND UNDONE

"For years I have prayed each morning, 'Help me, God, to do what you want me to do today.' Now I also pray for help leaving undone the things God wants left undone . . . Instead of clinging to my to-do list, I ask God to fill me with the sense of completeness I crave."




Jennifer Kirsch
The Upper Room/September 6, 2017   p. 12


Hoping He'll Ask Me To Leave The Dusting Undone . . .
Because Enjoying A Walk With Him or With A Friend Is More Important,
Lonnie

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MANURE 8-)

"We have the daily privilege to 'watch' people do what we want to do and seemingly be who we wish we could be.

"At first all the watching inspires and motivates . . . But after a while . . . the more exciting their lives look, the lamer we feel.

"Never mind that the adventures posted on social media are subject to the provocative spin of the poster. I'm saying our comparison fields have a lot of manure in them."  (Emphasis mine)




Beth Moore
Audacious   p.75
Broadman & Holman


Just Couldn't Pass This Up,
Lonnie

FORGIVENESS ISN'T TO EXCUSE

" Scholar Lewis Smedes explained that forgiveness isn't to excuse the one who hurt us; forgiveness means we are ready to be healed."




Patricia Raybon
OurDaily Bread   June 2017


As For Me

When someone hurts me, I create schemes to help them feel how painful their thoughtlessness was. There is NO healing in that.

I do better to remember Jesus' words: "Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV)

Practicing,
Lonnie

SNEEZES

Isn't it fun? 

Isn't it funny?

Sneeze and complete strangers will say, "God Bless You."

Occasionally I will respond, "Oh, thank you; I'm collecting those."

But seriously, doesn't that kindness "bless" you? Caring between strangers? The very mention of the God we cherish?

Boy, It Does Me!
Lonnie

GENTLE HEALERS

"When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand."





Henri Nouwen
Out Of Solitude   p.38
Ave Maria Press   2004



As For Me

I think there was a time that I wanted solutions and cures. What I wanted was a quick fix.

I'm so grateful for the people who endured and forgave my self-pity and trusted that one day their gentle words and hugs would reach the pains of my heart.

Thank You,
Lonnie