Bittersweet

Bittersweet: pleasure mingled with pain or regret.

All parts of bittersweet are reported to be poisonous, but songbirds, ruffed grouse, pheasant, and fox squirrel eat the fruits. The Menominee, Ojibwa, and Potawatami tribes of North American Indians have used the inner bark as an emergency food. (USDA.gov)

On my way home from work yesterday I had an "aha" moment.  Life is bittersweet! Now . . . I certainly I have known this, but yesterday, this truth/ knowledge became larger than me - remember "it's all about me."  As I was closing down my computer at the end of the day, I saw a short story about Delanie Walker (a San Francisco 49ers football player) flash up on the screen. His aunt and uncle were at the Superbowl to see him play, and on their way home they were killed by a drunk driver.

Just take a minute with that.

Walker had just celebrated what was certainly the crowning achievement of his career (even though his team didn't win)! And every day for the rest of his life, that day will be "mingled with pain." That's when I had my revelation: That's life!  I don't say that to be negative, to complain, to express a "woe is me" mindset.  I've lived a lot of years with that attitude, though! I've raised my eyes to heaven and asked God with great exasperation, "Why, God?  Why?"

Wow! How small-minded and self-involved of me! Am I alone in this?  There are a lot of really great things going on in my life right now! And there are some really hard things--really hard.  On good days, I "grin and bear it" and on the not so good days, when I'm tired or stressed, I walk around in kind of a funk.  I admittedly feel sorry for myself: God has given me so many burdens to bear. Why can't I just have the "good stuff" without the pain, sadness, struggle!  Just once. Just. Once.

I wonder if Delanie Walker experienced that? Do you? But you see, that is just life  It's not perfect or easy or simple.  God isn't mad at us or punishing us.  It's just life.  That's not reason to curl up in a ball in the corner or crawl into a hole and hide out from the hard stuff. Not at all.  Rather we must focus on the joy--the good stuff. That doesn't mean we ignore the pain or grief or struggle. It means we push on through it because we know that life also offers us tremendous joy.

Paul exhorts us to "Regoice in the Lord always."

"[ Final Exhortations ] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9 NIV).

You see, we have every reason to rejoice, even in the midst of our hardships! We know the ultimate outcome of our existence! We will be in heaven one day! And that is all we really need to know.

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Rejoice in the Lord

We were out late last night, and I slept in a few extra minutes this morning. Okay . . . 30 extra minutes! My first temptation was to skip my prayer time so I would have more time to check emails, facebook, etc. and check out several 'money-saving' blogs before I got ready for work.

But I prevailed! I got my coffee and sat right down with my bible and prayer journal. I couldn't help but think how easy we (I) make it for Satan to win those little battles we face throughout the day -- he would have started off the day with a victory! I've learned that how I start my day, typically determines how the rest of the day will go . . . had a pretty good day!

So, no, I'm not that strong, devout, self-controlled, diligent, or that great a role model! I'm just desperately, passionately, completely in love with God! I have missed intimacy with Him over the past months. I have a lot of work to do to rebuild our relationship. I rejoice that He has already forgiven me my transgressions.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near" (Phil. 4:4-5 NIV)


Blessings on your journey,
Mary

The Peace of God

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts"(Psalm 139:23 NIV).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

I woke up this morning with the scripture from Philippians on my mind. I think I had better get my head on straight and give my day to God! There is a lot going on in my life right now - lots of balls in the air. God is faithful though and at the end of each day when I lay my head down, I have no doubt He has been with me through it all.

And I have no doubt He will sustain me for this day too! My prayer today is that you feel the peace that transcends all understanding as you move through the day ahead and always.

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Lord Teach Me To Pray

A.C.T.S. is an acronym for a model of prayer that offers to God our adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. It is often difficult to pray. Perhaps we don't really know how to pray. Sometimes we may not feel we're "qualified" to pray, or we feel we don't have the right to pray for some reason.

Using the ACTS model for prayer, it will be very easy to pray, even if you've never really prayed in the past. ACTS praying doesn't require any great knowledge of or study about prayer, but praying in this way is personal, effective, and powerful.

This method of prayer is ideal even for young children with a limited vocabulary or for those inexperienced at prayer. Seasoned prayers can use it too. There are many references to the various elements of ACTS prayer in the Bible, so we can be assured it is proper and appropriate to follow this model.

In Philippians chapter 4, verse 6, the apostle Paul writes, "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Paul's letter to his student and friend, Timothy, states, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [1 Timothy 2:1]. Learn this method by reading the rest of my article at Associated Content, A.C.T.S. - A Model for Prayer.


Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Overcome fear and discouragement with the "three J's"

In the midst of all the snow and due to church services being canceled today, we did some "channel surfing" to find some spiritual programming that might take the place of our attending our own church.

I was not disappointed! Pastor Zachery Tims of New Destiny Christian Center talked today about how we can overcome fear and disappointment with the "Three J's."

The first "J" was Joseph. Pastor Tims reassured listeners not to be afraid of their current circumstance--no matter how hard it is. "But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." (Genesis 50:19-21 NIV).

The second "J" to which Dr. Tims referred was Job. "At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing" (Job1:20-22 NIV).

The third "J" was Jesus. "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith( Philippians 3:7-9 NIV).



Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Choose joy!

Today I choose joy!

Actually, last night before I went to bed I had decided I would choose joy today.

A dear friend prepared our Christmas meal and invited us to her house - all of us! No clean up for us! We kicked back and relaxed for 4 straight days. No tradition this year -- everything was different. It was odd not to do what we "always do" at Christmas-not a single tradition in place this year!

In the days ahead I'll be sharing the lessons God is teaching me about and through all this -- He's been on overtime with me lately:-) But today, I choose joy!

Christmas is "over", my daughter and son-in-law have returned home and I return to work this morning after 4 wonderful, restful days off. My son and husband return to their respective jobs today as well.

I ate everything in sight and gained back 5 of the 40 lbs. I worked so hard to lose over the past 6 months. Snow has melted and the earth looks brown and is saturated through and through with water. No sunshine today, at least not yet.

Today I choose joy! I'm going to breathe in joy and exhale joy! I am God's beloved and my heart is at peace. This is the last Monday of 2009! Actually, it's the last Monday of the current decade! That reminds me I have a new decade in which to live and learn and grow and experience joy!

Yes, it is a choice! Life is hard. sometimes it's even excruciating and almost unbearable. Sometimes it looks bleak on the horizon ahead. But we must choose joy!

My prayer is that today, you will choose joy!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 NIV)

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

MONDAY MANNA

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Stop by An Open Book to link up with others. My comments follow.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:4-9 NIV).

Paul's words are so rich! Every time I read his words I can almost feel the energy and sense of urgency with which he spoke!

Paul had a lot of lost time to make up for. He had spent most of his life hating the very people he later labored so passionately to bring to Christ! More than that, he had hunted down and murdered them! Knowing this one may ask how he can exhort us to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice"

Paul is in awe of the gift of grace Christ won for us. More, he is astounded! That is the source of his sense of urgency, his passion, his zeal. Paul bids us to turn away from the sinful ways of our past and begin living a life that glorifies Christ in all things.

My prayer is that some day I become such a shining example that every thing I think and say and do will lead others to Christ. Until that time, I labor to think about "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy."

Rejoice and pray. In all things at all times. Heaven awaits us! Pray that we can be a beacon for others and rejoice that even in our failing, God loves us. Rejoice that Christ won eternal life for us and pray that we can lead others to that glorious truth with every moment of our lives.

Blessings on your journey,
Mary