Wednesday, November 7, 2012

I'm Striving to do Better

Am I perfect - far from it, but I am striving to do better.

I am NOT God, so, therefore, I can not do His job, but I can put my best foot forward, and keep striving to do my part better.

I am so glad that our God is the God of another chance.  He gives us every opportunity to get our lives back on track; right with Him, others, and ourselves.

I like striving to instead of trying to.  Trying sounds like an excuse we use when we really don't want to do something, and we are trying to convey the fact that it is too hard.  How can this be - we're Christians, and there is nothing too hard for God!  Striving reflects a pressing forward with every ounce of strength connotation!  And why wouldn't we keep striving with such a loving and caring Father like ours who has our back; front; top, and bottom 24/7!!

We must keep striving against all odds.  No matter what life takes us through we must keep striving.  There has been and will be struggles; hard times; trials and tribulations; lean and mean times, for as Christians we are not exempt from these things, but all our good days will out weigh our bad days, and if we keep striving to do better then better times are coming.  And when better times come for us, let us not forget to extend our hands to our brothers and sisters-in-Christ, and our fellow man, and encourage them to keep striving to do better.  Amen 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

An Idle Mind !

There is a set of English proverbs that are worded similarly:
  • Idle hands are the devil's workshop
  • Idle hands are the devil's tools ("Collections" 1808)
  • Idle brains are the devil's workhouses (T. Fuller 1732)
  • An idle brain is the devil's workshop (H. G. Bohn, "Hand-Book of Proverbs," 1855)
  • If the Devil finds a Man idle, he'll set him at work (J. Kelly, "Scottish Proverbs," 1721)
  • The devil finds work (or mischief) for idle hands to do
There are many variations, but they all follow the same theme: A person who doesn't have something in particular to occupy himself with doing will be tempted to occupy himself with sin.  The phrasing is not found in the Bible, but like many "chimney corner scriptures" it has its roots in a scriptural idea.  When we have too much free time, and we're not spending it with God, in the Word of God, we leave ourselves open to many sinful thoughts and temptations.  One thing I can personally think of is the internet and its world wide range.  Be careful what you click on, a virus might not only enter your computer, but enter into your home.

The one saying that we have heard momma and them use is: "the idle mind is a playground for the devil."  There are a lot of things that momma and them said and did that we should forget, but this is not one of them.  This is a good and true saying.  An idle mind is a dangerous thing.  We must preoccupy our minds with the Word of God, good works, positive activities, and most of all with "What Would Jesus Do?"

We must stay the course and keep the focus by keeping our minds and hands active for the Lord.

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. (1 Timothy 5:13)

Sunday, November 4, 2012

We're Back !

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19).

Hello and God Bless everyone. It has been almost 5 months since my wife and I last published a blog. God has been working in our lives.  He has taken us from the comfortable and familiar to a different place. Like Abram, sometimes God has to move us in order to bring us to the place He wants us to be; to depend on no one but Him.  We have to know that wherever God sends us that He will work it out, not just for us, but for the better good of the whole.

 Living in close proximity with different cultures has caused great growth in our lives, and has truly increased our faith.

We have been back to visit with our old church-home.  It felt so good, but you have to enjoy, and not get fooled by the familiar.  The familiar will always feel good.  It is okay to visit, but there is no going back unless God says so.  We have to keep moving forward to get what God has for us.

GOD IS ALWAYS IN CHARGE AND IN CONTROL!!!