For His Glory, Wednesday, May 20, 2009, "Cry Out to Jesus"

My dear friends - all around us people are hurting. They are in real pain and our hearts need to be breaking for those who are dealing with unemployment, financial crisis, marital crisis, a housing crisis, children in crisis. Do we see the theme here??? But I know that I know that I know - the only One who can deliver us from the immediate is Jesus. I weep when I hear the song by Third Day entitled "Cry Out to Jesus" (C). The song speaks

To everyone who's lost someone they love;

To all of the people with burdens and pain;

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on

when they've lost all of their faith and love;

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains;

To the widow who suffers from being alone;

For the children around the world without a home;

and then the words of the song remind us that

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary

Love for the broken heart

There is grace and forgiveness

Mercy and healing

He'll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

My friends, I have been there, time and time again, when through my tears and my pain all I could do was speak the name of Jesus. I have had horrible nightmares where one of my children was being harmed that woke me screaming and crying but I could speak the name of Jesus and return to sleep with no memory of what had awoken me. You are not alone -we are not alone.
The Psalmist tells us at Psalm 107:28 "Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses." I know that when we cry out, He hears our cries and He responds. I do not know all that troubles us, but I do know the One who can heal our pain. Cry out to Jesus - He WILL meet you, wherever you are. Call me or e-mail me - I'll be there too and we'll cry out to Him - together. Loving you with His Love - AA

For His Glory - Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - "ME MONSTERS"

Tanner and one of his best buds love to listen to this comedian (whose name, unfortunately, I cannot remember cuz' he really deserves the credit for this) but he talks about "Me Monsters." You know, we've all met them and I dare say, at times, we've all been one! A "Me Monster" is that person who, no matter what the conversation, can always "go you one better." If your child got a 30 on the ACT (perfect score 36) ALL FOUR OF THEIR KIDS got a 40 (yeah, uhm, right!) If you labored for 30 hours, they labored for 30 days! You know, you're gettin' the gist of this. One of the things one of my girlfriends and I have noticed, as we desire to become truly Godly wives, is that 1 Corinthians 13 says that "love does not seek it's own; love does not envy and love does not parade itself." In short, LOVE is NOT a "Me Monster." Love is willing to take second place. OUCH! We all KNOW that second place is first loser but NOT in God's economy and NOT when we say we love. I cannot tell you I love you if at the same time I have to have my way, or I have to protect my "rights." This is a tough one for me, kids. I was the youngest in my family for a time and ended up the middle child. I missed that "youngest child" attention I got from my folks and did some pretty crummy things to get noticed. As the Holy Spirit is leading me and teaching me how to be a woman God can use for His Glory, I am compelled first and foremost, to truly love. That the things that break the heart of God would break my heart too. "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Silly Rabbit, "Me Monsters" are for kids.
Loving you, with His Love! AA

For His Glory - Wednesday, May 6, 2009, "Lip Service"

I recently have undertaken a study to truly learn what it is to Love. Trust me, it is not easy to get to be almost 47 years old only to find out I have been missing the mark. Admittedly, as my children grow and go through the difficulties of growing, I am learning that I do love them unconditionally because of who they are (my children) not because of what they do or don't do - or how long their hair is! I can honestly say that, unfortunately, I don't have that kind of unconditional, sacrificial love for EVERYONE in my circle and while it pains me, it also makes me angry enough to want to do something about it. We think of the number "13" as an "unlucky" number but I don't believe in luck and 1st Corinthians 13 speaks, for 13 verses about what love is . . . and isn't and love, according to my buddy, isn't "lip service." Don't say you love if you're not willing to put it into action. The text of the scripture follows:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy,

and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,

but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely,

does not seek its own,

is not provoked,

thinks no evil;

6 [LOVE] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 [LOVE] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;

whether there are tongues, they will cease;

whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come,

then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child,

I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

I don't profess to have all the answers but I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I do not want to be someone who casually, glibly says "I love you" but doesn't have the marbles to back it up with my actions. God demonstrated HIS love for us by sending HIS Son, Jesus to die for us WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS. God's love and gift was not conditioned on me being good enough and if I dare to speak the words I love you, my friends, it had better be more than lip service, whether I am professing my love for God and my Savior, for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my neighbors. It doesn't matter what you've read here that touched your heart, if I cannot demonstrate love to you, unconditonally, I am nothing and my words are noise at best! My youngest shared a quote from Mr. Ghandi which says "Be the change you want to see in the world." If I want others to love FIRST because God has first loved us, the change must start with me! I would ask that first and foremost, you lift me to the throne of Grace as I desire to be one who loves and asking, second, that you make the journey with me. Yours, In Him - AA

For His Glory - For Our Good - Friday, May 1, 2009 - The Handbook for 2009

HANDBOOK 2009

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for at least 7 hours each night.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day and while you walk, smile.
11. Don't compare your life to the lives of others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time - we already have all we need.
18. Forget issues of the past and don't remind your partner with his/her past mistakes. That will ruin your present joy.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your joy except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn - problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Laugh more - lots more. You can't cry if you're laughing!
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to another.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Do the right thing (ALWAYS - even if it's not the popular thing to do)!
33. Get rid of any possession that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. NOTE: This does not apply to people!
34. GOD can heal anything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come - plan on it!
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD and resolve to use the day for good and For His Glory! :)
To quote my buddy (she knows who she is) Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude! Happy Friday! AA