Our Daily Bread - Why Not Now?‏

This really encouraged my heart today. Praying it encourages yours.

Our Daily Bread - Why Not Now?
‏www.odb.org. (RBC MINISTRIES)

READ: John 13:33-38

David, after he had served his own generation . . . fell asleep. —Acts 13:36

I have a dear friend who served as a missionary in Suriname for many years, but in his final years he was stricken with an illness that paralyzed him. At times he wondered why God allowed him to linger. He longed to depart and to be with his Lord.

Perhaps life is very hard for you or a loved one, and you are wondering why God has allowed you or your loved one to linger. When Jesus said He was going to heaven, Peter asked, “Lord, why can I not follow You now?” (John 13:37). You, like Peter, may wonder why entry into heaven has been postponed: “Why not now?”

God has a wise and loving purpose in leaving us behind. There is work to be done in us that can only be accomplished here on earth. Our afflictions, which are for the moment, are working for us “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). And there is work to be done for others—if only to love and to pray. Our presence may also be for the purpose of giving others an opportunity to learn love and compassion.

So, though you may desire release for yourself or a loved one, to live on in the flesh can mean fruitfulness (Phil. 1:21). And there is comfort in waiting: Though heaven may be delayed, God has His reasons. No doubt about it! —David Roper

Not so in haste, my heart!
Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long
He never comes too late. —Torrey

Our greatest comfort is to know that God is in control

Making Room (Part 1)

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas & blessed start in the New Year. I haven't blogged in awhile, I took the advice of my last blog that I shared about slowing down. I haven't felt very well most of this year so I took some time off from blogging & have been resting. I was so encouraged by a blog post that I just read so I wanted to pass it on to my readers. Before my mom passed away on 1/2/09 we use to talk alot about crying & she was always afraid if she let herself cry that she would become uncontrolable & end up in the hospital. She was literally terrified by letting herself break down & cry because she was afraid of it setting off a severe asthma attack or heart attack. I use to explain to her that I believed God gave us tears so we could heal & that it was good for our spirit. I'm not talking about just making yourself cry just to cry & causing un-necessary drama & getting your emotions out of control. I firmly believe if more people would let themselves cry they would have less health problems & heart attacks. These words brought comfort to my mom & she learned to cry & know the peace that came after. I also have a friend who was raised that crying meant you were weak. I must confess I use to put my tough girl attitude on & I was one never to let them see you cry. But then one day I learned how to cry out to Jesus & my boohoo Sisters & oh the joy & peace that came from that. I also am a firm believer that it is ok for boys & men to cry as well, after all the Bible says Jesus wept. So I wanted to share this Amy Grant Video with all of you & a blog post by a blogger friend of mine Gitz Girl. I love the way she explained the healing & peace that makes room for the peace God wants to give us. Be blessed everyone. XO <3

Daily Promises
Blue Letter Bible
January 5, 2011

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. (Psalms 126:5)

How true it is that though we presently toil under a curse, sowing in tears upon this earth, it is in our hope of heavenly promise that we bask, joyful and content. Our earthly suffering is for but a moment! And truly—it is even now working for us who believe, a far and exceeding weight of glory! Rejoice, therefore, in the sweat of your brow and the pain in your side for these do but serve to focus your eyes heavenward to the consuming glory of promise!

Making Room
Posted: 04 Jan 2011 10:01 PM PST

What is it about us that instinctively wants not to cry?
We think it's weak. We think it means we aren't strong enough to persevere. We're afraid other people will feel sorry for us. That they won't take us seriously. That it is a reflection of our personal insufficiencies.
And sometimes, we're afraid that once we start... we'll never stop.
I've thought about writing about this topic for awhile, and in the past three days I've said the following statement to two different people:
"Some tears are good tears. Good tears are necessary. I'm learning to let them fall to make room for the peace."
In the past month, I've told three different people in three different circumstances that I'm wondering if sometimes we're not supposed to "get over it." That sometimes we're not supposed to shake that feeling in the pit of our stomach.
That sometimes we're supposed to dive right in it.
Maybe, in the middle of the storms... in the pit of our stomach that holds a heavy rock of fear or dread or sadness... we're not supposed to ignore it and run from it and "fake it 'til we make it."
Maybe that pit in our stomach is right where God is.
Maybe He's there, waiting for us to show up and face it so He can help us through it.
Maybe He's waiting for us to acknowledge the pit in our stomach and let the tears fall so we can make room for the peace He's holding in His hands.
Just for us.
I've said before that you can't fix what isn't broken. If that's true, why are we so afraid to be broken? Why is it hard for me to look into my best friend's eyes for fear I'll fall apart? Why are we keeping ourselves broken and full of tears?
There is a part in a Selah song, Unredeemed, that says: "Life breaks and falls apart, but we know these are the places where grace is soon to be so amazing. They may be unfulfilled, they may be unrestored, but when anything that's shattered is laid before the Lord – just watch and see – it will not be unredeemed."
That's how I am going to look at the tears. The place that feels broken. They aren't weak or something to be afraid of... they are just the places where grace is soon to be so amazing.
I'm learning to let them fall to make room for the peace.

By Gitz
 http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/

Part 2 Making Room.

Amy Grant - Better Than A Hallelujah

The Necessity Of S L O W

The Necessity Of S L O W Posted: 27 Nov 2010 09:10 PM PST Fast is not my forte. Whether it’s a run at the lake, making a financial decision or writing a post for my blog, I enjoy taking the slow and steady approach. Recently, I revisited some of the reasons doing life in the fast lane is a struggle for me. I was reminded of my struggle , as my oldest son and I visited one of the most amazing, fast paced cities in the world. As we boarded a plane bound for New York City, leaving our humble abode in the great state of Oklahoma where wheat fields and pastures abound, I had a feeling the next week would be a whirlwind. My feelings were accurate. Over the course of the next six days, we visited Times Square and Lady Liberty.  We rode the subway and toured Radio City Music Hall.  Broadway and 42nd Street were our home away from home each night as we were privileged to see up to six Broadway theatre productions. Not to mention the vast array of walking that would take us into every nook and cranny of this great city. I was left scratching my head. Regardless of the wonderful experience we were having, I found myself falling into bed each night after midnight,  feeling a little lost. Not so much lost in a physical sense, but in a  ‘not quite grounded, there is something missing’  kind of way.   The kind of lost that nags just a smidge, enough to keep me scratching my head and wondering. And then I realized. Sadly, by the last few days of our trip, I had a self-imposed day of rest in the quiet of our hotel room.  Looking back, I can see where my slow paced body needed a break from the fast pace we were keeping.  As I spent the entire day alone in the quiet of my room on the fifth floor of our hotel in Times Square, the lost feeling faded and I realized what I had been missing for the last week or so. Alone in that room, there was no subway noise; no maps to navigate. No shoulder to shoulder people waiting in line to see the same sight. That day in the quiet, there was no worry about walking at an almost runner’s pace in order to stay with the group. No horns blaring or taxi hailing folks standing on the crowded street corner. I was missing it all and taking in so much at the very same time. And I could hear Him. In the quiet of that room as the last days of our trip neared, I realized how almost impossible it is for me to hear God’s whispers if I am in constant motion. The fact that He is always nearby and will never leave me stands true, but for me, it is so difficult to sense His presence, see Him moving,  or get a grip on His hand if I spend my time running all day and collapsing into bed each night without quieting my heart and my mind on a regular basis. It is difficult for me to hear His voice if my busy life is shouting over it. Alas, I came home from the hustle and bustle with a handful of wonderful experiences under my belt, and a fresh reminder of the necessity of s l o w. And this is a reminder I needed, indeed. Are you like me and need to slow down just a smidge in order to hear His voice? Can you see the necessity of s l o w in your everyday life? By Nikkie, Another Turn Of The Page

Destressing the Holidays

 I reposted a blog I follow for those of you who put alot of stress on yourself during this time of year by doing too much. I have been so guilty of that in
the past. Some of you have heard me say my painful afflictions (Fibromyalgia,Osteoarthritis,Neuropathy,Carpal Tunnel,Migraines,Tmj,Ankolosing Spondolytis,Hiatal Hernia,Gerd) &
my disease(Hashimotos Thyroiditis)  is a blessing,some ask me how I can say that. One of the reasons I say that is because of these health issues, I have learned to step back and see what is really important especially at this time of year & have learned to not over do it. My family and friends don't care how big or elaborate our Thanksgiving dinner is or that it is all made from scratch, what they really want is quality time with me & for me to have a good day(painfree & well).
I am thankful for my Family,Church Family, Friends & my new blogging Buddies.
Praying you have a blessed,stress free  Joyful Thanksgiving. <3:D




Destressing the Holidays

Posted: 20 Nov 2010 10:00 PM PST

As the holidays arrive, stoves simmer, and families reunite, the
Most Wonderful Time of the Year resonates in our hearts.  Our desire is to welcome guests to our home with beautifully adorned decorations, deliciously homemade delights and ambiance that rivals “It’s a Wonderful Life’s” final scene. Yet that goal, if not kept into balance leads to…holiday stress.
During the holiday season, most people feel a lot of pressure to pull off the perfect holiday,” says Judy Illingworth, LCSW, St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network. “We have an unrealistic, preconceived notion that’s impossible to bring to life because of all the extra work involved. There are so many additional demands on our time, and most families today are already very busy. Between all the extra parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, and entertaining, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and lose the real meaning of the holidays.”
According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, nearly 50%  of all women in the U.S. experience heightened stress during the holidays. About 60 percent report feeling nervous or sad, and just over half report symptoms of fatigue.
When I read those statistics, I feel the Lord whisper (well, it might be more of a yell) that I do not have to be Super “Martha.” My home, my hospitality, my love for gathering family and friends together is a “Good Thing,” even if it doesn’t grace December’s issue of House Beautiful.
So how do we avoid being part of that statistic during this holiday season?
1. Say “No” to unrealistic expectations, engagements and entertaining that causes unnecessary stress.
I am not saying avoid hospitality, or extending generosity. We love to open our home during the holidays, but I have found a balance between unrealistic expectations that I put on myself, and realizing  people just want to spend quality time together in a loving, accepting environment. Three years ago, our family strategically starting clearing out unnecessary things from our schedule during the month of December. We were missing out on just “being” because we were so busy going, doing, going, doing. Doing “good things”, I might add, but things that distracted us from the beauty, simplicity and wonder that surrounded the holidays. I realized it was impossible for me to please everyone, but I was responsible for how I helped engage my family in pointing them to our Savior. Now, we spend a lot of cozy times during December with special traditions and heritage building choices that are solidifying a strong generational legacy. Extend hospitality? Yes. Stressful Entertaining? No.
2. Say “Yes” to a Budget.
Shockingly enough, 90% of people buy things they can NOT afford. Simply put, nine out of ten of you reading this post will make purchases over the next six weeks that you should NOT buy. How does that Green Eyed Monster creep in just when I feel I’ve squashed him. This is where that comparison trap gets us every time. When I am frenzied those last few shopping days and feel the need to put more and more under the tree, I stop and ask myself, “From where is this feeling coming? When have I ever felt “stuff” mattered more than relationships?”  When the New Year’s Ball drops, and  2011 rings through with your finances in tact, you will be so thankful that you remembered what really matters. By January 10, most people, especially children, can’t reiterate 1/2  of the presents they received, but they will remember those special traditions that occurred with family and friends.
3. Engage the Senses
Within our loving, fun, chaotic home, I am passionate about engaging the senses. Stimulated senses enable us to experience life. Our senses soothe us, comfort us, welcome us, alert us, nourish us, encourage us…and so much more.  When we stimulate the senses of those around us, it communicates love. Last year, I wrote a post about “Creating ambiance during meal time” I shared how every day, I light candles. Yes, you read that right. Don’t save them just for company. Your family is your most prized guests. Turning on the music, simmering hot cider, and lighting some candle are all simple and inexpensive ways to set a calming tone after a busy day just by engaging the senses.
I’m just getting warmed up sharing the ways I make my holidays less stressful, but suddenly,  I’m stressed just thinking how long this post will be if I continue. I’ll check in during December and see how we are doing when we’re full fledged in the middle of the season.
For now remember, as we prepare, plan and ponder the beauty of these next few weeks, let us not lose sight of the reason we gather:  to celebrate, reflect, and pour out gratitude for the blessings found through our Savior.
P.S. One of the things I am grateful for is Dayspring. Make sure you check back here as Dayspring will have lots of goodies on sale for their  “Pink Friday” event.