Our Positions

I have a co-worker that is a believer. But as many of you know us believers can have issues too. Being a believer doesn't mean we've arrived, hopefully it means we are working at it. Mr. X can go around quoting scriptures from the Old Testament and can be very legalistic about a lot of things. But on the other hand he is rebellious and can twist and manipulate things to make everything he does "okay".

I once heard that God puts people in our lives that are like sandpaper to refine us. And dealing with Mr. X is my sandpaper, I used to make jokes about does it have to be 80 grit. :) Along with all of this he is also dramatic, and paranoid, thinking everyone is out to get him. I have tried more than once to point these things out and have finally resolved to the fact that he just does not see them.

There was a lesson that God gave me to show him that he at least acknowledged.......
A coworker got promoted to a position he wanted. He was really upset and very demeaning of the person and dramatic about it. He said it was because she was a family friend and he wouldn't follow any guidelines or rules she set up because she didn't deserve the position she got and wasn't worthy. He's like that with the laws of the land too. He won't follow them if he thinks they are stupid. (I wonder if any of us do that at times, it's a stupid rule so I don't have to do it. ouch)

Well God gave me the most awesome word at the time, and I will try to reproduce it as best as possible it went something like this:

None of us deserve any of the positions we are in. We got this position because God loved us so much that He sent his son to die so that we could have this position. None of us start out knowing what to do or how to do it, we have to be lead and guided. None of us are worthy without the blood of Jesus and all the rules in life were set by unworthy people. When we obey a rule or a law we do it in obedience to God not that person. If we are faithful to God he will promote us when the time is right.

He did thank me and I felt as if he would spend some time reflecting on it, but it appeared to fall away like the seed on the rocks. (it stayed in my heart so maybe it was for me more than him.)

Matthew 13
18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”


God has been impressing on me lately that we have to have balance. We need to be tenacious, but loving, we need to abide to his commandments but have mercy when we and others fall short. We ALL have a position, and we all are in different stages or Positions in our life. We are all given different ministries, gifts, talents, and positions. We can't all be arms or legs, some need to be eyes and ears.

For some reason I was taking the care of his actions upon myself. Since he was a representative of Christ I felt I needed to make him act in the way I perceived God wanted him or I to act. When others would complain about him, I felt it would be a bad reflection on God. I was playing Holy Ghost Jr. :) God will take care of his own reputation. My responsibility in this was to pray for him not change him. I just need to do the lessons and hold the position God gave me. And in the meantime, God will give me the strength and wisdom to walk in love and love the unlovely.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Home

Hi
A quick blog to let you that are visiting know that I am home. I went and visited family for the holiday and it was so nice. However I did miss my bible studies.

We went to my Sisters and she lives about 40 miles from the little town that we grew up in. So on Saturday we went and visited the (now a field) place we grew up. We had fun walking off our property where the house was in relation to where overgrown bushes and trees are now. It will stir some new blogs stories I'm sure. :)

I got to spend some time with my Grandma that is 90 1/2 years young. And until recently she has been sharper than a lot of 40yr old. Anyway she's a believer and I can talk to her straight up about God and it's great. My Sister and I went and picked her up from her church and took her to my Sisters house and then fed her some lunch talked with her, watched some TV together and she got to laughing while watching my grand children which are her Great Great Grandchildren. She's just a great lady. Can't tell I love her can you? :) Well we had a BBQ and she ate again and then we took her home. Grandma is staying with her Step daughter and family right now because she has come to a point of not being able to be alone. She's not too happy about that but goes along because she knows she has too. What a wealth of information that 90 years brings and to think of all the changes she has seen in her life.

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Proverbs 3:2

We also met up with a childhood friend of my Hubby's that we found out lived in the same town (small world huh) and visited with her and her husband.

All of this and got to spend time with our youngest daughter her husband our two youngest grand children and my Sister and her Husband.

Always good to keep building relationships.

Hope everyone is doing well, I'll be touching bases on your blogs. Thanks for visiting.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Attention!!!

Well I just posted about Hula and if you haven't read it please do. I really can't remember for sure but I believe it was on our trip to Hula's graduation that this story took place.

My Dad, Mom, Sister and I were staying in a Motel. Everyone except my Sister had fallen asleep, but she was still awake watching TV. All the sudden she starts snickering, then giggling and then full fledged laughing. Well by this time the rest of us have woke up and want to know what is going on and what is so funny. She proceeds to tell us that while she was watching a military movie, they started to play the TAPS on a bugle. When this happened, our Dad sat straight up in bed and saluted the TV, then laid back down and went back to sleep. Well if I had been the one awake I would have gone hysterical laughing myself. I'm actually smiling right now. Well the ironic thing about this is the fact that my Dad never served in any branch of the military, so why he sat up and saluted we still do not know.

But I was thinking about this and it occurred to me that God wants that kind of instant obedience from us. That even in our sleep we wake up and are at attention for his call. Have you ever had a dream and made a good decision in your sleep, then woke up and felt good about it? I have and it's great, to know that I have made God such a part of my life that he is in my dreams as well. God says his sheep know His voice:

John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:28
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Proverbs 4:1
HEAR, MY sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters].

It really struck me that my Dad sat in his bed at Attention. That is what God wants from us our attention.

Take some time to give God your attention. Give Him Praise, and Thanks, for the attention He gives you.

Father God, thank you so much for the time and attention you pay to us. That you care about every need we have and every dream and want that we envision. Help us to always focus on you and and keep you so near to us that we will hear your voice and come to attention even in our sleep.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Thanks for visiting leave a comment it's always nice to know you were here. Also I do have another Blog check it out too. I am doing another Bible story on it but I will be posting stories on it too so read enjoy and comment.
Lynn

Hula

When I was 11 years old my Sister signed up to be a host/trainer for a Seeing Eye Dog. She filled out all the paperwork and applications and was approved. Well shortly before the dog was to arrive she had a change of heart and decided that she no longer wanted to go through with the whole program. She may have gotten a job or something because she was about 18 or 19 at that point, however I don't remember the reasoning behind the change of heart. So my Mom and Dad made phone calls explaining it all and the administration was not sure what to do because the puppy was ready to go. So I asked if I could do it. Well they had never had anyone my age sponsor a Seeing Eye Dog before however they didn't have any rules against it so they said they would give it a try.

Well a few weeks go by and finally it is time to travel the 45 miles to the airport and pick up our new family member. We met her and found out her name was "Hula" be cause she was long and her back end swayed back and forth when she walked. She was a full blooded Black Labrador retriever, full of energy.

How the program worked was we would raise the dog for 6-12 months training her in basic obedience, then she would go back to the training facility and train for 3-6 months on how to be a Guide Dog. Then they match the personality of the Dogs with that of a blind recipient and then the two of them train together. If at any of these stages the dog can't complete within certain criteria they are not deemed a suitable Guide Dog. Well we had a list of rules and regulations a mile long and it was very important that we follow them or she (Hula) would not become an actual Guide Dog. She had to go everywhere with us and be by my side everywhere except school. Back then the programs and rules were not as accommodating as they are now. She had vitamins to take, special food and certain ways you could discipline her.

When we 1st got her we were instructed to tie her to the bed so that she learned she had to sleep right next to her master. This was all well and fine until she needed to go potty. Well my sister and I shared a bedroom and I would sleep through Hula's whimpers to relieve herself. Whereas my sister was ever so kind to get up walk over to my bed, shake me awake and tell me to take the dog out. Now this did not make sense, you're awake, you're out of bed, you let the dog out. I know she's my dog but come on would it really hurt you.

Well Hula was shipped back and her high spirit pushed her to the edge of training, but she did make it as a Guide Dog and I was able to go to her Graduation and present her to her blind mistress in a ceremony in San Rafael CA. Considering I was from a town with a population of 560, that was a huge deal, and we have funny family stories from the trip that I may share in another post.

But through the years at different times it has come to mind about waking me up to let the dog out and I still didn't get it -until now. This is one of those it's so simple you miss it. It was all part of equipping me.

This was my responsibility and as little as it may have seemed to have her do part of it that would not have equipped me. My sister shaking me awake to take the dog out is like the Nudging that God does when he is trying to get us to move forward or do what we need to do. It's like when you have hope of being a Pastor and God wants you to usher. God has already provided everything we ever need but it is up to us and our willingness to be obedient to His Nudge.

Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

We don't always know why God moves us in such a direction, but he does. Be faithful and obedient and He will be faithful and rewarding in return.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

The Son is Shinning

Do you ever wonder why it is that we are so energetic when the sun is out. Living in northern Oregon, we see a lot of gray days and a lot of rain. I grew up in southern Oregon and my Husband in Southern Calif. so we like the sunshine. It was sunny today and is supposed to be for the rest of the week. I found myself thinking of all these projects that I could do and get done. It's like it super charged me. I came home cooked dinner, check other peoples blogs, commented on them and kept going. The sun just seems to have that effect on us.
But even more than that, I know that's the affect that the Son has on us. Do you see what I'm saying?

The Lord will give strength unto his people and the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29:11

This is one of my favorites: John 14:27
Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you,not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be affraid.

Philipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ (the Son) who strengthens me.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

I am in the West so it is 7:33 and still light. It's great. I haven't been or lived in the east. However I will be going to Missouri in October, but the sunsets in the West are great.

Seek the light see some sunshine. And always may He shine brightly in your heart.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

The Window

I read an email once that talked about a little boy that did something wrong and then let his sister black male him. After a period of time he got tired of doing all his sisters chores and fessed up with is Mother. She sat with him and let him know that she saw what he did out the kitchen window, that she was just waiting for him to come to her. I don't remember if the email mentioned God or not, but I try to remember this often. God sees everything out the window. And somehow we convince ourselves that we are fooling him. A bad thought, a poor attitude, He sees it all. If Jesus were standing in front of us how would we act. Bingo... that's what our daily attitude should look like.

I'm not there, but I'm working towards it.

Father God, don't let us deceive ourselves. Let us always be conscience of your presence and your will. Let the meditations of our heart and the words of our heart be ever pleasing to you.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

Be Blessed,
Lynn

... At the end of the Day...

Be ye angry, and sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

Ephesians 4:26

A Friend of ours was hosting a life group (Bible Study) and told us a story about her and her husband. She said that when they were meeting new people and talking to others her husband would often say that they had been married for 38 years and it was the best 4 years of his life. She told how that was peircing to her because she understood the truth in which it was spoken. She went on to tell that because of hurts in previous relationships she had a lot of pent up anger and she knew she could be difficult to live with. She said "you know there are just those times when you get so mad you're going to make them pay for what they did to you". You're not going to talk to them, how dare they. After all it feels good to be mad at them. And when God prompts us to forgive and not be harsh, we say ya I'll settle up before bedtime. So we have our mad and we just want to keep our mad we deserve it.

Then she went on to say.... But at the end of the day, when you have wasted another day of your precious time here on earth with the one you claim to love. Was it worth that mad that felt so good. But at the end of the day, when you look into their eyes and can see that you've lost a little respect they once had for you, was it worth that mad that felt so good.

At the end of the day.....

That old saying "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me" is all wrong. The words hurt. Words withheld hurt. The story was about a husband and wife, but it pertains to all relationships we may have. Parent and Child, co-workers, friends.

Let no corrupt word proceed out of you mouth but wat is good for necesssary Edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Ephesians 4:29

I am still a work in progress, however I want to always speak kindness that encourages.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight.

Psalm 19:14

Father in the name of Jesus, let us carefully choose our words. Help us to see others the way you see them and to have a pure heart twords them. Father break our hearts for what breaks yours. In Jesus name.

Amen

Be Blessed

Lynn