Category Archives: GENERAL INTEREST

Posted on

Negativity Can Be Met and Changed

Do you notice a problem? Have you ever felt irritated? Of course. Yes, we all get irritated, out of sorts, or even angry. I’m not one who gets angry very often, but I do get frustrated or in a bad mood. Although, today I am less perturbed than I used to be. I like to think that I have grown over the past few years. But if I am not careful, I slide back into that hole. Every day I have to keep after it, and I mean that.

We are either going forward or backward. We never stay the same. It helps to take stock of what we say and do. If you start the day off with a prayer…you are on your way to having a better than good day. You are bringing God close. You are thinking on Him. About Him. For Him. If your prayer keeps God close as in a conversational tone, you can really tell He is close, interested, and available. You can even ask Him to show you that He is with you.

It’s not that we aren’t supposed to have problems, that’s just not the case. But He is close, willing and able to help us with the problems. He is there waiting for us to call upon Him. We sometimes have to call upon Him many times, and that’s okay. Other times, He is ready to jump in. God waits for us to call upon Him. The relationship keeps going deeper and deeper. It is really quite beautiful when you think about it. He wants us to become compatible with Himself.

My journey with God is becoming a stronger faith walk. As I grow, I trust more; as I trust more I am showing God that I am stronger than I used to be…and that’s good. In fact, that’s great!

There are times when we get stuck in a rut. We can’t seem to get out of the rut though we try. During those times we must be patient. God is teaching us to wait, rest, and trust: Wait till He is willing to move us: Rest until the time is right (you’re active while you wait and rest): Trust Him through the ups and downs. You will find that the Lord has taught you during your time of waiting, resting, and trusting. It will amaze you what you have learned during this time.

Almost two years ago I found myself struggling to get my life going in a basic way forward. I knew how but I couldn’t seem to move forward with any traction. It seemed as if I was stuck in one place for a few months. I got discouraged. I didn’t complain to others but I assumed they could tell. I was ready to quit my blog for I didn’t have much to say. The truth is, God has me delving into a different direction. He wants me to learn a few new things. He has some things He want to show me. It is amazing the direction He is leading me. It is all new. I’m learning new things and that is good, very good. Later on I will share what he is teaching me, but not now.

Maybe you are learning a few things. I’d love to hear your thoughts. God has kept me quiet for two and a half years for a reason. He wants me to listen. He wants me to think about the things He is showing me. He wants me to get rid of some things, too. God wants to teach us. He is always making us new, brand new.

Praise Him for this.

Posted on

Reading Your Word

God Speaks To You

Now that I’m walking alone, there are times, and I mean a lot of times, when I feel, and am, alone. I am by myself most of the time. I don’t mind it most of the time, but there are times when I would rather be with people than going the distance by myself. I need people. We need people.

People need people. We all do. Some people need others more than I do, but I do need people. In fact, God has put inside of us a real, deep, inner need to be touched and rejuvenated by others. People who make our lives better, who make us tick, who pick us up when we need it, who speak life to us, who help us, who we help, who speak the truth to us, and we speak the truth to…and so on…

God made us this way. He made us to wonder, to love, to feel , to care, to help, to carry on here and there. Those times you’ve been alone for a while, are the times you realize how much you need people. Sure, there are those almost imperceptible times when you try to make it completely on your own, but you quickly discover that you can’t possibly do it ALL alone. We just aren’t made that way.

People Matter to Us

People matter. It’s true. There are many, many people that we don’t know that influence our life. Think about it. All the people involved behind the food we purchase at the store. From farm, to packaging, to driving it to the store, to purchasing, to buying the food: People work. We not only thank God for the food’ but we thank Him for all the hand, machinery, and marketing that it represents. The medical field has its many, many workers, doctors, nurses, support people, and the many, many people who clean, help, and care for the facility and its people.

And so, throughout history, people have supported and grown the fields in which they serve. I have a book that I am writing that takes place in 1992. Our world has changed dramatically since those days. Our iphones and latest computers have literally changed the world. But we still need people. Yes, we still matter. We do things differently, and purchase what we need differently (according to what we value and care about), but we have a lot of power, regardless.

Of course, the how, and when, and what, are rapidly changing. It gets a little crazy at times. Yet, it takes but a blink to realize how the past has opened doors to the future. A couple of weeks ago I spent some time reading a book written by my Great Uncle Don Swihart about his and my Grandma Swihart Weigold’s and the family’s early days. He wrote a book that detailed their upbringing until he was married to Aunt Wanda. Wow! They really went through it.

I Matter, You Matter, Others Matter as Well

A woman I have known since 1993 is now in a care home. She needs me to visit her. She needs the people in the church to visit her. She needs her family to visit her. Although her life has changed, she still needs us. Now that I am facing the last hurrah, I am thinking about the things that matter the most. Some of what I used to believe mattered the most, really, and truly, matters very little. God matters. Loving others matters. Helping wherever you can matters. Helping others means helping in whatever way you can. Even emotionally. Even spiritually. Even financially. Even physically (do you need some weeding done right now).

One thing we can always do is pray. Not only pray for our needs but pray for other’s needs. We can give thanks to God. There is real and lasting joy when we seek to give praise with thanks to God. Praise Him for this day. Praise Him for your health. Praise Him that you have food to eat. Praise Him for your friends and relatives. Thank Him that you have clothes to wear. Thank Him that you have a roof over your head. Thank Him for answering you prayers. Thank Him for meeting you needs. Thank Him for caring about you…

Life gets harder as we get older. It’s true. But God works through us. He always does. Our life seems rather rough at times, but God is there all the time. He is our best friend. That’s another WOW. He helps us, He keeps us. He loves us. He ministers to us. He is patient with us. He pulls us along. He pushes us when we need a push. He helps us. He maintains us. He is our everything.

Thank you God for being our amazing Father.