Category Archives: Troubling

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The Reason You and I Think

What Do You Want?

You turn older and think to yourself, “What do I have to offer now?” Our life is not what it used to be. We can’t do what used to come so easily. We aren’t sure what we can do or whether we are up to it now. But I believe that we get caught up in the non essentials. God has something for each of us. I know He does.

Why Are You Here?

Our life goes through changes as the years fly by. Sometimes the days rumble on by and we barely think about it. Other times, we have less going on than we used to. We have to step back or wait awhile on the sidelines until God shows us. But we never stop seeking or finding. We should look ahead toward the things God has for us NOWl

How Do You Make It?

What do I mean by NOW? We can only live today. That’s it. We can plan for tomorrow but we live for today. This sort of puts me in a quandary. I’ve spent a lot of my life planning for the future. But God tells me to live for the day. I do think we approach our life differently every year. We have to because there are surprises we don’t plan on. Things that we don’t plan on that surface and must be taken care of. Yet, we do the best when we look to God in our future.

When Should You Start?

Now. We should start planning and doing the best we can every day. There is a key to this, though. When we put God in control of our lives in every thing we do, He makes our lives a thing of beauty. It may be hard. It may be unusual, it may have unexpectantly difficult things but God is in charge. When He is in charge and we are willing, He makes beauty from ashes. Beauty from pain and sorrow. He brings singing when we are quiet. We look at the small things and see great things. God brings joy from sorrow. Praise Him!

Let’s Do It!

Maybe you’re already doing this. Keep on striving, completing, helping, encouraging, reading, helping, and bringing the threads of your life into one great united ball of thread! Maybe you have agreed to stay in a marriage where your mate expects you to take care of most of his/her needs. Give God the glory. Maybe you have a health issue that brings you much trouble. Give God the glory. Maybe you lost a child or have a blistered walk with him. Give God the glory. In everything Give God the Glory!!!

God loves us. God keeps us. God helps us. God motivates us. God shows us the way. He brings us further. He brings us higher. He lifts us up. He guides us. He gives us the strength to go through the difficult days. HE HELPS US! We are not in this alone. He is here. He gives us some added bonuses like family and friends and even helpers. Thank Him for them all. Be thankful. Be kind. Do more. Bring people to Him. Help them. He is willing, able, and brings and gives us more than we thought possible.

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My Daily Time in the Word

Devotional Time in the Past

For many years I have had a devotional time. When I was working it was quite different from today. I would like to share with you what my times were like during the years I was teaching. Even those years I had some variety, but I was consistent and regarded the time I spent as critical to my teaching success and also to my role as a parent. When I went through my divorce it was a necessary part of my day. I couldn’t have made it very well without it.

I got up before the children and spent 30 minutes with the Lord. I usually read a Psalm and prayed. I prayed for the day, for myself, the children, and the troubles and pressures I was facing. Then I would make their breakfast and wake the kids up while I also got dressed and ready for the day. Sometimes I didn’t get my devotional in and those days did not go as well. The mornings were very busy for me. Although before my husband left the family, the days went better because he could help get the children to school.

I would have my meaningful devotions after I got home. I would read My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and then read a chapter or more from the bible. Then I would spend some time in prayer. My devotions became more meaningful as I grew more in my faith and also grew deeper as a Christian. The years of my divorce and also when my ex sought my daughter in court were the years when my time with the Lord was especially dear and meaningful. I really don’t believe I could have made it without Him. I was a mess and yet I had to keep moving forward for the kids. It was pretty rough and tough. At work I kept it to myself because I knew my emotions would fall apart should I mention it.

So, basically, my devotions were not that much different than yours. I read a devotional, I read the bible and I prayed. In my walk with God there were some changes. The older I got, the more changes I experienced. The more difficult my life became, the closer I grew to God. It was a natural thing. I grew as God took me along with Him. During the difficult days when the divorce came, I leaned heavy on my times with God. He gets the credit for bringing me along. I couldn’t have done it without him.

Devotional Time in the Present

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that my devotionals are different now and that I had not been able to have good devotionals for a few months. Thankfully, that has changed now!!! But my devotions are different. God is taking me in a different direction now. I don’t quite understand why, but I am fine with how they are going. Let me try to explain…I am reading many books consistently, and reading five chapters and one Psalm in the bible. I am absorbing, which means, I am thinking more quietly over what God shows me.

I have the time, in fact, much time to ponder what I am reading. It is like an adventure in reading, thinking, contemplating and gaining what God has for me. I’m going slow but since I am going quickly through the New Testament, I see the story as it occurs…more and more lively than it used to be. The reading in the bible is becoming more accessible as I take on the different books. I’m reading and pondering, considering and thinking while the stories come alive in glorious ways.

Besides the bible portions I am also reading seven books, a chapter per day, to quicken my mind. Why am I reading so many books at the same time? It challenges me. It causes me to pause and consider what each author is saying. It makes me uncomfortable at times. It helps me. Except for one book, the other ones are familiar but very good, regardless. I want God to teach me, and that is what He is doing.

My Devotional Time Speaks Now

I want to learn from God more than anything else. God teaches us when we are willing to learn. Sometimes He waits for us to be ready. I miss my former book dinner ladies (we met for 20 years!) for we took the time to read and discuss the books we read. I miss the come and go of discussion. God is teaching me in a new and casual way. We have to be willing and able to do what He wants us to do.

And maybe God wants us to go in a different direction>>> come along now >>> try this ??? and we try something new to us that is rich in a spectacular way. Yes, what I am doing now takes a bit of time, but I have lots of time now.