My Divine Assignment: To Encourage Others

A dear friend who has gone to be with the Lord once told me I was her Barnabas which Biblically means "encourager." I never saw myself like that, but as I've grown in my walk with the Lord it seems that is my desire. I hope that what I share here will be an encouragement to you as we trust the Lord - for great is His Faithfulness.

My Divine Assignment: To Encourage Others.
In Christ's Love, Shelley



KEEP His JOY IN TRIALS, TEARS & TRIUMPHS ~~ A WOMAN'S HEART SHOULD BE SO COMPLETELY LOST IN God THAT A MAN MUST SEEK Him TO FIND HER ~~ Our desire to learn God's Word must be greater than our need to breathe ~~











Thursday, November 24, 2011

Good Intetnions

     Thanksgiving day was pretty much a routine day. As Abbi worked Thanksgiving & Amanda works the weekend we will celebrate Friday evening.  One thing I did was the "one thing" I said I would not do - put away Thanksgiving decorations before we had our meal together.  My good intentions were swept away by my desire to do a little deep cleaning before I decorated for Christmas.
     On Wednesday, I had the 2 older grand-girls & we made a trip to Lima. We hit quite a few stores for some returns and for "know what I want" shopping.  Morgan said it was a shopping day, not a fun day.  But they picked out a new toy for the Caring & Sharing project & we did enjoy lunch at the Mexican restaurant.  Wherever we went I handed out Gospel Tracts about the true purpose of Thanksgiving, explaining to my girls why I do this.  Not one person rejected my "gift" & all seemed very appreciative.  My intention was for the girls & I to share these with the neighbors when we got home, but the weather clouded out my good intentions.
     Thanksgiving day came & I had planned on simply putting the tracts with a written note in the mail boxes of my neighbors, but once again my good intentions kept being moved to the bottom of my to-do list.  It did not get done.
     Later in the evening, a comment on the radio pierced my heart - "an attitude of gratitude doesn't mean much if we don't put it in to action."  I have recently realized that I seem to have many "good intentions" that are never put into action.  Very simple things, easy to do things that would bless someone or even draw them to Christ, yet I've missed the opportunity to possibly change a life for eternity.  My heart grieves at the thought & how it must grieve my Lord. Yet I am very thankful that "His mercies are new EVERY day" & I can choose to turn my good intentions into actions that bless my Lord & others.
Matthew 5:16   ... let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Image from google -pcgamersworld.com)

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Natural Healing

     Natural healing incorporates many things - herbal & vitamin supplements, therapeutic massages foot reflexology, & ionic detoxing foot baths.  I'm sure there are others, but these are the things I do.  And now 2 weeks later, my sinus issues are gone  My head feels much clearer which allows me to think better.  Natural healing also takes more time because it isn't covering up symptoms.  It helps the body to get rid of the "nasty" stuff it's dealing with while the supplements help nourish the organs & increase the immune system's ability for healing.
     There is a natural healing that takes place in our spiritual lives also & seems to do the same things as I've shared.  Often  the natural healing of our souls may deal with forgiveness - our need to forgive others or to seek God's forgiveness.  Sometimes it begins when we are dealing with the loss of a loved one & this process can take years -but it is still a healing process.
     In our own lives, the healing process may need to begin when we get the "nasty" stuff out - bitterness, anger, envy and, well, you know what it is for you.  I wish this was as simple as doing the foot bath - just put your feet in the water with the ionic rods & let it draw all that junk out of you.  Nope, doesn't work that way.  Yet, God will release these things from us if we seek His perspective on what seems to be keeping us from the healing we need.  I've found that when I don't feel good, I don't feel much like discussing this with God, but as my previous post explained - it doesn't matter whether I feel like it.  Do you need healing?  Take it to the Lord now.
I Peter 5:7    Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Psalm 55:22    Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
Acts 3:16    It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Don't FEEL like it !!

     I've been suffering, no let me take that back, I've been dealing with a sinus issue for 10 days. (I was convicted that the word suffering did not apply here when I think of  persecuted Christians or terminal diseases.)  If you've known me long, you know this is something ongoing.  Due to previous health issues, I have a major weakness in my respiratory system.
    On Monday, my head felt like it was in a vice. I went to the chiropractor - it helped some.  Worked all day Tuesday still dealing with it, but went home at noon on Wednesday as I felt like my head could explode.  Had a sinus/full body massage this afternoon & think I'm on the road to recovery.
     When my head feels like this, I don't feel like doing ANYTHING - especially reading because I can't keep my focus.  Unfortunately, that includes reading my Bible and devotions.  I sincerely want to read them & miss it when I don't, but I just don't FEEL like it.  This reminded me of what our children & grand-children are really saying to us when they disobey.
     What is that quote?  Feelings follow Faith in action, not the other way around.  I want to stay committed to doing the things of God whether I FEEL like it or not. I am SO humbled & thankful because God doesn't say to me, "I don't feel like it."  He may say "No" in some cases, but it's because He sees the bigger picture. 
   David reminds us - Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior ...  Psalm 103:2  Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.  Psalm 104:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.    It's not whether I FEEL like doing something but am I willing to do it by faith & leave the rest to God.  I pray that I am.


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Seriously ....

     Or as one of my grand-daughters who can't say her "s" would say - derioudly. Of course we now have to acknowledge the abbreviations that have come about due to texting.  I bet the teachers love that as I've heard that some kids include it in written papers because (or b/c) that's what they do all day.  Plz, I mean please, can we get back to good old English. Seriously !!!!
      For the second time in 5 minutes, the paragraph I just wrote has disappeared completely & I can't remember what I wrote the first time because it often comes to me as I am typing.  It has made me wonder, even now, is there something else God wants me to be doing or is there another force that doesn't want me to share my heart about the things of God?  I know that even doing things for God can get in the way of what God really wants us to be doing. It is really hard to know sometimes.
     And actually that is the reason for the topic of this post - How serious am I about my Christianity, my DAILY walk with Christ? Or more to the point, how serious am I about REALLY sharing the Gospel with others?  We are not all called to be Billy Graham or Ruth Graham for that matter, but as believers we ARE called to share the Gospel because it is the ONLY thing that keeps us from spending eternity in hell. Yet, even in writing that statement, it is uncomfortable - why is it so awkward to share the Truth?
     Sometimes I feel God wants me to step up to the next level beyond sharing tracts at the check-out or leaving them on a table with a generous tip.  But do I wait for the "opportunity" or do I "go" knock on my neighbors door to find out if they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?  How uncomfortable should I be or am I willing to be to tell someone about Christ?  Anyone who truly loves the Lord probably never feels that they are doing enough so in a way that can be good.
     I don't know if there is an answer to all the questions I have or you might have.  But for now I will persevere in knowing Him more intimately with each passing day, loving others through acts of kindness & words of encouragement & seriously keep in mind what my purpose here is all about.
     Philippians 3:11-14    Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.