Clumsy and Forgiven

"Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, andbird on the wing may report what you say." Ecclesiastes 10:20 May your words always be seasoned with grace and led by the spirit, even in the safety of your own home and mind. For the birds are listening and watching. It seems like just yesterday, my son Blane was a tiny toddler with the biggest blue eyes. As a mom, you want to teach them everything they need to know!  I remember the first time I heard a curse word come out of his sweet little mouth. And, I knew exactly where he had heard it. It was definitely a silly memory that seems like just yesterday. But, as my little monkey, or birdie, graduates today, I hope that I have taught him everything he needs to know. I wonder about the things I've taught him indirectly by my relaxed mouth and actions in the safety of my own home. This verse reminded me that my words and actions should

"Then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all the efforts to search it out, man cannot discover it's meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it."-Ecclesiastes 8:17  Solomon has spent the last two chapters and who knows how much of his life, searching for wisdom, and still could not wrap his mind around or fully grasp all that God has done. He says eat, drink, and be glad and quit trying to figure it all out!  I hate surprises. I usually figure out everything I'm getting for Christmas, even if it resorts to peeking.  I try to predict the end of a book or movie. I get excited and usually tell my loved ones what I've gotten them. So, i can relate with the author on the desire to figure things out. I always thought this was due to impatience, but I now think it also has to do with control. The mystery of all that He has done, is doing and will do on earth is something I cannot comprehe

"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But, pity the man who falls and has no one to pick him up!"-Ecclesiastes 4:10  Throughout Ecclesiastes chapter 4, we read that two are better than one. This year my word has been relation. I picked my word out of a basket at a bible study, right after the New Year.  We each chose a word, and I was unsure of how to use or apply it. God has used it like crazy!  He wants.my relationship with Him to be #1!  Then, I am never alone. And, God has blessed me on earth to also make sure I am physically never alone. He blessed me by hand picking my husband, the perfect man to spend the rest of my life with, and incredible family and friends. God has blessed me so much, that my cup truly overflows. But, relationships take work. With Christ, I must remain in the Word, in prayer, and in the stillness of his presence. With friends this can be through quality time, helping lift a friend when they fall, encouraging them, loving them, listening,

"I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, amd a stranger enjoys them instead." -Ecclesiastes 6:1 If you do not have Christ, you can have everything under the sun and still you cannot fully enjoy it, because Something is missing.  Sometimes, I find myself wallowing in negativity, angry over how I was wronged, stressed over money, or the lack of, overwhelmed by my to do list, just plain unsatisfied. While studying Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 this morning, I ran across this story and had to share... "A man walks into a shoe store and asks for a size 8. The well trained salesman says, “But sir, you take an eleven or eleven-and-a-half.” “Just bring me a size eight.” The sales guy brings the shoes and the man crams his feet into them and stands up in obvious pain. He turns to the salesman and says, “I’ve lost my house t

Read Acts 28 "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 28:31 He made it to Rome! He arrived! He knew getting to Rome was part of God's plan and he made it! He suffered adversity along the way, beatings, prison, ship wrecks, riots, yet he made it! Without hindrance he preached the word boldly. I don't think this is any more important than his journey getting to Rome. He preached the word boldly all along the way.  He impacted so many. So many now believed. So many could now share the truth. They were not pointed to Paul and how awesome he was, but to the redeemer. They knew The Truth, The Way! I look back at Acts 1, "but you will receive power when the holy spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. " (Acts1:8) Ending the study of Acts, I have learned 3 things: #1 I have the power of Jesus Christ through the Hol

"I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." Acts 23:6   "It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today." Acts 24:21   "It admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way." Acts 24:14   " I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Ceasar." Acts 25:8 Paul is on trial. The lawyer Tertullus brings up charges against Paul including trouble making, riot causing, desecrating the temple and so on. When it's Paul's turn to defend himself, he says he is guilty of one thing and that is being a follower of the Way. No other charge would stick.  The Newsboys' song "Guilty" is playing in my head right now. I find myself as the accuser. Pointing fault, looking at the plank of another, joining forces as an accuser. Which, if I was the accused, the list would be oh so long. Would all of my yuck outweigh the fact

Read Acts 22 "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 21:13 "The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be His witnesses to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, what are you waiting for?" Acts 22:14-16 Before entering Jerusalem, a man, by the power of the Holy Spirit shared that Paul would be bound and handed to the gentiles. Everyone cried and begged Paul not to go. Although everyone thought he was crazy, he knew this was where God was leading him. When arriving he shared his testimony...ALL OF IT, without fear of what they would think or do. I have done things that I am ashamed of. I have made decisions that God used to show his grace. I hold those things closely, afraid of what others would think. Paul did not worry about the consequences of sharin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ CASTING CROWNS-JUST BE HELD

"After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. -Acts 16:10 Read:  Acts 16   Paul, Silas, and now Timothy, believed they were supposed to preach in Asia.  Every time they tried to enter Asia, God kept them from it. Then Paul had a vision of a man begging them to come to Macedonia. So they went. Next, they were outside the city gate, expecting to pray, intend met and preached to the women gathered there, including Lydia. Next, flogged and beaten and thrown in prison. Earth shakes, doors open  and chains fall off and by them staying put they were able to talk to the jailer, who was saved along with his family. This mission trip did not go at all as planned. It did not go the way they thought God planned. A demon was cast out of a slave girl, they met Timothy who joined their mission, Lydia and her family heard and believed, the jailer saw and believed along with his family. So many obs