for today (from my devotion)

Life is full of things we can't do anything about, but which we are supposed to do something with. "He himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy." A very different story from the one which would have been written if Jesus had been prompted by the spirit of our own age: "Don't just endure the cross--think about it, talk about it, share it, express your gut-level feelings, get in touch with yourself, find out who you are, define the problem, analyze it, get counseling, get the experts' opinions, discuss solutions, work through it." Jesus endured. He thought nothing of the shame. The freedom, the freshness of that valiant selflessness is like a strong wind. How badly such a wind is needed to sweep away the pollution of our self-preoccupation!

Analysis can make you feel guilty for being human. To be human, of course, means to be sinful, and for our sinfulness we must certainly "feel" the guilt which is rightly ours--but not everything human is sinful. There is a man on the radio every afternoon from California whose consummate arrogance in making an instant analysis of every caller's difficulties is simply breathtaking. A woman called in to talk about her problems with her husband who happens to be an actor. "Oh," said the counselor, "of course the only reason anybody goes into acting is because they need approval." Bang. Husband's problem identified. Next question. I turned off the radio and asked myself, with rising guilt feelings, "Do I need approval?" Answer: yes. Does anybody not need approval? Is there anybody who is content to live his life without so much as a nod from anybody else? Wouldn't he be, of all men, the most devilishly self-centered? Wouldn't his supreme solitude be the most hellish? It's human to want to know that you please somebody.

Sometimes readers of things that I write tell me long afterward that they have thought of writing me a letter, or have written one and discarded it, thinking, "She doesn't need my approval." Well, they're mistaken--for wouldn't it be a lovely thing to know that a footprint you have left on the trail has, just by being there, heartened somebody else?

A Reminder

God wants to work the impossible through me if I will allow Him to do so.

Christ said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). God wants to perform the impossible by using believers as His human instruments.

God asked Abraham and Sarah, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Gen. 18:14). I, too, must respond to this question. As I face seeming impossibilities, do I think God is unable to perform what He has promised?

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

A thought for today

One of God's arrangements is that after winter there should come beautiful spring days. It happens every year and it happens in every life.

-Father Joseph

I know I must be in a "winter" of my life and of my walk. It is comforting to know this time will pass and there are brighter things on the horizon. God is in control. While I know this, this is still a time of coldness...hardship...difficulty. Please, Lord, HELP!

musical morning

This morning Tommy was flipping through the the channels shortly after I got up and he discovered the video for 'One Night in Bangkok" from the musical Chess. I love that show and that song! Right after that video ended Howard Jones "What Is Love" video came on. One of my favorite artists and one of my favorite songs!!! Tommy also made me cinnamon rolls for breakfast. (he's really amazing)

It was quite a way to start the day!!!

An answer?

So, shortly after I posted last night I went to bed and slept soundly but not enough. This morning I am tired and fatigued. I opened my email, though, to discover this devotional from 'Back to the Bible.' Is this an answer from God about what to do about work for the next 2 years??? I will be praying about this and seeking His will. (humanly, I don't know how I can do 2 more years of this. The English situation is pushing me to my limit!)

PLEASE, Lord...HELP!!!!!
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Testing Follows Triumph

Genesis 16:1-6

Ten years had passed since God had first promised Abraham descendants, and now three years had gone by since God had reassured Abraham of this same thing.

Whereas in Genesis 15 Abraham is seen as a man of faith, in chapter 16 we see him as a man of unbelief. He could wait no longer for God to fulfill His promise.

A lack of patience tends to foster unbelief. In chapter 15 Abraham believed the Lord; in chapter 16 he hearkened unto the voice of his wife. In chapter 15 Abraham walked after the Spirit; in chapter 16 he walked after the energy of the flesh.

What a sad inconsistency in the life of this man of God. Only Jesus Christ could say, "I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29).

Abraham was tested by the suggestion of a well-meaning wife. Would he take matters out of the hand of God and act in the energy of the flesh?

This test was the trying of the patience of his faith. Would he wait on God to fulfill His word in His own time and way, or would Abraham's patience give out and the flesh take over? God wanted him to have a mature faith.

What would you have done in his situation?

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:35,36).

holding on by the finger tips

"Life unwinds like a cheap sweater. Since I gave up hope I feel a lot better" ~Steve Taylor

These day's I wish I could just give up. This job is making me increasingly unhappy. Tommy isn't happy, either. His job isn't good and another door just closed.

Lord...could we PLEASE have new jobs??? (or winning lottery numbers) I just don't know if I can do 2 more years like this. I can't keep teaching English. It is draining every ounce of life and energy out of me.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!