Fruits of the Spirit Friday—Patience

 

Teach us o Lord, the disciplines of patience for to wait is often harder than to work.

Peter Marshall

I am working very hard to develop patience.  It is the hardest discipline for me to master.  I want the dishes washed 20 minutes ago.  I want that new book now—never mind it will probably be on sale tomorrow.

I see people waiting patiently in line at the grocery store while I am fidgeting, and tapping my foot.  I can’t even wait for food to heat in the microwave so sometimes I am eating cold leftovers.

I think the root of this problem of mine comes from my desire to control.  I am trying to do my best and let God handle the rest.

Are you impatient?  What are ways you have developed to deal with this issue?

Open Mindedness

"Be open minded about everything in life, at risk of missing something vitally important.  Not everything is obvious nor has immediate explanation.”

If we do not keep our eyes open to the beauty of God and our ears attuned to the gentle whisper of God, we will miss out on many of life’s most precious blessings.

God bless you all from life on the edge.

Happy Birthday, Jason

Yesterday was Jason’s birthday.  He died 1 month before his 35 birthday.  We all miss him and wanted to celebrate his birth.  I know he saw it all from Heaven.  My 2 boys each had ballgames last night and my little redhead hit his first home run.  He told me that was because he knew Jason was watching him.  His uncle Jason loved playing little league ball when he was a kid.  I know he was cheering the kids on.

Well, this is all I can write today.  I just want to hope Jason enjoyed watching the kids blow out his candles.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON.

Put Me in Coach

 

 

Well I guess you can see how I spent last night.  I didn’t mind though because they have been away from home 2 weeks.  It’s amazing how the darlins’ can get on my nerves but when they are gone how much more I miss them.  These are 2 of the reasons I must push on day by day.  Aren’t kids amazing?.  They are so innocent and forgiving.  If only we stay that way as grownups.  That is why Jesus said “unless you become like a little child you will not inherit the kingdom of God”  paraphrased but you get the meaning.

Well, I  will let you “chew” on that for now.  Until next time, this is life on the edge.

Life Has Been A Struggle

Well friends, my life is going in circles these days.  I cannot stop crying over the loss of my son.  Wednesday will be very hard because it is his 35 birthday.  My life will get on an even keel eventually but please bear with me until then.

Please leave a comment and let me know how you handled this grieving process.  I am a social worker and know the stages but wish there is some magical formula to use.  Wait, there is—God’s love and comfort.  I know it will take time.  I guess I hoping I’ll wake up one morning and the hurt is gone.

Please keep me in your prayers and let me know you understand.  I know I can talk openly to you. 

Well, my tears are falling on my computer and I can hardly see what I am typing.

But I know that God is holding me up and He is in control,.

We Are Never Alone

 

We are never,ever alone in this world.

Photo courtesy of Faith, Hope, Love.

A Prayer for Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness,light; and where there is sadness, joy.  O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi  (1181-1226)

My Prayer for You Today

The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make His face to shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up His countenance upon you

and give you peace

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

Friday Fruits of the Spirit—Peace

Today, I found something in a book I am reading that is helping  to give me peace in the midst of my trouble.  Tell me what you think about it.

There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, people we can’t live without but have to let go.

Author Unknown

Sometimes things do happen that we have no choice but to accept, somethings we do not want to know at all but this knowledge comes to us anyway.  There are people in our life that we think are going to be there forever but eventually we have to let them go.  We cannot hold them on this earth with us.

There are things we have to accept on faith.

Thursday’s Thoughts

 

We’re meant to encourage one another.

As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

What Do Others See In You?

Every day you are being stared at by your family.
Every day you are being stared at by you colleagues and peers.
Every day you are being stared at by your existing customers.
Every day you are being stared at by your potential customers.
Every day you are being stared at by your competitors.
Every day you are being stared at by the public.

You are being judged by what others see of you every day. This is a fact.  Are you living your life so the town gossips are at a loss for words?

Tuesday Tidbit for Thought

You are SO loved.  That’s a good reason to smile.

Be cheerful no matter what;p pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens.  This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18  The Message

Monday’s Musings

Well, here it is Monday morning again.  My little ones are spending this week with their dad.  When they get back home, my oldest will be leaving for a week at church camp.  It has been a busy summer but I would not have it any other way.  With camps and ball games my life is in constant motion.  Time goes on and before I know it these kiddies will be grown and off to college and homes of their own.

How are you spending this summer with your kids.  Are camps in the picture?  Sports?  What about vacations? 

Just enjoy life with them while they are young.  Make memories that will last forever.

Until next time—this is life on the edge.

Father’s Day

I hope everyone remembered to honor Dad today.  For all of us that have fathers in heaven, this is a bittersweet day.  I remember all the good times with my own father and think about him often.  This year I know that Dad is holding my son’s hand and showing him all around heaven and introducing him to all of our relatives that are there.  I love you Daddy and Jason.  I will never forget either one of you.

Today’s Tidbit for Thought

 

God made today---He made you.  And it’s all good.

Think about that.

IF JESUS CAME TO VISIT

 

I found this picture on Facebook and think it illustrates this poem very well.  I hope you agree.

If Jesus came to visit

Would you make Him feel at home:

Would you gladly let Him see

Everything that you might own?

Or is there something that you’d rather He not see,

So you rush and hide it

Under lock and key?

Would you bring out you bible and wipe away the dust?

Would you treat Him as an intruder

Or someone you could trust?

Would you invite Him in to dinner

Or rush Him on His way?

What kind of host would you be

If Jesus came today?

We Are Not Promised Tomorrow

 

I wrote this poem years ago when my own kids were young.  Two weeks ago when my son died—the words to this poem really gave me a special look at life and each day on this earth.  I encourage each and every one of you to take these words to heart and let the people in your life know how much they mean to you because our lives can be taken in an instant.

We are not promised tomorrow

or whatever it might bring.

We are only promised this moment

Yes, time is a fleeting thing.

Live your life for the present

Don’t waste your time in regret.

Do the best you can every moment

And thank God for every breath.

One day at a time is the way

We all should learn how to live.

Don’t harbor any grudges

Be quick and just to forgive.

For God gave His only son, Jesus

To pay the price for our sins..

No, we are not promised tomorrow

Time is a precious gift to man.

Reminder

Don’t be afraid to talk about Jesus.  He’s always talking about you.

Broken Hearted

I am going through the hardest time imaginable.  I lost my son Sunday.  He was 34 years old but he was still my baby.  We need all your prayers now.  I know you are my friends and I love each and every one of you.  I ask for nothing but your prayers at this time in my life.  God is in control.