Blessings In Disguise

Blessings In Disguise
I posted this last year but Thanksgiving reminded me of all the blessings we have that we don’t always think of as blessings.  I hope you realize all the blessings you have that do not always seem like blessings.  You might be surprised. My challenge to you is to look for the many signs of God's love you can see in your day to day life. I bet you will be surprised.
What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?
Count your blessings
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done.
Have you counted your blessings today?  I admit I do not always thank God for all He has blessed me with.  In fact, I have been known to grumble about my blessings.  Why would I do such a thing?  Well sometimes His blessing come to us in disguise.  That’s right.  Sometimes His blessings can be found in our day to day chaos of day to day living such as dirty dishes, laundry, bills, and even our dirty houses.  I can see you scratching your head and saying “this woman is crazy!  How can dirty dishes, laundry, and bills be blessings?”
Well, dirty dishes tell us we have food to eat.  So many people do not have enough food.  Dirty laundry lets us know we have clothes to put on our backs.  When we pay our bills, we know God has provided us with the means to pay them.  A dirty house is a sign we have a roof over our heads and a family that loves us and children God has entrusted to our care.
Sometimes blessings can be hidden in trials.  James 1:2 tells us:  “Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Remember, God is on the throne, in control and blessing us each and every day.  We may not recognize them at first but when we look through our eyes of faith, they are clear to see.  So beginning today, let’s all count our blessings, name them one by one.  Count our many blessings  see what God hath done.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your blessings you have given me and the ones you are giving me.  Help me to see your love and care in my day to day life.  Everything I have and everything I am I give my thanks and praise your wonderful name.  Thank you for loving me so much.
Amen

` Don't Fall Into That Trap

 

A heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones. Proverb s4:30

According to the Cambridge American English Dictionary comparison is defined as an examination of the differences and similarities between persons or things.

I love keeping up with friends and family through social media. In fact I should spend less time\than I do. It's amazing how fast our words and pictures can travel through space. Unfortunately, along with this convenience often opens the door of temptation to compare ourselves with other people's possessions or accomplishments.

I can read about a friend's accomplishments or see their newest possession and feel envy whisper into my ear, “You have worked harder than her for that award or look how old your own car is. You deserve a new car.” There I go getting ensnared by that trap of comparison again.

This trap is nothing new. In fact, it started with the very first family in Genesis. We read about Cain comparing himself to Abel which led to the first murder in human history. Fortunately, I have not literally taken a life because of this trap but I have injured myself by damaging my self esteem and losing confidence in my own abilities as well as damaged relationships.

No, envy is not the only result of the comparison trap. I can compare myself to someone else and hear that old sin of pride whisper in my ear, “See, you are not as bad as she is,” or “aren't you glad you have a better car that she does?” Satan loves it when we let pride step in. After all pride is what led to his downfall.

It is easy to fall into this trap but there are ways we can avoid wallowing in it. The first way to avoid this trap is be thankful for what we have and count our blessings. There will always be someone who is wealthier, more attractive, and more successful than I am. I can choose to be envious and make myself miserable. There will also be people who do not have as much and I can choose to be full of pride and let pride spoil by joy. However, the better choice is to look at what I have and be thankful for the blessing God has already given me. After all, I have a wonderful family, a roof that keeps the warm in winter and cool in the summer, food to eat, and enough money to pay our bills and buy what we need.

Next, we can focus on God and His word. When we are tempted to compare ourselves to others, remember the story of Cain and Abel from the bible. The more grounded we are in His word we will have the tools to resist the snares of comparison. Several verses from the bible deal with comparison and the troubles it can cause. These are just a couple of them.

Galatians 6:4-5 Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishment without comparing yourselves to others.

2 Corinthians 10:12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves they are not wise.

When we count our own blessings and resist comparing ourselves to others, we are living in God's will for us. Let's not give Satan the opportunity to plant his seeds of envy and pride in our hearts. Remember God has a specific purpose He wants to accomplish through each of us and that plan cannot be accomplished if we are too busy comparing ourselves to others. His plan for me and His plan for you are not the same just as His blessings to each of us are not the same.

Remember When

Think back if you can to a time when children were allowed to pray in school and even say the pledge to the United States flag every morning.  What! You don’t remember this.  Well let me tell you a story about how life used to be in this country.

Families actually had two parents.  If death had separated the parents, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and even the community came together to help the family. Divorces were seldom heard of.  You knew your neighbors—in fact—everyone in the community was your neighbor and all you had to do was ask for help and everyone that was able came to your aid.  Our neighborhoods were so safe, we kids could play outside until 10 or 11 o’clock at night.  We didn’t have air conditioning so we slept with windows open and sometimes even our doors because there was no such thing as crime.  Of course, we had neighborhood drunks and the occasional teen age boys that drag raced down the highway but nothing as serious as today.

If any of us kids caused any problem at school we could expect the punishment to be resumed when we returned home that afternoon.

We were taught to respect our elders and say “yes ma’am”, “no sir”, “please” and “thank you.” If a neighbor needed help with yard work or running errands, we helped without thoughts of “how much are you going to pay me”?  We had chores to do and if we forgot to do them we knew we could expect to have a “memory lesson” that would do the trick. No, we were not abused.  We were taught that to be a member of a family and the benefits that came with that also brought with it responsibility to help the family.  We brought that lesson with us to adulthood.

We were allowed freedom to have fun but we were always held accountable for where we went and what we did.  Although there were no phones our parents knew what we had been doing even before we got home.  That’s because we had “nosey” neighbors that were looking out for us.

We didn’t have video games or even much t.v but we had fun with our family and friends.

Yes, we said prayers and the pledge in school.  We helped each other.  There was no shouts of hate or police brutality no rioting in the streets or teenagers robbing the neighborhood store or beating up the elderly. The leaders of this country knew how to lead the country and be the leader of everyone in the country and not cater to a small segment of the population.

No friends, back when I was a kid, we were taught responsibility by our parents.  Our parents raised us themselves—not nannies, maids, babysitters or the gangs at the corner.  We were shown respect and we, in turn, gave respect to others.

I think this country would be better off if our society today went back to the days when we treated everyone the way the Bible teaches us: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself”.

Too Busy

Too busy to read the Bible

Too busy to wait and pray!

Too busy to speak out kindly

To someone by the way!

Too busy to care and struggle,

To think of the life to come!

Too busy building mansions,

To plan for the Heavenly Home.

Too busy to help a brother

Who faces the winter blast!

Too busy to share his burden

When self in the balance is cast.

Too busy for all that is holy

On earth beneath the sky.

Too busy to serve the master

But not too busy to die.

Unknown

How many days have we rushed from one task to another?  Knowing we need to spend time to spend time with our Heavenly Father and read His word, we run around with our never-ending to-do lists.  Instead of pausing long enough to offer a word of encouragement to a fellow traveler, we rush by with a frown lost in our own problems.  When something slows us down and stands in our way we fuss and throw a “poor me” pity party.

We are all busy rushing around and chasing the dream of more money, bigger house, better car without giving a thought about where we will spend eternity.  We don’t have tine to help another person because we are so busy trying to do all we need to do to make ourselves happy.  This is called the “hurry-worry” syndrome and it affects all of us to some extent.  Yes, we might spend all our lives doing more, getting more, and working more but there will come an event  in our lives we have to make time for—the time to die.  We can rush around and obtain all the fame, wealth, and power this world has to offer  and die wealthy but empty.  We can slow down and enjoy our lives and families more and die full of peace.  This choice is one each of us must make.  Which do you choose?

Contentment comes not from having more, but from desiring less.

Unknown

Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

Ready for Bed

I did not write this but I wish I had. We mothers are the ones who take care of everyone else. I know that I can’t go to bed until homework is done, clothes ready for the next day, and at least five visits to my room from each of the kids. But we do what we can for those we love. I try to enjoy this time in the kids’ lives because all to soon they will be grown. Of course, if my past is any indication, they will bring their kids home to me just like their mom did. I am not sorry, I do love these kids but one of these days I am going to let my husband have the joy of the nightly routine. Yeah, like that’s gonna happen. But I am rambling. Mothers know our jobs are the most important one in the world and we are paid with love. That is better than any amount of money. I would not change places with anyone at all. Mothers form the foundation of the world and if we do our jobs to the best of our abilities, we will have nothing to regret. So to all the mothers out there HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY and let’s keep up the good work.

 

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, I'm tired, and it's getting
late. I think I'll go to bed."
She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches,
rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the
following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar
container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for
brewing the next morning.
She then put some wet clothes into the dryer, put a load of clothes into the
wash, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the
newspapers strewn on the floor, picked up the game pieces left on the table
and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the plants,
emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched
and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the
teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a textbook out
from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend,
addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery
store. She put both near her purse. Mom then creamed her face, put on
moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and trimmed her nails.
Hubby called, "I thought you were going to bed."
"I'm on my way," she said.
She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made
sure the doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out
a bedside lamp, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks in the hamper, and
had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own
room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up
the shoe rack. She added three things to her list of things to do for
tomorrow. About that time, the hubby turned off the TV and announced to no
one in particular "I'm going to bed," and he did.

Author Unknow

What’s in a Sponge

There are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has cleaning up different areas of your home, but all of the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can’t tell by looking—they all look the same—so what do you do?

You squeeze each sponge to see what comes out. As you squeeze the first sponge, you see that cola comes out, and so you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one.

Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner—that one was used to clean the bathroom. Next, in the third sponge, you find motor oil—hubby was cleaning the garage!

In the fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out when it is squeezed—yep, the baby’s nursery was done with that one! And finally, in the last one is floor wax-that was the one you used on the hall floor!

As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity, and they look the same until they’re squeezed.

Christians are the same way. As life squeezes us, different things come out: anger from one, a need for revenge from another, tears from one, remorse from yet another, also greed, untruth, lust, and finally, from one saint pours forth the love of Christ.

Just like a sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in. Stay in God’s word daily, and be in continuous prayer, so that when life puts the squeeze on you (and it WILL) Jesus and Jesus ALONE will shine forth from you!

Have a blessed, squeaky clean day!

Author Unknown

“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2

Bed Time

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, “I’m tired, and it’s getting late, I think I’ll go to bed.

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for tomorrow night’s supper, checked the levels of the cereal boxes, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table, and set the coffeepot for brewing the next morning.

She then transferred some wet clothes from the washer to dryer, put a load of clothes into the wash and secured a button.

She picked up the newspaper strung on the floor, gather the game pieces left on the table, and put the telephone book back into the drawer.

She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket, and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and for the textbook out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for free and, address and stamp the envelope, and wrote a quick list for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then creamed her face, put on moisturizer, brush and floss your teeth, and trimmed her nails.

Hubby called, “I thought you were going to bed.”

“I’m on my way,” she said.,

She put some water into the dog's dish and let the cat out, then made sure the doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out a bedside lamp, hung up the shirt, through some dirty socks in the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one still up doing homework.

Once in her own room, she set the alarm, late at clothing for the next day, and straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her list of things to do for tomorrow.

About that time, the heat turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular,” I'm going to bed. “ And he did.

A faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted. Adrianne Rogers

doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith. Paul Tillich

faith is not shelter against difficulties, but belief in the face of all contradictions. Paul Tournier

Be a Blessing

Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.

Thought to be by Mark Twain

Reflection:

Each of us has one life to live.  Let’s live that life for the good of all that we come in contact with.  Do we want to be remembered for the selfish things we did or the integrity we pass on to others.  Although we only have one physical life, we will live on in the memories and minds of others.  Instead of living a life full of hate and despair, let’s leave the world better off by our being in it. 

What We Do For Others

What we have for ourselves alone dies with us; what we4 have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

Thought to be by Albert Pike

My thoughts:

What kind of legacy do you want to leave?  Do you want to die and be forgotten because you did nothing for someone else or do you want to be forever remembered for your acts of love and compassion.  If we only do things to benefit ourselves our rewards will be “burned like chafe” but if we do things to benefit others we will live forever in the hearts and minds of the ones we leave behind.

Today, ask yourself a question.  Is the act going to benefit me only or will it benefit someone else too?:

Think about it.

Mistakes

A life spent making mistakes is more honorable than a life spent doing nothing.

George B Shaw

I would rather make a mistake by doing what is right than make a bigger mistake doing nothing.  I would rather stand up for what I believe in and be ridiculed than be a part of the “in” crowd who just stands around while wrongs are being  committed around me.  I know that to make a mistake is inevitable at times but I want to make my mistakes doing what I know is right.

When I get to Heaven I want to be there because I wore out instead of rusted out.

Think about it.

Wrong vs. Right

Nothing which is morally wrong can ever be politically right.

William E. Gladstone British leader (1809-1898)

We can see a controversy between these two sides very clearly today.

With the issue of abortion, especially, we see the government mandate for “:women’s health”.  While an abortion might ease the “problem” of an unwanted pregnancy what about the repercussions of the after abortion syndrome.  The guilt, the depression and the self-hatred many women experience after the abortion.

My Bible says that God is the “giver and sustainer of life”.  He does not say the government has the right to give life or end it before it  enters the world. 

We have a mind of our own.  Let’s use our God-given gifts to choose to stand for the right even when we stand alone.  I once heard this wise statement—If you stand for everything, you will fall for anything.

Let’s stand for the morally right even if it is not politically right.

Think about it.

This Is God’s Day

This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

I taught this verse to my grandchildren and we would recite it every morning as I drove them to school.  One morning after taking the kids to school I realized that no matter what happened today, this IS God’s day.  Whatever happens today, He sees.  He gave me this day to live for Him.  Even a “bad” day can be used for God’s glory.  It’s not always easy for me to see the positive things mixed in with the chaos of my days because I am so focused the negatives in my life.  On the days the kids are fighting and are totally unruly, and are making more messes in the house than I can clean, I admit, I do get frustrated and think “What’s the use of trying to clean this house?”  I have been know to mutter to myself.  I did read somewhere that “Trying to clean house while the children are small is like shoveling the sidewalk in a blizzard.” Obviously, I am not the only one with this problem. 

When bedtime finally comes around and I am tucking the little darling's in bed, they throw their arms around my neck and hug me and say “I love you, Nanny.”  This somehow makes all the frustrations and headaches that take over my days dim.  I realize what a blessing from God these four children are in my life.  God has entrusted their care to me and I rely on Him to give me me strength and wisdom to “bring them up in the admonition of the Lord.”

in the middle of the day top day chaos, I seem to forget that the simple things in life are often my greatest blessings.  Many times I need to be reminded that God’s blessings can always be found even though they are sometimes disguised in the daily struggles of living.

When I look at my daily to do list I realize there are blessings beyond measure in each task I have listed.  for all the dirty dishes, although I never seem to keep them all clean at the same time,reminds me that we do have food to eat ;mountains of dirty clothes that, like the dishes, never seem to be done, makes me thankful that we have clothes to wear; the never-ending pile of bills remind me that we do have the money to pay them; putting gas in the car reminds me to be thankful that we do have transportation to take us where we need to be .  After ;looking at these tasks and the b;blessings I have daily, I am reminded of the kids.  They remind me to be thankful that God trusts me enough to place them in my life. 
They keep me “grounded” whenever I feel that I am overworked and underappreciated.  I have learned to solely rely on Him to give me the strength and wisdom to teach them about His wonderful love and mercy.  I have learned to “be thankful in all my circumstances.”  I thank Him for each day.  Yes, this is the day the Lord has made.  I choose each morning to rejoice and be glad in it,

Life Question

If you were told you had only one week left to live, what would you do?

Hmmmmmm  good question.

Lessons in Life

 

These are lessons we all need to learn. 

Another Monday Morning

Well, friends, the week has officially started.  My morning started out with oversleeping.  This set a cycle of chaos and running to catch up.

With 3 elementary school kids to coax out of bed and all the resistance this entails, my oldest one woke up in a bad mood.  If you have more than one child to get ready for school, you know what I mean when I say this started the dominoes falling.  He began to “pick on” his brother and sister.  Well—this began a chain reaction of fighting and yes, pushing.  A few crackers were even thrown.  By the time the bus came by I was definitely ready for a respite.  This did not last long, however.  My phone began to ring.  My husband called from work to remind me to do the items on the list he left for me. 

You know, A strike seems to be in order here.  If you pass my house and see a lone picketer out front, think nothing of it.  It will be me slowly slipping over “the edge”

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE.

Life is

Life is air conditioners breaking in a heat wave

Life is having expenses but no money to meet them.

Life is school starting and funds are low.

Life is a daily job to keep our heads above water.

Life is trusting that God will meet all our needs because he is our Father and loves us unconditionally.

So as each day’s struggles seem insurmountable and overwhelming….

Remember that Life is a gift from God and He is always with us.

Golden Rules

 

If you open it, close it.

If you turn it on, turn it off.

If you unlock it, lock it up.

If you break it, admit it.

If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can.

If you borrow it, return it.

If you value it, take care of it.

If you make a mess, clean it up.

If you move it, put it back.

If it belongs to someone else and you want to use, get permission.

If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone.

If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

If it will brighten someone’s day, say it.

If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself.

Author Unknown

If we followed these rules, just think how much better our lives could be.  A lesson I know I need to learn is “think before I speak” or to put it another way—Remember I have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason.

Mistakes

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

George B. Shaw

Values

Values are like fingerprints.  Nobody’s are the same, but you leave ’em all over everything you do.

Elvis Presley

Hospital Hopping

Well friends, I have had a busy weekend.  My daughter and daughter in law were involved in a car accident on Tuesday .  Neither one of them thought they were injured except for being shaken up and sore.

Friday my daughter went to the ER to have her shoulder checked out.  She found out her shoulder was ok but she did have a brain bleed.  So she spent the night in the hospital.  After bringing her home Saturday afternoon, my daughter in law called wanting me to take her to the ER she had been sick all day.  She could not hold anything on her stomach and had a horrendous headache.  When I got her to the ER she passed out right in the waiting area.  She has a concussion plus she is diabetic and her blood sugar was much too high plus high blood pressure.  She is still in the hospital.

Now this is bad enough but this morning while I was visiting her I get a call from my mother.  She was having chest pains at church so she was coming to the hospital in an ambulance.  So I have spent all weekend in two hospitals.

Ok I can hear what you are thinking.  This is not a good idea for a fiction story.  Well, this is not fiction.  It actually happened.  Truth is stranger than fiction.  I have one last request from all my cyber friends.  Keep me in your prayers and send good thoughts my way.

I am exhausted so I am going to try to get some rest before I go hospital hopping again.

Good night all.  Now you should know why my blog is named life on the edge.  I feel as though I am sliding closer to the edge of sanity more and more every day.