'JOB' (with a long 'O')DAY, not, WEDNESDAY!

"Twas the day before Thursday, when all through the camp, the campers and staff were awakening to a day of...." Well, Let's just say it wasn't THE BEST DAY EVER IN THE LIFE OF SHILOH . The campers last week were in the process of learning a MUSICAL DRAMA about JOB!! Basically, there were 5 occurrences which 'would have, could have, or certainly should have,' disgruntled those of us in love with the LORD! 1.A teenage young man broke his arm and sustained a slight concussion... 2.The other teen 'boys?' needed to be quarantined due to a bad virus which had struck in their midst..(so ANYWHERE they had been and all they had touched HAD TO be disinfected... WHEW!) 3. Sadly, a couple of gals needed to go home 3 days early... 4. Someone else somehow ran out of a crucial medicine.., and finally, 5. My hubby and I had the afternoon/evening 'off duty,' as cooks at the camp so we headed to the ocean, only to accidentally end up STUCK in the sand as we turned to head off the beach. Our car was not going ANYWHERE! (BTW.. an FYI..for any of you whoever drive on a beach..something we DON'T usually do!, I'll let you know now that AAA does not provide towing service in these circumstances!!!) Soon, we all began to realize how Satan had thrown us his best 'curve balls' that day, but, of course, he had met with defeat as we all just praised God for his goodness to us and his glory all around us! (In spite of no visible other vehicles on the beach, a large truck with a towing strap 'showed up' just as we'd learned of AAA's lack of support in our situation!..The couple in it were the LORD's! So, we had no time to 'despair,' because, of course GOD had been there all along, and knew just EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED, WHEN AND HOW!! Philippians 4:19 confirms how our Lord 'shall supply ALL our needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus! Because JOB remained humble, we all know how God restored his 'losses' at least two-fold! May we all remember to count our blessings even when those 'curve balls' are coming at us fast and furiously! (can you tell I like to watch baseball when I can?!)

Mad AT, or Mad ABOUT You???

Recently, my husband and I attended a Joyce Meyer conference just for the Saturday AM session. Her theme for that conference was, GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU! How true! I am thinking though how she STOPPED SHORT of a second phrase which could have enhanced her statement.. How about this.. GOD'S NOT MAD AT YOU, BUT HE IS 'MAD ABOUT' YOU'!!? I can only imagine the depth of the JOY set before HIM that kept HIM on the cross. Nothing else could have!!(HEBREWS 12:1-2) His joy at the prospect of FINISHING the redemptive work necessary to reconcile us to the Father (Him!) must have been nothing short of exhilarating since HE is SO mad about us! We are created in his image!! No other created being is/was!! (nor are the rocks, trees, etc!) Having us living life on Earth in communion with Him and to his glory is truly a phenomenal reason for Him being mad about us!! (and all who respond gratefully to his plan/hopes/intentions for, and through us!!)

YESTERDAY, TOMORROW,... TODAY!

I saw a reader board that said something like 'YESTERDAY WAS ALREADY... TOMORROW IS NOT FOR SURE.. TODAY IS HERE SO USE IT WISELY..' but I revised it in my mind so it can be more to the glory of our LORD as He works in lives!!  I now say, YESTERDAY WAS...TOMORROW MAY NOT BE... TODAY, CAN BE LIVED IN GOD'S GRACE! We all have moment-by-moment choices to make as to whether we will allow/welcome HIS presence within us to empower living in such a manner as to please HIM.. I only 'wish' I'd remember to think of this every moment of every day!! Here's to a sharper, more intentional use of my mind so that 'my' will is more often his!! I know I Corinthians 10:13 says I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me if only... Well, you know what the apostle Paul says in Romans 7! (That's the chapter where he addresses the constant struggle with his flesh!! How well we all know of which he speaks.. )  May the LORD be glorified as we consider that new phrase I wrote about above! Blessings!

Wrinkle-free Eyeballs..

Oooookaaaay.... What's that title about? Well...today, as I am being hassled by my husband's new shirt which is definitely NOT 'permanent press,' I am reminded of how my face is also now NOT 'wrinkle free!' Recently, while lamenting this fact of my 60 plus age, my husband and I laughed aloud when I said, "At least my eyeballs can't wrinkle!!" Quite the contrary seems to be 'true..' For, the longer I am in love with the LORD, the shinier my eyeballs 'feel' to me! I'm just having a little fun with this as I go on to say I don't think I'd WANT to see shiny, wrinkled eyeballs!! My 'bottom line' on this post is, THE OLDER I GET ON THE OUTSIDE, THE YOUNGER AND FRESHER I BECOME ON THE INSIDE!! My soul (mind, emotions, and will) rejoices as the Spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ dwells patiently and compassionately within!! In fact, years ago, I became fond of saying, "I love to GO, GROW, and GLOW!" (Wrinkle free!) All those who love the LORD can do so also! 

COUNTING COUNTERACTS!

Hello dear reading ones,  This is a truth I love to convey which is so well confirmed in PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7, and in the lovable hymn, 'COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.'  Simply stated, GRATEFULLY COUNTING our blessings is a great way to COUNTERACT despair, discouragement, fear, anxiety, and any other 'goods' the enemy might aim your direction!! (Have you heard that at his 'yardsale,' the devil had priced all his 'goods' like envy, hate, pride, lust, etc. at the same price, .. but, DISCOURAGEMENT was priced higher because he said that was his most valuable 'tool' since most don't recognize it as 'his!') Anyhow, we can rejoice in our LORD'S matchless provisions of peace, hope, joy, mercy, grace, purpose, and of course, irresistible pure love if we simply take time to recognize these and say a heartfelt 'THANK YOU!'  JESUS died so we don't have to accept the devil's 'goods!' (or 'pay the price' of 'buying' them!!)  I just thought of a great 'closing line' for this 'article..'.. IN LIFE, WE CAN BE PRO-ACTIVE, RE-ACTIVE, OR... COUNTER-ACTIVE!!! (How high CAN you count?.. PSALM 40 indicates it's impossible to give account of all He does for us and the hymn, THE LOVE OF GOD, helps us to realize there aren't enough resources to record the vastness of his great love!)   Blessings to all! Sheila   PS- An FYI.. PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 lets us know to "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let our requests be known to God..for then the peace of God with surpasses all comprehension WILL guard our hearts and minds in CHRIST JESUS!"

SHEPHERD, OR LAMB?

Recently, I have been appreciating how our LORD JESUS CHRIST is truly the PERFECT SHEPHERD, yet was also the final sacrificial LAMB... As I lead HYMNSPIRATIONS frequently, I never cease to be amazed at how often THE LAMB OF GOD or the use of 'LAMB' is in the lyrics of a song. Yet, we all know well, the wonderful 23rd Psalm and John, chapter 10, which assure us of His wondrous ways as our shepherd! I won't elaborate at this point but just consider how it must have felt for our merciful, gracious, compassionate, faithful shepherd to face his coming crucifixion? Hebrews 12:1-2  records how 'for the joy set before Him, He endured the shame of the cross.' From perfect shepherd to perfect lamb.. without blemish, so, fully qualified as an atoning sacrifice for our sins... 

Along the line of thought regarding Jesus as our Shepherd, I was blessed recently when a speaker was answering the question of whether or not Jesus claimed to be God.. Think about this simple indicator of the fact that HE DID! Since Psalm 23 says 'THE LORD' is my shepherd and in John 10, JESUS says He is the good shepherd, how could He NOT BE CLAIMING TO BE GOD???

YAHWEH, OR MY WAY?

Wow! It's been more than a month since I wrote did a post.. Some of  you received these thoughts via a direct email recently, but I am posting it now for those who might be reading it who aren't on my email list. I've just had this SUBJECT phrase resounding within me for 3-6 months now, so I finally decided to send it to you this way... Simply put, many times a day, I need to make that decision.. WILL I DO THINGS AS YAHWEH WOULD DESIRE, OR WILL I CHOOSE MY WAY? I don't know about you, but it really helps me to act wisely if/when I stop to think of how I could be hurting my precious LORD as I refuse HIS power to act in way pleasing, and glorifying to HIM.. How about you?? What will it be today?  YAHWEH, OR MY WAY??                                                                             I CORINTHIANS 10:13 reminds each of us how He provides a way of escape for us when we are tempted so we are able to hold up under it..After all, the ones we encounter are 'common to man,' so we need not feel alone in our need for his care for us at these times!!