Humor Me And Take A Short Quiz......

David rejoiced to say, "The Lord is my shepherd," and in so doing he proudly implied, "I am his sheep."

Still uncomfortable with being a sheep? Will you humor me and take a simple quiz? See if you succeed in self-reliance. Raise you hand if any of the following describe you.

You can control your moods. You are never grumpy or sullen. You can't relate to Jekyll and Hyde. You're always upbeat and upright. Does that describe you?  No? Well, let's try another.

You're at peace with everyone. Every relationship as sweet as fudge. Even your old flames speak  highly of you.  Love all and are loved by all. Is that you? If not, how about this description.

You have no fears. Call you the teflon toughie. Wall Street plummets--no problem. Heart condition discovered--yawn.  World War III starts---what's for dinner? Does this describe you?

You need no forgiveness. Never made a mistake. As square as a game of checkers. As clean as a grandma's kitchen. Never cheated, never lied about cheating. Is that you? No.

Let's evaluate this. You can't control your moods. A few of your relationships are shaky. You have fears and faults. Hmmmm. Do you still want to hang on to your chest of self-reliance? Sounds to me as if you could use a shepherd. Otherwise you might end up with a Twenty-third  Psalm like this:

I am my own shepherd. I am always in want.

I stumble from mall to mall and shrink to shrink, seeking for relief but never finding it.

I creep through the valley of the shadow of death and  fall apart.

I fear everything from pesticides to power lines, and I'm starting to act like my mother.

I go down to the staff meeting and am surrounded by enemies. I go home and even the goldfish scowls at me.

I anoint my headache with extra-strength Tylenol.

My Jack Daniel's runneth over.

Surely misery and misfortune will follow me, and I will live in self-doubt for the rest of my lonely life.

Why is it that the ones who most need a shepherd resist him so? (Adapted from Traveling Light by Max Lucado)

'Oh, Gracious 'Restorer', Bring back my wandering soul......'

    Smiling at the sign posted on the wall, I thought, "That's how I feel today." It said: If I have to finish everything before I go, I'm so far behind, I'll never die.

 After a week of illness, stress, isolation, I felt overwhelmed, full of insecurity, and alone. Everything seems beyond my strength and ability. I found it difficult to cope with the chaos within. Murmuring to myself, "It seems like you are the only one who remains the same, 'yesterday, today, and forever', Father."  ~Hebrews 13:8~

    Ah, yes,.. that is the answer! I need to focus on the healing presence of Jesus.  He'll not let me fall into this darkness. Whether my need is physical, mental, or spiritual blindness, my task is simple. I must focus on the light of Christ, trusting that he will not let me fall into darkness....for he is the light of the world. ~John 9:5~ I then have His Shekinah (the luminous glow of the very presence of God) rests on me. I am Restored.....I am wrapped in the arms of love and light. How can I be fearful or insecure in this threatening world?
   
    When I wander from God's path of trust....from following Him beside still waters, till I lose the way,  lose joy, lose the sound of his voice. Then my Master "brings us back into His way," into paths of righteousness. ~Psalms 23:3~ "He Resoreth my soul...He leadeth me..."
     
     And.....  JUMPING  FOR  JOY  IS  GOOD  EXERCISE !

A Current Of Love ...Leading To Fellowship Of the Unashamed

     Yogi said, "If you don't know where you are going....You'll end up somewhere else."
All through childhood and as a young person I felt drawn to spirituality but lived with a emptiness within. I longed for balance, integrity, and purpose. I found peace when I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. My pilgrimage into spirituality flows with the current of love. This conversion enabled living a guided life through spiritual insight... and a purpose to become who He planned me to be for His glory. It didn't come quickly,,, I learned the value of using affirmations  (messages of care and nurturing that we give ourselves.)  Affirmations call attention to  internal qualities. It takes time, but it's worth it. It has led me through 65 years of "knowing where I am going" and I have become a part of .....  "The Fellowship of the Unashamed."...  An Affirmation oft  renewed....
                                                           .....................................................
 I am a part of the  "Fellowship of the Unashamed."  The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down. back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence.love with patience, live by prayer and labor with Holy Spirit power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the  maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. and when He comes for His own, He will have no  problem recognizing me. I am a committed believer, a satisfied servant of my Lord Jesus Christ. My banner is clear and in that hour my hope will be realized and my joy will be full. It will have been worth it all. I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."  ~ Clipped from a Ministry bulletin 50 years ago, placed in my Bible,  my affirmation often renewed~

Who Am I When No One's Looking?

    A little girl grew up in a small rural community where a handshake was your bond and you didn't have yards of paper work every time you made a decision..... but that was our world eighty some years ago.... 

today, It doesn't take much to realize honesty isn't valued in our society.  Yes, people talk about transparency in government and business. But in everyday life, a great number of folks still live as though deception is a necessary part of being human. I'm thinking about my own experience: how often have I justified stretching the truth for any number of reasons? Perhaps I wanted to avoid awkwardness of giving an honest feedback to a friend or colleague. Or maybe I wanted to cover up a bad decision. 

What a Comforting Thought.....

   My world between the years 1926 and 1939  was lived in daily relationship with a Great-Grandfather, three Great-Grandmothers, two Grandmothers, two Grandfathers, a dozen Uncles and Aunts, Cousins by the dozens. Most family lived within a five mile radius. At the end of the war in 1944, I began to notice major changes in life. By the time I was raising my own family, it was becoming a new age in all areas. I now have family members from Florida, Carolina, California, Illinois, Colorado, Penna., etc. even Alaska. It's kind of difficult  to have one-on-one relationships, even with your Grandchildren when they never see you. This has grieved me  for many years. I've never seen two or three of my Great-grandchildren....
    Bill often said, "Never assume anything."  I realize that long ago that I had assumed my Grandchildren would have the same family relationships I had as a child.  Can it still happen in this mobile, technical world?
I usually am a more realistic thinker, but this saddens me. What I hoped and prayed for was not  what I received... but I still expect I will somehow know, because of my prayers and love .....
"What a comforting thought---to imagine our grandchildren facing some tough decision someday or feeling lonely in some far-off place and suddenly remembering a grandmother's love---and being comforted by it."