Category: Whispers (Page 18 of 161)

Anselm goes on to write about sex when it is used as a satisfaction of lust, not as the expression of love that feels its way into the heart of another. He says that sex can be misused to flee from reality or to satisfy oneself when one is not content. That can pervert sex into a blockade of God. Instead, we need to really meet that other person and give ourselves to him or her as an expression of love for God.

The third thing that Anselm mentions that we need to deal with is greed. We all strive for essential possessions, but we have to take care that our possessions don’t possess us. We can become greedy and desire more and more goods and that hunger for them will never be satisfied. One day we will have to give them all up for we can’t take them with us. Just think of all those in hurricanes or fires who in only a few minutes have lost all their earthly possessions. We must remember our inner wealth is most important for when we find the Pearl of Great Price, we are truly rich. (Matt.13:46)

We must also deal with emotions such as sadness when we cling to the past or don’t get our way; or anger when we feel we were injured or just plain bored in our lives, or envy, pride and a host of other emotions. Let us be honest before God and give Him all those things in our lives that put space between us and Him. Nothing is worth hanging onto at the expense of knowing Him.

Emilie also learns from what others endured but didn’t give up, like painter Pierre Auguste Renoir. He got rheumatoid arthritis also when he was 57 years old after he had been painting since a child. His joints were inflamed and his hands so distorted that visitors observing couldn’t believe he could still paint. He would at times cry out in pain but when pressed by others to quit, he said, “Beauty remains but pain passes.” He never lost his love for what is beautiful and before he died, he had produced 6,000 works of beauty.

Perhaps we can all learn from examples that as we give of ourselves to others it will transcend our own pain and self-pity. I think of Johnny Ericson and how she let her wheelchair be her pulpit to speak of God’s faithfulness to her. Whatever any of us have to endure in this life is a challenge but also a response to God’s grace. Emilie wrote a poem and said in a few of her lines, “I was a bit unwell today/ But I am well in the grace of God/ Well enough to withstand/ whatever the universe is dishing up today/ and well enough to ask hard questions/ not to mention/ well enough to hold my Bible in my lap/ until the day of Resurrection.”

As we all get older and slower, and may be enduring debilitating diseases, we can ask the Lord to help us use what is left to us of life and use it wisely and well. We can learn from other grateful lives and choose happiness as we come to rest in God’s Grace. The Gallup poll showed that people get happier as they get older and satisfied with their lives. Let us all remain joyful and express joy even in the midst of what we may be suffering.

Emilie also learns from what others endured but didn’t give up, like painter Pierre Auguste Renoir. He got rheumatoid arthritis also when he was 57 years old after he had been painting since a child. His joints were inflamed and his hands so distorted that visitors observing couldn’t believe he could still paint. He would at times cry out in pain but when pressed by others to quit, he said, “Beauty remains but pain passes.” He never lost his love for what is beautiful and before he died, he had produced 6,000 works of beauty.

Perhaps we can all learn from examples that as we give of ourselves to others it will transcend our own pain and self-pity. I think of Johnny Ericson and how she let her wheelchair be her pulpit to speak of God’s faithfulness to her. Whatever any of us have to endure in this life is a challenge but also a response to God’s grace. Emilie wrote a poem and said in a few of her lines, “I was a bit unwell today/ But I am well in the grace of God/ Well enough to withstand/ whatever the universe is dishing up today/ and well enough to ask hard questions/ not to mention/ well enough to hold my Bible in my lap/ until the day of Resurrection.”

As we all get older and slower, and may be enduring debilitating diseases, we can ask the Lord to help us use what is left to us of life and use it wisely and well. We can learn from other grateful lives and choose happiness as we come to rest in God’s Grace. The Gallup poll showed that people get happier as they get older and satisfied with their lives. Let us all remain joyful and express joy even in the midst of what we may be suffering.

There are endless ways to witness to others who may not be open to an invitation to go to church but might respond to having a cup of coffee together.  Maybe our neighbor is a care giver and would appreciate a meal brought to the door, or a lonely person would welcome an invite to be included in a group activity, or a senior neighbor would appreciate his lawn being mowed. It may not be our words that speak to them but our lives without words, that attract them to the Lord.

Witnesses simply tell others what they have seen or experienced, and a verse I learned as a young child says it well in Matt 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Our light can shine forth in many ways and is more apt to be seen if we are compassionate and humble, not prideful like we have all the answers.  It will glow as we easily forgive and are peace-loving. Also, if we are good listeners and express encouragement, they may ask where our peace comes from and be open to having prayer over their concerns.

Others are observing our lives, so let us ask ourselves if they will be drawn to the Lord by how we live.

Hope you have a blessed Day. We never got to go out for Valentine’s Day and though it is delayed we are going today to try a restaurant in Merrifield that has homemade healthy meals.  

Even Christian parents may err on not affirming their children, for fear of them becoming prideful. But without approval families will raise children who wonder about their self-worth. How many times have you heard, I know my dad loved me but he never actually said those words to me. Sometimes the child spends much of their life trying to prove themselves and be someone dad would be proud of, even though he may never say so. Left to ourselves we don’t always reach the right conclusion.

Isn’t it wonderful though that God never forsakes us, though our parents may. David said in Psalm 27:10, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” It may or may not be true that our parents loved us, if they may never found expression of love and affirmation towards us. But since we know that love and approval is important, we can become sensitive to the needs of others and affirm them. We can start with our own families and tell our kids, I love you, I affirm you, well done, I am proud of you! Then when they do hear negative comments about themselves, they have a reserve of praise and affirmation stored up to offset it and put it into perspective.

We can also affirm ourselves when we recognize that God has put special gifts inside of us and as we use them, glory goes to Him. Let us not be centered on self but thank the Lord for who He made us to be and recognize the gifts He has given us.

When couples have marital problems, the relationship may change when just one of the spouses begins to change. Old unhealthy patterns are broken along with power struggles and things are not the same enabling trust to gradually begin to build again. But all of us have choices as to how we handle troubling situations if we are willing to change our attitude and deal with things. It is best to ask ourselves, how am I going to change myself and respond more maturely? Most teens are controlled by peer pressure and the expectations of others. But as we mature, we need to take responsibility for our own lives and not blame others. We ask ourselves, how am I going to deal with the other person and will it be on a high level that Christ would want? In the process we still are to be ourselves and love ourselves and choose to respond to others in a loving way. All our responses are to be filtered through Jesus words to us in John 13:34 to love one another as He loves us.

Let us all be it touch with ourselves and discern what is the best thing to do in each situation we find ourselves. We can change even when the circumstances don’t change. The Lord can give us the power to cope and will help us not to be dragged down but live with hope. It is important to let go of fear and to be open to a new way the Lord may put before us. Rather than blaming the other person, we can pray and ask the Lord how to handle the situation and to grow through it. We have to first love and accept ourselves before we can love others unconditionally.

Author Ashley Thomas says, “When you say yes to something, we are saying no to something else.” We need to ask ourselves if we have the grace to say yes to this right now? Of course, it feels good to be a yes person and not disappoint others, but it can leave us exhausted, especially when we say yes to the wrong things. But we all go through seasons in our lives and we may say no now but later in a new season may be able to say yes.

It’s important to listen to the Holy Spirit who will open up time to be with the Lord, and to have quality time with our family and others. We have peace when we are operating on God’s timetable and saying yes to the right things rather than doing our own thing. When we operate in our own power, we may become bitter and overtired, but when we are responsive to the Holy Spirit, we have peace.

The choice is ours. Every day we need to seek His will for what the Lord has for us. We need to ask, “Lord what do you want me to say yes to? “Of course, we must be quiet to be able to hear His voice and then follow with obedience.
Challenge for today Give up your agenda and say yes to God’s agenda.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy