Surprise! I Think I've Got It!

In Romans 6, verse 22 Paul tells us, "You don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, you have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you. What a Surprise!!"

From the MESSAGE, I took this verse for my very own. You see, I recently noticed that my sharing yet another incident of my life, in a group where everyone is encouraged to share, very likely has become an irritant. Last week I kept right on blissfully ignoring the leader who needed me to STOP! It's a good thing I'm embarassed, or I might have done it again this week. This woman is my leader and by not being obedient to her, I sinned against God. I must do something about this, right now.

I prayed for clarity, generosity, and the ability to listen to God at the moment of temptation. I trust God to deliver me from this love of my own world and words, and I told God how I desire to "discover the delight of listening to God." I desire this even more than my desire to be heard. The one is so worthy and the other? Really boring.

As God is a God of many, many chances, I figure I've got a good shot at this desire of being a better listener, to God and to others, when the temptation to speak --again--comes along.
Signed--jo

The Knock-out Punch

The past used to bother me. I would wring my hands and have a pity party, but it was not smart.

Romans 4:3 tells us that "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and THAT was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."

I'm not proud to say that in the past I would get excited by how I personally served the Lord. No, I'm not special and I don't really believed I thought I was then, but I always exalted in, "He chose ME!" Well, whoop-de-doo! If I hadn't been there the next fellow in line, the next warm body, would have stepped up and handled things beautifully for God. Boy, I have had a too-big-of-a-head far too often. It may be a rush knowing you're in charge, the center of it all, yet one can so easily crash with humiliation. And why not" If you were God don't you think you'd want to take the starch out of someone so full of themselves? I certainly would. And I did crash. Often.

I try to remember now the best thing I can do is recognize the way I lean towards pride, then be grateful for any punch that knocks me down, trying also to remember, it doesn't hurt so much when I laugh!

I wish I'd leaerned this a long time ago. I was hungry for attention, for the spot-light. How boring! God may need to test me on this and Oh, I hope I can get it straight next time. But if not, and I have too much pride, I really hope for a swift K.O. I sure thank Him for loving me so much!! Signed--jo

DO I KNOW YOU?

Well, not being computer-savvy, it's taken me a while to find my own blog, to say nothing of the folks that have been trying to get to it to see what craziness I am into now. I admit my reasons for writing a blog are probably not because I'm wise, but because I have this great need to share the thoughts I have, regardless of wisdom or lack of it.

So here are my thoughts for today, instigated by the parable Jesus told his disciples about the 10 virgins, 5 of whom were not ready for the bridegroom. (Why 10 virgins? That I don't know as I never heard of that custom, even in Jesus day.) At any rate, 5 of 10 virgins had not thought to bring enough oil for their lanterns, had gone shopping for more oil, so they were not waiting for the bridegroom when he came. When they appeared before him, he said, "Do I know you?"

Now the disciples were not really into the fact that Jesus was going to die and leave them. Nor did they really get it that He would rise again. And they certainly had not thought about Jesus coming again at the Great Judgment, and it was that point that Jesus was trying to get across, that no one would know the time for Jesus' returning. The disciples' inability to understand is rather like my not getting the internet! They hadn't yet received the Holy Spirit, trying to work it all out mentally without their soon-to-be BFF and they were simply--lost. So, Jesus said keep close to me, stay in touch with me, keep up the relationship with me, then there will be no reason for me to say, "I don't think I know you!"

That goes for me, too. I want to stay close to Jesus, stay in constant touch with Him, and keep up the relationship with Him, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that BFF we all have access to.

So, Jesus is preparing a place for His own, and I don't want him to someday say, "Do I know you?" I want Him to welcome me with open arms and say, "I thought you'd never get here, Jo, my friend!"

Truth, Inside-Out

When I read the Bible about King David in 2 Samuel, I wonder how such an incredible man of God could murder a man, Uriah, in order to have his wife, Bathsheba. God put lots of trouble in his path after this, but God stilll forgave David.

I can't remember any murders in my life, but I sure made lots of mistakes. I think the biggest mistake I made was in worrying about them. Born as a second child during the depression, I imagine my parents would have just as well waited a few years before having me. It's possible that I sensed that I was a hardship or maybe I was just ornery as a kid, but I grew up thinking, "I really should be perfect!"

I was always defensive and felt victimized, hating to be criticized, hating to not be the best, and as I grew to womanhood spent far too much time worrying about mistakes and imperfections. Too bad I wasn't a better learner, as I think I made the mistakes over and over because I worried so much I didn't have time or room in my heart to accept who I was.

Now, at this old age, I discover I am loved in spite of everything dumb I have ever done. And I think I am giving valuable time and effort in recognizing that I still have some neat things to learn.

David's Psalm #51 reveals David's heart, especially in verses 5 & 6 (taken from The Message) "I've been out of step with you (God) for a long time, in the wrong since before I was bsorn. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a newe, true life." I think it reveals my heart, too.

So I'm telling the truth from the inside-out and I'm ready to learn. I am not a victim, except in the way that I victimized myself by not making room for my God, my Father who loves me, to teach me. I am not an inconvenience. I was planned. Maybe not by my very special parents, but by God. And by jingle, I'm going to set my heart toward God and learn to love as I have been loved every day since before I was born.

That's all for now! signed, Jo