Category Archives: First 100 days

Christi’s Shorts – Jan 16, 2018

Christi’s shorts, or Christi’s God winks
This is day 17/100 for 2018

1.
This morning, I had fasting labs and therefore had not eaten breakfast. I had no intention of eating breakfast and was actually going to not eat for whatever the reason. After my labs, I was driving 45 minutes to the veterinarian to drop off my cat, Gideon. On the way out of the veterinarian parking lot, I heard the still small voice saying eat breakfast.
I didn’t want to eat breakfast;
I had no appetite and the only breakfast that I could come up with between the veterinarian’s and my way home was a McDonald’s breakfast burrito.
I was trying to eat better.
Therefore, as is my norm, I argued with that voice.

As I turned off the road the veterinarian office was on, I had to take a right turn to head home. As I looked ahead, I saw on the left side a brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant that I had not known was there nor had I seen it on my way in to drop off my cat.
One of my favorite breakfasts in the fast food rule world is the Chick-fil-A sausage egg cheese bagel. They also have a nice little fruit cup or a Greek yogurt cup instead of the hash browns and
I like their unsweet iced tea.
I just giggled to myself and looked up to the Lord and said
“of course there’s a Chick-fil-A!”
“Of course I’m supposed to eat breakfast!”
God was looking out for me and looking for way to bless me.

2.
For several years I have had some issues with my eyes. One of the issues has made it difficult, if not impossible, for me to drive at night. On top of not being able to drive at night, I don’t drive at night on country roads because they are not lit. Tonight, because of the timing to go and pick up my cat from the veterinarian’s office after my doctor’s appointment, I was not going to make it to the veterinarian until after 6 p.m. This is January in Florida, and the sun goes down around 6:30. I picked up the cat, went to Chick-fil-A for supper to get the grilled chicken and the Amazing Power Foods salad and more wonderful unsweet iced tea, and headed north towards my home.

As I was getting closer there were a couple routes that I could take and the first one I chose not to take because it goes out in the country and it’s very desolate. But mainly I didn’t go that way because there would be no lights.
There was a secondary way called Lake Louisa Road, which kind of cuts the hypotenuse of a triangle to get towards the road that goes around the lake to get to my house. The thing is it’s a country road. There are no lights.
I heard that still small voice say “take Lake Louisa”
As is my norm, I argued and said “there are no lights, I’m going Hammock Ridge!”

As I came up to the turn I saw a truck going into the left turn lane with a trailer behind it was turning onto Lake Louisa.
Again, I just looked up to the Lord, and laughed and said “so you’re going to provide the light!”

As we turned onto the road I realized that all the way down the road were the white lines on the side that reflected, but not only that, this very a;most desolate dark road had those reflectors embedded into the center line.

As I giggled at how God had arranged for me to take the shorter route home, I looked up and said “so now I can slow down to the speed limit because I don’t have to keep up with the truck in the trailer!” Shortly after I realized that I was able to see to drive, the truck with the trailer turned off.

Again, God had found a special way to let me know that I was hearing his voice and as I obeyed, I was blessed.

I almost missed these blessings by arguing with God’s still small voice – but when I obeyed, I was able to see His hand just wanting to bless me.

Isaiah 30 is titled in one version “God deals with an Obstinate nation”. Sometimes, it’s titled Rebellious.
My arguing was my being obstinate.

Here are some of the promises he makes to his rebellious children:

Is 30:15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Is 30:18-19 18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

And one of my favorites:

Is 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

It is my prayer that God would open my ears and eyes to hear and see Him, and to recognize His loving hand as He holds me in His palm.
I pray that I recognize this still small voice, and stop arguing! Please Lord, continue to help me, and don’t give up on me!
In Jesus’ name!
Amen

Do you ever hear God’s still small voice telling you which way to go?

Has God blessed you in a special way today?

Please share with me in the comments!

For prayerful reflection ;
Open My Eyes by Maranatha Singers

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 My One Word/phrase – be like Jesus

My 2018 One Word/Phrase – Be Like Jesus

Character is what you are when no one is watching.
Hypocrisy is what you are when ONLY someone is watching.

Christ is NOT a hypocrite.

Can someone be a hypocrite without realizing it?
Yes, by lying to themselves.

The rich young ruler was certain that he had done all that he needed to do to enter into the Kingdom…until Jesus said “go, sell all that you have and come follow me” and he went away sad.
His heart was mixed up with those things!
He didn’t realize that he was bound by greed. THIS WAS HUGE!

Giants are huge. I wrote a few of my giants down in some blogs, which can be found at “there are Giants in My land”
The first three for me are

  1. Fear
  2. Depression
  3. Unforgiveness

These giants make us do things that we would rather not do…like Paul saying that he doesn’t understand his own actions.
Romans 7:15-20

  • Like someone sabotaging themselves for a promotion.
  • Someone not writing a book they have been called to write.
  • Like someone messing things up so that they cannot get a medical procedure.
  • Like someone refusing to go to the doctor because they are so afraid of what might be found.

When you get below the excuses, you usually come up with four basic reasons:

  • Mad
  • Sad
  • Glad
  • or Afraid.

These are the most basic human emotions.
From these, all others eminate.

FEAR or Afraid.
Afraid of something.
and, the giant wants to take control.
The giant wants you to believe that you are in control of the situation…by using fear to talk you out of something.
While the person sabotaging themselves against a promotion, or not writing the book would have obvious consequences, does the person refusing to see the doctor, or refusing a scan really have any control over what is going on in their body? Of course not…they are lying to themselves.

The sad thing about this giant is that not only does it keep one in the state of fear…it brings along it’s brother – Liar.
You see, the giant liar can weave a story around in your head (because that’s where they dwell) with all your thoughts, dreams, and fears, and make the excuses make sense to you. He’s a master manipulator!

  • “He didn’t call me, so I won’t call him.”
  • “I can’t do this right, and they know it, they’re just trying to humiliate me.”
  • “I’m not good enough for that scholarship, God knows that, so I’m not going to take it. It’s his fault”
  • “I can’t prepare if I don’t have total control of my appointment time, so it’s their fault.”
  • “They won’t give me a job, so why even show up for the interview, they lied to me.”

The rich young ruler said “all of these I have kept from my youth”…as in, I’ve walked in the law perfectly. Mark 10:17-22
He thought that Jesus would welcome him in!
Jesus saw his heart.
Jesus said – wait…there’s a bit more to this!
The Consequences are HUGE…possibly eternal!

There is the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector.

Luke 18:10-14
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Pharisee knows all the ways and ins and outs of the law.
The Pharisee is revered by people, as he walks through the street as a holy man.
The Pharisee does what he does when others are watching, so as to be seen.

Jesus goes into even more detail about his thoughts about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:17-33

The Tax collector is honored, BY JESUS HIMSELF! I think that Jesus was talking about a REAL occurrence! I even wonder if this man was standing in the back of the crowd while Jesus was talking, and thought “he saw ME!”

There are so many promises given to those that humble themselves….here are a few:

1 Peter 5:6-7English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2 Chronicles 7:14King James Version (KJV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

James 4:6-10English Standard Version (ESV)
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

With humility comes peace, forgiveness, grace, and joy. What’s to be afraid of there?
Oddly enough – peace counteracts fear, forgiveness counteracts unforgiveness, joy counteracts depression…and grace…well, that will address another giant in my land…condemnation.

The Pharisee was deceived – he was lying to himself.
The Rich Young Ruler was deceived – he was lying to himself.
Lying is a serious sin.
It’s one of the 10 – Ex 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
So, does this mean it’s ok to lie to ourselves?

That line of reasoning would also go like this:
Ex 20: 13 “You shall not murder.
But that means only other people, so it’s ok to commit suicide.

You probably would disagree with that, wouldn’t you?

King James

Revelation 21:8King James Version (KJV)
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

ESV

Revelation 21:8English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

If there was any question as to what God thinks of lying…or the rest of these, here’s His answer.

This is the final judgement.
These are giants that have taken over folks, and folks did not deal with them.
They may not have even recognized them.
They have been manipulated BY the giants.
They may have been blindsided by them, like David almost was, and his mighty men had to kill one for him.

Fear and Lying….
cowardly and faithless…
and idolatry.

Yep, idolatry is in that set of 10! the first four deal with our relationship with GOD!

I put this quote at the end of every blog and email:

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

For me, this is the simplest definition of idolatry I’ve ever found.
I allow something between ME and HIM.
So, when I wrote there are giants in my land, I was taking down the rights of those giants to get between me and Jesus. I also confessed that I will not put ME between me and Jesus! My definition of LORD is that HE is given control(as if he needed me to give him permission) over my life, and I will yield to MY LORD.

Lying to myself gets between me and my God…and peace, forgiveness, grace and joy.

 

Lies...that is how the abuse in my life continued.
I suppose that folks that knew lied to themselves, as well as others.
Those lies almost destroyed me.

John 8:30-32King James Version (KJV)
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The truth of sexual abuse is not an easy truth to accept.
but by allowing the truth to open my eyes, so many things started to fall in place that had been chaotic, and confusing. Things that had never made sense were now making sense, in the face of this ugly truth. And the bigger TRUTH??? Jesus was in control. Not me. Not my abuser. Not those that knew and allowed it.

Even Satan has to get permission to mess with God’s Saints…Job 1 … and God puts limitations upon his efforts.

We cannot allow the enemy to rule in our bodies…Romans 6:12

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

THIS IS OUR CHOICE! But if we remain afraid…if we continue lying…we will not know this freedom.

So, fear, brings in lying, which brings in other things…for some of us, suicide and depression. Giving up.
Quitting.
Anger because things aren’t working out the way we want it to.
Because we think we are in control.
If God is not in control of our lives and our decisions, then the enemy is, and he doesn’t ask permission to mess with our heads…not from us.
The only way that we are protected from the enemy is when we are choosing to walk in faith and truth.
Will we stumble? yes.
Will we fall? yes.
Will be revert back to the old fearful, lying ways? Absolutely.

But every time we stand up to the giant, we are stronger for the exercise, and he is weakened because of the presence of God in our lives.

And by the power of the Holy Spirit within us…

Romans 6:11
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:6-7
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:3-6
3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

We’re supposed to BE LIKE JESUS!

Here are some prayerful songs for humbling myself:

To be like you – Hillsong

Humble thyself in the Sight of the Lord
Heal Our Land 
No Higher Calling

Here is a printable for more verses:
from the four step Bible Study

Here is a video of the service preached by Pastor David Uth, on Letting Go

I’d like to recommend this booklet by Syvia Gunter of The Father’s Business. I have no affiliation with her other than my respect for the things she has written.

We are called by HIS name – Christians – Christ followers – therefore, let’s
humble ourselves
pray
seek his face
turn from OUR wicked ways(they are ours, even if giants manipulate us)
AND HE WILL HEAR US
AND HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND.

Bottom line, isn’t that better than living with giants?

Jim & Christi 2017

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

TV Show Review – Star Trek Discovery(from my one word 2018)

I admit it, I’m a treky. I have been since the original series. Yes, in the 60’s.
I’ll also admit it – Star Trek does NOT coincide with Christian beliefs.
It was never meant to.
Gene Roddenberry

For me, as an artist and writer, I have enjoyed the cinematic evolution that is Star Trek.
The artistic aspects of the sets, the clothing, the scenes…all of that.
The humanistic study of humans…from a psychological and sociological point of view.

This is my review of the new series, Star Trek, Discovery, currently only available on CBS All-Access.
I utilized the free 7 day trial.

While all of the Star Trek episodes are/were meant to push the social envelope(Kirk kissing Uhura – first mixed race kiss on TV) – I’m feeling a bit pushed over the edge.

What I’m going to write next is NOT politically correct. This is MY review, this is MY opinion. Everyone has one!

Pros:
I love the strong women!
I love the reality of their back stories!
In only 10 episodes, I love their growth.
I love the dealing of PTSD in the life of Tyler, after being tortured by Klingons.
I love the character development.
I love the equality of the story line – mixed skin-color couple, mixed race couple(Klingon and Human) and the same sex couple. Since this is NOT a Christian statement show…I appreciate the balance from a humanistic point of view).

Cons:
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith.(sometimes, non Christian shows do give me food for thought)
This is a much more RAW Star Trek – while there are good parts…it feels much more savage and violent.
This series has been promoted as the series to push the women’s movement, and the LGBT movement into mainstream.
This is NOT a show that will encourage my Christian faith. (yes, I said that before…I’ll explain the reasoning behind this CON later)

PROS:
As a survivor of abuse, and having PTSD and anxiety issues, and to some extent, having been ‘brain washed’, the little bit of Tyler’s story, having been a POW in the Klingon camp, and having been tortured in ways we do not understand at this time, I am intrigued by his character development. In one episode, he has horrible flash backs and goes almost catatonic, and the other character talks him through the flash back. The words she says to him are the very words needed when PTSD flashbacks come.

Focus on the sound of my voice.
These are not happening, these are memories.
They didn’t defeat you then, they won’t defeat you now.
breathe.

MY Views:

My comfort when going through PTSD flashbacks sometimes needs to be from a human voice outside of my raging head filled with memories and negative self talk. Sometimes, I just need a human to keep me grounded to the present. I believe the Bible has the answer to this. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

1 Corinthians 12
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

As an abuse survivor that has suffered from every cognitive distortion, I have struggled with not being good enough – and with suicidal thoughts. For a few of my thoughts, I submit:

Like I said above, the episode where Tyler is crashing from the flashbacks of his torture, the Admiral, a Psychiatrist, gave him simple, exact support to pull him back to reality.
A human voice on which to focus, can break through the (enormously loud chaotic) noise in my head.
As a mental healt awareness advocate, this is great exposure to how someone feels going through an episode.
In case someone needs this, here are 21 Anxiety Grounding Techniques.

As a Christian, my healing is based on my faith, my relationship with Jesus and with the Word of God speaking into my life. That is evident in my blogs above. And, prayer, Bible Verse recital, and Worship songs, and the like are VERY important safety/grounding techniques for MY healing. I believe the Bible has the source of healing that is eternal. I do not want my heart and mind divided. I’ve added some Bible verses at the end, but not about mental health at this time.

Powerful women…wow. What a change from the damsel in distress women in the original Star Trek.
Over coming mistakes.
Overcoming abuse.
Overcoming life long ridicule.
and rising up, taking back your power, and using the past to empower your future.

MY views…….
While they are encouraging and inspirational – they do not fill me with the love of Jesus that is MY healing power.

1 Peter 2:9English Standard Version (ESV)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You see, I need to remember that I belong to another…Another…and HIS light is a light that I desire…not the light of this world. Or any light that star trek can offer.

Luke 11:34-36English Standard Version (ESV)
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

I’ve written many blogs about how to overcome the above issues with scripture, prayer and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some are listed above. I believe that the Bible supports women rising up, taking back their power, and using the past to empower their future. I am one of them. I do not want my heart and mind divided.

Tolerance – all are one blood – no color seen by God. Acts 17:26
From a humanist point of view – the equality is refreshing. Including the very “normal” treatment of the prominent gay couple.

MY Views….
From a legal, and humanist point of view – this is great. From an American point of view, all are equal – We the People.
From MY Christian point of view –
all are equal before God, before salvation.
all human life is valuable to God – because he sent his son to die for the WHOLE WORLD.
all have the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
all have the opportunity to be members of the Kingdom of God.
And the method I believe in is through the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

As with all countries – I believe every sovereign country has the right to choose who may enter their borders.
God(Jehovah, Yaweh, Yeshua, Jesus, Messiah, Emmanuel – the God that created the world, and created man, and gave His son, wholly God and wholly man to be the sacrifice for our sins, and indwells the believer with the Holy Spirit, also wholly God) – has given his requirements for entry…and that is to be a citizen.
To be a citizen, one has to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, renounce their sins, receive Him as Lord and Savior of their life, and live their life to glorify God until we meet him face to face.
I have followed the citizenship steps, and I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Phillipians 3
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I believe the Bible, and I do not want my heart and mind divided.

CONS
The violence…period.
the deceit being rewarded.
The gay couple.
The embracing of a very over the top women’s movement.

MY views.
So, basically, my cons are pretty much that this show does not promote my beliefs.
I didn’t expect it to.
But I do need to make a choice…or be divided.

James 1:8King James Version (KJV)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

1 Kings 18:21
Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

James 4:8 gives me the solotion:

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Isaiah 55:7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 5:20
“How terrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute what is bitter for what is sweet and what is sweet for what is bitter!”

For the Christian, it is not as easy as just turning off the tvs how.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Peter 2:
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Psalm 106:35English Standard Version (ESV)
35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.

Hosea 7

Those chapters are convicting, but here is the verse that really settles things in my heart:

Luke 9:
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Yes, those words are in red, because they are the words of Jesus.
So, while I like some of the ways that this show is going, and I do not like the raw ness of it with the violence and such, I will discontinue my All-Access membership before I am charged, and choose not to watch this.

This will have an affect on my other watching habits, as well.
You see – the impression I’ve been given for this year is
“the end is near,
the time short…be like Jesus.”

There are so many more eternally profitable things I can be doing with my time.
There are so many more things that could help me to grow into Jesus’s likeness.
Star Trek is not one of them.
many of the things I’ve watched are not.

Why do you watch what you watch?
Does it further you toward your passions?
Does it help you to fulfill your calling?
If not…what do you choose?

Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14-15

I admitted at the beginning that I was a trekky – that is my confession, and I am not going to stop being a trekky.
I’m a child of God – and I have a job to do – and being a trekky keeps my heart divided and distracted.
Several things I’ve allowed into my life are causing division and distraction.
The time is short, the end is near…I need to get about the job at hand, the purpose for which I was saved.

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Midnight Musings – What did you see? 1-10-2018

Often, I am given things in the middle of the night. Most of the time, I just lie there and beg to go back to sleep! Recently, I’ve been convicted to share these ramblings, and I’ve had some encouraging responses. So – here goes obedience! ~Christi
 

This is day 10/of 100
And this fits into my One Word Phrase – Be Like JESUS

What do you see
When you see me?
What do I do that
Sets your heart free?

Why do you share
Your hurts, pains, and joys
Your deepest regrets,
Your favorite toys?

Why do you speak to me
As if I’m your friend
As if I’ve known you
World without end

I’m only a person
That speaks from my heart
Does that help you open
Does that help you start

To share from your heart
And to share from your life
All you joys and your triumphs,
Your struggles and strife?

Why do you talk to me
As if I’m a friend
When we’ve never met before
And our time will now end.

Is it the safety of
not seeing me again?
Is it the freedom of
Anonymity for the win?

I don’t have the answers,
But I do have a heart
I will listen and share
And I’ll do my part.

You are human,
And lovely, with special worth
You are the only you
That is here on the earth.

I know that you need love
I know that you care
Your job is your passion,
Your life is your prayer.
Because I am open,
You feel free to share,

I used to think it was
Gabriel my dog
That enabled me to talk
Not get lost in the fog

But Gabriel is gone now,
And I’m now all alone,
But still people talk to me
By speech, text and phone.

I have no answers,
But I do know the One
That will listen with wisdom,
And He gave up His son.

It’s the only answer
I have for my trials,
And I know that he’s keeping
My tears in pure vials.

I want to show Jesus,
To all that I meet,
I want to spread love, joy,
And mercy and peace.

I don’t always feel it
I often will fail
Especially to those
Who know me so well.

But those that just met me
And open their hearts,
And tell me their stories,
Explain their life’s charts.

I don’t know why
I don’t know how come
But I do know I have to
Listen until done.

We are the hands, feet and tears
Of Jesus the king,
Aren’t we his ears,
And his tongue – so to sing?

To sing of his praises
To sing of his love
To share with others
The gifts from above.

He puts me in places
I don’t want to be
And there is a person
That needs to be free.

Sometimes, it’s just chatter
Sometimes, it’s their grief
Sometimes, it’s their need
To have someone believe

Someone that listens,
And gives them the boost
To know what their heart needs,
To know what to choose.

I’m not very good at it,
But God disagrees
Because he keeps bringing
The broken to me.

The hurting, the tired,
The ones that may scream,
The joyful, the funny,
That share me their dream.

I don’t know my purpose
I don’t know my cause
I do know my Savior
And I love him because

He loved me before
I had something to love
And because of His love,
I’ll share with the ones

The ones he brings to me,
The ones that I meet
The ones that my heart sees
And connected are we.

It’s not our religion
It’s not of our creed
It’s because of the love
That sets us both free.

No judgement, No hatred
No critical crap
Just love and respect,
We know there’s no trap.

What we say, we respct
What we feel, we empower
And if it will last,
With love, we will shower.

Friends come and go,
Some stay with forever
But friends become friends
When we learn how to share.

I hope what I have
Is the light that does shine,
The salt that does season,
And the love so divine.

No I’m not Jesus –
Not in the flesh,
But I try to be like him,
I do try my best.

Your stories are safe
Within my heart wall
I won’t share them, blare them,
Or use them at all.

Jesus is
a tower of strength,
The righteous run
to Him and are safe.

So to be like Jesus,
I must not share
But hold your stories,
With the greatest of care.

But how do you know
When we’ve only just met
Is it Jesus you feel?
Is it God’s love that is set?

I didn’t say Jesus,
No shirt did declare,
How did you know
In my heart was a prayer?

A prayer that each day,
I could make someone smile,
And let them know Jesus
Can make life worthwhile.

That peace is an option,
That grace is a given,
That forgiveness is chosen,
And Love comes from heaven.

Yes there’s a price,
But one must know the wares
Eternal with Jesus,
And support for my cares.

The price it is worth it,
The cost oh so high,
But to have Lord Jesus
Beside me and nigh

Is worth my whole life
It is worth my whole being,
And because of His help,
‘Neath His shadow I sing.

I hope you see Jesus in me.
© MCWildman 2018

 

Jim & Christi 2017

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.
Some artwork is from FreeClipArt Library. copyrights belong to them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Midnight Musings – Be Like Jesus – Jan 5, 2018

Often, I am given things in the middle of the night. Most of the time, I just lie there and beg to go back to sleep! Recently, I’ve been convicted to share these ramblings, and I’ve had some encouraging responses. So – here goes obedience! ~Christi
This is day 6 of 100 in 2018
and this fits into my one word(phrase) be like Jesus.

 

Okay, so I’ve binged. I ate the whole bag of Christmas chocolates.

I admit,

  • I am sick and tired of having problems with my legs.
  • I hate having to put the braces on to stretch out the tendons so that I don’t have the electric shock things.
  • I hate having to put ointment on my legs,
  • I hate having to wrap my legs,
  • I hate having to wear socks that compress my legs, and
  • I hate the fact that I’m doing all of these things and have no idea why I’m doing it because no one knows what’s going on.

NO ONE?
 

Well someone knows.
God knows.
God knows what’s going on with my body,
God knows what’s going on with my heart,
God knows what’s going on with my mind.

Romans 8:28English Standard Version (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 2:10English Standard Version (ESV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I have no idea what good works I can do when I’m spending so much time dealing with pain, headaches, other strange things that I get doctor saying “ooh that’s really weird, but I have no idea what it is!”
But God knows.
And I know God.
And one thing I know about God is it that he intends everything that happens in my life to do something good in me, so that I can glorify him in my life .
God says it…and I say I believe God…so therefore, I believe it is true, whether I understand or not.

Glorify God in my struggles?

Jesus said to let our light shine so that others would glorify God. (Matthew 5:16). Our purpose here is to glorify the King of Kings Lord of lords, Glory Glory! Our purpose here is to share with others the love, grace, mercy that is the heart of the King of kings and Lord of lords. And since there are going to be trials (thank you James), and we’re not supposed to be surprised that they come upon us (Thank you, Peter), we are to count it joy(Thanks again, James), we are to share our love, we are to be in peace, and the whole point of struggling, and suffering with Jesus, is to show how to suffer with Jesus (thanks again, Peter!).
For that matter – we’re not supposed to be surprised if the world hates us! (Thank you, Jesus, as reported by John!) They hated him, first.

1 Peter 2:12English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Empathy

There’s a verse about participating in the sufferings of Jesus, and that’s not what I’m talking about here, because this is about chronic illness, mental illness, and such things. These were not issues that Jesus dealt with, specifically.

For me, this is not confessing to be a Christian. Here in the United States of America, for the most part, it’s not hard to confess to be a Christian.

Suffering well, in any situation, shows others hope in their situation. Participating in suffering gives us a bridge to touch others who are suffering, because we can empathize, not just sympathize. Experiential Compassion.

Do Good?
For the most part, most Christians don’t look any different than everybody else. For the most part, the majority of the population gives the Christian church, and any faith-based anything really, a wide berth as do-gooders. But is that the tag, the evidence, of our Christianity? Doing Good?

I know that there are people that do not believe in Christ, who have no basic faith statement, but are good people! They choose to support the poor, to donate to organizations that help the homeless, that restore are land, help our schools, etc., etc., etc. How does that look any different than the Christians who collect food for the food pantry, go in and help with floods, and give their money wherever? How are WE supposed to look different?
How are OUR good works supposed to look differently?

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

For me, with the problems I have with my legs, I can’t go stand at a soup kitchen, I can’t go serve for the floods, there’s so many things that I cannot do, and good people are doing more good than I am. So how do I stand out as a Christian in the midst of the darkness that we are surrounded by? How do I show empathy, and experiential compassion from the core of my faith? From Jesus in me?

LOVE
Jesus said to or through John that they will know us by our love. It has to be something different about our love compared to the love of your basic do-gooder. The love of Jesus was a love that suffered, and died, on our behalf. His life shows us how he struggled with those that would say things against him, that would choose to throw him off the cliff, and how he actually responded those last days as he knew he was going to end up on the cross.
What do we have to show, differently?

We love because he first loved us(1 John 4:19).
He loved us while we were yet sinners(Romans 5:8).
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son (John 3:16).
The symbol of our Christianity is that they will know us by our love(John 13:35).
Jesus showed us his love when as he was being tried and beaten and made fun of, he looked over and his best friend had just denied him.
Jesus showed us his love, when another of his disciples did not believe that he had risen and demanded to touch his feet and hands.
Jesus showed us his love when he embraced Peter back into the fold and asked him to feed his sheep.
Jesus showed us his love while he was hanging on the cross, and he looked down and asked John to take care of his mother Mary even though he knew he had brothers that could do the job.

How Can I show this type of Love?

Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, and does not seek its own way… And the rest of 1 Corinthians 13. As Paul said, if I speak with the tongue of angels and have not love, I am just a noisy gong.
This is NOT easy…and this is a growth!

JOY

Joy is another key that Christ has given us in the midst of trial.
He came that we would have joy and have it fully(John 15:11).
The joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10).
And in his presence is Joy forever more (Psalm 16:11).

KEY —> if we don’t have joy, it’s because we haven’t spent time in the presence of our King and Joy Giver.

I can’t really talk about Jesus showing Joy because that’s not really what the scripture talks about when it talks about how Christ responded. But I can say scripture points to Joy. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, and I think the next is patience or long-suffering(yep, Gal 5:22-23). The spirit that is providing us with these fruit to grow is the Holy Spirit, the part of God that lives within us. So we should exhibit the love, and we need to exhibit the joy.

But on top of that, there’s some aspect of joy that should just emanate from the Christian, as well as peace in the midst of Trials.

PEACE
The next way to be different than the world in my trials is to have peace.
The peace of God that passes all understanding and keeps my heart and mind in Christ Jesus(Phil 4:7),
Who is the Prince of Peace(Is 9:6),
Who spoke to the storm “peace, Be Still” (Mark 4:35-41)
and said to us “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
In the world there are tribulations (John 16:33)) but HE promises us peace.
Someone without the spirit of God within misses out on the peace that God grants us through his word and through prayer and through the privilege of fellowship with our creator father. So peace is the other indicator of our walk with Christ.

In Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, you can read about people that were singing hymns while they were burning at the stake. That is definitely joy and peace in the midst of a very serious trial. And I have never been asked to confess my faith or renounce my faith at the pain of death, or bodily harm. In our lifetime there have been Christians beheaded in Ethiopia area, there have been people, students, shot in schools because they were asked if they were Christian. There are Christians in China and India that are being tortured and killed. And I know someone from Indonesia who tells of the story of it being so dangerous to be Christian there. I want to look different, even here, in the United States.
I want to look like JESUS!

Conclusion?
James said

James 1: ESV
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The point is, sometimes trials are what God uses to grow us in love, joy, peace and patience (no, I didn’t write about patience, but it’s a good fruit to have!). When we exhibit that love, joy, peace and patience in the midst of turmoil, we actually glorify God in the midst of our struggles, and that is a very good thing. If in any way I can help someone walk through their Darkness and find some light from the Lord that brings them love, joy, peace, and patience as they face what seems to be insurmountable terrors and trauma and trials and tribulations, then my trials and tribulations have value. This is where God takes coal of my life and presses it with intense pressure, and heat(fiery trials), and eventually brings forth a diamond that is a jewel in His crown to glorify him when I see him face to face.

My Prayer
I confess the struggle with my human flesh dealing with pains and such, and I ask my Lord and Savior for strength to endure with character qualities that glorify him. And I pray that my life would be given over and a sacrifice for his glory and to help whoever may need help to take the next step as they walk to the Valley of the shadow of death.

RESOURCES
Verses about Love from Daily Verse .net
Verses about Joy from Daily Verse .net
Verses about Peace from Daily Verse .net
And for good measure:
Verses about Patience from Daily Verse .net

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission. The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

My prayer – 2018 day 4/100

Day has come
The night is gone,
My will to live
Today is strong.

My children hurt,
And so I burn
With desire to help.
To the Lord I turn.

Please be with them,
In all their needs,
For them, O Lord,
To You, please lead.

Remind them of
The verses true
That in their heart
Do speak of you.

Declare to them
That you are near,
And to their prayers,
You listen and hear.

Repentance, Lord,
Is always new,
Because we sin,
And disappoint you.

So day by day,
We have to start,
And end to say,
Please cleanse my heart.

Please draw me near
And hold me close,
For I cannot touch
Those that I love.

But you, O Lord,
Do reach near and far,
In your hands you do hold,
Them, as from the start.

Their children, too,
I must remind,
Are declared for YOU,
To love and to bind.

Sickness and wounds,
And financial burdens,
Are things you handled,
On your earthly sojourn.

You promised your Word
Would heal and provide,
And draw all my children,
Back to your side.

My husband, dear Lord,
The one you have given,
Is struggling, too,
With the trial you have given.

Please touch his heart,
his head his body,
And give us the wisdom
To trust in you wholly.

My heart is filled
With worry and fear,
My head is filled with
What ifs, and tears.

I love you Lord,
And I know you love me,
And I know that you love
My whole family tree.

I pray this prayer,
In Jesus’ name,
And I give over my fear,
To one and the same.
(c)2018 MCWildman

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 first 100 days – day 3 – Priority to Love

I started this year with wondering what my word 2018 would be.

I was impressed with “the time is short” and “the end is near”.
My question to Jesus was “for what?”
His answer was “to be like me”.
My first thought was – does that mean my word for this year is “JESUS?”
Can’t be…that’s so WWJD, and cliche’.
I couldn’t pick a WORD last year, either…basically, I got a verse!

This year, I keep getting VERSES…and the word Jesus just keeps popping up!
And I kept refusing it (ok, today is only Jan 3, and I started this after Christmas, so I haven’t been sinning quite that long…it just feels like it!)

Then, yesterday, dear Ann Voscamp wrote her word for the year. Jesus.

Great – now it’s going to look like my obedience is actually imitating Ann Voscamp!
I can see it now…all those bracelets with the name JESUS on them…everyone wearing them….

GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN!
HOW GREAT WOULD 2018 BE IF EVERYONE FOCUSED UPON BEING LIKE JESUS???
Ok, attitude checked.
Repentance requested, Forgiveness received.
Moving forward!

My focus this year – is BE LIKE JESUS.
And, yes, my memory word will be…..

And, today, I’m working on my priorities to be like Jesus…#5.

  1. Praise
  2. Prayer
  3. Promises (Bible READING – PRAISE FOR THE PROMISES)
  4. Purpose (writing)
  5. Priorities(those things that God brings to mind each day – family, self care, others, etc.)

Priorities – THOSE THINGS THAT GOD BRINGS TO MIND EACH DAY
Last night, God brought to mind that my husband said something very sweet to me:

Your hair is aging very lovely

I have had years of getting strange types of comments from my husband.
He has a different way of expressing himself than most.
Because of that, I’ve not accepted many of the compliments he gives me.
There is also the issue of horrible self worth, negative self talk, and all those self-condemning voices in my head that out number and out yell him!

This time…THIS TIME…I heard Jesus whisper…listen.

What is he saying?
He likes my long hair – even if I feel it’s stringy
He likes my grey hair – even if I keep trying to convince myself they are tinsel!
He likes my hair, as it’s aging, and he’s not hankering for the day when my hair was young, fresh and …well, I’ve never been happy with my hair! He, on the other hand, has loved my hair from the start!
In fact, it was my hair that almost gave away that he intended to marry me!

Story time:
It was 1979. I’d been out of the Navy for a couple of months. Therefore, I could let my hair grow!

 

I went to dinner with my best friend, Jim – my bible buddy.
He looked across the diner table and said “are you letting your hair grow?”
“yes” I replied…we talked about anything and everything, so this was not strange.


“Great, I always wanted a wife with long hair”

WAIT! WHAT???
My immediate reaction was “I’ll never marry you, it would ruin our friendship!”
Little did I know how close that was to prophecy!
Understand, I was reacting out of the mouth of a child of divorce…I didn’t know married couples could be friends!
Besides, he was the guy I asked about all the other guys that were proposing to me…”is this the one?” “No, I don’t think he is the one”

Hmmm, all along, he had ulterior motives! And, one year later, give or take a month – we were married!

 
So, a comment about my hair goes all the way to the beginning.
GOD wanted me to HEAR Jim’s heart! And I felt loved.
My love languages are quality time and words of affirmation.
His aren’t. hahaha! Isn’t that about the truth for most of everyone?
I need to hear HIS words, trying to speak to me in MY language.

Now, what does this have to do with what God led me to do today?
Remember my word for the year…yep – Jesus.

Colossians 3:23-24King James Version (KJV)
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Ministering to MY husband.
Guess what HIS love languages are?
Acts of Service and Physical Touch…
These are troubling for me for several reasons.

  • I don’t do the hold on until we melt into each other hugs…they are vulnerable.
  • I have physical issues that make hugging painful.
  • We used to live in a cold environment – and kissing too much caused chapped lips.
  • I have physical issues that cause me pain when I do cleaning, decorating, moving – acts of service.

Those who have followed this blog for any length of time, know that I am a broken mess!

I want love, but I’m afraid of it.
I want trust, but I’m afraid to trust.
I want peace, but I’m afraid…period.

So, God told me to listen to the words my husband said – so that I could hear love.
And this morning, God pointed out something that blesses Jim.
He asked me to do it way back in the beginning.
Many life organizers list it as one of the first things to do in the day.
I did it every day in the Navy boot camp – on the top bunk(and I’m short).
WHAT IS IT?
MAKE THE BED!

Yes, something my mom was always telling me how to do.
So, I know the nurses way to make a bed(yes, with flat sheet corners)
I know the Navy way to make a bed (and, no, the quarter didn’t have to bounce, but the top of the bottom sheet and the roll down of the top sheet both had to be 7 inches exactly. the distance between my thumb and my little finger spread out is almost exactly 7 inches).


I know the OCD way – lines must be straight, each side must be exactly the same distance…
I’m learning the ‘IT’S OK TO BE REAL’ way…here’s today’s work:

I lost one of the shams when I was matching colors for the house.
The pillows should not be showing…but I don’t have the strength to pull the quilt up further.
I never intended to have that many sleeping pillows on the bed…and, interestingly enough, I have a similar colored bed at our daughters, with cute extra pillows that the dog loves to walk around with!
I even cleaned up the dresser before taking a photo…
and I can go on and on and on about how this is not up to my standards.

But it is…IT IS…up to my dear husband’s standards!
THIS blesses him.
Actually, me just pulling it up and straightening a bit blesses him.

I get hung up on doing this as unto the Lord, therefore it needs to be perfect.
You know that verse?

Matthew 5:48King James Version (KJV)
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

or this one?

1 Peter 1:15-17King James Version (KJV)
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

I get so hung up on doing something perfect, or being holy about doing something…that I just don’t.
a quote from my earthly father:

If I can’t do it right, it’s not worth doing.

I do know that neither my earthly nor heavenly father meant for me to just quit.
I do know that OCD, anxiety, and such are Giants in my Land that I need to slay.
I do know that pain prevents me from doing some of the bigger, more impressing things I used to do for my husband(moving whole rooms while he was gone..yeah, that’s not happening anymore!).

What I needed to learn – from listening to God tell me to LISTEN to my husband’s attempt to speak my language was that I don’t have to be perfect in result…I just have to perfectly try.

Language – several years ago, I made a trip to Germany.
I created a cheat sheet of some words I thought I might need to say.
I listened to some of those language trainers to get a feel for the sound.
I was told that the nationals would be offended by me trying to speak their language without getting it right.
My experience? 100% of the time, I might get a smile, but I always got a very warm thank you, and an attempt to communicate – even if they knew no English.

I don’t speak Jim’s love languages.
Jim doesn’t speak mine.
We are as different as black and white, cold and hot, wet and dry…etc.
We’ve been hung up on the other speaking our language.
I’VE been hung up on JIM speaking MY language – and my inability to DO things…or be touched, as a failure as a wife.

I’m not perfect.
Jim’s not perfect.
Jesus IS perfect…and I don’t believe he expects me to BE PERFECT – NOT AS HIM….BUT AS THE FATHER!
And yes, there are plenty of Bible studies about this…and the word meaning and such.
But, I’m simple…this is what the Bible says…and I know that one of Jesus’s love languages is GRACE!!!

Jesus doesn’t ask me to speak the language myself.
He will be my cheat sheet!

He’s commanded me to Love!

John 13:34-35English Standard Version (ESV)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Because HE IS LOVE!
Therefore, if I let Jesus reign in me, work on being like Jesus – I will be able to speak Jesus’s love languages of LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, LONGSUFFERING….you get the point!
Because of JESUS in me – I can love.

1 John 4:19English Standard Version (ESV)
19 We love because he first loved us.

1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

and of course:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8English Standard Version (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus asks me to Love my husband.
yes, there are others, too.

If Jesus can choose to come and die for me, while I am yet a sinner, because HE LOVED ME…THE FATHER LOVED ME, THE HOLY SPIRIT even chose to MOVE ME BY GRACE…then to be like Jesus – surely I can love one that is not as ugly to me as my sin was to MY FATHER.

AND surely I can extend grace to my human husband(I have no other), as he attempts to speak love to me.

I made our bed today.
Jim – I love you, and Jesus Loves You! Thank you for loving me, too!

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Why do I write? a poem about me. 2018 day 3

Why do I write?
Because I can’t breathe?
Because I can’t think?
Because I can’t see?
Why do I write?
To get it out of my head?
To get it out of my heart?
To get it out to share!

I write because I have words to say
I write because sometimes there’s no other way
To get the noise that is in my head
Out into the world, whether for good or for bad.

I write because I must sing a song
I write because I must point out wrong
I write because my heart wants to break
For all of those that suffer and shake.

I write because I know of the pain
I write because I feel how it weighs.
I write because I want to lift up those hands
Those feeble knees, and those struggling to stand.

I write because God gives me the words
I write because something inside just yearns
To speak of the Truth so that others can live
To share of the joy that only Jesus could give.

I write because my heart has been broken
I write because my mind still is broken.
I write because no Spirit is broken –
Because words can heal, once they are spoken.

I write because Jesus is the Word
When he speaks to me, I want him to be heard.
I write because He has healed my pain
And I want his love to flow down like rain.

Why do I write?
Because others may hear,
And reach out to Jesus,
And know that He is near.
(c)1/3/2018 mcwildman

A nice reminder from Daily Bible Verse

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Jan 2, 2018 reflecting on Jan 2, 2014

Thanks to Facebook, I was reminded of my thoughts four years ago.
Because it is just as pertinent now as it was then, I’m going to repost it here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January 2, 2014 – Welcome 2014

I may be a bit strange…well, yes, I am peculiar….but I have a way of looking at the new year that sort of gets some folks down.

It is like a new salvation confession.

During December, in the midst of all the celebrations, I look at my life as if I am going to meet the Lord Jesus. Of course, that IS what folks supposedly celebrate on Dec 25, welcoming the Lord Jesus into their lives – but that discussion is for another blog!

I look at the Old year as, well, my old life….it is passed away by 2014…and I look it over as if I was preparing for my confession of Christ as my savior. Sort of like one would do before their public baptism.

What things troubled me last year?

What things needed help last year?

What were my weak areas?

What were, if any, my strong areas?

DID MY LIFE SCREAM JESUS EVERYWHERE I WENT?

Well, of course, there are times that our lives should just whisper Jesus – but the point is, did I shine the light of Jesus to those around me? Or did I hide my light under a bushel?

2013 was a year of recovery.

2013 was a year of acceptance.

2013 was a year of resting and leaning on Jesus.

Yes, I failed.

  • I failed in my consistency of blogging.
  • I failed in my consistency of painting.
  • I failed in my consistency of writing…or writing the books at all!
  • and those are just the public failures!

But were those my goals or God’s goals????

  • I was blessed to help out our daughter, Faith, around her baby boy’s birth.
  • I was blessed to enjoy a week of vacation with our son and his family here in Florida.
  • I was blessed to visit some ‘old’ friends in Ohio.
  • I was blessed to take a road trip with my daughter, Rachel.
  • I was blessed to go on some trips with my husband.
  • I was blessed to walk up FOUR lighthouses!
  • I was blessed to get to see two cousins that I hadn’t seen in years…one that was my ‘older sister’ cousin, and one that was my ‘younger sister’ cousin.
  • I was blessed to learn that milk and bread mess up my body and cause pain.
  • I was blessed to learn about alkaline ionized water, and how it benefits my body to enable me to do many more things with my chronic illnesses.
  • I was blessed to learn that I could choose my food…my food did not dictate or, rather, my emotions did not dictate my food.
  • I was blessed to learn that my husband and I love each other more and more than we did when we got married…with 34 years of experiences, good and bad, shared.

In all of those, I learned many things.

Did I get done the things I thought I was supposed to get done? no.

Some of that is my fault…some of that is what God brought down my path.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Ps 16:11)

I say I want to walk the path God gives me…that I want Him to lead me and be the light unto my feet, and the lamp unto my path…but

  • do I follow? or,
  • do I follow willingly? or,
  • do I follow unbegrudgedly? or,
  • do I whine? or,
  • do I embrace JOY? and accept HIS pleasures (listed above as blessings)?

The sheep don’t whine about following the shepherd.

Those that wander, he breaks their leg, so that they learn to stay near…

I have had several years of learning to be still….the last surgery was a HUGE be still lesson.

But, that was last year.

Just as someone that is going to their baptism, their public confession of Faith…that is in the past. When I confess my sins, he is faithful to forgive and to cleanse me of all my sins (1 John 1:9).

That is what my evaluation of last year is all about.

Then, 2014 – all things are new….I have been washed in the blood – and my time before me is NEW…just as after my confession of sin, and confession of the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I am a new creation…old things are passed away, all things become new(2 Cor 5:17)!!!

So, I start this year with some new goals…I’ll write about that in another blog. But, 1/1 seems to be a great time for a NEW start.

I will fail…but He is the glory and the lifter of my head(Ps 3:3).

I will succeed…but I am weak, success is because HE is strong(2 Cor 12:10)…

and I will flounder…I still live in this body of flesh…Romans 7

But I will work out my own salvation with fear and trembling(Phil 2:12)…I will press on towards the mark of the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus…I will continue to run this race….because I know what is at stake! Eternity! 1 cor 9:24; Heb 12:1-2; Phil 3:14

BTW – every evening can be a re-eval of your day, and every morning can be a new day – weeping may be for the night, but joy comes in the morning.(Ps 30:5)

May each of my readers be blessed this year with a new and fresh knowledge of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I guess I’ve had that quote for a while!
I know I’ve had that life verse for a while.
I still spend December looking back over the year.
I still make a fresh confession to Jesus on New Year’s Eve.
This year, it came out in the form of a Poem.

I again pray that my readers will be blessed by these thoughts of mine, focused upon my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His plan for our lives.

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 – Prioritize – one of my five goals

This is day 2 of 2018 – I’m attempting another 100 days! I started one in 2011.

Today, I’m going to talk about how I set up a priority prayer calendar.
It’s not that difficult…and to be honest, if I utilized it more, I would be praying so much more!
I guess first, we have to decide that praying is important – a priority!

In 2018, I’m going to be focusing on doing the work God has placed before me.
I’m still not sure what my word for 2018 will be…hmmmm.

I’m going to be focusing on the important things upon which to focus:

  1. Prayer
  2. Praise
  3. Promises (Bible READING)
  4. Purpose (writing)
  5. Priorities(those things that God brings to mind each day – family, self care, others, etc.)

My first priority, as led by my Savior, Jesus Christ, is to pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

WAIT! HOLD THE PRESSES! CORRECTION!

Actually – I”m going to confess a bit of a change right here….based upon 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18!

Praise, Prayer and Praise(Thanks for the promises)

  1. Praise
  2. Prayer
  3. Promises (Bible READING – PRAISE FOR THE PROMISES)
  4. Purpose (writing)
  5. Priorities(those things that God brings to mind each day – family, self care, others, etc.)

And yet – today I’m going to talk about prayer.
As 1 Thess 5 tells us – PRAYER is crucial…and we should do it ALWAYS! WITHOUT CEASING!

Recently, a friend of mine was wondering how we do such a thing, pray without ceasing.

We all know about how Jesus taught us to pray:

Matthew 6:9
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Here’s a print for you from The Catholic Resource

There is a nice little study about the Lord’s Prayer in many versions at The Lord’s Prayer Words.

I admit that this is our guide line for prayer.

  • Our Father – declaring WHO our Father is
  • Who art in Heaven – declaring His Kingdom Home
  • Hallowed(Holy) Be your name – declaring our reverence for His name.
  • Thy Kingdom Come – declaring his Kingship
  • Thy Will be done – declaring his Soverignty
  • On earth as it is in Heaven – declaring his rule over heaven and earth.
  • It goes on – to request our needs –
    daily bread
    forgiveness (with admission of OUR responsibility both for our sins and to forgive)
    help to avoid sin
  • Then PRAISE
    THINE IS THE KINGDOM
    THINE IS THE POWER
    THINE IS THE GLORY
    FOREVER!

so does Jesus mean for us to be praying the Our Father without ceasing?
I don’t think so. I know the Catholics do their rosaries with this and the Magnificat…and I admire the tenacity of their focus. They keep themselves focused, with these prayers and others in the common prayer book. I guess I just fine myself needs to talk to God…ALL THE TIME! and the Our Father doesn’t always say what I want to say.

And, it doesn’t give me room to pray for my family, friends and events, and national leaders, etc.
Understand, I am not saying that Catholics, or liturgically based faiths don’t pray for these things! I was raised Episcopalian, and when I need to focus my prayer life, I have gone back to the prayer book.

I have also utilized a wonderful took by Sylvia Gunter.

4 R


YOu can purchase this at her store. The Father’s Business I have no affiliation with her other than my deep and abiding respect for her ministry.

These resources did not help me to know how to pray for my family and friends on a regular basis.
Do I sit down and list off the 100’s of people I’ve met over the years? When I try, I usually fall asleep.
Praying is a great way to fall asleep – if you are like me, you will wake up praying!

So, here’s what I did.

  1. Meranda
  2. Daniel
  3. open
  4. open
  5. Miheret(a sponsored child)
  6. Adam
  7. Open
  8. Jim & I
  9. Rachel, Sarah G
  10. Asha, John, Connie

So, this isn’t a really hard to figure out concept. Pray for people on their birth DATE – if born on the 2nd of December – pray for them every 2nd!
Now, this handles the people, based upon their birthdates.
What about other dates?

Again, I pray for couples on their anniversaries (my brother John and his beautiful wife, JeanMarie, were married on the 15th of May – I pray for their marriage on the 15th of every month).

  1. Faith & Steven anniversary
  2. Jim & Christi anniversary

One could add a due date to remember to pray for a pregnant mamma!
I have a dear friend who died of breast cancer years ago…her family remembers her on the anniversary of her death(Jewish tradition), I remember her, and pray for her children on her birthday.
It is what YOU need it to be to help YOU pray consistently for others!

I could and should have these written down on printed calendars, but what I have done is on the google calendar.
If you set the event as all day, it just gives you a banner at the top of the day.
If you sent the repeat monthly, you get the repeat notification monthly.
To be honest – sometimes I forget the more distant people’s MONTH of their birthday! /o\

To prevent that, you could also use those yearly calendar things in the back of a printed calendar planner – but that gets too complicated for me to put into days. On the other hand, you could use those dates to remember the special days…and transfer them to a basic calendar, and print it. There’s a very flexible option at Print-A-Calendar.
I think I’ll do this with my yearly calendar when it comes!(I’m a calendar snob…yes, I admit it).

Another tool that I am using this year, comes from the blog “My Beautiful Ugly”, and it’s a January Challenge with a free set of printables, and another set, I just bought for myself – for only $5(the price of these things helps to support the blogger/artist for their work – I’m not affiliated with her other than my respect and love of her work).

Please check out My beautiful Ugly 2018 planner and love challenge blog.

I’m going to go print them out right now!

Now, to comment on my friends wonderment…Prayer is talking with God.
Enoch walked with God and was not…probably didn’t want to end the conversation!
Moses talked to God like a friend.
Abraham talked to God, even respectfully arguing with God about his concern for his adopted son Lot, in Sodom and Gomorrah.
David sang to God.
Peter, James and John walked with God…while Jesus lived here…and talked with Him ALOT! If I can take anything from the interaction the disciples had with Jesus, it’s that I can say anything to Him, as long as I remember to listen for His answer.

There’s another way to pray without ceasing…

Romans 8:26-27English Standard Version (ESV)
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

This comes right before Romans 8:28 –

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

A perfect reminder that when we pray – we have confidence with the Father that ALL things work together for good….not that it will work out the way we want it, but that it will work out the way HE wants it!

I guess that is the main point for me to remember with prayer.
Prayer is not about me telling God what to do in my, or my family or friends lives…
Prayer is letting God know the desires of my heart…and sometimes, Ps 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Prayer is about letting God take charge of my heart.
In fact, Psalm 37 is a great Psalm about a prayer and a prayerful heart. Psalm 37 talks about rearranging our heart, too! Be forewarned…there are requirements…here’s a couple for starters!

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

verse 40
The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

Prayer is NOT just about when I pray, how I pray(kneel? stand? lie face down?), or even WHAT I say –
Prayer is the outcome of my relationship with Jesus Christ.
Prayer is the connection with my Best Friend and Savior, Whom I know intercedes for me, and will intercede with Our Father for others.
Prayer is my time with Jesus!
Prayer is Love…
love of God
love of Jesus
love for those I pray for.

I mean, seriously, if prayer is spending time with someone, sharing your joys, sorrows, hurts, victories, and concerns – isn’t that what you do with the one you love?

And what great a privileged it is for we creation to humbly go to Our Creator and ask….because he has asked us to do so.

The book of James gives us so much to think about in our relationship with God, and prayer.
Pray without ceasing – no, not by James…but still as important.

and writing down those we do not want to forget to remember to the Lord in prayer – that can help with the “not ceasing” part.

I do hope this will help you, I know writing this down has reminded me. Here’s to a prayerful 2018!

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I want to thank

for the ability to search the Bible online.

Some artwork is from me – ChristArtist. It is copyrighted – by me. Please do not share it without my permission.
The same goes for my written work.
Some artwork is from ChristArt – not me! I have purchased a membership, and the art is copyrighted by them.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or choose to LIKE me on facebook, follow me on Pinterest, or other social media!
I’d love to stay in touch with you – we are working on email subscriptions…sign up! 
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.