Category Archives: Joy in the Journey

28 days of Grace – day 1

This morning, I went to get blood drawn…and before I even got to eat, I was confronted with temptation.
TRIAL/TEMPTATION #1
Fear.
I have written before about the giants that tend to attack me, and one that I wrote about is the giant of fear.

In that blog, I said this:

Another of my favorite verses about fear is this:

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When someone is standing up to the giant of fear, 2Tim 1.7 is the perfect stone to throw. What fears are not covered by power, love, and a sound mind?

This morning, I wrote my dear husband Jim and said
“I’m scared of failing or quitting”
Jim replied:
“You have not quit, therefore you won’t fail”

smart man.
love, power and a sound mind. I talk about it in that blog…but,
Jim’s text back to me gave me love.
The music that Jim had uploaded to my phone gave me power….Here I am to Worship
And with that love and power, I gathered myself up, and trusted in a sound mind!

I was able to pack my little cooler(I bought a cute one) with a breakfast, and head out to my blood letting session.

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #2 –
ENVIRONMENT – or location, location, location!
The corner of 6 Pines Drive and Research Forest is a very favorite place for me. In fact, I have used this medical building’s parking lot frequently!
Let me show you!

The Temptation!

See the hint?

There's one of my tables...Culver's!

No, not the butter burgers…the Turtle Sundae!!! Chocolate, Caramel and Pecans on top of frozen custard. NOT on a yeast free diet!

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God [is] faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able;
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear [it].

God is faithful.

Amy Charmical, in Edges of His Ways, May 26th writes this:

The pressure of temptation is measured by One who knows what the substance to be tested can stand. The maker of glass would not subject his glass to a weight of 20 tons per square inch. Here lies our comfort. We commit our souls “as unto a faithful Creator. (1Pet 4:19)”
And there is more in this. Sometimes we are tempted to feel that even though the pressure would be nothing to another who is stronger, it is too much for us. But it never is: “He knoweth our frame; He remembereth we are dust. (Ps 103:14)”
The temptation to yield and do what the flesh would naturally do is meant to offer us an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith. This ‘is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Rev 13:10)”

As I read this the other night, it hit me…it’s not the trial or temptation that is too much…is whether I will choose to endure, whether I will choose to exercise my faith.
My Heavenly Father chooses tests for me that HE KNOWS are not to much for me. Because HE LOVES ME!
He is giving me the opportunity to exercise my faith muscles. Because HE LOVES ME!
I am in the position to CHOOSE whether I will exercise those faith muscles.
BTW, where did that faith come from? My Heavenly Father!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

My Heavenly Father has given me the measure of faith, and with it, if I exercise it, I can move mountains, I can do the deeds of Christ, and even greater deeds (Matt 21:21, John 14:12)! Of know credit to myself…it’s ALL God’s power….given to me by GRACE!

So, first, God so LOVEd me that HE led me to this reading BEFORE I entered temptation!
Then, God gave me the grace to have the POWER to withstand temptation!
And, He promised to make a way of escape( 1 cor 10:13)…He gave me the STRONG MIND to prepare my breakfast and take it with me!

Let me show you the victory!

No milkshake for me!

 

Roast Turkey for my protein!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIAL/TEMPTATION #3
LACK OF PREPARATION
I forgot a drink, but I had a bottle of water in the car….not quite enough!
So, here’s my third TEMPTATION and VICTORY!

I forgot a drink!

so many temptations here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the price is right...$1!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VICTORY!!!

LARGE UNSWEET ICED TEA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s only noon, and I’ve had two trials, but I’ve also had two victories.
I’ve spent an hour writing this photo blog…and that has challenged me.
I give up on getting the photos straight, and the words right…I just want to post this blog…share my thoughts…and go paint.
In the mean time, I am going to be leaning heavily on God’s GRACE to help me through the next 28 days.

5pm add on – today has been great.
The concern about workout recovery was answered with coconut milk!!! Better than anything else I’ve ever done to try to handle the crash when I perspire a lot!
I am behind on my water, but have had unsweetened ice tea twice.
After supper, I’ll do my evening protocols, and day one will be over!

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

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Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

28 days of grace, day 0

Tomorrow I start a 28 day yeast free diet designed by a medical doctor that is also a naturopath.

This is to cleanse my body of toxins from unhealthy living as well as UN health.

As I start this journey, I can’t help but wonder what spiritual parallels will come to light.

So far I am learning that any journey takes preparation and counting the cost. In addition, I need to learn to say no to things that are not good for my body, like a specially made carrot cake or cool whip chocolate pie.

Commitment is always strongest at the beginning, and I have already eaten some sugary things for which I’ve paid a tummy price.

Tomorrow is bloodwork, and the first day of the rest of my life.

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’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

If you like The WildBerry Patch, follow me with the RSS feed.

We have email subscription! Just sign up for an account, and you can manage your subscription from the dashboard!
Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

 

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps – #35 Looking toward the goal

From where I’m standing
Lord it’s so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You’re leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can’t control

This song really makes it clear that when we look at our current circumstances we rarely can see our future clearly.

Ruth “Bunny” Graham wrote a book:
Fear Not Tomorrow, for God is already there.

Casting Crowns:

When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

When I think about my tomorrows, I wonder what I’m going to do, and will I be prepared, will I be happy there, will there be others there with me. Wondering is one thing, but fearing is another. wondering can lead to anxiousness, which is stress, and can lead to fear.

Nothing is going to happen to me that the Lord and I can’t handle. ~AA

The will of God will not lead me to a place where the grace of God cannot protect me.~Folk wisdom

Casting Crowns:

From where You’re standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan
When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

This is all about God’s sovereignty…Everything that happens to me has to go through HIS hand. No need to fear.  So, why plan? Because, we don’t know the hour or the time for His return, and we must work while it is night, until the morning light.

So, looking toward the goal –

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

This is my whole purpose in life…to press on toward the prize.

1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

As I press on towards the goal, I can rest that Jesus is already there, and will not be surprised by anything, but is waiting for me with open arms. And when this life is over, we will look back together, and HE will show me the great masterpiece that HE has created.  I just have to make sure to keep headed in the right direction!

~Casting Crowns

One day I’ll stand before You
And look back on the life I’ve lived
I can’t wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit [x2]

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
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Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Battle Plan for Comparison Blues – Part 4

Battle Plan
An Antidote for Post Conference Blues or any Comparison Blues!

Every time I go to a conference, I come back with Post conference blues. I am so quick to compare myself and my children and my efforts with everyone else, and to take the talks terribly personally, that I am overwhelmed with my conviction, and am tempted to give up.

This year I recognized it a bit before going…with the issue of dress, and looks, and expected appearance. After we arrived at home, the blues hit again, and this time, I cried out.

Here is the antidote that God gave me: part 4

Now, I’m resting, and he’s strengthened me with all his truth, healed and united my heart, and filled me with peace.
Next he says:

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Whew! That’s what I needed all along! I needed to quench those fiery darts!

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation,

sort of goes with:

Ps 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

I can’t SEE my salvation:

Hebr 11:1 (KJS) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Eph 2:8)

But I know it’s real:

Hebr 11:6 (KJS) But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I believe! And I know that He is the author and the finisher of my faith,

Phil 1:6 (KJS) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
1Cor 1:8 (KJS) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
and now, he has me running in a race!
Hebr 12:1 (KJS) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Now…into battle!

Eph6:17 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We did some spiritual housecleaning, with the help of Dr. Jim Logan’s book, Regaining Surrendered Ground . My husband and I prayed together, seeking the Lord about possible causes for the seeming curses in our family (Pr 26:2), and God graciously showed us things that we had not dealt with from our family history. After taking authority over these issues, and praying the prayer to regain the ground through the blood of Jesus we thought about the three main issues we’d been led to deal with. They fell under three categories!

1Joh 2:16 (KJS) For all that [is] in the world,

  1. the lust of the flesh, and
  2. the lust of the eyes, and
  3. the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

These, of course, hit the major three commitments we’ve all been taught, and are attempting to teach to our children.

I can tell you, after our prayer warfare this weekend, I can say with David:

Ps 18:37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

SUMMARY

If you are suffering from Post Conference(Comparison) Blues, please go through these steps…get before the Lord, and cry out! He will lead you into His peace, and He will prepare you for warfare, and remember:

Psal 98:1 (KJS) A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
1Cor 15:57 (KJS) But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We don’t have to worry about the victory…it’s already won…we just have to walk in His steps…and trust in Him!

BACK TO PART ONE
BACK TO PART TWO
BACK TO PART THREE

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment!
Or ‘like’ me!

Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Comfort From the Comforter –

Let me share something what the Lord led me to do, as I was in an MRI machine. I had meant to choose a verse to meditate on….but was met there by friends to stay with my son…and had not chosen one yet.

As I lay in the machine, with many strange noises, The Lord brought Ps 23 to mind.
Here’s how He did it:
The Lord (this is one of the acrostics He gave me)
L – oving
O– mnipotant
R – uling
D – ivine

IS
I AM that I AM, eternal, without beginning or end

MY
I was predestined and ordained to be elect,
He knows the plans He has for me!
He knew me before the foundation of the earth,
before I was formed in my mother’s womb

SHEPHERD
My sheep hear my voice and follow me (yes Lord, I will follow)
~ Saviour, Like a shepherd lead me…..

I SHALL NOT WANT
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
My God shall provide all my needs according to His riches in Glory
If I delight myself in the Lord, He will give me the desires of my heart (even more of Him!)

Do you get the idea? He gave me a few more hymns and spiritual songs to sing, along with other verses. We got through to the still waters (Be still and know that I am God, <well, I didn’t have much choice…I had to lie still!>). He ministered to me for the whole 1/2 hour …..all to comfort me, and to keep my mind on Him while they did the MRI.

Where ever, or when ever we find ourselves in need of comfort, He will meet us, and bring the word that we have hidden in our heart to comfort us. And, He even works in us to glorify His name! He is so Awesome!

May you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and hide under the shadow of the Almighty……(Ps 91)

(written 2000 or before)

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

How many spoons does it take to make a day?

I do have chronic illnesses – and unless I am using a cane, walker, wheelchair or wearing a boot or brace, you cannot see what goes on inside me.  And even those tools do not tell you totally what is going on.  I also have an Assistance Dog – Medical Alert.  No, he’s not for impaired vision…he is NOT a seeing eye dog.  But Gabriel makes my life much easier.

Because not all handicaps are visible, I wanted to share this great blog with you.

The Spoon Theory, by Christine Miserandino

Basically, she explains if you are only given so much energy per day…and how are you going to use it?

This has helped Jim and some of my friends understand why I am so excited at the beginning of the day, and I have several things I want to get done, and it all seems so doable, and then something happens, and I MIGHT get ONE thing done, and I’M DONE for the day.

But, really, isn’t that the case with everything?
We each get 24 hours in a day.
86,400 seconds every day.
What do we do with each one?

If we were dying of thirst, and we were given a canteen of water…we would do everything to get every drop of water out of that canteen.  For normally healthy folks, drawing as much out of every 8 hour workday, and then as much out of the next 4-6 hours before dropping in bed is pretty easy.  For folks with challenges, it takes a bit more thought.  For folks that will answer to the Lord Jesus Christ for every minute of every day, for every word spoken…we ought to look at it a bit differently.

We have a chronic illness…SIN – and it eats away at our choices for the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have a perfect solution – SALVATION – and that stops the death and destruction, but we have to fight that old addiction!

We have the perfect remedy – GRACE and MERCY…but we must apply them daily, minute by minute, second by second.

Ps 90:12 So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom.

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Barbs Drawing

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

The First 100 days – Day 63 – Minimalism

Our journey here in 2011, in Texas, and in moving full time into an RV, was enhanced by a very unique post. The author is Francine Jay. Her blog is Miss Minimalist, Living a Beautiful Life with Less Stuff.

The first post I read, A Short Guide to Consumer Disobedience…stirred up the rebel in me, the desire to NOT conform to the pulls of this world.

I live a minimalist lifestyle for many reasons: for example, I love the freedom, the flexibility, and the financial benefits of not owning a lot of stuff.

But I must admit, it’s also a chance to indulge my inner rebel. I’ve been a straight-A student, model employee, and overall law-abiding citizen; yet when it comes to consumerism, I can’t resist my desire to stick it to the man.

Today, I found Miss Minimalist’s New Year’s challenge, The Year of the Butterfly.

The small butterfly
moves as though unburdened by
the world of desire

-Haiku by Kobayashi Issa
Today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year, which according to their lunar calendar is the Year of the Rabbit.

Well, I’d like to propose a special New Year for us minimalists: let’s make this the Year of the Butterfly.

I enjoy her writing, and philosophy so much, I purchased her book, The Joy of Less.

Less Stuff = More Joy

Having less stuff is the key to happiness. Do you ever feel overwhelmed, instead of overjoyed by all your possessions?  Do you secretly wish a gale force wind would blow the clutter from your home?  If so, it’s time to simplify your life!

While I do not agree that having less stuff is the key to happiness – since I believe that JESUS in our hearts, and right relationship with Him is the KEY – I do agree that past that, our stuff holds us hostage.

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God…NOT THINGS!

Things as idols….that could make hoarding idolatry…and this has been a big issue for me as I’ve downsized!

Does this clutter make me look fat? – Peter Walsh from TLC’s Clean Sweep wrote a book called Does this clutter make my butt look fat?
I haven’t read it, because I’ve been afraid of what it might say!  The point is, clutter and hoarding in any area of your(my) life tends to excess. Keeping three copies of one book…why?  Eating three hamburgers instead of one…why?  Who needs it?

So, my biggest challenge has been cleaning away the emotions connected to the things…which is also part of the point of learning about emotional eating.  Binge eating is just the same as binge buying, or binge hoarding.  It’s BINGE – more than I need. Do I hear the word GLUTTONY???

So, I’m off to learn more about minimalism in so many areas…and to learn, in a new way that:

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

In fact…Phil 4 is a great chapter to read, and reread to learn what to focus upon.

Phil 4:20 Now unto God and our Father [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

  1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 63
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5(didn’t set up verse 4)
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – Isaiah – very behind.
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – ???

The First 100 days – day 62 – storms

I have failed to write this blog consistently…and this response is more personal…this is my life.

Life is happening here…but after reading about a friend’s  life…I am reminded of the story about the woman that met with Jesus about how heavy her burdens were.  He showed her the burdens of those around her, that she could not see – and everyone of those that she picked up were too big, too heavy for her.  Then she saw this small burden and asked who’s that was…she was told to pick it up, and she said “it’s so light? Whose is this?”  Yours, my child…

So, life is happening here…I have a disability that makes these difficulties challenging…but, I have a God that is greater than all these things…and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

I have to remember, like Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress…the lions are chained.
I haven’t been able to T-Tapp, because for some reason, my energy levels, my strength, my heart rate and my breathing have all continued down hill.  I haven’t even been able to take walks.
I will be taking my walker to Germany, and we are talking about some sort of braces for my ankles.
Apparently, my Fibromyalgia is in rare form, and I’ve had to add Mobix to aid the pain issues.

Other than that, this is all I have to get done:

  • planning the downsizing(Katy Christian Ministries is getting lots and lots of stuff),
  • preparing for the trip(April 18-May 18),
  • doing training for Gabe in prep for Germany(classes and trainers),
  • preparing for the move at the end of May(which has to be ready before I leave for Germany),
  • planning the June trip to Ohio(where I will meet a man that wants to confirm face to face what my father was – as in, validate the memories that have ‘destroyed’ my life), and that trip needs to be planned before I leave for Germany,
  • plan for Faith and Daniel’s visit here in July(because when I get back, I will be too busy moving and vacation to mess with tickets then), and
  • prepare for medical issues that have come up – in the mean time.

I haven’t blogged.
I haven’t kept up with the scripture memorization.
I’m not T-tapping much more than once a week, though sometimes I skin brush
I’m not walking much – energy issues
I’m not checking in here, or encouraging folks on the my initiated 50 challenge, or even doing the second 50 day challenge.
My blood work came back worse…even though I have eaten better, and exercised better during that 3 months. I KNOW that becoming fully diabetic is my fault.  God gave me 7 years…and I failed.
I need to find that money tree…oh right, my God shall provide all my needs….
I’m failing commitments all over.

Anxiety? A little.
Physically – things seem to have gone backwards.
Making progress? definitely…but not as fast, or as well as I’d like…see that noun?

I ‘need’ a foundation…and I have put much of my roots into certain physical things that make me feel at home.  God is shaking those roots…and reminding me that my roots need to be grounded somewhere even deeper…and I KNOW that I will get through this…

BUT – in the mean time…I feel like I am going through an earthquake, hurricane, and forest fire all at the same time.  Sometimes, daily. I need to remember Elijah…in the cave…God is not in all of this, I need to be still, and wait for HIS still small voice.

The problem – when I get still, and hear his still small voice…I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE!!!  I want to stay in HIS presence! LOL, I don’t want to go back to the storms!!!  But, they still keep raging…and I am learning that while there are times that I need to turn my back on the storms, and look into Jesus’ face…apparently, there are times that I need to face the storms…Sometimes, I need to face my enemies…knowing that HE has my back…and when it’s too dangerous, HE will command the storms to cease.

Still, I daily find myself to be human, weak, and struggling with my inabilities.  Technically, in the Biblical and Spiritual world, that means that I am learning that when I am weak, HE is strong.  Military Boot Camp was hard…but I learned my weaknesses, and the Navy showed me how to become strong.  This is like God’s boot camp for me…and I KNOW that I will come out stronger.  I KNOW that HE is with me.  I KNOW that THIS is to help me put off those fleshly rags, and put on the garments that HE purchased for me.

I also KNOW that I should be counting all these things gifts, and rejoicing in these trials, testings…because HE is making me into what HE has planned for me.  I KNOW that I will be better for these things.  But, I also KNOW that I am human. These things hurt, like Eustace’s shedding of the dragon skin – he couldn’t do it alone – Aslan had to use his claws to cut through the layers.  My God, My Christ, My Savior, My redeemer Jesus is answering my prayer to be more like HIM.  right now, HE is clawing through the layers of fleshly baggage…because I can’t do it alone.

Sometimes, my heart holds on to “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
Sometimes, I remember “I shall not die, but live to declare the glory of God.”
I’m trying to just stand – simply stand, and wait to see the deliverance of God.
Sometimes, I just acquiesce to the process…which implies some pride still.
I don’t know that I have totally yielded to this process….which probably means I’m not being still. Actually, re-reading that – duh…I haven’t’ yielded yet!

One thing I know – God knows that I am but dust, and still, He will never leave me nor forsake me.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling…and to present you faultless …FAULTLESS…before the presence of HIS glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen.

 

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

  1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 62
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5(didn’t set up verse 4)
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – Isaiah – very behind.
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – ???

The First 100 Days- Day 46 – Boiling Point

Boiling Temperatures and Idle words:

written by Christi Wildman, 10/10/98

Each person has a boiling point, like silver and gold. As they are purified, that temperature gets higher…they become
more purely meek. Until that time, they can be stirred up to anger by others adding ingredients into the mix.

When someone throws idle words around, they add ‘salt’ to the water, lowering the boiling point. If the person was
walking purely, and had their boiling point at the highest point, the added salt may just be an irritation. If the person
had had other things added to his situation, and had already had his boiling point lowered, then he may just blow up.
Judge if your words are good or bad.

Matt 12:33 (KJS) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for
the tree is known by [his] fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure
bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment.

So, the one who throws idle words around, will be judged…and it shows what type of heart he has. The following also
illustrated the purpose of our words and the power:

Prov 10:11 (KJS) The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Stirring up strife: This can easily be done by words, and without words, this is next to impossible.

Prov 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of
understanding.

14 Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise.
20 The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver: the heart of the wicked [is] little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
23 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Idle words, combined with a sport to do mischief…what does this say about joking, teasing, or any other foolish
jesting?

Ephe 5:4 (KJS) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of
thanks.

Does this add to the victims heart and cause their boiling point to be lowered? Who bears this responsibility? Who is
responsible for causing this destruction in another’s heart?

Prov 15:1 (KJS) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Grievous words DO stir up anger!

Prov 10: 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.

The mouth of the wicked will not go unpunished…but are idle words, joking, teasing, baiting, or any other type of
activity considered sin? What does the word say?

Ephe 5:4 (KJS) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of
thanks.

Prov 18:21 (KJS) Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Prov 15:4 (KJS) A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.

The person that is receiving is responsible for their actions also. They are in the fire of refining. And with each
purification, the fire must be turned hotter to purify.

It is their responsibility NOT to boil…to give up their rights…to cease from anger and forsake wrath

Psal 37:8 (KJS) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

1Pet 3:10 (KJS) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they
speak no guile:

But when tested to the boiling point……one must call out for grace from God, and He will deliver us, and we will be
purified…….before boiling over. We are to do preparation before the time comes, but we do have some help from God.

Prov 15:1 (KJS) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Ephe 4:23 (KJS) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.

Ephe 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Colo 3:8 (KJS) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your
mouth.

The person with the idle words is guilty of stirring up strife and IF the other stumbles, they are guilty of causing one of Christ’s little ones to stumble.

Luke 17:2 (KJS) It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that
he should offend one of these little ones.

The person being tested can cry out to God for a way of escape:

1Cor 10:13 (KJS) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

If we fail:

1Joh 1:9 (KJS) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.

The Commandments of Christ are to Love God and our neighbor:

Matt 22:37 (KJS) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Love each other, as God would have you love….and help each other to grow into the fullness of Christ, by watching what our words say and do….and our actions….

Ephe 4:32 (KJS) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephe 5:1 (KJS) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

  1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 46 -Sick
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – Ecclesiastes
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – check – SICK
  6. 30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- SICK

The First 100 days – Day 42

In the last week, there have been storms in our lives – within us, our family, and our extended family and friends.

This video says more than I can say about Praising in the Storm:

“Praise You In This Storm” by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus]

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

[Chorus x2]
Some of my favorite sayings:

  • The soul would have no rainbow if the eye no tear.
  • If we endure storms, then we shall see rainbows.
  • Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

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.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

I got these lyrics from azlyrics.com
Please purchase the music from Casting Crowns, as I have.

  1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 42 – Back in the saddle!
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – Ecclesiastes
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – check – Hoe Downs!
  6. 30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 14