Tag Archives: Bless

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 53 – Reputation?

This morning, I opened my email to get this message from The Pocket Testament League:

God at Work.

Dear Christine,

Do you have a reputation for sharing the Gospel? Mallorie in Aurora, Colorado, does! Here’s the story she posted to our website recently:

“At my workplace, I have been giving out the Gospels of John to people. A couple days ago, I ran across a coworker at the shopping center. He is a Christian, but he is having difficult times, and he told me he wanted to get closer to God. I asked him how is his daily readings with the Bible, and he said it wasn’t good, but he was told that I had given someone the Gospel of John. So now he’s reading the Gospel of John booklet!”

Mallorie was right to ask her coworker about his daily Bible reading. When we read the Bible each day, we grow closer to God, because it’s through His Word that His Spirit draws us. It’s through His Word that we learn of and are reminded of God’s love for us in Jesus. The small, attractive Gospel booklets are great tools to use to bring people back into the habit of reading the Bible every day.

The League has designed daily devotions to help you read the Bible faithfully. Each weekday, we’ll send a short Bible-centered devotion, along with a word on how you can apply the reading to your life. To find out more and sign up, simply go to Daily Devotionals on our website.

In Christ,

Mike Brickley
President

P.S. Get a reputation for sharing the Gospel with others. Keep a supply of booklets with you so you can hand one to the person who has heard that you gave the Gospel to someone else! You can order on our website at Order Gospels.

This weekend, we met several people at the RV Park. I was an evangelist for three things:

The Story of Texas Museum

The Story of Texas Museum

The Story of Texas Museum

Story of Texas Star

From Inside the Museum

AND

Escapees RV Club

I also was an evangelist for putting scripture on the walls of your home.

Names of the Lord

The Names of the Lord

Jer 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11

But not once did I inquire about a person’s relationship with Jesus.  Oh, I wore witnessing T-Shirts…the chicken’s way of evangelizing.  Not once did I turn the discussion to Jesus.  AND – it used to be that EVERY conversation I had, I turned so that I knew what that person’s relationship with Jesus was, and how to pray for them.

What happened?  I wouldn’t have thought so, but I guess my fire went out.  When I talked about the museum, I was insistent that these Canadians go and check it out!  Now, they have left my life, and while they DID go and check out the story of Texas, and enjoyed it very much, I don’t know if they know the story of Jesus – which brings joy unspeakable.  I was excited to talk to someone about the Escapees RV club, and meet ups, and what to do with the RV, but not once did I inquire in any way about their spiritual well being.  I used to have the reputation that I always knew where people stood with the Lord.  I had the reputation that if someone spoke with me for any time, they knew where I stood, and knew that I would be praying for them.  I used to have the reputation of handing out salvation gifts…tracts, bracelets, my own cards.  But this weekend, and embarrassingly enough, for many weekends, I did NOT represent.

I don’t believe it’s wrong to share common interests, but I AM the representative of Jesus wherever I go.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

There are so many ways to let someone know that you represent SOMEONE.

  • When giving a tip at a restaurant, leave a card with the MONEY tip.
  • Have a ‘business’ card letting people know who you stand for.
  • Having tracts to share that fit with common topics that come up in conversation
  • Plan of salvation bookmarks, cards, like the colors of salvation
  • Having pocket Bibles to give as gifts

There are SO MANY tools we can use here in the USA…where no one is allowed to harm us for our beliefs.  And yet, I tremble and fear.  And I am embarrassed that I fear man more than I fear God.  I am embarrassed that I fear what man can’t do to me more than I fear for the souls of the persons I meet.  This is NOT the heart of Jesus.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

That is a wonderful heart.  But today, the beauty for me is the first part of this verse…

…but is longsuffering to us-ward,

God knows me…and He knows each of us.  I used to think that if I didn’t share the gospel with someone, they’d go to hell.  That’s another post…about how one plants a seed another waters.  But I would share the gospel out of a guilt that if I didn’t, who would?  I can’t entrust someone else’s salvation to someone else that may have a problem sharing just like me!  But the point is…we are all along a journey, and we are all in God’s hands, and HE is orchestrating this whole thing.  The purpose is NOT to condemn myself, but to quicken the Holy Spirit within, do a heart check, and plan ahead.

So – Where are you with Jesus?

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.

Links for scripture on the walls of your home:


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 53
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – Song of Solomon
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – starting a new one – day 3

The First 100 days – day 47 – This is the stuff that drives me crazy!


We don’t always get what we want…and one definition of God’s will is exactly what we would choose if we knew all the information.

our camper

Fifth Wheel and truck

We are moving into a 38 foot fifth wheel RV.  There is approximately 400 sq feet of space.

Part of that space was used up by a couch that wasn’t working for anyone…except the cats.

One of the requirements we had for a living space is a desk area.  I do a lot on the computer.  All of our photos are on the computer. My writings are on the computer. My digitized paintings are on the computer. I skype with our daughter, and most of my friends all across the country are ‘on’ my computer.  Jim just IS a computer guy, his work and his hobbies are on the computer.  So, a desk for computer work was a necessity!  The desk area options in this model of trailer we not what we wanted.  We chose this one because of all the windows.

We tore the couch out, gaining a 38×72 space, completely surrounded with windows.  The desk we would install couldn’t be taller than 28 inches.  And I wanted something that would look like it belonged in the trailer.  The cabinets are handcrafted cherry raised wood, with some etched glass inserts in corners.  I wanted something comparable.

One cherry option

This one, not the actual one I found, is similar to the one I wanted.  See, even when I want to find a photo of what I wanted, I don’t get what I want!

Anyway – this was $260.
It is from Sauder, The Heritage Hill Collection. It’s not long enough.  It’s too tall.  And it would take up the WHOLE DEPTH of the alcove.  This was my challenge in finding a nice desk.  When I found one, it was $800 – and still would take up the WHOLE alcove – and we realized that we really liked the openess of the alcove without the couch.  Therefore, if we put a desk in it, we would feel even more crowded than with the couch!  Plus, we didn’t have $800 to spend on ONE item for the trailer!

It was suggested that I put a door on top of two file cabinets.  Done that.  We’ve also put a door on top of two pedestals we took off a dresser.  But I really wanted something that would fit, and even a door was going to be too deep for the open feeling. I created a very intricate board for Jim’s desk top, and we talked about using it, but when it became obvious we did not want a very deep desk – that precious desk top was NOT going to work, because we were NOT going to cut it!

So, I gave up.  We went to Wal*Mart and purchased a cheap ($69) desk and shelf set – in plain black.  I was frustrated (which is just a pretty word for mad).  I WANTED something VERY nice, very furniture looking.  And I was SETTLING for some do it yourself Wal*Mart brand.  I am confessing that I was grumpy!  I was, as my best friend says, in a ‘whatever’ mood!

Here’s what we have:

Our Computer Desk

Our Office

To the right of the desk is a window just like on the right.  I have the shades down!  To my chagrin, this is perfect!  We bolted this down, and we are going to put a cherry shelf extension on top of that bookshelf, just to tie in the cherry, and to give a little more workspace. This size is perfect.  It looks great.  And, it’s everything I could have wanted…if I had known from the beginning what we really wanted!

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

I DO want to yield to God’s will for me…because there is this passage that really sounds badly about demanding my OWN way:

Rom 1:21- 22Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,
1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;


 This passage generally is used to point out the sinful nature of homosexuality. But, that is not the only sin that turns a heart away from God. The fact that the persons mentioned here turned their hearts away from God’s will starts a downward spiral:

Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32 is to all that participate in any of these activities:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

And, it ties in with Rev 21:8

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.

James 1: 14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

I believe that God has a plan for my life. (Jer 29:11)
I believe that God is interested in every detail of my life.
I believe that God is sovereign, and therefore I should yield to Him in every area of my life.
I believe that when I put my desires above God’s, and that is usually indicated by my lack of patience, my anxiety levels, and my shortness with others, I am putting MY way above HIS way, and that is idolatry.

Saul learned that the hard way – by making decisions about how to fight a battle:

1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.

I do NOT want to be guilty of rejecting God’s word for me.  The most important thing in my life is my salvation. The second most important thing is the salvation of my friends and family. And there are times that I get impatient with the lack of God’s hand. It always turns out, it’s not HIS hand that is slack or slow…it’s my eyes that are closed!

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I want my life to glorify God.  Therefore, I have to LISTEN and TRUST and OBEY!  In my heart and mind, everything in life is an act of worship – every breath that I take……every move or  step I take…every song I sing…My life is IN the LORD! So, even when it comes to a silly desk, God didn’t think it was silly! He prevented me from getting what I thought I wanted, and led me to what really fills my heart with Joy!

Here is my prayer, that my life would be worship!

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 47 -Able to do a workout!
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – Song of Solomon
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – check – T-Tapp Workout with Kirsten!
  6. 30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- the last week

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 35 – Hurry Up!

I’m almost to the 2 month count down for going to Germany.
Before I go to Germany, I have to have this apartment packed up to move into our RV.
Before we move into our RV,

Anna's Paintings 1

Triptich for Anna

I have to finish the painting I’m working on for Anna.

There is so much to be done to finish these paintings….there is so much to be done to pack for Germany….there is so much to be done to pack up(or rather, pack down) and move into an RV.

I feel like I am hearing this song over and over and over and over…hurry up,

Anna's Painting 2

The Triptich Separated

can’t waste time, hurry up, can’t waste time….racing with the clock!

I’ve written about racing, being in a race, how I’d love to do a triathlon race again(sprint….not iron man)…and how I’d love to be in better shape than I am.

But a new racing is hitting the fan…my heart.  Tachycardia is a BAD thing.  But anxiety is even worse.

Phil 4:6 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Matt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

I am excited about going to Germany.  Me And Gabe

I am excited about moving into the RV full time.

I am excited to see Anna’s face when she gets these paintings.

I’m nervous, a bit, about flying for 10 hours with a service dog…I’m a bit nervous about downsizing for the RV….I’m a bit nervous about completing Anna’s paintings so that I can stand to see them hanging in her house.

Why should I take no thought, not worry, not be anxious?  Because I have a promise:

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee: FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE!

And there is this basic promise:

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

So, with all my excitement, and with the short time, and with all that I have to do….my focus needs to be on this:

Matt 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

What can I do more than what I am able to do?  If I do all that I am able to do, then that is good enough.  Getting caught up in the hurry up mentality will only make me too sick to enjoy ANY of the new things that are coming down our path.

And just in case those three things aren’t enough in the next two months, I also have to plan our three week vacation, starting one week after I get home(and that week is our move out/into week!).

“If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” ~ Martin Luther
“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” ~Corrie ten Boom
There are more quotes about prayer at Christian Prayer Quotations

Prayer, a prayer time, prayer focus.  My dear daughter reminded me today that the way I taught them to pray was to wake up saying “Good Morning Lord, thank you for this day…..” and to go to bed saying, “……good night, Lord, thank you for this day.” The point being, never stop in between.

Prayer combats the sin of worry…because faith displaces fear.

May we each be blessed today with what God puts before us to do…and to do that as unto the Lord.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

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 35 – walk on treadmill
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
  4. 90 days Bible Reading – 2 Chronicles 11-
  5. 50 days T-Tapp – check – SATI, OIP/HF, AL
  6. 30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 9

The First 100 days – day 32 – short thoughts

Zachias was a wee little man, a wee little man was he,
He climbed up in a sycamore tree, the Lord he wanted to see.
Jesus said “Zachias, you come down from there,
for I’m going to your house today, for I’m going to your house today.”

Zachias was short.

Zachias was a tax collector.

Zachias was hated.

But Jesus saw his heart.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

The shortest verse of the Bible is the most heart wrenching:

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

The Shortest chapter is Ps 117

Ps 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

Ps 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD [endureth] for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

The Shortest book(by words) is 3John. Here are two of my favorite verses:

3John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

I am short.

I am hated by some.

But Jesus sees my heart.

He knows me from my mother’s womb – Ps 139:13.

Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

And He has chosen me!

1 Pet 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

And what’s really cool is that this applies to tall people, too!  So, today, I may not have to climb any trees (Thank you Jesus), but I am going to watch for Jesus’ hand in my day, and I pray that He and the Father with the Holy Ghost will come and abide with me all the days of my life! How about you?

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.

author note: the comment button is after sharing buttons, I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

  1. 100 days of moving challenge – day 32 – find a place to walk
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 90 days Bible Reading – 2 Kings headed to 1 Chronicles
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – check – MORE, OIP/HF, AL
  5. 30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 6

The First 100 days – day 31 – Represent

Christians divorcing and then claiming that they are acting as Christians, so why isn’t God giving them peace with their children?

The divorce rate among Christians is the same as non believers.

Christians protesting at funerals that God is happy with deaths of soldiers side by side with Christians saying God is love.

Christians dressing like Beyonce’, Madonna, or any other ‘American Idol’ type person – and then wondering why nobody takes them serious when they talk about holiness.

Christians going bankrupt because they cannot afford the great and wonderful church that GOD WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE FOR THEM.

Christians speeding down the road with the little fish on the back of their vehicles almost flying off.  What a witness to the officer that pulls them over.

I have an old book – IN HIS STEPS, by Charles M Sheldon.

The popularity of this book started the WWJD movement.  Of course, sometimes, it’s an embarrassment to see what folks with WWJD jewelry are doing, as they are ambassadors for Christ.  Sometimes I wonder if the WWJD crowd ever read the book.

Here’s the intro:

What would happen if members of your local church pledged for an entire year not to do anything without first asking, what would Jesus do?  An intriguing question, and the very one that motivated Charles Monroe Sheldon to write his Christian classic, In His Steps.

For some, following in Jesus’ steps caused misunderstanding and suffering: for all it meant an entire dedication of money, talent, and life’s work, rewarded by immeasurable peace and joy.

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1Peter then goes on to describe HOW Jesus walked.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

“The church was the first in the city.  It had the best choir.  It had a membership composed of the leading people, representatives of the wealth, society and intelligence of Raymond.”

I am weary with being invited to churches that have the best choir, the most people, the best youth ministry and Sunday School (so you never have to deal with your children while you worship).

I want a church that embraces the Word of God.  I want a church that asks “What would Jesus Do?” and they can KNOW what Jesus DID because they KNOW the Word of God.

The church we thought we would attend has had several things come up this year.

  1. 3 million dollar expansion project…even though God has repeatedly closed doors.  So, everyone give give give!
  2. Peace Peace when there is no peace.  Preaching about peace being Jews and Palestinians living together with no borders, America with no borders between Canada or Mexico.  People with nothing to divide them….that is Peace.
  3. The first love in Revelations 2 is love of people.  It wasn’t return to your first love – the joy of your salvation.
  4. Youth program was watching movies like Transformers to teach Biblical principles.

The people are wonderful.  The people love the Lord.  But where does this lead?

  1. Owing a huge debt, when the present building could be paid off.
  2. Forgetting that we are a peculiar people, set apart to God – there is a difference between Christians and the world. And true Peace comes from being at peace with God – salvation, which sets a person at odds with everyone.
  3. God is love of everyone..forgetting that God is the Just Judge, and He will call each man into account.  God’s love is a tough love…not a fluffy good ol’ boy love.
  4. Children are to be nurtured in the admonition of the Lord…the need to learn the ways of God from His word FIRST, not secular movies and tv shows.

Matt 7:13-14KJV Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matt 7:13-14 NLT “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”

ONLY THE NARROW GATE – SMALL, NARROW, FEW!!!

Broad is the gate that leads to…..apōleia

  1. destroying, utter destruction; a) of vessels
  2. a perishing, ruin, destruction; a) of money; b) the destruction which consists of eternal misery in hell

The wide way is EASY!  The path with Christ leads to persecution –

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

And we are to have a DIFFERENT RESPONSE when the fight comes:

Matthew 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is the key – persecuted for righteousness sake.

John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

The only way to be persecuted for Jesus’ name sake, is to be walking LIKE JESUS.

What would Jesus do when He was depressed? We know he went to the garden and prayed!

What would Jesus do when verbally attacked? We know that he held his tongue.

What would Jesus do if the congregation got to big?  He got in a boat…he sent them away….they all created home churches.

What would Jesus Do about paying taxes?  he paid them…supernaturally.

What would Jesus Do in a divorce situation?  Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are what a family is supposed to represent…they are one, and they cannot be divided.

John 10:30 I and [my] Father are one.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

He REPRESENTED THE GODHEAD!!!

And it’s by being ONE with the FATHER, SPIRIT AND SON, that we can truly learn to walk in Christ’s steps as HE walked with God:

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mark 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

And this is how we are to REPRESENT CHRIST obeying His Father, and being filled of the Holy Spirit:

Rom 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

How did Jesus walk?  What did Jesus Do? He fulfilled this:

Eph 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 5:24-25 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

We have No excuses:

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Moses pleased God – and he was the one that wrote the first five books of the Bible!

David pleased God – and he was the one that wrote most of the Psalms.

Peter, John and Paul pleased God – and they wrote most of the New Testament.

They DID NOT HAVE THE WORD TO TEACH THEM THE PATH! But, we do.

The rest of Romans 1 describes our country, and unfortunately, much of our ‘Christian’ identity.

WARNING WARNING WARNING!

Acts 28:26 ” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

Acts 28:27 “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'”

Rom 11:8 as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day.”

2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2 Thes 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thes 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Jesus NEVER took pleasure in unrighteousness.

I confess, I do.  Movies that do not represent Godly values.  Doing things that are not the best for my body, or not doing things that ARE the best for my body.  Gossip.  Selfishness.  Complaining. Nagging. Worrying. Laughing at jokes.

If I didn’t take some sort of pleasure in them I would quit doing them, right? As Dr. Phil would say “How’s that working for ya?”

It’s time to rise up and be the Christian that God defined….in His WORD made flesh.  That is What Jesus Did Do.  So, if we study what Jesus did do, in the whole Bible(Old and New) – we will have the answers ready for What Would Jesus Do, when we ask.  But the real question is, does anyone REALLY  want to do what Jesus Did?

And yet, that is the NARROW GATE, that is the NARROW WAY.

Matt 7:14 NIV But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

BE FOREWARNED BY THE 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS! We must keep our oil full until the Bridegroom comes…or we may hear:

Matt 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Many…MANY…..

Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Here is God’s promise:

Is 42: 5 – 6 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Is 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Is 42:8-9 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.  Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

God has a plan, and God will bring it to pass.  And we have a responsibility:

2 Chron 7:14 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.

This promise is addressed to God’s children, called by God’s name.  Who more responsible than those that go by the name of Christ?

We are not without help…God gives us many promises of His help…the point is, we must do as Jesus did…and turn towards Our Father, and focus on the WORD of God, so that we can know how to walk as Jesus walked.

Is 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Four commandments have to deal with our relationship with God.

One commandment deals with our relationship with our parents.

Five commandments deal with our relationship with others.

God has a lot to say about our relationship with Him…because He is a jealous God!

God, through Jesus, told us that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is without forgiveness…so, God is not happy with anything that blasphemes His name.  He will not shame us, and we should try to live so that we do not shame His name.

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

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

Phil 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

We have been given everything we need to walk IN HIS STEPS.  It is my prayer that every decision I make, I will begin with What Would Jesus Do? What Did Jesus Do?  And then to say YES, LORD, and walk in that path, no matter how narrow or straight.

We need to make sure our ears are open, our eyes are open, and our hearts and minds are discerning God’s way.  I pray each person that reads this will KNOW that Jesus is Lord of their life, and that they hear His voice, and follow Him.  I KNOW that MY redeemer liveth – do you?

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.

author note: the comment button is after sharing buttons, I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or follow me with the RSS feed.



  1. 100 days moving challenge – day  -my goal, walk 30 minutes.
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 90 days Bible Reading –
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – check
  5. 30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day

The First 100 days – day 25 – depression

Job 3:1-4 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.  And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night [in which] it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

In my life, I am responsible for my choices.

In my life, my choices affect others.

When my choices affect others in a negative way, I get sad.

When my choices affect others in a negative way, and I cannot fix it…I get depressed.

Depression is a disease.  I have what is called Major Depressive Disorder, or Unipolar Depression.  In me, it’s mostly under control now, but sometimes, it sneaks up on  me like a snake in tall grass..

The problem with an issue that causes depression flare ups, is that sometimes, the issue doesn’t make any sense to anyone other than me(the depressive person).  It’s like a washing machine going around and around in my head…getting faster and faster…and everyone else is on the outside saying “just turn it off”.  Hello – there’s no off switch on the inside of the washer!!!!

Job 3:20-24 “Oh, why should light be given to the weary, and life to those in misery? They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.  It is a blessed relief when they finally die, when they find the grave. Why is life given to those with no future, those destined by God to live in distress? I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.

I’m not suicidal  – this time.  Though as I wrote in my prior essay on Job, I have been there…countless times.

So – cutting doesn’t work.

drugs doesn’t work.

alcohol doesn’t work

Suicide won’t work.

Binge eating won’t work.

Movie marathons don’t work.

Crying just comes…tears just roll down my cheeks….

I can’t concentrate on my blog in progress.

I don’t want to eat(not a really bad thing for me).

I am overwhelmed with “I HAVE FAILED, AGAIN” feelings.

The ‘silly’ issues are so huge.

Giving up my books – they have been a grounding point for me all through my struggles since the memories triggered the depression.

Not being able to provide Jim with a lovely home in the RV…

Not being able to be focused in one mindset….being double minded(in more ways than one).

I have no faith in me.

Which means, I have no faith in God’s ability to work in me.

Well – there’s another Christi failure.

Sarah.

Rachel.

Rahab.

Three female failures that God used.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Depression is a valley in the shadow of death.  That’s the truth.

Jesus walks with me in the valley.  That’s truth.

I have spent money on things that stare me in the face…money that could have been spent on something better…money that could have done more good.  But I chose to spend that money, because I thought it was the right thing to do in the circumstance. I made the choice I thought was right, given the information I had at the time.  So, now, looking back, I regret that I didn’t have prophetic wisdom?

So, now my cry is…am I hearing God’s voice?

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

The Israelite’s knew when God wasn’t with them…they went out and fought, and if they lost even 1 man…they came back and fell on their knees to the Lord. But even after repenting.. that one man, 10 men, 30 men, were still dead.

That’s the thing about messing up…circumstances remain.

Sarah had Hagar and Ishmael to deal with – and look at what that has done to our world.

Rebekah deceived her husband, and didn’t live to see Jacob and his children, and the deception send Esau towards the Ishmaelites…more enemies for the Jews.

Rachel brought the idols away from her father’s house…interestingly, she died in childbirth.

Peter denied Christ…and almost gave up.

Stephen was still dead when Saul turned to Paul.

Our circumstances always follow us…as signs saying

DON’T DO THAT AGAIN!!!

Prov 26:2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

I’ll straighten out that KJV –

  • a curse doesn’t come without a cause.
  • A curse that comes is not without cause.
  • If a curse comes, there is a cause.

I’m not saying that I am cursed….I’m saying that circumstances come for a reason. Deut 28 is a great chapter to see cause and effect.  Proverbs is good, too!

Prov 26:6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.

Prov 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.

BUT GOD!

As I was looking at the cause and effect of my choices, an angel called.  Yes, an angel named Faith called me on the phone.  Since she is my daughter, with a newborn baby, married to a soldier that is away for the week, I had promised her that I would answer the phone when she called.  I try to always keep my promises, no matter how sad I feel.

Faith was my Elihu.  And because of her ability to speak the truth, in love, I was able to hear the Lord’s voice and walk out of this valley of the shadow of death.

I have had to endure the Lord speaking to me out of a whirlwind before…of course, I think I was the one that created the whirlwind of chaos!

Today, through prayer, and crying out as I searched through the scriptures, God answered me through the sweet sounds of our daughter.  She was even used as a rod in God’s hands to point out a blind spot – that I was able to repent over, and be freed from that bondage. I was also able to hear the real size of the issues, and rest in the Lord, to be content in peace.

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

I have a thorn in my flesh – like Paul – though not for the same reason: 2 Cor 12:7 – And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

But more so that in my weakness, I can turn to HIM. 2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

This ‘infirmity’ may never leave me.  But neither will the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is 41:10 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Is 41:13 NLT I am holding you by your right hand–I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, `Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior be honor and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25

With this kind of God – and the enormous love He sheds upon me – how can I give up?  How can I quit?  I can…but I am compelled by His great love – to love.  I love, because He first loved me(1 John 4:19).

I do have past mistakes, and I’m pretty sure I will make future mistakes, and I have even made mistakes today.  But God knew all about them, and MY God is BIG enough to handle MY mistakes, an make sure that all things work together for my good and His glory!  Anything less is a lack of faith…as in, my God is too small.  I got to let Him out of the box I keep putting Him in!  It’s when I let HIM be God that I truly enjoy the joy of the Lord.

I praise God that He had Faith call.  I praise God that I had a human voice that was Jesus to me.  I praise God for His great love, compassion, and patience with me.

A year ago, this may have turned out differently, but by God’s grace, I am here, and I shall live to declare the glory of God!(Ps 118:17)

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.

  1. 100 days challenge – moving, a dog walk
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 90 days Bible Reading – catching up
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – check – HD & AL



The First 100 days – day 14 – CHALLENGES

I have so many things to do today.  I have to do things that I have not stacked together in a long time.  Sometimes life is like a storm, with all sorts of responsibilities.

Martin Luther said, as quoted in Good Reads, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

I admit, I am not spending the first three hours in prayer…though, I am convicted to go spend more time in prayer.

In October, 1997 I wrote about being still.  And that message rings true today. Enjoy.

I’m a simple Jew, raised in the simple Jewish ways…….but I get sort of fired up at times.  Let me tell you a bout a few of those times.

One day, my friends and I were sailing across the sea of Galilee.  We were on our way to the other side.  Our Lord had just gone up into the mountain to pray, and we were going on without Him.  Suddenly a storm came up, and the boat was tossed to and fro.  I know what these storms can end up as and there we were, tossed back and forth, waves crashing around up, up and down with the water, rain everywhere, thunder crashing and lightening flashing…….and then we saw a ghost coming on the water right at us, I thought I was going to die and the angels were coming, then I heard “Do not be afraid, It is I”.  In the stillness of that voice, I knew it was Jesus, my Lord.  His still voice gave my heart peace, and I knew this was my God, and I said, call to me and I will come out on the water to meet you!  And His still, quiet voice said, “come” and I came!  I was walking on the water, looking at His calm and quiet face, full of peace!  I was walking on the water…….in the midst of a storm…..THE STORM!  It was all around me, lightening flashing, thunder rolling, water splashing and down I went!

If I had kept my heart quiet, and remembered my Lord, I wouldn’t have sunk.

Another day, we were all in the boat.  Jesus was sleeping.  Poor guy, He rarely got anytime to just rest, so here He was taking a nap as we sailed across the sea.  Then the winds came up, the waves started beating the boat, water was coming in every side, rain was pouring and pouring, lightening was crashing all around, thunder pounding in our ears……How could He sleep! “Master, don’t you know we are going to die?” I screamed!  He said quietly “Oh ye of little faith, Peace be still” and the storm stopped.  All was quiet.  All was peaceful.

If I’d been still and quiet, remembering my Lord, I wouldn’t have feared for my life.

Yet another day, I was with a group of people, they were all talking, yelling, and clacking like chickens around a fire…….Who is he, what is He, where did he come from, crucify him, kill him, and then to me “ aren’t you one of them?”

“No.”

“ Sure, you were with them”

“ NO”

“You’re a Galilean, of course you were one of the ones”

“ NO I DON”T KNOW HIM!”

Then it became deathly quiet, as I heard the cock crow three times, and I looked up and saw my Lord.

If I’d been still and quiet, I would not have denied my Lord.

Scriptures say, Be Still and Know that I am Lord, and through Jesus Christ, we are given the Peace of God which passes all understanding, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When was the last time you and I were still before the Lord in order to be filled with His peace in the midst of the storms?

MCW 10/97(c)1997 M. Christine Wildman, all rights reserved.

Taken from Matt 14:22-33; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Matt 26:69-75; Mark14:54-72; Luke22:54-62 and:

Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Thank you 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.

  1. 100 days challenge – moving – check
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 90 days Bible Reading – check-I’m in Deuteronomy
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – check – 2AL down,  taking DVD’s
  5. 21 days Fasting for Food – check? how to pack for a campout?

The First 100 days – day 13 – Are you taking your vitamins?

What are the simple things we do every day?

Get up, wash our face, brush our teeth, get dressed, drink coffee, and go to work?

Get up, wash the children’s faces, make breakfast, dress the children…pick up dishes….get the children ready for school, make sure their teeth are brushed…then get dressed and maybe go to work, or go to work teaching the children at home.

I’m focusing on something that the government,  society, and all the people that have tested our foods have said.  Multi-Vitamins.  Just google for “does everyone need a multi-vitamin?” and there are a lot of opinions.  One thing is certain – everyone needs vitamins daily.  That’s the whole purpose of food!  And the government tells us what we should eat with the Food Pyramid and USRDA.

Here’s a food pyramid for diabetics from Diabetes Diabetic Diet:

Diabetic Food Pyramid

The Diabetic Food Pyramid

An interesting article on Discovery Health explains a bit about multi-vitamins.  They have good points, and bad.  The bad being, one can lean on the multivitamin, and become malnourished by not eating.

A vitamin A capsule cannot replace the benefits of a carrot.

A vitamin B complex cannot replace the benefits of whole grains.

A vitamin C tablet cannot take the place of a fresh orange.

They are for supplementing, because, it is hard to gather and eat enough food to provide the complete nutrition.  They are to fill in the gaps between good meals and snacks.

BREAD –

Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Jesus said that we needed ‘bread’ daily.

God gave the children of Israel “manna” every day. (Ex 16)

Even as important as bread is, when Jesus was tempted after 40 days of fasting, he said “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt4:4)

I have a collection of Daily Vitamins of God’s word:

Daily Word Tools
Some of my favorite things
Nuggets by Sylvia Gunter, Commands to Keep before Your eyes by  IBLP,  Prayer Cards by  Stormie Omartian, Praying God’s Word by  Beth Moore, and the little bible verse “credit cards” you can get at any Christian Bookstore.

These are daily vitamins.  When I need some extra help, an extra reminder….here are a few more:

Word Tools 2

A few more of my favorite things

Those Truth Tags available at CBD are cute, and so easy to keep around.  Put the little tag on your key chain, and you will see it all day long.  The circle necklace is Ps 23, and this was a very special necklace that helped me to remember Ps 23 through a very hard time. The leather bracelet comes in handy when I am talking about salvation with someone.  It keeps me focused on the plan of salvation. I also have a key chain that is an eagle, reminding me that if I wait upon the Lord, I shall renew my strength, I shall mount up with wings as eagles!

There are apps on the phones, FB and twitter that will send you a Bible thought a day.  All of these are VERY good!  These are like the Vitamin C that we take every day and the Zinc and the Echineacea that we pop when we are sick…these are hiding God’s word in our heart, as Ps 119:11 says:

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

These are like the flashlights we carry in our purses so we can see in the backseat of the car, find the door lock, or read the menu in a dark restaurant.

Ps 119:105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

It is a good thing to keep the Word of God before our eyes….but even better to keep it in the midst of our heart.

  • Pr 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
  • Pr 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
  • Pr 4:22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Which would you rather do at a restaurant dinner table?

  1. Eat a great prime rib dinner, with lobster on the side, with a baked potato with sour cream, butter, chives and maybe cheese, perfectly cooked green beans on the side, and a huge portion of triple chocolate cake with fresh made ice cream for dessert.
  2. A multivitamin, maybe some specialty vitamins, and a glass of water.

I think most would rather eat the meal.  But so often, I get hung up on the little sound bites of scripture, that I get lax on the memorization.  Sometimes I get so hung up on memorizing ONE passage(green beans), that I forget READING(the whole meal plus dessert).

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 24-25.

This is my memory verse for the first two weeks of January.  I just flubbed it up, typing it into the computer.  Today is the 13th.  I’m supposed to be able to recite it on the 15th. This is a GOOD tool…keeping me active in memorizing scripture, but, this is the green beans!

A third option at that dinner table –  just a menu.

All you have to ‘eat’ is the menu.  Someone else telling you what the food has in it, and what it’s going to taste like.  But you walk out, saying the menu says the prime rib is delectable…I’m satisfied that the prime rib is delectable…the menu knows what it’s talking about!

Did you taste the prime rib?  No?  then how do you KNOW the menu was RIGHT?

Do you read my blog, Beth Moore’s blog, or Billy Graham’s blog, and say “the Bible says this because Beth Moore says it does” or “I know that Jesus lives because Billy Graham’s book says the bible tells us so”?

That’s not nourishment – that’s vicarious – that’s like walking away with the menu…and saying the food was delicious.

Reading the Word is the meal!  Faith is a muscle.  It needs exercised, yes…but muscles also need to be NOURISHED!

Rom 10:17KJV So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I’ve heard this all my Christian life…hearing, and hearing…what?

Rom10:17  NIV Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Now, that makes sense.  Hearing the message of the word of Christ.

A side note…I am so frustrated with the people that go to sporting events and hold up the sign “JOHN 3:16”.  That’s like holding up a sign that says “I-10 W”.  Only those that have been on I-10 have an idea where that is, but it doesn’t tell them much at all!  THE CHAPTERS AND VERSES ARE NOT DIVINELY INSPIRED!!! They are NOT the Word of God!

Another frustration is those that do have signs that say “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”.  This is scripture.  BUT THERE IS NO MEAT!!!  Someone sees this, and, so what?  What does repent mean? Which God?

To me, this is like sitting down at that prime rib dinner, and letting someone sit at the table, and only giving them one green bean or giving them a piece of the menu!  You have this huge, fantastic meal, and all you hand them is a green bean?  They are going to starve to death…and you pat yourself on the back saying “I shared my dinner with them!”

But that is not my point in this blog.  My point is are WE eating the whole meal?  Jesus said man shall live by every word that proceeds from the fathers mouth. Mat 4:4

EVERY WORD.

The food pyramid falls apart if you don’t eat part of every section.  That’s the point of the food pyramid, to show you what you need to eat in what proportions to get WHOLE nutrition.

The Bible falls apart, if you only take one piece, and then another – because you do not get the whole story.

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The word of God, in it’s fullness, provides, from Prov 4:22 and 2 Tim 3:16 –

  • Life
  • health(to all our flesh)
  • wisdom
  • instruction

Well, here, I’ll let God say it through King Solomon (Ps 19:7-11)

  • The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul
  • the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
  • The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart:
  • the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.
  • The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever:
  • the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether.
  • More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
  • sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
  • Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
  • [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.

God has given us a buffet of wondrous words with which to nourish our spiritual selves.  God has promised that as we nourish our souls, our bodies will see benefits.

We need the tools to remind us – they are like snacks that help us over difficult or rough times.

We need the tools to help us memorize – they help us build spiritual bones to hang our faith upon.

We also need to read the whole Bible – cover to cover, to get the fullness of the gospel of God.  There is milk.  There is meat.  There is dry toast.  And there is the water of the Spirit that will wash over us. It is all necessary.

There are several ways to start reading through the Bible.

Online there are quite a few options.  Here are two that I am familiar with:

However you choose to nourish your soul and spirit – just do it.  A person that is dehydrated doesn’t register thirst – but they are dying all the same.  Take time, 10 minutes, 15, 30 – whatever you have and just read the Bible.  Your thirsting soul will thank you for it!

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:31-34

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. …The Prince of Peace… 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: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Numb6:24-26; Phil 4:7; Is 9:6; Phil 1:6; Rom 8:38-39)

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

  1. 100 days challenge – moving – check
  2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
  3. 90 days Bible Reading – check-tackling Numbers, then Deut
  4. 50 days T-Tapp – check
  5. 21 days Fasting for Food – check – I made 15 bean soup!