Freedom from the "Gimme Spirit"

         Cooking is one of my passions. It does my heart good to see others enjoy my food. Friday, I prepared a meal for my co-workers. Although it was big project, I gained great personal satisfaction from the entire process. As I was shopping for a few last-minute items, a grocery store clerk handed me a bouquet of flowers. One of my co-workers gave me a brand new bamboo cutting board that day.....just like the one I had mentioned to God a few days ago I would like to have!

       These random acts of kindness may seem small, but they were pretty significant in my eyes, because they were blessings from the Lord. I smiled and thanked Him graciously.  

My sister, Paula, was such a wonderful caregiver to our parents.

       Had I expected expressions of appreciation from my co-workers and they fell short, (even though they were lavish in their praise) I would probably have been disappointed. That is what happens when we take our eyes off the True Giver.   

       Who is your source? Is it your husband, your children, or perhaps a friend? Have you [knowingly or unknowingly] placed unnecessary pressure on people to be your source? There probably have been times when we all have looked in the wrong direction and been disappointed that someone did not come through for us or return a favor for something we gave. 

      When we look to others rather than to God, we limit what He can do for us and who He will use. God is a big God, and He has resources we cannot begin to imagine to meet our needs. 

       But, we have to know Him as our Source. True, spirit-led giving should be from the heart, and when it's from the heart, we don't look over our shoulders for a particular person or persons to return the favor. Our eyes will always be on the One who will always repay. Let's give from the heart, expecting nothing from people, but being grateful for everything we do receive. 

Scripture Links:  Philippians 4:19; Psalm 78:40-42; Matthew 6:3-4 

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

What Was Your Fun?-A Quiz

             It's Memorial Day. Hopefully we've paid tribute to our military sometime this weekend. The fun and the festivities are probably over now, and it's time to get back to the routine. What was your definition of fun for the holiday?

• Hanging out with friends at a cookout or an amusement park;
• Enjoying family or friends at home;
• Visiting friends or family out of town; 
• Reading your favorite book;
• Surfing the Internet;
• Watching a movie;
• Going to the beach; or
• Just doing nothing?

             Wherever you went and whatever you did, I hope it was both fun and peaceful. Above all though, in whatever we do, we should have peace in our hearts, or we shouldn't be doing it. Many times we override our consciences to please others, because we are bored and feeling left out or simply because we lack the inner strength to make right decisions. When we understand we don't need people, things or popularity to fulfill us, we begin to experience a freedom that's indescribable. This is when we can have just as much fun alone as we can with a group, Simple message - in whatever you do, let the peace of God rule in your hearts---it's liberating! 

Scripture Links:  Colossians 3:15; Colossians 3:17; Proverbs 4:26

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Tips for the Graduate

        These are exciting times for college grads. You get a chance now to show the world who you are and to also see the world's true colors outside your comfort zones.

        In case you didn't do things too well, you get to leave the past behind and reinvent yourself (no matter what happened---you probably won't see many of the people you went to school with again or for many years anyway). You'll go to work every day just like mom and dad and start paying bills, like rent and college loans. (Unless you get a job that has flex time, yes, you'll have to be there early!)

My niece,  Royalle's,  dazzling graduation cap.

        It's about the same for high schoolers, except you finally get to cut the purse strings and leave mom and dad! However, this excitement may be short-lived. Once you begin to see what's really out there, this thing called appreciation will kick in, and after you're delivered your first dose of life you might start looking back and holding on a little bit longer to what you were just so eager to leave.

        Scary? It doesn't have to be. It just depends on how you choose to walk it out. As a high school counselor, here are a few of things I encourage my children to do that might help you as well:

• Set goals and keep them in front of you. - You have to have a road map for where you are going or you'll always feel like the man who got on a horse and rode off in all directions. Write your goals down, make them specific and measurable, establish a time frame to accomplish them in and keep them where you can see them every day. You will be surprised at how much you will accomplish.
• Spend a little, save a lot. - Now that you really are in charge of your own finances, you will see every dollar counts. The "spend now, pay later" days are over. Contemplate your purchases carefully and make clear distinctions between needs and wants. Vow to get out of debt or stay out. It is a controlling menace that will affect the quality of your life greatly. Having money when you need it offers comfort and security.
• Walk only with those who add value to your life.  - You will become like those you hang out with, no doubt. It takes courage to walk away from bad influences, but it will save you a lot of years and a lot of tears and help point you toward God's perfect will for your life.
• Watch what you allow to go into your eyes and your ears.-  It will go into your heart and change who you are. The music you listen to (a biggie), the television shows and movies you watch, and the places you go will all form who you will become as a young adult. These influences will be instrumental in establishing your values as a person. If you want to put something good in your  heart, read one chapter of the Bible each day. It will help keep you grounded and counteract the world's negativity. 
• Listen to your conscience and follow it; it's always right. - Keeping your conscience clear and walking in integrity will make it easy for you to refuse compromise and help you make quality decisions in life. Conversely, continuing to override your conscience and doing things that violate who you are on the inside will make you dull of hearing the right things and, again, change who you are. Seek to hear from your heart (where God is), not your head.
• And finally, don't make permanent decisions with temporary people - Sure it's just one night or only one time. But that one time can wreck your life. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If they really cared, they wouldn't, and you don't have to decide today. Take a minute, an hour, a day, or even a week to think it over. You'll probably decide differently. And remember, you don't owe everyone explanations.  Be true to yourself and to God.  

          Now, go succeed!  God bless you.

Scripture Links:  Habakkuk 2:2; Amos 3:3; Matthew 12:35; Proverbs 3:1-3; Proverbs 4:20-22; Proverbs 4:26; Acts 24:16

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

   

A Gift You Can Give for Mother’s Day

We took a trip to Boone today to attend my niece’s college graduation. The North Carolina mountains are stunning. To take a few hours to get away and experience another facet of God’s handiwork was worth enduring the steep, winding roads and the discomfort of popping ears. Sandwiched between two snoring nephews with alternating modulations during the ride didn’t help much either, but it still did not  divert my attention from the cloud-shrouded mountain backdrop and rows of carefully arranged Christmas trees on distant hills. A change of scenery is always good, especially if it's beautiful.

    Mom would have been pleased with my niece's achievements. She would have been one of her biggest cheerleaders, encouraging her pursue her field of fashion and apparel design with unrelenting resolve. 

As Mother's Day is celebrated today in many countries all over the world, here is a side note to us nurturers--let’s appreciate the gifts God has placed in our children. We should help them recognize these gifts and talents and encourage them to step out and pursue them.

The world is full of adults who have lived lives of despair attempting to please parents who do not recognize and accept their true gifts. Many times we can push our children in directions we wish we had gone so we can have one last chance at fulfilling our own dreams. 

God has hand-crafted each one of us and given us specific purposes to fulfill. Let's be brave today and encourage our children to live out their God-given purposes. This is a gift you can give at no cost.

Scripture Links: 

John 15:16; II Timothy 1:9; II Timothy 1:6 

In Loving Memory - Beatrice Artis Farmer 6/6/29-11/19/10

To Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior:

(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):

Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.