We Will Survive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZR64EF3OpA

I love the Wizard of Oz and all the characters! Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion. As I read Gigi's blog this morning, I got to thinking. We can all find ourselves in those characters sometimes. Cowardly lion? Nah! Not anymore!

I used to be the one who was bothered by what people thought of me. And I have 2 friends who are "people pleasers", and they've told me they have a hard time when someone says unkind things to them or blames them for something. One is a christian -- one is not. Both struggle with always feeling they have to please everyone.

Sure, when someone says something unkind to me it does hurt my feelings. But it doesn't stay with me because I know where it comes from. It comes from the "man behind the curtain". He's always behind every conflict known to man, and he enjoys every minute . His name is satan.

I have been praying for everyone in our development for over 2 years now and have come to realize that all the bickerings going on between neighbors come from him. There is no way he's going to go down without a fight, and he has determined he's going to keep my neighbors from finding the Lord. He hates God so much that he's working "behind the curtain" and thinks he has everyone fooled and that he's in control. But just as in the Wizard of Oz, satan is NOT in control. God Almighty has full control of this world, and if by my speaking to my neighbors about Christ and what He means to me and just being their friend is going to get satan upset, well then, so be it. I'll take the hurt feelings on the chin and keep praying for them all.

Satan will try anything and everything to get you down and keep you quiet. Don't let him trample your spirit. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! Just keep looking up and watch out for those flying monkeys!!

My friend, Ginny, decided one day to take 10 years off her age because she said if she had to keep working, she thought it would be easier if she thought she was only 54 as opposed to 64 years old. So in the course of our conversations she would always say "because you know I AM younger than you!" Okay, I finally gave in, and I am now 45 instead of 55 years old! We decided to make it a club and invited another neighbor to join who is 62, but she declined saying she doesn't have a problem with her age. Now SHE needs to join becasue she walks around looking tired and drained and acts like she's 70! Ginny even has her boss thinking of joining!

So, what is a club? The definition is a group identified by some common characteristic like the "grandparents club" or the "I am a cancer survivor club" (of which I am a member of both). You have to be an active member. You have to be mindful of what it stands for. Ours is a matter of the mind -- age changing to life changing because we think in our minds that you're only as young as you feel! There is actually a day in March -- March 22nd called "Young as you feel day"!

That being said, the mind is a powerful thing. Proverbs 23:7 says "As he thinks in his heart, so is he." If you have the attitude "I'm too old to do that", you never will. We laugh, and we joke about it, but we, on the other hand have decided in our minds that we CAN do something because, after all, we ARE younger than people think we are! I may even be younger than you!

I received Leslie Sansone's 4 mile walking dvd the other day. I've been looking forward to walking with her again and building up my strength. She said something in the second mile that caused me to think. She said "Take care of your body. It's the temple -- not a house of bricks but a house of the Spirit".

1Cor. 6:19,20 says "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price, therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's."

Now, I've heard those verses and read them many times over the last 31 years and yet hearing Leslie say those words made me think "What in the world have I been doing to my body, this temple of the Spirit these past 31 years both physically and spiritually?"

I have found out in the past 9 months that I've been slowly killing my physical body by the foods I've been eating. Cancer cells feed on sugar! Did you hear that?? Sugar helps cancer cells to divide, mutate and multiply. Our bodies have been ravaged by the ingestion of sugar, food additives, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, chemicals, fats, etc. And the list goes on. Dr. Oz said "When I go into a supermarket, I see a pharmacy" because our foods are laced with chemicals that are doing great harm to us all. We hear reports on TV about it but never really pay attention until we are afflicted with a disease like cancer that then makes us pay attention. And boy, did I! And then we are knocked off our feet and of little use physically for the work of the ministry as we battle our disease! We are put on the sidelines for awhile. That's not where I want to be!

And then we selfishly push God to the side at times. Like today. God was telling me to write on my blog, and I ignored His voice. I was busy looking up "heat flashes and night sweats" on the computer and what help I could give my body naturally. I felt the Spirit nudging me to blog, and I pushed the Spirit aside. I mean, I was after all busy on the computer doing good things (with the noise of the TV in the background, of course).

Guess what! Our electric went off! And my reaction was to chuckle and say "Okay, Lord. You win. Guide my thoughts and my pen" and here I am writing in my journal which goes on my blog here.

I AM bought with a price of astronomical worth. The life of my Lord. How could I even consider turning down His requests of me? And yet in my "busyness and selfishness", I do just that. But I am so thankful He never gives up on me. His love is boundless and reaches through "me". And sometimes He makes me laugh. I think He was laughing today, too.

The meaning of contentment is the state of being satisfied.

Phil. 4:11 reads "I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content."

Some people strive their whole life to find happiness and contentment by making more and more money to get more and more "stuff" so they can stuff it into their "tent", but it never really satisfies. They live their life full of discon"tent"ment. No matter how they try to make it be enough, it never is. They never find the happiness they seek. They're looking in the wrong places.

Paul says "I have learned..."  Learning spiritual lessons is far more important than having material riches. No matter what we're going through...sickness, loss of a job, losing a loved one in death, a divorce, cancer..we have a God who loves us and will get us through it with His help and strength. Phil. 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We just need to keep our minds on Christ and trust Him daily. This becomes a way of life for us. Living in con"tent"ment with Him gives us great satisfaction, peace and rest. Then we'll find the joy in watching a sunset, laughing with our grandchildren as they play in the rain, seeing a butterfly dance on a flower as if for the first time, looking at the sky and realizing what a wonderful and great God we have and knowing He has everything in control.

Contentment.

Here's a video to watch...take a moment and think..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw37X2snzyY

What tent do you live in?

I am Gramma. I am Mom. I am also wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. I am many things. I have many names. I have many roles...I have many shoes to fill.

But there is One whose name signifies all that He is...He is the great I AM. His names and all that He has done has filled a book. And that book has remained throughout the ages. It's the manual for our life. It was written by the Giver of Life, the Lord God Himself. Just as the car manufacturer has a manual for the car you drive every day, shouldn't we go to the manual written for us every day as well? Or do we take it for granted that our life will "run well" without studying the manual daily?

It's simple.

Go to the book, my friends. Don't take it for granted. It contains the love letters written to you from your Savior.

Love, Abbaschild

We have a loft in our house that overlooks our great room. We also have 5 grandchildren visiting from Iowa for a month. Put those two together, and it's just automatic that something will be pitched over the top.

Well, Papa fell asleep on the floor while we were all watching a movie --  that is, all minus one little grandson who decided to throw his toy over the side, and it hit his Papa and woke him up. Right away mommy chided him, and immediately his face fell..."sorry, Papa"..."It's okay, Jack"...

This little child made it right with his Papa, and all was right with the world...his little world. Simple. Right?

What's wrong with our world? Forgiveness. It's missing. Oh, it's here, and it's available. The Savior is waiting...and He will forgive. All we have to do is ask Him.

Watch this video and be blessed today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwWPtYRRJRk

I remember the sing song way we as children used to say "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me."

Ha! That wasn't true then, and it isn't true now. Names do hurt. Just as sticks can and do injure your physical body, names can and do crush one's spirit. If you let them.

I choose not to let words crush my spirit. I choose not to dwell on hurtful words that cause pain, hurt feelings, anger and strife.

I choose instead to think on good things. I choose instead to dwell within the heart of God, and I choose life. Psalm 15:14 says "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life". In other words, gentle words cause life and health. Instead of letting someone's hurtful words "get to you" and cause feelings of depression and rejection, think on the goodness of God and His love for you. And let your words be words that reflect a gentle spirit. Let your words reflect the love of God.

Psalm 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

Don't let the stones being thrown around in your life turn into boulders that crush and injure. Choose life.

Everyone is talking. Words are flying through the air every second of every day. We are encompassed about with words -- from our family, friends, co-workers, stores, restaurants, phones, TV, radio, internet...there's not a quiet place anywhere anymore. We are surrounded.

It's how we communicate with each other. Trouble is, not all of those conversations we hear or are a part of are always productive. Nor are they always good.

Lately it seems I've been bombarded with others' words that are less than "nice"...whether neighbor against neighbor, sister against mother, co-worker against boss or co-worker..people are unhappy, and it's coming out in their words. I've had 5 phone calls this past week alone where someone has been hurt by someone else, and they want help. They want comfort.

There's a verse I came across yesterday, and I believe the Lord gave it to me to share with everyone who needs to hear...

1 Peter 4:11 "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the Word of God."

Not hurtful, slanderous words but words that uplift one another...God-honoring conversations. We should be treating others like we would likewise want to be treated.

No, we don't need Dr. Phil. Just the precious Word of God.

Celebrate...Celebrate...Dance to the music...

Those words keep echoing through my brain today. They are words from a song from my teen years and oh, so, appropriate...I have reasons to celebrate...

I have freedom! The Lord Jesus Christ gave me freedom the day He hung on the cross and paid the price for my sins. He made THE greatest sacrifice of life that could ever be made, and He did it out of LOVE. It was the ultimate sacrifice of giving His life for me. Oh, it was a battle! He fought the greatest battle. Satan tried so hard for ages to stop Him. But He did it! And He gave His life for us all! He set us free! And I've been celebrating ever since!

I have freedom! Yesterday I saw my oncologist for my 6 week "after chemo" checkup. After the exam, he looked at me with a beaming smile and said "Everything looks great, and your scan is clean...looks like you're free! See you in the Fall!" All I could do was smile. God is so good! He has taken us through so many hurdles in this battle. He is the victor..and we've been celebrating...We are dancing to the music of His love!

Celebrate with us. Click on the link for a display of fireworks...turn your volumn up and celebrate! Dance with me.

http://www.maylin.net/Fireworks.html

There are several people writing on this blogsite who I would really like to post a comment to, but you haven't enabled the "comments".

To "Walking a Fine Line", I would say just tell God how you're feeling - you might as well tell Him cause He knows it anyway because He knows you. Just like your own children come to you - He's waiting for you to go to Him -- He's your Abba, your Daddy. He wants to hear YOUR voice. He probably just misses you. I'm praying for you. Remember, He's thinking of you...

Another friend asked me today to pray for her...her family is in crisis...

I believe in prayer. I cherish prayer. I cherish just the thought that He wants me to speak to Him. I cherish Him.

I cherish what He did for me. I treasure His love for me. He thought of me so very long ago..even before He died for me. In John 17:21-26 He prayed for me! He spoke to His Abba about me! He also included you! You need to read it for yourself...

Watch this video and remember...He thought of me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iuGKn7LuEQ&feature=related