A Heart That Dances...

This is the bible study that I did during the summer. It's written by Catherine Martin who is founder and president of Quiet Time Ministries and is dedicated to teaching devotion to God and His Word. She challenges others to love God with all of one's heart, soul, mind and strength.

From the back cover;

Come dance with Me..

A close relationship with God is not just a walk, it is a dance of the heart as you keep in step with the Lord. Many people search for religion, but God desires relationship; many people want to do but God emphasizes that His people should be. (Italics mine.)

• Discover why God called David the man after His own heart.
• Find out why God allowed Moses to speak with him face to face.
• Lean about God's heart of love for the people of Israel.
• Reflect on the relationships Old Testament prophets had with God.

A Heart That Dances will take you on a great adventure of intimacy with God. You will experience the firsthand joy of life with the Lord and the celebration it truly is.

I am really glad that I did this study. I found myself truly wanting to dance with the Father as I drew closer and closer to Him.

"Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him."

Psalm 34:8

Happenstance...

"Nothing happens by happenstance.

I am not in the hands of fate, nor am I the victim of man's whims or the devil's ploys. There is One who sits above man, above Satan, and above all heavenly hosts as the ultimate authority of all the universe. That One is my God and my Father.

~Kay Arthur ~

I was sharing with a friend the other day that the trial she was going through has come as no surprise to God. Sometimes those things come into our lives that almost suck the very life from us. It has been my experience that those very things can draw me closer to God and if I abide in Him and surrender to His will, a deeper work will be done in me. The work that was done that took me deeper and deeper with Him, wasn't anything I could put into words. It wasn't anything that I could teach on or write about or even explain...it was a hidden work of the Spirit. Oh, the change is there and people will see it, but yet they won't be able to put their finger on what it is.

Nothing happens to us by happenstance. Our Father is on His Throne and he has all authority over all things. What comfort that brings us in a world full of chaos and uncertainty.

"...If God be for us, who can be against us."

Romans 8:31

Joy In The Journey...

I imagine most of you thought I had given up on blogging...No, I just felt empty of words to write about anything. So much was going on in, and around me, that I couldn't sort it all out on what to write, so I am jumping back in today and letting God sort it all out, as I start to write on my blog again.

For months and months I felt this dark cloud over my head. I don't know why. I couldn't hear God. I know that He never leaves us, but I couldn't feel His presence or hear His voice. I was in the Word, going to church, having fellowship...yet, this overwhelming sense of sadness just seemed to over take me at times. I know that living with chronic illnesses can do that at times. I have lived with these chronic illnesses for 18 years and every day it is a challenge to do what is before me. I know some of you know what I am talking about. Each day God gave me what it was I had need of. I may not have accomplished my agenda for the day, but I did get up each day and took care of the needs of my husband.

It didn't help at all to record breaking heat for weeks and weeks..it seemed like the hottest summer that I can remember. I am so thankful for air conditioning...but I did start to feel really closed in as the days went by. At the same time, there were the fires that were burning out of control and it always leaves you with a sense of where will it be next.

I have been to the doctor for the weirdest things the last four months..and a dentist appointment that went bad and found myself sitting in the chair for eight hours...not good for a fibromyalgia body. It took days to recover.

We have had extended family drama, the kind that cuts to your very heart. It's not behind us yet, maybe it never will be. The enemy would like nothing better. The enemy must be laughing his head off thinking, "This is a Christian Family." Some of us are walking with integrity.. some are playing right into his hands and are not. So sad. This has taken a toll on my physical health, stress usually does.

Well, I gave you the tip of the iceberg of the happenings around me...there is so much more...but today is a new day and it feels good just to be able to come here and say hello and share my heart.

I love the picture of this leaf at the top of this post...it reminds me that we are to stand out in a world of grey.

Today is a new day! Thank you to all of you who left me comments and sent emails inquiring about me. It encouraged me so much. There can be joy in the journey, because God is so faithful!

I Am Alive...

Yes, I am alive. The other day someone was talking to my daughter and said they still saw my husband out walking, but what happened to the beautiful dog he walked with. She told them the dog was put down two years ago..then he asked..." Is your Mom alive or dead." Whoa..that made me feel kind of weird. Maybe he thought I walked with my husband..I never have. His legs are a foot longer than mine and I could never keep up with him. He also walks at 5:45 and I am still trying to figure out that time of day if I am still alive.

I am alive, but I haven't felt well this last month...okay, longer than that. I won't whine and tell you the details. I am on the mend, I think...

I got to thinking my blogging friends might wonder if I was alive too. I am posting today with hopes of posting again really soon. I want to tell you about a bible study that I have been doing this summer. I have really been blessed doing it.

It's sooo hot here. It seems to me to be one of the hottest summers for me. I don't know how all of you who live with humidity do it. My hair hasn't looked good since April.

I'll close for now and tell you all that I will be back, hopefully in the next few days!

Glimpses Of His Glory...

We have been home a week from vacation, it feels now like we never went. Isn't that weird how that happens? It all seems like a blurr. This year as a family, we went back to our favorite family vacation spot, Pismo Beach, located on the Central Coast of California. There were ten of us..my husband and me, our daughter, son in law and my youngest and oldest grand girlies, our son and daughter in law and my two middle grand girlies. Oh, and Molly, our son's family's chocolate lab puppy.

I was weary and tired as our vacation time approached. It had been a busy year and especially the last few months with health issues and busyness in our Women's Ministry at church. Busier actually, than I had been in years. I was so looking forward to relaxing and all of us being together making new memories.

I had to make trip to urgent care two nights before we left with an ear infection. It seems every time we go away together I get sick..so I was a little discouraged. I have learned to roll with the punches but I was blind sighted the first day we arrived when my foot froze up and I could barely put any weight on it. This happens periodically, but it hadn't happened for awhile.

The drive takes 4-5 hours depending what the traffic is like in Los Angeles. On the drive up to Pismo, I said to my husband, " I have an assignment for us while we are gone. Let's look for glimpses of God's glory this week." So we talked a little bit about it and several times during the first day my husband asked, "Any glimpses?" I would just smile... not yet.

Here I was at a beautiful stretch of California coastline.....I saw dolphins, sea lions and I think I spotted a whale one day...reflections of the sun through evening fog coming in...rolling hills of Vineyards...the majesty of my Creator was all around me. Nothing wowed me as a glimpse of His glory. I guess what I wanted was....Oh my goodness, would you look at that! I would sit on the balcony of our room looking out over the ocean..just saying to God, " Show me Yourself in a special way." Here I was soaking in all the beauty and fresh air and yet I didn't feel I'd seen anything I was looking for. I have never been one to look for the big hype or emotionalism of Christianity and I still wasn't.

The night before we were to head for home our son's car wouldn't start and he had to be towed to another city. They were going to have to stay behind and wait another day. You know how that sets with a Mom. I was thankful that the car didn't break down somewhere with those darling little divas and a puppy in 105+ heat. And thankful my daughter and her family stayed behind with them one more night.

Please don't take me wrong I did praise God while I was there for His beautiful creation and the blessing to be able to come one more time with my family...I did worship Him and praise Him!

When it was time to leave we did our hugs goodbye, yet at the time, I was somewhat anxious to leave them all behind and then it hit me. The glimpses of God's glory that I had been looking for all week was in the faces of each one of my kids that day. I wasn't expecting this....I fought tears all the way out of town. I had asked and asked for 4 days for a glimpse of His glory...and once again He was faithful. I was wowed and I knew, that I knew, this was the glimpse God wanted me to see.

Steven, Rachel, Grace, Darcy, McKenzie, Robbie, Hannah, Haylee and Papa

and Puppy Molly

Isaiah 43:7 says, We are created for God's glory. I have learned there are two truths to those who are called by His name..1. God wants to make Himself recognizable to us and 2. He also wants to make Himself recognizable through us...

That's what I saw one day last week..glimpses of His Glory through my family! Pretty cool stuff.

Patty's Pantry...

I have been adding new recipe's to my recipe blog, Patty's Pantry.. come on over and check them out. I'll be adding more in the next few days. Enjoy!

His Grace Sustains...

"You and I may indeed find ourselves overwhelmed at times – at the end of our rope and beyond.But we will never fall farther than the palm of His hand.

And where He has called us, His grace will sustain us."

~Joni Earekson Tada~

I was thinking this morning that I just couldn't get caught up and thoughts of being overwhelmed set in. Living with chronic illnesses can feel like your feet are stuck in the mud and every step can be an effort. That's where I am at and I fee like I have been for weeks..ever since the tea. Wait, maybe since Christmas. I manage to keep on top of things, but I want to do more...I want to reorganize the entire house, spring clean..it would be summer clean at this point, read, study, socialize, be more involved, have unlimited energy for my grand girles, answer emails promptly, ride my bike....Sounds of discontent are echoing, I hear them. The thing of it is..I didn't feel completely this way yesterday. So, it's the fatigue talking and maybe a few whispers of the enemy.

This quote says, where God has called us His grace will sustain us. I know I am where I am suppose to be, doing what I am suppose to be doing...His grace is enough and tomorrow will be another grace filled day.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Reflections Of You...

The last three posts have been from a message I gave at our Woman's Tea, entitled, Reflections Of Beauty. It's not the enire message but parts of what I spoke on. It's been edited just because it was too much for a blog post. Today's, post is.... Reflections Of You.

James 1:23-25 “ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

Some of you might have mirrors that magnify bigger than a normal mirror. I Have one that magnifies 8x’s larger. It’s really cruel to do that to myself. I see things on my face I can’t see with a regular mirror. I see things that were not there yesterday.

I’m one of those women that just can’t go without make up. Every flaw flashes like a neon light. If my husband comes home and I have make up on he wants to know where we’re going or did I go somewhere today. He calls it a miracle transformation when I put make up on.

We look in a mirror to see how we look on the outside. When we look in the mirror of God’s word it shows us how we look on the inside. It’s easier to cover up the flaws on the outside with a little makeup. When God shows us the flaws on the inside, it’s a work that can only be done from within. It too, is called a miracle transformation.

Even though, God’s word reveals to us the flaws in our hearts and our character; He lovingly shows us how to change. Even when I knew God was relentless in showing me my need for change….I was not condemned but lovingly convicted. It’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. Intimacy with God brings about change.

Many times we as women compare ourselves with each other. Satan wants us to compare..he wants us to think other women are better. He will taunt us to compare, envy and covet what another woman has. He especially wants us to think we can’t have that love relationship with God that others do….

He wants us to think something is wrong with us and it’s not attainable for us. But I am here to tell you that each one of us can have all we want in our relationship with the Lord. God is not a respecter of persons but the enemy wants you to think that. We all have the same opportunities to be intimate with God. It’s our choice.

Jeremiah 29:13 says…
“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

If we look in the mirror of God’s word not only will we find him but we will find ourselves. We are daughters of the Most High God; we are daughters of the King!!To God each one of us is uniquely beautiful. He fashioned and formed us to have a beautiful face that will reflect His love, beautiful hands that will help others, beautiful eyes to see his beauty that surrounds us and beautiful lips to tell of God and His love for us. I am not talking about physical attributes.

This is how God sees us. Your hands maybe calloused and wrinkled from years of hard work..but God see the beauty of those hands in all that they did for others in His name.

We may not see ourselves that way, but God does. We at times compare ourselves to the world’s standard of beauty so we don’t see the beauty God created in us. The beauty of “beauty idols” will soon be forgotten. God will work wonders in our lives to perfect the beauty he desires to see in us.

That kind of beauty will radiate to others and change lives. When God’s work is complete our

character will show off the beauty marks to all those who know us and love us.

Joni Earekson Tada says, “I will find in every person that facet of the Lord’s loveliness that only he or she can uniquely reflect.”

My reflection will always be me. Oh, when I look in the mirror over time, my physical reflection will change… there will be more wrinkles and the shape of my face could change, hopefully thinner…. my hair color probably isn’t going to change. I don’t want any physical reflection; I want the refection of Jesus. It’s the trials and circumstances of my life, the valleys and the mountain tops…that God will use to bring about that unique reflection.

It took me many years to figure out that God made me unique. That he made my personality just for me. There is such freedom in being who God made you to be, rather than who you think you should be..or be like. Never being happy with yourself and always wanting to be like someone else...Is a form of bondage.

By God’s transforming grace we can reflect beauty in our lives. Each day as we walk in the Spirit our faces will increasingly reflect the beauty of Jesus. When we have Jesus living inside of us nothing can dim the beauty that shines from within.

The circumstances and trails of our lives past and present do not need to tarnish our reflections. They can, but they don’t need too. I am not minimizing what those circumstances have been or are presently. We each have our own stories to tell.

It’s our choice what we want to reflect. We can choose to reflect all of our hardships and trials or we can choose to reflect the Jesus in us. Each one of the circumstances in our lives was designed to bring about that perfect luster that only God can accomplish through the buffering and polishing of His Holy Spirit.

You are Daughter's of the Most High God. You are His precious treasure hand made to reflect beauty. You have a unique beauty that the Father has only given you to reflect. The choice is yours in whom you want to reflect….Ourselves or Jesus?

It is my desire this morning that when you leave today that you will feel special to the Lord and see how just how beautiful you are. You are his chosen daughter to live right here and now to reflect His beauty to a world in chaos and to each other……Because we as women need each other.

So as we close this morning with our hearts hopefully challenged to be a reflection of beauty, a reflection of Jesus Himself.. Let me leave you with these few words….

May the Jesus in me, see the Jesus in you!

Reflections In My World...

These are just a few thoughts from the second point in my message, Reflections of Beauty....Refections..In My world.

"For we are a fragrance of Christ to God,among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

2 Corinthians 2:14

Before my allergies took over and I could no longer wear any fragrances,I always wore the same cologne. You could smell it ever so faintly in my closet and bedroom. When Hannah my grand daughter was a baby, my son in law would sniff her and say to her, "You smell like Gramma, have you been with Gramma today"

So, it is with us, the world will know we have been with Jesus. Amongst the stench and decay of this fallen world our fragrance will be as evident as our reflection.

Many of you are in very hard places right now. There is such uncertainly in our world around us and there are crisis' and trials in our personal lives. Some days it is difficult tot look through spiritual eyes and see that all of this is going according to God's plan. Life hurts and at times is very painful. Even though our world can be a hard place to live right now, it's not impossible. We know God to be sovereign, control in all things.

One of the greatest affirmations of faith is found in; Habakkuk 3:17-18

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

I will rejoice in the Lord!

This is the kind of reflection that a world gone mad with chaos and change needs to see from us as Christian women. We could read that Scripture this way in our world today.

Even though my health is failing, the checkbook is empty, the 401K is gone, the house is in forecloser and there seems to be no hope on the horizon....I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful on God my Savior!

As believers the more we suffer the more God comforts. For those that don’t know Jesus, where does their comfort come from? That’s where we come in...we comfort them with the same comfort God has given us.

Charles Swindoll says, “Our Father is preparing us to meet the deep inner needs of others by bringing us through the dark places first.”

He is bring us through those dark places first..why? So we can take someone, believer or unbeliever, by the hand and help them come through to the other side of whatever their crisis or circumstances are. And when we are showing compassion and comfort we are pointing them to Jesus by our reflections of Him and our sweet fragrances.

We are not here at this time in history to sink in the pool of self pity in our hard times. For such a time as this, we are here to show our children, friends and all whom God puts in our path how to live through adversity, illnesses, and whatever other loss you may have experienced or are experiencing presently.

Corrie ten Boom said, "Every experience that God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future only he can see."

It's not just non Christians that need to see this reflection of Christ in our lives., we need to see it in each other. We need to see how another woman goes through the hardships of her life and that gives us hope and encouragement to go through hard times of our own.We are encouraged by each other's reflection's!

We have to be careful that we don't show people crooked patterns in life. They need to see us walk upright and not wavering. We can't let crooked patterns be our example to the world. When we are willing God will strategically place us somewhere to be a blessing.

Are we being that example for others to follow? Do we reflect Christ and show others straight paths rather than crooked ones? Do we give off the fragrance of Jesus in a world filled with the stench and decay of a fallen world ?

Our refection might be the one thing that would draw another person into the arms of Jesus during what we think to be the last days. Something in our refection could be the one thing that influences someone’s first thoughts of Christ.

It may be the one thing that would cause them to even be thinking of Him in the first place. We need to be an example to each other; it gives us strength to go on.

"As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of woman reflects woman."

Proverbs 27:19

Reflections Of The Heart...

These are just a few thoughts from the first part of my message at our tea, Reflections Of Beauty. There were three points and the next few days I'll share just tidbits of what was shared.

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength."
Mark 12:30

Our lives mirror the condition of our hearts. The most evident refection of our beauty will come from a heart that is totally God's. Scripture and experience tell us that it is up to us, what level of intimacy we will have with God. The intimacy we have this very moment is exactly what we have chosen to have. We have to ask ourselves if it is discipline or intimacy that motivates us to have quiet times with the Lord. Is it a hunger and a thirst for intimacy with Him?

We reflect whom we are closest too. If we spend time with the Lord we will reflect Him, if we don't, what beauty will we reflect? We will reflect ourselves. It takes work to look good on the outside, but it takes relationship to reflect beauty on the inside.

Nothing can muddy up the reflection of our hearts more than unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, disobedience and pride. We are never more beautiful than when we are obedient to what God asks of us to do. On the other hand, we are never more unattractive than when we are disobedient and prideful. Both of these issues are matters of the heart.


J.Oswald Sanders says, " There are times when we would want to know a deeper intimacy, but when it comes right down to the point, we are not prepared to pay the price."

The choice is ours...will we choose to reflect ourselves or will we choose intimacy with God and reflect Him?

Do They See Jesus In Me?

I wanted to share this song with you this morning. This was our theme song for our tea. Our guest music artist was Mary Naman..she did a fantastic job singing this song.. This is the original artist singing but I wanted you to hear it. Be blessed!

Reflections Of Beauty...

Saturday, we had our Women's Ministry Tea. It was entitled, Reflections of Beauty. It was such a lovely day and we really felt that God's Spirit was hovering over as we worshiped and the Word was taught.

Every part of the morning was bathed in prayer and you could see God's hand in every detail.

For those of you that had prayed for me, thank you so much. I felt every single one as I wrote my message and as I gave the presentation.

For the next few days I would like to post some of my thoughts from my teaching, but today, I must get my home back in order. I remember when I taught on a regular basis when I was done studying and when the message was given, all I wanted to do was get back into my routine and get my house clean again. So, a little bit of tidying here and there and I'll be ready to post some of my thoughts.

It was a glorious day! To God be the Glory!

As We Remember...

Today as remember and honor all those who so freely gave of themselves for our country. May we remember those who are daily giving their lives for our freedom today...May we not forget and always remember that freedom is not free...thank you for paying the price.

Hello...?? Hello?

Here I am. I am not sure where I have been or what I've been doing. As I've pondered this, I don't' even know what's been filling my days. I've been busy ...I had Easter here, a party for my husband, I have been stocking my pantry, I have been writing a message for a tea, physical ups and downs...I think what gets me down is the time it takes me to bounce back up after busy days. That gets discouraging, because I can loose days at a time, pulling myself back together.

I did something fun on Monday...My daughter, her friend and myself went to Hollywood to see the finals of Dancing With The Stars. Oh my gosh, was that fun or what! We had to dress up "purty" to get in. Dress to impress they called it. it's so different being there than watching it on TV. It's so much smaller than it looks. And the dancers? Well their clothes look skimpier than on TV too. Oh my.

I saw where the American Girl Store was and hope to go there one day this summer with the grandgirlies.

I finally finished my message for the tea for our church. It's May 30th and it looks to be a lovely day. The theme for the morning is Reflections Of Beauty and that also is the title of my message.I am looking forward to the morning but will also be glad when the morning is behind us and we can just behold all the glorious things that God did.

I'm not sure why I am so bone weary, but I am. I miss my blog friends who visit and those that I visit. I miss writing on my blog and visiting blogs. It is my goal when this week is over to get all three of my blogs back up and in shape again.

My husband hurt his shoulder this week. He has had some really big projects going in the yard and I think he over did it. He saw the doctor and missed some work, but he is such a die hard groceryman that he went back to work today. Good work ethics is a better choice of words.


This was a hodgepdge of things today. But I just had to check in today and say hello and I hope you will have a wonderful weekend.

Old Guys Rule...

"Old Guy and Me "

Okay, so today is a new day and a new week. I am so glad. Last week was a humdinger of a week. I didn't feel well, must have an allergy attack or a cold of some kind. I had the grand kids two full days..and got ready for my husband's birthday party.

The party was very nice we did the "Old Guys Rule" theme. Darcy made a wonderful cake and helped me decorate. Tomorrow is my husband's actual birthday and we have already had two celebrations. Last week friends took us out for dinner and brought a pie back to the house and this week we are going out with a group of eight of us going out for dinner and dessert, maybe back here at our house. There are surprises tomorrow too..shhh.

I looked around at the goodness of God at the party. We have two healthy children, (a son and a daughter,) married Christian spouses, they each have two healthy daughters, who love Jesus too.

Bob still has his mother which is a blessing for him. Most people we know, have lost their Mother's already. I have.

My brother prayed such a heart felt prayer for Bob. Everybody was dabbing their eyes. He has been like a Father to him since our dad died.

We aren't the Walton's by any means...we don't always see other members of our family. I guess in each family there can be things that draw them apart. It can be sad at times.

All in all..it has been a good birthday for my husband. As for me..maybe things can settle down a bit for me, and I can catch my breath.

I hope to write my devotionals maybe this week, if I can simmer down and hear God's voice!

Have a wonderful Monday!

Busy, Busy Days...

The last few weeks, time just seemed to fly by and everyday I thought I would post on my blog...and nothing came to mind or my heart to post about. It's been a busy month. Our church is planning a Woman's Tea in May. I am doing the message that morning so my thoughts have been in that direction.

My husband was on vacation one of the weeks and we worked in the yard. Good thing we did it when we did...it was 106 degrees yesterday! Oh I am so not ready for a closed up house and A/C on. One day we went to Encinitas and had a picnic with my brother who lives down there at the beach for his birthday. It was a great day. They have a great Home Goods down there and I got to do a quick walk through to see if anything hit my fancy....can you imagine a quick walk through at Home Goods?? It's a painful thought! it's the first time I ever came out not finding one thing. Oh, I found some things, but I told my husband, granddaughters and my daughter...I'll be out in 15 minutes. That just wasn't enough time to decide on all the lovelies that I found .

I finished Living Beyond Yourself, by Beth Moore. I did it at church this time. The first time was in a small group in my home. If you are looking for a wonderful study on the Fruits of the Spirit..this one is by far, the best one I have ever done.

I had Easter here this year, there was 13 of us. We had a good time. Everyone has their own church to attend, so we met here about 1:00 and had a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, some games and way too much food!

It was my oldest girlie's 9th birthday last week. Where does time go? This week I am preparing a dinner at our house for my husband's birthday. He's not too crazy about this birthday..I'll see if these numbers will even type.....60. Oh my goodness it did. I'll have to tell him it did...this birthday seems to be at the top of all the big birthdays he's had. I tell him....each day of waking up to a new day is a gift..60 is just a number. See, I can say that, I am a couple years, okay, a year and a half behind him.

I have been down for the count a few days this month. I can't be as busy as I am and not suffer some consequences with this FMS/CFS stuff. But God always gives me what I need and after a few days rest, I hit it again.

Last week...my computer crashed right after I wrote six pages of my message for the tea. It was thought that we lost everything....my messages, devotionals, pictures, iTunes... My son came over and worked eight hours on it. I call him the "whiz kid." ( He's almost 32..but still my kiddo. )

Finally it came back. Thank you, Lord and Robbie! He wasn't leaving he said, until everything was backed up on disks. Whew!

So my thoughts are on the tea, The title of my message is Reflections Of Beauty and that is the theme of the tea as well. I have about 50 minutes to speak...will you pray for me if you think of it? It is May 30th. So much has been going on and now all kinds of celebrations with people for Bob's birthday, that I just can't seem to get still with my thoughts. God is speaking to me...I have a tablet and pen everywhere..even next to my bed. I just need some still days.

I told you we were having a heat wave..so not like April. I better go get some things done outside before it warms up too much.

Thank you for not giving up on me and still coming to visit. I have missed blogging...and all of you.

Remember as your days.. so shall your strength be..every day God gives us the strength that we need to have.

Blessings on your day....

Good Friday...

"I glorified Thee on earth,

having accomlished the work which Thou hast given Me to do."

John 17:4

~~~

Thank you, Jesus...

Quote For Today...

"Nothing happens by happenstance. I am not in the hands of fate, nor am I the victim of man's whims or the devil's ploys. There is One who sits above man, above Satan, and above all heavenly hosts as the ultimate authority of all the universe.That One is my God and my Father."

~Kay Arthur ~

Our Times...

" My times are in Thy hand."

Psalm 31:15

It never ceases to amaze me how the days can just click by. I have been gone for awhile and I so appreciate many of you asking about me. I have had a little rough spell with not feeling well, but I mostly didn't have much to say, or maybe I had so much I wanted to share I didn't know where to start first! I'll just look at it that it was a time to be still. For the most part I want to share a just a couple things that have been on my heart the last month.

Our world is changing and it is changing fast. I feel that the only way we can hold on is to hold on tight to the Lord and know that our times are in His hands. I read other peoples blogs and they explain the politics and what it means for our country and how we are to deepen our pantry's, simplify our lives, prepare for the unknown...I am doing all that, but I don't know how to write about it. I found myself getting a little anxious a few weeks ago...then on Sunday my pastor said, When we say, Come quickly Lord Jesus, we must be prepared to walk through the rough times and trials that present themselves in these last days. It made so much sense to me all of a sudden. You can't ask for one without experiencing the other. If we are truly in the the last of the last days, or even at the beginning of the last days...we can't ask for one without experiencing the other. Difficult days usher in Jesus' return. Just think... we have been chosen by the Father Himself, to be living in these days. We are told to occupy until He comes. So amidst all the uncertainty we must try even more so to be examples for Christ, let our lives reflect His to all we come in contact with. That's why we are still here, God has work for us to do!

The last time I posted on my blog I was on my way to a prayer meeting. I shared that day that I had started a devotional and would this group of ladies hold me up in prayer as I sought the Lord as what to write. I don't even think about it being published, maybe just spiral bound booklets to give to people. Since that day that I asked for prayer..I haven't written a word anywhere..not even here on this blog or my recipe blog. That just dawned on me the other day. I have felt under such attack from the enemy and hadn't put it all together.

Isn't it comforting to know that God does hold us in His hands? That what we go through is so important to Him that He holds those things closely. It's almost hard to take in at times, that the Father cares so much about all the things of our lives, but He does.

This turned out to be a hodge podge of thoughts, but I wanted you to know I was alive and feeling better.

It's the first day of Spring and here in Southern California the sun is shinning... new beginnings, buds popping out all over and a freshness in the air. Sweet Sweet pollen. Achew!

Have a blessed day, everyone!

Prayer...

I am off to my intercessory prayer meeting today. I look forward to meeting with these ladies every other week as we lift the needs of others, our church and needs of our country before God's throne of Grace. I pray you'll have a blessed day in the Lord!

Trust Jesus......

I am always mentioning in my posts that we live in changing times..sometimes I say perilous times. I am going to add the word uncertain to the mix. I never want to scare anybody but I think we are headed for rough times. Our new president is making choices that will affect our great grand children's great grandchildren. People are out of work and there isn't anyone that could be above losing their job. Am I scared? NO, but I get a little anxious sometimes thinking what could be before us. I am taking steps to deepen my pantry, buying what I feel is necessity rather than luxury, encouraging those I love to do the same.

When my heart gets overwhelmed I have to remember that all these things have to take place before Jesus returns. Prophecy has all been fulfilled...Jesus could come at any time. In these uncertain times I know the only One that is certain is Jesus. Trusting Him and doing what I can as a homemaker to deepen my pantry and save money is my goal for now.

I have been reading some very good blogs on how to deepen our pantry's during this economic crisis.

Brenda at Coffee Tea Books and Me has very helpful information on emergency prepareness and deepeening your pantry. She also has links in her side bar to other valuable recources. I'll be posting more blogs and websites at another time.

TRUST JESUS

Work To Do...

"God did not save us so that we could look attractive on Sundays. He saved us and left us here because He has work to do...very specific work. He has a mission to accomplish for kingdom gain in every generation...all planned in advance and perfectly timed. In His sovereignty, God has chosen to do His work through us. If we miss our ministry, we will miss our entire purpose in remaining here."

~ Beth Moore ~

Living Beyond Yourself

What is our purpose, what is our ministry? Each one of us have been called and left here on this earth for very specific reasons...to fulfill the ministries that God Has entrusted us to do. Each one of us has a mission to accomplish for kingdom gain and eternal benefits.When our work on earth is done, then God will take us home.

God doesn't call everyone into full time ministry. For the most part our ministry is centered around our daily lives and those people we come in contact with. There is kingdom gain in anything God places before us to do. When those things are done to the glory of God, there is a ripple affect that reaches beyond our four walls. It could be that silent witness to unsaved family members in your home or extended family. If we are dong what God has placed before us to do, to the glory of Him..He will produce the kingdom gain. We need only do what he has called us to do.

I have heard people say when someone dies that their work on earth was finished. It always seemed like just words to me, but I have really thought about it lately. Every day that we get up and take a breath we have the opportunity to influence someone's life. Raising children to love the Lord and supporting our husbands is a part of kingdom gain...being a reflection of the Lord, wherever we find ourselves out in the world, is used for kingdom gain. God wants to work through us..that is our purpose for being here.

There are different seasons in our lives where we are used in different ways. At different times in our lives, God gives us different things to do. I taught women's Bible studies for years, now I write a blog and teach a little here and there. The opportunity that God puts before me more than anything else, is encouraging women. Ministry doesn't always stay the same. God uses us in whatever season we are in, if we are open and surrendered to His purposes. These are trying times, please don't miss the purpose God has chosen just for you, for kingdom gain.

"Whatever you do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Colossians 3:17

Rainy Days and Mondays....

I thought I would take minute and catch up with everyone. I know I have been gone for weeks. Usually if I am gone this long I am just not up to par. I have not been up to par..not quite 100% my husband would say. I did so well for months, we had a glorious Christmas and we did so many wonderful things. I held up really well. I guess, I got a little tired when it was all over... a Fibromyalgia crash you could call it. Last week I went to Urgent Care, a Saturday wouldn't you know, when everybody and their brother is in there sick!! I have a kidney infection...geesh.
So as I have been home, not quite 100%....let me ask you this? Does anybody ever feel 100%? My husband does..isn't that wonderful? I just wondered if that was normal. (: Back to what I was saying..since I am home I have been sorting through stuff, again. Watching movies, listening to iTunes..just puttering and knitting...

I have been working on my Beth Moore study, Living Beyond Yourself..a study of the fruits of the Spirit. This is my second time doing it..I didn't pass the first time. (: Love it and highly recommend it. Anyone would love this study.

I have sorting through pictures too. We bought a fire proof safe to store pictures and some of my journals and other things that I have written. Friends of ours lost their home to fire on Christmas night. Sure makes you think..

Well, this is where I am...home. I am waiting out the winter weather.One day it's 85 degrees..another day 38 degrees...my muscles are confused so they rebel in what I call a fibro flare.

I think I'll go get dressed and make my bed. If I get dressed and my bed is made, I won't crawl back into it. Good thinking... wouldn't you say?? Have a good day!

Our Journey...

"God doesn't always take us on the shortest route on our journey."

~ My friend, Honey ~

Amen, Amen Amen....

But God...

There seems to be so many Christians that I know that are going through really hard times. For some, the heartache is unbearable. But God...

He sustains them.

He encourages them.

He fills them with strength.

He provides.

He restores.

He gives HOPE.

He carries them.

He holds them.

He goes before them.

He listens.

He wipes away their tears.

He gives JOY in the midst of their circumstances.

He comforts.

He loves unconditionally...

But God....Who but God could do these things and more, for hurting people?

But God...

Dear Lord...

"Dear Lord, Thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out every body's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but thou knowest, Lord, that I must have a few friends at the end."

~ Ruth Bell Graham ~

What Matters...

"The God who created names and numbers and the stars in the heavens also numbers the hairs of my head.....

He pays attention to the very big things and to the small ones.

What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

What matters to me matters to God, no matter how big or small a thing is. Like any parent, when I think of my children and grandchildren it is the same thing...if it matters to them, it matters to me. Makes it easier to comprehend when I think about it that way.

There are things I am trying to change in my life and because they align with what God's Word says for me....my life will change because I matter to God. It is hard to comprehend that the God who created the universe would care about the little things in my life. But he does! What a personal God we serve and love. I can just imagine God saying, "If it matters to you, then it matters to me." Now, that's love!

"The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;

Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands."

Psalm 138:8

~~~~

"I will cry to God Most High,

To God who accomplishes all things for me."
Psalm 57:2

God's Curriculum...

"God's curriculum for all who sincerely want to know Him and do His will, always includes lessons we wish we could skip...With intimate understanding of our deepest needs and individual capacities, He chooses our curriculum."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

We have all experienced things in life that we wish we could skip right over. Maybe you are in that place right now. When I look back over the difficult things that have happened in my life, those very things I thought would kill me, actually made me stronger. I never realized it at the time that I was growing stronger, but when the next trial came a long..I was stronger and it was then, that I saw the growth in me.

God has a curriculum written for each one of us. He alone knows what it will take to do that deeper work in us and to be an example to others. If all we do is grumble at how hard life is, we will be missing those deeper things He wants to teach us.

Part of the curriculum that God has chosen for me is living with several chronic illnesses. I can't even list all the things that He has taught me the last 16 years as I have made the journey through illness and pain. I have been discouraged more times than I can remember. God has always faithfully picked me up and and encouraged me in one way or another. He's been faithful at every turn and every trial. The trial or illness didn't always go away, but He was faithful to give me the strength to press on and press through each and every time. If you think about it, what choice do we have? We can either go through the things in our life with God or without Him. We can choose to grow closer to Him or to be mad at Him.

I only want to go deeper with the Lord. Things are difficult enough in this life... I don't want to go through things more than once to learn the same lesson all over again because I missed it the first time. I have done that before. Things were almost more painful the second time around. My prayer is, "Lord, don't let me miss what it is you are trying to teach me. Pleassssseeeeeee I don't want to have to do this again." (:

God loves us so much that He writes individual curriculum for each one of us...pretty cool when you think about it!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

Godly Character...

Godly character...to react to people NOT according to how they act towards me.

~ Pastor Greg Laurie ~

Slow Down...

The holidays are over, do you feel like you need to slow down and concentrate and focus on tending to things around your home? I do. I have shared many times that I love a simple life. I don't do well when I am busy all the time. My home doesn't do well, my health doesn't do well..nothing seems right when I am on the go all the time.

I can't help but think that God does not want that fast paced life for any of us, well, me for sure. When I'm busy, my mind is busy thinking of the next thing that I have to. When I get up in the morning and my feet hit the floor running, my quiet time is the thing that gets neglected. Or how about...when I get up in the morning and the first thing I do after I have said good bye to my husband... I turn on the computer. I have decided that I will not turn on the computer until I have a quiet time and my bed is made.

When I am too busy to hear when God whispers to me, it's time to slow down. Even children don't have to be as busy as they are these days. Most kids are run from one activity to another. They don't have time to slow down and be a kid. A lot of kids don't know how to entertain themselves without the TV or DVDs or someone entertaining them all the time. I love it when I see my granddaughters play with dolls or dress up. Kids need to slow down too..how will they learn to be still before God when they are older, if all they know how to do is be on the go when they are young?

Nurturing takes stillness, both physically and spiritually. We have to be still before God at times to be nurtured by the Holy Spirit. We have to slow down to hear the direction God wants us to take. People get sick with colds and flu because they are so tired and run down from being so busy. People have to work, it's all the added busyness that we need to re-examine to see if we need to slow down.

My Grandma told me once, "If the devil can't get you with idleness, he'll get you with busyness." That is so true! It's subtle too...we don't even recognize that some of our busyness is a distraction from the enemy himself, to keep us from the things of God. I know I have found that true in my own life from time to time.

So many people have said that they want peace. The only true peace is a relationship with Jesus Christ. For those that do know Christ and still cry for peace, maybe they are just too busy to recognize that they already have it. I am slowing down, how about you? Selah....

I read this book a few months ago. I am not very good at book reviews, so I won't try and give you an overview of what this book is about. I will step out and say that I personally will not recommend to it anyone. I read it out of curiosity and to have an opinion of my own, if anyone asked me about it. Many of my friends have read it and have felt their lives were changed by reading it. I personally didn't feel that way and forced myself to finish it. The argument ~for~ this book is that it is only fiction. I don't feel that way, but that is what people have said.

I am all for Christian fiction. I read a lot of fiction and have my favorite authors. When I read Christian fiction I want the the Trinity.... the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, portrayed with reverence and accurately to what the Bible has recorded. A book can really stretch my imagination, but don't mess with what I know to be Holy. That's where I draw the line.

It's only fiction....a new believer or a nonbeliever would definitely not get the correct information about our Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and our Beloved Holy Spirit. So, maybe somehow this book can lead someone to the Lord. But who would they be led to? The black woman that this book refers to as Papa?? (She is the Heavenly Father portrayed in this book.)

Oh my...we live in such perilous times. The enemy Satan will try any way he can to water down the Word, distort Who our Heavenly Father is, Who Jesus Christ is and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and Who He is. He may even use a book that millions of people are reading.

With so much out there that is untrue..New Age..the Emerging Church...one of the most important things that we can pray for, is spiritual discernment. We have to know right from wrong, watered down as watered down and untrue to be untrue. We can only do that with discernment that comes from God.

I had to write my thoughts on this, they have been burning in my heart for months. It would not be my intention to insult you in anyway if you liked this book. I have always tried to write my heart on this blog and that's what I have done here today.

"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 Timothy 4: 3-4

Our 39th Anniversary!....

Today is our 39th wedding anniversary. Once again, I'll say it.."Where does time go?" We we were both grocery checkers when we met. Love at first sight..almost. Six weeks later we were engaged and six weeks later..married. We really sent our parents into a head spin a week after Christmas. It still sets our heads spinning when our anniversary comes so close to the holidays. Some anniversaries it just feels good to stay all cozy at home rather than do much after the hustle and bustle of the busy holidays. Whatever we do today, we will do it together and be thankful that God has blessed us with another year of loving each other and being together.

Happy Anniversary, my Love!

Over Our Heads...

Girlfriends, Jesus is so worthy of our trust no matter what has taken us by surprise. Picture that, when the enemy asks for a little extra access to you, the only reason why God may have given him permission is because He knew you'd prove faithful. Do the thing. In the unseen realm, angels are cheering and demons are jeering. You are in the stadium and the bleachers are full. (Hebrews 12:1) Take one for the team if you have to. Be strong and courageous. Be willing to show people how it's done. Don't look for a leader. You are the leader. People are looking to you. Be deliberate. Make sure they see Jesus. We're not here all that long and then there's BLISS. Forever bliss. Till then, we're over our heads. But we can dang-well decide what kind of over-our-heads we're gonna be.

~ Beth Moore~

Resolutions VS. Obedience...

"Now I declare new things;

Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.

Sing to the Lord a new song,

Sing His praise from the end of the earth."

Isaiah 42: 9-10

Is there something God wants you to do? Is there a new challenge or task that He is asking of you in this new year ahead? Is there something stirring in your heart that only God could have placed within you to do? It doesn't have to be a BIG thing..maybe just be more organized, or prepare healthier meals...things that have to do with our everyday life.

Maybe He has placed a BIG thing before you to do. I do know that be it big or everyday things..God will equip you to do it. When we are obedient, He will take us one step at a time to fulfill what He asks of us to do.

I am so thankful for God's grace and His mercy. They both are never ending and new everyday. What an awesome God we serve. We don't ever have to wait for a certain day to begin anew. Each breath that we take is a new breath, given only to us by our Heavenly Father. The thought overwhelms me.

I have turned my thoughts from New Year's resolutions to thoughts of obedience. There is such joy in obedience and not the dread and drudgery of fulfilling resolutions. Not only is there joy, but there is freedom. Freedom that only Christ can give. He bought and paid for it...it's ours, we need only walk in it.

Don't get me wrong, I have some goals written down. But I truly believe they are Holy Spirit inspired, so if I work on those things that He has shown me, I will be obedient. Because of the baby steps I have taken, I already feel joy and freedom! Hallelujah!

Let's each one of us look expectantly to what God has for us in the New Year. May God bless and keep you..

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Simplicity...

“This week, aim for simplicity. The last few weeks may have been filled with baking, shopping, concerts, gift wrapping, and dinner parties, but today, celebrate simplicity as you fix your eyes on Jesus.”

~ Joni Eareckson Tada~

Random Thoughts...

We had a great Christmas! It was cold and rainy and there was a fire in the fireplace....not the usual Southern California Christmas! Yesterday it was 82 and it felt good too. I haven't taken down all my Christmas decorations, just a few little things here and there. We have friends coming over New Years' Eve so I am leaving the big things up until New Year's Day.

God was so faithful to me during this busy season of festivities. I felt good all month and was able to do so many things that I have wanted to do for years for the holidays. Thank you, Lord! As soon as the Christmas decorations are all packed away it will be back to figuring out what a normal routine is again. It seems like thoughts of Christmas keeps my mind so busy for months. This is when I want to go through my entire house and just start purging all the excess that we have. I think I may just do that.....again.

I wanted to say hi....and post a few random thoughts. Have a blessed day!

Merry Christmas...

I am going to take the remainder of this week off from blogging. I had some things I wanted to write about..but for now they will have to wait. This has been one of the busiest Christmas seasons that we have had in years. I guess that tells me that I have felt better this year. Praise the Lord! As all of us probably do, I have some last minute baking and things to finish up before Thursday and a trip to San Diego in the midst of those days.

Merry Christmas to all of you who visit me here at Beside Still Waters. Thank you for your encouragement to me.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we must remember that He was born for one reason... and that was to die. He died so we may live, forgiven and free from our sins. If you find yourself reading this blog today and you don't know how you came to be here...maybe it was so that I could tell you that the Babe born in a manger was born just for you. His love is the greatest love you will ever know. Embracing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, asking Him into your heart, is the greatest gift there is. He died to give you the gift of eternal life. It's a gift you need only reach out and accept. I am praying if you have never done this before that you will today.

Merry Christmas,

Patty

More Winter...

Stater Bros. truck on it's way to the mountians...

Winter Has Arrived!

~San Bernardino Mountians~

In Southern California we don't have weather...it's usually hot, or not. After months of dry weather and really not any measurable rain, to have rain and snow this week has been wonderful. To have a view like this from my house, is a sight to see. It's been raining for days and it's COLD. I have lived in California for a long time and cold weather and Christmas usually doesn't happen. I am originally from Michigan and we would have a White Christmas quite often. I still associate cold with Christmas, even to this day. I think a lot of people do. I thought I would share a little piece of my world today. I will enjoy this because it could be 85 next week...hope not.

Is My Heart In Stable Condition?

The stable. I always thought it seemed like such an unsuitable place for the birth of the King of Kings.

The stable did not offer the same comforts as the inn, but it had one thing the inn lacked. Room. There was room in the stable where the Son of God could be born.

At times I wonder, " Is my heart like that inn...so crowded that I miss the presence of the Son of God? Am I so filled with the cares of life, stress, busyness and selfish desires that no room is left in my heart for Jesus?"

As I have watched theChristmas story reenacted through the years, I have often thought of the innkeeper. Why didn't he make room for the expectant mother, then allow others a place? I realize the innkeeper did his best to accommodate Mary and Joseph.

Each day I am faced with opportunities to allow God's blessing and power to fill my heart. When I have meditated on His Word and communicated with Him in prayer, then as the events of the day unfold I am able to handle each situation in the wisdom and strength that He provides. If I fail to read His Word and pray, then my life becomes packed with overwhelming circumstances and Jesus is crowded out.

My busyness and cares can be put in their proper place as I pray, "Lord, keep my heart in stable condition so that I have room for Jesus."

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

I have used this devotional by Judy Seabaugh for many many years and each time reading it, I am shown I have let too many things creep into my heart during the Christmas season. Not so much physical busyness, but the busyness of my heart and mind. My mind goes a million miles an hour this time of year. You too? There can't be any room for Jesus when we are too busy to open the door to let HIm minister to us in only the ways He can. If you feel your stable doors have been closed, open them up and let the Son come in!

God of All Comfort...

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

There are so many people this time of year walking around with discouraged and hurting hearts. One may even be you. I think sometimes, we feel the need to hide how much our hearts are wounded and hurting. When we do that, we only allow that heartache to hurt all the more. There are other people that have gone through similar circumstances and trials and God wants to use them to minister to you.

Last Tuesday night I was able to share the same comfort God had given me, to a sweet sister in Christ, who just found out her son and his wife were having a baby with a cleft lip and palate. Our little granddaughter Rachel was born 4 years ago with this and I was able to encourage and tell her it would be a journey....a journey of God's faithfulness. The other thing I was able to tell her was, that I never would have dreamed all that God would do for Rachel. I never ever thought the Doctors would be able to do so much to repair her little face. God is so faithful in the journey, any journey we might find ourselves on right now. He does exceedingly abundantly more than we ask!

God comforts us in times of discouragement, heartache and grief....in all things, if we let Him and look for Him in the midst of the circumstances. Many times He will use someone that crosses our path to comfort with the same comfort they received in their time of need. If we don't want to be comforted and want to stay in that place of despair.. then we will. But when we look to God, and we earnestly seek Him, we will find Him.

What we go through in life will never be wasted... unless we choose to squander it in self pity. God will bring opportunity after opportunity to us, to use us in the lives of others, who now walk down familiar paths that we have walked down. We can share the love and faithfulness of God, to those who need just a glimmer of hope, to endure what is set before them. If our hearts are open, God will bring those in need to us to share the same comfort that we received from Him. To God be the glory!

"Bear one another's burdens..."

Galatians 6:2

The Night That Changed Everything...

People Pleasers...

"When we are set free from the bondage of pleasing others,
when we are free from currying others' favor and others' approval....then no one will be able to make us miserable or dissatisfied. And then, if we know we have pleased God, contentment will be our consolation."
~Kay Arthur~

I'd like to comment more on the quote I posted yesterday. I believe once we have been in bondage to always having to please others, it is so easy to slip back into that mental stronghold. We struggle with saying no when it isn't always God's best for us.We think we always have to say yes to everything because were Christians. It's not so. . If we want to please man, we run the risk of being disobedient if it isn't what God has asked of us. It's a daily walk in the Spirit to know the difference.

I still struggle with being in bondage of wanting to please everyone. I must say to the detriment of my own health through the years. I want everyone to like me and if they don't I beat myself up wondering what I did wrong. Maybe I didn't do anything wrong, we just have different personalities. It may not be me at all. I must admit...I am so much better than I ever was in the past..so I see growth in my life. Obsessing about pleasing other people steals any contentment in our life. Like Kay Arthur said in this above quote, when we seek to please God contentment is our consolation. So, instead of striving to please everybody, be all they want you to be, always saying and doing the things we think we should say to please someone...if we look to be pleasing to God and what He wants us to do ...we will not be miserable and dissatisfied. Sounds like the pressure would be off to be perfect or people pleasers.
Hmmmmm...something to think about!

The holidays are upon us. I encourage you to seek God and what His best is for you...make it your gift to Jesus this Christmas to live to please Him with obedient lives, rather than be in bondage of pleasing others. There is freedom and joy in pleasing others when it's what God is leading you to do. Putting on the mind of Christ and pulling down those strongholds of being a people pleaser...brings VICTORY, OBEDIENCE and CONTENTMENT!

Quote For The day...

"When we are set free from the bondage of pleasing others,

when we are free from currying others' favor and others' approval....then no one will be able to make us miserable or dissatisfied. And then, if we know we have pleased God, contentment will be our consolation."

~Kay Arthur~

Broken Pieces...

"He heals the brokenhearted and heals up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

The box dropped...I heard the clinking of broken pieces. I knew what was in that box...of all boxes, it just couldn't be that box. I opened it carefully hoping it was minor..maybe something that wasn't my favorite. Sigh, it was my collection of Christmas tea cups. I have had them for years, given to me from special friends and some I bought myself.

A few days passed and I was putting out two adorable houses that friends had given me for my birthday one year. My fingers just gave out, and it was only the size of a shoe box. Oh my gosh! The damage was minor this time, only a chimney broke off. But still. I was disappointed about all the things that had broken this season and we are barely into it.

I was reminded it's just stuff. Indeed, it is just stuff. This made me think upon the broken people who live in that broken state every day of their life. What about the people who have broken hearts this time of year as they remember the losses in their lives as a result of losing someone, or even the people here in California who lost everything recently to the California fires, and the terrorist attacks... there is heartache all around us. Broken people, broken pieces...brokenness that only the Savior can put back together.

This second day of December...can you think of anyone that needs a touch of the Savior because they are broken. They aren't just stuff to be tossed away. The Lord will show us those people who need that touch that only He can give. Let's all be on the lookout with our Holy Spirit eyes, looking for opportunities to be part of the solution of helping mend broken lives. People don't always look broken on the outside. it's not always obvious to others when one is broken. Some people may just need a smile to get them through the day or a kind word to ease their pain just a little. Each thing we do can possibly be the building blocks leading that person to finding wholeness in Jesus Christ.

~People are not just stuff.~

Pearls Of Wisdom...

This is another change to my blog list. I created this blog, Pearls Of Wisdom to post all my favorite quotes on. Anyone that reads my blogs knows that I love to use quotes. I think we can learn so much from what others say. So, come over for a visit once and awhile and see if a quote will minister to you...or even make you laugh!

Changes...

There a two new things at Beside Still Waters that I wanted to tell you about this morning. You can now email me or you can make a comment on a post. Some people who are not bloggers have said they want to comment but they just can't figure out how to do it. If you want to comment on a post and you don't have a blog..post under anonymous and sign your name at the end of your post. Or email me, you see my link in my side bar. Patty at besidestillwaters dot org. I didn't want a lot of spam so I wrote it like this...

You can still find me through the blogspot address but you can also find me by using this new address. Besidestillwaters.org. Both addresses route you to here. This new address is much simpler to remember and pass on to others. I am excited about this, as I have at times couldn't remember the changes I had to make when my blog disappeared. My son set this up for me this week. My daughter helps me figure out blogger things when I get in a jam. Oh, how I wish I knew how to do all this myself.... but so thankful I have them to help me. But wait...if it weren't for them talking me into half this stuff, like blogs and Facebook...I wouldn't need to know,would I? (:

The Hard Thing...

"Unparalleled joy and victory come from allowing Christ to do the "hard thing" with us."
~ Beth Moore~

I had to stop and be still before the Lord when I read this quote ...was there a "hard thing" in my life that I was to learn from right now? Oh yes, I really didn't even have to get all that still to know. It came right down to OBEDIENCE. Such a word. DISOBEDIENCE..ouch, another word. Sometimes we find ourselves in those hard places because God has asked something of us and we fail to obey. We can obey for awhile and then find ourselves slipping right back to where we were before. Forgetting all the while that it was God who spoke these things to our heart in the first place.

Through the years in my walk with the Lord I have found that nothing can bring more joy than being obedient to the things that God has asked of me. Walking in the things I know to be true, obeying when I hear the whispers from Him in my heart, surrendering those things He asks of me...sometimes walking in those things means they become the "hard things". It all comes down to allowing Him to have His way with us, all for His glory.

Victory is mine in Christ, bought and paid for by His blood. At times, I don't always feel it or walk in it. When I have been obedient, I feel victorious. Oh what a feeling! There is unparalleled joy and victory in the hard things when we allow Christ to have His way with us.

Are you experiencing a "hard thing" right now? Is there anything God is asking of you while you are in this hard place? It can be ever so small and doesn't have to be a big thing. I think of when my kids were young and I would tell them to do something and there would be that, "Why." Because I said so, I might reply. Even in the small things God has a reason for asking us to do or not to do something. Why? Because He says so. We don't have to always understand, we just need to obey, and then....joy will follow!

"For it is God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

Philippians 2:13

Patty's Pantry...

I have started posting my holiday recipes on Patty's Pantry. I have been slow getting all my recipes back on my blog since I deleted it...but I am slowly getting there. I hope you'll pop over and see if there is something that sounds good to you and your family. Enjoy!

Quitter Or Obedient?

" The enemy tries everyday to get us to quit...then he calls us a quitter."

I was going through my night stand next to our bed and I found this slip of paper that I wrote the above quote. I don't remember writing it. I had to be watching a DVD of Beth Moore's or listening to the radio and jotted it down.. I really needed that encouragement the day I found it. God knows when we need those special touches.

It's so true..he, Satan does everything he can do to have us quit the things that we do in obedience to God. He puts every obstacle in our way that he knows will discourage us. Sometimes those things come right after another like waves, knocking us down so we can hardly catch our breath. We have probably given in and quit before so he knows what tactics will work in our defeat. He whispers, You can't do this." "You have never succeeded before, why try again." "Your life is too busy to do this." "Everyone is smarter than you." Oh my gosh, the whispers that he plants in our minds continues, sometimes until he wears us down and we quit. Then...he calls us a quitter. How fair is that? Remember, the enemy doesn't play fair. He comes to rob and destroy us. He is such a deceiver.

Is there something in your life that you want to quit? Are you hearing whispers from the Lord or the enemy? If it is the Lord telling you to quit, He will call it obedience. If it's the enemy...he will call you a quitter. Then he lays on the guilt. See what a vicious circle it is?

We have to walk in the Spirit everyday to recognize the tactics that are individually designed just for us. When we do, we won't walk in the flesh and be tricked by the enemy. This quote stirred up my righteous anger...to think he would chip away at me day and night and when I had been pecked enough, to then think he would call me a quitter! Grrrrr.

Be wise and be aware of whose whispers you are listening to.