Another song I like by the Rolling Stones is, “You Can't Always Get What You Want.” The song lyrics goes…"But if you try sometimes well you just might find you get what you need."
My Heavenly Father has been very good to me. At one time I was the “Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and She Had So Many Children She Did Not Know What To Do” classic nursery rhyme. Only, I was the young woman who lived in a moderate house with a moderate income for a single person, but not for four children and one in college. I was not a woman who did not know what to do. I knew what to do when I was single with five children and little finances is to seek God for additional provision. First, I started renting out my garage for $100 a month to help pay my mortgage to someone who wanted to store antique cars. God even used my widowed mother at times. I prayed to the Lord and asked him for money for my three children’s school book rental money and within a week my mother called me up and she said, “Can I give you money for the children’s books this semester.” She helped out some with my books for college when I decided to go for my first time at 35 years old. The Lord was faithful to provide a husband to help me raise four little children and it was through a secular single’s magazine ad I placed. I witnessed to several men about Jesus on the phone through that ad for a Christian man who did not know Him. Even Mary in the Bible did not have to raise Jesus alone, the Lord provided her Joseph.
My Heavenly Father has been very good to me. At one time I was the “Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and She Had So Many Children She Did Not Know What To Do” classic nursery rhyme. Only, I was the young woman who lived in a moderate house with a moderate income for a single person, but not for four children and one in college. I was not a woman who did not know what to do. I knew what to do when I was single with five children and little finances is to seek God for additional provision. First, I started renting out my garage for $100 a month to help pay my mortgage to someone who wanted to store antique cars. God even used my widowed mother at times. I prayed to the Lord and asked him for money for my three children’s school book rental money and within a week my mother called me up and she said, “Can I give you money for the children’s books this semester.” She helped out some with my books for college when I decided to go for my first time at 35 years old. The Lord was faithful to provide a husband to help me raise four little children and it was through a secular single’s magazine ad I placed. I witnessed to several men about Jesus on the phone through that ad for a Christian man who did not know Him. Even Mary in the Bible did not have to raise Jesus alone, the Lord provided her Joseph.
I’ve got a new fish on the hook on a dating site and he has a ton of activities listed that he likes to do. Remember I want the horse that does not run to the barn trying to buck me off when I was child that likes to eat all the time, but the horse that took off with me “holding on for my dear life” who liked to run through the corn field. My marriage was a ride of my life and that is what I like a man who likes to run. Run here and run there. I am a thrill seeker.
Hopefully, he is not a dud…no duds God. “I’m sick and tired of duds.”
It reminds me of this minister who was a faith preacher and his wife would say she was sick and tired. Her faith preaching husband said, “You should not be confessing that, you should be speaking what you want into existence.” God said, “Let there be light.” “Let there be land.” Let there be this…let there be that….
“God, Let there be no duds.”
Dud: (1) A thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless.
(2) An ineffectual person
I don’t like those firecrackers that are duds either. Act like they are going to put off a big bang and they “fizzle” out. I like real firecrackers that work. I can use the analogy for many things..he works a job, he works around the house…well you know…
Just “Let it Be” by the Beatles! Only instead of mother Mary, it’s Jesus. After all, when the world was made, God’s son was right there. God made the worlds through his words. Jesus cursed the fig tree by his words. Words can be powerful. That is why Jesus gave us the example of cursing the fig tree. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Lately, I met a few duds through online dating. Men that said they were younger when they were older than their profile. If they are going to church and they are already lying about their profile that is a race not off to a good start. You know it's like you have a cramp in your foot before you even start a race. I've heard the same complaint from men who told me that women say they like to go camping and they just put that on their profile because it is "what men want to hear." It's okay because I went through several duds to find a good firecracker in my past.
My friends are trying to get me to book a ticket to Alaska with them, but I’m keeping the faith. Hey I’ve determined this whole “single” thing, I’ll make the best out of it and milk it for all it's worth, if that is possible, for a woman who is “up there in age.” If I disappear one of these days, I may have been captured by a Floridian or Caribbean man. The whole warm weather is very appealing to me, especially since I lived in Florida for 7 l/2 years at one time. Instead of the movie, “Stella Gets Her Groove On” it may be “Mary gets her groove on with a younger guy.” Well, I can already predict the ending of that story. I will be swallowed by a whale and somehow I’ll end up in Indiana. They would probably ship the whale to the Indianapolis Zoo, cut it open and find me. At least that is my experience in “wanting to get out of Dodge/Indiana” as a young Christian at 19 years old is that I ended back in Indiana! I’m sure there are plenty of whales in Alaska or Hawaii to swallow me up also! For some reason I end up on the Westside of Indy. Well, if I was not forced to come back from "warm" Florida weather to Indiana then I would have never met the man of my dreams.
I was talking about the pile of manure of grief in my back yard, and I spoke to it and told it to “go be cast into the sea.” When it comes back out at times, I’ve reminded it that it can stay in the sea of forgetfulness where it belongs. Same goes true with some big manure pile of bitterness or resentment of thoughts you get against an ex-spouse or parents that may have hurt you, past sin, speak to the pile that it’s thrown into the sea of forgetfulness and remind it to stay there. Sometimes, we need to remind Satan that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. Just go read the whole chapter of Deuteronomy 28 on curses and blessings and that includes mental anguish. Christ has redeemed me from mental anguish.
"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23
Hey Lord while you are at it, can the ex drown in the sea at the same time? …just kidding…love keeps no record (list) of wrongs.
Firecrackers Are Expensive Like Mary's Alabaster Box
Have you ever gone shopping for fireworks? They are rather expensive for a short explosion to enjoy! I’m still wanting an organizer and a person who does not feel guilty for throwing junk mail away. I think because I’ve put printed newsletters together in my past and how much work goes into the layout and organization it’s a subconscious thing about throwing printed materials away. My husband worked at a printing press as a young adult, and I noticed he was the same way.
I battle guilt on a daily basis. I’ve noticed that I’ll get through my list of things “to do” like at Christmas with finishing shopping before December 23rd, get a tree for Christmas and my daughter helped wrap presents and decorate it. I cooked a meal with a ham and prime rib roast so you would hope a person would have a sense of accomplishment? Then I’m hit with the aftermath of getting the tree down and the clean up and my sister-in-law forgot her electric toothbrush someone gave her. I put the toothbrush in an envelope and did not get “around” to sending it in the mail so I got an email from her about sending it. To make matters worse, I’m trying to help my family and in-laws establish some “normalcy” for my family in hosting Christmas and then I’m left with a “bitter herbs” after taste of that constant loss during holidays among quite a few other battles I went through in just hosting a big family event.
Have you noticed that when you seem to cross out the “to do” list than another “to do” list comes? It’s that sense of “not getting ahead” that bothers me. When do I ever get ahead? If you ever raised seven children you would understand. When am I in the front of the to do list and not the tail?
The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Duet 28:13
Have you ever tried to help out people, but then it’s like your help just blows up in your face? It’s like a firecracker that went off too soon? That is what has happened in my life in many ways. The firecracker exploded when I was trying to hold on to it. I do look forward to heaven and that sense of “finishing the race of life”
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24
I noticed when I posted on Facebook that I’m going to stop feeling guilty about the “to do” lists in life that it takes the pressure off of me not getting around the unlimited do lists in life that I put off. There seems to be that “balance” between God working in me and what I do as the scripture below:
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philip 2:12-13
Well, the one conclusion is that we can’t hold on to “anything” in life. There is nothing permanent on earth and people are included. Anything you have given up in life ….that you give to God… He sees that as very valuable and precious. I put my husband on the altar before God in July as a dedication and he left the planet in October. I thought it was a “weird” coincidence that he happened to pass away just a few months after this happened to me. It’s so similar to Job when he sacrificed for his children that he loved very much. But I was listening to a song last night and I was thinking about how precious the woman who gave her year’s wages to Jesus that she poured out her love and her year’s wages on Jesus.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” John 12:3-5
I've spent the last three years of my life in constant prayer and worship if I did not go to a Bible study. It was rather funny because one time I stayed home to pray and seek the Lord and I had a guy friend call me about a single game night and I told him I was praying and seeking the Lord, and he said they were "praying for more women to show up." Whatever time we spend in praying and seeking the Lord, it is not wasted and I believe we are sowing seed into the kingdom of God.
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 1 Tim. 5:5
We don’t hear very much preaching on what it is going to cost us to serve the Lord. We are always hearing about God bless us, God bless us, God bless us. God bless me, God bless me. God bless me and mine…me and mine, me and mine…me and mine, me and mine…me….me…me….me...me
When my children are older than usually it is nice once in awhile when children return what parents have done for them. I enjoy going out to eat for Mother’s Day and I’m not the one paying the tab! Just a thought, but when are we going to return the favor of what Jesus did for us on the cross?
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37
And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Matthew 19:29
I know “part of the problem” is when you do many things for family it’s part of being in the family and you are “taken for granted” so you don’t get much thanks or praise for it. A “sense of accomplishment” is not there because it becomes an “expectation” for you to go out of your way and be a host or go to the post office during work to help your family out. So a sacrifice of doing what you want to do there is no thank you many times.
I’ve seen the same thing happen with single socials, single Bible studies is you don’t always get much thanks in trying to lead a single’s group. I know people who lead them and most of the time, they only hear when things are bad or when things go wrong and someone does not like an event. Than what happens is that the leaders get discouraged and determine it’s not worth having a party or social for a bunch of whiny, complaining, unthankful folk. I know one single lady whose house was torn up so she quit having parties. Same thing happened to a relative of mine as far as children destroying things in the basement and I’ve heard other single’s who had to advertised, “no children invited” because their house was torn up.
I don’t understand why that happened to God with the Children of Israel in the wilderness, but apparently they had no vision for the short trip to the promise land which I believe was around 40 days but ended up being 40 years! So we don’t want to “take advantage” of God by not thanking him for his goodness. Just because we have negative circumstances or valley experiences, I've learned that is the time I can look back on my life and still remember God's goodness.
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him -- and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19
God was and is good to me. He knew to make "fireworks" in my life I like firecrackers as far as a man with a Type A personality. The problem with Type A personalities is they tend to be very "driven" in life and I asked my husband to slow down. He would not slow down. I tried to get him to eat better and take better care of his body, but he was on the go all the time and then the firecracker blew up in my face. When I look back on my life I can't say that I'm not glad God gave me a firecracker that he could trust me with them and I'll take another firecracker if that is His plan for me!
In the meantime, I'll be about my heavenly Father's business in "pressing on." I went to a party last night and met two widows who just lost their husbands in December. One from cancer and one from a heart attack. It was one of those "divine appointments" from my heavenly Father.
Worshipping the Lord has been a difficult battle in having joy in listening to worship tapes, dancing before the Lord, or playing my guitar at home. Grief and depression took it’s toll on my spirit man and it was a walk of faith to start praising the Lord again, but I continued on. It becomes a “sacrifice of praise” to thank God in my life when you lose a “pearl of great price.” Our marriage became a pearl over time because like an oyster we learned through friction and growth to make our marriage a pearl.
It’s a sacrifice of praise when it is difficult to praise and thank Him in circumstances and trials. When you are on Mt. Everest it is easy to praise the Lord. I've pressed through the last three years to get through the mourning period to stay before the Lord. Sometimes, I would go to church with tears streaming down my face and I still cry a lot, but the Lord has been faithful to hear the cries of my heart. The Bible says the Lord is "near" the broken hearted. Like Mary who anointed the feet of Jesus, I've spent time in my prayer closet in washing Jesus feet with my tears. That is what Mary did was wash Jesus feet with her tears and I have washed Jesus feet with my tears over and over.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them." Isaiah 57:19
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:5
Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, Psalm 50:14
The Lord is pleased with our sacrifices of praise because they are not based on our circumstances or how we feel, but they are based on faith when we have bad circumstances or sorrow to praise him at those times when we don't feel like it and we don't see the victory.
We live by faith, not by sight 2 Cor. 5:7
The Alabaster Box - Cece Winans
The room grew still
As she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears
That made her blind
She felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper
There's no place here for her kind.
Still on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last she knelt before HIS feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the MASTER
From her box of Alabaster
And I've to come to pour
My praise on HIM like oil
From Mary's Alabaster Box
Don't be angry if I wash HIS feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair
You weren't there the night HE found me
You did not feel what I felt
When HE wrapped HIS love all around me
And you don't know the cost
Of the oil in my Alabaster Box
I can't forget the way life used to be
I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound
And I spent my days
Poured my life without measure
Into a little treasure box I thought I found
Until the day when JESUS came to me
And healed my soul with the wonder
Of HIS touch
So now I'm giving back to HIM all the praise HE's worthy of
I've been forgiven and that's why I love HIM so much
Let It Be by the Beatles (I like to substitute Jesus instead of Mary)
When I find myself in times of trouble, (Jesus) mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness (he) she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.
Let it be, let it be, .....
And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, (Jesus) mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be, .....
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