Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Larry Bird

       


This is why I was (and still am) a Larry Bird fan,
from When the Game Was Ours, Larry Bird and Earvin Magic Johnson:

"The morning after Boston's celebration (1984 NBA championship title), Bird finally went home for a little shuteye. Around midafternoon, (Quinn) Buckner, who was experiencing his first-ever NBA title, drove to Bird's Brookline home with the hope of celebrating all over again. Dinah informed Buckner that Larry wasn't there.

'He was out running,' Buckner said. 'When he got back, I said to him, 'Man, what are you doing?'

Bird looked at him quizzically before he answered. 'I'm getting ready for next year,' he said."

Never quit. Never let up if you want to be a winner. For me that includes my walk with Christ.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Father and Me in the Mornings

                                                                           
Mornings at home alone with my Father are the best times of my days.  The sounds of the house and it's system is the only sound I want to hear. I open my door to the back of my house and the birds sing wonderful melodies to me and I sit quietly, focused on the Words of my Master, listening to any pieces of wisdom or counsel, or even reproof that He has for me.  I don't want to miss anything that He has to say, so I linger over each thought and ask Him to reveal to me how I must apply them to my life.

Some listen to music or messages from prophets or pastors.  But, during my quiet mornings I prefer to hear what my Lord has to say, rather than the thoughts of others.  His counsel is all I need.  He knows my deepest needs at the times that I need them.  I can trust that His words are true and righteous, written on my heart especially for me.  He has no hidden agenda, no other vision but to create in me a pure heart that glorifies Him and makes me more like His Son, the Christ, so that I will be ready and duly dressed to be a resident in His kingdom.

Oh, how I love this masterful Creator of my being!  He is my breath, my hope, my peace, my joy, my comforter, my salvation.  He is my everything, and I will give Him praise every day I have breath.

(These words come to me and are written only because The Lord God put them in me. I have no other claim to them.)

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Blessed Are They That Mourn

Last Saturday I mourned over a beautiful lost dog who wandered into our garage as we came home from shopping.  The dog obviously belonged to someone since he sported such a nice harness.  He was a very big dog, and no doubt he was a handful for someone to walk.  But he was lovable and gentle and allowed me to wrap my arms around his neck. 

I could easily see that this animal would fit right into our household, but we have four wonderful dogs of our own already, so this dog definitely could not stay.  He had to belong to someone in our sub-division, and since he wore no identification I had no choice but to send him on his way.  I was heartbroken, and I was very concerned about this strange dog's welfare the rest of the day.

The next day in church it struck me; how long has it been since I spent that much love and time lamenting over a human?  How many times do I see a person so much in need of Jesus Christ in his or her life but make no effort to help?  How many times have I gone home and spent the day crying, worrying, being concerned for the people I meet every day who are lost and need the saving grace of God's gift?  I have to say, seldom.  Admittedly, often times seeing bad behavior in my chance encounters makes me disgusted, and more often than not I shake my head, I "tsk tsk" their distasteful behavior and walk away.  They are forgotten.  I give them very little after thought.

Shame on me!  Prayer should be my immediate response.  There are times when I do whisper a prayer in my mind, but why not always?  I should be doing this more often than not doing it, and I repent.

Father, establish in me a forgiving heart for those who live against Your word.  Remind me of the filthy condition my heart was in once, and how You forgave me and saved me from eternal death.  Help me to remember to stop where I am to whisper a silent prayer on their behalf.  And then, if You open the door, help me to venture through it to give others the hope of Your great love.  amen.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Life's Little Burdens

it's such a burden going through life being critical of everything and everybody. it has taken years of having to eat my words and step out of the piles i have made, but the Holy Spirit keeps showing me how insignificant my little views are, and how i need to focus on Him rather on the way i think things should be in this world. not to say that i should stick my head in the sand, but life has been going on a long time without my help. i may hate what i see, but my opinions need to be kept more silent. you don't know how hard that is for me, but God does, and He is changing me as quickly as i will let Him, and sometimes He has to do it the hard way. that's my discipline that i deserve. though, it's pretty tough to accept that discipline when you think you are perfect. ;]


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Hello, God! What A Day!

I made my list this morning, Lord, and I spent almost an hour in the store getting my groceries. I was so tired when I finally made it home, and my feet were hurting so bad I had to soak them to ease their aches. What a waste of an hour, Lord!  My back is killing me! And with my long drive home in that awful traffic I was gone a full hour and a half. There is so much that I could have been doing at home to get myself caught up or even at church. I could have done a lot in all that time to get the sanctuary cleaned and picked up for Sunday's service.  The crowd at the grocery made me wish I had waited for another time to be there. So many people, Lord! Next time I think it would be better if I just stay home during those hours and go later in the evening when there are fewer people out.  Besides, I'm tired of putting up with all the rude people.  They seem to live in their own little worlds and have no regard for anyone else.  Oh, God!  What a waste of my time!

My, what a productive afternoon you have had, my child!  Now you have all your grocery shopping done for the next week, and I noticed that you made a list not only for your food but also all your meals are planned for the week.  Bravo!  This shows me that you have been listening to Me about the things you can do to save time and have more of it for Me and for having more leisure time with your family.  You certainly put a smile on my face today when I watched you hold the door for that woman with the cane.  She really just needed your smile to make her feel much better.  You couldn't see it, but her heart told Me how grateful she felt for a kind lady like you.  And, hey, thanks for helping that woman reach the top shelf for the box of powdered milk that she wanted. You're always doing that, and it's such a nice gesture. 

Speaking of gestures!  Yes.  I saw what that man did, but don't worry about it.  When you responded by gesturing that you were in the wrong and very sorry he felt pretty foolish afterwards.  I hope he keeps his promise that he made to Me that he wouldn't do that again.  I know how you feel about people living in their own little world.  Sometimes I do things to remind them that I am here with them, but they just ignore Me.  It makes Me so sad because I love them so much.


Anyway, I think a few of those people noticed how patient you were being in the check-out line while they were busy complaining about the clerk.  She just started the job this week and was very nervous today because she was so busy.  Thanks for the encouragement you gave her. You're right.  Everybody has to start sometime, and your words helped her to relax a little.  I also thought she was doing a good job. 


So, all in all, you had a very good day.  I'm pleased.  I noticed that you were well refreshed by dinner time, and this evening you had lots of time for reading with the kids.  The book they chose is really a good one. 


Now, about all that complaining you were doing earlier.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

PSALM 105:4

SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS FACE CONTINUALLY. NASB

For what purposes do I need His strength? If I tried to make such a list I would have time for nothing else.

As for why would I seek His face I will simply answer literally:

    1. my imagined image of His face gives me comfort.
    2. that image gives me a focus.
    3. the image gives me a face that I must answer to.
    4. eyes open or eyes closed, I seek what I know is always there.
    5. I know He watches me.
    6. I seek His face for approval.
    7. I seek His face when I know I need reproof.
    8. I seek His face that teaches me.
    9. His face contains all the love that I need to see to be satisfied.
   10. I need to see His smile.