So you think you've got problems? Wait until you hear mine!

June 3, 2015

Okay, I know: school is almost over for the year. But before it winds down, let's do a word problem together. Yeah, I know that too: they are hard! But I think we might find this one interesting as well as educational.

Earlier today I got an email. Make that two because the author apparently thought she needed to be clear that this was important stuff that I "needed to know": stuff that I would probably "want to know." And just to be extra clear, she left a voice mail on the hubby's machine to make this important announcement have that little extra punch.

Soooooo...that's part one of the problem: what she said. Let's go to part two: what I heard.

What I heard when I read those words was "Stefanie, even though we've talked about this before, your feelings aren't important. This information is. Yeah, I know what you said about how you think this person has no business in your marriage but I am right and I know that you and Steve need to act on this. Yes, I understand that this person tried to create havoc way back then and even recently BUT that is not important. YOU aren't important. She is."

Okay, just for fun, let's throw in a part three to this equation. It shall be deemed as "watch as I sit back and laugh at the calamity of this situation," authored by the devil. As I pondered my response-or if there should even be a response given to this person--ol' slew foot was running to and fro, bringing up "facts" about how even after all of this time, even after all of these years of proving myself and my love for my husband, when the chips are down, so am I. This "chosen one" was who mattered and in her time of need I was to be disregarded.

Ugh. As I sat here digesting it all (which was pretty tough because I really didn't want to swallow this bull I was hearing), my flesh was getting pretty hot. I guess I could blame it on this fever I've been having for a few days now and--you guessed it--I chose to respond. That way I could blame it on the medication, right, in case it didn't come out right? (Cough)

I sent the lovely soul a nice email back, thanking her for the information and reminded her that she and I had already discussed this person recently and in case she wasn't clear, neither Steve nor I cared to ever hear of this woman again. I continued the note with some niceties and then went to take a nap. The medicine made me sleepy.

So, let's wrap this little problem up and put IT to bed, shall we? Just because someone says one thing and someone else takes that information and reads something else into it, does that make it true? No, it most certainly does not! What does God tell us to do? Plenty! Guard your hearts; take every thought captive; trust Him; lean not on our own understanding. Those are just for starters. When we examine the truths of His Word over the lies of the devil, something just doesn't add up, now does it? Next time you are faced with a word problem where it's just too hard to decipher what is really being said, I suggest you go to The Word and look for your answers there. Don't read what isn't. That just makes things more complicated.

Okay? Any questions? All righty then: class dismissed!

Let's pray!

Dear Lord, first off, I have to apologize. I was too easily able to get riled up over this incident because of my own insecurities about the effect I have--or don't have--on certain souls. Seems like no matter what I do, I often don't feel like I measure up to their standards. That's okay, Lord, for You have balanced me on Your scales and I pass the test! Help me, I pray, next time to take a deep breath and not fly off of the handle. I can't afford to give away too many more pieces of my mind, Lord, so temper me and placate me to examine truth before settling for lies.

Thank You for this situation, God. It turns me back to You for my validation. The world will never see me the way You do. The world will continue to hold my past against me and refuse to see my light and that is their loss. I'm not who I was and I have You to thank for that. Thank You! Keep honing me, Father, so that one day they will have no other choice but to see You in me and to realize I am the chosen one, chosen by You, and here to stay! In the name of Jesus I pray these things. Amen!

Man, I Feel Like A Woman!

June 2, 2015

Okay, remember how yesterday I used a picture with the words "No offense" on it?  Well today I am probably going to step on some toes and that's okay.  I'm tired of this situation that I'm about to write on and if you don't like it, don't read my blog today.  No offense.  

Bruce Jenner.  Oh my cow.  He's a she now and the media is just so full of encouragement at his bravery and his "finally being free to be me" fluff that I am about to puke.  I am sickened in my heart as I am bombarded with the pics of how pretty he is and how at the age of 65 he's at peace with what he's achieved.

Okay.  I just cannot write about this without being a smart-alec and throwing in opinions that only encourage negativity so I am going to change course here and say this:  my God is still working on me.  And He needs to for there is much work to be done!  Instead of focusing my attention elsewhere and condemning, I am going to ask God to help me to reflect on the parts of me that need trimmed, need cut out, need to be enhanced, need to be purged, and need to be softened.  

I can definitely use a face-lift for my countenance is too often downtrodden when there is so much to be happy about.  An eye-lift would be nice too so that I look upwards instead of down at people.  A nip and a tuck here and there would get rid of some of this flesh that I have to battle daily with.  My hair could surely use a trim so that it doesn't continue to blow in my eyes and distract me from seeing the beauty around me.  

You get the picture?  While I am in no way condoning changing one's sexual identity I do see the need for many of us to allow God to change in us the defects He sees.  And since my God doesn't make mistakes, I'm going to let Him keep me as a woman but ask Him to mold me into His image so that I may reflect the characteristics of Christ that are universal.  One day when He's done, I will be a work of art.  Until then, He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.  I don't need to condemn my fellow man but I do need to be an example of Jesus.  May it be so is my prayer today. Amen.

Need a little salt to go with that foot you just put in your mouth?

Happy June 1.  I don't know what it is about new months, new weeks, new beginnings, but I just love them!  Maybe it's the "out with the old, in with the new" aura.  Dunno.  But I like them.  I like them a lot.

Last night, Steve wasn't feeling so great.  Truthfully, all weekend he had been kind of blah.  He slept a lot and was basically useless for entertainment purposes.  Nonetheless, he still was able to insult me in the most "no offense" way so that I could blog about him this morning.  He's just good to me that way.

He had set out some steak bites for supper and as our bellies began to growl, he asked if I wanted him to go grill them.  "Oh no," I replied, "we've not had them in so long I'm fixing them my way."  He gave me a look and then started:  "Uh, honey.  No offense but..."  Mmn hmn.  My man started to insult the cook that was about to fix him a feast by bringing in past experiences when my hand might have been a little too heavy with the soy sauce and/or garlic salt.  The gall!

I interjected quickly, reminding him how I had been making extra good steak bites lately and that I always took his out before the seasoning set in.  "That's right.  You do.  I'm sorry," he says.  I rolled my eyes inwardly, thinking how easy it is for folks to hold your past against you because of one or two times when you might not have lived up to their expectations or fulfilled their desires over your own.

And isn't that the way most of us are, in truth?  Someone somewhere along the line, does something we don't agree with, approve of, or think was not acceptable and that's it.  Each time from then on out we look upon them suspiciously (I'm hearing Elvis crooning "Suspicious Minds" even as I type).  Before taking that instant to consider our words, we spout off something that is made to not be offensive, trying to pre-pacify that soul with the words "No offense, but..."  Blah blah blah.  While trying to make ourselves sound peaceful and avoid a potential conflict, instead we ignite a flame that could have never even begun to smolder had we taken but just a fraction of an instant more and watched our mouths.

The Bible has much to say about guarding our tongues.  In Psalm 39:1, David said "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked."  Colossians 4:6 tells us "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  James had much to say about this body part in his epistle, particularly in chapter 3 verses 8-10: "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way..."

Many more verses deal with this body part and I encourage you to study them.  I know personally the effects and the power of words and my prayer today is that I will more closely think before opening my mouth.  It's gotten me into way too much trouble in the past.  Pray with me for control?  Thanks!

Dear Lord, as I come to You this morning, I thank You for new beginnings.  Where else can we have so many second, third, and eightieth chances than with a Saviour like You?!  Your mercies are new each day and I am so grateful for them.

Father, as I begin this day and am about to go out into the world, I ask that You keep me from saying anything harmful, hurtful, or hasty.  Being quiet is something I am having to learn to do and it's not always easy to not put my two-cents worth into conversations.  So, I'm asking, Lord God, that You bridle me.  Nudge me when I am about to speak without considering my words first.  Muzzle me should I start to get out of control.

Thanks again for this new week.  May I bring glory to You through my words and deeds is my prayer.  I ask this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Oh, by the way, the steak bites were wonderful and my hubby was delighted in them.  As if!