Just Two More Weeks!

I am getting excited. Our annual family-trip to Conway, AR for the golf tournament is getting closer. I took these pics last year from the back balcony of the club house. Beautiful, huh? I can't wait to head outta town!

Holding Tightly to a Grudge?

When we hold grudges we store bitterness, anger and resentment.

It does nothing but create unhappiness within.

Forgiving those who cross us allows us to become more content, joyful, Christ-like people.

Holding and maintaining a grudge has ZERO positive outcome.

It is futile and reveals the true condition of the heart.

Show the forgiven, redeemed, grace-given condition of your heart.

Let go of the grudge.

Throw it back to the enemy.

After all, the enemy is the source of all grudges.

Show the world the love, forgiveness, and grace that you've been shown.

God has shown us how to do this.

He is our teacher and perfect example!

If anyone has grounds for a grudge it is our God.

We've crossed Him countless times on countless levels.

Yet...He is the teacher and example of unfathomable forgiveness.

The very least we can do is release someone else who has crossed us, as an act of obedience to the God who has forgiven us of SO MUCH MORE than what we are holding against others.

Think about it.

Life Lessons

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

The Other Side of the Fence (the grass is not always greener)

I have been keeping up with The Great Mate Debate blog that Ed Young has been participating in. He is just one of many contributors. The other contributors come from varied points of view... Anyhow, I really enjoyed this post of Ed's. Here it is. I think Ed has some wonderful points to make. The topic of this particular discussion is: Are people who never marry somehow "missing out"?

(I particularly liked what he said here: "And, by the way, most married couples will tell you they found their future spouse when they were the most content as a single person. Be content wherever you are in life, stop looking over the fence at the "greener" pastures, and let the rest take care of itself.")

Enjoy!

A Mother's Day Note

http://www.edyoung.com/mothersday.php

Dear Mothers,

In today's world, it is difficult to recognize that there actually are roses much less allowing yourself the time to stop and "smell them." We seem to go from one day to the next digging the rut of our lives a little deeper each day. Living for the next moment our head can lay on our pillows to rest from the day we have just survived.

In a world such as this, it's hard to reconcile that we are special. Women are made in such a unique way by God for His special purposes in our lives. It's easy to forget that, or tragically, never discover it in the restless world we live.

On this Mother's Day, think of the blessings God has delivered in your life. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator's hand. He knows everything about you and loves you so much. Know today how special and beautiful you are to Him. And rest in the solitude of His whisper in your heart - A Mother's heart that overflows with love.

(Lovingly borrowed from edyoung.com)

Our Group

“Teacher, we saw someone using your name to force demons out of a person. We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group.” - Mark 9:38 -

John has a dilemma. He and the other disciples ran into someone who was doing great work. This man was casting out demons (the very act the disciples had trouble doing in Mark 9:20). He was changing lives. And, what’s more, the man was giving the credit to God. He was doing it in the name of Christ.

Everything about him was so right. Right results. Right heart. But there was one problem. He was from the wrong group.

So the disciples did what any able-bodied religious person would do with someone from the wrong group. “We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group” (v. 38).

John wants to know if they did the right thing. John’s not cocky; he’s confused. So are many people today. What do you do about good things done in another group? What do you do when you like the fruit but not the orchard?

I’ve asked that question. I am deeply appreciative of my heritage. It was through a small, West Texas Church of Christ that I came to know the Nazarene, the cross, and the Word. The congregation wasn’t large, maybe two hundred on a good Sunday. Most of the families were like mine, blue-collar oil-field workers. But it was a loving church. When our family was sick, the members visited us. When we were absent, they called. And when this prodigal returned, they embraced me.

I deeply appreciate my heritage. But through the years, my faith has been supplemented by people of other groups.

A Brazilian Pentecostal taught me about prayer. A British Anglican by the name of C.S. Lewis put muscle in my faith. A Southern Baptist helped me understand grace. One Presbyterian, Steve Brown, taught me about God’s sovereignty while another, Frederick Buechner, taught me about God’s passion. A Catholic, Brennan Manning, convinced me that Jesus is relentlessly tender. I’m a better husband because I read James Dobson and a better preacher because I listened to Chuck Swindoll and Bill Hybels.

And only when I get home will I learn the name of a radio preacher whose message steered me back to Christ. I was a graduate student who’d lost his bearings. Needing some money over Christmas break, I took a job driving an oil-field delivery truck. The radio only picked up one station. A preacher was preaching. On a cold December day in 1978 I heard him describe the cross. I don’t know his name. I don’t know his heritage. He could have been a Quaker or an angel or both for all I know. But something about what he said caused me to pull the pickup onto the side of the road and rededicate my life to Christ.

-Max Lucado-
From In the Grip of Grace

Woman

Woman came out of a man's rib.

Not from his feet to be walked on.

Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal.

Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved.