Gathering Rubies

You are so pretty, so talented so smart, so ________ (go ahead, fill in the blank). No matter how much others encourage us we simply don’t see it. Somewhere in our journey, no matter how long or how short, the link has been broken, we have become in our own eyes damaged goods.

How we view ourselves molds how we think, what we do and how we do it. It’s all about our self-esteem. I’m not sure I know anyone who isn’t critical of themselves; people who seemingly have everything going for them yet they never see themselves as other see them.

I have struggled with self-esteem issues since I was very young, even though I have been able to shed most of the baggage, and really, that’s exactly what it is, tons of baggage that we have allowed someone else to burden us with. Most often it is a person close to us whose approval we desperately want. We long to be loved, to be accepted, needed, to fit in.

When we are told that we are stupid, fat, ugly, worthless _______ (again, fill in the blank) we began to act in a negative manner. We begin living “down” to the other person’s view of ourselves. I find it interesting and baffling that instead of trying to prove the negativity wrong by demonstrating the opposite behavior, we began to act out the label(s) given to us. It is not the “facts” about us but rather what we believe to be true about our self.

We began to self-destruct with alcohol, drugs, extreme anger, self-mutilation, promiscuity, over-eating, the list is endless. The more we do what we hate doing, the more we do it, and if we manage to live through the self-destruction we finally hit our bottom.

The road to recovery can be long and painful if one chooses to remain a victim. I realize that may sound harsh, but our entire life is about choices.

Two critical things which helped me enormously were forgiveness and refusing to remain a victim. I have experienced despicable things in my life and the way I responded to them nearly killed me. It took me many years to realize that all of my hate and anger was not affecting the abuser at all; instead I realized it only meant they still controlled me.

We live in a society which seems to pride itself on putting others down. Demeaning others is so out of hand that it is now referred to as bullying. Elementary kids all the way to high-school are being taunted, some to the point of suicide.

We can all make a difference and hopefully someday turn things around. We can start by carefully choosing how we speak to each other. Words are powerful and they can hurt us and do severe damage to our self-esteem. Even things said in a joking manner can scar a person. Be examples, especially in front of your children. Always try to use words that build up, not tear down and teach your children the importance of using words in an encouraging way.

May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
2 Thess 2:16-17 (from THE MESSAGE)

The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb saying: “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain.”
Deuteronomy 1:6

If God allowed us to live on the “mountaintop,” we would not experience trials, but neither would we achieve any victories. The Israelites had gathered at the foot of Mount Horeb while God spoke to them and gave them His law. It was a breathtaking experience! Fire and smoke covered that awesome mountain; lightning flashed, and loud trumpet sounds pierced the air in a deafening crescendo! The ground at the food of the mountain shook, and the people trembled in fear (Exod. 19-:16-25).

As important as it was for God’s people to have this inspiring encounter with Him, their Lord had not rescued them from Egypt in order for them to settle around a mountain in the wilderness. God delivered them so that they could conquer the Promised Land. God wanted to demonstrate His power to the Israelites so that they would trust Him in their conquest of Canaan. Finally, God announced that they had been long enough at the mountain’ it was time to go to battle.

The mountain is an enticing place to set up camp. Peter, James, and John were prepared to reside on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, but their Lord knew that a demon-possessed boy needed their assistance down below (Matt 17:4, 14-18). At times God will graciously provide you a mountaintop experience. These times come in many settings: during your time alone with Him, at a Christian conference, by reading a Christian book, or at a prayer meeting. You may wish you could spend the rest of your life basking in the glow of your encounter with God. But remember, these mountaintop encounters are God’s way of preparing you for the battles that await you.

From my devotional “Experiencing God Day-By-Day by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

As we are nearing fall, enjoying cooler weather, and looking ahead to shorter days I am looking back somewhat in amazement that another year is winding down.

I clearly remember in January I was relieved to have the rush of November and December behind me, anticipating and looking forward to bit of a slow down. I wondered what this new year was going to bring. January was a slow month, a doctor appointment for mom, a dental appointment for Larry, some birthdays and hair appointments. February was a lot like January.

March was more exciting, we were having some beautiful weather. We took care of our income taxes and got those out of the way, finished paying the property taxes and began planning for the Tulsa Workshop. This was our second year to attend and we were not disappointed. We truly enjoy attending, hearing great lessons, singing, renewing old acquaintances and making new friends. It’s just a great place to be!

April was a quite month and we attended our yearly family reunion in May. So many have passed on and many of the younger generation were not able to attend this year. Still, we always have a great time and plenty of good food and reminiscing throughout the day.

June (and most of the summer) keeps Larry busy with our yard and mom’s, plus all of our regular activities. Spending time with our church family, eating out, first Friday nights at the Opery, etc, etc. It’s quite amazing how many hours are spent on trips to the grocery store, post office, gas station, beauty shop and other little life necessities that grab our time. That’s just away from home. At home there are repetitive hours of cooking, cleaning, yard work (for Larry) and laundry. Since our retirement in 2004, we have commented many times wondering how we did all that we do and still worked. Ha! I guess that is a sure sign that we have slowed down.

July is a big month for birthdays in our family. Three of our girls have birthdays in July, one granddaughter and two of Larry’s sisters. Our anniversary is also in July.

What can I say about August? Well, it was just plain HOT!! Too hot to do much of anything and the hottest on record for Oklahoma. Since moving here in 2004 our neighbors seem to link all of the phenomenal weather incidences to our arrival. Things like the great ice storm, drought, snow storm blizzard, copperheads, rain for two straight months and just recently a plague of moths. They tell us they are now waiting for scorpions, toads and water to blood. All kidding aside, we are blessed with really great neighbors!!

September is one of my favorite months. I love the weather! We started walking again after several months of not doing it. Seems we go through times of burnout. I must say though, it feels really good to be walking again and it always makes me feel so much more energetic. (Also makes me realize how out of shape I am).

I read more this time of year. I just finished reading Jon Zen’s The Pastor Has No Clothes. It’s a very good book. I am currently reading Pagan Christianity, written by Frank Viola and George Barna; it too is an excellent read and very thought provoking.

October will likely be a quieter month. Perhaps we will get a couple of day trips in and get acquainted with our new truck. November and December will be whirlwind months and then, come January hopefully that sigh of relief for slowing down a bit.

Soon the leaves will be turning and I will be outside with my camera!

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Ps 113:3

I sometimes here News Commentators say ‘You can’t make this stuff up’.
I was checking on a state law recently and ran across some state laws that fall under the categories of funny, weird, strange and downright dumb! I did not take the time to verify them and am merely posting them here for your amusement.

I am posting them according to categories.

Food
In Philadelphia, you can’t put pretzels in bags based on an Act of 1760.
In New Jersey, cabbage can’t be sold on Sunday.
In Massachusetts, it is against the law to put tomatoes in clam chowder.
In Tennessee, a law exists which prohibits the sale of bologna (sandwich meat) on Sunday.
In West Virginia, one can’t cook sauerkraut or cabbage due to the odors and the offence is subject to imprisonment.

Animals
Alaska law says that you can’t look at a moose from an airplane.
In Corpus Christie, Texas, it is illegal to raise alligators in your home.
In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal.
In the state of Colorado, a pet cat, if loose, must have a tail-light
In North Carolina, it is against the law for a rabbit to race down the street.
In Texas, it is still a “hanging offense” to steal cattle.
In Utah, birds have the right of way on any public highway.
In the State of Kansas, you’re not allowed to drive a buffalo through a street.
In Florida, it is against the law to put livestock on a school bus.
In Galveston, Texas, it is illegal to have a camel run loose in the street.
In North Carolina, it is against the law for dogs and cats to fight.
In Virginia, chickens cannot lay eggs before 8:00 a.m., and must be done before 4:00 p.m.
In New York, it is against the law for children to pick up or collect cigarette and cigar butts.
The law states that more than 3000 sheep cannot be herded down Hollywood Blvd. at any one time.

Modesty
In Michigan, it is against the law for a lady to lift her skirt more than 6 inches while walking through a mud puddle.
In Rochester, Michigan, the law is that anyone bathing in public must have the bathing suit inspected by a police officer.

Couples
It is against the law in Connecticut for a man to write love letters to a girl whose mother or father has forbidden the relationship.
In Michigan, married couples must live together or be imprisoned.
In California, a law created in 1925 makes it illegal to wiggle while dancing.
In Utah, daylight must be visible between dancing couples.

 Lastly…
Why were these laws needed?
In Texas, it’s against the law for anyone to have a pair of pliers in his or her possession.
It is against the law to mispronounce the name of the State of Arkansas in that State.
In Washington State, you can’t carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length.
In San Francisco, there is an ordinance, which bans the picking up and throwing of used confetti.
In Kentucky, it is illegal for a merchant to force a person into his place of business for the purpose of making a sale.
In Phoenix, Arizona, you can’t walk through a hotel lobby with spurs on.
In Georgia, it’s against the law to spread a false rumor.
In Missouri, a man must have a permit to shave.
In Illinois, the law is that a car must be driven with the steering wheel.
California law prohibits a woman from driving a car while dressed in a housecoat.
In Tennessee, it is against the law to drive a car while sleeping.
In New York, it is against the law for a blind person to drive an automobile.
In West Virginia, only babies can ride in a baby carriage.
In Georgia, it is against the law to slap a man on the back or front.
A barber is not to advertise prices in the State of Georgia.
In Oklahoma, no baseball team can hit the ball over the fence or out of a ballpark.
In Kentucky, it’s the law that a person must take a bath once a year.
In Providence, Rhode Island, it is against the law to jump off a bridge.
In Virginia, the Code of 1930 has a statute which prohibits corrupt practices or bribery by any person other than political candidates.
In Memphis, Tennessee, a woman is not to drive a car unless a man warns approaching motorists or pedestrians by walking in front of the car that is being driven. In Louisiana, a bill was introduced years ago in the State House of Representatives that fixed a ceiling on haircuts for bald men of 25 cents.

Hope some of these made you smile!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? I do!! Simply watching the local and world news makes me feel that way. Hearing all the names on our prayer list at church often overwhelms me. Sometimes I find myself asking WHY!!

I know the answer.  I also know if I don’t stay focused I can get derailed by all of the turmoil, evil, and conflict in this world. It all started in the Garden…the fall of man. Gen 3:1-24.

 In the first two chapters of Genesis God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. Gen 1:31-2:1 Then…the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Gen 2:7

I don’t know how many years there is between all that I read of in the Genesis account. I do know in chapter four things start going down hill where we read of jealousy and murder between Cain and Able.

To this day the world is filled with all kinds of evil and wickedness. We are all sinners and since the fall of man we will have to make choices to serve God or Satan until Christ comes again.

Can you imagine how Noah felt? He was in the same ungodly environment as we see today, surrounded by idol worship and everyone doing what gives them the most pleasure. He was surrounded by every kind of imaginable evil and yet he chose to worship God. The people were so wicked during that time that God decided to destroy the earth. Still God was fully aware of the righteousness of Noah and the choices he was making. He wasn’t following everyone else in their sinful ways. He chose to live for God and it saved his life and the lives of his family who chose to follow their father’s example.

The way we live our lives influences others. We are heavily influenced by the world, yet God wants us to follow his example, not the examples of the sin we see around us. The world doesn’t want to hold anyone accountable for sin; the world teaches “tolerance” and calls evil good and good evil. Isa 5:20-30

Too many times I have followed the sinfulness of the world. I thank God I am able to repent and be forgiven. I want to be obedient to God and I will continue to seek him and his ways. There will still be times when I make mistakes and poor choices.  Hopefully they will become less and less as I grow in truth and knowledge. I will press on!!

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
2 Cor 4:16-18 (from THE MESSAGE)

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”  Mark 14:32-34

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38

Do you watch and pray so you won’t fall into temptation? Or do you fall easily into temptations only later to be filled with regret once the sin has been committed?

Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”  ”I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” Mark 14:29-30

I have felt Peter’s passion at times and too often have walked away and wept bitterly. Like Peter, not once, not twice but three times. (And how marvelous for me if it were only three times).

Jesus prayed for Peter— “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

I like the last part of that verse too-strengthen your brothers. Too often people fear their sin is exclusive to them and they are afraid to talk about it. We can encourage and strengthen others by confessing our own sins. I’m so thankful for repentance and forgiveness.

These verses were part of my reading today. I was reminded to “watch and pray” and I was encouraged.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:12-13

Hello Monday! This is the day so many complain about. It seems especially hard for people who work. I often hear “the weekend flew by.”

Businesses which are closed on the weekends seem especially hectic on Monday’s. Have you ever tried to make an appointment with your doctor on a Monday? Getting an appointment is difficult enough; you get to listen to 15 or 20 minutes of a recorded message telling you “how important your call is” and “to please stay on the line.”

Monday’s are even hurried for me. I attend a ladies bible class and then I spend the remainder of the day playing Scrabble with mom. The hurried part is getting out of the house by 8:45. Now that we are in daylight savings time it is even harder. Since I’m retired, I find I don’t like getting out of bed while it’s still dark.

I want to give some encouragement to all of you who dread Monday’s. I love these verses any day of the week and they seem especially helpful on Monday mornings.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Ps 139:7-10

I worked for many years outside the home. I can sympathize with you now, whether it’s work or school or any other task which you may dread on Monday, try to remember, you are never alone.

Have you ever been guilty of this or said it about someone else? Usually it’s said in sarcasm, frustration, or as a joke. I think it is easy to find ourselves being the ones who can’t see the forest for the trees.

We get together weekly with a group of friends to study the bible, enjoy each others company and of course share some food. Our weekly meetings are always on Thursday they start at 7, and we don’t have a time limit. They usually last at least three hours and during that time we have a lot of discussions, and sometimes we are very passionate about our subjects. Our group has been meeting more than five years now and we have an amazing bond and great love for each other. The past few months we have been looking at “radical Christianity.” We certainly don’t have all the answers nor do we have all of the ways one can be a radical Christian. We do get pretty radical in our discussions at times. (Yes, I’m smiling.)

That brings me to today’s thoughts on the subject. Was Lot’s wife guilty of not being able to “see the forest for the trees”? They were told to “flee for their lives” and told “don’t look back”. One might take note too that Lot was hesitant in heeding the warning to flee. Gen 19:16-17 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them.  As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

Gen 19:26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
 I wonder, why did Lot’s wife look back? Was it out of curiosity, unbelief, sadness of leaving her possessions and her home, or was it disobedience? I wonder if I would have looked back.

When I consider the following scriptures I see how history repeats itself—- Luke 17:26-35 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

 ”It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.  But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

 ”It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” Her heart seemed to be on what she was leaving behind, not where she was going. God showed his mercy and his grace and she looked back.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Notice the sins mentioned in the ‘things’ of the world. We have to live in the world, yet the desires of our heart are to be focused on God and his ways.

I apologize for the length of this post; I just had to share what is on my heart with you today. I will close with one of my favorite verses; this one is from The Message.

Rom 12:1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I pray I don’t get distracted by the trees.

Lately I have become aware that I do a lot of measuring. I suppose most of us do and really aren’t even aware that we are doing it. When I park my car I am gauging the distance of my front tires to the parking lines. When I prepare a meal I consider how much time I need to prepare it in order to serve it at a particular time. When I buy groceries I calculate the price of each item I place in my basket in order to stay within my budget.

I imagine by now you’re wondering where I’m going with this. Recently I read Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. I had to stop and ask myself if meditating on God is part of what I do each day, and if the words I speak are pleasing to God. After all, isn’t meditation another way of measuring? I guess that may be stretching it a bit, still, if I’m meditating on living for God, couldn’t that in a sense be measuring myself spiritually as opposed to worldly?

Several commentaries I looked at explain the words, be acceptable comes from the language of sacrifice (as in Lev 22:20); thus the request is that this song (Psalm 19:14) be a suitable act of worship before God, like a sacrifice.

When I first came back to the Lord I had to clean up a lot of things about myself and my language was definitely at the top of the list. I swore like a sailor. I’m certainly not proud of that, it’s just a fact of how I used to be. It was just as hard for me to quit using filthy language as it was for me to quit using drugs, smoking cigarettes and drinking. The profane language had become a part of me. I came to realize that it was because of meditating on God and on scripture that I was able to put those things away.

What we dwell on will be revealed in how we live. To keep our thoughts pure we have to guard what goes into our mind. Philippians 4:8

We are to train ourselves to be godly. We are to set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. We are to keep a firm grasp on our character and our examples. 1Timothy 4:6-15

It is easy to become distracted with the things of life and of this world which we deal with on a daily basis. For me, meditation is an important part of what keeps my thoughts where they need to be.

Do you meditate?

Are you a person who is constantly misplacing things? Your keys, glasses, watch; the list could be a long one. I have been guilty of being in such a hurry that I will lay something down and then not have a clue where I put it. I could save myself a lot of time and anguish if I would s-l-o-w down and be more aware of where I leave things; including my heart.

When I allow myself to become so focused on worldly things I am deliberately forgetting God. That statement hurts!! It hurts even more admitting to being so occupied with daily routines that my focus is taken away from God and put onto myself. When this happens it doesn’t take too long before I feel a void. I feel the emptiness of my hurriedness and my preoccupation of things.

In the Old Testament they were warned over and over not to forget God’s covenant or what he had previously done for them. Following are just a few warnings on the subject.

 Isa 65:11-12 “But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all bend down for the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

Deut 4:23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. 

Ps 78:42-43 They did not remember his power — the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,  the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan.

2 Kings 17:38-39 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

Ps 78:11 They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.

Ps 106:13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.

I am gratefully refreshed by scripture and I’m also reminded of what is really important. Regardless of how stressful life can be at times this verse reminds me I have not suffered as He suffered. Heb 12:4-6 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

This verse encourages me to keep on keeping on - James 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.

This verse reminds me against pride of possessions -  Deut 8:10-15 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

And finally, I pray this verse will be daily in my heart – Ps 103:2-5 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits —   who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.