Privilege:

These words of Rebecca's really touched my heart. "I have had to start looking at this 'new' road (being a young widow) as a privilege. You may be thinking WHAT THIS IS NO PRIVILEGE! But it is how many young widows do u know? I can honestly say I don't even know a dozen. We are specially chosen by God to go through what we are going through." I praying each of us can get to this place in our hearts with whatever God has chosen us to go through in our lives.

Rock in My Pocket:

Another deep thought was given to me by my pastor's wife. She is teaching an amazing Bible study on forgiving when we don't feel like it. Thanks to her, I have a visual picture of finding a rock in my pocket or sack every time I get upset with some one or can't seem to get over a hurt or offense. A rock that has a name on it and is adding weight to my load as I try to run this race for Jesus. A rock that is intended to do damage instead of restore. Now the rocks can be just pebbles or boulders, but either way they end up hurting those who carry them more than the person we wish to throw them at. I need to have a hole in the bottom of my pocket or sack so rocks are just dropped and lay forgotten as I run this race for Jesus.

Double Portion:

A friend shared with me a devotional she was giving at a baby shower and as I read through it a truth was revealed that should be obvious. Women need to keep their priorities in order: God, husband, children, etc. Now I don't have a husband here anymore. God fills that role. So I need to make sure I am spending double the time with God than I did as a married woman. And why not? I definitely need Him twice as much. Then it dawned on me that I am privileged to have HIM twice as much too. I know simply truth that just occurred to me............

Poem "The Heavenly Grandstand"

The Heavenly Grandstand

By Joyce Rogers Edmiston

I was running the race of life

and the wind was on my back;

There was never a fairer day to run,

never a smoother track.

So with my head held high as the miles raced by,

I ran with careless ease,

I would run this race,

I would win first place so my Master I would please.

Then an unforeseen hand rudely pushed me down,

And I fell with a thud to the cold, cruel ground;

And broken and bruised I began to cry,

as other runners passed me by.

“Lord, help me please! I can’t run any more;

I’m broken and battered; I’m tired and sore;

I don’t think I can make it, I just want to die,

I don’t even have what it takes to try.”

And as I lay bleeding on the ground,

A vast “cloud of witnesses” gathered around,

They were heroes of old, all the saints of the ages.

Who through weakness were strong,

and through faith were courageous.

They started to cheer and wildly applaud,

And their voices rose up giving glory to God.

And then to myself I said “How can this be?”

For the saints of the ages were cheering for me!

Then Abel cried out, “There is power in the blood!”

And Noah said “He’ll keep you safe through the flood.”

Then Jacob said “Weary one, lean on the Lord.”

Moses cried out, “Child look to the reward!”

Then Sarah stepped forward, holding Abrahams hand,

And they both said, “Trust God when you don’t understand,

In God’s promises, child you must always believe,

For sometimes He’ll do things you just can’t conceive.

Come on! You can do it! Get up off your face

And run with endurance the rest of the race.

And remember, my child when strength is all gone,

The saints of the ages are cheering you on!”

So I rose to my feet midst their thunderous ovation

and started to run with great determination

And that’s when I saw Him, my Savior and Lord,

I must win the reward to cast down before Him the crown that I’d won,

And hear Him say to me, “Well done, child, well done!”
*****

Precious Child

For Christmas, I was given a square sea shore picture with these words on it :

MY PRECIOUS CHILD, I LOVE YOU.

YOUR HEART WAS MADE FROM MINE

AND WE WILL BE FOREVER CONNECTED.

I KNOW YOUR EVERY THOUGHT, DREAM, AND DESIRE.

I ALSO KNOW WHEN YOU NEED MY HELP.

WHEN YOU ARE TIRED, I WILL CARRY YOU.

WHEN YOU ARE SCARED, I WILL HOLD YOU.

WHEN YOU ARE SAD, I WILL HUG AWAY THE HURT.

WHEN YOU ARE FEELING ALONE, REMEMBER THAT

I WILL NEVER YOU. I WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH;

FOR YOU, CHILD, HAVE LEFT YOUR FOOTPRINTS

ON MY HEART.

-THE LORD, YOUR FATHER

Mercy

The Lord has done some working on my heart again. I will admit I often will pick up the offenses of my friends. Not long ago, my pastor preached a sermon on being offended. I learned that there isn't grace for those who pick up another person's offense, only those who are directly involved in the circumstances. I believe it! How many times does someone share something with you and they forgive their offender and yet you stay mad at the offender? I have been there.

Too often I have cried for justice instead of mercy with whoever it is that offended my friends. Mercy..........."but they don't deserve it," I have often cried. And the Lord reminded me that if they deserved it, it wouldn't be mercy. Then He reminded me of the many times He showers me with mercy when I deserved judgement. With tears in my eyes, I forgive and humbly thank the Lord for His mercy that endureth for ever.

Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.


Interesting Bible fact: There are 262 verses containing the word mercy.