Unwanted Thoughts When Trying To Sleep

When one is sitting around, the mind seems to wonder. Doesn’t matter that you are reading, watching television, or playing on the Internet. As they say, the mind has a mind of it’s own.

Have you ever been in bed and things come up in your mind that you did not want to dwell upon? How hard was it for you to focus on something more suitable to your taste at night? Seems those thoughts you didn’t want to dwell upon seem to keep coming up, even as far as ‘seeing them in the mind’s eye’. This has cost me lots of sleepless nights!

I have often wondered how one could control the mind to keep thoughts from showing up that one didn’t want to have there. I know it happens more when you are very tired and the mind plays tricks on you. It knows it’s hard for you to fight off these thoughts when you are too tired.

I believe, if we were to go to bed thinking on God’s Word, then this would be in the forefront of our minds. These unwanted thoughts would be crowded out with the scriptures, giving you a reprieve from the longing to sleep – sleep would come naturally. I know, when my sleep gets interfered with, it is hard to keep those thoughts away. Sometimes I do manage to get the Word on the brain and try and concentrate. But, then, it takes me longer to go to sleep. I pray one day that my mind will be in line with the Word, that those unwanted thoughts will no longer be in the recesses of my mind to bother me any longer!!

Technorati Tags: Mind, Sleep, Scripture

Through His Eyes

As we grow older, our eyes seem to need more attention. One day, we are fine, reading the smallest of print. Then, all of a sudden, we realize that our eyes aren’t seeing as good as they used to. We find ourselves holding the book closer, maybe squinting to see the words clearly. Then, one day, we realize we probably need glasses, but hesitate to go have our eyes checked.

I had worn only reading glasses for years. Although my daughter had worked for an ophthalmologist for many years, I only got them checked one time in all her years there. She changed jobs over 3 years ago and I finally made it a priority to have my eyes checked again. I ended up getting progressive lens, glasses I can use for all my needs, reading up close or at a distance, and, yes, even on this laptop! I am so pleased. I had them checked again this year and my eyes are still the same as they were then. But I will continue to check on them because I don’t want to be without my ‘eyes’!

Our eyes view others every day. We ‘see’ a thing in people that perhaps helps us may our assessment of those people, whether good or bad. As Christians, we sometimes look at someone without realizing that what we see may not be what God sees. As humans, we have a habit of looking for the first time and make a judgment of that person that may or may not be totally correct. The Bible tells us to first remove the beam from our own eyes before trying to remove the mote from someone else’s eye. I think God want us to love the people, regardless of what we may think about them. Love goes farther than a harsh judgment with a person. If the person is not a Christian, perhaps they will see the love of God in us and want what we have. And, even if that person is a Christian, yet not living a really Godly life,perhaps we will have a chance to help them get closer to God by seeing God at work in our own life.

Technorati Tags: God, Eyes, Love, Christian

Pet Peeves - How about you?

There are some things I wish could be changed or people would change. There are so many things that bother me at times. I don't sit and grieve over them, but they are aggravating at the time they come about.

1. THIN tissue paper in public bathrooms.
2. The lack off seat covers in public bathrooms where they have the holders for them.
3. People hurrying to get in front of you on the highway only to turn right. Why not wait?
4. When having a conversation with someone, someone else comes up, starts a conversation and the person you are talking to tunes you out!
   
5. The new faucets in some public bathrooms that sense hands - and sometimes the water doesn't work!
6. Jeans where the waist hangs almost to the knees! Don't like seeing the behind!
7. And to cover up those LOW jeans, a shirt that would fit 4 people - sick!
8. Trash thrown out on the highways.
9. Potholes in streets that never get fixed.
10. A rude salesperson or waiter/waitress.
11. Someone calling my phone and never says a word. If you get the wrong number, apologize and hang up.
12. Someone arguing over the Bible.
13. A know-it-all attitude
14. Wrinkle-free clothes that aren't really wrinkle-free.
15. A technician that knows nothing about his job.
16. A slow Internet connection when you are paying for a fast one!
17. People who don't keep their word
18. Hearsay being repeated as the truth
19. Someone lying to you when they know you know the truth
20. Advertisements to draw you in to buy and the product doesn't work like they say
21. Too high gas prices!
22. The government taking over in our personal lives
23. Freedoms being taken away that are rightfully ours!

I could list from now to night fall and never finish! There are so many things in this world that need to be changed. Our government is out of control. They aren't responsible with the finances. They are spend-thrifts, spending on things that aren't worth a 'hill of beans' to the average American, when they could be putting those millions of dollars toward the national debt.

If most of the government workers in Washington, DC had to live the way most average Americans do, I believe we would see a drastic change in their attitudes and their working habits. The average Joe/Mary can't make it on a few weeks of work and then a 4 week holiday! It's work until you drop 5 or 6 days a week all year and some never getting a day off or a vacation.

Another thing that really bothers me is the government's ability to give themselves pay raises whenever they want. They spend our money like it's theirs while they give themselves pay raises to cover cost of living and the rest of the country does without cost of living raises! Even Social Security was not given a cost of living this past year and from what we've heard, we still will not get one for a couple more years. But the Government and the President and family go on their merry way doing whatever please them while most of the rest of America suffers! The President tells us what to buy and eat while he continues to spend money like it grew on trees and not coming out of the tax payer's pocket!

Technorati Tags: Pet Peeves, Government

Time is running out

I have often heard the saying that we came here dying. And that is essentially true. We grow day by day from a baby into adulthood. But we aren't really promised the next day.

I was sent an article by a friend this morning. The article talked about how we often put off things that we would like to do and may bring us much joy, but we give excuses as to why we can't do such things.

I know we've all been caught in the excuse realm. I say 'I need to clean house before I can ask friends over'. Or, I would go shopping, but I don't think I have the money to spend right now.

We pass up going to visit relatives we haven't seen in a long time. And, before long, the relatives are gone and we haven't visited them yet. We never know when that person, or even we, are going to pass from this life.

We had put off a vacation for years until this summer. I told my husband I was going on a vacation near our anniversary even if he didn't come. And, about two weeks before our anniversary, he called me from work and said, "decide where you want to go for 3 or 4 days". So we took off and had a good time. After all, the money, if there is any left (after this administration's actions) will go to our children, and we will have been denied any benefit of our hard work, if we do not go out and enjoy some of it! I decided it was time, whether we thought we could afford it or not, to go on a vacation, even a short one. And he has promised we might even take one to Branson, MO, this Fall!

But, seriously, we never know when our appointed time will be to leave this world. Time is running out if you don't know the Lord. Don't let it slip upon you without realizing the love that Jesus Christ can bring to your life.

Ecclesiastes 3:2, "A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;"

Technorati Tags: Time, Death, Life, Joy

What do you consider RICH?

Each of us has his/her own concept of rich. And I am probably correct in saying that most of us consider ourselves rich when we have great material wealth in this world. And that would leave lots of us out of the category of 'rich'. At least, it would me.

What does rich mean to you? Is it the attaining of a big bank account? Or, does it lie in that big home and beautiful furniture you now own? Does it mean that your family has blessed you beyond measure with happiness? Or perhaps it means your life - that you are alive today and that exemplifies 'rich'?

Any of the above may make you feel rich. But I love to think I am rich simply because I know God lives within me and that He is the reason I know where I will spend eternity. Being rich materially may satisfy us for awhile, but there is always a longing for 'more'.. we never seem to get enough of material things. But, with God who is the beginning and the end, the great I AM, we have assurance that there is an afterlife and we will be spending it with Him. I had rather be a rich man with God in my life than be a millionaire. In fact, I consider myself a millionaire in God! His blessings mean more than any earthly material thing could ever mean.

Proverbs 10:22, "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Thanksgiving

This is a day for thanksgiving. And I pray everyone has had a great day with family and friends. But there are some who probably have not had a great Thanksgiving, given what they are having to go through.

Heroes and Horrors at Gathering of Eagles

The economy has gone so far down, it's making it hard for families to be able to pay bills and eat. Lots of people have lost their jobs, maybe a husband and a wife. So this Thanksgiving, many were without the money to buy a meal, but thanks to others, many had a hot meal.

Charity Holiday Meal Feed New Faces

We need to always give thanks, whether things are going good or not. The Lord knows our need, and if we are faithful to uphold his commandments, He will take care of us.

Ephesians 5:20, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"

Technorati Tags: Thanksgiving, Holiday, Economy

El Shaddai – the God who is more than enough

The economy looks bad. People are losing their jobs every day. Their houses are being repossessed. There doesn’t seem to be an end to the recession right now although the government says it is over. To those in need it says something else.

Each of us has probably been on the receiving end of needing something we could not get when we needed it. We usually just live with the thought that we’ll get it when we have the money. Most of us don’t worry over the small stuff. But when it comes to losing homes, jobs, etc., then that is a different matter.

As a Christian we should know what to do, but many don’t do it. They carry the burden themselves. They do not give it to God. Only He is able to ease our lives by taking our burdens on himself. He tells us to give Him all our care. How hard is that?

Well, in fact, for many, it is very hard. We say we have faith, but we don’t exercise it like we should. We say we know the Word, but we don’t put it into play when we really need it. Instead, we suffer and take these things on ourselves. We worry that we won’t have the money to pay the next bill. We worry that we will lose our homes. We worry about where the next meal is coming from.

Scripture tells us that HE will provide us with the things we need because HE knows everything about us. Our want is not always what we need. He tells us in His word to ‘seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you’. So many times we just seek after the ‘things’ rather than God. If we could rely on God completely, life would be simpler.

Technorati Tags: El Shaddai

Has America forgotten?

"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."-- George Washington

I wonder who Washington would feel about what has happened in America these past 220 years since he was inaugurated as President. The consistency to which our nation has forgone it's adherence to what our country was founded on is frightening. It is almost a 'sin' now to be a Christian. Every where you look, there is someone wanting to combine all 'religions' into one, as though everyone believes in GOD, the Father,Son, and Holy Spirit. We know that is not true. There is also the tendency to wipe any mention of God from anything outside the home. No mention of him in schools, no prayers ending with 'in Jesus name' - I often wonder when it is going to hit the churches.

We are being led down the primrose path of obscurity when it comes to acknowledging God. And, as a friend said this morning, those following that path will be turned over to a reprobate mind, and I don't want to be in the middle!

1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Many people say they are Christians; yet they never produce any fruit. They run with the idea that they can produce for themselves all the need. They hardly ever dart in the doors of a church to be fed the Word. In other words, they never 'assemble' as the Word tells us to do. I can't judge the salvation of anyone, but we all have eyes to see what is becoming of our nation which was founded on Godly principles. As George Washington said, have they forgotten the omnipotence of God, that HE is the one with the power to save this nation? How can we even think we can succeed if we wipe him from our daily lives?

Technorati Tags: George Washington, Christians, God

The True Church

So many people wrongly think that the ‘church’ is a building where you attend to learn about Christ and hear sermons. Actually, we, the Christians, are the ‘church’ spoken about in the Bible.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Strong’s Concordance has the following description for church:

1577 ekklesia {ek-klay-see'-ah}

from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; TDNT - 3:501,394; n f

AV - church 115

1d) in a Christian sense
1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a
religious meeting
1d2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for
eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own
religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and
manage their own affairs, according to regulations
prescribed for the body for order's sake
1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a
company and are united into one body
1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

In other words, the building is where the ‘church’ (the Christians) meets in order to worship God together.

The apostles and prophets are the foundation for the ‘church’, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone:

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

We, the born-again Christians are the stones that build up the ‘church’.

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Technorati Tags: Church, Lively Stones, Christians, Apostles, Prophets, Jesus Christ

Directions to the Father's House

Make a Right onto Believeth Blvd. Keep straight and go through
the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ. There, you must turn onto
the Bridge of Faith, which is over troubled water.

Now when you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and Keep
Straight. You are on the King's Highway - Heaven-bound.
Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son,
and One for the Holy Spirit.

Then take the Grace Blvd exit. From there, make a Right turn
on Gospel Lane. Keep Straight and then make another Right on
Prayer Road. As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on
Temptation Ave. Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD
END. Pass up Envy Drive, and Hate Avenue. Also, pass
Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Lane, and Backbiting Blvd.

However, you will have to go down Long-suffering Lane,
Persecution Blvd. and Trials and Tribulations Ave, but that's all
right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead!

Joshua 24:15 ; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Author Unknown

The Truth

While reading the Olive Tree Ministries newsletter today, I came across a great truth which I am putting here on my blog:

The Bible still has all the answers, the Holy Spirit is still active, God will still inhabit the praises of His people, there will still be room at the cross, and Jesus will still return sooner rather than later to the holy city of Jerusalem. There is coming a perfect government -- a Theocracy, under the headship of the King of kings.

So, look up fellow Christians. "There's a God Somewhere" as a favorite song says. He's within you, but he's also coming back for you, and perhaps 'sooner rather than later' as Jan Markell says in her newsletter.

Technorati Tags: Bible, God, Holy Spirit, Christians

Daily Nugget

Psalms 118:8, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Minorites need our sympathy

I just received this email talking about the minorities and wanted to share it with everyone. I thought it was very appropriate for the nation today!

MAXINE SAYS THIS ABOUT MINORITIES:

We need to show more sympathy for these people. They travel miles in the heat. They risk their lives crossing a border. They don't get paid enough wages. They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do. They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language. They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day, every day. I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans; I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR TROOPS!

Doesn't it seem strange that many Democrats and Republicans are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on illegal's, but don't support our troops and their families with sufficient healthcare, rehabilitation facilities, retraining and education when they return.

Linked at Conservative Cat
Don Surber
Third World County

Technorati Tags: Sympathy, Maxine, Minorities, Troops

Daily Nugget

Let the son shine in




True liberty is living life the way we should and not as we might want to live it.

• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Technorati Tags: Liberty, Christ, Life

Daily Nugget

Prayer

Prayer is our heartline to the throne of God.

The Power of Prayer

Technorati Tags: Prayer, God

Daily Nugget

Truth will win out regardless of how things seem.

Jesus himself said in John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Words to Live By: Truth

Daily Nugget

Each of us comes across a daily nugget if only we would stop and write it down. I’m not one on a paper trail, so I hardly ever write anything down unless I’m in church or I have to write down an address or phone number. I’m addicted or more likely, bound and gagged (grin) by this computer. So, most of what I write is typed by these fingers and long forgotten, other than when I come across my posts on my web site or Blog.

I thought it would be fun to list a daily nugget, something we may have heard today, yesterday, or years gone by. It may be something we have learned through life or perhaps our children or grandchildren are fond of saying. Children’s nuggets are worth far more than mine, in that they are so innocent in what they feel and say.

See!
Today’s nugget:

• Life is worth living. It doesn’t matter that clouds may spread across our day, making it dismal at first glance. But His word says in Psalms 36:5 “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and thy faithfulness reaches unto the clouds”. God is every where. He sees our hurts and pain, and is there to help when we call upon Him. He will never fail us, if we put our trust in Him.

Technorati Tags: Nugget, Faithfulness, God, Life