I can hardly believe today is the last day of January already! This month has flown by! February is a busy month birthday wise for the Gilliam/Cargile household. My neice, Madison, is the 2nd; my little Hanna Beth's is the 4th; my Papa's would have been the 5th; my Granny's would have been the 11th; my step-daughters is the 20th which is also the one year anniversary of my Granny leaving this life to go be with my Jesus. A busy month indeed!
Mondays have become my Sabbath since Sundays are my busy days at church. It's the day I can turn myself off and allow my mind to slow a bit. There was plenty I COULD HAVE done today but I just sat back and thought. My mind, as most of you know, is a constant pep rally for about 7 teams all at one time. I feel like my mind is in monkey mode most of the time flitting (is flitting even a word?) from limb to limb. If I don't write, or type rather, something significant down that God has spoke to me, it will soon flee my mind never to return. So, with that said, these are some things God brought to my memory today:
I am thankful God isn't ADD/ADHD and doesn't forget what He is doing! I know this world is messed up but can you IMAGINE what shape it would be in if He couldn't/didn't concentrate and finish what He started? Whoa....not even gonna go there!
Fruit always reflects the character of the tree it's hanging on. If He is the root and we are the branches then we, as TRUE followers of Christ, should be reflecting sweet, fragrant fruit. Are we? What is it that others see hanging from our branches? Should we take a poll?
Satan doesn't get too excited when we go to church but he flips out when we pray. Prayer is what connects us to God. It's where we build our relationship with Him. Do you remember when you fell in love the first time? Do you remember sitting and talking with that special someone hours on end and you really got to know them? Well, God is the same way. Some people find it hard to pray...they don't know what to "say"? Prayer doesn't have to be elaborate. We don't have to use the Christian "slang" when we talk to God. Talk to Him like you talk to your friends. Hey God. What's up? I have had a really good day except for the fact my kids fought like cats and dogs. You know, I think Your pretty cool. I mean you love me even when I totally screw up. I am sorry for letting you down today when I really needed to speak to that person you put in my path but I was just too scared to look stupid. Can you help me out with a dose of boldness? See, it doesn't have to be King James version prayers. It's you and God just hanging out!
I know those topics are not related at all but that is just how my brain works. Now do you understand that if I don't write/type them I would totally forget most of the stuff He speaks to me?!?
Well, tomorrows another full day for me and it will be a late night. I am hoping I will get the opportunity to blog so until then remember this: Jesus never said life with Him would be easy, but He did say it would be worth it (Matthew 7:13-14)!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
A Great Day
It has been a great day. Not only because it was Sunday and I got to be in the Lord's house, but because I woke up this morning. You see, each day is a gift from God. The gift of another day with my man and my kids. Another day with my church family. Another day in the "land of the living" as my Granny use to say.
As usual, my day has been busy. Church and Sunday school, lunch, Wal Mart, skating party for Hanna's birthday in Winfield and then back to Fayette for Youth. As I was driving home tonight, I was thanking the Lord for watching over me and protecting me. I thought of the animals He might have His hand on so they wouldn't run out in front of me. I thought of the cars I passed that might be driving and texting or driving and not really paying attention to the road and how God has protected me from harm. It's so easy to take these things for granted. We expect them I guess but they are actually gifts from God.
I also thought about my ministry at church as a shepherd to the youth. Man, what an important position God has placed me in this season of my life. I am so thankful to be able to share life with them during this season of their lives. I often wonder if I heard God correctly when He called me into youth ministry. I wonder if I am making a difference. Tonight, as I sat in the drive thru at McDonald's, God spoke to me. I can't change their lives, only He can do that. The only thing I CAN do is plant seeds and wait for Him to water and fertilize them. These are such important years in a teens life when they are becoming independent and making decisions that will effect their lives in years to come. I want to hover my "wings" over them and shelter them from the nasty world so they won't get hurt or make wrong decisions. I realize I can't literally DO that but I sure want to. They are a great bunch of young men and young women that I love dearly!
So in the wee hours this morning, God led me to 1 John 3:14 which reads: Anyone who doesn't love remains in death. The Greek word for death is thanatos and means the misery of the soul arising from sin. Sin in Greek is hamartia and means to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor; to do wrong. The longer we do not love, the more sin builds up and our lives become miserable. We may not recognize the misery because we have become so accustomed to it and it seems "normal". We think the world is out to get us. We think we are the victim. We think if it weren't for bad luck, we would have no luck at all. You see, in all of those statements, love is not found. What if we looked for the good in others instead of pointing out the bad? What if we helped someone without wondering about their "history"? What if we loved people where they were...even the drunk, even the adulteress, even the liar, even the...you fill in the blank. What kind of impact would we make on the lives of others if we loved them regardless? Matthew 22:37 says the GREATEST command is to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind. If we would just love God that much, all the rest would fall into place. I am confident in that! I have been captured by death before and I never want to go back. It's a miserable existence.
My prayer is that in these last days, and I am confident we are there, we would show love to others in our words, actions, gestures, and by the life we live. Make someones day...love them.
As usual, my day has been busy. Church and Sunday school, lunch, Wal Mart, skating party for Hanna's birthday in Winfield and then back to Fayette for Youth. As I was driving home tonight, I was thanking the Lord for watching over me and protecting me. I thought of the animals He might have His hand on so they wouldn't run out in front of me. I thought of the cars I passed that might be driving and texting or driving and not really paying attention to the road and how God has protected me from harm. It's so easy to take these things for granted. We expect them I guess but they are actually gifts from God.
I also thought about my ministry at church as a shepherd to the youth. Man, what an important position God has placed me in this season of my life. I am so thankful to be able to share life with them during this season of their lives. I often wonder if I heard God correctly when He called me into youth ministry. I wonder if I am making a difference. Tonight, as I sat in the drive thru at McDonald's, God spoke to me. I can't change their lives, only He can do that. The only thing I CAN do is plant seeds and wait for Him to water and fertilize them. These are such important years in a teens life when they are becoming independent and making decisions that will effect their lives in years to come. I want to hover my "wings" over them and shelter them from the nasty world so they won't get hurt or make wrong decisions. I realize I can't literally DO that but I sure want to. They are a great bunch of young men and young women that I love dearly!
So in the wee hours this morning, God led me to 1 John 3:14 which reads: Anyone who doesn't love remains in death. The Greek word for death is thanatos and means the misery of the soul arising from sin. Sin in Greek is hamartia and means to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor; to do wrong. The longer we do not love, the more sin builds up and our lives become miserable. We may not recognize the misery because we have become so accustomed to it and it seems "normal". We think the world is out to get us. We think we are the victim. We think if it weren't for bad luck, we would have no luck at all. You see, in all of those statements, love is not found. What if we looked for the good in others instead of pointing out the bad? What if we helped someone without wondering about their "history"? What if we loved people where they were...even the drunk, even the adulteress, even the liar, even the...you fill in the blank. What kind of impact would we make on the lives of others if we loved them regardless? Matthew 22:37 says the GREATEST command is to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind. If we would just love God that much, all the rest would fall into place. I am confident in that! I have been captured by death before and I never want to go back. It's a miserable existence.
My prayer is that in these last days, and I am confident we are there, we would show love to others in our words, actions, gestures, and by the life we live. Make someones day...love them.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The chaotic life
My day has been a little chaotic and I will admit, I ALMOST got out of my peace a time or two! Thank God for His Word this morning to fill me with His grace before the day got to really rolling! I have the Blue Letter Bible app on my iPhone. It is the coolest thing EVER (well, not EVER but it is pretty cool). It has a Bible dictionary, concordance, version comparison and many other cool features. If I wake up super early, like I did this morning, I try not to mill around too much to wake my man and kids up so I will reach over and grab my phone and go straight to the Blue Letter Bible app before my feet ever hit the floor (but as soon as my feet DO hit the floor, I imagine the devil is thinking "OH CRAP, SHE'S UP-or at least I WANT him to think that)! Anyway, my LORD gave me this this morning:
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth...(Matthew 5:5). Meek means mildness of disposition and gentleness of spirit. We like people who tend to be nice, kind, peaceful, gentle, polite and sweet don't we? People will go out of their way to help those who exhibit those traits. Those people inherit the love and support of others, even if they don't know them personally! I want to be meek. I try to be meek. I think the only way to be meek is to die to the sinful nature that is within us by asking God to fill us with more of Him. I desperately need Him.
Okay, now on with my day. Two basketball games, one at 8:30 am with Hanna and 9:20 with Anna Kate. We are up and ready in PLENTY of time to go by Jack's for a little breakfast before game time. Well, that was the case. My darling man decided this morning to check the rates of Dish Network against Direct TV, which we have right now. At 7:45 we are ready to walk out the door and I find my man on the phone with Dish. After about a 20 minute conversation with Customer Service at Dish, I walk out the door and crank the vehicle thinking he will get the hint. He comes out the door, still on the phone, and opens the gate which allows our "house dog" to escape. Shall I fume or shall I chase the dog down? I decided to chase the dog down EXCEPT, the minute I would get close to him, he would run closer towards the highway...needless to say, this ISN'T helping my mood! I finally catch him about 10 feet from the busy highway and take him back to the house. Thankfully by the time I make it back, my man has finished the call. It is 8:00 and we are cutting it close. We decide to run through the drive through at McDonald's but when we get there, the drive-thru line is backed up to the road. Do I fume or do I brush it off? Welllll, I brush it off. We went on to the basketball games and that darling man of mine goes back to McDonald's to get food. Long story short, games went great and we got to eat.
Next, I fly, not literally, home and stick a casserole in the oven and change clothes for a luncheon and funeral at our church. I dash back by the church to drop the food off and then on to Wal Mart to help my man pick out a new pair of glasses (and boy do they look GOOD on him)! Before he was finished, I dashed back to the church to attend the funeral of a dear woman at our church. It was a beautiful service for a beautiful woman. I was moved to tears when her son sang Surely The Presence of The Lord Is In This Place and her daughter-in-love played the piano for his song. IT WAS AMAZING! Anyway, I run back home after the service and picked up my youngest for a play date with a friend for a couple of hours. I dropped her off, headed back home to meet my man and my oldest daughter so we could go practice basketball. And it is only 4:00...I still have to finish preparing my Sunday school lesson for tomorrow and get something fixed for supper!
Needless to say, everything is done, finally, and I am about to turn in for the night. We have another eventful day on tap tomorrow. Church, Sunday School, Lunch, Birthday party, and youth!!! Whew, maybe I should eat Wheaties in the morning for breakfast! Any who, I hope you all have enjoyed your day today because it was a gift from God. Have you thanked Him for it? I have!
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth...(Matthew 5:5). Meek means mildness of disposition and gentleness of spirit. We like people who tend to be nice, kind, peaceful, gentle, polite and sweet don't we? People will go out of their way to help those who exhibit those traits. Those people inherit the love and support of others, even if they don't know them personally! I want to be meek. I try to be meek. I think the only way to be meek is to die to the sinful nature that is within us by asking God to fill us with more of Him. I desperately need Him.
Okay, now on with my day. Two basketball games, one at 8:30 am with Hanna and 9:20 with Anna Kate. We are up and ready in PLENTY of time to go by Jack's for a little breakfast before game time. Well, that was the case. My darling man decided this morning to check the rates of Dish Network against Direct TV, which we have right now. At 7:45 we are ready to walk out the door and I find my man on the phone with Dish. After about a 20 minute conversation with Customer Service at Dish, I walk out the door and crank the vehicle thinking he will get the hint. He comes out the door, still on the phone, and opens the gate which allows our "house dog" to escape. Shall I fume or shall I chase the dog down? I decided to chase the dog down EXCEPT, the minute I would get close to him, he would run closer towards the highway...needless to say, this ISN'T helping my mood! I finally catch him about 10 feet from the busy highway and take him back to the house. Thankfully by the time I make it back, my man has finished the call. It is 8:00 and we are cutting it close. We decide to run through the drive through at McDonald's but when we get there, the drive-thru line is backed up to the road. Do I fume or do I brush it off? Welllll, I brush it off. We went on to the basketball games and that darling man of mine goes back to McDonald's to get food. Long story short, games went great and we got to eat.
Next, I fly, not literally, home and stick a casserole in the oven and change clothes for a luncheon and funeral at our church. I dash back by the church to drop the food off and then on to Wal Mart to help my man pick out a new pair of glasses (and boy do they look GOOD on him)! Before he was finished, I dashed back to the church to attend the funeral of a dear woman at our church. It was a beautiful service for a beautiful woman. I was moved to tears when her son sang Surely The Presence of The Lord Is In This Place and her daughter-in-love played the piano for his song. IT WAS AMAZING! Anyway, I run back home after the service and picked up my youngest for a play date with a friend for a couple of hours. I dropped her off, headed back home to meet my man and my oldest daughter so we could go practice basketball. And it is only 4:00...I still have to finish preparing my Sunday school lesson for tomorrow and get something fixed for supper!
Needless to say, everything is done, finally, and I am about to turn in for the night. We have another eventful day on tap tomorrow. Church, Sunday School, Lunch, Birthday party, and youth!!! Whew, maybe I should eat Wheaties in the morning for breakfast! Any who, I hope you all have enjoyed your day today because it was a gift from God. Have you thanked Him for it? I have!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Two funerals and a birthday party.....
So I had my quiet time this morning, thank the good Lord, because He knew I was going to need it today! This is what He spoke to me: You didn't choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit...John 15:16a. He chose US. We didn't choose Him. He isn't some wimpy savior that is begging us to follow Him so it will make Him feel better. He doesn't NEED us, WE NEED HIM! He cares so much about our lives and wants what's best for us yet we ignore Him. He doesn't always "fit" into our busy schedules does He? And then when life gets "hairy" and we are in need, we "holler" out for Him and He's there. Always has been. Always will be. Patiently waiting on US. I think it's time to take a look at our schedule and schedule Him into our lives. He needs to be priority. He's worth it!
Anyway, my life needed a heavy dose of Jesus today. I dropped the kids off at school and headed straight for Tuscaloosa to get things for Hanna's birthday party Sunday afternoon. Her birthday isn't until February 4th but since my man will be working that weekend, we have decided to have her party this Sunday at Skate Palace in Winfield. About half way to Tuscaloosa, I realized I had forgot to stick a casserole in the oven this morning for a luncheon at our church for a family that has lost a loved one. Instead of freaking out, I decided to run by Honey Baked Ham and purchase a smoked turkey breast because we have ANOTHER luncheon tomorrow for another family that has lost a loved one. Yes, two funerals in two days. Our church family has suffered 4 deaths in the last month. We are losing them faster than we are gaining them, which is sad. I safely made it back to Fayette in time to run home, change clothes and head back to the church for the funeral.
As I sat in the sanctuary listening to a pastor reminisce about the departed, I had a revelation. When I die, I don't want a funeral right then. You are probably saying, what? No, I don't want an immediate funeral. I want a little time for my loved ones to grieve but once the tears are gone, I want a party! Yep, a PAR-TAY! Honey, I can tell you I know, that I know, that I know where I am going and I don't want y'all to waste a tear on me...I want y'all to par-tay because I will be par-taying with Jesus!!! I know that sounds crazy but look at who's writing this!
I'm gonna scat (I haven't even thought of that word in a hundred years and it reminds me of my Granny so she must be in heaven thinking about me) and get a couple more chapters of Radical by David Platt under my belt. It is an awesome, life-changing book. If you haven't read it, get a copy SOON....if you have, re-read it...it's THAT good! God willing I will catch y'all tomorrow! Love sent your way!
Anyway, my life needed a heavy dose of Jesus today. I dropped the kids off at school and headed straight for Tuscaloosa to get things for Hanna's birthday party Sunday afternoon. Her birthday isn't until February 4th but since my man will be working that weekend, we have decided to have her party this Sunday at Skate Palace in Winfield. About half way to Tuscaloosa, I realized I had forgot to stick a casserole in the oven this morning for a luncheon at our church for a family that has lost a loved one. Instead of freaking out, I decided to run by Honey Baked Ham and purchase a smoked turkey breast because we have ANOTHER luncheon tomorrow for another family that has lost a loved one. Yes, two funerals in two days. Our church family has suffered 4 deaths in the last month. We are losing them faster than we are gaining them, which is sad. I safely made it back to Fayette in time to run home, change clothes and head back to the church for the funeral.
As I sat in the sanctuary listening to a pastor reminisce about the departed, I had a revelation. When I die, I don't want a funeral right then. You are probably saying, what? No, I don't want an immediate funeral. I want a little time for my loved ones to grieve but once the tears are gone, I want a party! Yep, a PAR-TAY! Honey, I can tell you I know, that I know, that I know where I am going and I don't want y'all to waste a tear on me...I want y'all to par-tay because I will be par-taying with Jesus!!! I know that sounds crazy but look at who's writing this!
I'm gonna scat (I haven't even thought of that word in a hundred years and it reminds me of my Granny so she must be in heaven thinking about me) and get a couple more chapters of Radical by David Platt under my belt. It is an awesome, life-changing book. If you haven't read it, get a copy SOON....if you have, re-read it...it's THAT good! God willing I will catch y'all tomorrow! Love sent your way!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
In the quiet of the morning
I love morning time. I have always been a morning person instead of a night owl. But in the last couple years, I wake up a little early so I can have a little one on one time with God without the distraction of my family. My head is clear and my mind is rested. I guess fear sleeps a little late because during those wee hours, I can hear God much more clearly and my thoughts seem to be able to conquer the world.
Lamentations 3:22-23 reads, "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." (The Message). God is there for us in the mornings. It's like He's brewed a fresh pot of coffee and He is waiting on us to join Him! He is there, patiently waiting, to pour His pure and perfect love into our lives for the day if we will just take the time to recognize Him and drink of His cup. I have found that if I will fill myself with His love before I ever encounter anyone else, then the love He has poured into me will "spill out" on others like my darling husband and precious kids. I can tell a difference in my attitude if I don't have my "time" with Him, and so can my family!
Now did this "quiet time" come natural? NO! I use to get up, get my cup of coffee and turn on the news to see what was happening in the world. Life was great, or so I thought, and I hadn't even entertained the idea of spending some time with God. That was until an acquaintance of mine told me about getting up early and giving her "first waking hour" to God. I will admit, at first I thought she was crazy. After pondering that a few days, I decided to give it a try. The first day or so I was a little groggy but then it slowly became routine. So, 4 years later, my quiet time has become precious to me. I will also admit, there are days that I have "skipped" and I feel a little void in my life those days. I didn't get "filled from His cup" so my cup was not full therefore I might have snapped at my child or husband or had a thought that wasn't too pleasing to God!
As I sit here and type this, I wonder how different our churches would be if the members actually cracked open their Bibles EVERY morning and got filled from the Lord rather than ABC, Fox, or CNN? What if we stood on and believed what the Bible reports rather than the news stations reports? What kind of impact would it make on our lives? I can't control what others do, but I can control me and I'm going to choose to stay in His Word EVERY MORNING and believe Him. If I can just do that, I hope the ACTIONS of His Word in my life will spill over to others lives and they will want more of Him. More you You Jesus, and less of me!
Lamentations 3:22-23 reads, "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.
They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." (The Message). God is there for us in the mornings. It's like He's brewed a fresh pot of coffee and He is waiting on us to join Him! He is there, patiently waiting, to pour His pure and perfect love into our lives for the day if we will just take the time to recognize Him and drink of His cup. I have found that if I will fill myself with His love before I ever encounter anyone else, then the love He has poured into me will "spill out" on others like my darling husband and precious kids. I can tell a difference in my attitude if I don't have my "time" with Him, and so can my family!
Now did this "quiet time" come natural? NO! I use to get up, get my cup of coffee and turn on the news to see what was happening in the world. Life was great, or so I thought, and I hadn't even entertained the idea of spending some time with God. That was until an acquaintance of mine told me about getting up early and giving her "first waking hour" to God. I will admit, at first I thought she was crazy. After pondering that a few days, I decided to give it a try. The first day or so I was a little groggy but then it slowly became routine. So, 4 years later, my quiet time has become precious to me. I will also admit, there are days that I have "skipped" and I feel a little void in my life those days. I didn't get "filled from His cup" so my cup was not full therefore I might have snapped at my child or husband or had a thought that wasn't too pleasing to God!
As I sit here and type this, I wonder how different our churches would be if the members actually cracked open their Bibles EVERY morning and got filled from the Lord rather than ABC, Fox, or CNN? What if we stood on and believed what the Bible reports rather than the news stations reports? What kind of impact would it make on our lives? I can't control what others do, but I can control me and I'm going to choose to stay in His Word EVERY MORNING and believe Him. If I can just do that, I hope the ACTIONS of His Word in my life will spill over to others lives and they will want more of Him. More you You Jesus, and less of me!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A new day for me!
So, I’ve decided to start blogging! I’m sure some of you think, “Do you not have enough to keep up with already?” Well, yes I do but I also want to pen, or type I should say, stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve been told to write a book of inspirations because of my daily devotions I post to facebook but haven’t felt led to do that yet. Maybe this is God’s way of breaking me in to try and type it out. Anyway, I am going to TRY and be successful at this but cannot guarantee anything!
I love blogs. I love keeping up with the lives of friends but I don’t always have the time to pick up the phone and call. I have recently started following a blog of a Godly woman that is my age with two children close to the age of my girls. She had a stroke a little over two weeks ago and is in the hospital but her husband has been updating her blog on her progress. To my amazement, through this thing called cyberspace, her blog has reached over 40,000 hits from people that are praying for her. I think this is phenomenal. There are people all over the world that are keeping up with this precious woman and praying for her daily. Her blogs name is The Simple Wife and you can read her story here http://thesimplewife.typepad.com/. That is one amazing story! Anyway, I’m gonna run and get a little work done before I pick the kids up from school at 3:00.
Oh, and one last thing! During my time with God this morning, He gave me this: But when you ask Him, be sure that you REALLY expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord…James 1:6-7. When we pray, do we REALLY believe or do we, in our minds, just HOPE He answers our prayers? Maybe WE are a little doubtful and we aren’t getting what we’ve asked for because of that smidgen of doubt!
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