What is important?

I am sitting here reading e-mails of friends and reading blog post of a dear cousin or ours and both are very, very sad.

Both have cancer, bad cancer (not that there is any good cancer) but the kind I am talking about is aggressive, ugly stuff....

One has to have a bladder removed and also prostrate and the other one has a tumor by her liver that if it grows will close her bile duct and the cancer is in her bile duct...not much hope there....intensive chemo.....

Where do we turn, where do we get our hope from when pray tell when we are healthy and not facing these health problems how do we come up with what is important????

When we are facing the problems of everyday life and all seems so important...who didn't talk to me today...what color should I paint my walls....I want another pair of shoes...where shall we eat....what shall I wear...I am so tired...I just can't go....let me go take a nap.....what is for supper....these bills just pile up...how will I pay them....it's so cold out....it's so hot....it is so windy....raining again....it's so dry...snow???? ice??? oh the cost to heat our house....what? we have heat????  I have to get up and go to work....what??? If only....

Oh how the Word of God says not to grumble and complain....Philippians  2:14....BUT OH HOW WE COMPLAIN....

What am I doing to make a difference.....it is easy to sit back and let others....When I am cold I turn up the heat, when I am hot I turn on the air conditioner when it gets dark out I flip a switch and have light...

I must confess....this morning in my daily bread reading was a prayer...I prayed it....and then...I didn't live it....

Dear Lord, thank YOU for redeeming me and giving me new life. Give me compassion for those who are still lost in spiritual darkness. Use me to be a LIGHT that points others to you....the LIGHT of the world....

Did others see Christ in me today....did I help someone along the way....did I show his love to the unlovable??? I failed....

Sorting through the Emotions

Life the last couple of months has been like a roller coster ride to some degree.
I know that I have nothing to complain about and nothing real serious has happened but changes (a lot) never the less.

I know that bigger changes are heading my way soon. Don't know how soon but soon.

I have reached full retirement age this summer. I thought when this would happen that I would be ready to retire...that was years ago I thought that and now that the time has come when I could I am not ready.

I know in my heart that I would love it. But it is also a very scary thing for me. Don't ask me why but it may have something to do with I don't deal with change very well.

Going on 38 years in my job, 43 years in the same house, 50 years of marriage to the same man in Oct. can you see I don't like change.

I love to change the decor of my home, love to change my hair style, love to have trendy clothes, love to have different vechicles but when it comes to where I put my feet down I don't want to move.

I am emotional. Very. I try not to be. But I am.

Had 2 children sell their homes this summer. One has moved and the other will move in Oct.

We started camping about 3 years ago with our one son and daughter. Now our son sold their camper and are no longer camping. That about put me over the edge. We have only camped once this summer and I love camping. Makes me feel sad.

There are things I like most would like to stay the same but that is not how life is.

We have been churchless for a year now. We have been in home church. It has been good but we are now ready to start attending church services again. I have grown spiritually a lot in our home church but we feel like it is time to move on. This is what I want but it also makes me feel sad. I have good reason to leaving but .....I am emotional....

Life is good....God has a plan....and I want to be right where God wants me doing what He wants me to do. Where that is right now I guess is right where I am at....He has not moved me yet....and I trust that when the time comes for my big changes I will know....In my heart...I know that is true.....

We all need to be needed and we all need to be loved....I feel both....and I am thankful for that.....

Flesh versus Spirit

The Spirit says : Forgive
The Flesh says: Hold a grudge

The Spirit says: Be Temperate
The Flesh says: Eat whatever you want whenever you feel like it.

The Spirit says: Give that money to someone in need.
The Flesh says: Spend that money on yourself.

The Spirit says: Spend some time in the Word and in prayer.
The Flesh says: You've had a long day chill out in front of the TV for the evening.

The Spirit says: Hold your tongue. What you are about to say is not necessary. (ouch)
The Flesh says: Tell it like it is.

How many times do I give into the Flesh when I know the Spirit is telling me something else.