Thursday, September 3, 2009

Time

Lately, I have been trying to live in my own time. Anyone else guilty of that?

Our time is not our own...it is God's. I have been wanting so many answers, etc. in my own time frame. Boy, how wrong I have been! All things in my life are ordered and laid out by God. Even the stuff I don't understand or don't have the answers to.


This time in my life has certainly been an interesting ride in my journey. Not that the ride is over, but I sure hope I have climbed the toughest part of the hill or at times the mountain. I sometimes wish God would really press on that proverbial gas pedal and move me up that mountain/hill at a quicker speed. I am so ready to be back to whatever that level of normal is for me.

I do believe some answers are starting to reveal themselves. Continue to pray for me on this ride.

Thanks,
Ronda

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It's Been Awhile


I know it has been awhile since my last post. Without going into much detail, I am asking for prayer from my friends. I have been experiencing a personal struggle of late. I won't go into a lot of detail. I just ask that those friends who are friends of faith to pray. God is the only person who can pull me out of this struggle. I know it will happen. It may not be today or tomorrow, but sometime in the future.

Satan definitely knows the thoughts, etc. to put into our minds to get us off track. I firmly believe that all of the thoughts, etc. that I have been having are from him. There is a definite tug of war going on and Satan is not going to win!

Thanks friends for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

High Tech vs. High Touch

Yesterday, I heard an advertisement for Focus on the Family on the radio. The jist of the ad was about how society has become so high tech we forget the need for high touch. That thought struck a cord with me. And, last night, I was awake most of the night with this thought roaming through my head.

You see, I see that so much in society. Our need (really want) for the ipod's, cell phones, laptops, Facebook, etc. has really made lose sight of our need to be in personal, face-to-face contact with people. Now, I am not discrediting any these items. In fact, I have or use all of them. I love how Facebook has brought me in touch with so many people. It is great to keep in touch with those far away.

But, here is my thought. God created us to be social creatures. And, I don't mean social just in the electronic realm. I mean social in the need to actually see people and fellowship with others. At what point, are we in the wrong when our electronic social schedule takes presedence over our personal fellowship with others.

Your thoughts are welcome. Just an aha moment!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Check Mark of Approval

But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. Matthew 19:30, NLT

Jesus turned the world's values upside down. Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world, how many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle? Not many! But in the life to come, the last will be first, if they got in last place by choosing to follow Jesus.

Don't forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits. Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later. Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God's approval.

All of my life I feel like I have been seeking approval from all of the people in my life. And, no matter what I do, I don’t measure up. The above scripture and thought came to me from Tyndale’s daily e-mailed Life Application Daily Devotion. It really spoke to me.

I cannot keep on trying to have people approve of me. People (even those who call themselves Christian), church, and life will let us down. The only approval I need is that of God!! I pray that I can infiltrate my life with this thought!!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Another Lesson I Am Learning

Who do I live for? Who do I show compassion to? The thought running through my mind is: I am to be living my life in accordance to God’s will with the end result being service with compassion to others.

The next lesson I am learning is how to pull myself out of my circumstances and be of better service to others. That service could be just to have a kind and listening ear and shutting my mouth. A lot of times that is all people need.

Looking around, there are folks out there with situations much worse than my current state. They are dealing with sick children, the care of an elderly parent, and a host of other concerns. The goal is to be able to pull myself out of my situation and to see the needs of other, to show concern for someone else beside myself.

The realization is this isn’t an easy task. If fact, this is one that cannot be accomplished by my own strength and in my own wisdom. There are friends who go through or are going through extreme circumstances in their lives, yet they are able to praise God and work for Him despite of their situation. How do they do this? This is done only by having the grace of God and His Holy Spirit at work in their lives. They live outside of their problems.

This is my prayer for today: to live outside my problems, lean on God, praise Him in my storm(s) and serve Him wherever I am to be.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Pushing the Buttons

A recurring thought or question has been running through my mind the last couple of days. Who is really in control of my life? Me or God?

God is supposed to be the one pushing the buttons in my world. How many times do we allow circumstances to control us and we grab the control out of God's hands? Even if the circumstances in life are hurtful, God is still to be in control.

This is a lesson I have learned the hard way in the last couple of months. Some very hurtful and stressful things have come my way in the previous months. I found myself taking the control and pushing the buttons. The buttons I was pushing was anger and bitterness. This anger and bitterness caused me to become distant and to hurt some very dear friends. Now I am paying the price after choosing to push my own buttons.


This last week, specifically Thursday night or should I say Friday morning (4:30 a.m. to be exact) I had an epiphany of sorts. I woke and found myself praying. God woke me up so that we could talk. The anger and bitterness weren't hurting the people I thought should be hurt. They were hurting only me. He asked me if I was ready to release all of that and to allow Him to have control of me again. I am happy to say that I gave all of that and all of me (once again) to God!

I woke up Friday a changed person. It was almost like someone had given me wings. I had forgiveness from God for everything!! What more could a person ask for?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

I know...

...it has been awhile since there has been a post. And, acutally this post will be kind of wasted. I haven't really had any inspiration of late. I am mulling some thoughts over, just nothing concrete yet.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

An Encounter with God

Today, I had an amazing encounter with God. It is my belief this encounter started with Lent. For Lent, I gave up all soda, as the Lord prompted me to do.

At first, it was really hard - headaches and all. Then it got easier. This week, however, I have been craving carbonation like crazy. Every time I come to a point of wanting a soda, I remember what Christ gave up for me. So, a sacrifice of soda is nothing compared to what he did.

The last few weeks the messages at church have been a reality of the basics: Jesus, God, The Holy Spirit, Sin, Love and the importance of obedience. God spoke there.

Then a friend of mine posted how her life has been spiritually empty. God spoke there.

Today at work I was listening to praise and worship music. It seems the songs were about Jesus' sacrifice and about how we aren't too far gone for Him to reach us. Again, God spoke.

God's presence came to me in such a sweet, special way. His voice came and spoke saying, "Your spiritual life needs to become real again. You must take action and make it the most important thing to you. Build your relationship with me."

I have been contemplating all day where to start. God has been telling me I must start with His Word. Honestly, this is an area I have struggled with my entire life. To ignore this area of my life anymore would be disobedient - sin!!

I now ask for my friends to pray for me. If anyone has suggestions to help me start this, I welcome them. Pray for obedience, discipline, and for Satan to stay away!!

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Miracle of Grandma


I have been thinking about grandma a lot lately. Ruth Memory Sheppard Johnston was her name. She was almost 94 years old when she went home to be with the Lord. One of the treasures that she left behind is her journals. While looking at one of her journals one day, my sister and I found the following entry on July 15, 1995.

"In May of 1968, I had thyroid surgery. The doctors said in all probability I wouldn't be able to talk. Prayer went up for me all over the country. They said I cam to talking and hadn't shut up since. I can't sing. I asked the surgeon about it. He said, "Don't try." Half of your vocal chords are paralyzed."

For 17 years, almost every time I went to see Dr. Shallenberger he would say, "by all human reasoning, you should be dead."

In October, 1993, I had pneumonia. I was having to fight for my breath. I began to wonder if it was worth the effort. I was ready to quit. I said, "Lord, if you want me to live, you will have to help me." My breathing became easier.

In May of 1995 the Lanoxin level in my blood became extremely high. The doctor said "the highest had seen it in years. You must be tough." no, I am not tough. The Lord stood by my side and gave me strength.

I am here for a purpose. God give me wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and strength to fulfill that purpose."
---Ruth Johnston

May Grandma encourage you through the words the Lord gave her.

Pretense, Confusion, Thankful

Lori Wick is probably my favorite author. I own a majority of the books she has written. Some, I have read many times over. Pretense is one such book. I have read this book so many times, I have lost count. While reading it again, i noticed a prayer from the character Shay. Here is the prayer:

"I've had so many wrong impressions. I've been confused, and now see how huge you are. You love all of us. You're big enough that we can pray to You in our own way. I've been afraid of not being good enough. I've been selfish and wrong with so many things in my life, but Your forgiveness is bigger that that."

I am so thankful that even in His hugeness, God is still personal enough for each of us. He wants us to come to him just as we are, incsecurities and all. His forgiveness and love is bigger that what we think we don't have to offer.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have this down pat yet. But, I am working on it. When self-doubt arises, I pray I remember that God is bigger that the doubt and loves me in spite of it.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Freedom and Reality

February 20: Air 1 Verse of the Day
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. but don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13 NLT

I was listening to the Gather Vocal Band Reunion video. The part during the song “I’m Free” really hit me.

“God puts His greatest gifts in broken pots. We spill more water.
The gifts of God are without repentance.
He passes out gifts like we pass out Halloween candy.
He doesn’t ask for a resume. He just gives it to you and He never repents of it.” – Mark Lowry


I am free from the guilt I carried
From this dull empty life, I’m set free
For when I met Jesus, He made me complete
He forgot the foolish man I used to be


All we are supposed to be is transparent and real before God. If we aren’t transparent and real before Him, we can’t be transparent or real before man. True freedom is only found in God. He forgets our foolishness and gives us life abundant and free.

I want my prayer to be that I am truly free. I must be free from my foolishness. To be free, I must be honest with myself, with God and then with others. We can hold nothing back. Freedom without honesty will only cause anxiety and stress. This freedom can only be found when we are living in the freedom of the Holy Spirit. May we all be free to spill our water for Jesus - free to use our gifts for Him!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Doors

What doors are supposed to go through? Doors we open on our own? Doors opened by God? I have come to the realization that I need to pay more attention to the doors that God opens for me. So many times, I translate the door I open to a door God has opened. Not a good thing. I am only to walk the path of obedience to God. My prayer is that I stay in tune for the door God wants me to go through.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Some Changes Leave You Right Where You Are

Wow! That is the only thing I can think to say is: Wow!

I know I said the other day that life is about change, but some much has gone on this week. It is amazing that some change leaves right where you started. And, that is ok. God has much to teach us in all that goes on in our lives. Are we ready to learn?

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Change

Life is all about change. Whether we stay still or we are moving, life still changes.

The thing we need to make sure of is that God is in control of the changes in our personal lives. Is the change we make in direct obedience to God's will? That is the only change for which we are responsible.

Just a random thought, sort of!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Audience Participation

This blog entry requires some audience participation. I know that there aren't very many participants, but you know how it is.

I have been thinking about the words grace and mercy. If we serve a gracious and merciful God - and we do! And, if we are to be more like God - and we are! Then, as Christians, why aren't we more gracious and merciful to others - espcially to our brothers and sisters in Christ! It seems Christians sometimes, we are more gracious and merciful to those on the street than to those we meet with on a weekly basis!

Another word describing God is servant. He sent His son to be the ultimate servant for us. Should we also be a servant to God? Should we give our all to Him?

I believe that if we were more gracious, merciful, and served God & others, all of our pettiness in the church would desolve!!!

Just some food for thought!!