Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good. And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah55:2NKJV

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Lord, I didn’t listen very well last night. You know it and I know it. Technically I did follow Your directions. Do I get credit for that?

It happened just as I finished my meal. The ladies at the church pot luck were cleaning the tables. They asked if anyone wanted the last bit of leftover pasta salad. If not, they’d throw it away. I thought, “That’s too good to throw away. It’s has bacon in it, it’s just one serving.” So I stood by the garbage can and ate it out of the pan using a plastic spoon.  Should’ve let them throw it away.

The story of Saul teaches us about partial obedience, which is really no obedience. Yes, I resisted all those yummy desserts at the pot luck, didn’t eat any of it. Does that count for something? 

Lord, You stirred in my heart to throw away the leftover pasta salad. But did I listen? No, I finished it off. Saul didn’t listen, and neither did I.

Here I am now with a bloated belly and weight gain. I’ve gone 40 days without desserts or southern fried foods. Then on day 40 I mess up, not with desserts or fried foods, but leftover pasta salad. Do You think we could count that as a salad? Would that work? Sigh. Probably not.

Lord, it’s my heart that loves and desires abundant food. Remove this love of food from my heart. Help me to love You more than anything. Help me to listen.

I won’t blame You if You don’t talk to me anymore for I am undeserving of Your voice. I’m supposed to help others and look at me with my face in the pasta bowl.

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you.   Isaiah 55:3

Lord, I want Your Presence. Help me to turn away from even my necessary food. Help me  to seek Your will for every bite, every action, every word, and even every thought.

My thinking has been stinking lately. Renew my mind, make it seek after You and Your will above all.

Lord, what can I do?

Nothing My child, just seek Me first. Your eating has become automatic. In the beginning you were aware and sought Me continuously. Now you mostly eat on automatic.

Lord, I feel as though I’m on the fence teetering about to fall.

My child, you are straddling the fence.

What do I do now? How can I change my life to please You more? How can I walk in the shadow of Your Presence? I can’t help others if I’m standing in the mud. I feel as though I’m at a new bottom covered in mud, confused about which direction to take.

Lord, where am I?

My child, you’re standing at the end of the middle. Success isn’t found in the middle, hence your confusion, not knowing which way  to go. 

But Lord, where do You want me?  Do I stand here waiting not moving until I know that I know?

My child, first you have to listen. Then obey Me in the small things. I need to know I can trust you in the small things before I trust you with the big tasks. For instance, you knew to throw away that pasta. David emptied out the water as a sacrifice. You could have emptied out that leftover pasta. You made your choice, disobedience and consequences.

Lord, I’m sorry I let You down.

 My child, choose obedience to Me over all and I will never lead you wrong. Trust Me to guide your steps and you will have victory. It may not be the same victory of others, but it will be the victory I have designed just for you. Will you trust Me?

Lord, You know I trust You.

My child, will you trust Me even when you are holding leftover pasta in your hand? Will you be willing to let it go?

Oh Lord, I wish I could go back and relive that moment. I would throw it away.

My child, you can never go back. What is done is done. Now I have to adjust My plans according to your actions for I will never go against one’s will. All are free to choose their way, their choice. You chose the pasta versus My will.

Yes Lord, punish me. I deserve it.

Yes, My child, you do deserve it. But I’m not going to punish you for I have already taken the punishment for you. I have already set you free. I have already prepared your victory over sin. My child, all you have to do is look at Me, seek Me for I will never lead you wrong. And no, You’re not getting by. Natural consequences will come. They always come. I won’t go against the laws of nature that I set in motion so long ago. You see, I am hindered by your will.

Lord, what do I do?

Focus on Me, look to Me, listen, and obey what I tell you. Don’t argue with me. You know you argue. You tell me deep within your spirit that this time it’s okay. My child, disobedience is never okay. No matter how minor you perceive it.

Lord, I’m sorry. Now what do I do?

You can’t go back to undo what is done.

I know, so what do I do now?

Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. . .  Isaiah 55:3

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 6-9

 

My child, take each day as it comes.

 

 

Husbands. . . Lord, I’m thankful for this one You gave me. But earlier this week  I was gritting my teeth. You told me to be thankful in all things. He’s pushing the limit.

He said, “Get off that computer and do something physical. Come help me wash your car.”

What? . . . Lord, it’s nice having a clean car, but it’s not what I wanted to do. What did I want to do? . . Hmmm, let’s see. . . Hmmm. . . Not sure. . .   

I know I didn’t want to wash my car. The computer and I were having a great time. Do other husbands act like this?

He said, “Get on your bathing suit and come outside. You need a tan. It would help those legs of yours look better if they were tan.”

Grrrrrr . . . Lord, help me not scream at that man.

Dug out the bathing suits, new and old, selected an old one and put it on.  Hmmm . . . this is the one I had my picture taken in 2013. (My eyes only.) Don’t look too bad, just the arms and legs. My waist is so much smaller now. Hmmm . . . not so bad. I need a picture of now to compare with then.

Went outside in my black bathing suit.  He said, “You don’t want to do this, just go back in.”

What? . . . Think I’m going to kill him. Lord, are other husbands like this or is it just him?

I’m outside exposed in a bathing suit for all the neighbors to see. It’s the first time I’ve put on a bathing suit this summer and I’m standing in the driveway, not the beach. 

Lord, help me not kill him .

He looked at me, “You need to get those legs outside more. Wear some shorts. Get some tan. That’ll make them look better. Yep, and you need to start walking more. That would make them look better too, firm them up. But you don’t want to do this, so go back inside.”

Grrrr . . . Lord, help me not kill him in this driveway with the neighbors as witnesses.

“No, I’m out here now in my bathing  suit. I’ll help you wash the car. But I need to leave in time to pick up grandchildren from school.”

Lord, help me deal with this man.

My child, its opposite world. You’re looking at what you see . Look through My eyes. See what I see. See his goodness, tenderness, love , and the favor I have given him for you. After all, it was your car he wanted to wash.  What you give out, you will receive. What you plant will determine your harvest.

Earlier today you opened the door for strife to enter in when you spoke negative of him with the neighbor. Speak good and good will come. Speak criticism and criticism will come. Whatever seed you plant will determine your harvest. If you want good, then plant good with your words. Your words are seeds to your harvest.

Lord, do you remember when I used to say he drove me to eat. Remember the old saying, “Make love, not war.” I used to make food treats and would eat them instead of argue. Comfort food was better than confrontation.

Do You remember back in the 80’s when I left him over that candy bar and You told me what I was doing was wrong? I had taken $200 out of the bank to get me a hotel room at the beach. (Couldn’t get a room for that now.) I wasn’t leaving him for another man, I was leaving him over a candy bar. Crazy.

My child, when two objects are rubbed together, they make heat. Sometimes the heat is good. Sometimes the heat causes friction, but when oil is applied the objects can work together as one. For example, a car engine has many parts that without oil will cause engine failure, with oil they run smoothly.

My Holy Spirit is the oil of My love. When applied, it will bless your union. The result is an example of how I join two into one.

I’m going to help you love this man I gave you. My love within you will grow and blossom in your relationship with this one, My earthly son and also with Him, My  firstborn Son.

Now don’t look at what you see. Instead look at Me.

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You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. I John 4:12 NKJV

 Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:20,21

 

My child, you worry too much. Don’t you yet know I’m in control of all things? Give Me your heart and your mind, allow Me to guide you and lead you. Seek My influence for I will never lead you wrong. I will always lead you correctly. No worries for I’ll even correct your errors. I’ll open doors you know not of. Continue reading Yes Sir, You’re in Control

Pray for our USA and vote.

I did not write this article, but it makes an interesting read. I tried to re-blog, but the computer challenged me. I copied this from https://atimetoshare.me/2016/08/13/to-the-never-trumper-a-biblical-case-for-trump/

https://lastchanceamerica.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/to-the-never-trumper-a-biblical-case-for-trump/

atimetoshare.com copied it from lastchanceforamerica.com

Guess we’re just passing this around. Read it with an open mind and a prayerful heart. Continue reading Vote-Re Blog from Last Chance America.

My child, I am your hope.    (From past struggles)

 Lord, right now I feel hopeless. I read that You fight for Your children. Do you ever fight for me?

Yes My child, I am fighting for you. My plans are for your victory. I aim for you to be victorious. Today will be a day of victory for you.

I will fill you with My peace. I have come to save you, even from yourself and your self-infliction. I have your victory in my hand. Come to Me, so that I might give unto you the victory I have prepared for you. Continue reading Hope & Victory

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

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THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN

If you think you’re beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don’t.

If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,

It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll loss, you’re lost.

For out in the world we find

Success begins with a fellow’s will.

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are.

You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man.

But sooner or late, the man who wins,

Is the man who thinks he can.

(W.D. Wintle)

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I bought a cross-stitch piece at an estate sale which contained this poem. So much truth. We will attempt nothing unless we suspect we can.

When you stand on the scales, do you think it’s possible to lose that extra weight?  When you try on that special outfit that just a little tight and if you lose 10 pounds, you can wear it proudly. Do you think you can?

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

Lord, You said for me to listen more. I want to hear You. Do I fast today in order to hear You? I’m not hungry now, but last night at supper I had to fight the urge to eat more and more.

 

My child, just eat less today. Judge how much you eat by your hunger. Eat less, listen more. Continue reading Listen More, Eat Less

 “Seeking God’s Presence for Weight Loss” is a new weight loss support group starting at our church. I think this name may be too long, do you have another suggestion? Let me know.

It’s exciting to have another opportunity to share with others how God delivered me with a 90+lbs. weight loss. Can’t wait to start the class next Sunday.

Drum roll please. . . . Lesson plans and worksheets are in the process of being written now by yours truly. If you’d like a copy, just let me know. Continue reading Weight Loss, Seeking God’s Presence

Last week Hubby decided we should take a road trip to the World’s Longest Yard Sale on Highway 127. It starts in Gadsden, Alabama and ends in Michigan. The 127 Yard Sale,  World’s Longest Yard Sale, is 690 miles long and spans 6 states. It’s held every year the first weekend of August. Continue reading Road Trip & God’s Humor

 

BLESSINGS-

Remember this song?

“Count your many blessings.  Name them one by one.         Count your many blessings.      See what God Has done.”

How often do you get over loaded and burdened with the struggles of life? Do you notice your blessings? Have your struggles and disappointments overwhelmed you? Stress can be caused by just looking at what you see. Wish I had a dollar for every time God spoke these words to my heart as I looked at what I saw and became over stressed. Continue reading Blessings Journal