"Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:8-10
Have you ever thought about how quickly you forget something, even something important? Someone tells you something and you are sure you will remember but a distraction comes and the thought is gone. We are so easily distracted by things that do not matter. We are even distracted when we pray. Our minds begin to wander around here and there and everywhere! Why can't we stay focused for one moment?
It reminds me of Jesus when he went to pray in the garden and he asked his three closest disciples to stay awake and pray. Every time he returned they were asleep. I am sure that they didn't mean to go to sleep. It was late and as they closed their eyes to pray, the next thing they knew they were snoring. How disappointed Jesus was!
God through Isaiah proclaims the words above to remind us to remember Him. Although this is written to His people Israel, there is much that we can take away from it. Are we rebels? You bet! Do we need to remember all of the things that God has done? Absolutely! Do we need to preach to ourselves that there is one God and no other? Yes! Do we need to remember that God's purpose and His will is what is going to take place regardless of our rebellion? A resounding yes!
God does as He pleases. I wonder if I can remember that when life gets hard. I better because even the hard life is all about God and what He is going to accomplish. The real test is whether I can remember God when life is going great! It is those times when God is not in the forefront of my mind because after all...life is good! But without thinking of God and who He is and what He is accomplishing, is life really good??
So I need to "fix it in my mind and take it to heart"...God. That is the memory worth the effort to remember.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
CHANGES TO COME
A new year is here and with it usually come resolutions which hopefully will produce changes in life habits. The number one thing people go after is their weight and to start exercising or to pick up the pace a bit. Everything always sounds so good on paper but by the time February rolls in the resolutions made the first of January have been lost in the shuffle of life. We get back into the old habits of living and stay there without another thought to all of the changes we had in mind. So unless we are diligent they end up being words on paper with no meaning at all.
But God has put His Words on paper so that we can read them, enjoy them, use them and allow them to change our lives. His Words are never just words on paper although we treat them that way when we don't take them to heart and act on what we read. It takes obedience pure and simple. The obedience takes commitment and perseverance. His Words are not words that are to be forgotten by the end of the month. His Words are to be remembered and lived out.
So the resolution for this year is PAY ATTENTION TO GOD AND HIS WORDS. Let's keep it that simple. In order to do that you do have to read the Bible. In order to do that you do need to believe what you read. In order to do that you do need to trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. In order to do that it needs to be about God and not about you.
I'm on board. How about you? Let's not consider 2012 as being the end of the world! Let's consider 2012 our opportunity to look more like Jesus in all we say and do!
But God has put His Words on paper so that we can read them, enjoy them, use them and allow them to change our lives. His Words are never just words on paper although we treat them that way when we don't take them to heart and act on what we read. It takes obedience pure and simple. The obedience takes commitment and perseverance. His Words are not words that are to be forgotten by the end of the month. His Words are to be remembered and lived out.
So the resolution for this year is PAY ATTENTION TO GOD AND HIS WORDS. Let's keep it that simple. In order to do that you do have to read the Bible. In order to do that you do need to believe what you read. In order to do that you do need to trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. In order to do that it needs to be about God and not about you.
I'm on board. How about you? Let's not consider 2012 as being the end of the world! Let's consider 2012 our opportunity to look more like Jesus in all we say and do!
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Best Hardy Party Ever!!
It is the Christmas season and with it comes many parties with family and friends. Last Sunday we had the "Hardy Party". We look forward to it every year. My grandchildren love to get together with their great uncles and aunts and cousins. It is an evening filled with food, laughter, discussion and fun.
This year as every year the relatives brought Christmas gifts for the kids. Uncle Martin handed out the gifts from he and Aunt Dot. It was a tin shaped like a Christmas cookie with a card attached. Everett opened the cookie tin to find a Christmas cookie with M & Ms in it. His eyes got very big and he said, "A Christmas cookie, thank you so much!". While he was exclaiming such thanks for the Christmas cookie, the other kids had opened their card first to find a $35.00 gift card to Target. Everett had to be instructed to open the card where he found the same thing.
Then Aunt Peggy handed out the gift from she and Uncle Dave. The boys were very excited to receive a swiss army knife each. Once again leave it to Everett to exclaim, "Wow! a killing machine!". We were all laughing except for Addy who was busy looking in the little purse she had received to find small little gifts inside. She was opening each one to see that she was receiving make-up and lipsticks. She could hardly sit still. All of the sudden she jumped up, raised both arms and exclaimed, "This is the best Hardy Party ever!". This too brought much laughter from everyone.
I was thinking about the party later and thought, 'yes this was the best Hardy party ever!'. It was not because of the gifts or the company but it was because of the lesson I learned from Everett. When he was looking at one solitary Christmas cookie, he displayed a grateful heart. His eyes never said anything but 'thank you'. It seems my grandchildren are always challenging me. Do I have a grateful heart when all I receive is a cookie?
God makes His will clear concerning our heart in all situations. "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 This was demonstrated at the Hardy Party. It is the memory I will treasure from this year's celebration with the Hardys and hopefully one I will learn from. Thank you Everett. Thank you God for evidence of your Spirit to be made known through a 9 year old.
This year as every year the relatives brought Christmas gifts for the kids. Uncle Martin handed out the gifts from he and Aunt Dot. It was a tin shaped like a Christmas cookie with a card attached. Everett opened the cookie tin to find a Christmas cookie with M & Ms in it. His eyes got very big and he said, "A Christmas cookie, thank you so much!". While he was exclaiming such thanks for the Christmas cookie, the other kids had opened their card first to find a $35.00 gift card to Target. Everett had to be instructed to open the card where he found the same thing.
Then Aunt Peggy handed out the gift from she and Uncle Dave. The boys were very excited to receive a swiss army knife each. Once again leave it to Everett to exclaim, "Wow! a killing machine!". We were all laughing except for Addy who was busy looking in the little purse she had received to find small little gifts inside. She was opening each one to see that she was receiving make-up and lipsticks. She could hardly sit still. All of the sudden she jumped up, raised both arms and exclaimed, "This is the best Hardy Party ever!". This too brought much laughter from everyone.
I was thinking about the party later and thought, 'yes this was the best Hardy party ever!'. It was not because of the gifts or the company but it was because of the lesson I learned from Everett. When he was looking at one solitary Christmas cookie, he displayed a grateful heart. His eyes never said anything but 'thank you'. It seems my grandchildren are always challenging me. Do I have a grateful heart when all I receive is a cookie?
God makes His will clear concerning our heart in all situations. "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 This was demonstrated at the Hardy Party. It is the memory I will treasure from this year's celebration with the Hardys and hopefully one I will learn from. Thank you Everett. Thank you God for evidence of your Spirit to be made known through a 9 year old.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Tooth Fairy Forgets!
On Thursday of last week, Tristan, my 7 year old grandson, lost his front tooth. He was excited about it. I received a picture from his mom on my phone of his toothless smile. Another great event in the life of a child growing up.
Thursday was also the day of the Christmas tea. My daughter came during the evening, sat at my table and we enjoyed the night together. At the end of the evening, there is always the clean up. I am in charge so I am usually cleaning up for over an hour after the event has ended. This year my daughter stayed to help me. We were in my office at around 10:00 p.m. when her husband sent her a text very concerned because she hadn't let him know she was staying. The result was that she went home and then sat and explained to him how she got caught up in helping and forgot to call.
On Friday morning, Tristan came in to his mother and said, "the tooth fairy didn't bring me the money for my tooth." My daughter's response was, "Well you see it was like this. The tooth fairy was at a party last night and stayed too late. She came straight home and talked with her husband so she forgot." As Tristan was just looking at her she added, "My tooth fairy never forgot."
Tristan's response was priceless. He said, "That's because your tooth fairy was a christian!"
Don't you just love that! I do because there is a relationship in his mind with a christian and integrity and follow through. Isn't that the way we are to live our lives as followers of Christ? We need to follow through on things and mean what we say. Thank you Tristan for the reminder!!
Thursday was also the day of the Christmas tea. My daughter came during the evening, sat at my table and we enjoyed the night together. At the end of the evening, there is always the clean up. I am in charge so I am usually cleaning up for over an hour after the event has ended. This year my daughter stayed to help me. We were in my office at around 10:00 p.m. when her husband sent her a text very concerned because she hadn't let him know she was staying. The result was that she went home and then sat and explained to him how she got caught up in helping and forgot to call.
On Friday morning, Tristan came in to his mother and said, "the tooth fairy didn't bring me the money for my tooth." My daughter's response was, "Well you see it was like this. The tooth fairy was at a party last night and stayed too late. She came straight home and talked with her husband so she forgot." As Tristan was just looking at her she added, "My tooth fairy never forgot."
Tristan's response was priceless. He said, "That's because your tooth fairy was a christian!"
Don't you just love that! I do because there is a relationship in his mind with a christian and integrity and follow through. Isn't that the way we are to live our lives as followers of Christ? We need to follow through on things and mean what we say. Thank you Tristan for the reminder!!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Challenge from Mom at Breakfast
Today was my time with Mom over her usual cheese omelet and white toast. She cuts up her omelet into little squares and then takes a crisp piece of potato to put on top and then pops it in her mouth. She follows it up with a bite of toast. Each bite is done in the same way. It is what happens between these bites that can be funny and sometimes like today challenging.
I have stated before on this blog that my mom has frontal lobe disorder. She is no longer in reality and her stories are just that, stories. They are not true and actually no longer even have a hint of truth in them as far as having really taken place. But today I am able to gather a very serious challenge from her story.
One of her favorite things to say is "A lady came out on her porch when I was out walking. She yelled at me and asked me if I was Denise Hardy's mother and after I said yes...she said that Denise is the most wonderful woman I have ever known." This is said to me multiple times during the course of the omelet each week but this week there was a twist. My mother added after that, "The lady told me that she was going to commit suicide but she heard you speak and she changed her mind. She knew she had something to live for." Whoa! Where did that come from?
Although my mother never spoke to a woman who said those things, it gave me pause to think. Every word that comes out of my mouth counts. I do not know what is going on in anyone's life. The teaching that I do I need to take very seriously. It is falling on hurting ears. So I thought of this verse, "...we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1b This passage goes on to talk about the tongue. The bottom line is that spiritual maturity requires a tamed tongue. I have to remember that. God expects me to keep my tongue under control. I can't do it by myself. I need His help. He gives that to me in many ways. Today He used my mom to remind me of the seriousness of speaking words that benefit others and bring glory to God.
Thank you God for my mom who continues to teach me even if she doesn't really know it. You are using her in my life to mature me into who you want me to be.
I have stated before on this blog that my mom has frontal lobe disorder. She is no longer in reality and her stories are just that, stories. They are not true and actually no longer even have a hint of truth in them as far as having really taken place. But today I am able to gather a very serious challenge from her story.
One of her favorite things to say is "A lady came out on her porch when I was out walking. She yelled at me and asked me if I was Denise Hardy's mother and after I said yes...she said that Denise is the most wonderful woman I have ever known." This is said to me multiple times during the course of the omelet each week but this week there was a twist. My mother added after that, "The lady told me that she was going to commit suicide but she heard you speak and she changed her mind. She knew she had something to live for." Whoa! Where did that come from?
Although my mother never spoke to a woman who said those things, it gave me pause to think. Every word that comes out of my mouth counts. I do not know what is going on in anyone's life. The teaching that I do I need to take very seriously. It is falling on hurting ears. So I thought of this verse, "...we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1b This passage goes on to talk about the tongue. The bottom line is that spiritual maturity requires a tamed tongue. I have to remember that. God expects me to keep my tongue under control. I can't do it by myself. I need His help. He gives that to me in many ways. Today He used my mom to remind me of the seriousness of speaking words that benefit others and bring glory to God.
Thank you God for my mom who continues to teach me even if she doesn't really know it. You are using her in my life to mature me into who you want me to be.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Day /Runner
Today I purchased my 2012 planner. It is time to start filling in all the dates that have already been booked for 2012. I still use the pencil and paper kind. A little old fashioned but it works for me. I don't have to think about what buttons to push and what the abbreviations of certain things are. I can just write it and forget it until I need to read it again. Erasures are so very nice for changed plans and take only a minute to do.
It is an interesting name Day/Runner. You can certainly understand where it comes from. We write things down for every day and then we run to get those things accomplished. It sure seems funny to me with all of this daily running I never loose weight. It isn't useless running, well maybe sometimes it is. But mostly we make plans and run because we need to keep ourselves on track or else we would waste the day rather than run in it.
What does God say about Day/Runners? Hmm-mm an interesting question..."Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16 So if we are going to be running, it should be for the right thing. We need to be wise about what we put in our Day/Runner and it should be counting for the glory of God. As I begin to put in the things already on schedule for 2012, I want to take the time to evaluate God's glory in each of them. I want my running to count for the eternal kingdom to come.
Let me just say that I love the whole planning and writing out the plans for the coming year. Probably because I love office supplies. I also want to say that this year I got a very pretty Day/Runner. It's all about style. How girlie is that! So when you see me run by carrying my Day/Runner, please notice the design and color. When you do, I will make the most of the opportunity by giving you a very big smile. :)
It is an interesting name Day/Runner. You can certainly understand where it comes from. We write things down for every day and then we run to get those things accomplished. It sure seems funny to me with all of this daily running I never loose weight. It isn't useless running, well maybe sometimes it is. But mostly we make plans and run because we need to keep ourselves on track or else we would waste the day rather than run in it.
What does God say about Day/Runners? Hmm-mm an interesting question..."Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16 So if we are going to be running, it should be for the right thing. We need to be wise about what we put in our Day/Runner and it should be counting for the glory of God. As I begin to put in the things already on schedule for 2012, I want to take the time to evaluate God's glory in each of them. I want my running to count for the eternal kingdom to come.
Let me just say that I love the whole planning and writing out the plans for the coming year. Probably because I love office supplies. I also want to say that this year I got a very pretty Day/Runner. It's all about style. How girlie is that! So when you see me run by carrying my Day/Runner, please notice the design and color. When you do, I will make the most of the opportunity by giving you a very big smile. :)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music
And that is all I have to say today!! I am resting in Him alone! Thank you Jesus!
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music
And that is all I have to say today!! I am resting in Him alone! Thank you Jesus!
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