Choose Life

Choose Life
courtesy free clip art

 

I took notes as Pastor Jerry was reading from Deuteronomy 30:14-20 and began his sermon.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Two options were being put forth, life and death. God gave the simple answer; choose Life.  The consensus was; Serve God and be blessed, turn away from God and be cursed.

Moses put up with grumbling from the children of Israel, and was angry about their fickle turning to worship golden calves instead of the true God. 

Moses reminded the people to consider how blessed they were when serving God, and the commandments were not too difficult to obey.  They needed to face their past failures and sin, repent and renew their commitment to serve God and Him only.

In simple terms God created the heavens, the earth and all that there is with physical and spiritual laws.  When we break those laws there are consequences. 

For instance the law of gravity, if we jump out of a plane minus a parachute, death is the result. 

The laws of morality, health, taking care of our body, when broken bring a penalty.  Obey and live, disobey and suffer. 

Things are not always cut and dry and there are private choices.  A few choices would be to attend college, marry, divorce, live immorally, terminate a pregnancy, abuse the body with drugs and drink and accept the results. 

 

We may regret some choices in life, and are sorry people were hurt. 

Corporate Choices are found in the church, the city, business, the Government, and these decisions either bringing peace, or pain.

Choices of Greed, to illustrate: the destruction of the rain forests, wasting of water cause the entire world to suffer.  There is so much wrong in the world the result of erroneous choices.

Jesus was concerned about RIGHT.  He taught to do the right thing.  Our very actions and comments have consequences. 

Deuteronomy 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou may do it.

It is not God’s faithfulness that is in question.  The fact is, will the people keep their part of the bargain, and not try to edit the covenant?

Meanwhile God is calling us to choose LIFE, because He wants to bless us.

The ball is in our Court; Let us pick it up!

 

Guest Post by Robert’s Musings Meow Meow

Meow Meow
courtesy Photobucket.com

My husband Robert writes fiction but also does true stories.  This is a true story about a restaurant we often drove to for Sunday dinner.

 

MEOW MEOW by Robert Moon

My favorite Italian restaurant, sat on a high hill overlooking the Carquinez Strait, with the bridge, and all the boats below.  It was a pleasant view while eating.  

 

Their food was delicious, and the menu had everything I liked including their home made Ravioli.

To Read the rest of his story CLICK HERE - -

 

Tooth Ache

Tooth Hurting
courtesy photobucket.com

I knew something was out of kilter, but there were things to do and places to go, so I put off going to the dentist.

Finally I called my old dental office ran by a family and requested a different dentist.  They gave me an appointment in two days at 8:00 AM. 

X-rays were taken and the dentist gruffly said, “You have a deep pocket infection and the tooth cannot be saved.” 

I said, “Well I would like to save it.” 

He wrote out a referral to a specialist in the next town and said they probably will confirm my diagnosis.

His receptionist was kind to phone the other doctor and they said come in tomorrow at 4:00 PM.  She also phoned Wal-Mart Pharmacy for some Amoxicillin.

The next day, as they escorted me to one of the exam rooms, I could see their equipment was modern and up to date.  Their X-ray machine was digital and the Doctor took my photo with her camera, which went on my records. 

She also took photos of the inside of my mouth, and took new X-rays, as she said the one sent over was blurry and she needed a better X-ray to see the entire tooth. 

She confirmed that my tooth already had a root canal and was badly inflamed, I had much bone loss and the tooth needed extraction.  She explained that when a tooth already has a root canal and is infected, it cannot be saved. 

 

She said I could return to my dentist, or as this was an emergency, she would stay and extract it now.  She recommended adding a bone graft to the socket that would bond to my bone and give my jaw strength.  I agreed and told Robert in the waiting room what was to happen.

She was very good, and I hardly felt a thing.  The tooth came out in pieces, which took longer to remove, and in the process the crown next to it, became loose and fell off.

The doctor let me know that she would scrape and clean the tooth next to it, and glue my crown back on at no charge.

Well, that part of ordeal is over and a return was scheduled for next week to see how I am doing.

Because of the bone graft, the doctor recommended a soft diet, and cool foods.  What I did was to make a large smoothie with ripe bananas, yogurt, milk and a cup of applesauce.  This I placed in several glasses and froze.  

 

For breakfast I enjoyed some cool Cream of wheat. 

Also I made up a coffee mocha drink and froze it in several glasses.

Yes, I hurt, and am swollen, so I am taking IBPROFEN and AMOXICILLIN, and sleeping with my head elevated.

If I decide to have an implant in four months, the bone graft is already in place.

May all your days be pain free and no teeth hurting!

Taking a Trip to Visit old Friends

It had been four years that I had hoped to take a trip to visit Sylvia my prayer partner of long ago. 

 

My daughter Judie, insisted that I must take this journey and she would drive me as a gift. 

 

She had cancelled the trip once due to a bad cough on her part, and I was just about ready to take off on my own. 

Robert said, “Judie wants to do this for you and you should allow her to gift you.” 

 

So I decided this would be safest and best to travel with my daughter. 

 

Judie had everything planned; she would be attending a three day conference on Healing at Bethel church in Redding, and then she would pick me up early Saturday morning and we would be on our way to Stockton. 

My former Pastor’s wife lives there with her new husband Arnie.  (Pastor Gene went to heaven many years ago) and she is active in the Assembly of God Church, teaching Kenneth Hagin’s Faith quarterly to a group of 60 disciples.  We visited, went to lunch and then she and Arnie gave us a tour of the lovely facilities of the church. 

Our visit was just long enough and then we took off for Modesto where a couple of friends from days at Rhema pastor a church.  They wanted to take us to the Golden Choral, where we enjoyed a nice dinner. 

 

Judie shared some of the happenings at the conference, and they let us hear what they were doing.  I gifted them with my three books. 

 

Our Pastor friends wanted us to come in and visit some more, but it was getting late, and we had an hour’s drive to Madera where Judie had secured a lovely hotel.

The next morning was Sunday, and it was only a 30 minute drive to the Church of God where we would sit with Sylvia my prayer partner of long ago. 

 

I took notes and posted a story about Job on my Sunday digested sermons. 

 

Then we went to one of their favorite Mexican Restaurants and enjoyed a lovely meal. 

 

Plans were made to visit her home that evening, where she offered us chocolate cream pie and coffee and we had a nice visit as we talked of miracles that God is doing.

The next morning Sylvia took us to shop the quaint boutiques in Kingsburg, and then on to lunch where we met up with her husband, and visited some more.

Bidding farewell, we had a long drive ahead of us to Lathrop, where daughter Nancy and Randy live. 

 

Judie had been documenting our trip on Facebook with her new I-pod and was using it as a means to communicate with Nancy.  They insisted on taking us to dinner at Applebee’s and then back to their home to visit their animals and share more talk.

The next morning we headed to Roseville where Judie had arranged for me to have my portrait taken at the Picture People.  Then on to Kaiser where I could pick up my extra pair of eye glasses - - and then on to home. 

 

I was grateful for all of Judies planning and how we packed a lot into three days. 

 

Judie likes to book a hotel for herself and she needed a private day before she would catch her plane to carry her home to Southern California.

Weakly Counting the Week’s Blessings



Courtesy photobucket.com

 

Stress #1

Mid December we purchased a new Hamilton Beach Micro-wave oven, from Wal-Mart. It worked for about one week and then stopped dead.  Nothing we did could resurrect it. 

Search as we did search, we could not find the receipt for the thing.  Finally I phoned Wal-Mart and the nice lady said bring it and the box down to the store and we will help you.

The clerk asked if I would like another microwave and I told her, 'No thank you, I don’t think so."  Without any questions, they gave me a refund gift card to reuse for what ever I needed.

Stress #2

The overhead garage door on our shed quit working and it appeared that the chain had come loose.

Robert pulled our ladder in place and climbed up and tried to secure the chain, but he began to feel weak.  As he came down the ladder and stepped to the ground his knee gave way.  He fell scraping his back on some things stored there, and our Blue Tick Hound that followed him began to whine.  Robert tried to right himself and he fell again.

Our dog continued whining.  Soon Robert was able to get up and come into the house to tell me what happened.  I helped him remove his torn shirt and I applied ointment and a bandage and gave him some water to drink.  Thankfully no bones were broken, but he was a shaken and emotionally upset hubby.

Happy Stress #3  Actually No stress

Saturday morning Applebee’s and a group of cooperating churches put on a fund raiser for Feed the Poor.  Tickets were $8.00 of which 4 went to the project and 4 to Applebee’s for the food and the cooks.  Volunteers from each church did the order taking, serving and bussing.  The breakfast was a lovely success.  Our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter along with Robert and me, were in attendance.

Happy Stress #4

Our daughter’s family came home with us and Dennis our son-in-law climbed our ladder and fixed the spring in the door.

Now I am weak from all the stress this week !

 

Melancholy

Sad Girl
courtesy photobucket

It doesn’t happen often, but in my times of being down in the dumps, I am usually made aware that I have drifted into a deep Pit. 

Struggling in a black hole, a Pity Party and am simply “Feeling sorry for myself.”

Psalms 43:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?  hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Job 3:25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

Usually it is because I am overwhelmed and must set aside some duties  however important they may be.

When I am willing to release some of what I hold so tightly, then I find the capability to Trust. 

"Are you willing to live the Life I give you?"  This question from the Lord is so pungent and powerful. 

 

And a similar question "Do you want my will or what you desire?"

 

Another question follows closely on its heels, "Will you trust Me?"

It is good to spend time listening when we pray.  We do love to do all the talking and for most of us, listening proves difficult, but necessary.

The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion. —Proverbs 28:1

This is the heritage of the righteous. We are warriors with enemies to overcome. One of our strongest enemies is fear with its family members of worry and depression.

This should be one of our favorite verses, For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

 

Salty Bright and Good

We are to be Salt and a Light
courtesy free clip art

 

Pastor Jerry was reading from Matthew 5:13-20 about Salt and Light.

^{Matthew 5: 13, 14} Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Salt is used to flavor and to preserve.  Salt that has lost taste is not worth anything.

Some people are so bright that they can light up a room.  Not a blinding light, but a steady beam.  Not just their little circle, but they bring hope and courage to those around them.  They are not the source, but they carry the light. 

Let your light shine holding it high so that all might see.  Share and teach the Word of God.

Many Christians hold their faith to be private.  They are silent and shy about their faith, and we wonder if they are actually not secure in what they believe.

We give to missions local and far, yet we do not see the results, but in faith we continue to give.  As Jesus would do, we serve all persons. 

We do this because of Jesus and the way he reached out to those who were sinners to bring them into the light.

His light was not glaring and overbearing to turn them away, but to bring them close.

A pinch of salt in the pot is enough to bring flavor.  A large cup of salt will ruin the soup.

We do not want to force our faith on others, or step on toes, but we must not be silent completely because we are told by Jesus to go out and change the world; as we are salt and light.  We must demonstrate salt and light by our words and our actions.

True righteousness does not mean “Holier than thou.”  Faith can be summed up by some on a bumper sticker or on a tee shirt.

Many will know Christ by our works, our example and way of life.  Practice your Righteousness.  Some may ask, “Why are you doing this?”  We answer it is the command of Christ.

Volunteers are needed to listen rather than do a lot of talking.  Then the person will be able to listen to you.

Jesus came not to enforce the law but to fulfill it.  Catch a glimpse of His life, and soak it in.  Jesus said, “You are the Salt and also the Light of the world.”

Stay Tasty and Brilliant

Favor

Blessings courtesy photobucket

 Proverbs 8:35  For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.

To receive favor is a wonderful blessing.  When favor comes from God it is more than simply approval and opens us up to preferentiality treatment

I have a relative who wants to always be the favorite so she buys presents and spends money to purchase love and acceptance. 

How about God?  Are we his favorite?  Even though God has MANY children, does it seem possible that you can be His favorite and His special child?

Do we measure favor by the good things he does for us, or does favor go deeper than our health, possessions and status.

Beloved there is MORE – God desires to flood you with His favor!

How to receive His Favor;  The simple bottom line is this:

Love God and Love people as you love yourself.

John Eckhardt (quote) - -  Favor is goodwill. This is God’s kindness and benevolence given to those who love Him. Favor will release great blessings, including prosperity, health, opportunity and advancement. The Bible records numerous examples of God’s favor upon His people causing them to experience many breakthroughs. Favor is God’s loving kindness.

 
God says: “You don’t need money. You need My favor.” You need His shalom—the full measure of peace—to operate in your life. This is your gift from Him if you are His child, if you are in covenant with Him.

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus -

 

Hair styles Change

Old Hair Style Short

For many years I had worn my blond hair in a sort of school girl Dutch Bob.  It was a simple style and easy to care for.

Then several years ago now, my husband suggested that I might enjoy a very short hair cut.  He took me to his lady barber who cuts hair for both men and women.  Many of her women customers are senior citizens in our area.

"Short real short," is what my husband told her.  When the barber finished, I wondered if that was really me.

The girls at work told me they did not like my new look.  "You will get used to it and then you will like it," I told them.  It certainly was easy to care for.  No curlers or hot iron needed.  Simply wash - dry and that was it.

If my husband is happy with my hair, then I too am pleased. 

Now it was time for another change.  I made a visit to the hair dresser and a perm was ordered.  Now I was a curly top for sure.

My son-in-law commented, your new look reminds me of Grandma Ruth.  I was silent but that got my dander up, because I did not want to look like Grandma Ruth.

The ladies at church said, “You look ten years younger.”  Those words made me smile.

Now I am allowing my hair to grow longer.  There are times a change is good. 

Hazel February 2014 Picture People Photo

My daughter Judie thought I should have my photo taken at the Picture People, so off we went. 

Now I changed my profile photo to me current.

As far as God is concerned, He could care less about my hair, because He only looks at my heart.

 

Poor Job

My daughter Judie took me on a trip to visit some of my friends that I haven’t seen in years!  My sweet hubby Robert allowed me to go.  I will write more about my trip later.

 

Poor Job having a Pity Party

 

This post is about Sunday and the service at Church of God in Kingsburg with my friend Sylvia.

The Associate Pastor Ed Anderson was ministering on the Book of JOB. 

 

Job was rich, but God lifted his hand of protection to test Job and he began to loose his children and all his wealth. 

 

Only his friends and his wife were there to comfort him.  ??

They were not much help because they asked Job, “What sin did you commit to bring this on?” 

 

Job knew he was innocent and his reply was to always to trust God in every situation.   He said: “My Life is but a breath and shall my eyes no more see good?”

God breathed on the dirt/Adam and he became a living soul, and we are reminded that our life is but a breath.

We can have the greatest life, and all at once, things happen to change our circumstances.

Life is fragile and when tragedy strikes, we must understand that we are NOT being punished by God.  Satan’s job is to try to tell you that you are unworthy and family and friends may also discourage you.

 
May we not add to someone’s suffering by our negative words, but bring encouragement with positive scriptures and our heartfelt prayers to lift up those who are sick or lonely.

A child depends on their parents for care and protection, and as children of the Lord, we too must put our total faith in Jesus.  Come to the throne expecting to receive; yes we know we are not perfect, but we are washed in the blood of the Lamb.

The simple truth is God loves us, and even if we are sitting in the ash heap with mud packs on our boils, we must not be angry with God, because he is not the one who did this. 

Jesus let us know that the thief is the destroyer, it is he who steals from us, and he is the liar and also the messenger of death.

God answered Job:  “Quit asking so many questions!  No excuses, no explanations, you need to make up your mind and understand that you are still in my hands, and I will bring you through this trial.” 

 

God encourages Job (and us) - - to walk by Faith and not by Sight - - and to realize that you are never alone!

Job said, “Tell me Lord what to do?” 

Then God told Job to “Pray for your unbelieving friends and I will deliver you.”

 

When Job prayed for his friends - - God returned to Job, twice as much as he previously had.   

 

Keep Trusting and Believing!