Once again, It’s been a long while.  I thought I would be able to publish more often,  Nevertheless…

I read a short devotion referencing Matt 26:59-63.  Many people were approached to provide false witness against Jesus, finally two came forth.  Jesus did not respond to their accusations.  The power of Silence.  Saying nothing, not defending yourself, letting the Lord defend you, listening to the Holy Spirit.

This is not a natural response to human interaction.  Jesus’ silence was described as being full of presence, illustrating God’s power and presence in our salvation.  Jesus was peaceful, he knew that no words were needed.

When the Holy Spirit tell you to be quiet, not talk, shut up…Listen He has something planned.

From your friend

Dearly Yours

It has been a while since I posted a blog.  Monday’s post was something I that moved me.  today’s thoughts are something I held on to for a long while….

Step out, create room for God.

Don’t yield to your fear.

Change the ways you see life by changing the way you live life (change your patterns) (like Jesus told the sick man, in john 5:1-8).

Perhaps we need to “get up”, to change positions and patterns.  A lack of thriving or success maybe because we haven’t taken enough risk.  Like chapter 5 describes when Jesus called disciples.  He preached,  his advised fishermen (who obeyed), and succeed.  They ignore the  normal pattern of fishing protocol and practice, and gained a boatload, a new focus and practice (ministry).

That’s my “nugget” for now.

Take care, Consider God

signed,

Dearly Yours.

 

 

 

 

Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus endures many tests, and we are going to be tested.

We are going to be tested, surprised and attacked by the environment.  Like most humans, we have a desire to know the future so that we can prepare and defend ourselves.  But as we live this life we need to ask ourselves “am I intentional in preparing for surprise and temptations?

So, we become prepared with daily work:

1. Pray about resisting temptation, daily deliverance (i.e. Lord keep me focused; Matthew 6:9-13)
2. Ask God whether our decisions are pretty to him (Ephesians 5:10, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 12:1)
3. Be equipped with scripture (John 3:30. Hebrews 4:12
4. Trust the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13, John 14:16, and v26)

The results: see Matthew 4:11; the the deveil will leave, angels come to help.

You should consider your choices…He’s real

Signed, Dearly Yours

Listen to this 2 minute song:

I love this song, so sweet, so brief.  Charlie’s speech is honest, heart-felt.  As we know, thinks worked out.

Speaking of working out, how did your resolutions go this year?  Do you  recall that mind-set thought I shared: “Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

Has anything improved for you this year? any change in attitude, more positivity you say, or not today, regardless…

There is no time like the present, so let’s embrace Philippians 4:8;   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Let’s have Great Holidays,

Signed, Dearly Yours

 

What have you been thinking about?

The Lord shared with me that, “Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

We focus on the negative, and  allow positivity to escape our memories.

 

Paul wrote that we should think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)  Paul also wrote that we should look for the good (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

So, over that last 11 months, how have we done?

Thank the Lord for loving reminders, right?

I am your friend, Dearly Your 

It’s been 10 months, since I wrote:, “Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

Since the Lord reminded me about having a positive mind set. 

He said that:

1. We focus on the negative, worry about the future and fret about out past mistakes.  We hold on to negativity like Velcro holds a child’s foot in a shoe.  
2. We allow positivity to escape our memories.  We enjoy the happy good events in our lives but we let those wonderful events slip away like bacon and eggs cooking in a Teflon frying pan.  
3. We have “itchy ears”  2 Timothy 4:3-4, ( “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”)
4. The Lord gave Paul a statement worth considering:
   1. Philippians 4:8, advises us to think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)
5. Lastly, Paul wrote to the Romans (see chapter 8, verse 28) advising them to look for the good (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”)

So, how have your resolutions been going, your promises to your self.

I am praying for you.

Signed, Dearly Yours

 

“Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

We focus on the negative, worry about the future and fret about out past mistakes.  We hold on to negativity like Velcro holds a child’s foot in a shoe.

We enjoy the happy good events in our lives but we let those wonderful events slip away like bacon and eggs cooking in a Teflon frying pan.  We allow positivity to escape our memories.

 

Paul in Philippians 4:8, advises us to think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)

Romans 8:28 advised us to look for the good (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

What have I done with this resolution?  Well, I will share if you will.  

Signed, Dearly Yours

 

So, recalling the past in a positive way, brings me to a January post: 

“Our minds are like Teflon on the Good, but like Velcro on the BAD.”

We focus on the negative, worry about the future and fret about out past mistakes.  We hold on to negativity like Velcro holds a child’s foot in a shoe.  We enjoy the happy good events in our lives but we let those wonderful events slip away like bacon and eggs cooking in a Teflon frying pan.  We allow positivity to escape our memories.  Why is that, why do we enjoy negativity?  Well, heart rates increase, blood pressure rises when we gossip and look for imperfections, Listening audiences grow, engage us, when bad reports are shared.  Our popularity improves (or seems to)… 2 Timothy 4:3-4, call this  “itchy ears”, turning way from the truth.  Perhaps we are confusing these reactions  (rise in heart rate, blood pressure and attention) with positive feedback…it isn’t.  

Paul in Philippians 4:8, advises us to think about positive happy things (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.)

Romans 8:28 advised us to look for the good (And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2018 should be about learning to recognize the positive good things around us.

Was this a resolution for you?  What is the status of your other resolutions?

Hum…There is no time better that NOW to re-visit them and recommit.

See you soon,

Signed, Dearly Yours

 

NO NOT SIX1 

I listened to a talk on commitment by a neuro scientist named Dr. Susan Pierce-Thompson.  She offered 6 ways to create accountability.   

1. To yourself 

1. To a group 

1. To an individual (buddy or sponsor) 

1.  To a formal Contract 

1.  Get an unbiased person to ask you a simple Question from an unbiased 

1. OK, this seemed very similar to #3 

1.  Set Up a Game where you throw away/give up/lose the use of something you love 

I recalled that the number 6 represented man’s imperfections.  I did a little research about the number six, to see if my recollections were correct.  See one reference statement below: 

…, the number 6 in the Bible is all about man and his labor. It signifies man’s shortcomings and the corruption he added into the (perfect) world created by God. In whatever way we mathematically represent six it signifies corruption and imperfection only. It shows man as one who is without of God. Since we were created on the sixth day this number is permanently stamped, and we will bear this number always.  

The number six not only denotes human labor but also human sorrow. Since God’s perfection is corrupted by human corruption so man is bound to suffer from sorrows. Six days have been given to man to work and perform labor and one day for rest and this we can observe in the modern era too. It is also true that the creation ended on the sixth day, i.e. God completed the creation of the world on the sixth day so it also represents secular completeness. 

 But when I reference the number seven I found the following:    

Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things. According to some Jewish traditions, the creation of Adam occurred on September 26, 3760 B.C. (or the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar). The word ‘created’ is used 7 times describing God’s creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God’s Sabbath is on the 7th day. 

So, it seems clear to me that the best way to gain completeness or success is to to seek the number 7, and its biblical concept of completeness.   

So, here is my seventh entry to the doctor’s list on accountability.:  Ask God to be your accountability partner.

I have a friend, recovering alcoholic who chose Jesus as her sponsor.  She was told that she would fail, relapse and die with the disease…Twenty five years later she is still alcohol free; she has not abused or drank alcohol during that entire time.  So, for her ONE was enough…

Take Care from,

Dearly Yours

 

I read a few of these short stories and conclude that they are simply common sense sometimes wrongly advised comments:

Each brief story (my kind of tea) is followed by a one-line takeaway: for instance

• Hercules and the Wagoner—Self-help is the best help.  Hercules would not help  a wagon owner move his wagon out of a ditch.
• Traveler and His Dog – The loiterer often blames delays on his active friend. Traveler readied himself for a trip, dog stands by the door.
• Wolf and the Crane – In serving the wicker, expect no reward for your time or efforts, be thankful you escape with your life.  Crane aided the wolf.

I think a better book to read (full of short stories, my cup  of tea) would be the Bible, where there is some benevolence, care, heart-filled concern.

Any thoughts?  I am still your friend,

Signed, Dearly Yours