Bridge over troubled water

I am not fond of going over bridges. I have a sister that also shares that feeling. Many years ago when we were kids she was driving my brother and me someplace but in order to reach our destination we had to cross a bridge. I had no idea of her fear nor did my brother. She was driving I was looking out the window at the nice calm water. All of a sudden I heard my brother scream at the top of his lungs at her to open her eyes. I quickly shot them a look. He had a look of panic on his face and was holding onto the stirring wheel with a death grip. My sister had her eyes looked just as tight as he had the stirring wheel. I was very thankful he was the one sitting close to her because he was paying attention to the driving. He held the stirring wheel tightly the rest of the way over that short bridge. I believe she kept her eyes closed the rest of the way over the bridge. It was a frightful experience and helped to increase my fear of crossing bridges. My brother and I were not old enough to drive. We were sure we could count on her to get us safely over the bridge to our journey's end. She allowed her fear to overtake leaving us to handle the situation. A big thank you to my brave brother who helped us reach the end of the bridge safely. I think about that situation often when I hear the song Bridge Over Troubled Water. The song is telling us that God is like a bridge for us. He will lay Himself down over our rough times and guide us across. When the troubles of life make the water choppy that we need to cross what do we do? Or who do we allow to stir us to safety? Do we try to cross it all by ourselves closing our eyes in hopes of reaching the other side? I can tell you this, had my brother not interceded for us we would have crashed. We would have never reached our destination. I think it is a great idea to allow God to be our bridge over trouble times. Or if we find ourselves going over it at least allow Him to grab the stirring wheel and finish driving us to safety. He is strong, safe, and dependable. We will never have to worry about crossing the stormy waters with Him at the wheel. He will always hold on tight and keep us going straight. If we try all by ourselves the fear might overwhelm us causing us to take our hands off the wheel sending us crashing and sinking. The question I am left with is, "Who am I (or you) going to let be my bridge or guide me (or you) over the rough times in my life? I think I'll do my best to allow God to have full control of this vessel so I can reach my finally destination safely. What about you? Have a safe trip crossing your troubled waters of life.

Claim your hope

Are there things in your life that keep you tied up and afraid? Does it seem all hope is lost? Do you keep thinking why should you keep hanging around? Do you believe all the negative things people have said about you? Does this sound like you? I also have walking or crawled down that path, the trail of despair. I also have believed all the negative things that have been said about me until I saw no positive things at all. When I gave way to those fears I gave them complete control of my life. When this happened I found myself in a state that was not pleasant. It's effect on me was: I struggled to put one foot in front of the other, fighting to just get out of bed, not feeling like eating, somedays not even eating, not caring if I saw another person, closing the curtains so no one could see me, hiding in my house and really not wanting to even exist any longer. I had absolutely no hope. I learned I did not have to stay in that state. Great news for you, you also don't have to stay in that state either. This is how I got out. First I had to allow someone to help because I could not help myself I was too far in the deep pit. I didn't want to ask for help but I had to bite the bullet and do it anyway. I did not enjoy the miserable state I found myself in. Do you enjoy your state? Second I had to trust them to help me. I had learned at an early age not to trust people. The move to except help was a giant one. Then I had to believe that I could regain the hope that I had lost, or get hope that I felt I never had. It was not an easy adventure. But I desired to be set free from my hopelessness that was my constant companion. I wanted to never see that long time chum again. I was shocked and surprised to see how many people were really willing to help me change the state I was in. You might have already tried and given up feeling like what's the use. I also understand that I had too. But I am here to tell you keep trying there is freedom from the chains that are so tightly wrapped around you. I have been able to break my chains and throw them away.  You might be surprised at how many people are willing to help you to find the hope that you need to reach your freedom. Take a deep breath and reach out and allow that to happen. You are not alone. God has put people out there that are just waiting with the help you need. Do not allow another day to go by without beginning your search for the hope you lost or if you're like me never had. Hope is yours for the seeking. Have a great day searching and finding your hope.

Who's responsible for who?

When a child is born who is responsible for them? The parents are of course. They are responsible to keep them fed, sheltered and all around care. A loving parent takes on those responsibilities without even a thought. I'm not saying children don't try the patience. Even with that thought the parent continues to the best they know how. Those loving parents train them to be responsible people. The goal is to train them so they can go into the world when they are old enough and make a great contribution to society. We count it a privilege to have these little ones for a number of years under our care. We do the best we know how, then leave the rest in God's hands. They become adults then what? Are you still accountable for their behavior? I don't believe we are. They do not ask us to make all of their decisions. Even if we try the chances are they will not listen. They will quickly say "I am adult now and I can do what I want". Even though we feel bad when they made bad judgements we are not responsible. They might try to give you us guilt trip by tell us it is all their fault. I believe they might do this so they don't have to except responsibility for their actions. It is much easier to blame someone else for your mistakes than to take the blame yourself, that is true for all of us. But everyone is accountable for what they do and say. As they are adults we need to continue to love and accept them but that doesn't mean we have to approve of their wrong behavior.  When they were a child we didn't approve and it should not change. People should not judge us because of our adult child's wrong behavior. If they must judge than give it to the party responsible for the actions. There are times a parent still feels that if they would have done something different maybe their child wouldn't have made wrong decisions. But as a parent we cannot allow that to overshadow the respectable job we have done. We are not perfect just like our children are not. If God is not telling us their behavior is our fault than don't let anyone else. We are each held accountable for our own actions in the sight of God and that is what counts. God loves us in our imperfections as we should love others with theirs. You are responsible for you and no one else. We should stop blaming and start excepting the consequences of the decisions we make. The only way I see of making wholesome choices is by allowing God to direct you in the right way. Have a great day allowing God to help with your decisions.

What have you learned?

I have just finished reading a wonderful book it is a classic, "Hinds' Feet On High Places" by Hannah Hurnard. (It can be purchased on Amazon) It described the struggle a girl named Much-Afraid. She has been trying to reach the high place. The Good Shepherd helps her along the way also he gives her two companions to assist on her journey. In spite of the assistance the trails of life were not taken away. Family members and town people keep trying to trip her up and make her stop her quest but she keeps pushing forward. The whole book is very much like the struggles we face in our life's journey. She finally makes it to the High Place and the Good Shepherd asks her what she learned. Her response is what I would like to share right from the book. "First," said she (Much-Afraid). "I learned that I must accept with joy all that you allowed to happen to me on the way and everything to which the path led me! That I was never to try to evade it but to accept it and lay down my own will on the altar and say, "Behold me, I am thy little handmaiden Acceptance-with-Joy.' Then I learned that I must bear all that others were allowed to do against me and to forgive with no trace of bitterness and to say to thee, 'Behold me-I am thy little handmaiden Bearing-with-Lover," that I may receive power to bring good out of this evil."  These words are great ones for us to keep in mind. We will face struggles but the key is to overcome, don't allow them to keep you down. Keep pushing forward. We all can do it, many before us have and so can we. What will you answer be when someone asks you "what have you learned?" Have a great day.

Overwhelmed

Have you ever had times you have felt overwhelmed? There are times I have a number of things I need to do and everything is important and good stuff. I become overwhelmed then if I'm not careful I just walk around shaking my head. I can tell you shaking my head doesn't get any of them done which can lead straight to great discouragement. I would like to share with you these words from Michael Sanders I read in the other days devotional. He said a friend of his gave him this advice for those times. "Do what you can and give the rest a nod and a prayer." I thought that was interesting and I was thankful he went on explained. "A nod indicated that we see the problem, we are not turning a blind eye to it or ignoring it. That problem will just have to wait its turn. A prayer says that for the moment we are leaving it in the hands of God. Perhaps God has another servant equipped and better prepared for the challenge."  Just reading that gives me a freeing feeling. My goal is learn to do that with everything. I believe it will help life run a little smother. If you share the same problem I challenge you to join Michael Sanders and me in making this our practice. Have a great time nodding and praying.

A Shelter

"For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy." Psalm 61:3

Those words have been very true in my life. I started attending church at six. I needed something safe to hold onto and I found that in God. Did I understand all of what God was about? No and I still don't to this day. I guess if I did I would be god and I am so not. What I do understand is that God is kind, patient, understanding and all around love. In the dark hours of my life I have reached out and held onto Him. I have not always done, said or acted right but in spite of it all He has been there. I have not always felt Him. I have not always believed He was even caring. But what I have discovered is even in the hardest time of life He is there. I think He is just waiting for us to reach out to Him. To really know Him we need to keep in constant communion with Him. It is not easy but doable. We will go through hard times. That's a fact but the question we should give great consideration to where are we going to run for shelter? The world offers a lot of different things to help us block out the fact that we even have any problems. But how do they make you feel after? What do your actions say about your character? If it is done in secret just think how you would feel if your best friend found out? I think of the hidden sin of my father and wonder what the people he worked with would think if they knew. Do they help solve your problem or just mask it until it raises its old nasty head again? I know that when I allow God to be my shelter: first I know He is safe, second I know He will protect me from the circumstances, third I know He will help me through and last that He has the solution waiting to guide to the end of the battle. I would encourage you to seek God out and see what a great shelter He is in times of the storms. May your shelter stand firm and help you become a better person through all the tuff times.

Who should judge?

 

I think it would not be easy to be a judge. They have a very important job. They decide with the help of a jury and testimony of others if the person is guilty of a crime or if there has been a mistake. They render the verdict of guilty or not guilty. If guilty they state the sentence. I would not want to be the one that said those final words of judgement. What if I was not given all the important information and I ruined someone's life? I'm not sure how I could handle that but I do applaud those that have taken that job of great responsibility. But what about those that appoint their self as judge, jury and executioner. We had a person that confronted us with a guilty verdict before he even knew any facts. He didn't come to seek out what facts or truth he seemed to have only come with a sentence. He did not have a compassionate heart it was only one ready to judge. Had he taken time to listen to what we had to say in our defense he would have seen the whole situation very differently and the sentence would have been different I am sure. He totally drew his conclusion on his own thinking and no facts. His judgement did more harm to the brokenness we were already suffering. After he passed the sentence he left and we sat in shock. I don't know why he thought he could play judge. I think we should leave the judging to those in the courts and God. If we think a person has a problem than we should go to them not to judge but to help. Approach them with love and concern. Ask and listen to what is in their troubled soul. After you have heard what their concerns and problems are then offer help if you can. If you cannot help still show love. We all need guidance from time to time but we never need condemnation. We are all fallible humans so be careful about passing judgement on others. If we do not serve as a judge in the court system (we should be praying for them) than we should leave the judging up to God. "Judge not least you be judged yourself." (Matthew 7:1 NASB) God knows all the matters of the heart allow Him to be your the judging when it is needed. He does all things with understanding and love. We should always be loving and carin