Is this a good or bad pest?

Subtle hints from others are not always enough....have you ever walked away from someone just to have them follow you?  Have you changed the subject just to have someone change it right back?  Have you shifted your focus to something else just to have a person force you to focus back on them?

We have all had these friends, moments, episodes...some of us have been these pests! Sometimes I can be like a gnat in someone's ear when I am on a mission. I admit, when I need to help a family or child, I can be relentless if I think I am on to something!

Hmmm...tonight I thought about how I had annoyed someone today. I will admit ultimately the outcome was helpful to someone else, so I would say it worked out okay  In the end, the person I annoyed was thanking me for what I did (ironic in some ways). The lesson in this is sometimes pest grow on you....so maybe I have grown on this person.

This is a pest that has lived outside of my office for a long time....he or one of his relatives was even there last year.  He sits in this same spot and stares at me. Sometimes he nestles under the seal and I only see his tail.  I use to knock on the window to scare him away.  Now, I expect him to be there.  When he isn't, I look closer for his tail.  He has grown on me...so much, I went outside and took a picture this week (I humor myself in so many ways....).

I stop and ponder wondering how would God describe me?  Am I a pest to Him?  I want to be!

Think back...if a pest is someone who constantly nags at you, desires to be with you all the time, desires your guidance, wants your attention, desires to mirror you then that is what we should desire spiritually.  I want God to want me around...to notice when I stray away....

As pest, may we desire to:

Nag God... Praying without ceasing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17

Be with God...But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be 
added to you. Matthew 6:33

Have God's direction...Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

Mirror Him....And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  
2 Corinthians 3:18

Know more about Him....I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:111

Are you a talker or listener? Blahblahblah

Too many words....blahblahblah....

I have always been a talker...my children are talkers....I am sorry to all of their teachers; they got it honestly!

I am trying to minimize my words. I have a lot to say and I am usually in a hurry. I rush through because my to do list is mammoth.  Not to complain, I do like it that way. God created me as an Energizer Bunny.  I have long lasting batteries, but they still need recharging at times.  In an effort to save some of my juice, I have been trying to minimize my words.

Sometimes I say so much, I know I lost people at hey and they tune back in at bye!  I know the extraneous details are not always necessary.

Why am I telling you this?  To say, we have so much to say that we often forget to listen!  God wants us to be still and listen.  So I am tuning in and trying to listen more...shhhhhh....enjoy the quiet, for in it, God has a still small voice...wait on it 'cause it is bound to be good!

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him."  Psalm 37:7 

How many friends do you have? Social Media tells all! A true Christian Friend is so much more...

How many friends do you have?  We can start with a simple math equation.

Facebook friends +Twitter followers + Instagram + Phone contacts + Snapchat, Vine, etc contacts = your friend count.  Wow, according to that equation I am 1,500 strong!

Let's define who these friends are since modern technology defines a friend differently than I did in high school (GO VIKINGS!).

1. Facebook friends: high school friends; college roommates; work associates from every job you ever had; anyone you ever heard of or someone you know has heard of; someone you have a friend in common with so you think you should know them --maybe you did back in the day so, just in case, you friend them.

2.  Twitter followers: anyone with access to news, details, 411 that you might be interested in or opposed to.

3.  Instagram:  anyone you know that is still in middle or high school; friends of your children; foes of your children you think you need to be in the know about.

4. Telephone contacts:  anyone that ever called you; anyone you are afraid will call you so you need to know not to answer; peeps who love to talk in emoticons via instant messenger.

5.  Others that you love enough to keep up with even though they are:
    a.  of an older generation not interested in social media
    b.  anti social media  
    c.  out of minutes and data for the month
    d.  friends who live so far on the back side of no where cable companies & cell towers refuse to go
     

Now let's talk about a deeper friendship

Some of my 1,500---from church, family, community, childhood, work, baseball & football...

6.  Being a Christian Friend:

• Faithful, constant--unwavering, helps in time of stress 
• Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.  
• Proverbs 27:10a  Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family...
• Proverbs 18: 24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend  who sticks closer than a brother.

• Merciful, kind, relentless    
• Luke 11:5-8  
• Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;  a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’  And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

• Inspires you to be a stronger Christian; does not encourage you to be worldly
• James 4:4 
• You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.                                                                                         

• Prays for you 
• Philemon 1
• I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.                   

Ponder these thoughts and try to be a better friend to those God has allowed to cross your path during this season of life.  There is no way you can be a true friend to 1,500 people but you can be a true friend to those God has chosen to surround you with the most.  Now for the other 1,475, be an example for Christ, inspire them, love them, serve them as you can but don't spend so much time browsing social media you forget about those closest to you.  Love you my friends!  

All verses are from the New International Version of the Bible

How do you kill snakes??

Snakes are clearly on the move!  I have seen multiple FB comments about snakes today alone!  I am not a fan of snakes but I do understand they are on the move so I expect to see them outside.  Recently we had a ring neck black snake in our pool....that day we excercised catch and release.  HOWEVER, I do draw the line.  This week while Lance was at work, I hear a scream....SNAKE!  What?? Everyone is inside, this must be a joke!  No!  A small black snake is inching his way around my son's bathroom.

Panic did overwhelm me, but as any good woman would do, the first move is to grab the closest weapon!  Going for a gun means the snake has a chance to slither away.  Calling the neighbor is how we ended up playing catch and release last week.  Therefore, the snake was sucked up in to the infamous Electrolux vacuum cleaner which was sitting nearby! 

The story becomes more comical...I throw the vacuum in to the yard. It is trash pick up day; isn't it time for a new vacuum?  My frugal side realizes I am about to trash a very expensive vacuum (yes it is old but it still works wonders) so I send my child for scissors!  Yes, I cut the vacuum bag open.  I need to make sure the snake is inside before I decide if I should keep the vacuum.

He is inside the bag.  I need to know if a mommy snake is likely to be nearby and if she is, is she poisonous.  I send for a trash bag.  I tie the snake (and the vacuum bag) up and call Lance to come id him!  He does...it is a baby ring neck black snake -- probably one whose mommy we sent packing last week!

What lesson have I found in this?  First, do not call neighbors or they will not kill the snake.  KILL the snake because they come back! 

Secondly, I put a great deal of effort in to eliminatiing this snake, identifying his threat level, and then I mutilated him to make sure he could not give me a second heart attack!  

I wonder if we put this much effort in to sin in our lives.  When we know it is present, do we just push it off to the side knowing it may come back (a nice game of catch and release)? Or, do we look for the closest weapon available to get rid of it?  Once we know the threat is secured, do we assess the threat level, and ensure there is no chance of return? 

As Christians, this means understanding spitirual warfare, and exercising our right to it! Ignoring problems and thinking we can tackle them on our own is like playing catch and release.  Grabbing our sword (the Bible) and letting the serpent know we will not tolerate his presence is the only way to assure Satan we will not stand for his temptations.  According to 1 Peter 5:8, he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He doesn't just show up in obvious places (outside)...he enters our homes and our comfort zones and poses a threat hoping we won't think fast enough to act.  So, be equipped to act fast.  Keep the Bible close to your heart (Psalm 119:11) so you don't have to go roaming off looking for answers.  God will bring scripture to our memory if we hide it in our heart! (Proverbs 2:1) 

I hope not to see another snake inside, but I can promise if I do, the vacuum is ready!  In the same way, I challenge each of us to memorize at least one verse a week so we can pull that sword out fast when the serpent comes lurking!

 



More on spiritual warfare:

Ephesians 6:10-12

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.…

Problem solver...are you one?

Have you ever had something in your life you knew wasn't just right but never cared enough to fix it?  Well, look at this picture....

I have stood many people in this foyer and asked....do you see anything wrong?  Most people stare, analyze, look at me like it's a trick and say no....

I have lived in this house for ten years.  I am not sure how many years I lived here before I noticed the panel to the right is white and the one to the left is yellow like the wall. I have spent the last ten years using it as a conversation piece when people come over.  But, I never cared enough to do anything about it...even though it is wrong in every decorators book!

Today, I happened to be at the paint store and thought about it...I bought a can of paint and thought "one day, I will fix this."  However, within ten minutes of the can entering the house, this happened....

My problem solver took the task on!  The paint is drying and the sides match for the first time in ten years!  We both laughed.  She said she wondered how long it would take daddy to notice --- maybe another ten years!

This made me wonder how many other "small" issues we have in our lives that are not significant enough for us to stop and give our attention to even though in the divine decorator of our lives book...the Bible...it is clearly wrong or in need of repair.  How many "small" seemingly insignificant issues do others have that we could minister to yet we ignore even though it would take us less than ten minutes to fix?  

I was convicted by this eleven year old who took on the task just because....may I look for the small ways to serve others even if it never gets noticed!

Matthew 25 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

One dark night...we did it!

It was late one night when my old roomie and I decided to do it.  It would start with several days of contemplating and making jokes about should we do it, should we not?  Then the night would come when we would make that journey down the stairs from our apartment in to the darkness of the night.  We would meet in the middle and turn our backs to each other and start walking in the opposite direction....then we started to run in opposite directions until the final pop occurred.  It was over! Anyone thinking of an old Western yet?  Well, we did not step off to start a gunfight.  We started a "tape war."  See it went something like this....

For years, I listened to music that filled my head with what/who I deserved, what emotions have to do with it, what color I should like (Black is really back now) and what adventures I should pursue.  I could quote lyrics to soft love songs all the way to hard rock.  I loved all music. What I found was I could quote you a lyric to any situation you faced and maybe even break out in song if the notion hit me just right.  Not all the music was bad but it all left lasting impressions on my mind. I am sure that is why I say huh so much today...some of that music was really loud!  

The point is once I became a Christian, I realized it wasn't all about me, my mind should not be focused on anything but Jesus 'cause He does have something to do with it, and the adventures would be plenty when He ordered my footsteps.  So I set out to clean my mind - Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."  I desired to learn more about God's word than I knew about anything else.  

I wanted to live out Psalm 119:11- "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." So I set out to memorize scripture!  I was 18 years behind some people since I was 18 when I confessed Christ as my Savior.  I can no longer quote you the lyrics to any of those songs but I do have God's word hidden in my heart.  Today, His truth is what comes to my mind instead of those song lyrics. Now, I still have lots of song lyrics to spurt out but the kind playing on KLove not the 1980s station....and yes, I still break out in song at times but singing along with KLove or at least what I heard on KLove!

Again, I am not knocking all other music but I am saying what I desire to fill my heart and mind with are the things of the Lord.  I encourage you to remove anything that does not spur you on to good deeds.  Maybe it is not music for you but something else...

So back to the earlier story....we always did things with a little drama added in just for fun.  We started off in the middle of the parking lot.  One of us grabbed the cassette and the other grabbed a piece of the tape. We took off in two separate directions until pop---the tape came out!  Dozens of tapes later and lots of laughter, we dumped the trash where it belong...the "dipsy dumpster" as we called it.  So I challenge you to dump your trash today.  It will be freeing and may even give you a few good laughs! 

WOW-zers!

Tonight I enjoyed dinner with my family laughing hysterically about some things from days gone by. I won't linger long in this post but to say I laughed so hard I almost cried.  I enjoy those good times with my mom and siblings.  I will say I am a little concerned that some of my memories are not the same as theirs....denial might be my coping skill!  With that being said, after settling down from the laughter and hysteria...I had a thought. It was----are you ready??  It was just this one word, "WOW!"

This one word encompasses so much. WOW--thank you God for all you protected me from, thank you for where I am today vs where I could be.  Thank you for ordering my footsteps and for doing whatever it took to bring me on the path I am on today. Thank you for the roadblocks, stumbling blocks, and 180 degree turns I experienced along the way. At times I did not understand those obstacles but WOW today I do!!

So if you are not sure why something happens...it's okay. Just know God knows better than we do and sometimes we are too hard headed to listen.  He loves us enough to change our direction, slow us down, or pick us up and move us to a whole new place.  So to use an old cliche...Let GO and Let God!  Years from now, you MIGHT understand why!